Closed RP with Faroutfrostgiant
The westward winds twisted between the thick tree trunks of the coniferous forests, howling like haunted spirits and bringing with them ice-cold flurries that whipped through the dense air. The young traveller kept his face tucked down, clutching the collar of his jacket up to his nose in a feeble attempt to block the harsh gale. The forest pathway he was walking upon was narrow and twisting, the trees above him higher than any building. Usually, such thick coverage would provide shelter from severe weather, but the oncoming storm was determined and otherworldly.
As the snow began to pack upon the ground, slowly blurring the edges of the pathway before him, Roman worried that he would become lost. He wasn’t even originally supposed to be in this forest, if the weather had worked in his favor for once. A few weeks prior, Roman had to take a major detour to avoid floods in the lower regions. His original plans had been foiled by melting snow, which caused the trails he was taking to be washed away by rivers and landslides. To avoid the potential danger, he began to head Northwest, where the climate was slightly cooler and the coming of spring was much slower. Although Roman wasn’t necessarily timing his travels, he knew the diversion would add weeks onto his journey.
The inn owner in Sneachta, the last village Roman stayed at, told him of a village named Heretter just beyond the woods. The man had assured him that the pathway through the crowded forest was long but easy to follow, and relatively danger-free. He warned Roman of an oncoming storm, and urged him to make haste in order to reach Heretter safely.
Except by now, Roman should have reached Heretter two days ago. He had followed the pathway easy enough, but there was no sign of Heretter. Now, as the hours passed by, the storm was becoming stronger and fiercer. Snow was beginning to build upon the ground, soaking into Roman’s leather boots. The frigid wind hit against him like a hurricane, seeping through the threads of his clothes and down to his very bones. Roman had never been so cold.
Roman kept his eyes to the ground, trying to shied his face but also hoping to keep his focus on his feet upon the path. He walked and walked, trudging through the increasingly deep snow, and soon he had completely lost where the trail was supposed to be. He kept onward, knowing he could not stop in such disastrous weather. He risked freezing to death in such conditions.
Minutes past, and Roman shook underneath his weak jacket. His mind became muddled as he slowly lost the feeling in his fingertips and toes, his aching limbs pushing onward with innate determination. The world became dark as night started to cast over the forest, and it was then that he saw it: there was a light in the distance, peeking through the trunks of the pine trees. It was a cottage, resting in a small clearing. The windows were illuminated by candlelight and there was smoke billowing from the chimney, indicating a hearth roaring warmly inside. Roman paused to study the saving sight, and when he began to trudge his way towards it, he found his limbs even more difficult to use, the snow weighing down his body and threatening to push it to the forest floor. The traveller achingly trekked over to the cottage, his shins hitting the first steps up to the door, causing him to fall to his knees. He crawled up to the door, reaching out and weakly rapping his fist against the wood. He tried once, then twice, hoping he was loud enough to get the attention of whoever lived inside. Just as light crept from the opening doorway, Roman collapsed, his vision turning blank.
@faroutfrostgiant
