The wind was not kind to the struggling figure, as they clawed their way along the road. Constantly pulling a strangely colored cloak over their shoulders, torn and tattered in places from the long desperate journey.

A shiver gripped their desperate frame, as their white breath labored in the harsh winds, going unnoticed amidst the falling snowflakes.

Rallying some meager strength, they caught their breath and released it. Suffused with a subtle power as they warmed themselves in the off-white glow it created within them. Strengthened to continue onwards, they made it a few steps more before this magic failed, and the night closed in once again.

Trembling in the cold like a shaken leaf, they pressed onward. Praying to unfamiliar gods and spirits for mercy from the storm, and lifting a prayer for those left behind.

They pressed on for a few more steps, till the cold broke their spirits and they huddled and trembling beneath the kind shadow of a crooked pine.

Red Harvest had wound down for a time, though some were still celebrating privately with friends, Tolan's head was pounding from all the ale, cider, and countless rounds of forgotten beers that he'd swallowed. He and Vir Both had woken up in a peculiar mood, simply sitting on the front steps of Nana's house waiting for their heads to clear. Tolan looked up at the sky and gave a low whistle. Vir looked up as well and asked

"What is it, brother?" Tolan pointed to the dark clouds hanging nearby.

"Storms coming, First of winter, not a good sign I would say."

Teir also looked to the distant peaks they called their home and squinted. "I'd say your right, a good thing we have another day before heading out, otherwise we'd march right into the thick of it. Bad times to any traveler on the road though," he remarked and turned back to his task of sorting dried beans.

Tolan lingered a moment and began to pray, hands folded to create the image of a bird crossed his chest, as he began to murmur a prayer to the Birds.

"Blessed Wings amidst the stars, Bearers of peace and wisdom, fly to the needs of the suffering and heed the call of lamenting. Spread among them the Peace of the Sanctuary Nest and plant a Tree of Arbitration in their midst. Blessed Wings amidst the stars, beares of Peace and Wisdom..."

His fervent prayers echoed in his chest as he spoke in a low voice that only the birds and cats would hear, as he set his mind upon the storm and its potential devastation.

Vir looked back up towards the sky and sniffed "ugh, I don't look forward to whatever that thing is bringing, if it starts snowing this early in the season, I'm just staying here for the rest of winter. Old woman be damned."

Tolan whipped around to slap him, but Nana Hela appeared and reached the back of his head first The sound of a wooden ladle spoon cracking against both their heads was like splitting wood. As they both groaned in pain from the blow she scolded them in a harsh braying voice.

"Don't you go hitting your brother now! He's all you got, besides." she tugged her shawl back into place "Ain't a hand alive that's strong enough to knock good sense into him." she chided.

"How about his mouth?" Tolan muttered halfheartedly, Hela gave a quick sardonic smile.

"Oh, he'll get it caught in fence gate someday, it runs about a day ahead of him." She gave a rude look at the haughty-faced Vir. "Surprised it hasn't happened already!" raising her voice to drive the point. And succeeding in whipping the half-offended grin off Tiers.

Then turning back to Tolan she tossed him a whetting stone and set down a box of knives

"You know how to use it?" she crowed, Tolan sighed of course. Nana nodded "Well then, get Sharpening, and don't nick yourself. All kinds of beasties are out when a storm's a coming." To Vir, she turned and dropped a large sack "Find the Good beans and toss the bad, along with any worms you might find."

She glanced up at the sky and squinted at the horizon.

"My My My, Were in for in this year. Welp, if it starts hailing, come inside. I still have chores for you both when you're done." with that, she hobbled off into the house determined to do something else.

Vir groaned when he opened the sack, he pinched a rotten bean from the bag and threw it into the dirt with a rude sniff. "That old hag, Why can't she sort her rotten beans. Look at this, it's like the bag is made of worms!" holding up a particularly large wriggler of a brown worm. "Why do they even eat these things anyway? Everyone knows worms like meat better!" he complained, as he tossed aside the wriggling creature.

"That would be maggots Brother. these are for Red Spotted Boar Bettles and Hopping Spiders. Although some could be Colorflys or Greenwings. Those are nicer, and good luck too." Tolan replied, sliding the stone crossed the dull edge of a knife, listening to the metal sing as he did. Vir rolled his eyes.

"If they're so lucky, why can't they help me once in a while? " he whined, Tolan snorted

"And what, Do all the chores your too lazy for?" he raised an eyebrow towards his brother who simply muttered and went back to picking through beans.

Tolan chuffed to himself and made another pass with the knife. Satisfied with that one, he put it aside and picked up another one. Less dull than the other, but he resolved to give a few passes on the stone anyway.

"Besides, It's not like we're going to eat the worms. Beans are much better eating," he stated. Vir flashed a quick sneer at him before getting back to work. Tolan scrapped the knifes metal edge across the stone face, unaffected or unamused at his brothers' antics.

Vir dug through the beans a moment more, before catching something between his fingers. Looking down into his palm he saw what he'd caught. He grimaced for a moment, glowering in disgust at the large grub he'd found. Looking back up at his brother sitting across from him, he smirked a moment before forcing his face to drop again. And his mind wandered.

He measured his target carefully, considering its next move as he would when hunting. He closed his eyes and put his arms in the air, pretending to stretch while yawning. he peeked out the bottom of his eye, seeing if Tolan had taken the bait. Sure enough, Tolan began to rub his eye before yawning himself. With a big wide yawn, like a bear, Tolan opened his mouth and Vir flicked his wrist to the side and gently flung his tiny missile towards his brother's gaping mouth.

His aim was perfect from prior practice, as the grub flew perfectly into Tolan's open maw. Vir watched it fly for a moment, tumbling through the air, Following it with his eyes right into Tolan's Open mouth and into the back of his yawing throat. His jaws snapped shut around it as the grub made its landing.

Tolan's face exploded into a sudden burst of confused expressions as his eyes swelled in shocked surprise. He struggled to breathe for a moment before making the horrific decision to swallow, turning the grub from projectile to an unfortunate foodstuff.

Vir was partially horrified and fascinated by his brothers' fortitude and stomach.

"Ack, Uhu, excuse, I think something flew in my mouth," Tolan said giving a light cough. Vir continued to stare in disbelief, but he dare not say a word, lest a confession is dragged from him. Yet he struggled to conceal his overturned emotions, trapped between roars of laughter and nausea.

Tolan glanced at his brother and sighed, He wasn't sure what had happened, but Teir was doubled over in a pained expression. "Vir, are you alright? Did something hit you in the head?" he asked.

This looked to disbelief before finally laughing aloud. Tolan frowned but let it pass, It's not like it would hurt anyone. Though his stomach did feel a touch odd though.

Vir continued to laugh for a while and Tolan just sharpen his knives. He'd probably figure it out later anyway. But he wasn't about to tell him.

A rumble of thunder from the mountain hills made them all turn, spotting the dark clouds rolling overhead. The Storm had descended and was now headed towards them. A cold wind stirred the air and Tolan and Vir both stood, carrying their task's inside. Nana Hela stuck her head out the door.

"What all the Racket?! Oh, Come on inside boys, I hadn't realized it would move so fast. Get in, get in, before it sweeps you up and throws you clear to Mt.Tanizar !" she squawked as the two men piled into through the doorway and into the house.

Fierce winds nipped at their heels, scattering the brown leaves from the street and making an unholy yowling as the storm's cold air began to prowl the streets with rising boldness. As soon as the door closed, the wind began to howl in an evil voice as malevolent spirits seemed to haunt the way, casting aside the empty baskets and scraps of trash and paper left over from the previous celebrations.

Almost hatefully they darkened the skies, the storm's temper waned fast and broke loose. Like an angry bull throwing its rider, the winds began to grow violent, shaking the clay shingles and disturbing the thatch. Peals of thunder accompanied the wind, like brassy war drums, the sound of them joined with jagged flashes of lightning. Like evil spears brandished by the spirits responsible for sparking the storm's ire, marching their wild band towards the settlement like a howling band.

Rainfall turned and curdled into hail, as the storm grew manic in its frustrations. The First child of winter was an angry one as it drove on. To those huddled in their warm homes, it was fearsome but unmoving. like the barking of a dog behind a wall or gate. But to the Man on the gates or the traveler on the road, it was an oppressive force to be contested.

The cold wind cut like teeth into their flesh and the charging force of the hail like biting flies or ramming goats. The pounding thunder drowned out the sound of a pounding door knocker, the shouts of the lost wanderer crying for relief were swallowed by the shrieking wind.

Frow buried his head under the layers of leather and cloth, trying to shield himself from the storms. He and the other guards took turns peering out the windows of the guards' house, remaining vigilant while trying to preserve some warmth. Frow took a long dredge from his mug, filled with a hot steaming brew. The outside illuminated ever briefly in flashes of spent lightning.

One of the other watchmen, Puck, was at the window. Peering into the shadows of the storm trying to decern movement from leaping shadows. Leaning forwards he moved for the lantern. Frow put down his mug and reached for a spear.

"What is it?" he asked, Puck, searched a second longer before bringing his head back inside.

"Sorry, nothing. I thought I saw something on the road, but it's gone now." Puck replied, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. Frow started to relax his grip when an older guard stood up.

"Lad, Did you see something or not? Doesn't matter if you know what it is, Did you see something?" he demanded. Frow looked between the older guard and Puck. The junior watched thought a moment longer as the older man started to glower.

"No, it was nothing. There was nothing there, just an odd shadow. Made it look like something was running, but when I looked there was nothing." Puck replied. The Guard sat down and everyone eased.

"Alright lad, but keep in mind to shout out if and when you do see something, You can't be too careful or observant on this job. It may be exhausting, but keeping your guard up means people are safe tonight." the old guard warned. A peal of thunder rippled overhead.

"As safe as such weather can be, granted," Frow added

A few minor chuckles hit their air as the old man sat down. Frow loosened his grip on the spear and picked up his mug instead, taking a sip from its warm brew.

They would be all right tonight, he thought. Nothing short of a fool or a desperate man would travel in such weather. Even if they were dangerous, ill will draw's the lightning he'd been told. It was how the world got rid of demons, through storms like this. Another crack of lightning overhead caused a few of the men to flinch with how close it sounded.

Frow smiled, suspecting that somewhere in the world there was one less demon in the world to plague them.