The elf stomped through the forest in frustration. Sliding between trees and swatting at low hanging tree branches in her path, she made her displeasure known to everything around her. A deer stood at a distance eying the brown haired elf with a hint of caution as it crashed through some offending bushes with an angry grumble, before turning back to its meal its ears still tracking the frustrated rustling. A squirrel clambered out of its hole awakened by the ruckus and chattered angrily at the loud offender.

“Oh shut up” the disgruntled elf muttered as she glared at the chattering squirrel. “Mind your own business.” The squirrel let out an indignant chitter and dove back into its hole. The elf turned and resumed her angry stomping, crashing off into the distance. The second the elf was obscured by the trees the squirrel reappeared from its hole. It clambered up the tree leaping towards the branches of a nearby tree as it broke into a run as it raced off in pursuit of the elf.

The elf in question continued her angry march, crashing through bushes and ducking under tree branches in her path. She seemed to have some destination in mind as she always continued deeper into the forest never veering from some path that only she knew. Her angry march was put to a prompt halt however as she stormed her way through a group of particularly thick bushes. With a loud curse she tripped over a root that had been hidden by said bushes and went sprawling into a dry creek bed.

Another string of curses sharply split the air as several acorns suddenly bounced of the elf’s skull. The first volley was quickly followed by a second though it was met with less success. “I will hang you by you tail” the elf shouted as she jumped to her feet glaring up at the squirrel perched at the tippity top of an overhanging nut tree. Her threat was followed by an outraged squeak from the squirrel who promptly dropped another nut on the elf. Stepping aside in an attempt to dodge, the elf lost her balance, tripped over a rock and fell in the creek bed again. The squirrel froze as the elf glared at him then dropped another nut. With a resigned sigh the elf dropped her head back and laid there.

“Why today?” she let out a tired sigh as the acorn bounced of her shoulder. She looked up at the squirrel. “You do know if I really wanted you would be hanging from that tree right?” With what could only be a chatter of denial the squirrel plucked one final nut from the tree and dropped it towards the elf. Then with a flick of its tail vanished back into the tree tops. Catching the falling nut out of the air the elf looked at it with a sigh. “How can something so small be so annoying?” she asked propping herself up on her elbows. Tossing the nut to the dry ground beneath her she got to her feet about to leave. Pausing in confusion she looked back at the clattering sound as the nut bounced off the rocks, then at her obviously dry clothing and armor.

“And the creek is dry. Brilliant another problem I have to look into”

Running her fingers through her hair she looking at the dry creek bed with a sigh. This creek was one of the several larger creeks that ran through WinderVal Woods, weaving around and through the rocks and trees, before eventually trickling out into a river or pool somewhere near the forests edge. The source of this creek was a large spring that sat farther up deeper in the forest. The spring not only fed this creek but four other creeks that ran through the forest in different directions. The spring itself sat surrounded by large willows and was almost impossible to find unless you knew where to look or stumbled upon in blindly.

“Stupid beavers probably dammed it up trying to build a pond. “The elf grunted as she looked up the creek searching for any sign of beaver activity. “I’m headed that way any way. Hopefully I can fix it before they flood another section like last year.” Huffing quietly to herself she picked up the acorn from where it had bounced and tucked it into a pouch on the pack slung across her back. Climbing up the bank she began to follow the creek bed up into the forest.

Picking her way along the bank she continued in a much more subdued manner than her earlier form of travel only pausing to give the occasional curse when her pack snagged on a patch of brambles or to carefully pluck some plants from alongside the creek. These she tucked into various containers in her pack. She traveled for the better part of a Chime before stopping to rest on a rather large rock.

“Four sites, four different sites” she complained pulling a flat package the size of her hand from her pack “but no, let’s not build a dam here. Let’s go way up into the forest where no one will find us.” She unwrapped the package and took an angry bite out of the black bar grimacing at the taste. “Three months” she said shaking the bar in her hand at a nearby tree. “For three months I’ve had to eat trail rations. And the second I get back, where do I have to go? Back on the trail.” She tore off another chunk. “Stupid, can I get a chance to resupply? Get something better than Harefrost bars? Nooo... It’s urgent. You need to go speak with Syrinx. How do you even know about Syrinx?” She complained aloud. Tearing off a third chunk with a sigh she stared around her surroundings in sullen silence as she finished her meal. Throwing her pack back over her shoulder she continued up the creek.

After traveling for the better part of another chime the elf finally began to near the site of the creek’s spring. Here the creek ran through a particularly thick part of the forest, the trees overhead casting an almost perpetual shade over the creek bed. It was there that she found signs of water. Dropping to a knee, as she rubbed her fingers across the damp stones the elf’s face finally began to show slight hints of worry. If a beaver’s dam truly was the cause of the dry creek there would have been a least a small amount of water. At the very least water should be flowing here. Even if they had built there damn right next to the spring it would not have caused this level of water loss. There was barely enough water to wet the rock and it vanished the second the sun hit the creek bed. There was a glint through the trees ahead as a ray of sun reflected off something. Continuing onward with hurried steps the surrounding trees began to turn from tall shade trees to shorter trees until the willow trees that surrounded the spring came into view as did the source of the creeks dryness. Seconds later the elf jumped out of the creek bed sprinting towards the willow trees. Behind her the sunlight continued filtering through the treetops reflecting off cold solid ice.

Pushing through the ring of willows the smell hit her first. Wrinkling her nose at the stench of decay the elf pulled a long dagger from a sheath on her back. Something was definitely wrong. Besides the strange Ice, Syrinx would never kill unless absolutely threatened and not much could threaten her. Pushing the willows boughs that obstructed her vision aside the elf slid under the nearest willow and peeked into the well-lit clearing. A massive pool of water sat dead center, frozen solid. Streams of water arched out of the pool in all directions tipped in deadly points. Bodies with varying stages of decomposition laid at sporadic intervals around the pool several hanging from the frozen spears. Faint vapors wafted from the five frozen streams that connected to the large pool disappearing as they ran off into the forest through the ring of willows.

Palming another dagger from a sheath on her leg the elf ghosted from one willow tree to the next as she began to slowly circle the pool. Her steps were now deadly quiet giving off only the slightest noise. Birds chirped in the distance as the elf continued her circuit. Only after circling around the entire pool did the elf attempt move out from the concealment of the willow boughs.

“Goblins” she thought in disgust as she walked ever so carefully around the corpses towards the spring her knives held low, at the ready. Short in stature Goblins were only around two feet tall and The corpses fit the description. Small strips of flesh hung off gnawed bones and most had massive holes to the skull and ribs. The nymph’s water spears was the most likely cause. Syrinx was a spring nymph after all. Water was literally her element

“Syrinx?”

There was only silence to the elf’s question as she reached the edge of the spring. Looking down the elf set a tentative foot on the pale ice. There was a sharp crackling as a thin film of ice traveled across her boot. The film rapidly began to thicken. With a sharp curse and a sharp crack the elf twisted her foot hopping back the top of her boot covered with a film of ice. The elf tapped her daggers hilt against her boot breaking it off. Returning the smaller dagger to her leg sheath with frustration she cursed again.

“Dammit Syrinx, what am I supposed to do about this?”

Pacing around the edge of the pool she ducked under several protruding ice spears as she walked towards one of the impaled corpses. Scrutinizing it closely she noted a similar film of ice covering the body. Touching the end of her dagger to the body she watched as the ice again began to crawl up the blade towards her hand. She yanked the blade away with a snap. “Ok, So don’t touch the ice.” Backing away from the body she started circling the pool again. Find the cause Shirriah she told herself springs don’t just freeze solid. Stepping carefully over one of the creeks she continued circling the pool eyes looking for something that did not belong.

It took her a moment to spot it but there it sat near the center of the pool. A single Arrow. If she had not glimpsed it out of the corner of her eye she might not have seen it at all. It blended in with the ice almost perfectly, the shaft and fletching disappearing against the back drop of ice columns and willow trees. Shirriah could not see its head as it was buried in the ice. She took a quick look around. None of the goblin corpses and any bows on them. So who fired it? Eying the angle of where it sat in the ice whoever had fired it had been hidden somewhere to her left. They would have been well hidden among the willows. Shirriah shook her head and eyed the arrow. Who fired it came later. First she needed to know if removing it would get rid of this mysterious ice. How was she going to get it out without touching the ice she had no idea. Shirriah circled back around the pool until she was on the side closet to the arrow. She stared at it for several minutes running different ideas through her head. Finally coming to a decision she dropped to a crouch digging her free hand in to the ground. The grass around it glowed green as she channeled her mana in to the ground.

“Bindings Of The Green” she chanted in elvish.

The grass around her hand swayed, suddenly growing in length as they twisted around her hand weaving together into a thick tendril. The tendril coiled up Shirriah’s arm like a snake only pausing for a split second as twisted across the pack on her back. Sheathing her long dagger Shirriah freed her hand as the tendril coiled down her other arm. Allowing the tendril to coil in her open palm she gauged the distance to the arrow. The coil continued to grow in her hand and once she believed she had enough she violently thrust her palm out. The tendril launched out overshooting the arrow landing on the ice’s surface. It stuck instantly frozen and Ice instantly began to creep up the binding. “Shit”. Pulling it taught Shirriah quickly threw a loop towards the arrow with a flick of her wrist. Sailing through the air it landing perfectly around the arrow. Shirriah had already yanked back on the tendril the instant the loop had crossed the arrow and it was pulled taught before the ice could freeze it. A second, third and fourth loop followed the first one all wrapping around the arrow before freezing in less than a second. Shirriah pulled the tendril stretching as she strained, attempting to rip the arrow free of the frozen pool. The ice around the arrowhead cracked but held it fast. The ice was creeping up the tendril faster and Shirriah stopped feeding mana to the spell and pulled her hand from ground. Pulling her smaller dagger from her leg sheath she slashed the tendril, severing it from the ground. Rising to her feet as she poured mana into the tendril again as she hauled back and heaved with all her strength.

“Thorns Embrace” She grunted

Thorns sprouted from the tendril racing down the strand breaking the approaching ice and slowing its advance. The ice groaned and with a sharp crack the arrow snapped free of the ice flying towards her. Shirriah stumbled back twisting to the side as the arrow flew past her. Stomping on the now slack tether she yanked it taught between her foot and wrist sand severed it with a quick slash. Quickly stepping away from where the arrow had landed she prepared to flee in the event the arrow began to freeze the area. The arrow landed near one of the willow trees the frozen coils around it allowing it to roll out of sight under the tree.

As Shirriah waited with baited breath for the tree to freeze over she shook the tendrils from her trembling arms. She would not be able to do that a second time. Unlike most of her kin Shirriah had a rather low affinity for the nature magic her race was extremely gifted in causing it to take more out of her. She made up for it though with a ridiculously high affinity for wind. Something few her race had.

With no sign of the strange Ice she carefully walked closer to the willow. Peering through she found the arrow sitting among several flowers, the ice slowly melting from the tendrils still frozen to the shaft. Slipping under the tree Shirriah carefully placed the tip of the dagger to the arrow’s nock. Nothing happened. Holding her breath she reached down and carefully picked the arrow up. Dropping it immediately she examined her hand. She had felt nothing other than an icy cold from the arrow. Stooping down she broke the tendrils from it with the tip of her dagger picked it up again holding for a brief second before dropping it. God’s it was cold.

Bringing the arrow out from under the willow and into the light to examine it better she turned it over in her hands. It was a simple arrow of standard design. Definitely not of elven make or design. The head of the arrow was a deadly broadhead point made for puncturing heavy armor and shields. The shaft and fletching was of one solid piece and made of a wood Shirriah did not recognize. Lines and symbols twisted around the arrow, engraved deep in the wood, covering the arrow in its entirety. Shirriah had never seen an arrow like it before. She contemplated attempting to insert some of her mana into the engravings but decide not to risk it until she could speak with her mother or see an engraver mage about what was engraved on it. It was no engraving she recognized that she was sure of.

The ground suddenly vibrated and Shirriah spun tossing the arrow aside as she dove to her left. Rolling into a crouch she scanned the clearing finding nothing amiss. The ground vibrated again and a series of loud cracks ripped through the air. Massive cracks split across the pool, small pieces of ice bouncing into the air. With sudden clarity Shirriah realized the situation she was now in.

“Syrinx it’s-”

A watery fist exploded from the center of the pool sending chunks of ice raining down across the clearing. The fist rotated ninety degrees slamming against the icy surface sending more shards bouncing into the air ace the icy surface shuddered. Clear water bubbled from the pools center washing across the ice. The fist twisted as it collapsed the water swirling into a feminine figure. Drops of water ran down pale blue skin and Shirriah swallowed hard as two furious sea-green eyes locked on her. Not good. Syrinx raised a hand her white hair spinning as water rushed from the pool around her.

Oh she’s pissed about something. Shirriah thought as she dove to her right, a whip of water slamming down where she had just been standing. She poured mana into her palm forming a small Gust Ball. A sphere of whirling air appeared in her palm, slowly growing. The whip snapped sideways aiming for her feet and without pausing Shirriah pushed off the ground throwing herself backwards towards the safety of the willows. She needed to get out of Syrinx’s range. The whip extended mid swing slamming against her boot. The water coursed around her boot enveloping it and the whip yanked hard, pulled her across the grass, reeling her in like a fish as it pulled her towards the enraged nymph.

Scrabbling for a purchase against the now wet and slippery grass, Shirriah managed to pull her dagger from her belt. She slammed it deep in to the ground, the sudden jolt sending pain shooting through her leg and shoulder at the sudden jerk as the whip snapped taut. The dagger dug through the dirt as the whip pulled harder. With a flick of her wrist she threw her Gust Ball, now at decent enough size, at her foot. Water sprayed as the sphere exploded. The blast of wind blew the whip apart freeing her and sending her tumbling backwards. Scrambling to her feet she started forming another Gust Ball as she limped towards to the Willows yelling over her shoulder.

“For Cerena’s sake Syrinx, It’s me stop!”

Two more whips wrapped around her before she had even made it ten steps, her cry unheeded. Slamming the small gust ball in her palm against her chest the wind blasting the whips away but staggering her and spinning her around. She backpedaled as quickly as she could dodging the lashing whips making it closer to the willows.

“Come on Syrinx snap out of it.” Shirriah hollered as she stumbled managing to avoid another whip that whisked to close for comfort. Regaining her footing she looked up to see a large pillar of water swinging towards her.

“Oh shit.”

She managed to suck in a deep breath before the pillar slammed her feet out from under her. It tumbled her to the ground pooling around her engulfing her. The pillar continued its arc around the pool as Shirriah tumbled about inside. Those are so going to bruise, she groaned inwardly as she slammed repeatedly against the ground. The pillar pulled her close to the still frozen pool as Syrinx glared at her from where she stood in the center. With a simple gesture, Water spread from the pillar forming a large dome over the ice in which Shirriah was dumped inside. There she floated, the water easily preventing any means of escape.

“You are Mine deceiver.” the water vibrated as Syrinx voice spoke in her head “I shall not fall for your treachery again.”

Shirriah gestured in denial at the nymph. The water constricted pressing tight around her as Syrinx’s eyes narrowed. “I will not be fooled again”

Shirriah groaned at the pressure, a bubble of air escaping her lips. She really needed to breathe. The water tightened further as Shirriah gestured franticly for air. Black spots swam across her vision. The blow came hard, a fist of water blasting her in the stomach. Shirriah gasped as the last of her air blown out of her. A lungful of water flooded her lungs and she grabbed at her throat. Seconds later she was on her hands and knees retching her guts out over freezing cold ice. In a split second the dome had emptied dropping her on to the frozen surface of the pool. Spikes slid from the inner surface lining the inside with a deadly wall of tips.

“You wear the face of a friend” Syrinx hissed menacingly “so I Give you one minute before I refill the dome to convince me you are who you appear to be” “Attempt to escape and I will skewer you alive like I did to your pets. DO NOT TEST ME.”

Shirriah met Syrinx’s furious gaze through the watery dome. “Syrinx it’s me. I don’t know why you’re so upset but it’s me. Believe me, drowning is the last thing I want to do today.”

Uncertainty flicked in the nymph’s eyes. “You lie”

NO! No. No I Don’t. Look my mother sent me out to see you. She didn’t tell me why. She told me to go see Syrinx. I that’s why I’m here.”

Syrinx’s eyes narrowed. “You mother doesn’t know I exist.”

Shirriah nodded “that’s why I came out as soon as I did. She knew you were here. It was also odd of her to tell me to visit. I came right out. I didn’t even stop to pick up decent rations, had to eat Harefrost on the way out. I’ve eaten that for three months straight it’s terrible.

She thought she saw a glimmer of amusement flicker across the nymphs face and shot a smile back. “I found the creek dried up. Thought Beavers had dammed it up and you had not gotten around to dealing with them.” The water ripped slowly, the dome losing its shape as Shirriah continued in a calming voice.

“I couldn’t find a dam and then found the creek frozen. I hurried here to see your entire pool frozen surrounded by Goblin corpses. I got no answer from you so I looked around. I found an arrow suck in the Ice and managed to pull it out. I was examining it after pulling it out when you jumped me.”

Syrinx was silent for a second.” When we first met who found who first?” She asked in a hard voice. Shirriah looked through the rippling dome staring her in the eyes “You came to me. I had no idea you were even here.” The dome collapsed and Syrinx collapsed atop the ice all signs of anger gone from her body. “I almost killed you” she whispered in horror.

Shirriah carefully stepped across the ice towards her. “I had it under control.”

Syrinx let out a choked laugh and shook her head. “No, Shirriah. I was going to drown you. I was going to do it slowly and painfully. The last I saw of you, you were watching with a smile as I fought off the goblins. As the ice crept across my surface.” Syrinx curled into a ball as she rocked back and forth hugging herself tightly. “It’s was cold, so cold.” The rest of her words trailed off into incoherent mumbling.

Sliding carefully across the ice, Shirriah lifted the Nymph with a grunt carefully carrying her off of the ice. Setting her down on some grass next to the pool she tossed her soaked pack to the ground. Pulling a sopping wet blanket from it she quickly strode from the clearing pausing only to toss the blanket over the arrow as she passed it. Several minutes she returned later carrying a large armful of wood. Piling it she pulled her tinder box from the pack. It only took several firestrikes and a simple Gust spell to get a warm blaze going.

Pulling out a second wet blanket she draped it around Syrinx and pulled her as close to the fire as she dared. Shirriah then sharpened several sticks, driving them into the ground near the fire. She dumped the contents of her pack next to them and hung her spare change of clothes as well as the pack itself over the sticks to dry. Undoing her belt which held her herb pouches and daggers she laid it aside only after checking to make sure the water tight pouches were secure and the herbs inside undamaged. They were. Her leg, arm guards and breast plate followed next forming a crescent around the stakes. Shirriah stood next to the fire as she dried out the clothes she was wearing. She did not have to worry about her three daggers rusting as they were made from moonstone and were impervious to all but the harshest elements. Wincing as she stretched Shirriah pulled a small wooden container from the pile of items. Popping the top off she rubbed the salve over her bruised muscles.

“I’m sorry.” Syrinx’s voce was quite over the crackling fire.

“It’s not your fault Syrinx. You were assaulted in your own home by something that looked exactly like me. You were caught up in the moment. I would have done the same thing in your position.” Shirriah told her. “besides” She told her with a chuckle “Do you know how many knives I’ve thrown at Fosco’s thieving ass?”

Syrinx smiled “he always know how to get to you doesn’t he”

“If he could keep his grubby fingers off my stuff we wouldn’t have a problem. He is going to lose a hand one of these days” Shirriah stated matter-of-factly. “I see this situation as exactly like when Fosco steals from me”

Shirriah walked around the fire and sat down next to Syrinx. “So start from the beginning. What happened?”

Syrinx pulled the blanket tighter around her, small wisps of steam wafting off it. “It was the day after you left. You said you had to go see you mother about one of her jobs.” She continued as Shirriah nodded in confirmation “The next morning there was an argument near my eastern creek between a group of squirrels and a Greater Ebony Stag. They were fighting over a patch of sweet berries. The elk was tearing the forest up in an attempt to fend the squirrels off. And the squirrels were doing everything in their power to annoy him and steal the berries. I managed to solve the problem when I felt something tainting my water.”

Shirriah nodded understandingly. Nymphs were extremely sensitive to what was in there water and there were stories of travelers who went missing after accidently “contaminating” a grumpy nymphs water. It was more than simple water to Nymphs who viewed it as an extension of themselves. The water was also a valuable healing resource when given with a nymph’s consent.

“I returned to find a band of twenty or so goblins pissing into my pool.” Syrinx spat angrily to the side “not only that they were pouring some kind foul concoction in as well.” She looked at the scattered corpses. “I was furious and struck them down where the stood. Several of them tried to flee and that was when you stepped out from behind the willows.” Syrinx shuddered at the memory. “You had a large crossbow in your hand and the last thing I heard was a slapping noise. Everything turned cold after that. It was everywhere pushing in from every side. I couldn’t’ move, couldn’t see, there was only the cold.” She shuddered and pulled the blanket tighter “it pushed against me and no matter how hard I pushed back it always crept closer. I was constantly losing ground. I kept growing weaker and weaker. There was nothing but the cold, that endless cold.”

Syrinx had been leaning closer and closer to the fire as she spoke and Shirriah pulled her back before she started the blanket on fire. “It’s over Syrinx the cold’s gone” Shirriah told her as she rubbed Syrinx’s shoulder. She winched slightly at the heat of the blanket.

Syrinx stared into the fire. “The push suddenly disappeared. The cold was there but it was no longer pushing against me. I pushed my way to the surface where I saw you, crouched in the clearing. I had to stop you before you realized I was free and redid whatever you had done. So I attacked.”

Shirriah nodded again in understanding “okay but why did you stop.”

Syrinx hesitated for a moment. “I don’t really know. It might be because you didn’t seem afraid. My last glimpse of you was your smile of triumph. But I also glimpsed something behind that. You seemed afraid of me for some reason. When I caught you off guard I saw none of that fear. You seemed totally convinced that I was not going to hurt you. Like you knew me better.”

Shirriah nodded in affirmation. “You really are exceptional at reading people Syrinx. Remember how before we met I used this spring to help clear my mind when I was frustrated with something. You watched me for months before you deemed me trustworthy enough to know that it was your home. You told me when you first say me you knew that I could be trusted yet were afraid to say anything for fear of being wrong.” Shirriah let out a mischievous smile. “Beside I know you wouldn’t drown me unless you had a perfectly good reason to.” They both chuckled for a moment before Shirriah continued. “I is over now Syrinx, I pulled the arrow out and whatever magic held you captive is gone.”

“I still feel it though.” Syrinx told her as she looked at the frozen pool. “The cold is still there. Only now it slowly gives ground to me instead of taking it.

“Well I’ll stay here for the night and help make sure it’s completely gone. Then first thing in the morning I’ll go question my mother. I want answers on how she knew you were out here and in trouble in the first place.” Shirriah looked over at the blanket that hid the arrow. “I also get this arrow to an engraver and see if he can figure out what it is. Then I’ll work on getting some kind of counter so you don’t have to worry about anything like this happening again.”

Syrinx nodded. “Thank you. Also thank your mother for me when you see her. If she hadn’t sent you back who knows how I would have been like this.”

Shirriah looked at her in confusion. “Sent me back? She didn’t send me back. How long were you stuck Syrinx?”

She shrugged uncertainly. “I don’t know, it feels like it’s been at least a couple of days. Why?”

Shirriah got to her feet and walked around the fire pulling her armor back from the flames and adding some more logs. Syrinx eyes followed her in confusion.

“Why? How long was I stuck Shirriah?”

Shirriah started sorting through the damp pile of assorted gear from her pack.

“Shirriah?”

“It’s been three months since I was last here Syrinx.” Shirriah said with a sigh as she looked up at her friend. “My mother called in my three months. She has had me carrying missives and escorting caravans between WinderVal and Home. I quite literally just got back early this morning. That’s when she told me to come and see you.

The blanket slipped off of Syrinx’s shoulders falling around her waist with a wet squelch as she stared at Shirriah in shock. “Three months.” Her voice was a mere ripple as she stared down at the ground in front of her in horror.

“You were gone three months. It can’t have been that long. Can it?” Shirriah continued to quietly sort through the pile while Syrinx mumbled to herself. “Three months.” Syrinx murmured. Her eyes closed in thought. It was several minutes before she opened them again.

“Something feels off.”

She looked at Shirriah across the fire. “I need reconnect with the forest as soon as possible.” Her body collapsed with a splash, the fire hissing as the wave of water lapped against its edges. The mass of ice in the pool began to slowly rotate as if it was caught in a massive whirlpool. Fists of water rose from the center of the pool smashing down, sending chunks and shards of ice flying as they began to pound away at the ice. For a second the fists paused. The water in the pool surged upwards washing small chunks of ice onto its grassy banks and sending a surge of water and ice flowing down the streams. The water receded and the ice began to swirl again the watery fists rising resuming their pounding against the ice as the process repeated.

Shirriah crouched by the fire and watched the ice spin as Syrinx slowly whittled away at the thick ice. She wanted to help but was unsure how. A massive rumble of Thunder rumbled overhead and she looked up at the sky in confusion. There was not a cloud in the sky. There hadn’t been a cloud in the sky all day, she thought. The sky rumbled louder as if in disagreement. The fist of ice began pounding harder and the cycle seemed to speed up.

“Something’s wrong Shirriah, The forest is calling for aid.” Syrinx’s voice whispered in her head. “I can barely feel it through this cold but something is amiss near here.”

The sky roared as a massive clap of thunder Thundered through the air. The sky seemed to rip apart as brilliant white lance pierced down. The ground rocked under Shirriah’s feet and a watery dome surrounded slammed over her extinguishing the fire and shielding her as blast of wind whipped through the clearing. A tendril of water wrapped around her armor and weapons pushing them into the watery dome as the rest of her belongs bounced across the clearing from the fore of the wind. Shirriah shouted her thanks over the thunder as it boomed through in the sky again.

Shirriah hurriedly pulled on her gear as Syrinx’s voice echoed in her mind. “Whatever it is, it’s happening to the south. This cold is blocking most of me but I should be able to assist you. Stay clear of whatever it is till I can catch up with you though.” Shirriah nodded as the dome collapsed around her and she finished buckling her belt around her waist. A second brilliant bolt of light blasted down from the heavens. The dome moved to reform but Shirriah managed to dive over it before it could close the incantation for a Gust Shield already leaving her lips. The air around her rippled and a second blast of wind whipped through the clearing. Her shield rippled but held and she raced across the clearing towards the Syrinx’s southern creek shouting over her shoulder. “I’ll be fine. Follow when you can.” Shirriah disappeared through the willows as a third bolt of light fell from the sky with a thunderous roar.