Frost Springs

Snow drifted down, swirling in the cold wind. A never-ending blanket of white-coated the mountain town, but the residents were never bothered by its presence. Jnae moved steadily along the path, her feet sure. Even if she wasn’t confident of her ability to navigate the icy terrain, she wouldn’t fear injuring herself with a fall.

Jnae carried a basket of goods through the market, nestled against the cliffs in a mountain pass. Some of the shops were carved into the mountain itself and others leaned into the cliffs, weaving with the curves of the ridge. She passed by other shoppers, able to recognize them simply by their gait and the slit of eyes visible between their hat and scarf. They nodded in greeting, no one bothering to remove their hands from their coats to wave.

Inside the stores was a different story. Jnae pulled down her scarf upon entering the grocer. Villagers milled around, conversing as they warmed up before venturing back into the cold. They swapped recipes and shared how their children were faring. Some even sipped a cup of warm broth made from the grocer’s hardiest vegetables. Jnae chatted with a few of them as she picked out some cabbage and garlic for her mother’s rabbit stew.

Completing the last of her errands, she wrapped her scarf tightly around her face and ventured forth. She was used to the biting cold and the stiffness of her joints, but that made the sight of the springs no less inviting. They flowed through the mountains, steam rising where the hot waters met the cold air. Jnae continued on for a time, wanting to get closer to home before indulging herself.

She reached her usual spot, where a boulder sat near the springs for her to lean against. She placed her basket in the snow and propped herself against the bolder before removing her boots. Rolling up her pants, she sunk her feet into the steaming springs, sighing in relief.

A tingle started in her feet and spread up her body. The waters of the spring banished the cold and eased her aching joints and tense muscles. Every twinge of discomfort left her body. They were minor annoyances, but she was no less soothed by their removal. Feeling energized, Jnae moved to pull her feet from the water but stopped as she saw a group of villagers hurrying in her direction.

Three men carried a fourth between them, his leg twisted grotesquely. He gritted his teeth as he spits out, “Hurry up you bastards. Get me into the spring.” The other men laughed and lowered him into the springs next to Jnae. Instantly, the wounded man’s face slackened in relief. Jnae watched as his leg repaired itself, bones snapping back into place and skin knitting together.

“That looked painful. You should be more careful,” Jnae told the young man.

“We live next to a healing spring. Why play it safe?” the man said.

His words rang in her head, Why play it safe? But isn’t that exactly what they were doing? Those who were healthy, relied on the springs to protect them from the slightest pain during their daily lives. Unable to risk going out into the world and being wounded.

Sure, there were those that needed the springs. They were a miracle to many of the townsfolk. But there were also those like her, who were born in Frost Springs, who had the possibility of surviving elsewhere if they chose. Yet they stayed.

Certainly, when she was younger, she didn’t have a choice. Her parents couldn’t leave, not with her father’s condition. As soon as he left the mountain, the magic would wear off. But she was a grown woman now. She could choose a different life.

The man took in her serious face. “You should have a little more fun, Jnae,” he said with a smirk.

Jnae removed her legs from the springs without a word. She pulled on her boots and headed for home. There was one major question though. If she left, what would await her once the magic of the springs wore off?

...

Jnae walked through the door of her cottage and dropped the groceries on the table. It was a small house that she shared with her parents, but it was cozy as her favorite sweater. It was a good life she had here, but she wanted more for herself.

She kissed her mom on the cheek and began helping her in the kitchen. Her mom began heating up a pot of water, while Jnae chopped the cabbage. They worked in silence for a moment, while Jnae braced herself for what she had to say.

“Mom, what was life like before you and dad came to Frost Springs?” she asked.

“Life was good. Your father and I were happy, but not as happy as once we had you in our life,” her mother stopped her work to kiss her on the forehead.

Jnae smiled. “I mean, what’s the world like off of the mountain?”

“Not so cold.” Her mother laughed. “There’s places it never snows, where the sun always shines. And the flowers are beautiful,” she sighed wistfully. “Your father used to bring me flowers every year on our anniversary.”

Jnae hadn’t known that. She decided she’d bring some flowers back for her mother.

“I want to go,” Jnae said, “to the outside world.”

Her mother’s peaceful, reminiscent expression vanished. “You can’t.”

“I can. I didn’t come here to fix an illness like father. I’m healthy.”

“You don’t know that for sure.” Her mother began to shake. “You could have inherited it. That’s why all the babies born here are dipped into the springs.”

Jnae put an arm around her mother. “I’ll be fine, mom. I need to do this.”

Her mother pulled from her embrace, turning angry. “Do you know how lucky you are? Do you know how many people are hurt and dying that would give anything to be able to make it here? How many die trying to climb the mountain?”

“If it is so great to be here, free of pain, then why doesn’t everyone want to live here?” Jnae crossed her arms. ”Maybe they realize that living life on their terms is worth the hurt; that freedom is worth pain.”

“But it may cost you more than that, Jnae. This freedom you speak of may cost you your very life. You may never even get to experience it,” her mom pleaded with her.

“You’re right. I could get to the bottom of the mountain and drop dead. But what if I don’t? What if I spent my whole life trapped here, living in fear when I was capable of so much more?”

“And your father and I…we mean so little to you?” Her mother’s expression filled with hurt. “You know we cannot leave.”

“Mama, that’s not it at all. I can come back. It doesn’t need to be forever. But I have to live my own life, find my own purpose.” Jnae took her mom’s hands. “I was born into this life. I haven’t had a chance to experience everything that’s out there. I’ve never even seen a flower, or felt a warm summer’s day.”

This gave her mother pause. Frost Springs was perpetually in a state of winter. It could have been the altitude, but some said it was the price of the magic springs.

She examined Jnae’s face. “You’ll be careful? And come back?”

“I promise.”

...

Jnae was ready. Her mom had crammed everything she could in her pack and checked it three times to make sure nothing important was forgotten. Her dad went over the best route down the mountain, and directions to the nearest town. Finally, she hugged them both in a tear-filled goodbye.

Being from the mountain town, the road that was treacherous to outsiders was not difficult for Jnae to navigate. She climbed over boulders and pressed against the mountain when the path narrowed. The springs trickled to an end before she was even halfway down the mountain, but she didn’t stop to heal the exhaustion from her body. What would be the point? It took the entire day, but by dusk, she was nearing the bottom. She paused before a boundary marker labeled “Frost Springs”.

Jnae took a deep breath. She could always turn back, but she’d already come this far. She’d just take a step over the boundary. If anything terrible happened, she could return home, surely. How likely was it that she’d immediately die before she could cross back over the boundary? Her mouth felt as dry as her cheeks got in a biting wind.

She stepped one foot forward. Nothing. Then, the other. Jnae shuddered, as aches from old injuries she had forgotten about manifested. Her left knee was throbbing, and she thought about the time she had twisted it when her leg got caught between two boulders. There was a sharp pain in her right forearm. As a child, she fractured a bone when she tried to brace a fall with her arm. Was the fracture back now, since it had never healed naturally? Not to mention, her muscles felt sore and her joints ached.

Was this how people normally felt after years in cold mountainous terrain, never taking care of their bodies? Or was there something more that was wrong with her?

Jnae resolved to go on. She was in discomfort, but it was bearable. She had to at least see some of the outside world. She could go back if it got to be too much.

She followed a dirt trail that led away from the mountain, curving through the surrounding hills. Her discomfort worsened until she decided to rest for a bit. She pulled a snack from her bag and munched on it while she thought. It would be fully dark soon. She had to keep going until she found shelter.

Jnae resumed her walk, but it wasn’t long before she was limping. Her knee was really hurting now. She thought about finding a spot to camp nearby, but she rounded a bend and saw lights in the distance.

Jnae gritted her teeth and limped on. She didn’t know how long she could handle this pain, how long before she had to return home, but she was determined to at least spend a day in the village ahead. She had to get something for her efforts.

As she neared the town, a young man spotted her dragging her nearly useless leg down the road. He rushed to help her.

“Are you alright?” he asked. Concern filled his hazel eyes.

“I’m fine; it’s an old injury. I just need a place to rest.”

“Let me help you.” He pushed his shaggy brown hair from his face, before sliding an arm under her shoulders.

Jnae didn’t object. She leaned against him, as they hobbled down the lane. He took her to a small, quiet inn, settling her gently in a chair. He disappeared and returned a moment later with a bag of ice. He slid a stool under her leg, wrapped the ice in a towel, and placed the ice on her knee.

“This should help,” he said with a smile. “If you have an old injury, why were you out walking so far? Were you in danger?”

“I…” Jnae wasn’t sure how much to tell this man. “I didn’t realize a long walk would cause so much pain, even if I had a bad knee. Is that normal?”

He laughed. “Yes, that’s quite normal.”

Jnae sighed with relief.

“Wait…are you from Frost Springs?” he asked.

“I am.” Her face flushed. “I didn’t realize people felt this kind of pain from a twisted knee that happened years ago, or that all my muscles would ache by the time I made it here,” she yawned, “or that I could feel so exhausted. My knee is already starting to feel better though.”

He laughed again. “With the ice and some rest, you should feel better by tomorrow. Just don’t go on another hike anytime soon.”

“Really, that’s it? Well, this isn’t so bad,” Jnae replied.

The man extended his hand. “I’m Keldric.”

“Jnae,” she said as she took his hand.

He didn’t drop her hand right away, and his eyes glittered as he said, “You know Jnae, I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”

...

What did you think of the story? Would you have left Frost Springs? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks so much for reading!

Clever & WTF