Winters Tempest

The man awoke with a start dripping in cold sweat despite the freezing wind cutting through him. He was disorientated and unsure of his surroundings, he sat up and looked around attempting to gain his bearings. He could ascertain upon quick reasoning that he had awoken in a cave though how he had come to be there he could not recall. It’s then the man realized that was not all he couldn’t recall, he was unsure of his name or age or even where he was from. He couldn’t recall his parents or if he even had parents to remember. An icy wind rips through the cave drawing in freshly fallen snow but this is no ordinary wind the man can tell instantly. As if his thoughts summons the manifestation of them the wind began to swirl around the cave faster and faster till the snow inside looked like a tornado. From within the cyclone a figure appeared, it was taller than a man and stood hunched and looked almost translucent.

The figure spoke in a voice that could only be described like the sound of brittle leaves being crushed, “I bring a grave warning to you Roderick, go to the Pond of Mist and confront the Mistwrath that stole your memories or it shall eventually consume your life.”

Roderick was in stunned silence, for as if this creature could do magic unknown to this world he began to remember who he was as where he had been going. “Where do I find this pond good creature?” Roderick asked.

“Follow the tempest winter winds north they will direct you.” Said the creature as the wind died and its form dissipated with it.

For three full days Roderick followed the winds changing direction when they did and quickening his pace when it seems the wind demanded it of him. As the sun crest the horizon on the fourth day he saw what he knew had to be the Pond of Mist for it looked as if this part of the land had rendered itself to a perpetual freeze and was shrouded by a thick mist that left one from outside of it virtually blind to the happenings within. Dread welled up inside of him causing his chest to feel tight but he knew there was no other option and so he marched right into the mist with all the courage and strength he could muster.

Once inside it was as if the mist lifted enough for him to clearly make out the frozen pond before him. Looking down he noticed many sets of foot prints leading out into the center of the pond but quickly noticed there were no prints coming back to the shore. This he knew was grounds for concern but had come too far now to give in to his fears and so he trudged forward right onto the pond and right to its center location. As soon as his foot hit the middle the pond began to shake and crack beneath him and mist poured out from them. The mist pulled itself together to reveal what he assumed was a Mistwrath. Created with mist but stronger than steel they stood a good 12 feet tall with long beards and covered head to toe with a milky overtone to him.

Instantly telepathic battles were fought and though outwardly it seemed as if nothing but a dusting of snow was disturbed you could see sweat forming on Roedericks brow despite the sub arctic cold. After long last the Mistwrath falls to his knees and makes a scream that sounded as if glass was falling to hard ground shattering into a million pieces. Cracks form all over his body and the mist jets out of all those cracks until finally the wraith withers and perishes the in the center of the frozen pond. Almost instantly Roderick is bathed in an unknown light and the mist begins to lift from around him and disipate into the air. As he makes it back to shore the last remnants of ice melts from the pond and green foliage sprouts up as far as the eye can see and he stands there allowing himself to be enveloped. The events of this last week have forever changed Roderick and the mental scars will always show people what the price he paid was to be the first and probably last half Mistwrath. Created and shaped by darkness but purified by the light Roderick stands alone as a tower of warmth in a world of an eternal tempest winter.