Moonspear cold mountain

@Dirge! But AW! Feel free to skip to the last paragraph.

It was strange to think of it being only just autumn; there was a cold dread in the air that she associated with something else. Winter. Or perhaps the silence that came with winter. The uncertainty and fear. The day of Galaxy's death had dawned cold and white and ruthless. Korei, too, had disappeared into a winter storm.

What dread things would wait for them in this year's snow? What worries, what misery? Alya was thrown suddenly back into this time a year before, when she'd been injured in Aditya's pack. When she'd met her sister once more. She recalled that it had been shortly after that — and in winter! — when Nikai had been returned to her.

There is still hope in the world, she promised herself, looking around at the cave filled with skulls and knowing also that she was strong, that she had conquered all things that had been put in her path. She stood, casting one last glance over her shoulder, and exited the Cerberus's lair to range down toward the borders. She would wait for Hydra to visit the loud youth of the woods, but there was no reason not to go and introduce herself to their allies.