Chapter 13 — Walk through the morning forest


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Aster]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">On that cold winter morning, a thick, fluffy nket of snow covered everything, painting the forest a pure white. The forest was an enchanting ce, with trees that stretched towards the sky, their branches sagging under the weight of the glistening snow. The sky itself had a<span ss="aiText"> soft, dreamy quality, with a warm orange glow that seemed to seep into the clouds, casting a warm light on the world below<span ss="userText">.


    <span ss="userText">As Nivalis walked through the frozen woods, the frigid wind sliced through the air, a chilling de that pierced through her very bones. Her boots created a satisfying crunch with every step she took, sinking into the freshly fallen snow. The forest was filled with the unmistakable scent of pine, and the air was alive with the joyful chatter of birds perched on the frosty branches.


    <span ss="userText">The snowkes danced gracefully around, their delicate beauty mesmerizing as they drifted slowly toward the earth like tiny, glittering jewels. They piled up,yer uponyer, forming a beautiful, glistening carpet.


    <span ss="userText">It was a serene and peaceful scene, one that could easily lull you into a sense of safety and security. But in truth, it was a deceptive illusion. The forest was a dangerous ce, full of hidden dangers.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia and Aster found themselves snuggled up together on a moving sled, wrapped in thick, warm woolen nkets. Their mother was determined, pulling the sled through the snowyndscape. Silvia held her little brother close, ensuring he was warm. As they ventured deeper into the woods, the only sounds that apanied them were the steady rhythm of their mother''s breathing, the wind whistling past them, and the satisfying crunch of snow underfoot.


    <span ss="userText">This frosty winter morning marked the beginning of a new chapter in all their lives. With every passing step, they left behind the home they once knew, escaping from their father''s grasp. Aster, wrapped tightly in his nket, looked up at his sister. Her grip on him was strong and reassuring, but he couldn''t help but wonder what was happening.


    <span ss="userText">At first, he thought it was just a simple walk they were on. But why take a one-day-old baby on a winter walk? It didn''t make sense, and the more he thought about it, the clearer it became that they were fleeing from something, leaving behind their old life. The reasons behind this sudden escape were still a mystery to him. It was only a matter of time before Aster connected the dots and realized that the man he had encountered earlier that morning was none other than his father.


    <span ss="userText">When he met him, this man had acted really strange that day. Even though he couldn''t understand a word they were saying, Aster saw how scared his mom was and how sad she looked. And how much she cried after he had left. From what he could tell, he was clearly a violent man, abusive and... just horrible. She probably decided that they needed to run away from him. Aster couldn''t agree more with her decision. He felt that this person wouldn''t like him either when he grew up, so leaving seemed like the best thing to do. The only question was where they were going.


    <span ss="userText">...


    Aster, being a baby, had no clear sense of how much time had passed. Babies don''t have clocks in their tiny heads to tell time, so he was simply drifting through the moments. All he knew was that his mom had been walking for what felt like a really, really long time. In baby terms, it might as well have been forever, though, in the world of grown-ups, it was just a few hours. It wasn''t even afternoon yet when you looked at the sun in the sky. His mom, Nivalis, was working hard, pulling a sled that held all their belongings, including Aster and his big sister, Silvia.


    <span ss="userText">Every now and then, Aster managed to peek out from his nkets. The tall trees around them were ice-covered, and the forest was quiet and peaceful. Everything was coated inyers of snow. It felt like a fairy tale, but Aster knew it wasn''t a happy one. It was so silent, except for the sound of his mom breathing heavily, the crunch of snow under her feet, the asional rustling of branches in the wind, and the steady, muffled creaking of the sled.


    <span ss="userText">He felt really worried about his mom. Every now and then, when she stopped to check on him, he could see tiny beads of sweat trickling down her face, her eyes zed with exhaustion, and her skin pale and damp. It was as if she''d been running a race without a finish line, and it was making him concerned.


    <span ss="userText">"She''ll be okay. I have to believe she will," Aster thought. And it seems like his sister had a simr thought because her grip on him was almost suffocating. But he knew he had to be patient. This 5-year-old girl, his sister, was stressed and scared, and the journey was tough for them. However, she showed her mother no signs of her nervousness. He wondered if he could be as brave as her if he were in her little shoes.


    <span ss="userText">On top of it, he thought, "I doubt that my five-year-old sister and my mom, who just gave birth, will be able to protect themselves." So, Aster did his best to stay quiet because he knew that making noise in an unfamiliar forest could be dangerous.


    <span ss="userText">Aster wondered about the animals that might live there. What if a bear or a wolf was lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce? There were so many unknowns in the big, scary forest. He wished he could be like a superhero and protect his mom and sister. But he was just a little baby.


    <span ss="userText">He also thought about his dad - It was strange to think how bad of a man you must be, so your wife and your daughter decide to run into the wilderness, facing the unknown, just to get away from you. It made Aster''s head spin to imagine what kind of person his dad must be to make them run away like this.


    <span ss="userText">"Why am I so unlucky with my fathers in both my lives?" he sighed softly as he closed his eyes, drowsiness taking over his senses.


    <span ss="userText"> And, well, he had some baby issues, as all babies do - he''d made a mess in his diaper and even had a little vomit incident. But hey, it was just baby stuff, nothing anyone should judge him for. Or at least he convinced himself of that.


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Silvia]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">Silvia''s eyes were fixed on the forest around them, looking out for any possible danger despite her mind being numb with fatigue from a sleepless night and fear of the unknown. Even though her butt was sore, and her limbs felt stiff, she held her baby brother close, his tiny, delicate body nestled against hers. His golden eyes peeked out from beneath his cozy nkets, and his lips formed an innocent pout that made Silvia smile at his adorableness whenever she looked at him. Moments like these gave her strength, and the sight of her baby brother''s innocence in the<span ss="aiText">face of danger gave her courage and hope.


    <span ss="aiText">It had been hours since they left their home, and the sun was still low in the sky, its rays reflecting off the snowyndscape. But even though the light had chased away the shadows already, Silvia couldn''t help but feel uneasy, her eyes darting to the trees, watching for any movement.<span ss="userText">But luckily<span ss="aiText">, there were no signs of any danger lurking nearby.


    <span ss="aiText">Their mother continued her relentless march forward, pulling the sled with them on it<span ss="editText">,<span ss="userText">with a determination that belied her frail frame<span ss="aiText">, the muscles in her arms and legs straining from the effort.<span ss="userText">The rope bit into her. She gasped for breath, her face etched with exhaustion and pain<span ss="aiText">, and her pace was starting to falter, but she didn''t let up.<span ss="userText">It was as if the weight of their past had been transferred to that sled, and Nivalis was carrying it all. Nivalis''s determination and love for her children were what kept her going.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia couldn''t shake her worry for her mother. It seemed nothing short of a miracle that Nivalis continued to move, let alone bear the weight of the sled that burdened her. Silvia gazed at her mother''s face, noticing the deep lines of worry etched into her brow and the weariness in her eyes.


    <span ss="userText">— "Mommy, are you okay?" Silvia''s voice trembled with concern, her worry evident.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis turned her tired eyes to her daughter and managed a faint smile. "Y-yes, sweetie. Just a little tired," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. Her words, though soft, carried the warmth of a mother''s love.


    <span ss="userText">Hours of unrelenting walking had drained Nivalis''s strength. Her limbs felt like they were made of lead, and each breath was a struggle. Silvia noticed her mother''s hollowed cheeks, sunken eyes, and skin that had grown pale and damp with exertion.


    <span ss="userText">— "Mommy, please, you should rest," Silvia pleaded, her voice desperate, her concern deepening.


    <span ss="userText">"We can''t, my love. We need to keep moving," Nivalis whispered, her gaze locked on the snowy path ahead. Her eyes were fixed on the uncertain future, on the hope thaty beyond the trees, where safety and happiness might be found.


    <span ss="userText">— "I can walk for a bit to make it easier for you," Silvia insisted, hope shining in her eyes. She wanted to share the burden with her mother.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis turned her gaze back to Silvia, her heart brimming with love and pride for her strong-willed daughter. "It''s alright, Silvia. You just keep your brother warm," she replied, managing a faint smile despite her fatigue. She knew Silvia was willing to do whatever it took to help, and that broughtfort to her tired heart. She had raised apassionate, caring daughter.


    <span ss="userText">— "But, Mommy," Silvia started to argue, but Nivalis gently hushed her with a finger to her lips.


    <span ss="userText">"We''ll take a break soon, okay? I promise," Nivalis reassured her, her voice filled with motherly tenderness.


    <span ss="userText">— "Okay," Silvia whispered, her voice tinged with concern. She trusted her mom''s promise, but<span ss="aiText">she was still worried.


    <span ss="userText">As they continued their exhausting journey, footsteps and lines from the sled marked the snow with a trail that seemed endless. Silvia decided to chat with her baby brother, hoping to distract herself from the overwhelming fear and drowsiness. She leaned in closer to Aster, his small body cradled in her arms. The snowyndscape stretched out around them, and Silvia wanted to fill the silence with herforting words.


    <span ss="userText">— "Hey, little brother," Silvia cooed, her fingers gently touching his cheek, "are you okay?" She couldn''t help but smile at the adorable sight of her baby brother. She felt his warmth against her, and it was a source offort amidst the cold and uncertainty.


    <span ss="userText">Aster gurgled, his innocent eyes blinking up at Silvia. She chuckled softly, knowing he was too young to understand her words. Silvia knew he was just a baby, but she wanted to talk to him, to connect with him in any way she could. "Hehe, I don''t think he understands me yet," she said to herself, her voice full of tenderness. She was a protective big sister, and her heart swelled with love for the little bundle in her arms.


    <span ss="userText">— "That''s okay. I''ll talk to you all the time, and then, you''ll start talking, too," she whispered, her voice soothing and sweet. She looked at his tiny face and wondered about the kind of conversations they would have in the future. Silvia imagined a future where she and her brother would share secrets, stories, andughter.


    <span ss="userText">— "And we will have so much fun! I will show you the prettiest flowers and tell you stories and..." her voice trailed off as the weight of her situation sank in. She thought about the world she wanted to show him and the adventures they would have, but the harsh reality of their situation weighed on her.


    <span ss="userText">— "I wish we could just y and have fun," she thought, a lump forming in her throat. She wished for a normal, happy, carefree childhood for them, not this tough escape through the cold forest. Silvia took a deep breath, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. She wanted to be strong for Aster, to shield him from the fear and uncertainty that lurked in the snowy forest.


    <span ss="userText">— "You''re so lucky, you know. Rxing, all bundled up and warm," she murmured, her lips brushing against her brother''s head. She looked into his innocent eyes and marveled at the pure, untouched world he represented. She envied his innocence, his obliviousness.


    <span ss="userText">With his round, wide eyes, her baby brother looked up at her with sheer wonder. Silvia''s heart swelled with love as she looked at his adorable little face. He was such a cute, tiny thing, like a precious, delicate treasure in her arms.


    <span ss="userText">— "I bet all you are thinking about is milk," Silvia chuckled softly, her voice filled with yful affection. In response, her baby brother opened his mouth, his tiny tongue reaching out as if to taste the air. Silvia couldn''t help but giggle. "Of course you are!" Her cheeks tinged with a blush as she felt an overwhelming sense of love and protectiveness for her baby brother.


    <span ss="userText">Amidst the sweet coos of her brother and Nivalis''sbored breaths, the forest seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with tension. The snowy trees watched over them like silent sentinels, and the rustling of the leaves in the wind created a luby of nature.


    <span ss="userText">Then, out of nowhere, a branch snapped in the forest. It was the loudest thing they''d ever heard in the quiet woods. Nivalis, who had been pulling the sled, froze. Her eyes grew big with rm, and her heart thudded in her chest.


    <span ss="userText">"Shh, keep quiet, Silvia," Nivalis cautioned, her voice low and tense. She knew that in the hush of the forest, even a whisper could be heard by things they might not want to meet.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia nodded, her grip on her baby brother bing even more protective. She felt her heart racing in her chest like a frightened rabbit caught in a trap. Fear hung heavily in the air, making it hard to breathe. The silence was thick and eerie, like the calm before a storm.


    <span ss="userText">They waited in hushed anticipation, their bodies trembling with fear. Every rustle of a leaf seemed magnified in the stillness. It felt like they were holding their breath, afraid even to move. The unknown was their greatest fear, the darkness lurking beyond their vision.


    <span ss="userText">After what felt like an eternity, Nivalis let out a sigh of relief. She resumed pulling the sled, her body still tense with alertness. Silvia''s anxiety eased slightly. But her fear still lingered, like a shadow in the back of her mind, ready to pounce at the first sign of trouble.


    <span ss="userText">— "What was that, Mommy?" Silvia''s voice wavered as she spoke, her eyes wide with worry.


    <span ss="userText">"I''m not sure, sweetie. Probably a rabbit," Nivalis replied, trying to sound confident but with a tightness in her voice that betrayed her unease.


    <span ss="userText">— "But what if it was a wolf?" Silvia asked, her tone rising slightly in rm. She couldn''t help but imagine the worst, her mind conjuring up images of fierce wolves prowling the forest, hungry for prey.


    <span ss="userText">"Don''t worry, Silvia. Wolves aren''t interested in people. They usually stay away from us," Nivalis reassured her, though the worry in her eyes was clear. She wanted to believe her own words, to providefort to her daughter, but the woods held secrets, and those secrets could be scary.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia tried to convince herself that her mother was right, but her imagination was running wild, conjuring images of vicious beasts lurking in the shadows, waiting to attack.<span ss="aiText">She could only hope that the wolves would stay away.


    <span ss="userText">The forest was quiet once more. All that could be heard was the steady crunch of footsteps in the fresh snow and the asional creak of the wooden sled.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia''s mind was filled with questions and uncertainties as they trudged through the snow-covered forest. She wondered about what might be waiting for them at the end of their journey. Would they stumble upon a friendly vige or a weing town? Or would they face rejection and fear from the people they met? The thought of the unknown future made her chest tighten with anxiety.


    <span ss="userText">— "Don''t worry, little brother," Silvia whispered, her voice soft and reassuring. She nced down at her baby brother, who was bundled up warmly, seekingfort in her presence. Her words were meant to offer reassurance not just to him but also to herself. She knew that they were in this together, a tiny family facing the world''s challenges.


    <span ss="userText">The wind howled through the trees, its mournful song echoing through the forest, adding a haunting melody to their journey. Silvia and Aster huddled together in the sled. Their tiny bodies pressed close for warmth and security, like two little birds in a nest. They had been in the same position for quite some time now, finding sce in their togetherness. The sled felt like their safe ind in the sea of snow.


    <span ss="userText">— "You''re so sweet, you know that?" Silvia continued to chat with her little brother, her fingers gently tracing the curve of his cheek, savoring the softness of his skin. She wanted to make sure he felt loved and cared for despite the harshness of their circumstances. Her words were like a warm nket of affection, protecting him from the biting cold of the world.


    <span ss="userText">— "You know, we are a family. You, me, and Mommy. This means we''ll always be together!" Silvia whispered, her voice quivering with emotion. It was a simple truth, but it held immense power andfort for both Silvia and her brother. They were bound by blood and love, and nothing could break that bond, no matter the challenges ahead.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia had no way of knowing that her mother, Nivalis, was listening to herforting words and that they were serving as a source of strength for her. Nivalis had been weary, her shoulders burdened by the weight of their journey. She needed encouragement to continue, and Silvia''s words were like a warm, reassuring hand on her shoulder. The love she felt for her children was the strongest force in the world, and it gave her the strength to keep moving, even when her body cried for rest.


    <span ss="userText">"We are a family," Nivalis whispered so quietly that even Silvia couldn''t hear it. Her voice was thick with emotion, and a single tear trickled down her cheek, glistening like a diamond in the sun''s feeble rays. These words were like a vow, a silent promise that they would face the challenges ahead together.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia''s words brought hope to Nivalis''s heart, a glimmer of light in the darkness that had surrounded her for so long. "We are a family," Nivalis repeated, her voice growing stronger with each utterance. She felt a renewed sense of purpose, her steps quickening as if she had drawn strength from Silvia''s words. The heavy sled felt like a feather, and the cold wind on her cheeks felt refreshing, invigorating her.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia kept chatting with her baby brother, filling the silence with her cheerful voice, not knowing the effect she had on her mother.


    <span ss="userText">As Nivalis pulled the sled, her steps were filled with purpose, her body filled with strength. The sled''s weight, which had seemed impossible, now felt manageable. The cold wind that had chilled her to the bone now felt like a refreshing breeze, and the sun, shining through the trees, was bright and warm, like a beacon of hope.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis stole a nce at her children, a faint but genuine smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Her heart swelled with pride and love as she watched Silvia''s cheerful chatter with her brother.