We ducked down under our hood and tighten our collars against the snow that slapped our clothes and cheeks as we trudged through the ever dimming street; We commenced our plan.


    First in our list was Nana''s fabric and sewing store.


    "What, what!? What is this now!?" Nana wetted her lips when we opened the door and saw her putting on some thick gloves and bonnet.


    "Mrs. Nana, we just need your finest sweater, please." I said to her.


    "What for? I ain''t giving my best cotton for just some younglings for some petty bragging! All of my clothes are practicality not for looks!" She hissed at us, and was walking towards the rolls of fabrics. Though, I didn''t ask for any cottons, and just here to buy her already made sweater.


    "Please,"


    Stepped in Lilly and lifted her hood,


    "Your Highness!"


    Nana''s old eyes widen and skin turned paler than the snow outside.


    "We''re doing this for Mrs. May."


    Next was Wendy,


    "And Rex Fisher''s daughter!?"


    Her eyes widen more and was taken a back when she reached for the edge of the table where the rolls off fabrics laid.


    "In my shop!? No! Get out! All of you aristocratic and style and profit driven merchants! Out! Out!"


    Picking up a fabric roll she began whacking us. Even if her skeletal arms was prune and body was ravaged by decades upon decades of aging she seemed to have gotten the better of us, thwacking our head to in fro.


    "It''s for May!" I dodged down from her attack and swiped my own fabric roll and parried her incoming attack that, "What about her?"


    To my surprise she countered within a blink and slapped my wrist dropping the roll and continued her fabric onslaught at us.


    "She''s neglecting herself, she''s using her black armor as her only clothes for this entire winter!" She then pressed her fabric roll on my mouth.


    "Only her armor? For the entire winter?" Finally, she gave us permission to explain properly. From her reenlisting and has been out there searching for the monster for weeks without end. I told her about our plan to, maybe, get her home. By the end of story old Nana has herarms crossed and ancient eyes squinting at us which I replied with a serious look.


    "That brat really is a loose unruly button! Which one of you three is a sharp needle at sewin''?"


    Lilly was left behind. Me and Wendy once again faced the biting snow and darted towards baker street towards Mrs. Laura''s whom, when entering, was ready to give us fresh baked bread and an open ear to give when our boots got out of the sea of snow.


    "I''ll handle this, you get the other stuff!" I ordered Wendy which she nodded and shoved her hands in her pockets when she left.


    Mrs. Lauren told me everything that I have to do. I helped her chop wood and rekindled the oven while I married water, flour, and starch to birth out the dough. Then with a roller and half of my strength I thinned the newly born dough for the pie. After that I stripped and sliced chicken meat where I placed the poultry on the metal thing and buried it with the blanket of dough I made.


    It was Mrs. Lauren and her ancient stone oven that was next. Even if it was ancient in my standards it was a whole new beast to me. Unlike the gas oven that only needed a match, switch, and monthly fee this bricked one needed dedication; putting logs in and out, timing the right temperature, and sweating yourself once it was time to place the pie inside that raging gaping inferno. "It will be done by night time," Remarked Mrs. Laura to me when we slid the two pies in and covered the oven.


    "How will you get out of the gates by then? Oh, and this storm, if your bringing the pies out then I better tuck them in a thick cover inside the basket for your travels."


    I assured her that we will find away to go outside, somehow. In the meantime as the whistle of wind blew outside and the oven emanates its warm influence throughout the flour filled room I began to create the fourth thing to give her. Something I was good at school but never got to use here, then again it''s been a while I hope I''m not too rusty.


    Eventually, Wendy came back. I have to look twice on what she cradled on her chest. Rubbing away the some spots of snow. Its brilliant dark red color sparkled at the only light source we had in this bakery. It was the most sought out cheap drink that every single mother I met would includes this in their list in the grocery store. It''s trash back home but in this world it would be bargained for a box of gold. I only asked for some good ale, wine or beer, and I expected her to being back a small compatible barrel not a wine bottle.


    "It''s rare but if its for Mrs. May then I''m willing to give this to her for what she''s done to me, plus..." She began to look at me eyes seemed to twinkle when her lips quirk up to a warm smile that melted the snow all over her. "I was saving this for our wedding, but if it increases our bargaining power, then so be it."


    She raised the wine bottle as her eyes widen telling me nothing is more valuable than my mother.


    "Now, you younglings be careful,


    Cooed Mrs. Lauren as she gave me the tight cloth covered basket that contained two of May''s favorite pie. I could still feel the heat warming though the basket.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "And make sure you bring May home."


    After waving our hands, me and Wendy dipped our boots once more through ankle deep snow and night veiled street. What little visibility we enjoyed was taken away when snowfall began to worsen than earlier. It was still traversable but the whiplash was stunting our progress step by step our heads have to retreat further in our hood just to keep the kiss of freeze sting out face again. The torrent was damming that, once we did reach the tailor shop we had practically dump buckets of snow off us when we reached the steps of the tailor.


    "Is it done?"


    I


    eagerly ran to them to look at the creation they made.


    "Quite!"


    Exclaimed Nana raising a lamp as Lilly held up the creation they made. Just by the uncanny familiar sight and when my cold fingers embraced the soft cottony and linen... The warm nostalgic modern texture ran to my nerves and memory of my Erika''s wardrobe and love of long coats.


    With Lilly''s youthful hands responsible for the design of rich lapiz lazuli blue and brimming red while the texture and durability was by the veteran hands of Nana''s speciality. It looked like an expensive Parisian long coat summoned by the hands of Nana and Lilly in this world for May.


    "


    Her Majesty is quite the needle and eye for great fabric choices."


    Added Nana rubbing the coat on her smile filled cheeks.


    "Anything for the captain that protected the citizens of Ellena and my subjects."


    She the folded the coat and gave me and stepped up to me and asked with a smile: What''s next?


    And I hugged them. Wendy, Lilly, and Nana, it was cold outside but warm right now.


    "Don''t thank us yet," said Wendy when I let go,


    "All of this labor and investment won''t mean anything if we can''t get out."


    "Well, you guys are here, why not just show some paper or something to let us through,"


    Better yet, Lilly should just a request for a leave this was suggested by Mrs. Nana who decided to tag along with usp.


    "I better sew some sense into that brat again!"


    She then oiled and lit her lamp and gave it to me.


    "Problem is, I can''t show ourselves..."


    Said Lilly. She just snuck out with the help of Wendy, which is a surprise to me but I could see that smug on Wendy''s face.


    "Alright, look, I''ll think of something along the way."


    I held the lamp and carried the basket, Wendy carried her rare red wine bottle, Lilly cradled their special creation and Nana was holding a fabric roll for some reason.


    I decided to tread back to the Inn first -- plan something out there before heading out.


    Before any of that we saw three men with lanterns illuminating from the distance and knocking on the door of the Inn calling out for me. They were guards but I''m sure who it is the snow and lack of light since only one man was calling that until we got nearer and nearer when the knocking became banging, "Elfien! We''re coming in!" It was O''Brian as he bursted the door open.


    "Father and mother must have realized I escaped the Manor."


    Gasped Lilly.


    "Well, find another way then."


    When we turned back we saw another figure behind us.


    "It is you..."


    From his voice and how tall this guard is. He widen his eyes when we our lamp revealed his face. Kenneth.


    "Captain! They''re here!"


    He alerted them.


    "Run!"


    Cried Nana as he battered Kenneth to his chin with his fabric roll.


    Even when we had head start for a few minuets they were fast... Or were just slow. Unlike us whose feet were struggling to lift off from the snow and trudge trough the worsening weather. O''Brian and his men breezed through it like it was Sunday morning jog.


    For sure they''re going to caught up. That''s why I lead everyone into the narrow and less snowy alleyway. We snaked left and right -- me leading the way towards any direction just to loose O''Brian and his men. Their metallic boots crunched the snow and echoed soft at first but each passing second it seemed to become louder and louder. Like they somehow knew where we were going.


    Anxiety filled my mind as the light could only weakly penetrate the winter darkness. A log, create, or even me slipping could result in disaster for us. And it did. I hit someone, making us all stop.


    "Elfien!?"


    Just from his blue eyes John grabbed my by the collar.


    "Aha! So, think you just could walk out of your promise on us rabbits!?"


    "To hell to with the bread! We need to get out of here, John!"


    I tried to punch and scuffle my way out of from his hands as I could hear O''Brian''s very breath nearing us but John wasn''t budging.


    "Halt I say, halt!"


    "What''s the hold up sonny!?"


    "Elfien! They''re coming!"


    "Please, help us! I beg of you!"


    Stepped in Lilly and looked at John who whispered and like reflexes said "Lady Juliana??" he turned his head up and giving a smooth loud whistle.


    "Ahhh!"


    An avalanche of wood and rubbish was thrown behind us. Looking behind the guards were blocked and Wendy safe.


    "Gwhaha! A rabbit always has its dirty tricks."


    I heard Grant guffawing from behind the barricade of rubbish.


    "This is why I went bull."


    "Enough! Lead us to the main street!" O''Brian shouted and they''re metallic steps echoed away with the snow.


    "What are you guys doing here? Overtime on playing soldier?" I grabbed him by his collar.


    "Kinda." He rubbed the back of his head and his cheeks glowed.


    "Warren guardsmen always stays vigilant!"


    I shone the lantern up to that voice and saw that the creates and rubbish where from above this tool shop where me and Wendy first met - The Black Forge. I couldn''t help but smile from the help we got from Billy and Grayson who was walking back down.


    "Follow me."


    I said as Billy and Grayson met up with us and if my memory hasn''t failed me the path I''m leading them will soon spit us out to the baker street again. Which I was right.


    We were all panting like dogs at this point. Plus sweating while freezing is hurting us bad that''s for sure. Furthermore, when we reached Mrs. Lauren''s bakery it was closed. Every bakery is closed now and the weather was now throwing a torrent of pebble sized snow at us.


    "What do we do now?"


    They didn''t ask me that but, just looking at their winded and snow battered faces, that''s what we''re all thinking now. Wendy, Lilly, Nana, John, Billy, and Grayson looked at me like I had the answer.


    Before I could say anything the metal footsteps were encroaching around us and felt one man could jump out of the abyss our lanterns couldn''t penetrate. We''re freezing to our tails, and we now we were back in square one.