Chapter 44 Snow maiden


    Rose stumbled on certain yet uncertain of her direction. She had not quite reached the cart although many other signs of their prior passage had passed her. She was tired. With only one decent night of rest and the least amount of food she had ever received in three days she began to succumb to the numbness around her. She found herself forgetting silly things and wanting to curl up into a ball to keep warm rather than the necessary exercise. She had run all the previous night again to get as much distance between her and the two would be murderers. Nor did she relent in moving on in the day thinking only of the warmness of her Grandmother’s hearth. She was too exhausted to build another shelter. Too feeble minded to recognize good wood from damp. After two more days of being alone in a cold white blizzard that had finally thrown her off course she saw the Frost approach her once more.


    She slid down against the tree her legs angled out not the least bit proper. He sat next to her and wrapped his arms around her. The Frost stroked her cheek tenderly. She could feel nothing else except the fuzziness of its palm tickling her.


    “Father Winter is really doing well in these parts. Such beautiful shapes to look at and the snow sparkles just like Mother said.” Rose’s lips trembled blue as she dumped out the remains of her basket. She was determined to be pleasant if she must die.


    “I thank you for trying to comfort me in the end. That is a very lovely way to do your duty. Sometimes you know I am always warmer after eating. Could you give me more of a chance?” Her teeth chattered a little as she spoke. Frost nodded and backed off a bit as she gathered her cakes and put the rest of her things away in her basket.


    “I bet the two of us look like two dolls, sitting like this in the snow. My Grandmother sews little white dolls, little maidens I would call them. I suppose once I’m covered I’ll look like that little snow maiden over there.” And it was true as the flurries lightened the snow pile across from them under the opposite tree that looked like a plump white sewn doll. It even had legs sticking out like theirs.


    Seeing it made Rose suddenly very sad, it occurred to her that she might soon look buried in snow. “I really am trying to be resourceful.” She turned and looked up at the Frost. Bits of her face were blurry as it reflected back at her. Or maybe she was finally starting to cry for the first time since the wood. “It’s just that I felt like I had more strength when I took care of other people, not myself.” No it was only one tear, just like her mother. She gracefully wiped it away. She would not feel sorry for herself. Frost tilted its head looking down at her cakes. Her two little pirogs, it pointed as if to say, “Are you going to eat that?” This made her laugh though it hurt her lungs to do so.


    “Would you like some?” she asked. And its fuzzy branch shoulders shrugged. It got up onto its legs in anticipation.


    “Here I want you to have the bigger one.” Rose smiled as she dropped the pirog down into Frost’s hand. Part of her was just curious to see how he would eat it. The creature bowed to her then quickly sped off backwards up a tree. She felt a little jilted but not surprised. She closed her eyes. Something wet touched her nose. She smiled knowing the Frost was once again being mischievous, when she did not open her eyes there came again the same pressure, and then a heavy snorting breath. That startled her awake. Before her was the muzzle of a great white bear. The man eater her Father hunted.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Somehow she forced her muscles to work though it pained her to stand as quickly as she did. Already her back was to a tree. This was not the tranquil way she pictured herself going. Nor the great hunter’s way for her limbs would not even permit her to defend herself. The bear dropped a great pirog from its mouth and licked Rose’s cheek on the same side the Frost had stroked and like the Frost the soft fuzziness of the tongue was all Rose could feel. Suddenly her limbs could move again. Her muscles felt warm and agile. Her insides felt as though she had just swallowed a warm drink.


    The bear looked at her with sparkling black eyes. Just like the Old Jack rabbit. It turned away and walked over to the other snow maiden. It began to brush its great paws against the pile lightly to reveal a real maiden sleeping in the snow. She was lovely even in her ice covered state, perhaps more so because of it. She was wearing a simple dress with light embroidery. It reminded Rose of the dresses her Mother used to wear before Grandmother had started sewing them for her. She had a tight little scarf turban wrapped around her head. Rose moved to touch her and her eyes opened.


    The girl stood up just as abruptly as Rose had without fear in her eyes. She smiled gently and curtsied. Rose smiled and curtsied back, certain she must be dreaming.


    “Is this bear your friend?” Rose said cautiously for the pale white beauty of this girl still overwhelmed her.


    The little maiden looked at the bear and frowned, shaking her head. Then she smiled broadly at Rose and hugged her.


    “Can you talk? What is your name?” Rose spoke in two languages, one for each question for this certainly looked like a foreigner to her and perhaps the older language taught by her Mother could help. The little girl shook her head with a sad frown. She opened her mouth to reveal she had no tongue. Rose clapped her hands over her own mouth to keep from screaming and backed away a distance. Instantly the other girl closed her mouth and looked sadder than ever. The bear made a great noise before Rose could apologize. It shook its head and lowered itself. The other girl looked confused. Rose announced immediately the bear’s wishes.


    “It wants us to climb on its back.” Rose was a little astonished, feeling no fear within her heart. The little snow girl on the other hand looked up the path Rose had just come from with a torn expression.


    “Come on, he''s friendly! I think he saved our lives.” Rose insisted. For she was certain this was so. This bear was a truce offering from the Frost, or perhaps a strange bearer to the underworld. Either way she needed to satisfy her curiosity. If they were dead then they were dead and traveling on a bear would be more fun than wandering the world as a tormented spirit. On the other hand if they lived and he aided them how wondrous would that be?


    She climbed atop the bear with a little difficulty for he was large, strange that her hesitant female friend flung herself up with ease and grace. Soon they were off into the woods. Time became odd, only a moment yet also forever. Then they were before a cottage that looked like Rose’s hata yet also wasn’t. The door opened and inside was a great hearth with a silver flamed fire. Once inside the bear lowered and they slid off, for his back seemed suddenly slippery with melted snow.


    The little Snow maiden pet the bear and as she did more snow arose on the top of his back and slid down his coat.


    “Well that is strange.” Rose stated for his soft warm fur had been comfortable while they were out in the blizzard. “Perhaps he needs to be groomed a bit. Let’s try and see what happens.”


    Just like Grandmother’s cat in the sunlight he sprawled out before the fire. The little snow maiden soon found a brush that Rose felt certain was not on the stool before they had turned around. The more they brushed the more snow fell, as they became frustrated the bear became more amused rolling and panting in it like a great dog.


    Rose began to feel mirthful. She played with the snow and made great stacks wondering why she wasn’t sick of it after being lost for days. Thinking about her weary journey she found her lids growing heavy. They both cuddled next to the bear and fell asleep.