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Alabaster and the Ring of Winter

Chapter 1

The Midsummer Festival

by Sanada

***

The sounds of revelry and song filled the well-kept cobblestone streets of Sarcous, packed with countless people, vendors and festival-goers. The Midsummer Festival was in full swing, a time of celebrating the zenith of the summer months and everything it brought. People cheered, others hawked their wares to any who would listen, and the echoes of laughter flew from every direction.

Alabaster sat at a small, knicked up wooden table, one paw wrapped around his stein, the other holding his masked face up as he watched the crowd milling about. The raccoon sighed contently, taking a sip from the frothy metal cup.

He lifted his gaze up to the sky after a moment of reflection, smiling to himself as the deep reds and oranges of evening filled the air, several small clouds streaked in purple dotting the sky. The twinkling of stars began to appear, one by one and his smile nearly reached his ears before he let his vision drop down to his mug.

His earthen brown eyes scanned the crowd, looking for his friends. It was hard to pick them out amongst the dense citizenry, but he managed to spot the lanky otter and the small mouse beside him. Each held a stein of their own in hand, large, happy grins plastered across their faces as they weaved through the throng of people, out from the cluster that had gathered around the fair-sized kiosk offering one of the local tavern's brews.

"Alabaster! What are you doing, sitting there all by your lonesome?" the mouse asked, dropping into the chair beside him. Maria Elducor was her name, and the rodent flicked a long strand of dusty blond hair from her face. "We've been looking all over for you. Your mother said you were probably down here somewhere."

Alabaster grinned sheepishly, taking a swig from his mug of ale before replying.

"I was just taking a break from my own search, really. It's hard to spot two people in all of this," the raccoon said, waving a paw at the crowd.

"No kidding," the otter, Terrance Brakwater, replied. "I haven't seen the festival this busy since the lot of us were kids. Seems like a good year so far."

"All the more cause for celebration," Maria remarked with a nod.

Alabaster smiled. Terrance was correct. It had been many years since the festival drew this much attention. People from all over the kingdom had turned out, or so it appeared. Alabaster spotted more than one group of nobility amongst the commoners, likely from Coraseth, perhaps even from Eveningsun or far off Talondale City. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves; singing, drinking and dancing, regardless of station. The Midsummer Festival was the biggest celebration of the year in Sarcous, and it always tended to be busy, but never this much.

Alabaster went back to watching the crowd as Maria and Terrance started talking about some of the other festivities going on. Alabaster's ear twitched when the mouse suggested the three of them relocate to the town center where a band of musicians played and the populace's feet fluttered about with dance and merriment.

"Oh, come on, Terry! It will be so much fun!" Maria whined playfully, tugging on the brown furred otter's tunic. Terrance just crossed his arms and shook his head.

"You know I can't dance. Never have," Terrance said, drawing a pout on the rodent's visage.

"Neither can I, but that hasn't stopped me before," Alabaster added with a grin.

"See? Even Alabaster will dance. Why can't you?" Maria insisted.

"I'd rather sit here and drink and watch than look like a fool in front of the entire town and then some!"

Alabaster laughed, leaning forward with a sly grin. "Come on, Terry. We all know you're a fool anyway. What's the harm in one little dance? You're gonna make Maria cry."

The otter snorted derisively, bringing his stein to his lips, but the raccoon could see the tell-tale smirk on Terrance's whiskered muzzle. He'd join them, eventually. The otter wouldn't enjoy being left on his own for a while and would follow after them soon enough.

Alabaster smirked behind the gilded iron stein, sipping the strong mead and going back to his observations. It still amazed him how large the crowd was this year, and if all of the homes opened their doors to travelers tonight, the raccoon doubted Sarcous could even contain the amount of people present.

A crowd of people in frilly dresses and meticulously kept uniform suits travelled down the street, Alabaster letting his gaze trail with them for sometime. His eyes fell to the fanciful golden hilts of the swords the men carried; the blades kept hidden within their scabbards of intricate design and recently polished leathers. Laughter and talk followed after the group as the sea of people blocked his view of them.

No doubt heading towards the town square for dancing, Alabaster thought, draining the rest of his frothy mug. A place he knew he'd be dragged too very shortly.

Banners of every colour and streamers just the same hung from long poles along the sides of the lanes, weaving into the colourful tarps of the merchant stands before continuing on down the way. Small lanterns hung from the lines, shedding a hint of orange amongst the many hues present within the city and giving it an aura of excitement that was almost tangible. Alabaster could sense the thrill and the games in the air, in the peoples' voices, and in the way they walked and strolled about. It was a sea of happy smiles; painted across muzzles, beaks, and lips.

The Midsummer Festival was always his favourite time of year; a time where all forgot the troubles of the world, at least in Sarcous. It was a time where people of many races, lineages and faiths came to celebrate the coming harvest. Though he knew that the festival was a celebration of Malorin, the patron goddess of agriculture and vegetation, Alabaster often just saw it as an excuse to drink and have fun with his friends. More often than not, he noticed most others felt the same. Except for the druids of Runas Forest, southeast of town.

With a contented sigh, Alabaster pushed himself off the table bench, Maria and Terrance breaking away from their conversation to regard him.

"Heading off already?" Terrance asked. "It's not even moon peak yet."

"What? Oh no. I was just thinking of gracing our lady-friend here with a dance she so desperately wants," Alabaster smirked back, extending a paw to Maria. "Shall we go, my dear?"

Maria giggled, flicking her hair out of her face with a toss of her head and took his paw in hers. "Take lessons, Terry. You could learn something from our esteemed Sir Whitefield."

Terrance snorted again, shaking his head.

"An esteemed idiot more like it," the otter muttered into his mug, his voice echoing out. He waved a paw at the pair. "Go on, go on. I'll catch up with you later."

Maria hooked an arm around Alabaster's own when he extended it to her, her other paw holding up part of her skirt as she dipped into a small curtsy.

"Shall we go, my lord?" she asked with her best Corasethian noblewoman accent. Alabaster laughed and nodded, pulling her close by.

"Indeed, my fair maiden. Let us be away from this boorish fellow before the stink of mead stains our attire."

The two managed to duck the stein that flew their way, followed by the curses of a not-so-angry otter. The pair laughed the entire way down the street.

* * *

Alabaster blew a low whistle, admiring the sight. Festival workers had decorated the town square to perfection: banners hung from the roofs of the stores and houses surrounding the square, pots filled with flowers of various shapes, sizes and colours and lanterns, their flickering flames dancing much like those of the townspeople in the square.

A group of musicians sat by the large fountain resting in the center of the cobblestone street, their fingers plucking away at lutes and singing the tale of the Midsummer Festival. It was one Alabaster heard every year; a hauntingly beautiful melody about how Malorin created the seasons and the forests. The plucks of the lute's notes came slow and serious like the growth of great oaks, much like the spells worked by the Runas druids.

The raccoon smiled, his arm still wrapped around Maria's own as they joined the twirling and frolicking people.

"Shall I take your lead?" Maria asked with a smile upon her whiskered muzzle. Alabaster grinned, blushing despite himself. It wasn't the first time Maria and he had done this, but it always set his heart aflutter.

"If you insist," he replied happily, taking her paws in his own.

Their feet weaved amongst the crowd, Alabaster leading Maria through a routine the both had grown rather familiar with. The pair wove between the crowds, their tails kept close to their bodies; Maria's thin appendage eventually entwining with Alabaster's own, bare flesh wrapping around ringed fur. He smiled at her, admiring her graceful movements as he twirled her, the rodent's sea green skirt fluttering around. Maria, despite her youth and commoner status, carried herself with a grace and poise Alabaster couldn't even see amongst most nobles, and there were plenty of those amongst the crowd.

The way her long hair bounced upon her shoulders, and the way her sapphire coloured eyes sparkled amongst the firelight brought a happy smile to his lips. Tucked neatly behind her right ear was a golden yellow daffodil. He had bought it for her on the way to the square, stopping at one of the multitude of shops dotting the streets.

"You didn't have to, you know," Maria said, taking note of where the raccoon's eyes were. Alabaster just smiled as spun her about, the mouse's flowing hair streaming behind her like a river of cascading gold.

"I wanted to though," Alabaster replied with a bashful smirk. Maria smiled sweetly back and moved closer to peck him on the cheek.

The bards' song came to an end and the two moved out of the way as the musicians started up another song, this one a little more jovial. The dancers separated, bouncing upon their feet and laughing as the group started their ballad, this time about a daring young thief who snuck into a maiden's bedroom by mistake.

The two friends moved off to the side, finding a bench of worked oak with blue trim and plopping down onto it, laughing and smiling. The mood of the crowd was infectious.

"It's nice to see everyone so happy for a change," Maria said after a time, reaching a paw up to fix the flower behind her ear. Alabaster nodded.

"Yes. No need to worry about the beasts of the forest or the dangers of the outside world. Father says the forest trolls have been growing increasingly active in the woods.

"Really? I can't imagine why. Don't they usually go into hiding during the summer?" Maria asked, turning to face the reclining ringtail. Again, Alabaster nodded.

"That's what father tells me. Oh well, they've never really proven to be that much of a problem anyway. I told you about the time I almost ran into one, right?"

The mouse rolled her eyes.

"About a thousand times, yes. You weren't paying attention and had strayed a little too far into the woods than you should have and what you thought was a tree-trunk ended up being one of those foul smelling beasts."

"Yup! It's a good thing I was so quick?"

"More likely, it was a good thing your father happened to be nearby to hear you squeal like a little girl," a voice called from behind them. The pair turned to see Terrance strolling up the street, paws in the pockets of his breeches and his thick tail swinging casually behind him.

"That too," Alabaster added quickly with a grin. "I could have taken it though."

Terrance laughed. "Your father might be part of the guard, but I don't recall him ever letting you handle a sword before, let alone teaching you how to swing it."

That brought an embarrassed flush to Alabaster's cheeks and he dropped his gaze to the stonework street. He heard Maria scold the otter, but it didn't really matter. He wasn't angry anyway.

Adventure; excitement, going out and seeing the wide world. It was a dream he always wanted to follow, but he knew that his parents would never allow it. You're too young, they would always say. Despite his eighteen summers, Alabaster knew he would be lost in the world by himself. Where would he go? What would he do?

Still, the incessant pang and desire to go out and explore would always rear its unquestionably tempting head, even if he rationalized why he shouldn't leave town. His father, Conner, was going to enlist him amongst the city guard by his twentieth summer, always insisting that it would be all the excitement the young raccoon would ever need. Alabaster highly doubted it.

"Care for another dance?" Terrance asked, extending a paw to Maria while tossing a wink to Alabaster. The raccoon grinned, nodding. Maria looked between the two, shrugged her shoulders and allowed Terrance to pull her to her feet.

"I'll go get us some drinks while you two enjoy yourselves," Alabaster said, reaching for the small leather pouch hanging from a string on his belt.

"Ale for me," Terrance called to him as Maria dragged him off. The mouse waved her free paw in the air, indicating she wanted the same. Alabaster merely shook his head, smiling and turned to find one of the many kiosks dispensing drinks to the crowd. He tossed his coin purse into the air, catching the pouch with a pleasant jingle as the metal inside clinked together happily.

Tonight was proving to be a good night indeed.

* * *

Towson Fairmount sighed, adjusting the long spear he carried against his shoulder and shaking the sleep from his eyes. He could hear the revelry within town even from out here in the woods; the shouts, laughs and hollers of Sarcous, along with the plethora of travelers the city had brought this year, all having a good time at the festival.

"I hate patrol duty," the guardsman muttered to himself, kicking a loose stone out of his way. The rock bounced off a tree with a dull crack before skidding off into the deepening gloom of the forest.

"Everything okay over there?" called Rashister, Towson's partner for the evening. The bloodhound's fellow guardsman poked his head out from beyond a large boulder that sat to the side of the path. Towson nodded.

"Aye. Just bored. Would rather be at Old Bill's drinkin' instead of watchin'," Towson complained. Rashister nodded, the whiskers on his feline face bobbing as he did.

"Shift is almost done. We'll be able to hit the tavern soon enough."

"Sooner the better," Towson gruffed, continuing his stroll down the path.

The hound wasn't really paying attention. Trolls never seemed to show their ugly faces during the summer months, but recent reports had said that lately, they had been striking out at unwary travelers. Towson didn't think much of it. He'd fought trolls before. The brutes were big, but nothing Rashister and he couldn't handle.

The forest was dark, though he could just barely make out the evening sky through the thick canopy of branches and leaves overhead. The sky was streaked with vibrant pinks and purples, clouds of flaming orange and dark navy. Now and then, he spotted a star twinkling into existence. At least the scenery was good. The summer months were always a good time to watch the impressive hues of sunset.

"What I wouldn't give for a pint of Bill's stout right now, Rashister," Towson said, coming up to the rock that the cat was resting behind.

"Aye. Nice and frothy, spilling over the mug and onto the table. With Hilda serving, no doubt," Rashister laughed, clapping his fellow guardsman on the shoulder.

"And then taking her up to bed, too," Towson added with a wink and a nudge that sent both men laughing.

The two continued their patrol, chain mail boots clinking and thudding against the soft ground as they rounded the northern bend of the path that would eventually lead them to the north gate of the city. A shrill breeze kicked up through the forest, rustling the leaves and causing the wood to creak and groan loudly.

"Whew, that's chill," Rashister said, stopping in his tracks. The feline's ears twitched about, listening to the howl of the cold wind.

"Aye. What kind of breeze like that comes around in the summer?" Towson muttered. The bloodhound blinked, taking note of the puff of white steam that he had just exhaled. "Seems like Malorin's gone a bit crazy this year."

Rashister held up a hand, silencing his fellow guardsman, the feline cocking his ear towards the forest. The faintest sounds of creaking and cracking echoed from beyond the trees. The cat growled low, reaffirming his grip upon his spear and motioning for Towson to do the same. Back to back they went, their eyes scanning the deepening gloom of the forest. Towson glanced up, noticing how clouds had moved to block out the sunset he had viewed but moments before.

"Something isn't right here," Towson whispered, but Rashister just nudged him with the butt of his spear, silencing the dog.

"Quiet. Listen," the cat instructed, and Towson nodded, his large, drooping ears straining to catch the noise that his fellow had evidently heard.

The cracking sound continued all around them as the air grew steadily colder and still. Their breath came out in great puffs of white, and it was all Towson could do not to just drop his spear and rub his chilly hands together for warmth. For many moments, the pair stood, their backs to one another, waiting and watching. Nothing came out of the forest; even though Towson was sure he heard the snap of twigs amongst the popping of old wood.

"I don't see anything," Towson finally said. Rashister nodded, relaxing his guard some and moving towards the trees, using his fine feline sight to see if any trouble was headed their way.

Nothing. The woods sat still and quiet. It was as if a preternatural winter had settled in.

With a sigh, Rashister scratched an itch upon his brow and placed a gloved hand against the bark of a large oak, only to feel his fingers slipping down the wood. The cat turned and his jaw dropped. The wood was coated in an increasingly thick layer of frost.

"I think you're right," Rashister said to the dog. "Malorin has gone off her rocker."

"Aye. Look around you, everything is frosting up and freezing," Towson muttered, letting his old brown eyes drift from one piece of flora to the next.

The brilliant white frost snaked its way along the tree bark, filling in the cracks and groves along the wood. Everywhere Towson peered, the encroaching frost covered, seeping through the forest as night steals colour from the day. Rashister knelt to the ground, and the bloodhound peered down at him.

The cat's finger trailed along the leaves of a budding summer flower, the green disappearing amongst a sheet of white, withering away as the colourful bud closed back up.

"I've never seen anything like this," Rashister said, climbing back to his feet and turning to face the canine guardsman. The feline cocked his head, noting the shocked expression upon Towson's face. "What're you looking at, Tow?"

Rashister never finished that sentence as a heavy, spiked club came down upon his head, squashing it like a ripened autumn gourd. The feline's body crumpled to the ground, lifeless as the forest troll pushed it out of the way, standing menacingly before the hound.

Towson shook off his shock quickly, leaping back a few steps and readying his spear. A hand fell down to the horn at his waist, which, if blown, would sound an alert to every other patrol in the nearby area. If he got the chance that was. A pair of the brutish, stinking, green-skinned monsters stole forth from the woods, weapons bared.

Towson could smell their fetid breath even from here, the stinking fumes coming out in thick white clouds from between their sharp teeth and large noses. Outnumbered, and with more coming from behind the trees further in, the hound knew he couldn't possibly fight them off. He also knew he didn't have time to unhook the horn and sound for help. Towson did the only thing he could do. The hound ran as fast as he could.

The frost had spilled over the pathway, making it slippery. Within the space of a few steps, Towson went down to his knees, sliding on the slick dirt as the forest trolls closed in.

Damn, he spat angrily to himself. Pick yourself up! Hurry or you're dead!

One of the trolls, the one who had slain Rashister shouted something in its guttural language and heaved its club at the fleeing dog. The stout piece of wood cracked the dog behind the knees, stealing Towson's balance and sending him to the ground.

The last thing the guardsman saw was a swiftly descending cudgel falling toward his face through the frosty air.

* * *

Alabaster carried the foaming mugs between his paws, grinning as the bubbling white spilled over the top and pooled around his fingers before dripping to the ground with satisfying splatters. Terrance and Maria sat at a table near the center, just beyond the twirling and happy forms of the dancers, still whirling away the hours as the bards struck up another chord.

The raccoon set the mugs down and they each took a nice, long drink.

"Thanks, Alabaster," Terrance said with a grin, some of the foam sticking to his whiskers. Maria giggled and brushed the stuff away from his lip with a paw. "And, Maria."

"Not a problem. Here is to a night of good drinks and entertainment," Alabaster said, raising his mug up, the others doing suit before the three clanked them together and took another gulp. They sat for a time, talking amongst themselves and watching the sights around them.

Alabaster blinked as he peered up at the sky.

"Wasn't it mostly clear today?" he asked, sounding a little perplexed. The others followed his gaze.

"Yes, it was. It was near perfectly clear when we got here," Maria agreed. "Oh well. It's just a big cloud."

A chill wind blew down the street, sending a shiver rolling along Alabaster's spine. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and the racoon looked around, perplexed.

"You felt that, didn't you?" he asked the others, to which they nodded.

"Yeah. Why is the wind so cold in the middle of the summer?" Terrance wondered aloud. The otter looked about and Alabaster followed his gaze. Some of the lanterns had blown out, their heat sapped by the frigid gust of air. Maria shivered in her seat, wrapping her arms about herself.

"Strange. No matter, it was probably just wind blowing down from the mountains or something," Alabaster laughed, shrugging off the effects of the cold. Aside from that one gust, things seemed fine. The bards continued their song and the people still spun and twirled about as if nothing had happened.

The raccoon took another sip, sat his stein down with a satisfying "thunk" against the wood and stood up, motioning for Maria to join him. All smiles, the mouse gladly accepted the invitation, letting Alabaster lead her back into the crowd, calling for Terrance to watch their drinks. With a bemused smirk, the otter nodded his accord and turned back to his own mug.

"Another dance?" Alabaster asked, placing his paw against Maria' side. The music had slowed down to something more befitting a place such as the royal hall of Castle Coraseth, but the elegant melody didn't deter anyone.

Maria's whiskered muzzle turned up in a playful grin and let herself fall into the music, Alabaster leading as before.

"Such a gentleman," she chided playfully, taking his arm with her paw.

"I try my best," Alabaster replied happily as they moved with the flow of the crowd.

Another gust of cold air blew past them, but they never skipped a beat. It was as if they were in their own world, alone except for each other and with the graceful melody in the background. So entranced was Alabaster in the heat of the moment that when something frigid and icy fell upon his nose did he finally snap out of his trance.

The raccoon peered at the flake of ivory upon the bridge of his muzzle, going nearly cross-eyed, watching as the thing melted into the tiniest of puddles and disappearing beneath the fur.

"Huh?" he asked, more to himself than anyone. Maria tugged at his arm.

"Look!" she stammered, pointing towards the sky.

A cascade of pearly white flakes of snow began to fall, slowly at first, but quickly becoming harsh.

"By the Gods!" Alabaster heard someone cry, and he too, wondered what had spurred this act of weather to happen in the middle of summer.

"Snow?" he whispered, shaking the ivory powder off the sleeves of his tunic. "Now?"

The music stopped and the gasps and murmurs amongst the crowd became almost deafening. Alabaster looked down at Maria, the mouse pulling the daffodil from her ear and blowing the snow from its petals. Another sliver of icy gale blew down the street, into their faces and stealing the flower from Maria's paw.

"What is going on?!" Alabaster heard Terrance call out as he rushed over to join them. The lanterns rattled amongst the lines that held them aloft, their flames dying quickly as the blizzard fell over Sarcous.

"No idea. I think someone really ticked off Malorin though," the raccoon said, smirking, despite the situation.

"It certainly seems like such," Maria muttered, her gaze locked in the direction the daffodil flew off to. Both men turned to her, and Alabaster frowned, seeing the lost look in her eyes. The mouse quickly shook off the shock though, facing them. "Well, if it's going to snow, I think I'm going to head home now. No doubt my parents would be worrying about me in this weather while wearing...this," she said, flicking her paws downward at her dress, which was already becoming more white than green.

"That's probably a good idea," Terrance agreed, flicking some of the snow off his shoulder. "I'll catch up with you both later on."

The two turned away, Terrance hooking Maria's arm in his own and leaving Alabaster to his thoughts. Home. That was most likely the best place to be right now, out of the chill and by a nice, warm fire in the hearth.

I wonder what father is thinking right now with this weather happening, Alabaster wondered, kicking some of the snow off his shoes as he left the dance area. Already people were scurrying about, securing their wares and shutting their stores. The inns would be very full this night, he knew.

"So much for the festival," Alabaster snickered despite himself as a small banner blew off its line, the quick-fingered youth snatching it up in his paw before it touched the ground. The material was cold and wet to the touch, the vibrant red that it once was now darkened by dampness.

With a sigh, Alabaster tossed the scrap of cloth to the street and started his way back home.

* * *

The weather continued much the same for the next few days. Though the falling snow had lightened some, the wind remained frigid and chill, sending drifts cascading down from the rooftops. A blanket of white had fallen over Sarcous and the surrounding area, casting the city into a winter months before it should have ever arrived.

As Alabaster suspected, the Midsummer Festival ended prematurely. That hardly deterred the raccoon though, as he jogged over one tremendous mound of snow, a ball of the stuff in paw. Bedecked in a warm, fur lined coat and thick-soled boots, Alabaster hardly seemed phased by the weather as he wound his arm and let the snow ball fly.

"Ow!" Terrance shouted from the bottom of the hill. The otter shook his head, ridding himself of the crusted snow upon his whiskers. "I'll get you for that one!" he shouted back. Alabaster grinned widely and ducked behind the hill again.

Alabaster slid down the powdered slope, skidding to a stop and falling to his rump behind the makeshift wall of snow Maria and he had created. They heard Terrance's laboured breath as the otter crested the hill, panting and wheezing as he did. Alabaster looked up just in time to see the otter toss a snowball toward him, the globe splattering against the wall in a flurry of chilly sparkles and wetness.

"You'll have to try harder than that, Terry!" Alabaster shouted up at him as both Maria and himself let fly their orbs of frosty retribution.

"Oh, come on! This is hardly fair!" the otter snapped, dropping to the ground to dodge the missiles.

"You should have picked sides sooner than!" Maria laughed, launching another ball, this one pegging the otter in the shoulder. Terrance rubbed his shoulder tenderly, giving Maria a look that promised revenge. His ire was stolen as another ball struck him in the face, knocking him down and over the top of the hill.

"Bull's eye!" Alabaster cheered.

"I think you might have actually hurt him this time, Alabaster," Maria snickered, shaking the fallen snow from the hood of her winter cloak. The raccoon grinned at her, teeth flashing.

"Think we should go check on him?" he asked, noting that Terrance had yet to climb back up.

"Maybe."

With a nod, the two friends started up the hill. Alabaster mentioned how his father had come back from patrol duty the night the snow had begun to fall. Two men had gone missing in the woods.

"You think trolls got them?" Maria asked, glancing over her shoulder towards the forest that loomed behind them. Alabaster shrugged.

"I don't know. Father wasn't sure either, but he said they had tightened up the watch since then. Half a dozen guards for forest patrols; three everywhere else within the city. Apparently this weather has made people a little crazed," Alabaster explained. Maria shrugged.

"Well, it is Flamecrest. I doubt anyone expected to see snow for another season at the earliest. Terry, are you alright?" Maria called. A groan was her answer.

The two reached the top of the hill and chuckled. Terrance was sitting, holding a finger against the side of his nose. A small splatter of blood stood out defiantly against the tide of white upon the ground. Alabaster cursed and knelt beside his friend.

"Sorry, Terry. I didn't mean to hit you so hard," the raccoon offered. Maria was beside them in a heartbeat, digging through the pocket of her thick coat and pulling out a small handkerchief, offering it to Terrance. With a nod of thanks, the otter stuck the cloth under his blood-oozing nostril.

"You have quite the arm," Terrance muttered, allowing his friends to help him to his feet. "Does it look broken?"

Alabaster snorted. "No. It's just bleeding. You'll be fine."

"Good. I'd hate to break it some more when I pay you back!" Terrance said, lunging at the raccoon with lightning speed. Maria gasped; watching as the two boys tussled and turned, rolling back down the side of the hill, their laughs echoing back up. The mouse shook her head and went after them. Then she froze, mouth hanging agape.

"Time to exact my revenge!" Terrance laughed, grabbing a fistful of snow and shoving it into Alabaster's face. The raccoon struggled and pushed against Terrance's heavier weight, eventually squirming far enough away to tackle him to the ground.

"Not before I finish you off!" Alabaster promised with a satisfied grin, pinning Terrance's arms to the ground.

"Oh, you already made my nose bleed. It's my turn!" Terrance laughed, struggling against Alabaster's strong grip. Alabaster just made a "tsk, tsk" sound when he heard Maria scream, her voice cutting through the blustering wind like a knife through butter.

"Huh?" Terrance asked, looking up the hill. Alabaster followed his gaze. Maria was pointing frantically, towards the forest.

"Run! Get away!" she shouted, panic in her tone. The two boys blinked and turned to look the other way.

A forest troll, with beady black eyes, sharp fangs and skin the colour of frost stood before them, leering menacingly down. The thing's scraggly clothing barely covered its massive frame, the troll's hulking chest stretching the fur it wore to its frayed limits.

Before they could react, the troll lunged at Alabaster, grabbing him by the back of his cloak and hoisting him off the ground. Terrance scrambled backwards, stammering wide-eyed at the scene.

"Alabaster!" Maria screamed, falling to her knees, watching as the troll held the raccoon aloft with a single clawed hand. In the other, it held a wickedly spiked club.

Alabaster didn't even hear her. He struggled against the titan-like grip on his cloak, kicking at the monster's torso with hardly any effect. The thing was nearly twice the height that he was tall and he could smell its rancid breath as it held him aloft.

"Tasty!" the troll muttered to him, and Alabaster nearly gagged on the smell of rancid meat. He could see the yellow and red stains upon the troll's fangs and he had no desire to add a fresh coat of paint to them.

"Hey, you! Let him go!" Terrance shouted, hurling his arm forward and letting a snowball fly. The orb collided with the troll, striking him squarely in the eye. It howled, loosening its grip on the raccoon long enough for Alabaster to slip a hand to his boot and pull out a small knife, a present his father had given him years before.

Terrance threw another snowball, but this time, the troll ignored it, instead using Alabaster as a shield.

"Tiny otter! Smash you next!" the troll roared. It returned its attention back to the raccoon in his paw, only to find Alabaster's paw sailing downwards towards its ugly face. The knife tore through skin, black blood spilling over the snow. How the troll howled then, as it dropped Alabaster to the ground.

"Alabaster! Run!" Maria called. He wasted no time in following those orders.

Alabaster picked himself up, blood-stained knife still in hand and ran; Terrance right behind him. Maria turned and slid down the back of the hill, catching up with them as the troll recovered, rushing forward, and issuing a roar of anger.

"We have to get help!" Maria shouted as they ran, their legs carrying them as fast as they could. Terrance nodded.

"The gate isn't too far. Look!" the otter answered, stabbing a finger forward. The southern gate of Sarcous came into view around another hill. Already the guards had spotted them, weapons at the ready as Maria waved her arms frantically in the air above her head.

Everything seemed to be spinning out of control for Alabaster. The raccoon's lungs ached from the exertion, his mind whirling. He had almost been eaten by a troll! A cold, nervous shiver ran down his spine and he looked at the blood upon his knife and paw, the blood of the troll. He'd never forget what it felt like to feel that blade slicing through the beast's spongy flesh.

"What's going on?!" the guardsman demanded, noting the frightened expressions upon the three friends' faces. He was hit by three different stories at once. "One at a time, one at a time!" he shouted, slamming the butt end of his spear to the ground. "You," he instructed, pointing to Alabaster. "Why do you hold a knife?"

"Troll!" Alabaster blurted, turning back towards where they had been. His mouth dropped open, terror seizing his body up.

"Gods...!" the pair of guardsmen stammered, holding their spears at the ready.

Maria couldn't help but scream and Alabaster caught Terrance grab one of her paws in his own. Neither of them could tear their gaze away from the sight.

An army of trolls rushed forth from the forest, armed and ready for war. The wave of massive bodies surged forth like the tide upon a beach.

Alabaster looked down at his knife doubtfully. The trolls kept coming.

***

Many thanks goes to Eldyran! Your edits help me tremendously and are fun to read. ;)