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Description
A lone figure walked through the deserted town. Snow fell lightly onto the ground, leaving a blanket with holes wherever the person stepped. How they wished they could go into one of those cozily warm cabins and taste the sweet broth, whose aroma steamed through the smoke stacks. It was almost tempting, and they were sure they’d be welcomed inside, but they resisted, trekking on and past the cabins to the forest beyond.
The figure stopped momentarily before continuing, as the woods were rumored to contain beasts far more sinister than any would dare encounter. Under the cloak, the person clutched their dagger in a closed palm, hoping they wouldn’t need it tonight. Stepping more lively, they bounded through the trees, stopping only to check the position of the moon and stars for reference. It was already later than expected and the later it got, the person knew it would only get colder.
Muttering under the wind, they paused in another clearing to check the time when they heard the cracking of approaching footsteps from behind. Wielding the dagger, glared at the follower from under the cloak’s hood. The footsteps stopped momentarily, although there was nothing in sight, before the blade was gently pushed to the person’s side.
“You’re late,” a deep voice said and the air in front of the cloaked figure shimmered before revealing the follower. The young man wore a mask of ivory to cover his features, but the person knew who it was. “Come. Before we all freeze.”
With a nod, the cloak moved with the occupant, blowing gracefully behind their steps. They sheathed their blade. There would be no use for it with the people they were meeting. Each one could not overthrow the other or chaos would ensue indefinitely.
Passing through a group of brambles, the man disappeared and the figure followed eagerly after him. A splash of warmth enveloped them as they entered a large room. Seats were set around a table, filled by one of their brothers or sisters, each with their own face hidden from view.
As the new arrivals took their assigned seats, another young man, tall and strong, stood at the head of the table. His voice was cold as he spoke. “Tardy as always sister; your excuses are never welcome.”
“Then you should not set ridiculous meeting times, brother,” the figure spoke, her voice clear and strong, despite his condescending tone towards her. “I am not the only one here last-”
“No, but you make a habit of it,” he hissed back at her. She opened her mouth to retaliate as most of their siblings muttered or nodded, but closed it as he spoke up again. “This is of some importance, as you know, yet you delayed. Typical.”
She fumed, red in the face, but it was no use causing a scene here. She already knew that in that room, she was not only the least welcome, but also the least appreciated. She could only think that it was because her siblings hated her existence. “Then I won’t waste your time any longer. What has happened River?”
River sat back down in his chair, his strong hand gripping the table in front of him. She could see the twitch of his pulse in his neck. He only ever got that when he was thinking hard. The silence lasted long enough for Brother Marsh, the one who met her in the woods, to pipe up.
“River, what has happened? Is it the hunters?” Marsh asked, most of his dark hair curling around his mask as it was pushed to the side and back. She knew that that would get River to speak, since he seemed to hate answering her so much.
A curt nod from River sent them all a flutter with questions.
“Have they found us?”
“Is everyone sure they weren’t followed?”
She was the only one looking around. Keeping her silence until the sounds had fallen to a light din, she spoke up.
“Is that why Brother Feint’s cane is here, but he is not?”
Everyone stared at her and she motioned with her chin to an elaborately carved stick propped up against the cabin wall. They had all passed it, but only she had since concluded its meaning. “He has passed, hasn’t he, by hunters’ hands.”
Another curt nod, “Yes, Brother Feint is no more, or should I say-“
Sister Rose, who sat across from him at the table, banged her hand loudly to get attention. She stood; her hood drooped over her face. “For father’s sake, do not speak his name River. If you know, then you were obviously with him at his passing. Many have died these past few moon risings in company of others and saying his name would only reveal your own. In your best interest, let him rest.”
“How could you?!” The tardy sister ground out. She was angry. Feint had been one of the few who would have stood up to River and defended her. “You should have healed him! You should have used your powers to –“
“You think I didn’t try!” he yelled back, his voice overpowering hers. “You think I’m lazy and a brute, don’t you Firest.” She didn’t reply, feeling indignant that he spoke to her that way. “I cared for our brother just as much as you. I was there as the hunters murdered him. You have no idea the pressure I put on myself, trying to save him.”
The room was silent as he caught his breath. Indeed, the trials he spoke of marked him in the form of the long scar that dripped down his mask. It only appeared if he had used his powers too much. Firest clenched her jaw.
“So how much longer until they find us, Brother River?” she asked, forcing her voice to a calmed level.
He now sat in the head chair again, looking at each sibling but skipping over Firest. “Without question they will find us. But we can’t let them gain anymore knowledge then the already do.” He stumbled for his words for a moment. “I would like to invoke emergency protocol number 13.”
Firest frowned.
“If I may,” another man said, standing. He surpassed River’s height easily when upright, but still leaned forward across the table. “Number 13 is really quite dire. We would lose everything we-“
“I know Brother Airis,” River sighed, hanging his head. It was the first time Firest had seen any kind of regretful behavior from him. “But Feint was the oldest of us. He hadn’t even passed on the elder secrets to the rest of us. We cannot risk it.
“I…” he paused, bringing something out of his pocket. It was a small sack of powder, which he opened “I took the liberty of tracking this down in the last few days. If you wouldn’t mind brewing one last pot of tea, Sister Rose.”
At the end of the long table, Rose stood and complied. Firest was shaking, fearful. There was no telling what would happen once they had the powder and tea drink.
Passing around the 13 cups with powder, Rose poured their final drink. Firest shakily took her cup and raised it as River began a toast.
“To the hopeful reunitement of us, my siblings,” he began. “Let this not be the end of the Powers.”

Description
A lone figure walked through the deserted town. Snow fell lightly onto the ground, leaving a blanket with holes wherever the person stepped. How they wished they could go into one of those cozily warm cabins and taste the sweet broth, whose aroma steamed through the smoke stacks. It was almost tempting, and they were sure they’d be welcomed inside, but they resisted, trekking on and past the cabins to the forest beyond.
The figure stopped momentarily before continuing, as the woods were rumored to contain beasts far more sinister than any would dare encounter. Under the cloak, the person clutched their dagger in a closed palm, hoping they wouldn’t need it tonight. Stepping more lively, they bounded through the trees, stopping only to check the position of the moon and stars for reference. It was already later than expected and the later it got, the person knew it would only get colder.
Muttering under the wind, they paused in another clearing to check the time when they heard the cracking of approaching footsteps from behind. Wielding the dagger, glared at the follower from under the cloak’s hood. The footsteps stopped momentarily, although there was nothing in sight, before the blade was gently pushed to the person’s side.
“You’re late,” a deep voice said and the air in front of the cloaked figure shimmered before revealing the follower. The young man wore a mask of ivory to cover his features, but the person knew who it was. “Come. Before we all freeze.”
With a nod, the cloak moved with the occupant, blowing gracefully behind their steps. They sheathed their blade. There would be no use for it with the people they were meeting. Each one could not overthrow the other or chaos would ensue indefinitely.
Passing through a group of brambles, the man disappeared and the figure followed eagerly after him. A splash of warmth enveloped them as they entered a large room. Seats were set around a table, filled by one of their brothers or sisters, each with their own face hidden from view.
As the new arrivals took their assigned seats, another young man, tall and strong, stood at the head of the table. His voice was cold as he spoke. “Tardy as always sister; your excuses are never welcome.”
“Then you should not set ridiculous meeting times, brother,” the figure spoke, her voice clear and strong, despite his condescending tone towards her. “I am not the only one here last-”
“No, but you make a habit of it,” he hissed back at her. She opened her mouth to retaliate as most of their siblings muttered or nodded, but closed it as he spoke up again. “This is of some importance, as you know, yet you delayed. Typical.”
She fumed, red in the face, but it was no use causing a scene here. She already knew that in that room, she was not only the least welcome, but also the least appreciated. She could only think that it was because her siblings hated her existence. “Then I won’t waste your time any longer. What has happened River?”
River sat back down in his chair, his strong hand gripping the table in front of him. She could see the twitch of his pulse in his neck. He only ever got that when he was thinking hard. The silence lasted long enough for Brother Marsh, the one who met her in the woods, to pipe up.
“River, what has happened? Is it the hunters?” Marsh asked, most of his dark hair curling around his mask as it was pushed to the side and back. She knew that that would get River to speak, since he seemed to hate answering her so much.
A curt nod from River sent them all a flutter with questions.
“Have they found us?”
“Is everyone sure they weren’t followed?”
She was the only one looking around. Keeping her silence until the sounds had fallen to a light din, she spoke up.
“Is that why Brother Feint’s cane is here, but he is not?”
Everyone stared at her and she motioned with her chin to an elaborately carved stick propped up against the cabin wall. They had all passed it, but only she had since concluded its meaning. “He has passed, hasn’t he, by hunters’ hands.”
Another curt nod, “Yes, Brother Feint is no more, or should I say-“
Sister Rose, who sat across from him at the table, banged her hand loudly to get attention. She stood; her hood drooped over her face. “For father’s sake, do not speak his name River. If you know, then you were obviously with him at his passing. Many have died these past few moon risings in company of others and saying his name would only reveal your own. In your best interest, let him rest.”
“How could you?!” The tardy sister ground out. She was angry. Feint had been one of the few who would have stood up to River and defended her. “You should have healed him! You should have used your powers to –“
“You think I didn’t try!” he yelled back, his voice overpowering hers. “You think I’m lazy and a brute, don’t you Firest.” She didn’t reply, feeling indignant that he spoke to her that way. “I cared for our brother just as much as you. I was there as the hunters murdered him. You have no idea the pressure I put on myself, trying to save him.”
The room was silent as he caught his breath. Indeed, the trials he spoke of marked him in the form of the long scar that dripped down his mask. It only appeared if he had used his powers too much. Firest clenched her jaw.
“So how much longer until they find us, Brother River?” she asked, forcing her voice to a calmed level.
He now sat in the head chair again, looking at each sibling but skipping over Firest. “Without question they will find us. But we can’t let them gain anymore knowledge then the already do.” He stumbled for his words for a moment. “I would like to invoke emergency protocol number 13.”
Firest frowned.
“If I may,” another man said, standing. He surpassed River’s height easily when upright, but still leaned forward across the table. “Number 13 is really quite dire. We would lose everything we-“
“I know Brother Airis,” River sighed, hanging his head. It was the first time Firest had seen any kind of regretful behavior from him. “But Feint was the oldest of us. He hadn’t even passed on the elder secrets to the rest of us. We cannot risk it.
“I…” he paused, bringing something out of his pocket. It was a small sack of powder, which he opened “I took the liberty of tracking this down in the last few days. If you wouldn’t mind brewing one last pot of tea, Sister Rose.”
At the end of the long table, Rose stood and complied. Firest was shaking, fearful. There was no telling what would happen once they had the powder and tea drink.
Passing around the 13 cups with powder, Rose poured their final drink. Firest shakily took her cup and raised it as River began a toast.
“To the hopeful reunitement of us, my siblings,” he began. “Let this not be the end of the Powers.”