WINTER
Legacy Name: W I N T E R

The tail end of a blizzard left the mountain village coated with a hefty few inches of pure white snow as the sun began to hide behind the horizon. Despite being so close to sunset, the small hovel was a bustle of seemingly panicked activity. After hanging and draping numerous holiday decorations, the villagers quickly went inside to lock their doors and shutter their windows. That same scene repeated down the few streets that were still lit, every home decorated and the inhabitants quickly retreating inside.

Large candy canes were left in small cups near the door, wreaths hung on the entrances, and probably all of the tinsel in the province decorating this one village. To anyone entering, it looked like only the most dedicated of holiday-goers resided in this area of the mountains.

As the last of the light faded and the village braced for what must be another blizzard, indeed a different type of storm was brewing in the tallest mountain peak that loomed over the decorated town.

She was as swift as the mountain's wind, and as fearsome as the mightiest snowstorm; hence the simple name she was known by; Winter.

It was always at this time that the dragon made her appearance.

The sleek dragoness hopped down from her cave, the only time in which her hoard of precious and valuable items lay unguarded. Skidding from tree to tree, Winter sent a barrage of miniature snow boulders whizzing towards the village, which thankfully settled in the thick snow before making impact. Her crafty eyes flickered from decoration to decoration, claws taking only the best of the holiday items, of course taking into account how bright and colorful each decoration was. Winter's hoard, after all, was the most festive and glorious of them all. She didn't see the cheerful gazes that looked from behind curtains as the villagers watched to see which of the many items were taken. They weren't about to confront her of course, for that would be rude.

The first year had been an annoyance, the decorations vanishing without a trace.

The second year, they had spotted the dragoness carrying them off to her mountain hoard.

The third year the plan was hatched.

The fourth year had the entire village in a pleasant bustle to provide Winter with only the best decorations for selection, setting out extra items to ensure the dragoness had plenty to select and take.

The fifth year, the new tradition was declared a resounding success.

But, the fearsome dragon title wasn't something anyone wanted to spoil. They enjoyed her arrival every year, an extra event to the holiday that soon followed.

The dragoness hefted the items in her claws and situated the others between her wings, having cleared out most of the streets and houses of their holiday cheer. Winter stopped, on the last selection of houses, and stared at a smaller decoration, clearly made by a child that sat on a snow covered stool. The watching villagers held their breath; they didn't want her to know she was a holiday…

In her claws, the dragoness held a simple wooden carving of what could only be her, covered in tinsel and small clay decorations.

She stared at it for a moment, before promptly adding it to her soon-to-be hoard that was carried up the mountain with a slight smile on her face.

It was only a slight surprise to the crafty dragoness that next year, she was greeted with quite a few holiday items crafted by the children…

Which left an even bigger smile on the 'fearsome' dragoness's face.

Profile by FallenSamurai @ subetagraphics.proboards.com

Background source

Story by Frode

Overlay by seashell