228 Passing Time

The Bleak Lands have been cold, and unforgiving. It was more than Vy and Lycster had predicted. As they stayed huddled next to the small campfire they had built out of materials they had, they rubbed their hands close together as they breathed warm air onto them. 

They had been traversing through the landscape for three days before the impending dark heavy clouds formed overhead. What followed, was unrelenting winds billowing with snow. The Blackfire siblings counted themselves lucky for they found a cave to rest in and call home. 

"How many days has it been?" Lycster asked as he placed his hand nearer to the burning flame. 

"I don't… really know either," Vy replied. 

They had passed the time with chit chat and simple games, but it did feel like it had been going on forever. Had they been there longer than they thought? Aether was coiled up next to Vy. 

-We've been in the cave for just shy of three days.- Aether's voice rang in both of their minds. 

The snow storm did not seem to be lighting up anytime soon. With each passing day, it seemed to be turning into a sinister blizzard. They were not able to tell the difference between night and day either, for they could barely see any form of light when they looked out of the cave. 

Lucky for them, they had stocked up supplies in their spatial storages before they began their journey through the Bleak Lands. At the very least, they would not starve. 

As Vy let out a sigh, she watched as a puff of mist escaped her mouth. Even with the fur coat both of them were wearing, it still felt as if it was getting colder. Her gloved hands were stiff from the cold air. Her toes were freezing up too. 

"Is it just me or it feels like it's getting colder? Vy commented. 

Lycster lit up as he turned to look at his sister. He pulled down the knitted scarf that was coiled around his neck. 

"I was just thinking of that too!" he exclaimed as his breath of air appeared as a puff of mist. 

Even with all the fur-lined coats, winter accessories and burning fire, they were still feeling extremely cold. If the blizzard was to continue, they might not survive the freezing temperatures. 

Vy pondered over what they should do next. The blizzard was way too strong for them to travel through it now. Their only available option now was to wait it out. But they needed a better way to keep warm. 

She thought about shapeshifting into her wolf form. But even her wolf fur would not warm her up enough. Her Raven form was definitely out of the question. However, her Kyu form just might work. 

After all, her Kyu form was able to utilise the elements for fire and ice. She was certain it would do the trick. Vy stood up and walked away from the fire so that she would have more space. 

"What are you doing?" Lycster asked out of curiosity. 

Vy closed her eyes and cleared her mind. She transformed into her Kyu form. Her fur was as white as snow. She had nine fluffy fur tails. Just as she had predicted, Vy no longer cold. It felt as if she was wrapped up in a large toasty fleece blanket. 

Using her Kyu's flame powers, she enhanced the flame of the campfire. Now powered by her magic, the flame did not require wood to burn. Warmth filled the cave. As she settled down next to it, Lycster walked over and huddled next to his sister. 

With her nine tails swaddling him in warm soft fur, Lycster melted in the warmth. Aether slithered over and coiled himself in Vy's fur as well. 

"If we had some music, that would be nice," Vy lamented as she closed her eyes and laid down her head. 

Lycster turned over. From his spatial storage, he brought out a wooden flute. 

"When did you get that?"

"Oh I think when we were in Alterra. I've had another one before but it wasn't in the best condition. So when I saw this one, I got it," Lycster explained. 

Vy turned over to look at her brother. He probably could not read her expression, but her surprise was written all over her face. She never knew he could play the flute. Seeing his sister staring at him blankly in her Kyu form made him feel a little uncomfortable. 

It sent a shiver down his spine. 

"I didn't know you could play the flute."

"Oh," Lycster scratched his head as he said, "It was how I used to pass the time when I was still living on the streets."

Remembering the past was a little bittersweet for the young boy. If he had not been out there all alone, he would never have met Vy. The townsfolk of Timbretune had been kind to him when most others were not. 

"Essin, a travelling musician, taught me the basics of it. I picked one up that someone else had thrown out and practised on it. I'm not really good at it though," Lycster said as he looked away as he blushed a little. 

He had never played the flute in front of anyone else before. 

-Practice makes perfect. Even if it's bad in the beginning.- Aether commented with a grin on a scaly face. 

"Aether!" Vy snapped at him before laughing a little. 

This only made Lycster shy away even more. 

"Ignore him." she told her brother, I want to hear you play."

Lycster smiled a little and nodded his head. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. The first few notes came out a little shaky. But as soon as Lycster got the hang of it, he was able to play it well. 

The music was light, airy and graceful. Vy closed her eyes and laid down her head as she listened to the notes of the flute. Each note was crisp and clear as it echoed throughout the cave. The billowing snow outside the cave served as white noise in the background, alongside the crackling fire. 

Unknown to them, out in the snowstorm, a lone figure was trudging through the compounded snow. Most regular folk would not be able to hear the melodious notes of the flute through the billowing snow. 

But this skull head figure could hear it. 

As his eyesight did not do well in the snow, so he decided to use his heat vision instead. His eyes glowed red as he whispered a few words. Far out in the distance, he noticed several heat signatures. There were people close by, and they were huddled in some sort of cave.