Aletta Katz
Rusty orange leaves fell in front of the pair occasionally, the satisfying crunch of those along the path crinkled in the air, and golden rays illuminated the dirt here and there, just enough to help a weary traveler pick through the underbrush, and avoid the occasional tree root, which threatened to trip both man and beast alike. Yet one could feel the cold creeping of a storm, and the dark clouds on the horizon said even more.
A lone figure, worn and dusty from a long journey, plodded along the forgotten road to an equally forgotten town. The mount that carried them was souring, her lack of appreciation for the self-employed quest of her rider very clear. The dusty grey mare, visibly on in years, pinned her ears as she was prodded to go faster. The rider didn’t seem to notice the growing irritation and instead was preoccupied with struggling to open the worn map, however, the mare settled into a quiet loathing given she couldn’t bring herself to waste energy on such a troublesome thing.
At some point, the rider resigned to angrily shoving the map back into the pocket of the saddlebag, quickly followed by curses not even sailors would use. With nothing but golden, flowing fields, she couldn’t help but miss living in the capital. Everything, although beautiful, left her feeling minuscule and forgotten. Everything was within a walking distance, at least in the district she occupied. Now, she had left home in search of ancient texts, although if she had it her way, the booksellers in town would have had the old tomes she required. It was a strange discovery, of course, that she could do the things she could do. She didn’t know--and wouldn’t have cared to know-- if it wasn’t so strange, so freakish. Aletta liked being the center of attention, but not like this. No one treated it like a fun party trick, which was all it really amounted to. They all had... stared. Most watched in horror as the vibrant green plant shriveled, wilting away to a blackened husk beneath her hands. Aletta didn’t like the look on their faces. All she had wanted to do was show off to the blue-eyed lass, but now all she could do was wander along a deserted road with the opposite of what she would normally keep as company.
A few more hours passed, filled with the dejected conversation between the rider and the horse that ignored them. The pair picked up the pace as the path widened, the duo emerging from underneath the trees to admire the sight before them. Green pastures, just starting to brown and go quiet for the end of the season, stretched out on either side of the road ahead, and clouds rolling lazily above the landscape drew her eye across the expanse. The only thing Aletta was sure of now was that you couldn’t get views like this in the city. Leaves swirling in the breeze caught her attention and led it to a cluster of buildings below them, lively little figures bustling about with various wares or goods.
As she approached, the orange-pink that once adorned the sky was now gone, covered by an ever-darkening cloud. The rain had started abruptly, and now it came down in harsh sheets as Aletta neared the outskirts of the quaint little town. There were still some miles to travel, but at some point, it would become dark and the road would become a death trap. A light flickered alive nearby, the joyous boom of laughter catching her ears. As she drew near, the inn's sign could just barely be seen, but it was enough. She leaves her mount in an empty stall before racing across the path and barrelling into the door. Aletta, now soaked through to the bone, stood in front of the inn-goers, dripping water from head to toe. With an awkward smile, she finds the floor in front of the fire is empty and drops to the floor, stretching in front of the warm flames with a relieved sigh, eyes flickering around the room as everybody returned to their drinks.
Warming, with Sleet and Heavy Icing
