[Gift] FOTN | Winter Trails

The world below was cold and still. The snow gleamed in the moonlight, softly glowed save for where it was broken by countless steps, belonging to person, animal, and dragon alike. There were many places where the paths diverged, where people peeled off towards a village and where various herds went their own ways.

Morrigan wasn’t quite following them, but there wasn’t much to look at tonight. There were a few clouds higher up and in the distance, and most other birds had wisely migrated before the winter storms came.

Behind him was the steady flap of wings. Mori was unsure how exactly this gaggle of geese had forgotten to migrate, but the ‘why’ wasn’t really his problem. He’d volunteered to lead them to warmer climes. One of the geese honked sullenly, tiredly.

“Are you ready to stop for tonight?” Mori asked the gaggle and was met with a chorus of half-hearted noises that honestly could’ve meant anything. But Mori was also getting tired.

Having made a decision, Mori tipped his steel wings forward and descended towards the snow. Some of the geese landed ahead of him, and they huddled together quickly, fending off the cold with sheer numbers.

Morrigan landed on one of the animal trails, hoping the packed snow would be easier on his metallic limbs, would keeps the bolts and hinges from growing too stiff overnight.

The moment his feet touched the ground, the gaggle paraded over towards him as if he were one of their own, surrounded him until he felt the winter night’s bitter teeth release its hold on his scales. Careful not to crush any of the geese, he curled up in the snow, and slowly they settled around him, with him, feathers fluffed and necks tucked in until he was surrounded by sizable feathery orbs, at least one of which already began to snore.

Mori wasn’t far behind.