Snowflakes lazily drift down from the sky, a lackadaisical decent toward the mountain below. Come springtime, the snow will melt and run into the River of Wolfcastle and provide water to the Kingdom of Luralia. The snow, however, is ever unaware of such the fate it is destined for, as she continues to fall from the heavens to blanket the mountains every winter.

Trees sway and groan from added weight of snow upon them, providing harmony to the wind's howl as it races through the valley and threatens to rip away the cloak that hangs over my shoulders. The wind is mischievous, but I know better than to let him take my cloak. A small smile grows on my face as I pull my cloak tighter around my shoulders and adjust the pack of firewood strapped to my back before continuing my journey back to the lodge.

The faint scent of smoke and cooking meats drifts through the air as I draw closer to the lodge, and confusion begins to cloud my mind. I put out the fire before heading out, didn't I? I shake my head before walking up to the spruce doorway and shrugging off the firewood, placing it beside the door. Taking a deep breath, I stamp leftover snow off of my boots before making my way inside. It's time to see whatever nuisance found a way inside.

A blast of heat nearly causes me to double take as I'm greeted to the sight of a young servant girl staring at me with fearful eyes. "Lord Finnegan, you're home later than expected," her voice was cautious as she spoke, as if she was afraid I would harm her if she spoke out of turn. I look at her with narrowed eyes. Who does she belong to, and why are they in my home?

"I wasn't expecting guests," I mumble as I begin to strip off the scarf that covered half of my face. "If you would have sent warning of your visit, I would've been more prepared." Letting out a sigh, I pull off my gloves and begin to remove my cloak.

"Let me help you with your cloak, my lord," the servant girl speaks up and quickly moves toward me. I recoil slightly, unused to the urgency of this girl's actions. It has been a while since I was last served by another being.

"No, no," I hold up a hand and she pauses, her eyes wide with fear. "I am in no need of assistance, but thank you for your generosity." She furrows her eyebrows for a moment, seemingly unsure of what to do in a situation like this. I tilt my head as she looks at me curiously. "Is there something wrong?"

"Oh, no! Nothing is wrong, my lord," she waves her hands in front of her as a sign of innocence. "I've just never seen a member of House Rivabourne with a beard. I just imagined you would look identical to Lord Fabian, just as..."

"Just as every other Rivabourne does?" A familiar male voice speaks up from nearby, finishing the confused girl's sentence with an air of antipathy. His words seemed to slice through the air, silencing the rather awkward conversation between the servant girl and myself.

I look in the direction of the voice to see my older brother Fabian lounging on my chair. His lanky legs dangle over the arm of the chair, dirtying the light brown fabric with his mud-caked boots. The fireplace beside him was roaring with heat and energy I've never seen it have before, as if it was eager to see his freshly cut raven-black hair, blemish free face, and fiery blue glaze. He looked as pampered as any other nobleman who's spent their days out on the coast messing around with women—even now as he reclined in such a manner in my favorite chair. "Why are you here?" I cross my arms over my chest and raise an eyebrow at him. "Did Father send you to fetch me?"

"No one sent me," my brother huffs, adjusting himself so that he was now sitting properly on my chair as he stared into the fireplace. "I came out of my own free will."

"That doesn't answer my question, Fabian," I growl. "Why are you here?"

The servant girl looks between the two of us with wild eyes before bowing her head. "I'll go check on dinner, my Lords." With that, she quickly scurries toward the kitchen, leaving my brother and I alone to discuss.

"Why am I not here?" Fabian mutters, letting out a long sigh before standing up and walking over to me, a hand inside of the front pocket of his tailored dress pants. "We need you back home, Finn."

I roll my eyes at him. "Father did send you to fetch me," I state, shrugging off my cloak and hanging it up on a nail beside the door. "How many times do I have to tell him that I'm fine on my own? I don't need to be pampered every five seconds like you or Felix do." I clench my jaw in anger.

"Can you stop being an asshole for five seconds and let me explain?" Fabian exclaims, his brows furrowing in annoyance. "We need you back home because Forrest has gone missing, and I don't know anyone else to turn to right now." It's as if a piece of glass has shattered within my mind as I hear Fabian say those words. A cold sweat runs down the back of my neck, despite the tickling of heat from the fuel-hungry fire nearby.

"What do you mean Forrest is missing?"
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I'll make these chapters longer in the future.

I've been on hiatus for far too long...