It was a cold winter night. The wind was howling, picking up the light snow just to set it down some distance away stocking new heaps. A few night creatures were out in the open looking for their meals, but most of the animals were in their little homes safe from the cold, the wind and any danger. Up there in this cold wooded area stood a little cabin with a stall attached to the side of it. The stall's only occupant was a strong, little pony. He was a great help and a faithful companion to the two araluans, who occupied the small cabin. The teenagers slept in the safe and relatively warm house peacefully. Well one of them. The other one not being so lucky had a nightmare.
The young apprentice tossed and turned on the ground. His light blanket wrapped around his body tighter with each toss and turn. The boy on the ground didn't feel the physical pain his blanket caused with being wrapped around his legs so tightly, because the nightmare that claimed him had a strong grip on him. The reason the nightmare had a vice like grip on the boy was a simple, but terrifying fact. It wasn't a simple nightmare. No, it was far from that. It was a horrible memory he was reliving in his dream if you can call it that. As the memory was nearing, it's, worst point the boy was saved from reliving it. The boy woke up with a gasp, eyes wide and trembling with fear. His eyes that were wide and full of fear darted around the one roomed cabin as he still laid on the ground unable to move because the fear of the memory paralyzed him.
As he looked around he realized he was in a small cabin with Evanly sleeping on the bed on the other side of the cabin peacefully. At first he didn't understand anything. How did we get here? Where are we? What happened? Thought the boy searching his memories frantically for answers. As he remembered the events and what Evanlyn had told him he calmed down and the question that was in the back of his mind came to him. What woke me up? The boy racked his brain for an answer, but wasn't able to get an answer until he realized there was some kind of noise coming from outside. He pried his blanket off of him, went to the door silently and peaked out cautiously. No one was out there in the dark, cold winter night so the boy walked out. As he looked around he saw what woke him up. Ice was falling from the sky. The pieces were as big as cherries and made quiet, a good amount of noise falling on the roof of the cabin. The noise annoyed him, but he was thankful for it nonetheless, because he would have to relive that horrible memory completely if it wasn't for this noise.
As the apprentice was watching the falling ice with his back to the open door he didn't realize immediately that the noise reached the sleeping girls brain turning her dream into a nightmare, making her toss and turn. He realized it once the girl began speaking loud enough for him to hear.
"No." she mumbled. "Please! Help!" she said making the boy turn around. "No. No. No! Help!" as she said this getting louder with each word the boy was jogging towards her after he closed the door. "WILL!" screamed the girl just when the young ranger reached her.
The boy grabbed the tossing girl's shoulders and shook her awake constantly saying that: "It's okay. It's just a nightmare." The girl's eyes snapped open revealing her green orbs. For a moment she looked terrified, but then her eyes set on the boy and calmed down instantly. Evanlyn felt the boy's on her shoulders weaken before the apprentice took his hands off of her, but with this he unintentionally took away what she needed. She needed him by her side, she needed his touch to know he's here, both physically and mentally, that he's through his addiction, but most of all she needed to know that she's not alone in this cold, foreign land far from her family and home with danger lurking in the shadows. The princess in incognito grabbed the young ranger's arm preventing him from pulling away. She looked in narrowed eyes asking her why she did this.
"I don't want to be alone." whispered the girl not meeting her companion's gaze.
"Don't be ashamed. Your want for comfort is perfectly normal and understandable." said the boy lifting up her chin so she could look in his eyes. When Evanlyn looked up she saw understanding, care and kindness in his warm chocolate brown eyes.
Evanlyn scooted over so the ranger had room to lay down next to her. Once Will laid down under the rough fabric of the cover he pulled Evanlyn to his chest embracing her in a warm, much needed hug. The crown princess felt content, happy and safe in his arms going back to sleep in a matter of seconds. The apprentice on the other hand didn't go back to sleep so fastly, in fact he didn't go back to sleep at all.
Time skip
The morning light caught the young ranger awake, still holding the girl and so tired that he dreaded he will fall asleep any moment now, but he didn't want to so he fought with all his might to stay awake he was lost in the battle until Evanlyn stirred in his arms redirecting his attention to herself unconsciously. He looked down at her face as she began to wake up.
"Good morning." whispered the boy once the crown princess woke up.
"Morning." mumbled Evanlyn snuggling closer to him.
Will smiled kindly at her before placing a light kiss on the top of her head then let he go and climbed out of bed. "I'm going to make breakfast. You stay here and rest." said the apprentice before walking away from the bed leaving Evanlyn alone. She felt tired and she was really grateful for the opportunity. She curled up into a ball and closed her eyes pretending the boy was still next to her giving her warmth and comfort. After a few seconds she opened her eyes and watched the boy working on their breakfast fooling her with his act. He appeared to be fresh and full of energy.
It will be a long day, thought Will as he prepared the food feeling Evanlyn's eyes on him watching his every movement. He knew the girl didn't know there was something wrong with him, but her watching was unnerving. It really will be a long day.