As White as Winter Snow

by Rowna Seria

Right now it's the story of a boy, and what led to his becoming a Herald. Maybe about another boy. The genre will probably change, the rating will probably go up. The plot it still ambient, but it's all falling into place.

1. Prologue

As White as Winter's Snow

Prologue

The first thing I remember is the forest. I have no memories of parents, no memories of familial love. Just the forest, dark and quiet stretching on for what seemed to be an eternity, and the vague haunted feel, as if I were being watched constantly be spirits. I would come to find later that the forest was called the Forest of Sorrows, and that it was, in truth, believed to be haunted. I know it was haunted, though I don't remember why. The thing I do remember was my hunger, though I don't remember what it felt like; and I know I had a cut on my shoulder, I still have the scar to prove it, though I don't remember how much it hurt, only that it did. I had walked through the forest a long time, the time had strung into weeks and years in my young mind, I don't really know how long it actually was. Until, one day, I came upon a village at the edge of the forest. Times were hard, and no one had anything to spare for an extra mouth, an extra body. No one had time for a boy who didn't speak quite the same way, with no one to vouch for him. But then, a man in nice clothes noticed me, and before I knew it I was swept up and carried away to a cart, driven by an old man. I was scared out of my mind. Nice clothes rode beside the cart on a fine horse and asked me who I was, though it took a while for him to say it in a way I understood.

I told him everything I remembered: I was five years old, my name was Ravyn, and I was hungry.

~*~*~*~*

A/N: This is my first fic concerning Valdemar, actually, it's my first story in a long time. So, don't judge me too harshly. I just have to get the Herald running circles 'round my head out. I've got more of this fic written, I just need to type it.

Disclaimer: I don't own the land of Valdemar (or "world", perhaps) all the credit goes to Mercedes Lackey for that part. I did, however, invent the characters on my own. So I've basically placed my characters in another's world to live and grow in a landscape invented by another. I intend no harm, nor do I intend to claim anything is mine when it most certainly is not. This extends to all pages under the title of the story.