Book Two:
Against the Snow
Chapter 1
Frisk had to use every ounce of her willpower to not visibly react any more than she was already reacting behind her mask. She bit the inside of her cheeks, her eyes widened, and her teeth sucked in a sharp breath. It was as if a rug had been pulled out from underneath her.
"I am Chara."
Mask had said those words. Mask remembered something about itself. Mask knew its name.
No, not Mask, Frisk corrected herself. Chara. The Chara. Ms. Toriel's son who died. The one everyone in the Ruined Woods thinks was murdered by his adopted brother Asriel. The one who had a face . . . like mine.
"It really is a fine day for a walk," Toriel said, completely oblivious to everything Frisk was thinking and feeling in that moment. "I have always preferred to live in the Ruined Woods for this very reason – the crisp air and cool breeze always fill me with a sense of nostalgia. When I'm here, I am reminded of better, happier times."
Frisk had very little peripheral vision while she wore her wooden mask with the bored expression. The tall, white-haired figure that was Toriel walked in front of her. The reds, oranges, and yellows decorated the trees around them. A brook rambled in the distance. Every breath really was filled with a reminder of times before now, when the coming of autumn filled Frisk with excitement for all the holidays and festivals coming with the changing weather.
Yet Frisk's heart could not stop racing. It was supposed to be summer, so the leaves should not have been those colors and the air should not have been so crisp and the breeze should not have been so cool. Toriel wore her goat mask not as a fashion statement but to hide her faceless features underneath. If Frisk was to fit in, she had to wear this mask and suffocate as she could not feel the breeze on her cheeks and breathed her hot breaths. Anyone who saw Frisk's face if she didn't wear the mask would rip the skin of her face off and wear it as their own.
What was more, Frisk would not be the first to die in this manner. There was a boy she had seen with her own eyes dead from such a gruesome way. The other humans that entered Ebott Forest before her were all confirmed to have also died. The king of this forest, King Asgore, would not hesitate to take Frisk's face as his own. Other than Toriel, there was nobody Frisk could trust to keep her safe.
And Toriel was just about to release Frisk a couple of monsters Frisk did not know.
What was more, Mask – Frisk had to keep reminding herself that Mask had a name now – Chara started to remember who it – he – was. There were so many questions Frisk wanted to ask, but she restrained herself. Only she could see and hear Chara. It would be awkward to explain to Toriel that Frisk spoke to an entity with whom only she could communicate. So, Frisk forced herself to react no further and continued to walk silently alongside Toriel as they journeyed to Snowdin Lane.
"I have never been too fond of the cold," Toriel said as they kept walking, possibly trying to fill the silent with light conversation. "However, I very much enjoy the snow. It is quite beautiful, would you not agree?"
Realizing that Toriel was asking her a question, Frisk mentally shook herself as if to return her to her senses and answered, "I think snow truly is one of the most beautiful things nature has to offer us, but I still like summer more."
"Unfortunately, I am afraid that you will have to continue to go without summer for a little while longer," Toriel said apologetically. "You see, Ebott Forest is divided into five sections, each one representing the seasons – autumn, winter, spring, and summer."
"There are four seasons," Frisk pointed out with a frown. "How are there five sections but four seasons?"
"The capitol, New Woods, is the prefect divide of all four," Toriel replied. "It truly is a sight to behold. I am sure once you see it, you will agree."
Frisk tried to imagine what a forest with all four seasons would look like. Each season shared a perfect quarter for the forest, and dressing for the weather was impossible. The more Frisk thought about it, the more New Woods seemed to be terrible.
It did not help that New Woods was also where King Asgore resided.
"I am still here." Mask – Chara, Frisk. You know that Mask's name is Chara. – floated within Frisk's view. "I apologize for being so quiet. I had a lot to think about, especially now that I know my name."
If Frisk was able, she would have been asking Chara all kind of questions. Yet she did not. It pained her too keep silent.
"I am afraid that I do not remember much beyond my name and that I am the very same Chara who had died," Chara continued solemnly. "I do not remember how I died. I do not remember Asriel. I still do not remember sleeping in that room or living under Toriel's roof. I know who I am, but at the same time, I have never been more lost about who I am supposed to be."
But now we know that you are indeed a ghost, Frisk wanted to say. A ghost of someone who had died in the same manner Frisk would have if not for Toriel saving her. Who had died the same way Frisk remembered someone she once knew had died.
The further they progressed, the more their surroundings changed. Frisk watched as the trees began to have less and less leaves. The crisp air grew cold. She started to shiver. Then, slowly at first, Frisk saw snowflakes flutter from the sky and towards the ground. The more she and Toriel walked forward, the more the world around them was blanketed by a layer of snow.
Like the Ruined Woods, which was a beautiful array of colors, Snowdin Lane was a breathtaking view of conifer trees dressed in white and a ground dusted with snow. Small icicles hung from some of the branches. It was a peaceful view of the sleeping forest.
"Wonderful," Frisk breathed, not knowing she was speaking aloud until Toriel responded.
"Is it not? My family and I used to come to Snowdin Lane for the winter holidays. There are so many fond memories of us all bundled up by the fire, mugs of hot chocolate in hand. We would help decorate the town. Many a night we would stay up for hours, sharing stories of family and friends we cherished most. . . ."
Even as Toriel trailed off, Frisk could sense the sadness in what Toriel was saying. These memories were from a past she could never go back to except in reminiscence. Frisk could only imagine what these same holidays were for Toriel now that she had no family left.
"I'm sorry."
"What are you apologizing for, my child? None of this is your fault."
"Yes, but . . . I just wish you didn't have to lose your family. Nobody should ever have to go through something as awful as that."
"You speak as if you know from experience."
Frisk did not respond. Whether or not she personally understood was irrelevant. What mattered now was taking the next step into leaving Ebott Forest before anything could hurt her again.
When they reached the meeting point, Toriel looked around. After a moment, she said, "I see our friends have not yet arrived. No matter. It is not unusual for them to be late. Here, I will go ahead to see if they are coming down the road now."
"Wait, you're leaving me?" Frisk felt her heart sink.
"I will only be going down a little ways," Toriel reassured her. "Nothing should happen while I am gone."
"Can't I just go with you?"
"Someone needs to stay in case they arrive while I am looking ahead. Worry not, my child. I know that you are independent. You will be all right for a minute or two as I go forward. I will not be so far as to not hear you if you should call."
Although Frisk did not like the idea of being alone, she did not choose to argue further with Toriel. It had been a long time since they had come across another monster. Frisk should be safe for a moment or two while Toriel walked just a little further ahead.
"Okay, I'll wait," Frisk said reluctantly. "You won't be gone too long, will you?"
"I'll be back before you have the chance to miss me," Toriel reassured. "Now, please wait here until I return. I promise I will not be long."
As she watched Toriel walk ahead, Frisk forced herself to swallow her fear. She turned her attention to Mask – Chara – and tried to find words to say. However, she came up blank. She didn't know what to say in this moment, whether the topic be about her current situation or the discovery of who Mask really was.
"Do not speak to me," Chara advised, although not unkindly. "Your voice may not carry with all this snow, but I still sense that there is someone within earshot. Be careful, Frisk. We do not know who may be lurking in the shadows."
I was feeling okay until you told me that. Frisk chewed on her lower lip. Everything had to be okay; she wouldn't know what to do otherwise.
Just then, there was a loud snapping sound behind her. Frisk's heart jumped to her throat. Slowly, she turned around so that she was facing the direction in which the noise came.
"Someone is here," Chara said, stating the obvious.
Gulping, Frisk gathered her courage and stepped towards the sound. When she peered over the bushes, she saw a large branch shattered to shreds. This must have been what I heard. But what could have broken that branch? It seems far too large for me to even pick up!
"Um, Frisk," Chara sounded terrified, "there's something behind you."
Just as Chara said the words, Frisk felt the presence. A shadow loomed over her. Frisk sucked in a sharp breath.
"Child," began a voice deep as the ocean, "don't you know how to greet a new pal? Turn around, and shake my hand."
Heart beating erratically inside her chest, Frisk slowly turned to face the new arrival. Upon seeing his mask, Frisk had to bite back a blood curdling scream.
The mask this new person wore was that of a human skull.