Threads 417-Taming Winter 6
"Bao Qian!" the voice of flesh called, heard despite all impediments. "Release your defense, but only for a five count!"
The reply took a moment. Ling Qi could feel his consternation, and she also felt the moment he realized her plan.
It was dizzying, the rush of it. Heat and life and feeling flooded out, torn away by the hungry wind. Joyous silence, settling quiet, full and heavy and…
The fist of gold clenched then, and not a single wisp more escaped, only the fraying cold of Not-Her.
The wind cried, grinding away at the stone. The crumbling was inevitable! Such was the nature of life. But now, it wasn't.
She was so hungry, wasn't she? The emptiness yawned. Her and Not-Her feeding, drinking deep of snows that could not hold what they wanted. Silence could not draw sustenance from silence.
Quiet. Quiet. Wherefore do you hide?
Sleep. Sleep. Under crooning stars. Dreams of warmth. Dreams of white.
Ling Qi spread her arms wide, sleeves billowing like banners in the whirling wind, and answered.