written by Sacredlilac 

Kan shivered as the icy wind blasted her in the face with another faceful of snow comprised more of snow aphids than flakes. She squirmed as aphids scurried into her clothes, over her scalp and down her back. As quickly as they'd invaded, though, the insects ran back out, flinging themselves into the wind, before they died from her body heat.

Ain had warned her that crossing the mountains was the most perilous part of the journey for her. In this place of constant howling blizzard, a Dell-dweller like her was an anomaly. She'd donned a grey cloak to cover the green clothing she wore at home that helped her blend into the trees, but made her stick out in this landscape of grey and white as easy prey for snow eagles.

Kan's numb fingers gripped the speckled rockwall fiercely. She peeked at her fingernails, alarmed at the bluish tinge to them. She prayed her frozen feet would stay true on the few inches of ledge she was traversing to reach the next section of steps.

"Ughhhh..." she groaned when the wind caught the edge of her cloak and sent snow swirling up her back. Clenching the wall, she closed her eyes and leaned her forehead on the frozen rock as a shiver racked her body so hard she was in serious danger of losing her grip.

Through chattering teeth she concentrated like Ain had taught her. "You must dig deeper than ever to find the Sun," he'd warned. Closing her eyes, she followed a memory of climbing the tallest tree, feeling the cool air near the ground get hotter as she went higher up the trunk. The sun had blinded her momentarily when she broke through the canopy. Then she'd lifted her chin and basked in the baking rays for as many glorious minutes as she could stand. When her skin started to burn, she'd had to retreat to the shadows of the Dell-trees that protected her.

When she reached the Plains, she'd have to weave a cover to keep her in constant shade for the year she was assigned there. Ain told her the sun would be so hot it would evaporate the sweat from her skin before a drop could form.

She focused on the intense heat, wrapping it around herself like a blanket, and opened her eyes. A shimmering aura extended a few feet from her body, melting the ice beneath her fingers and toes. Her natural greenish skin tone slowly came back. She could extend farther, but a few inches of heat around her would get her off the mountain without losing any limbs or skin to the cold.

She was proud she'd made it halfway across the range before she'd had to Call The Sun.

Heat wouldn't stop the howling winds currently trying to fling her thousands of feet to her death, though. Only nimble fingers and strong limbs from her years of navigating the Dell-trees would help there. Especially now that she could feel them again.