A Test Passed

(TL;DR : I'm bringing back my Teledden this week and instead of finishing her character sheet this week I wrote this NoBetaWeDieLikeMenI'llEditThisLater)

~~A Test Passed ~~​

The crunching of Flora's footsteps in the snow was all she could hear. She pulled her too-thin coat tighter around her body as she continued to trudge on through the moonlit dark. Her ears were bright red, covered in a thin layer of frost that she periodically tried to wipe away with shaking hands, she was practically part of the snowfall. Snowflakes having frozen into the creases of her clothing, the silent downpour insulated the forest and only helped to make the Teledden feel more alone. The quiet was perhaps worse than the cold. Her only break from the quiet was her footsteps, breaking through the top layer of snow and pushing her just that little bit further with each step.​

Just get back home. You know the way home. It's not far now….
​

Every landmark was twisted in the night, figures and paths she knew to look for had been altered by snow to an almost unrecognizable extent. She felt the tips of her fingers start to go numb as they stiffened and refused to move, the numb buzz in her hands felt like a warning. The longer she stayed out here, the further up the sensation would creep. Until, perhaps, she could not feel anything at all. Of course, Flora couldn't let that happen, she continued to force just one more step out of her body.

One at time, one at a time and you'll be home. It's almost over. I've almost passed.
​

Reaching the frozen underbrush, she reached out a shaking hand and forced her fingers to twitch and push against their stiffness. Flora grasped the frozen branches with trembling hands. This isn't cheating. She told herself. He never said shortcuts weren't allowed. Ice and thorns dug into her palms and broke dry skin, spilling precious blood and warmth. A noise was finally prompted from the young elf. A sharp hiss of pain. Yet, the Teledden pushed on. Forcing her way through the brittle branches and compelling her body to comply. Her footsteps were now accompanied by the sound of snapping stems as bloody hands continued to clear the way of her shortcut. It sounded harsh and high pitched, similar to breaking glass.

This was the right way? Wasn't it?​

She was sure it was, at least, she was pretty sure it was… Flora's eyes scanned the trees for a landmark, a single sign that she truly was as close to home as she thought she was. She strained to see through the haze of the snowfall – When had her *eyelashes* frosted over? One step after another, there was no choice but to keep moving in the direction she assumed to be correct. It was moving, or freezing. The young Teledden wasn't exactly ready to freeze, not yet. Yet another shaky step was forced forwards, and yet there were no longer steps from the young elf, her feet only dragged through the snow. She was simply unable to lift them high enough for it to count as a step. *I'm still cold, I'm alright. It's only over once I start to feel warm.* It would be fine, she assured herself. She'd see the lights of the cottage any moment now. Any moment now- It would be warm, the fireplace at full fire, no doubt. Perhaps her father would even have s'mores ready, as a reward for making it back all on her own or maybe even–...

Flora was jolted out of her thoughts by the harsh windchill. The howl of the wind serving as a screaming reminder for her to focus. She couldn't afford to let her mind wander. Not now, not yet. One of her bloody hands grabbed a nearby tree, assisting her as she dragged herself just that little bit further through the dark. She clung to it, taking the chance to wipe at her eyes. The flakes of frost brushed away were caught by the wind, and for a few fleeting moments Flora's vision was clear and useful. Her head turned now as she scanned through the dark, taking in as much as she could.​

THERE!
​

Her eyes settled on a maroon scarf tied onto a tree branch, the free end whipping this way and that in the conflicting winds. She let go of the sapling she had clung onto, clumsily stumbling towards the garment as fast as her legs would take her, frozen hands yanked it from the branches it was entangled in as the elf marched forwards. Her feet were frozen, every step landing clumsily. Her hands hardly moved as she wrapped the fabric around her neck and face, she marched on regardless of the pain. Every forceful movement brought her closer to the flickering light in the distance she could now recognize as a lit window. The frostbite would be worth it, the sickness she had already felt settle into her bones would be oh so worth it. She just had to fight it all off a little longer. She had held out this long, she could handle a little longer.

Flora all but collapsed up the stairs to her porch. Pushing herself up against the wood and smearing the base of the outdoor chair with her blood as she grabbed it to support herself. She could see in the window now, through the frost, the silhouette of her father- No doubt waiting for her to open the door!- A numb hand rested on her doorknob- before harshly yanking away. The frozen metal all but burned her. A searing pain traveled all the way up her shoulder. The numbness in her hand exploded into pins and needles. She cried out in pain, almost losing her balance and yet not taking a step at all. The elf despaired. Staring at the door with an increasing sense of helplessness. Had she come this far- only to not be able to open a *door*?​

This isn't fair…
​

She sniffled. Body falling forwards and thudding against the door for support with a heavy thud. It was a dull noise, it was the sound of surrender. She blinked her bleary eyes, glancing again, to the now blood-stained doorknob. All of this… And I got beaten by a bit of metal… Her eyes fought to stay open, every time she kept them closed feeling more, and more enticing. She leaned there. Slumped against the door that refused to give way.

Until it did. There was a clink and thud from behind the door, a noise that hardly registered with the half conscious elf, until it gave way and she fell forwards into her familiar entryway. The warm air felt like welcome fire against her skin, and a gruff voice made it to her ears.

"You gonna come in or what? I've been waiting all night for you, Rosa."​