The First Snow [Attn: Cat] COMPLETE

[Jenny]

Kaira Darrow

After her return to the Tower, her father welcomed her back with open arms and love that she still felt she did not deserve for running away. Several months passed, yet she still could not sense the Source, much less channel. Life as a novice was hard, much harder than she ever dreamed. Her lessons had not progressed beyond the most basic flower exercise. Then there were chores and rules and more lessons about math and history and the Old Tongue. And always, always, the ever-watching scrutiny of the Aes Sedai, who could not understand why a daughter of one of their own would have such trouble learning to channel. Kaira thought that she would scream if she heard another word about her “potential.”

But all was not hopeless. Her roommate, Nasrin, had became her closest friend. They had fun - such fun! - and together they did as much as they could possibly get away with. There was that excursion out into the city… that gathering in the gardens when Kaira had become hopelessly drunk… those lovely pranks that they played on Accepted…

Yes, life as a novice was hard, but Kaira found ways to thrive under the pressure. And slowly, ever so slowly, she picked up the pieces of her life and began to heal.
----- Kaira looked into her mirror and wrapped her fur cloak around her shoulders, over her stolen Drin outfit. She could hardly believe that winter had already come. One of the Aes Sedai who could Listen to the Wind said that the first snow would fall today, which Kaira knew would be very convenient for covering her tracks. She did not want to be caught - at least not again. Her backside was still sore from Vanya Sedai’s punishment.

She set her worry aside and crept out of the novice quarters. The Tower Guards knew her face, of course, but gave her no trouble. She waved at Mordjen and blew a kiss at Heb. She would bring them a tray of hot honeycakes later. Soon she was in the familiar city of Hama Valon. She prowled through the marketplace and searched among the various merchants’ wares, although she didn’t quite know what she was looking for. What would Nasrin like?

Suddenly she felt a hand brush her backside. Kaira growled and whirled around. Her belt knife leapt into her hand and she lunged at the man behind her. His stupid grin faded as he found himself knocked to the ground with a knife to his throat and Kaira’s foot pressing painfully on his breastbone. Her grey eyes glittered with malice and glee. The man had brown hair and a beard. Just like Reid.

“You aren’t so tough,” Kaira snarled. “It isn’t so funny now, is it?”

She shifted her weight. Slowly her foot pressed inward. The man struggled to breathe. Kaira grinned mirthlessly.

“I can just keep pressing,” she whispered. “Pressing and pressing until you run out of air. How long do you think it will take?”

A hand pulled on her shoulder.

“Hey, let up!”

Another hand on her arm.

“Stop it, girl, you’re going to kill him.”

What was she doing? Kaira blinked and looked at the man’s face. No, he was not Reid. He looked nothing like Reid. And his face was slowly turning purple. She stood, leaving the man gasping for air. Then she tore her arm out of the strangers’ grasps and looked around frantically. Faces, faces, all around. None were friendly. Across the street, she saw a woman speaking with two city guardsmen and gesturing wildly. The woman pointed at her.

Kaira ran.

[Cat]

Johan

He was never going to get used to it. Hama Valon. The Tower. The Aes Sedai. The Asha’man. The Warders. How different it was from Ebou Dar and the Rahad. He had thought that he never would, but he missed the crowds, the chaos, the activity, the life that had been unique to his home. Hama Valon seemed tiny in comparison. And it was too different. Sometimes he wanted nothing more than to go back. Sometimes it felt like he was losing everything he had once been, and he couldn’t let that happen.

It was that feeling that had led him to this sudden act of stupidity, and that feeling that now meant that he was running through the city, his muscles burning under the strain, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, misting in the cold air as he sprinted down narrow alleys and passages, ducking and dodging, jumping and diving. He jumped over a cart, dodged past a stack of barrels. He had to get away before they caught him and found out who and what he was. He had to lose them. It had only been a brooch, not even proper gold, more cheap gilt than anything else, but apparently it had been valuable enough for them not to want to let it go. He’d almost been to the end of the street before they’d noticed and started to give chase. It wouldn’t have happened in Ebou Dar. He’d lost his touch. He’d just wanted to prove to himself that he could still do it.

Footsteps continued to echo his own, accompanied by angry shouts. Three people. At least. Apparently the trader had had several heavies to assist in guarding his wares. But at least, Johan was thankful, no one would be able to immediately recognise him as a student from the Tower. He’d abandoned his uniform for a simple shirt and breeches. There were patches on them where they’d been mended multiple times, and the colours were slowly fading. The shirt had once been a bright red. They were the clothes he’d travelled in to the Tower what seemed like an age ago.

Johan continued to run, every now and then his feet skidding against the ground. He almost lost his footing once or twice, but he somehow managed to keep it each and every time. One hand was scrapped and bleeding, the warm blood dribbling down his palm, from where he’d reached out and caught himself against a wall, the brickwork rough. It stung, but he ignored it. He had suffered worse. Much, much worse. His breaths were becoming more and more quick, more and more strained, but he couldn’t stop, not if he wanted to lose them. And he had to lose them. He had to keep running. Just keep running: running, running, running and running.

The footsteps were becoming more and more distant, the shouts more desperate, angrier, as he continued to zigzag his way through the streets and alleys. Despite the cold, his hair was plastered to his head with sweat, his clothes clinging uncomfortable to his skin. If he didn’t get rid of them soon he was going to collapse, and everything would be over, and all because he’d gotten all whimsical and misty-eyed and weak. He cursed under his breath.

Looking behind him, risking a glance over his shoulder, he left the alleys and burst into the market, his senses immediately assaulted with the sights, smells, and sounds. For a moment, he lost his bearings, but then he threw himself into the crowds, once again grateful he hadn’t worn his uniform. He blended in more this way, even if his clothes were a little worn.

He needed to stop. He was tired. He needed to rest. Somewhere along the line, he had lost the brooch, had probably dropped it in some puddle. He couldn’t hear them anymore, the guards; couldn’t see them.

He risked another glance behind him, and that was his one mistake. Looking behind meant that he couldn’t see what was in front, and he slammed straight into a girl.

He fell, hitting the ground with a loud thud. His back exploded in pain, and he hissed, gritting his teeth.

“Light! Watch where you’re going!”

Even as he said the words, he was already scrabbling to his feet, getting ready to start running again.

“Blood and bloody ashes!”

And the string of curses continued.

[Jenny]

Kaira

From the corner of her eye, Kaira saw a shadowy blur dash out of an alleyway. She tried to step to the side and dodge with a half-pirouette, but she was not quick enough - the shadow crashed into her. She yelped as her ankle twisted under her as she landed.

It was a boy. A street rat, from the looks of him. He hissed at her.

“Light! Watch where you’re going!”

Kaira squinted at him. Why did something about him seem familiar? That hair... the voice… No, there was no time to think about it now. She climbed painfully to her feet and looked behind her. The two city guards were pushing their way through the crowd. People were staring, though no one moved to stop her. Or to help her, for that matter.

She took one step before crying out and falling to one knee. Bloody ashes! Her ankle throbbed. Kaira cast another frightened glance behind her. Then she forced herself to her feet. She limped forward.

The boy still stood there, balanced on his toes and ready to spring away. His dark eyes were inscrutable. What was he waiting for? Kaira bared her teeth.

“Go on and run,” she sneered. “Run, coward! I can handle this alone.”

She drew the knife from her belt. Then she straightened and turned to face the guards. She had changed in her year away from Hama Valon, but surely they would still recognize her as the daughter of the Gaidin Captain. Or at least remember that she was from the Tower. Perhaps that could buy her some time to convince them to let her go. Her grip on her knife tightened.

Spoiler: show

(OOC: Please drag her away and spare her from her own pride and stupidity. lol.)

[Cat]

Johan

Now that he was up and on his feet, Johan took a moment to look at just who he had run into, even as she proceeded to call him a coward. He ignored that last. Only a fool stayed when they could escape. She looked vaguely familiar, as if he should know her, and then it hit: she was Ravak Darrow’s, the Gaidin Captain, daughter, and also the niece of the former Mistress of Novices. Kara, he thought her name was, or Kayla, Kairia, or something like that. He couldn’t remember just what it was, but his attention had already flicked from her to the guards.

Instinct told him to just leave her behind, let her get caught, but she’d had a good look at him and would recognise him, and it wouldn’t take much for her to drag him into this and get him into trouble. If the Tower found out that he had been stealing, he could kiss goodbye to any hope of a decent future.

That was enough for him, and he was suddenly moving, heart thumping, heart pounding, as he grabbed the knife, ripped it from her hands, and then picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder as if she was nothing more than a sandbag (and wasn’t he glad for those lessons!). Any protests fell on death ears. He didn’t even pause to think, just acted, breaking back into a jog and heading for the alley. A crowd had started to gather around, drawn by the commotion, and he pushed himself through it, hoping to the Creator that the sheer volume of people would hinder the following guards.

He dashed into the alley, took a few twists and turns, and then finally stopped when it seemed the coast was clear. He unceremoniously dumped her on the ground, letting her drop.

“What do you think your father’s gonna think?” he said, even as he struggled to catch his breath. His muscles were still burning, and he felt ready to collapse. He leaned back against the wall behind him, letting it support most of his weight as he pushed a hand through his hair, shoving it out of his eyes. “The Gaidin Captain’s daughter running around in a stolen uniform. You know, if you wanted to blend in, you should have gone for normal clothes. The moment you go out that alley, they’re going to spot you. But we can’t stay here. They’re probably already looking.”

[Jenny]

Kaira

Kaira didn't scream. She hardly even struggled. The shock was simply too great for her to process. The unassuming boy - no, the young man - had picked her up and slung her over his shoulder like she was a sack of grain. And he had taken her knife!

Her shock, however, did not stop the stream of words flowing out of her mouth.

“Just what do you think you’re doing? Where are you taking me? Give me back my knife! I could have defended myself, you fool. Don’t you know who I am? You can’t just pick me up and run off like this. People are staring at us. Light, this is terribly improper! Put me down!"

And please don't drop me, she thought.

He dropped her anyways. Her sprained ankle hit the ground with a sharp jolt. Kaira turned pale and bit back a moan while he leaned against the wall and gasped for breath. She found it a small comfort that he seemed to be suffering too. She glared at him and gingerly pulled herself to her feet.

"My father probably already knows," she snapped, her voice tight with pain. "Those Tower Guards, Mordjen and Heb, are his spies. And I've gotten into worse trouble before. Much worse. Hey! I know you!"

The young man had pushed his hair out of his eyes. The face underneath was familiar. Kaira gasped.

“You’re that Drin,” she breathed. “I gave you a blueberry tart.”

The temperature suddenly dropped as if they had crossed some invisible line of cold wind. A chilly breeze swept through the alley. Small, white flecks fell through the air. Kaira looked up and held up a cupped hand. The snowflakes melted in her palm.

“Snow,” she whispered. She shivered, glad that she had worn her fur cloak. The day could not possibly get worse. If the snow thickened, it could cover their tracks. But until then, they would leave obvious footprints. She offered her hand to Johan.

“My knife, please.”

[Cat]

Johan

“Johan,” he supplied by way of introduction, making no move to give her the knife. If anything, his grip on it tightened and he straightened his back, everything about him saying that there was no way that he was going to give it up and she could try if she liked, but it wasn’t happening, not now, not ever. No doubt if he gave it back the first thing she would do would be to try and stab him with it. It was what he’d do in her place.

He crossed his arms, then, not even noticing the snow as he fought against the blush that was threatening to creep over his skin. He remembered the reason for her giving him the blueberry tart: the party, where she had laughed at him. He hadn’t forgotten that bit. Maybe he should have left her behind.

He started pacing, back and forth, back and forth, as a way to hide the blush. He couldn’t look her in the eyes. He was never going to admit this, of course, and he told himself that he was simply warming down. You couldn’t go from running to nothing. It would only cause his muscles to cramp, and if his pursuers found him he’d be in deep shit. He was still expecting them to turn up at any moment.

Once again, he pushed the hair from his face, only stopping long enough in his pacing to ask her a question.

“So, if your dad knows, and if you’ve gotten into far worse trouble before, why were you threatening them with a knife? I can’t imagine your aunt would be pleased to hear about you stabbing a load of Tower Guards either.” There was something else he could have said, something about her mother – he’d heard the rumours – but said nothing. Instead, he paused, paced up once and then back again, and then looked at her once more. “Why were you running from them? Drin have no reason to run. We’re allowed to go to Hama Valon. Running is asking to be discovered.”

[Jenny]

Kaira

Kaira let her hand drop. Clearly he refused to return her knife. And there was nothing she could do. He was taller, stronger, and did not have a twisted ankle. She gritted her teeth and, like him, crossed her arms. She would never admit it, but she was far more afraid of her aunt than her father.

“I wasn’t threatening them,” she said, exasperated. “I was going to try talking my way out first. They were chasing me because I knocked a man down. He was trying to… touch me. And I didn’t like it.”

The color rose to her cheeks. Why was she telling him this? She could almost see her aunt shaking a finger. A proper young lady simply did not speak of such matters to strange young men! Standing around talking like this was stupid. She hobbled forward.

“Come on,” she said. “What are you pacing for? That way is a dead end. Let’s go this way. And you, Johan, why weren’t you looking where you were running? This whole thing is your fault for running into me. If you hadn’t decided to help me, I would be a lot more upset at you. You really surprised me back there. You are a whole lot stronger than you look.”

She glanced at him, and then smiled.

“Thank you,” she said. “You are a whole lot braver, too.”
----- The first dusting of snowflakes had only been the beginning. A terrible snowstorm soon swept over Hama Valon. Windows and doors slammed shut as people rushed inside. The two students hurried, but their attempt to reach the Tower proved to be foolish. The storm was one of those first winter storms that came with no warning and raged with unmatched fury.

As the snow thickened, they ran out of time.

Kaira drew up the hood of her cloak and squinted through the thick falling sheets of snow. She had grown up in this city, but as everything turned white it became difficult to navigate the streets. It was so hard to see through the blinding snow. She looked to her side and cried out. Where was Johan?

“Johan!” she screamed. “JOHAN!” The storm drowned out her voice. She stumbled through the snow, ignoring the pain that shot up from her ankle. Light, a man could die in this storm! She clutched her cloak around her and turned in a circle. Everything, everything was white. She heard nothing but the wind howling in her ears.

If only she hadn't slowed him down. Stupid blasted ankle! Kaira turned in another circle. What could she do?

“JOHAN!”

[Cat]

Johan

The cold was all consuming, all encompassing, all bloody everything. It wrapped around him, seeming to cling to him as he tried to make his way through the storm. He could barely see in front of him. It was just a white haze, a white everything, and he had to force himself to ignore his growing sense of panic. At any moment it felt like he was going to be buried or suffocated. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t breathe. He seemed to be inhaling ice and snow. His lungs burned, and he pulled his scarf up to cover his mouth and nose, all the while shivering in the cold. His clothes were soaked, and the cold had penetrated through all the layers so that he shivered even harder. The falling snowflakes stung at his hands and the exposed bits of his face like fiery needles.

He kept moving, though, kept ploughing forward, refusing to so much as stop. If you stopped, you might as well give up.

Somewhere, somehow he had lost Kaira, and he had to find her. He couldn’t leave her behind. People died in storms. Anything could happen. If he abandoned her now, that would forever be on his conscience. He simply couldn’t do it, although he wasn’t sure how much of help he would be once he found her. Ebou Dar wasn’t exactly renowned for its snowy weather, but two people were better one. If they stuck together, they at least had some hope.

He continued walking, not really knowing where he was going. He could have been walking in circles, he could have been walking for miles in one direction, could have been seconds from walking off a cliff; the truth of it was that he was completely and utterly lost, all his bearings gone.

There was just white.

And then he heard a voice calling his name, and he surged towards it, almost tripping through the snow.

"Kaira!"

[Jenny]

Kaira

Where under the bloody Light was Johan? He had been right there! She trembled, not from the cold but from fear and horror. He couldn't die. Not the boy who had saved her from the city guards. Not the boy who had brought salt, of all things, to that little garden party. She had to find him.

She hobbled slowly through the snow. Her cloak could not keep out all of the cold. Her boots were warm, but she could feel her legs getting wet through the breeches of her stolen Drin outfit. Her teeth began to chatter. Everything, everything was white. Was she going in circles? She rubbed at her numbed fingers and attempted to warm them with her breath. Their tips had turned blue. Perhaps Johan won't be the only one to die in this storm. That thought sent a jolt of fear through her. I might die!

There it was. A golden light hovered just outside the edges of her vision. Kaira pulled at it desperately. Warmth filled her. She looked around in wonder. Somehow she could see every flurry of snow, every gust of wind. Shadowy walls and buildings rose up through the haze of snow. There, that was the Band of Brothers Inn. And down the street was the smithery.

She smiled with relief, though her lips could only twist into a frozen grimace. Then without knowing exactly what she did, she allowed threads of light to flow through her and wove the strands into a glowing web of silver and gold. She took a deep breath.

“Johan!” she screamed.

And this time, her voice pierced the ice and wind and snow. She stopped and listened.

“Kaira!”

It was faint, but unmistakable. She rushed forward. For the second time that day, they collided. His arms circled her waist, and she pressed herself against him, glad that she had not been too late. With the light of saidar enhancing her senses, she could feel him through the layers of their clothing. The tension of his body. His shivering. And even, she realized in awe, the steady beat of his heart. Kaira pressed her hands against his face. He looked pale under the olive tone of his skin. Light, he must be freezing! Again, she channeled, guided by instinct and need. A faint warmth spread from her hands.

“We can’t make it to the Tower,” she said. “Not in this storm. There is an inn, right over there. Come. Hurry!”

[Cat]

Johan

One moment he was still searching, still looking for her, trying to see through the Light-blasted snow and figure out where he was going, and the next he was colliding with her. His arms wrapped around her, almost instinctively, as he fought to keep his balance and not fall. He didn’t think he would be able to get up if he did. The walk through the snow had drained all of his energy so that now he was just a cold, shivering wreck struggling to keep his teeth from chattering. His skin hurt. It burned. His whole body ached. He’d never hurt so much.

Suddenly, he felt hands on his face, and he jumped, startled, his eyes flicking to meet hers, even as he wondered how her hands had managed to stay so warm. Beyond the burning, the feel of a hundred fiery needles stabbing into him, his own hands were cold and numb. It had to be the One Power. Or maybe it was him; maybe the heat came from his cheeks burning in embarrassment. He hadn’t meant to fall into her again.

The glance lasted all of two seconds, and then Johan quickly pulled away and nodded, trying to spot any sign of the inn. His breath misted in the air, even with the scarf still over his mouth. He continued to shiver. She was right. There was no way that they would make it back to the Tower.

He spotted the inn finally through the falling snow. It blinked in and out, but he forged a path towards it, making sure to stick close to Kaira. They couldn’t lose each other a second time.

Finally, they reached the inn, and Johan reached out, grabbed hold of the door. He pulled, but got nothing, and then he tried to push and the response was the same. The door wouldn’t shift. He hammered on it, calling to anyone who might be within, but, again, nothing. No response.

He swore, turning back to Kaira.

What were they going to do now?

Trying not to let his panic show, he took a step further back away from the inn. It was then that he saw the window up on the first story. It was was the only one where the shutters weren't closed. Ivy climbed up the wall around it, though it was already quickly becoming coated in a layer of snow.

This time he didn't look at Kaira, but moved towards it.

"Think we can reach it?"

He'd climbed bigger hurdles.