MCU : Child Of Winter

Chapter 10: Frozen Lake



Five years had passed since the day I faced the grizzly bear by the river. I was seventeen now. The memory of that encounter never truly faded — the roar, the weight of its claw tugging at my leg. The scar it left behind was still there, stretched across my lower leg like a cold reminder. And as for the bear itself… I never saw it again. It vanished, like a nightmare you wake from but never quite forget.

Since then, the village had grown more cautious. Hunters traveled in pairs. Traps were set closer to the outskirts. Father began patrolling more often, and eventually, he started taking me with him. Over those five years, nothing unusual happened. No sightings. No signs. Just the usual rhythm of forest and field, as if the beast had only ever been a shadow of the past.

Today, I set out once more to check the traps. I didn't venture too deep — not anymore. The memory still lived in my bones. The cold was biting; winter had wrapped its arms fully around the land. Snow blanketed the earth, soft and silent. I pulled my cloak tighter and walked the narrow trail I'd taken a hundred times before.

The first two traps were empty. Not a scratch, not a sign of disturbance. I sighed, adjusted the strap of my bow, and decided to take a short detour toward the small lake near the edge of our village. Sometimes Elias, Thom, and I would go there when we were younger. It wasn't as fun as the river, but in the winter, it had its charm.

Snowflakes danced lazily from the branches overhead, some falling in glittering spirals. The lake was frozen now, smooth and pale beneath the dim winter light. But as I approached, I saw something that made me stop.

A girl stood on the ice.

"Faye?" I called out. She was Elias's younger sister — no more than ten. She stood motionless near the middle of the frozen lake, her arms trembling at her sides. "Faye! What are you doing out there? That's too dangerous! Come back this instant!"

Her voice was shaky as it reached me. "Jack… help me. I–I can't move. I tried to come back, but I'm scared."

My heart skipped. "Stay right there," I said firmly, lowering my bow and quiver into the snow. I slung off the satchel on my back and pulled out a long staff I always carried in winter — curved at the top like a shepherd's hook.

"I'm coming to get you," I said as calmly as I could.

She nodded, tears in her eyes. "I'm scared, Jack."

"It's okay. I've got you."

I stepped cautiously onto the ice, testing each patch with my boot before moving forward. The surface groaned faintly beneath me, a warning sigh of what lay below. When I was just a few feet away, I heard it — a sharp, unmistakable crack.

I froze.

Faye gasped and let out a small sob, covering her mouth. I met her eyes, steadying her with mine. "Hey. It's alright. Don't cry. I'm right here."

She nodded, wiping her tears with her sleeve, her small body shaking.

I adjusted my footing, shifting my weight slowly. Inch by inch, I drew closer. When I was finally within reach, I extended the hooked staff.

"Grab it."

Faye reached out and caught the crook of the staff with both hands. I pulled gently, guiding her step by step, until she was close enough to slide safely to the edge of the lake. With one final tug, she slipped free of the danger.

She was safe.

But the moment she was clear, the ice beneath me gave way with a deafening crack.

I barely had time to react.

The world tilted — then collapsed beneath me.

I plunged into the lake.

The cold hit like a thousand knives. My breath vanished in an instant, stolen by the freezing water. My limbs seized, my muscles locking as I struggled to rise. My hands clawed upward, but the weight of wet clothing dragged me down. I kicked and kicked, but the ice above had already sealed my path.

I was sinking.

My body went numb. The pain faded. I couldn't tell if I was still moving or if I had stopped altogether. Everything slowed — even my thoughts. I saw my father's face, his strong hands guiding mine. My mother's voice, soft as morning. I tried to speak. I'm sorry I won't be there anymore.

Above me, light shimmered through the rippling surface. A pale glow. A circle of white.

The moon? I thought dimly. Is it already night? I thought it was still afternoon.

My eyelids felt so heavy. My chest burned. I felt my heart slow — a quiet, lonely beat.

Just before the darkness closed in, one last thought came clearly, gently.

Even if it was short… thank you, Man of the Moon. Thank you for the second chance.


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