Amber Flamehart's Arc

Chapter 4 of 4

Amber woke to find fresh snow blocking half her doorway. She grabbed her fire quartz tool and melted a path through the drift. The cold air bit at her cheeks as she stepped outside. Today she would test the pale blue flowers she'd collected yesterday. She trudged through knee-deep snow toward the rocky outcrop where she'd seen color before. Most of the plateau looked the same in winter—white on white on gray. But patches of red caught her eye near a cluster of steaming rocks. Roses grew there, their petals bright as embers against the ice. Heat from underground springs kept them alive even in the coldest months. Amber knelt and touched one bloom. Warmth radiated through her glove. She pulled out her journal and sketched the flower quickly, noting its location near the hot springs. These could be useful. Plants that survived extreme cold always had something special inside them. The wind picked up as she worked. Snow swirled around her boots and stung her eyes. She looked up and spotted a tall stone structure jutting from the ridge above. A gargoyle statue crouched on top, copper horn pressed to its carved lips. As the wind hit the peak, the horn began to hum. The sound grew louder, echoing across the rocks like a warning. Amber had heard stories about these markers. They howled when dangerous storms approached. The gargoyle's voice meant she needed to move fast. She packed her journal and hurried back down the slope. The roses would still be there tomorrow. Tonight she'd study the sketches and compare them to her grandmother's notes. Maybe the petals could be dried and ground into powder, or perhaps the roots held medicine. Each discovery added another piece to her knowledge. The plateau was teaching her, one frozen step at a time.