Frozen Beyond [gxg]

Fifth Spirit

Gale chittered around them as they headed back to the Northuldra. With each step Elsa and Keahi took, Gale shifted the leaves below their feet and twirled happily around them. Just before they got to camp, Bruni finally made his appearance and Elsa knelt down and put her hand in the frosted leaves. He happily ran to her, rolling in her hand to cool his body all the way down.

"What is it?" Keahi leaned over to look at him, both tilted their heads as they inspected one another.

Elsa laughed, taking Keahi's hand and having her hold it palm up and sliding Bruni into it. "His names Bruni and he's the fire spirit. You two will probably get along really well."

"This little thing is a fire spirit?" Keahi asked with disbelief, holding him at eye level. He didn't seem to like the fact that he was sorely underestimated. His pupils slit thin and a pink mohawk of flames started down his back. He arched it and swiped at Keahi's hand, like he was trying to intimidate her. Keahi looked to Elsa eagerly. "He is adorable and I want one." She stated matter-of-factly.

Bruni looked a bit flabbergasted that Keahi wasn't burning under him and tilted his head back to Elsa, confused.

Elsa smiled at them both, holding out her hand as Bruni leapt to her. She shifted him from one hand to another as he cooled under Elsa's cold, but tried to keep Bruni from burning her. "He is a force to be respected. He gave me a run when we first met. But I think we're good friends now, right?" She pet his side with her thumb and he let out an open-mouthed smile before belly flopping off her hand and into the grass and towards the campground the Northuldra settled in.

The sun gave way to night and Yelana started a blessing ceremony to welcome Elsa back to the forest. With a colorful rattle she shook in each major direction: North, South, East, West and gave thanks to the spirits that protected the sacred winds of each.

Elsa sat on a makeshift log bench a couple feet from the large fire watching the elder perform the sacred ritual to honor the elements. Yelana drizzled oil infused with the ashes of fires past, earth, leaves, and some water from the dark sea. The fire exploded with life; the flames licking higher into the night sky as the gray smoke billowed past the canopy and wisped away with the wind.

Elsa shifted on the log, her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail and her fifth element dress made her feel back at home. Bruni glanced back at her, his tongue coming out as if in slow motion before he licked his eyeball and gave Elsa a goofy grin. She waved her hand over him to give a few snowflakes that he happily lick at.

"Where is Ryder?" Honeymaren came to sit beside her, stretching out her legs and rolling her shoulders. "He's not skipping this to hang out with the reindeer again, is he?" she asked drolly.

"No, I think Ryder and Keahi went off to do something?" Elsa bit her lip and looked back towards the teepees. What were they doing?

"Hey sorry to steal her away. Thought she'd want to get into something other than those thin sailor's clothes." Ryder came from a cluster of teepees, hitching his thumb over his shoulder.

Keahi changed into Northuldra clothing. The tan leather and fur was fitting for her. She had the same body type as most of the women here. Athletic and sturdy. Her hair rested down just barely scraping over her shoulders. The same few strands of decorated, thin braids still held colorful beads and twine.

Keahi tugged at the jacket. It didn't look like she was used to wearing such heavy clothing.

Elsa shook her head to keep from staring.

"Thank goodness you're here. Yelana is just starting." Honeymaren seethed to both of them. Ryder gave a boyish grin that he shared with Keahi.

"Na na na heyana," Yelana started chanting with each shake of the rattler. The fire diminished back for a moment before blasting upwards with various colors of green, blue, red, and purple. The colors continued to waver within the fire, creating a northern light effect within its flames.

"Hahiyaha naha. Naheya heya na yanuwa." Yelana continued, now joined by a few others who united around Yelana. They put their hands on her shoulder, then each other's, creating a loop in the shape of a spiral.

"Anhahe yunuwana," the entire group started. Honeymaren came to stand beside Elsa before the group of Northuldra spread to allow her to walk to the fire and beside Yelana.

The chanting continued until Yelana held up her hand and it gradually came to a deafening pause.

A gentle smile creased Elsa's lips, this had become routine if she had been gone for more than a couple of days.

"To the fire," Yelana started, pausing when Bruni crawled onto Elsa's shoulder and to her palm where she cupped the adorable little salamander.

Yelana scowled. "To the wind," she looked up as the surrounding leaves scattered as Gale swept through. "To the earth," Yelana glanced to the southern portion of the forest. "Let's hope they don't make an appearance." She said sarcastically before smiling back at Elsa. "To the fifth spirit for uniting them all with love."

Elsa held her free palm upwards and sparklers of ice shot into the night sky and created a colorful show of icy fireworks.

Music started up and everyone began mingling and singing around the fire.

Elsa started back to Honeymaren, who was speaking with Keahi until Ryder pulled the Northuldra woman away to dance around the fire.

Keahi looked like she had seen a ghost, her face pale and she looked like she was about to be sick. Concerned, Elsa hurried to her and touched a hand to her shoulder. "Keahi, what's wrong?"

"You're the fifth spirit?" Keahi whispered in a voice so far away that it scarcely sounded like her. Her words hallow and ghastly.

A bad feeling settled in the pit of her stomach and Elsa recoiled back. "Yes, why?"

Something venomous lit behind Keahi's eyes. A mingling of fear and anger. "Why didn't you tell me?" She demanded, taking a step back.

Now ice chilled her veins. "It didn't matter before did it? What's going on?"

Keahi's voice cracked, and she dropped to her knees, her eyes wide and staring straight through Elsa like she was some ghost. "My brother is here to kill the fifth spirit."

Her mouth ran dry and just then, she recoiled back and so many emotions flooded her she couldn't grasp onto one.

A flare spiraled in the sky above them, exploding and raining down bits of smoke as the red light illuminated the entire forest below. Elsa shielded her hands over her eyes, wincing at the brightness. Before she could recover, black fire engulfed the surrounding forest.

The heat and realization of what was happening suffocated her as the inky black fire edged closer and muffled screams from the Northuldra filled her head.