Legends of the Ice Warriors Chapter 1 – Formation

Nine Years Ago

The sweltering sun beat down on the villagers backs, taking their energy drop by drop. Everyone was doing something. The adults were harvesting for food to survive through the horrifying winter. The children were walking around bored and disregarding all responsibly. After the Great Blizzard, no children dared to go against their parents (if their parents were still alive) or venture out of the village alone. Legend has it that the spirit Mother Nature would have her children kill you if you ventured into her territory. While walking around, a pair of twin girls stopped by one of the local stores and purchased grapes. "Hey Jade," Kyla, the elder twin said. "Look at this!" Showing that she had a single grape in her palm, Kyla cupped her hand over it. "Ta dah!" Revealing what she thought was a masterpiece, Kyla smiled with pride. "I froze the grape!" Widening her eyes with amazement, Jade attempted her own try at freezing a grape. "Hey look I did it!" Smiling, Kyla patted Jade's coal black hair. "You…" The store keeper backed up in fear. "You….two…!"

The village soon caught on and isolated those two girls. At the age of seven Jade and Kyla were harassed and abused. They didn't have parents and the people who took them in left them on their own. Soon, the insults and beatings destroyed them; mental and physically. With their hearts locked with all emotion thrown away forever, the girls turned mute and wore masks that only left their eyes to see. But seeing was horrible enough for them. The stares and whispers always made it to them. They rarely ever left the small home they found and only left when the food supply was empty. They avoided the people as much as possible and the people avoided them as well until one fateful day….

It had been two years since Jade and Kyla's life spun into tragedy. Everything was broken. Their minds, hearts, and bodies were all at their breaking point. Being older by only five minutes, Kyla felt as if she had to be strong for Jade. If she broke down, the balance would be off and everything would be even worse than it already was. Feeling a tap on the shoulder, Kyla turned around to see Jade point at the empty food cabinet. Immediately understanding, Kyla and Jade got to their feet and headed out with dread awaiting them. Walking to the farmers market, the sun beat down on their backs as the whispers started. Words of hatred and disgust filled the air. Being clumsy, Jade bumped into a woman. "Hey! Watch where you're going brat! Why are you even outside? No one wants you! If you two would just go die we would all –"

"We would all what?" A sudden masculine from behind said. Turning around, Kyla and Jade saw two boys who seemed to be twins. "It's not that you don't need them, it's that they don't need you." One of the twins stated. The crowd dissipated and soon it was just Jade, Kyla and the other pair of twins. "Hi," One stepped forward. "I'm Chase! And this little guy over here is Kai!" He grabbed Kai's arm and ruffled his black and emerald tinted hair. Stepping backwards in fear, Kyla pulled her hood even further over her head. Following her twin, Jade did the same and walked away from the two boys. "Hey wait!" Kai said, walking forward.

Keeping an even pace, Kyla and Jade walked away from the boys without ever looking back. They couldn't reply or even talk to them so what would that matter? Nothing mattered. Kyla and Jade had nothing that mattered to them. Jade was already surprised by how they managed to live through their worthless life. In which, they were outcasts that were not needed. "We're just like you." Silence drooped over them like a curtain. "You're outcasts like us." Kai stated, pointing to both him and Chase. Cupping his hands over each other, Kai clasped them together. After a few seconds he revealed two small ice flowers that had a green aura around them.

Giving one to Chase, the boys walked forward. Jade and Kyla didn't move. They still had their backs facing the boys. They didn't want them to see their faces. This was the first time in years where they felt to be wanted. It settled in them in an awkward sense as if this was a lie. Feeling the warm touch of a hand on her shoulder, Kyla turned around to see Kai's smiling face. "Yah, you would look so much prettier without the mask and hoodie." Flipping off her hood, Kai placed the flower delicately on top of her left ear. Smiling, Kai happily said, "There, now let's take off your mask." Bringing his hand up to her cheek delicately, he was stopped with Kyla leaning forward and wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

9 Years Later

The musty forest air filled Jade's lungs. She loved the mornings in the forest. The birds chirping and it wasn't humid and sticky. Everything was just peaceful. In the peaceful air, Jade was surprised at how much she and her twin grew. Before, everything in life was a burden and even living was hard. Now, they were sixteen and different people inside and out. They stopped wearing masks and with the help of Chase and Kai, grew out of their muteness. Running a tan hand through her black – blue tinted hair, Jade smiled. She fingered with her ice flower pendant. It was originally meant for her hair, but she couldn't stand hair pins and neither could Kyla. Kai then remade them into pendants and since it was conjured up of Kai's Ice Energy, it would never melt. Just like their friendship.

Every day was the same for the group, train, and make the cottage clean. The cycle never changed but they didn't mind. Every day was fun and it was always amazing to see their powers develop. Being older than Jade and Kyla by a year, Kai and Chase were like teachers almost. But at some points, Kyla and Jade could teach them a lesson or two. They lived a happy life together as a team and they thought it would stay like this forever. But all good things must come to an end…

It was in the middle of fall. The green and yellow colored leaves made the world seem like such a warm place. The team was setting out to their winter cottage since their regular one wasn't built to deal with winter's harsh weather. Packing his needs for the journey, Kai swung his bag over his shoulder and grabbed his bow and quiver. Waiting outside, Kai was creating his arrows. Putting his hands together, he twisted his right hand toward him and his left away from him. Pulling his hands apart, he revealed an arrow made of solid ice. Being new, the arrow had a green aura around it. Watching the aura slowly disappear, Kai stored it in the quiver and was set on making another arrow.

"Kai, you're going to use up all of your Ice Energy if you keep making those arrows." Kyla said softly as she patted his shoulder. Jolting from the sudden contact, he blushed and stored away his last arrow. "Anyways," Chase said. "We'll run the trail until night." He stated as he started a paced jog. Running a v formation, the group felt the wind blow away the tips of their cloaks. It was like this every year and the group knew the trail by heart. If only they knew what would be happening along it by heart.

The sky now lost its majestic blue paint and white streaks of clouds and was now painted with an almost black night. Feeding the fire that she had created, Jade thought of the life she had now. Kyla and Kai were already fast asleep with their backs against their own trees. Chase on the other hand was wide awake and was gazing at the night starless sky. Cracking a smile, she looked back at the old days. The old days where she and Kyla didn't know how their Ice Energy worked. They didn't know that the ice created or frozen by them was eternal. They didn't know anything. All they knew was that they're lives were about to take a turn for the better. But now, that turn is about to end.

Feeling a cold sensation on her head, Kyla immediately awakened. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around. The team was still asleep. Fully opening her eyes to the morning, Kyla's heart dropped into her stomach with a thud. The entire ground was coated in white snow. It was the middle of fall! Winter never came this early. Unless….Mother Nature…her antics were once again in affect. "Wake up!" She yelled. Kyla couldn't care less if they were still tired. This was one of the few times she actually took the leader role. Usually it was Chase but now he seemed tired, annoyed, and quiet, a lot like how Kyla usually was.

The atmosphere had plummeted. The snow was falling heavier now and even Kyla was feeling the cold seep through her boots. Chase pulled his cloak's hood further over his head. They were at a staggering rate of not reaching the winter cottage. They weren't even sure if they were heading the right way. All of their trail markings were gone or covered. Jade suggested they stop and just walk the way in case the snow sucked more stamina out of them when they ran. Hearing the crushing of the snow beneath his feet, Chase scanned the area. Seeing a figure in the corner of his eye, he grabbed his bow and notched an arrow.