This story is part of the Wanderer series.
As the curtain was pulled aside, beaming a blade of warm orange light across the chilly blue snow, a flood of warmth radiated from within. Karin led the group in, with Alisan close behind her.
Eyes widening, Nozomi and Rin let out an audible gasp as they took in the setting. Basked in a glow as warm as the setting sun, the interior was much more spacious than it let on from the outside. The floor was raised above the ground with a wooden platform and lined with dull red carpets. In the center, a square was cut out, and in it was a stone fire pit, gently flickering. A metal pot hovered just above the pit, hanging off a rotating handle with a flat grip insulated with leather. A pair of heavy hooks dangling from the ceiling held the pot by its handle above the fire.
Karin took off her boots at the simple and vague gesture from one of the villagers towards the platform step. The rest of the group followed her example, with Nozomi needing a tugging reminder on the shoulder from Rin. With a gentle smile, the village elder welcomed the group to sit down around the fire, himself sitting down on a large cushion at the back side, facing the entrance. Karin sat down cross-legged on the side to the elder’s right, on the cushion closest to him. Alisan, taking her hood down, sat on an adjacent cushion a little further away from the elder’s side with her feet tucked under. Removing her hood, Rin took a seat on the bare carpet floor across from Karin, Nozomi across from Alisan, while Chiara sat across from the elder with her legs drawn into her chest, her short height barely allowing her to see him over the dangling pot.
The two villagers that followed them in went to the perimeter of the room and gathered additional cushions. Walking up beside Nozomi and Rin, they politely beckoned for them to slide aside to set down their offering. Once they were handled, one of the villagers brought Chiara a cushion as well.
Seeing the group settle down, the elder, still smiling, turned to Karin. “We were starting the fire before you arrived. It will be a little while before the meal is ready.”
Karin, keeping a subtle, mild smile, simply dipped her chin in a nod. Alisan, feeling the proximity of the elder’s gaze, smiled more warmly, but kept quiet, knowing it was not her being addressed. Rin, meanwhile, was still distracted by the villagers, her eyes constantly flicking and head subtly turning to watch them work around the perimeter as the group sat in the center. Nozomi and Chiara kept to themselves, hastily trying to warm up by the fire. Seeing the two hooded girls huddle so closely towards the fire, the elder leaned towards the pit to gaze in.
“Oh my, it seems it has waned in our unattendance.”
The elder straightened, turning towards a villager.
“Mei, if you may?”
The woman glanced over to the lumber pile. “There is one piece left. I will go fetch more.”
The other woman grew attentive as well. The elder nodded, looking a little hesitant.
“See if Dai can help you split them. Or perhaps another canvas has some to spare. Do not exert yourself.”
Rin looked up as the woman brought over the remaining piece of chopped lumber, holding a hand over her abdomen as she bent forward.
“Um… Is there something I can do? Chop something? Carry something?”
After chucking in the wood, the villager glanced up at Rin in surprise.
“I can help chop the logs if that’s what you need. Beats sitting around waiting.”
The woman did not respond, glancing at the elder, who, looking relieved, beamed a warm smile.
“If you are abled strength, Red One, please help my granddaughter. We would be grateful.”
“Right,” Rin affirmed with a gruff as she got up, pulling in the collars of her coat as she braced herself to return into the cold.
Beside her, Nozomi scrambled up. “I’ll go with you!”
Freezing, Rin stared at her, eyes round. “You don’t need to. Stay here where it’s warm.”
She flashed a look of confidence, leaning forward. “But I want to!”
Karin discreetly glanced up, eyes gleaming disapprovingly at her outburst.
Rin opened her lips in protest, but stopped short of letting anything out, conscious of the strangers watching them. Pinching her lips together, she relented.
“Fine. You carry them.”
Nozomi grinned ear to ear. Across from them, Alisan fidgeted, then straightened up as the two moved to leave with the villagers.
“Er… I can help out with something too if you want,” she quietly called after them.
Nozomi and Rin glanced back at Alisan in surprise.
“Hm? You too?” Nozomi blurted.
Alisan shrank back a bit, hesitant. However, beside her, Karin gave her a low gaze, slightly turning her head towards the sheepish girl.
“Go,” said Karin in a low voice. “Make sure she doesn’t get into trouble.”
Alisan abruptly glanced at Karin, seeing her gaze at her through the corner of her eyes with a serious face. Then, nodding, she got up and joined the other two.
Seeing this, Chiara also began to fidget, raising her head, but not yet making an effort to unravel from her huddled state. “Uhh… Should I go too?”
The elder smiled. “I believe we have enough hands. Thank you, Little One.”
Chiara nodded, shrinking back down. Yet, she seemed to remain uneased, blinking her eyes between Karin and the pot.