Page 30 of Kraved By Krampus

The crisp morning air hits my face as I step outside and meet Krampus on the porch. Fresh snow blankets everything in pristine white, untouched except for a few animal tracks. The trees sparkle with frost, their branches heavy with snow.

“The winter silence is my favorite part after a storm.” Krampus walks beside me, his massive frame somehow not leaving footprints in the snow. “It’s the moment when nature holds its breath.”

I pause to admire an ice-covered branch, where the morning sun transforms ordinary frost into rainbow prisms. “It’s like being inside a snow globe.”

His large hand comes into view, gesturing at the branch. The ice crystals rearrange themselves into delicate patterns, forming what looks like tiny frozen flowers.

“How do you do that?”

“Winter magic responds to intent.” His crimson eyes meet mine. “The cold has always been more than just an absence of heat. It’s a force of its own.”

We continue walking, the snow crunching beneath my boots while Krampus glides silently beside me. The path seems to clear itself ahead of us, though I notice we’re moving deeper into the woods than I ventured before.

“Where are we going?”

“There’s something I want to show you.”

The trees part to reveal a small clearing. In the center stands an ancient oak tree, its massive trunk wrapped in strings of crystalline ice that catch the sunlight. The branches above form a natural dome, with icicles hanging like wind chimes.

“This is beautiful.” My breath forms little clouds in the air. “Did you create this?”

“No. This tree has been here longer than I have.” He reaches out to touch the trunk, and the ice formations shimmer in response. “It’s one of the old places, where winter magic gathers naturally.”

I step closer to the tree, drawn by something I can’t explain. The air feels different here, charged with energy that makes my skin tingle. When I reach out to touch the ice-covered bark, tiny sparks of blue light dance under my fingertips.

Krampus goes very still beside me.

“What was that?” My heart races, but not from fear.

“That, little mate, was you.” His voice carries a note of satisfaction I don’t quite understand. “The tree recognizes its own.”

I pull my hand back, watching as the sparks fade. “I don’t understand.”

“You will.” His massive hand covers mine, guiding it back to the tree trunk. This time, the blue lights spread like ripples through the ice formations, creating a spectacular light show above us.

The display leaves me breathless, but questions crowd my mind. Before I can voice them, a cold wind whips through the clearing, making me shiver despite my warm coat.

Krampus steps closer, his body radiating heat like a furnace. “Perhaps we should head back. Magnus will be upset if I let you catch cold.”

The snow crunches beneath our boots as we make our way back to the cabin. A chorus of giggles draws my attention to a group of children building what appears to be a snow fort.

“Those aren’t ordinary snowballs.” I point to the shimmering spheres floating around the children’s heads.

Krampus stiffens beside me but says nothing.

Before he can move, one of the snowballs zooms past us, barely missing my ear. The children scatter, their laughter echoing through the trees. There must be magic in the air because we are still close to the ancient tree.

“Let me try something.” I step forward, remembering how my mother used to handle difficult story time sessions at the library. “Hey kids, want to hear a tale about the Great Winter Battle?”

The giggles stop. Three small heads peek out from behind trees.

“There was once a mighty snow queen who taught her soldiers that true power comes from protecting others, not causing chaos.” My words feel weighted, almost tangible in the crisp air. The floating snowballs slowly descend as the children emerge from hiding.

A small girl with silver-streaked hair approaches. “Did the snow queen win?”

“She did, but only after learning to control her magic with wisdom and love.”

The remaining snowballs gently settle into a perfect pile at our feet. The children gather around, eyes wide and attentive as I spin the tale.

---