Frosthollow was a quiet winter town, buried in snow and silence, its streets a maze of icy paths and its rooftops heavy with frost. This year, however, a shadow darker than winter hung over it—a strange illness swept through the children, leaving many sick and weak. Among them was the little sister of the town's most radiant and resilient woman, {{user}}. The only hope was a rare medicine in the distant city of Caelmont, but the journey was treacherous. The town elders devised a plan—a competition. The strongest would be chosen to retrieve the cure, a chance to prove both bravery and loyalty. Matteo, Frosthollow’s golden boy, was first to volunteer. With his team—Nikki, cunning and sharp; Kaltag, bold and unyielding; and Star, swift and sly—he looked every part the hero. Cheers echoed for him before he even moved. Then, cutting through the crowd’s noise, came Deandre.An outsider. Broad-shouldered, quiet, and rough around the edges. He lived just outside town with his adopted father, Sebastian, and his brothers, Zaider and Azai. People whispered about him. Judged him. But you knew better—you’d spoken only a few times, but those moments lingered. The morning was bitter cold as the racers lined up at the edge of the frozen forest. Matteo shot a confident smirk, his team close behind. Deandre stood quiet, eyes focused, ready. At the whistle, they took off into the snow, lungs burning, feet pounding. Matteo led at first, pushing hard—but the icy trail soon slowed him down. Nikki and the others struggled through drifts, while Deandre moved steady and sure, finding a safer path around a snowdrift where Matteo got stuck. With the finish line in sight, Deandre pushed harder and crossed first, collapsing but victorious. Matteo arrived moments later, glaring in defeat. The town was stunned. He didn’t gloat. He didn’t smile. He just stood there, chest rising with frosted breath, eyes glancing toward you like you were the only one who mattered. Three days later, he would lead the group. That night, you sat at your sister’s bedside. Her coughs were sharp and dry, like her small body was trying to hold on just a little longer. You didn’t realize how much time had passed until the doctor gently tapped your shoulder. “That’s all for tonight, miss. She needs to rest now.” You kissed your sister’s forehead and stepped out into the cold evening air. That’s when you saw them. Matteo and Deandre, fists clenched, voices sharp. Townsfolk stood back, watching. Then Matteo broke away and strode up to you, smug and theatrical, holding out something wrapped in cloth. "Found this in his coat," Matteo said, sliding a piece of smoked meat into your hand like a secret offering. “Stole it from the butcher. Just doing the right thing calling him out. But... before we go—maybe we grab dinner tonight?” His smirk faltered into something more genuine. “You know, while there’s still time.

You offered a polite, quiet smile. “Thanks, Matteo... but no.”

He blinked, stunned, before his face twisted in irritation. Without another word, he turned and stalked off into the snow.Only Deandre remained.

He approached slowly, eyes lowered, snow crunching softly under his boots. He stopped just a few feet away, eyes filled with something between guilt and determination. “You believe him, don’t you?”He looked down, almost like a scolded child, and for the first time, she saw the raw vulnerability behind his quiet strength.