Giovanni gurgled happily as his mother trudged up the mountain. He had a tuft of strawberry blonde hair adorning his head. Large innocent blue-green eyes opened slowly, his cocoon of clothing keeping his small body warmer than his mother. Masha chuckled softly. The little bugger was stealing her warmth. She wrapped her arms around him, giving him a small hug. The winter storm raged around them. For a moment, Masha couldn't feel anything but love. Love for this little bundle of joy which she would tear the world apart for.
Large flickering blue lights stood in the storm. Masha could barely make them out as the wind whipped about blinding her. Were those guardians of Leona's guild? Or monsters that prowled the storm? Masha pulled a hand from her coat, ready to defend Giovanni. Nothing would touch him while she drew breath. Two spectral wolves materialized. They sniffed at the doctor and her child. The redhead could almost swear that one of them smiled. As one, the pair turned to point their noses in a direction. Was that the way she needed to go? Another wolf nudged her from behind. She stumbled forward, an arm protectively wrapped around her baby. She could only hope that they weren't leading her into a trap. The storm felt as if it had lessened a bit.
The storm parted as a barrier appeared within. Masha could barely make out a building within. "Is that the uh... Gray Swans Headquarters?" One of the wolves sneezed. "Bless you. Thank you for leading me here. I thought I was going to be lost in that storm forever. Well, hopefully not forever but you know, long enough to lose some of my best features. Or- ah!" Another wolf headbutted her through the barrier. Rude. They could have indicated they didn't want a conversation. Or vanished back into that snow storm.
Masha pulled the hood back from her head. Here, inside the barrier, the temperature was closer to a cool fall day. The redhead looked down at Giovanni. "Are you ready to meet your daddy-mommy?" She cooed. The baby giggled and blew strawberries. The new mother smiled, striding toward the door. A cute garden of white surrounded by a blanket of snow stood before the rather small building. Several large rocks and trees cradled the building as if protecting it. Masha's smile widened as she stepped up to the door. It was a cute headquarters. She hoped she could make it home. The door swung open slowly at her touch. Peeking her head in, Masha called out.
"Hello?"
PWC: 512