Chapter Text
The wind howled with fury, carrying flurries of sharp snow with it. She struggled through the blizzard, trying to push through but failing. Finally, she gave up and decided to wait it out in a cave nearby. Her pale fur, luckily, was thick enough to keep her warm through the night if necessary.
A growl rumbled in the dark of the cave. She froze in place before bracing herself for an attack, claws out, teeth bared.
Something stepped out and growled directly at her. It was a large animal, thick fur, long scaly tail, and the same wing-like ears as her. It even had the same eye colours, green and yellow.
In fact, the newcomer looked almost exactly like her. She, confused, didn’t make a move towards the other creature. It looked far skinnier than her, as if it didn’t get a good enough hunt that winter. An easy enough picking, probably. But before she could move, the creature flung itself at her as a feeble attempt to fight the trespasser off.
She easily sidestepped the attack and placed her paw down on its neck, successfully immobilizing it. The pinned creature rasped and tried to get up, but it didn’t have the strength. Another failed try. Then it gave up. And a beg of mercy escaped its throat. She, taking pity on the poor creature, decided to spare its life.
And so began a friendship built on pure survival instincts.
The pair travelled throughout the old land, unseparated. At first, neither of them were quite trustworthy with each other, however, once they hunted and took down enemies together, trust began to bloom.
Soon enough, the winter was over. The Sun shone bright and clear, blessing the land with its warmth. Every animal, from the small fluffahogs, to the mighty selkies like her and it enjoyed the peace.
She should have known it wasn’t everlasting. It never was, usually broken by a fight between selkies over territory.
But this time, something completely unprecedented happened.
The arrival of a newcomer from beyond their land.
It brought war upon the peaceful beings of the world. Without Nibelung there, the Seven Dragon Sovereigns fought back with all their armies and strength. But it wasn’t enough.
The Sovereigns were subdued and put to sleep while the dragons and vishaps and any other animals who refused to surrender under their charge scattered all across the continent. Her and it included. The two of them ran away to a more south-west foreign land where hydro energy reigned supreme. They adapted to the climate there, where it was far warmer than they were used to, and hid while the enemy completely reshaped the land.
it wasn’t long before Nibelung returned, albeit with a darker tinge to his body than before he went into space. When the Dragon King saw how Teyvat was, he flew into a rage and roused the Sovereigns from their slumber, bringing them to a second war against the newcomer, the Heavenly Principles, it called itself.
The battle lasted a long time. It may have been years, or decades, or even centuries. She didn’t know, neither did her friend. But they both knew the outcome.
The dragons lost.
Nibelung was defeated and killed. The Cryo, Hydro, Anemo and Electro Sovereigns were all dead. the fates of the Dendro, Geo, and Pyro Dragons were all unknown and the remaining dragons fled to the ends on Teyvat.
Fortunately, their defeat wasn’t in vain. For the Heavenly Principles, weakened by the war, fell into a deep sleep, but not before creating an entirely different species.
Ones that walked on two legs, who used their front paws to do everything. With a tuft of fur on their heads, they hunted all the other animals.
Over the years, she watched those animals slowly dwindle in number, before they all disappeared. It was all due to them.
Humans, they called themselves.
What a cruel type of creature.
It was so long before she finally heard something.
“■■■■■■”
She turned around in shock. So did it, who still stuck by her side, as if they were from the same hatching.
“■■■■■■, come… come to where my body is…”
“…Please…”
It stared at her, evidently having also heard the voice.
The two locked gazes before they decided. They were going to leave the lands inhabited by humans and join their master in her death. Even if they wouldn’t see the Sun ever again.
So their journey began. Travelling through the lands of humans proved extremely difficult, especially since they harboured sharp weapons that rivalled the claws and teeth of vishaps. Thankfully, though, they made it. She took a deep breath in, relishing the sweet scent of snow. Fresh, soft snow. Beside her, it started frolicking around, evidently excited to be back on familiar turf. They hunted a few fluffahogs before continuing to where their master lay.
It was night when the attack happened. Previously, she had noticed the faint smell of humans, but brushed it off as a quick group wander of them.
She should’ve known better.
Humans weren’t to be trusted.
She woke up to her companion’s screech.
A sharp, pointy stick had found its mark in the wing membrane, causing it a lot of pain, judging by the screaming.
That was when the humans swarmed into their nest.
There was a lot of them.
Despite the two selkies being a larger than the puny humans, they were losing by numbers.
Letting out a cry, she took off, carrying her sister’s friend’s body since it couldn’t fly anymore. They flew and flew, over the tundra where they played, the forest where they hunted, the mountains where they first met.
Finally, the pair reached the cave. It collapsed in pain, a shaky breath escaping its mouth. Thankfully, her companion could still walk, though it was limping. The smell of other selkies grew stronger as they went deeper in.
It wasn’t long before they reached the center. Selkies were already gathered around it, as if waiting for something.
“Welcome, everyone”, a voice said calmly, “You’re all here, good.
“I have brought you all here to join me. As your creator, your life force is tied to mine. Of course, I am dead. This voice you are hearing is simply a projection of me. Once it fades, so will all your lives.”
There was no panic at these words. All of the selkies remained stone-still.
“However, I am in need of a successor. One to carry on the burden of the element of Cryo in my name.”
At those sentences, many of the selkies sat up straighter.
“The successor will slumber, and when they wake up… well the prophecy dictates they will turn into something not a dragon or vishaps or any creature native to this place. No. Rather, they will be a human of Primordial Ice.”
Growls rumbled from the selkies gathered. No one wanted to be one of the creatures who caused so much suffering to all the lands.
The voice continued, softer and sadder this time, “If there are no volunteers, I will unfortunately have to choose from one of you. I need a creature born of pure Primordial Ice, and you are my only options.
“So, anyone wanting?”
No selkie stepped forward.
Then- it did. Raising its head, the selkie padded towards the voice, wing drooping pitifully to the side.
“■■■■■■, are you sure?”
It nodded, no regret in its eyes.
Suddenly, she found herself bounding forward, the others clearing a path towards the sacrifice. A string of sounds jumbled out of her mouth, begging their master to at least allow them to suffer together.
The voice paused. Evidently, their master hadn’t anticipated this. She waited in agony for the verdict, and when it came, it was unexpected.
“Very well then. I can allow that. One more question though, before you’re off. Would you like your memories removed when you sleep? It may help that you don’t feel shameful anymore.”
They shared a glance, unsure. Yes, removing their memories would be great, but wouldn’t they also forget each other?
In that pause, the voice only softly whispered, “The process will not hurt, and you two will wake up, not in body, but in soul.
“So, are you ready?”
The pair of selkies nodded simultaneously.
“Very well then.”