{"sf1_id":2086921,"sf2_id":"rn6zr57n","title":"The Frozen Grove","author":"Flash Kitterson","words":1997,"posted_at":"2023-12-26T23:50:00.000Z","tags":["Christmas","Horror","Reindeer","Seal","Short Story","Stoat"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2086921-the-frozen-grove","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/rn6zr57n","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/7a/a0/7aa0cbf6-20b5-468f-85a6-19dd452fa524","description":"#2 of SPECIAL SHORT STORIES\n\nAfter three magic college students, Flynn, Nathan, and Robyn graduate from Ruxose. They decide to take on their first mission as a team. The arctic animals get their first mission from an old wolf. He sends them into The Relentless Peaks, then into The Frozen Grove to find a golden present.\nThe old wolf did not warn them about the dangers that lie ahead.\nDive into this cold horror short story and find out what happens to the three friends.\n-\nRushed it a little, but I hope you all enjoy it.","content":"A reindeer woman walked out of a building. \"I can't believe we finally graduated from Ruxose!\"\n\nFollowing behind was a harp seal man. \"I know, right?\" He chuckled, smiling. \"We've practiced and learned about magic for four years straight. Now, we get to put it all to use!\"\n\n\"Let's just hope the first mission we have isn't bad,\" A stoat walked out with them. \"But I'm proud of us.\"\n\n\"Oh, Flynn...\" The reindeer spoke. \"Our first mission will be great!\"\n\n\"Robyn's right!\" The seal man agreed, patting his friend's back. \"We'll have an amazing first mission!\"\n\nFlynn turned to the seal. \"Nathan. You should know I'm cool with you being positive, but let's not forget the dangers that could be out there,\" they answered.\n\nNathan let out a sigh, but kept his smile. \"True that!\"\n\n\"Dangerous or not...\" Robyn chimed in. \"Let's do our best.\"\n\n\"Right. Let's head to the Drakore Guild House,\" Flynn headed off in another direction. Their friends followed them along down a stone path.\n\nThe friends were enthusiastic about their first mission in their own ways.\n\n\\*\n\nIn front of the three stood the Drakore Guild House in all of its glory. Flynn pushed the door open, hearing the sounds of many voices from the inside. They headed inside, Robyn and Nathan right behind them.\n\nMany animals from everywhere around the world come here to Drakore, looking for their next adventure. These three were next, glancing around at the unique booths and boards fit for any new (and veteran) magicians.\n\nLooking at his friends, Nathan questioned something. \"So, where do we begin?\"\n\n\"I say we go straight for the top, with the true high classed magicians!\" Robyn suggested, pointing at a high-class board.\n\n\"No, no,\" Flynn rolled their eyes, shaking their head. \"We do not know what type of danger that'll lead us to.\"\n\nThe seal chimed in. \"Yeah, Robyn! We're only starting now! Why would we go for a high-class mission?\"\n\nGroaning, the reindeer woman glanced around. \"Fine! What else is there?\"\n\nFlynn had their eyes on a booth across the room. The stoat walked over to it, signaling their friends over.\n\nNathan and Robyn followed, wondering what type of missions could be over there.\n\nThe three walked up to the booth, seeing a hooded old wolf man in a chair, reading a book. He paid no mind to them for a few heartbeats.\n\n\"Excuse me,\" Flynn spoke up.\n\nReacting, the old wolf glanced up at them. His red eyes nearly glowing from his hood. He held a book in his paws.\n\n\"What kind of missions do you have here?\"\n\n\"I have one,\" the wolf man whispered in his deep voice. \"Make your way to The Relentless Peaks. Survive the cold. Then you'll head into the Frozen Grove to find the Golden Present.\"\n\n\"Woah...\" Nathan muttered. \"What's in the present?\"\n\nCoughing, the old wolf man looked at the seal. \"Anything you desire.\"\n\n\"Hold on,\" the reindeer cut in. \"There has to be some sort of catch, right?\"\n\nHaving nothing to say, the old wolf only stared at the reindeer after she asked the question.\n\nConfused, she waved her paw in front of his face. \"Hello?\"\n\n\"There is no catch, young woman.\"\n\nRobyn looked at her friends. \"Are we sure we want to do this?\"\n\nShrugging, the seal man let out a tiny chuckle. \"It seems fine by me!\"\n\nThe stoat sighed, rolling their eyes. \"Whatever. We'll take it. Give us a map.\"\n\n\\*\n\nAfter the old wolf gave the friends a map, their first location was on a mountain.\n\n\"So, we have to go through The Relentless Peaks first, then... where?\" Nathan questioned, tilting his head.\n\n\"The Frozen Grove!\" The reindeer woman chimed in. \"Right, Flynn?\"\n\nFlynn checked the map as they went up a steep, snowy hill with their friends. \"Yeah. Some forest with something weird going on in it. Maybe it's the present.\"\n\nLooking around, Nathan peeked at the map over their shoulder. \"Good thing we're suited for this kind of weather!\"\n\n\"Yeah!\" The reindeer spoke up again. \"It's a coincidence that he gave us a mission like this. Unless?\"\n\nFlynn rolled their eyes. \"Unless what? That old man is racist? Wouldn't surprise me at all.\"\n\nNodding, the seal agreed. \"Yep! Especially with the older folk living in the past too much.\"\n\nAs they traveled through the mountains, a heavy blizzard picked up. Tons of snow and wind hit their bodies, but that didn't bother them. Though they trekked slowly, because the gales were still heavy and pushing them back as they went on.\n\nFlynn traveled with their friends until they reached a long, icy, bridge-like path.\n\n\"Tread carefully, both of you.\" Flynn ordered, taking gentle steps with their tiny stoat paws over the path. \"That fall doesn't look pretty.\"\n\nTheir friends followed along, staring down at the icy abyss for a few heartbeats.\n\nImmediately, a shadow beast jumped at them from ahead.\n\n\"Flynn! Watch out!\" Robyn screamed.\n\n_Slam._ The beast rammed into the stoat and knocked him over the side of the path. Flynn gripped the edge with all of their might, struggling to pull themself up.\n\nWaving her paws around, shiny gems emitted from them, slamming into the beast.\n\nRoaring, the shadow monster charged at them again. Drool spilled from its maw as it smelled their scents.\n\nNathan used his Angel Yell Scream, pushing it away with a booming sound wave. He added onto his assault by lashing blue flames at it. His flames knocked it back further.\n\nFlyn focused, using their Gravity Warding magic to lose some weight, and easily hop onto the path again. \"All right. Let's try that again. Robyn, your illusions.\"\n\n\"On it!\" The Reindeer woman summoned Orbital Illusions, creating fake stars and planets around the creature.\n\nConfused, the shadow creature looked around.\n\nFlicking their paw down, Flynn forced the creature to the ground with gravity. \"Nathan. Get ready to push this thing off the cliff.\"\n\nNathan nodded, flames igniting on his flippers. \"You got it, Flynn!\"\n\nThe stoat did the same movement again, giving the beast less weight, causing it to float in the air.\n\nNathan leashed the flames at it, knocking it over the bottomless ice pit.\n\n\"Take some of this!\" Robyn created giant gems in the air. The gems crashed into the back of the monster, pushing it down into the chilly ravine.\n\n_Snap._ Flynn snapped their fingers, returning the shadow beast's weight back to normal. \"Go to hell.\"\n\nThe beast let out a roar as it plummeted into the ravine.\n\n\"That was fun!\" Nathan beamed, stretching his arms out.\n\n\"You realize Flynn almost plummeted to their doom, right?\" Robyn questioned the seal.\n\nSighing, Flynn walked ahead. \"I would've just floated back up. Nothing big,\" they chimed in. \"Let's get a move on.\"\n\nThe friends wasted little time, making their way across the path and soon into The Frozen Grove.\n\n\\*\n\nStopping in front of tall, snow-covered trees, the friends observed the entrance of The Frozen Grove. Icicles hung off the branches and the trees themselves looked crystalized by the ice. They even towered into the skies, going past the dark clouds.\n\n\"Well, this is it...\" Robyn muttered. \"Do we just go in and explore?\"\n\nNathan shrugged. \"I guess, but this place seems incredibly horrifying.\"\n\nWalking into the grove, Flynn spoke up. \"Horrifying or not. Let's go find this golden present.\"\n\nFollowing along, the three friends traveled in.\n\nSnowflakes fluttered down onto the chilly ground as the snow crunched under their foot paws. The forest was silent, and it seemed endless.\n\n\"Stick together,\" the stoat ordered. \"Places like these are easy to get lost in.\"\n\nNo sound came from their friends. Not even their footsteps. They whipped their head around, seeing that Nathan and Robyn disappeared.\n\n\"Robyn? Nathan?\" They breathed.\n\n\"Where the hell did you two go?\"\n\n\\*\n\nRobyn dashed through the snow. Panic singed through her fur and in her body.\n\n\"Where am I? Where are Flynn and Nathan?\"\n\nShe panicked more. Robyn was just with them heartbeats ago. How did she lose them so easily?\n\nThe reindeer woman aimlessly ran through the trees. She couldn't even find where they first entered. \"How do I get out of here?\" She hyperventilated. \"I feel like something's following me!\"\n\nRobyn ran as something approached her. Each time she looked over shoulder, nothing would be there.\n\nWhat was going on?\n\nWhere are her friends?\n\nHeartbeats passed. Robyn took a last glance over her shoulder and saw nothing. \"I must be going crazy...\"\n\nA scream rang in the distance.\n\nIt was Nathan's Angel Exorcism Yell.\n\n\"Holy shit... Nathan!\" His scream sent a chill down her spine. The reindeer woman ran toward her friend's yell.\n\nAnother horrid yell resounded. Robyn ran as fast as she could. Heartbeats passed before she made it to an open area with the seal man standing in the middle of it.\n\nRobyn slowly approached her friend. \"Nathan? Why are you screaming? Where's Flynn?\"\n\n\"We're all going to die, Robyn.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\nTearing up, Nathan spoke again. \"My yells from the heavens are no use for what's here. That old man tricked us.\"\n\n\"Nathan, what the hell are you talking about?\" Robyn's voice quivered.\n\nThe reindeer woman froze up.\n\nAn enormous dark creature with ice covering its body loomed over the seal man. Blood stained its jagged teeth and giant icicles stuck out of its back. It was ready to attack.\n\nBefore Robyn could get words out of her maw, the icy monster immediately tore Nathan in half, eating both parts of him.\n\nShe screamed in horror. Tears poured down her face as she dashed away in fear. \"Flynn! Help! Please! I don't want to die!\"\n\nRobyn knew the creature was getting closer and closer. She felt it breathing down her neck. She cried out to the lords above her. The reindeer stopped, turning around to face it, but it was gone. Robyn frantically glanced around.\n\nIt wasn't long before she felt something breathing down her neck again.\n\n_Stab. Spill. Chomp._\n\nThe beast pierced her through the stomach, lifting her up and eating her whole. Blood poured onto the snow and stained a large patch of it.\n\nAs it finished making a mess, it heard the yells and cries of someone else nearby.\n\n\\*\n\nFlynn used their magic to pull tall trees out of the ground and knock them over. \"Robyn! Nathan!\" They yelled, running around as they knocked over many trees.\n\nThe Frozen Grove drove Flynn insane. They lost their friends, and there seemed to be no way out.\n\nMaking it into an open area, Flynn dropped to the chilly ground. An aura of their magic erupted, making numerous trees fall over and pushing away the surrounding snow, revealing the icy grass.\n\n\"Where the hell are you two?\" they yelled.\n\n_Stomp. Stomp. Stomp._\n\nLooking up, Flynn saw the enormous monster. Blood was all over its sharp teeth. The icicles on its back changed to a red color.\n\n\"You did something to them.\" Flynn growled. They stood with tears welling up in their eyes. \"I heard their screams. Where the fuck are they?\"\n\nThe beast stared at the stoat. It gave no response to them.\n\n\"Tell me, you freak!\" The ground rumbled underneath them.\n\nIt opened its blood filled mouth. The scarlet substance dripped from its sharp teeth.\n\nHovering off of the ground, Flynn met the gaze of the beast. \"You ate them? You fucking ate them?\"\n\nThe shadow creature widened its jaws.\n\n\"I'll kill you! We just fucking graduated with each other!\" They yelled.\n\nA sound wave boomed from the dark monster's mouth. It was like Nathan's Angel Exorcism Yell. The attack tore through the stoat's fur and flesh, killing him instantly.\n\nThe beast picked up the remains of Flynn and ate them, leaving nothing but blood stains.\n\nHeartbeats passed. The snow picked up in the grove. It didn't take long for a blizzard to settle in. The snowstorm covered the beast, cloaking it.\n\nInstantly, the blizzard stopped.\n\nThe monster disappeared.  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"SPECIAL SHORT STORIES","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2031296-my-husband-s-a-butcher.json"}}