The Siblings of Karranya

Fern opened her eyes to the intense glare of the sun shining through a nearby window.  “Ah ha! There, see! I told you she’d be fine!”  She winced at Jous’ booming voice. “Would you mind being a bit quieter?” she noted her voice was cracked and dry.  “Fern! Fern!” Avanne ran to Fern’s cot and took her hand. “Move back, give the poor girl some room!” More shouting.  “Could someone please draw the curtains? I can’t see.” Fern croaked once more. There was a rustling and the room dimmed. “That will just be your eyes re-adjusting to the light. Not to worry.”  Fern’s head was pounding, and she reached up to what she assumed was a bandage.  “Oh no you don’t. I have just changed your dressing, and I won’t have you getting it all dirty. You are not to touch it.”  In the dimmer light Fern was surprised to see the voice belonged to a young girl, not the old, craggy woman she had imagined. She tried to sit up and Avanne helped h...

Fern took a deep breath as she walked into the ice-cold lake. She knew people were watching her as though she were a mad woman, and perhaps she was. The freezing water always took her breath away and she wondered if that is how drowning felt. Despite every one of her senses telling her to retreat, she kept a steady pace until the water reached her neck, and then dove under the surface. Fern had always loved the water. She had grown up in the village of Royan, Karranya ’s southern-most village and the largest of its islands. For two seasons it was completely ice-locked - the distance too risky to travel even with strong wolves and plentiful supplies. The other two seasons the water was crystal clear, but so cold most would never brave it, but not Fern and her father. “The cold makes you strong.” Her father used to say as he tossed her into the water, before jumping in himself.   She had lived her whole life in Royan and was devastated when her father moved them to Jashe to b...