The cold winds felt like tiny needles pricking her skin. Even without a glance, she knew that the soldiers weren't the only casualties caused by this war. Innocent bystanders, both the young and old also lost their lives but they already knew the consequences.
Here, death was inevitable.
They were all going to be buried by the snow within the next hour, preserving their flesh for the wildlife that awaited patiently for the cold weather to withdraw at dawn.
Her heart was racing but she did her best to remain calm, tirelessly trudging through the knee-deep snow despite her strength deteriorating. Her hot exhales formed mystifying clouds once it clashed with the cold winds, twirling in the winds before they disappeared. She winced in pain as her abdomen throbbed, reminding her of the fresh cut she received back at the battlefield.
The cloth she had used to wrap the open wound was now drenched in blood, the warm liquid now dripping onto the snow, painting it crimson red. They had laced their swords with some sort of poison, preventing her body from healing itself. It was a pathetic attempt to weaken her however, the trick was starting to work.
She looked back on trail to see how far she had gone - it wasn't far enough. Although she did cover a large distance, the hunter still had an advantage, a very big one.
Just when she finally thought she was in the clear, she saw it. Amongst the whirling snow stood a dark silhouette of the man that was trying to kill her. Walking calmly without a hint of urgency, right at her direction.
==========
A sudden wave of immense pain washed over as she attempted to run, causing her to fall over. The poison was starting to take its toll on her body, and he seemed to have known that as well. Her vision was blurry when he stood in front of her in silence.
His face was nothing but a dark hole, devoid of any facial features or expressions that could've revealed his true identity.
His mighty armor was stained with dried blood, a terrifying symbol of the lives he had taken while he searched for his main target.
She tried to stand but her legs were far too weak, she was completely helpless under his feet. Just when it felt like an eternity, she felt a cold, metallic hand caressing her cheeks, wiping away what must've been her tears. She hadn't even realized that she was crying until then.
'Zeya.' He whispered, a voice she hardly recognized calling out a name she could barely remember.
'...Zeya.' He said a second time, her heart wincing in pain for a reason she couldn't quite place.
And then she felt it. The cold surface of the dagger sliding into her chest, penetrating her heart.
The warm blood felt like fire as it trinkled down her ice-cold body, burning everything it touched. The pain got worse as he pushed the dagger deeper, she no longer felt the tenderness he showed from when he caressed her a moment before.
She struggled to breathe as her own blood filled up her lungs, drowning her from within. Slowly, as the pain subsided, her grasp on reality did as well, encasing her into a deep slumber.