Gems of the Winter Waste.

"It is far too cold out here for anyone to travel these days. " The line was lost in the bone-chilling winds of the waste. The cart that was being pulled along the snow by the heavily wrapped traveler. He struggled with each step as the weight of the cart kept burying deeper in the snow. The closest town was still not within view even after traveling several hours.

The snow had been falling lazily to the ground covering everything in a sub-zero blanket of white. The crunch of the snow was the only response to all his gripes and moans. It helped that he was used to talking to himself so it wasn't that he was crazy. He already knew that he was abnormal due to this habit. As he kept trudging along he wrapped the cloak tighter around himself and adjusted the gloves so what little warmth wouldn't escape.

"I really wish I hadn't of made that stupid deal back in the Crystal Empire. Twilight would have my head if she knew I went with my gut again instead of what she taught me" he muttered begrudgingly thinking back to the events that led to having to pull the cart himself through the deathly boring blank canvas of snow.

He kept pulling through the snow cursing every rock the cart hit that was hidden by the snow. As he climbed a hill slipping down every now and then he cursed all deities for the misfortune of having lost his horse. Once at the top he put down the cart and rested against it in order to catch his breath. As he looked down at the valley below he could make out the warm shine of lamp light and crystals. Taking a small flask from one of the bags attached to the cart he took a swig of his favorite self-made moonshine.

"Ahhhhhh, smooth.... yet bitter. " he said warming himself with the grog. "Maybe I can find a place for the night down there, if not for me then at least for her." He said standing up and uncovering the cart revealing both his childhood companion and the kid they had picked up during their time at the empire. They were both laying on a pile of furs and wrapped in one the expensive cloth he struggled to acquire for trade.

The  purple haired kid shifted at the cold and moved closer to the dark figure next to her. As the traveler smiled at the scene he covered them up and picked up the handles and resumed the trek through the storm. He headed towards the light with the hope of finding shelter for all of them.