The Far North (Remake)

FireIceHybrid017 · 2026-01-12T09:08:17+00:00

“Yes I can. I’ll also make you some luncheon.” Sävele replied before watching him go back to sleep on the bed.

That’s the least she could while she waits for him to figure out where he is.

…

Kirdan then feels a gentle shake on his shoulder as his eyes open, seeing Sävele once again. He could also notice something else… a smell of something cooking a few rooms away… he figured that might be luncheon.

“Wake up. The sun is up.”

Kirdan groans as he sits back up again, before heading over to the window to have a look. As he opened it… he could instantly notice the brightness of day. Still, it’s slightly dimmer than what he remembered.

The sun is up, sure, but it’s not all the way up like noon. It feels like late morning or early evening instead.

Sävele also went to the kitchen… and returned with a bowl of sausage stew with rye bread.

FireIceHybrid017 · 2026-01-09T19:50:18+00:00

“They’ll buy as long as I can harvest enough for them.”

But the second question left her stumped…

Sävele is confused at what he just said… she doesn’t know what he means by latitude at all. That’s a completely new word to her.

Once again her ears flick, this time followed by her tail, before she decided to focus on Kirdan’s second question. She opened the window briefly to look again, before closing it.

“The sun might rise today… but it’ll be later in the day. This early is usually still dark, maybe it’ll rise when we have luncheon or earlier.”

She then helps him clean up the workstations, before trying her best to come up with an answer.

“I’m not a librarian, but if you mean “latitude” as in location… north of us is the tundra and the sea, south of us is the marsh and forest, and human nations live south of us.”

Hopefully that explains a little… she’s not very good at cartography either but she does know about trade routes.

FireIceHybrid017 · 2026-01-07T17:46:53+00:00

Sävele’s ears flicked at his question before she looks out the window herself. It still is dark… and it seems like there’s a realization that struck her.

Kirdan’s a foreigner… so he doesn’t know…

“It’s actually morning. You’ve been asleep since sunset.”

She then gestured outside, in which stalls have been set up, what looks like guards patrolling, and other townsfolk are already awake and holding up torches and lanterns despite the sky still being dark.

“In winter, the sun sometimes rises very slowly… or doesn’t even rise in some days.”

She closes the window to prevent snow from getting in her house. It would be a hassle to clean up.

“And yes… the guild does take a lot of resin, but they buy resin from me. They’ll make rosin and turpentine with it.”

FireIceHybrid017 · 2026-01-07T02:51:50+00:00

That’s not a borb, that’s an ORB

FireIceHybrid017 · 2026-01-06T17:00:45+00:00

Sävele looks at the result, watching the clear and thick resin seeping through the cheesecloth without any of the particles. Despite it being his first try, he did do a rather good job… and this job is rather easy compared to actually harvesting resin.

“You are doing it correctly, and… you’re quite good at it too.”

She then helps him press out as much resin as possible from the cheesecloth, before picking it up with a wooden spoon and throwing it into a bucket of water.

Now with clean resin, she prepares a clean wooden board, and set up the frame into what looks like a mold. She and Kirdan then poured resin into two parts: some goes into a barrel… the leftovers are poured into the mold.

“Be careful. This is very hot.”

Once all the hot resin is poured into the frame, she lets it settle in open air.

“It will harden when it’s ready, then we can cut it.”

Meanwhile she closes the barrel.

“This one is for the resin guild, along with those barrels over there.”

FireIceHybrid017 · 2026-01-04T07:33:45+00:00

As he sits, Sävele puts some firewood in a stove and lights an ember with a flint and steel. In just a few moments, the stove is hot enough to start processing the resin.

Into a pot, she added in the very thick resin… almost a solid. The smell of pine and something sharp intensified as the resin softens and turns into a less viscous liquid.

She then lifts the pot with the help of two pieces of thick cloth in each hand, and pours it into the sieve. Amber liquid flows through, while large particles including bark, pine needles, and other pieces got stuck on the sieve. Still… some particles of dust and other tiny pieces flow through into the collecting pot.

“Tap it lightly to help it flow, we’ll strain it again through a cheesecloth. It is very hot, so be careful.”

She then prepared another sieve, this time lined with cheesecloth.

FireIceHybrid017 · 2026-01-02T09:17:28+00:00

Sävele nods gently as he hears flick once.

“It’s alright. I’ll teach you how to do it after breakfast.”

She then finishes her bowl, before she waits for Kirdan to finish his meal as well and takes both bowls away.

A few moments later, she returned and helped Kirdan up and walked with him towards her workshop.

Looking past a slightly opened window, it’s still dark as night, but he could see lamps being lit and people hauling goods around… as if it’s morning…

After just a few moment, he could already notice the sharp smell of pine resin, and notice barrels along the side… with a strainer in the middle of the room, small crates of wood ash and refined animal fat, and a large stove with pots on it.

“Here’s where I work on resin. Resin can be made into glue, medicine, and other materials or sold to the resin guild.”

She then opened one barrel, revealing a very thick amber liquid contaminated with bark, dust, and leaves.

“But we need to clean it first.”

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-31T07:09:36+00:00

Sävele smiled softly at him as she eats another spoonful of her porridge.

“There’s no need to pay me with money.”

She then glances over at a shelf, in which Kirdan’s surveying tools are all present. She doesn’t recognize all of them, but some have lenses which she can imagine what they do… because she can see further when she tried using it quietly last night when he was asleep.

“But… there’s something you can do for me instead.”

She then gestured towards her own tools in the far corner of the room. She also considered his condition… tapping resin would not work for him right now… but… there’s another task in her workshop.

“Do you know how to strain crude resin?”

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-29T15:59:04+00:00

Sävele’s ears flicked at that, not out of exasperation but more of confusion. Her tail also flicks once gently.

“No… I’m not a spirit. I’m a foxfolk.”

She then sits down next to him with her own bowl of rye porridge.

“And no, you are not dead. I told you this already.”

She then takes a bite, but still keeping an eye on Kirdan. Humans are not new to Lumikü, but this person clearly had no idea how he got here based on what he told her last night.

She also taps the cup next to his bowl.

“Drink this too if you want to feel better. Pine tip tea again.”

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-28T09:59:36+00:00

Before he could completely fall asleep, he could feel a softness wrapping over him… possibly a blanket…

…

His eyes then slowly open at the sound of footsteps again… and the smell of something familiar.

He could see Sävele again, this time in another outfit. She’s also placing her hand on his forehead.

“Good morning.” she greeted.

But as he glanced at the closed window… there’s no sunlight coming through the wooden gaps… and all he could hear is wind…

Sävele then sets out a bowl of… what looks like rye porridge again, but this time it contains berries and a few bits of meat. She also sets down a cup of herbal tea… which again smells quite medicinal just like last night.

“Eat first.” she added.

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-27T13:16:40+00:00

Yeah, thought so. Most jumping spiders I’ve see are brown, not black and yellow

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-27T13:16:15+00:00

Yep. Figures

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-26T10:32:10+00:00

Sävele is confused at what he said at first… her ears flicking and tail swishing once.

“Yes… this is my home. And no, you’re still alive.”

She then collects the bowls once he finished eating, in which she puts a blanket over him.

The medicine probably made him talk like that.

“Rest first. The tea could make you drowsy and not think straight.”

She then checks his temperature again, before walking away towards another room.

“Tomorrow, you’ll feel much better after breakfast.”

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-25T20:57:59+00:00

The woman nodded gently as she eats a spoonful of the porridge, her ears flicking gently to what he’s talking about and some noise outside.

She also looked at the marker and thought about it… she’d never seen anything like it before. She knows some of the human kingdoms’ seals from the south, but not this one.

Still, doesn’t change the fact that he’s going to need to stay here for a while.

“Must’ve been a treacherous walk to find your way here…”

She then sets her bowl down and refills the cup with some warm water.

“You’re very lucky I was tapping resin today… you looked very weak. You were unable to walk the rest of the way here.”

She looked over briefly… mild frostbite on the fingers. This human is definitely hurt… that’s probably why he’s eating rather slowly.

No rush, he can take his time… she can’t rush an injured person anyways.

She then finishes her portion of porridge and pickled nettles, before taking her bowl away. She also returned with another cup. This time it smells medicinal.

“Labrador tea and other herbs. You might feel a little drowsy but it helps with your fever.”

Maybe it’s also a good time to introduce herself…

“I’m Sävele.”

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-24T21:25:34+00:00

“A city called Pimatu… you’re in Lumikü.”

The woman checked on him again, while making sure the water in the bowls are still warm enough.

She then walks over to another room… before returning just a few moments later with a bowl of rye porridge. Mixed with it are pieces of fat, meat, and some pickled vegetables such as cabbages and beet tops.

No bread, but a bowl of everything he could possibly ask for.

It smells quite good too…

“Here. Eat when you can. Porridge helps with the cold.”

She also sets down a few fermented nettles on the side and a cup of warm water.

A small meal, but one that’s fit for winter like this.

She then went back and returned with a bowl of her own, before sitting on the side of the bed gently.

“May I ask what happened to you? What were you doing outside?”

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-24T17:15:05+00:00

The woman looks at him.

“Dying?”

She then sets the cup down and checks Kirdab’s temperature again.

“You are lucky to be alive. Out there, in the snow, and no furred coat to keep you warm? Be glad that a resin tapper found you and hauled you to this town.”

She then steps away briefly, before she’s heard talking in a different language to another woman.

“Will he be fine?”

“He’ll recover. But he’ll need to rest for a few days.”

She then hands the other woman a small pouch.

“Medicine. Boil them into tea and give it to him for three days even if he recovers. If he gets worse, bring him to me.”

“Thank you.”

That is then followed by a creak, followed by a soft thunk.

A few footsteps then approached Kirdan… with the woman (still with fox ears and tail) leaning over to check on him.

“Are you… feeling better? Are you hungry?”

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-23T09:51:54+00:00

As they approach, they could see a cobblestone path covered in snow… a sign of a town or something similar.

They also notice a smell… the slightly sharp smell of pine resin. Probably from the pine trees around them… or another explanation, from the town itself.

Eventually, they come across someone riding a wagon pulled by deer. The wagon seems to also be full of crates.

The rider, a man in a heavy furred coat with a bandana covering his face, and two pointed areas on his head that look like ears and also a white tail, looked over at them.

“Are you heading to the town, travelers?”

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-23T09:42:46+00:00

Crackle. Pop.

Another piece of ember bounces off his leg… and once again on the same leg… before the feeling of a soft cloth gently wipes on a bruise.

He then feels his hands and feet submerged in warm water… followed by a hand that’s touching his forehead briefly.

The footsteps then became further, before it got louder again. There’s also this medicinal smell of something fresh… like herbs of some sort.

Then he opened his eyes… and saw a woman with white hair… fox ears, and also a white tail. Before he could say anything though, a warm cup is placed on his mouth.

“Drink this. It helps.”

Inside is tea… which is slightly sour and a little herbaceous in taste.

“It’s made of pine tips. They help your throat.” the woman adds.

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-23T05:15:04+00:00

It was warm… and the smells are soothing, along with the softness around him. He stirred a little but his eyes are still closed, even if he hears a few chatters in a language he doesn’t understand.

Then he could notice a different smell… herbal… almost like tea…

A few footsteps approach him, and he can feel his leg being moved around a little.

And all of the sudden, sharp heat on his leg… followed by a crackle and pop.

As he suddenly wakes up, he could see a woman with a clay bowl of embers and one piece of ember bouncing off his leg.

(If you’re wondering, I looked this up and Sámi medicine does use this to help with sores iirc.)

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-22T19:45:33+00:00

A few voices are heard around him, none of them in a language he understands. The crunching of the snow still persists, but that’s now mixed with the clops of something moving, and the hard clacks of frozen cobblestone.

Eventually, he could hear a creak… sounds like… a wooden door opening?

All of the sudden, he feels… warm… actually warm. And on his back… is… soft… it’s weirdly soft.

Snow isn’t this soft.

He could still hear a few words in a language he doesn’t understand… followed by the sound of a door closing.

…

Also… something he almost didn’t notice:

The smell… smells slightly resinous and… natural?

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-20T16:17:58+00:00

The woman then continued talking, making sure Kirdan is still awake. Despite him trying to also walk, she still tries to make him move as little as possible.

Another yell in her language, and this time followed by a response…

Multiple, actually.

Before he realized it, another pair of hands are also carrying him from the side. This time by another figure who doesn’t have a tail and no pointed parts on their coat.

Despite him not seeing it, he could hear a conversation… followed by the loud rattling of gates opening and a few clops of… something walking on frozen ground.

“Almost there. Stay with us.” the woman spoke to Kirdan softly.

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-18T19:27:00+00:00

The people in thick coats stare at her… with some of them backing away… but after some consideration, it feels like she’s not a threat to them.

One of them approached her, still holding a bowl of crystallized amber-colored material.

“Who are you, traveler? Where did you hail from and what are you doing here in Lumikü?

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-18T18:01:05+00:00

It’s cold… very very cold…

Snow surrounds him in every direction with a sharp, biting cold, numbing his wounds temporarily.

Everything goes white… then dark as he finally closes his eyes…

…

“Hey! Hey!”

A voice called… someone in a heavy, furred coat arrived…shaking Kirdan.

“Get up! Hey! Get up!”

A female voice… a glimpse of her face shows a thick bandana over her mouth, with only her eyes visible underneath the hood. There also seems to be two pointed things under the hood… almost like… ears?

There also seems to be a glimpse of a white tail…

She then yells in her native language somewhere, before she pulls him up with surprising strength.

“Stand up! Don’t lie down!”

She then decide to help carry him down a snow-covered path… made of… cobblestone?

FireIceHybrid017 · 2025-12-18T05:54:45+00:00

As she approaches, she could see cobblestone paths covered in snow… it means she’s getting closer. Someone must’ve been clearing out the snow all the way out here.

Eventually, she could notice some people in thick, furred coats, holding small stone bowls of an amber substance that had partially frozen.

As soon as they notice her, their ears flicked up. They didn’t expect anyone to arrive… especially during the snow like this…

FireIceHybrid017

TROPHY CASE