[ event: Flashback ]

[clocktowering]

Once upon a time, the people of Storybrooke were once the characters from the fairy tales we all grew up with. Then the curse hit and everyone was trapped without their memories in the town we know quite well already.

We all know that story, of course, but what about before the curse? Well, that's where this post comes in. There are untold stories from before the curse that we would like to investigate and these flashbacks posts are where you tell them. Post with your character (with a location or plot idea if you wish) and tag others, as long as they are in their fairy tale forms (sorry Henry and Emma players). We ask that you warn for spoilers in your subject line if you intend to use knowledge gained from tonight's episode in your scenario. Thank you!

Remember, everyone, play nice and have fun.

Comments

[location: forest, wintertime]

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ Winter time is finally settling in, and Snow has moved deeper into the Enchanted Forest where she has sought refuge in an abandoned cave. The ground is blanketed in a thick layer of snow now, and fluffy flakes fall down from dark, heavy clouds.

She's made herself a cloak from fur, one that she is now bundled in as she probes the surrounding area for some decent wood to keep the meek fire back in the cave burning. ]

[pettythief]

[ Deeper into the Enchanted Forest simply means closer to the Sherwood. Robin has unfortunately been driven off in the wrong direction when a simple attempt at theft went wrong — the branches had been weakened by the weather and created too long a detour, set their mark off the course and things had simply escalated from there.

His cloak's hood is raised high, bow in hand, as he looks for some form of shelter to hide out in for a few hours. Returning to the Sherwood with everyone suddenly on high alert for Robin Hood and his Merry Men is too dangerous right now, for himself and his unsuspecting Men back at the camp.

Something moves ahead of him and he tenses, turns to catch sight of it against the glare of the snow. What or who else was out here in this weather...? ]

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ Snow doesn't expect to encounter anyone out in the woods during the brunt of the winter, though her current status as a fugitive doesn't allow for her guard to weaken. If anything, this is the perfect time for the Queen's guards to strike-- there's only so many places in the forest she can hide without the lush foliage of the trees to camouflage her.

It takes a while, but finally she gathers a decent amount of wood that would suffice for a fire. Snow turns to head back to the cave when she catches sight of something in the corner of her eye, a figure which makes her freeze. A guard? No… the absence of armor is somewhat of a relief. But Snow is still wary, unsure of who the stranger could be. A hand slips down to the dagger strapped to her thigh and she remains as still as possible, hoping that perhaps she would go unnoticed. ]

[pettythief]

[ No such luck for Snow White. How unfortunate that her name doesn't afford her any camouflage in this dismal snow, as Robin once again notices the figure. That wasn't an animal, that much he could tell, and his free hand hovers up toward his quiver. Thankfully, he still has some arrows left over.

When he calls out, his voice is tentative. Strong, yet not threatening. ] Who goes there?

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ If it's one thing Snow should have learned by now, it's that her luck is abysmal. Letting out a small sigh, she shifted the wood in her arms before finally calling out. ]

Just a wary traveler.

[ Her voice is clear and strong, no signs of the slight uneasiness she feels in knowing she isn't alone in this part of the woods. ]

[pettythief]

[ He relaxes minutely, allowing hope that it's a sincere answer. ]

Would you mind being joined by a like companion?

[ On one hand: could be a trap. On the other: company while he waits things out would be excellent. ]

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ She hesitates; in her current predicament, Snow isn't much one for companions. But the cold of the winter air is beginning to seep past even the thick layers of fur she dons, and she can only assume the traveler is suffering from the same fate. ]

There is a cave not far from here, where I have started a fire. You are welcome to join.

[pettythief]

[ His hand shifts, away from his quiver and closer to his side where he hopes to hold the warmth in. His strongest skill is his archery and that would be useless if his hands turn into icicles. ]

I'll take you up on that offer.

[ That said, he moves closer, taking in his strange new acquaintance as he does. Not entirely what he expected, but he knows better than to judge by now; Marian taught him that quite handily. ]

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ Her own hand falls away from the hilt of her dagger, and she wraps both arms around the bundle of wood in her hold as she waits for the stranger to join her. Once he is close enough, she turns and begins their trek towards the cave. ]

Have you been traveling for long?

[pettythief]

Quite a fair while. [ He shakes his head, watching as she carries the wood. If he sees anymore, he'll pick it up to aid her, but won't offer to carry her current bundle. ] My... caravan and I, we were separated, which is why I'm currently traipsing around like a fool to look for them.

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ Snow lets out a small laugh at his choice of words, and she turns slightly to glance at her companion from beneath the hood of her cloak. ]

It can't be that hard to find a caravan. Where are you headed towards?

[pettythief]

South. Toward the Lakesee Kingdom. [ now I'm just making up names for James' kingdom, if you'll excuse me~ He tilts his head, as if trying to get a better angle to see their path through the snow while partially blocking the view of his face. He's a wanted man, after all. ] I'm not familiar with these roads as I'd like to be, so relocating them is... hard.

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ Snow can't help but notice the similarities between herself and the stranger, such as the way he subtly angles his head just right to obscure his features. It's obvious that he doesn't want to reveal his identity, and it's just as well as Snow doesn't plan to share her the same information considering the hefty bounty on her head. So she shifts her gaze to the area around them as they continue their way to the cave. ]

Well, you're in luck. [ Perhaps it isn't wise to offer aid, but the lack of carriages passing through the woods during this time of the year has left her a bit restless. ] I happen to be quite familiar with these parts of the woods. Relocating them shouldn't be a problem.

[hairchimes]

[It's winter, and that means Frost has free range across the forest. For the moment he's only drifting in the impending storm, occasionally inhabiting the snowflakes drifting to the ground. There's not usually much out here except other imps and magical beings.

[Usually. On one fall, to his faint surprise and curiosity he senses a human in the forest. Humans so rarely come this deep. In a light breeze he comes closer--just light enough to stir the woman's hair and make her shiver.]

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ With the heavy snow fallen on the dead trees, gathering usable firewood is a frustrating task. She's allowed herself until she can't bear the cold any longer to gather enough wood for the cave, but even when she begins to feel the cold seeping into her skin and bones, her gatherings is quite pathetic.

A chilling breeze seems to make its way underneath the hood of her cloak, causing her to shiver. Yes, it is most certainly time to return to the cave. With one last sweep of her eyes around the area, Snow finally begins to make her way back to her safe haven. ]

[hairchimes]

[She isn't magical in the slightest that Frost can sense; what would a human be doing all the way out here? He swirls around her, casting up snow with another breeze. Should he drive her off? Catch her? There were many things this deep in the forest which deserved protection.

[No. She doesn't seem to be seeking anything but shelter, judging by the wood in her arms, and that paltry amount won't do any damage to him. It likely won't keep her warm either, however. He flicks the wood disdainfully with a tiny blast of snow and then extends his essence outward, searching with the layers on the ground for any wood that might have been missed by the water. If she dies, search parties might come to find her. Better to keep her alive so that she leaves as quickly as possible.]

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ The sudden gust of wind manages to cause for half of the twigs in her hold to scatter across the snowy ground, and Snow can't help a very unladylike curse-- but it's been long since she'd been a lady. Her frustration mounts, and she can't help but give the snow a childish kick before she sulks off towards the cave, the remainder of her gathered firewood clutched in her grasp. ]

[hairchimes]

[Frost chuckles a bit, but it sounds like nothing more than a rustle of leaves. Silly little girl. He swirls around her again, mockingly--the timing of it even makes it seems as if there is purpose there. Be respectful, girl--he can help you.

[He senses a stack of twigs and wood beneath a fallen log, left there by some other creature--an imp, perhaps, a dwarf, a leprechaun. It doesn't matter. The snow swirls a little more forcefully, without deliberately trying to dislodge the woman's hold on her wood; if anything it seems to be trying to guide Snow's attention. Beyond the next few lines of trees, close enough to see but not close enough for detail, Frost sculpts his physical body of ice and sharp-edged limbs. His icicle hair chimes as he flashes his presence for barely a moment before letting the body disintegrate. This way.]

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ The chilling wind picks up again, and she wonders if this is Mother Nature's way of mocking her. Even as she tries to move against the current of the swirling flakes, everything seems to guide her direction toward the trees. Her eyes glance around the area, and when she catches the brief sight of what seems to be a body composed of ice, Snow freezes.

The work of magic?

She has never associated magic with anything good or positive, but it can't help but pique her interest. Cautiously, Snow makes her way towards the place where the figure had just appeared, a hand dropping down to the hilt of her dagger for protection. ]

[hairchimes]

[She's not unobservant. Good; that will make things easier. The breeze swirls around her again, and that whisper that comes seems to come out of the snow around her, so light that hearing it could be a trick of her ears.]

This way.

[Frost drifts further away, in the direction of the wood-pile. He reforms briefly through the trees, his hair tinkling, his ice body looking blue-white in the overcast day; then he's gone again, enveloped in the whirl of snow.]

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ It could very well be a trap, especially with the way Snow thinks she hears the wind whispering to her. But she continues to follow where she thinks she's supposed to head, through the trees until her eyes fall upon the fallen log. Is this what she's supposed to find?

Snow glances around the area, checking if this could possibly be an ambush. ]

[hairchimes]

[Once she's near enough Frost uses a wind to kick up the snow on the log, sending it everywhere. Once it settles again the little hollow should be visible enough--though she may need to look closely to find what's in it. Regardless, in that hollow would be a good store of wood; certainly more than she now had in arm.

[The breeze dies to nothing more than the faintest trace. This is where he meant to lead her.]

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ The sudden kick of the log startles Snow who is already on edge, and she takes a step back, her dagger unsheathed and held out to defend herself. When she realizes that it's nothing more than the wind, though, she cautious steps forward to peer into the hollow.

Her wary expression quickly turns into one of delight as she spots the store of wood, much more than she could have hoped to gather on her own. Glancing around, Snow sheathes her dagger before carefully gathering the firewood in her arms.

She feels a bit foolish, but she knows that she didn't happen to come across such a finding by chance. So she clears her throat, before hesitantly calling out to the wind: ]

Thank you.

[hairchimes]

[Frost acknowledges her gratitude with the soft touch of a breeze and drifting snowflakes in her hair. At least she has that much respect and awareness of the forest's magic; it deserves clearer warning, at least. So with the next breeze he whispers.]

The deep forest is not meant for you. Take your rest and go.

[oncesnowed.livejournal.com]

[ Snow is sure she isn't imagining the whisper in her ear anymore, and the words she hears only cause for her chest to clench. She knows whoever, whatever has good intentions... but she doesn't have many options. ]

The forest is all I have left.