First Men and The Andals

Prologue

"It would be such a shame if I meet my end like this", reckoned the thin-legged boy. He has been on the ground for some hours now. He lost count of how many days gone by after the sack. It was the third or fourth when he drank the last sip of water.

The snow made him weaker and weaker. He knew he had to get up and continue and search for help. But who? Lord Snow? "He is practically the only one I know in these lands".

Even Uncle Gianstbane is trapped on the Wall, maybe even dead along with the rangers and the Lord Commander.

"I should go and find something to eat. Even a rat or something." Yet, not a single soul is visible in this snow-filled surroundings. "It is so much different from home even it is frightening to roam on this other side of the world. The trees are hidden by the thick layers of snow. If I was not freezing right now, I could try to warm the snow, drink som' of it."

"What would the Gods say about this?", he kept thinking about the strange things that happened in the last years. Sharing a roof with the Crows, eating their damn food, a man back from the dead. "And now dragons and dead walking." The idea of dying out of cold and hunger haunts him. "Father and Torvald died by fighting for us at the Wall, they are making fun of me with the Gods. Now that they know little Skard is gonna die without a fight while the dead are roaming around with dr-"

An army of frogs appeared out of nowhere, making way towards the tree with the largest trunk. Skard forgot everything about what he was thinking. With what strengths remained, he hobbled on the ground after them. He tried to keep up, thinking that the frogs are his last hope. He managed to get on his two feet, not feeling the right one.

With much difficulty, he caught one at the root of the tree. He ignored the fact that the creature was too cold and too hard. He even, ignored that he didn't feel any flesh while swallowing it. Skard was too hungry, kept looking for more, ignoring that he stumbled on something that made a crackling noise.

He managed to eat another one. What he noticed was that the winds blew harder than earlier. Too strong that he felt something hold him. He was flushed with hope and fear that he turned quickly.

Tormund's nephew could only make out a blue face and curly hair when he felt colder than usual. He saw strands of flowers along with snow and sand, he was sure he saw lightning as well, and "perhaps this is more ideal than dying without food".