#winterstories

[harmonyhealinghub]

Frozen Footprints Shaina Tranquilino December 9, 2024

In a small, remote village nestled between snow-capped mountains, winter was a time of both beauty and hardship. The villagers lived in humble homes, their lives intertwined with the seasons. But this particular winter was different. A strange phenomenon had appeared—footprints, crisp and clear, left in the fresh snow, yet they never melted.

Lina, a young village girl with dark hair and a bright, curious gaze, had seen the prints first. She had been fetching water from the well when she noticed them. The footprints were not human, nor animal; they were something else entirely—shimmering, almost glowing with an ethereal light.

Intrigued, Lina decided to follow them, feeling a strange pull in her heart. The footprints led her through the village, across the frozen river, and deeper into the forest. The further she went, the colder the air became, the snow more pristine. No one had ventured this far in years, and the path seemed to be forgotten by time itself.

At the edge of the forest, the footprints led to a clearing where a stone altar stood, half-buried in snow. There, on the altar, was a figure wrapped in frost—a god, his skin pale and eyes closed in eternal sleep. His once regal form was now a statue of ice, forgotten by those who had once worshiped him.

Lina's heart raced as she approached. "Are you... the Winter God?" she whispered.

A faint breath stirred in the frozen air. The god's eyes flickered open, revealing depths of ancient sorrow. "I am forgotten," he said, his voice like the wind itself. "For generations, no one has called upon me. And so, I have been bound to this place, lost to time."

Lina knelt beside him, feeling the chill seep into her bones. "How can I help you?" she asked, her voice soft but determined.

The Winter God looked at her with a mixture of gratitude and sadness. "My power fades with each passing year. The warmth of summer and the indifference of man have sealed my fate. I need belief to break my chains."

Lina felt the weight of his words. She knew that her village, like many others, had grown distant from the old ways. But something in her heart told her she couldn’t leave him like this, abandoned in the frozen wilderness.

"I will not let you fade away," she vowed, her voice steady. "I will remind them of you. The villagers will remember."

The god smiled faintly, his icy form beginning to shimmer with a subtle glow. "Then you are the spark that can light the way. Go, child. Let them know I am still here."

With renewed purpose, Lina returned to the village. She told the elders of the god she had found, of the footprints that never melted and the forgotten god waiting in the snow. Her words, though met with disbelief at first, began to stir something deep within the villagers. Slowly, they started to remember the old songs, the ancient rituals, and the reverence they once had for the Winter God.

That night, as the village gathered by the fire, the temperature dropped, and a soft snowfall began to fall. In the clearing beyond the village, the stone altar began to glow faintly, the god's power rekindling with each passing moment. The footprints, once frozen in time, began to melt, fading into the earth as his form took shape once again.

The Winter God stood tall and proud, no longer a statue of ice, but a living being once more. He watched the village below with a quiet sense of gratitude, knowing that the warmth of belief had brought him back to life.

And from that day on, the village was never cold for long. The god, no longer forgotten, watched over them, guiding the seasons with a gentle hand. And Lina, the girl who had followed the frozen footprints, became a legend in her own right—the one who had rekindled the bond between the village and the Winter God.

[riarodoni]

[kindnessncake]

The Joy of Reading during the Holidays: Unwrapping Pages of Wonder

As the holidays approach, let's cherish the moments spent lost in a good book. May your season be filled with wonderful stories and warm memories. Happy reading and happy holidays!

Season’s Greetings, Book Enthusiasts and Fix It Families! Photo by Craig Adderley on Pexels.com As the holiday season wraps our homes in its cozy embrace, there’s something magical about the tradition of reading that truly captures the essence of this time of year. Whether it’s revisiting a classic tale by the fireside or discovering a new adventure with your family, the holidays present a…

[jackwolfes]

demigodbeautiies’ end of 2024 multifandom fic rec list ✨

2023 version // this is a list of some of the fics i read and enjoyed in the past year, and if you give any of them a read i hope you enjoy them!

SIX OF CROWS

a path to normal by seimaisin (G | Wesper/Marya & Wylan): a beautiful, lovely post canon marya & wylan study

the city outside still sounds like it’s on fire by sunshineriptiee / @heypax (T | Wesper): wesper get kidnapped an inadvisable amount

One With Everything by samalander / @intosnarkness (T | Wesper): still ongoing but such a treat. jesper SHOULD be a ratty ass stupid delivery driver sometimes

Hidden Desires by Feriku (M | Wesper): god the miscommunication! the angst! the smut! it's all so fucking choice!

the thrill of first love by ofcoffeeanddonuts (M | Wesper): i really am just such a sucker (lol) for some first time fluffy smut

Don't Stop by Ciciwrites (E | Wesper): love me some semi-public exhibitionist antics

Baby, It's Cold Outside by @basicbard (E | Wesper): it's got wesper in a bookshop! forced proximity! wylan thirsting after matthias! breaking and entering!

All Eyes on Me (Your Illusionist) by osco_blue_fairy (E | Wesper): there's maybe a theme with some of these E recs but this one is just, very fun. does show!verse wesper in a way that lots of other fics i've read don't which is really fun

BBC MERLIN

Try To Change The Ending by phyllisverse (M | Merdred): i read this while suffering through the british train system and honestly it fucking cured me. it is everything wonderful about prophecy fics with messy communication and a lot of internal screaming

Skin Trade by @0hheytherebigbadwolf (E | Merdred): i love me some dark deep dubcon and this one's written beautifully

For King and Country by versaphile (E | Multi): phew i don't have a lot to say about this one other than the fact it's really hot and a truly delightful concept fun

OTHER

WINTERSTORY: OR HOW THE BOY KING FISHED THE SUN OUT OF THE SKY by perennials (T | KageHina): it has been a hot fucking second since i've read haikyuu fics but this one was sooo fun i love me a character study

[i-did-not-mean-to]

Winter Ficlets

I, like so many others, do not want to laugh and cry alone.

Thus, I am making this post to share a few ongoing winter ficlet collections with you...

❄️ Winter prompts by @cilil

❄️Tis the Season (To Be Tra-la-la-lally) by @polutrope

❄️ December Drabbles by @maglor-my-beloved

❄️ The Long Night solstice piece by @fishing4stars

Also available (but not yet read by me)

❄️Sleepless in Imladris: A Faerie Advent Calendar by @ettelene amongst others

❄️Tropical Latin American Advent Calendar by @ettelene

I can only warmly recommend these (yes, I can recommend @ettelene without having read the fics, because they're excellent like that)!

Alsooooo, check out @nothinghereisworking's hilarious art; it brightens my days as I am struggling against the inevitable Christmas depression that threatens to swallow me whole.

Disclaimer: These authors are known to hide razors in their sugar cookies and acid in their mulled wine. I decline responsibility for any emotional damage you might take while reading.

Have a jolly holiday season, friends! And, if things get too much, click through these collections of short, heart-warming, thought-provoking, and utterly delightful treats.

I wish you only the very best!

@fellowshipofthefics: I hope this counts as a rec post <3

🌟ADDITIONS!!!!!🌟

❄️Winter in Arda by @melestasflight (Melesta is incredible, no doubt this will be too) submitted by @ettelene

❄️Midwinter in Lindon by @tethysresort (who is an amazing author who's graced me twice with writing!!! Marked for later already!)

❄️Winterstories by @a-world-of-whimsy-5 (only read the odd one, but everything I did catch was excellent!!!)

[pocketsizedowls]

List of WIPs... because if I put them here, I might find the motivation to finish them.

KiriBaku Relationship Study, last edited October 2022. This is supposed to be the third chapter of my MHA canon verse series, but I accidentally stopped engaging with MHA. Oops.

Wangxian Romcom Fic, last edited September 2023. I rewatched To All the Boys I Loved Before and wrote 12K words about Wangxian being silly high schoolers in Shanghai, but there's still so much more to go. Main ship is Wangxian, obviously, and side ship is NieLan.

Jiang Yanli Time Travel Fix-it, last edited May 2023. I hyper-fixated on Sami's Time is But a Paper Moon and proceeded to read everything in that giant series, including the JYL fix-it fic. I wanted to write my own version (even asked Sami for permission to tag them in the fic) but ended up stopping after 38K words. We're not even halfway through yet! I plan to finish this one at some point. Main ship is Jiang Yanli x Wen Qing, side ship is Wangxian.

YumiHisu Period Piece, last edited June 2023. If there's pairing I like to write about, it's these two. I watched Portrait of a Lady on Fire and thought Ymir would make a great Marianne, and Historia would make a great Heloise. Main ship is YumiHisu, mentions of Sasha/Niccolo.

Honorable mentions: Nobara Kugisaki Character Study (Mainship: NobaMaki), Lan Wangji Character Study (inspired by perennial's WINTERSTORY), AsaNoya Future Fic (a commission from years ago that I never finished), and more.

[thehiveconnection]

A special Christmas Reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 🌲

twitch.tv/thehiveconnectionyoga

Live over on Twitch on December 22nd~ 7pm London time. Please invite anyone you think will love this- share the love! Come in, pull up a comfy chair, settle back and relax into a good story. ✨

Night Owls is a dreamy space for story lovers to ease your mind and soothe your soul into restful sleep. #dream #books #forthestorylovers #meditation#christmas#unwind #christmasstories #winterstories #scrooge #achristmascarol #twitch #rest #breathe #cats ⭐️

[woodsy-woman]

Zimowe podróże, które nigdy nie trafiły na Instagram. ❄❄❄ Koscielisko, Poland February 2022 ........................................................ #polskajestpiekna #lastwinter #takemeback #winterstories #memories #tothemountains #tatramountains #tatrywysokie #myhappyplace #fridaymood😎 #vintage #mountainslovers #bestfriends #brunettesofinstagram #mountainsarecalling (w: Tatry) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcpmmEvsF4o/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rosemarydanielis]

II YouTube II Instagram II Print Shop II

In the middle of Winter amidst the ice and storm a star of wonder grows. Fragile and faint, it blossoms in the cold, a reminder that the impossible is often surprisingly possible.

(all rights reserved leave credits please reblog but not to nsfw 18+) To buy or use online contact me at rosemarydanielis.com

[polykrom]

Histoires glaçantes Février 2022

[harmonyhealinghub]

Frostflower Shaina Tranquilino December 19, 2024

In the heart of winter, when the world outside was frozen and silent, the Galloway family sat huddled around a crackling fire in their small cottage. Snowdrifts piled high against the walls, and the wind howled through the cracks in the wooden structure. Inside, though, the warmth of the fire was barely enough to stave off the chill that clung to their bones.

Mira Galloway stared at the flickering flames, her heart heavy with worry. The crops had failed early this year, and the snow came sooner than expected. The pantry was near empty, and her children—Elsa, Finn, and little Ava—had already started to show signs of hunger. Her husband, Callum, was out in the woods, searching for firewood, but he was growing weaker each time he returned.

"Mother," Elsa said softly, her pale face peeking over the edge of her blanket. "Is it true the Frostflower will bloom this winter?"

Mira paused, her eyes reflecting a mix of disbelief and wonder. The Frostflower was a legend, whispered about in the darkest corners of the village. It was said that in the harshest winters, when hope seemed lost, the Frostflower would bloom, its petals shimmering with an ethereal light, offering a single wish to those in need.

"It’s just a story, Elsa," Mira replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "No one has ever seen it."

Elsa looked out the window at the storm raging beyond, her eyes filled with quiet longing. "But what if it’s true? What if it could help us?"

Mira’s heart ached for her daughter, but she knew there was little chance of such magic in their bleak world. Yet, as she looked at the tiny candle flickering on their table, something stirred within her—hope, fragile and fleeting, but there all the same.

That night, as the cold wrapped its icy fingers around the cottage, a strange light flickered outside. Mira, half asleep, thought she was dreaming. But when the light grew brighter, more defined, she dared to open the door.

The snow had stopped falling, and in the clearing just beyond their small porch stood a flower unlike anything she had ever seen. Its petals were pale and iridescent, like the first frost of morning, glowing softly in the moonlight. The Frostflower.

With a trembling hand, Mira stepped forward, her breath misting in the frozen air. She knelt beside the flower, her eyes wide in disbelief. In the stillness of the night, she whispered a prayer—half hope, half desperation.

"I wish… I wish for our family to survive this winter."

As her words hung in the air, the flower’s petals shimmered brighter, and a gust of wind carried the faintest scent of spring. Mira stood, heart pounding, and looked toward the cottage.

She rushed back inside, where the fire seemed warmer, the air less oppressive. As she stoked the embers, she noticed something extraordinary—on the small shelf beside the hearth sat a small bundle of food. Fresh bread, cheese, and even a small ham, untouched by the cold.

The next morning, Callum returned from the woods, his arms full of firewood—and something else. He dropped the logs with a loud thud and turned to Mira, his face alight with disbelief. "Mira… there’s a tree in the forest—covered in fruit, as though it’s spring. We can feast on it today!"

The Frostflower’s magic had touched not only their home but the land around them, bringing life to the frozen world.

The Galloway family survived the winter, the legend of the Frostflower never fading from their hearts. And when the spring thaw finally came, they made their way to the clearing where the flower had once bloomed, but it was gone—its magic spent.

Still, the Galloways carried its gift with them always: hope, even in the harshest of winters.

[annanym1997]

DIY - S c h n e e f l o c k e n //

[jesterbethknits]

❄BABY it's cold, a lot Cold!❄ Sweet winter cable hats worked with circular needles 4 mm♥More colours to come♥stay cozy and creative ✌ #handmadeisbetter #winterknits #travelingcablehat #cablehats #yarn #instaknit #knitterslife #knittersofinstagram #knittersofravelry #ravelry #woolandthegang #ourmakerlife #knit #shareyourknits #knitsharelove #yarnspiration #knitacholic #makealong #winterstories #makersgonnamake #instaknit #igknitters #knitaddict #makersgonnashare #knittersgonnaknit #knitting_inspiration #knitting_love #ourmakerlife #yarnandneedles #creativelifehappylife https://www.instagram.com/p/BsljptJgDUB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bja66nahj61m

[megpie]

Magic. Always. ✨️🖤 #wintervibes #storylover #winterstories #firelight #wilderness #poetryofig #wordsaremagic #wintermagic #magicisreal #makeyourownmagic #natureismagic https://www.instagram.com/p/ClAuicZrMno/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[cupcakes7musketeers]

My cats and their problems ✨ I love this tiktok trend / challenge whatever it is . #kedicik #meowmeowmeow #funnycatsvideo #mycatsandtheirproblems #konuşankediler #purrbaby #catstagramcat #instalikes #i̇stanbul #winterstories #coldweather❄️ #hayvan #hayvanlar #kediliev #sevimlihayvanlar #sevimlidost #kürkler #beyazkediler #8cats #bigfamily #adoptdontshop #rescue #love #catlady https://www.instagram.com/p/CXxCm6HhwFH/?utm_medium=tumblr

[woodsy-woman]

A widok ciągle taki sam. Jak gdyby nigdy nic się nie stało... Jakie to wszystko jest niesprawiedliwe. 💔 🇺🇦 ........................................................ #lastweekend #takemeback #staystrong #winterstories #tothemountains #tatramountains #tatrywysokie #myhappyplace (w: Kościelisko) https://www.instagram.com/p/CaurruHsfo3/?utm_medium=tumblr