Chapter Text
The wind had changed.
This wasn't the kind of wind that signaled a storm or the fun, playful gusts that danced through the trees. No, this wind felt heavy and strange—an unsettling feeling hung in the air, making even the usually lively Enchanted Forest seem to be holding its breath.
Elsa stood at the edge of a frozen clearing, her boots crunching softly on the frost-covered ground. Ahtohallan, the magical place she often felt drawn to, had been quiet for months. Though there was a calmness in the North, today, something stirred within her. She felt restless—was it something deeper?
"Gale," she whispered, watching her breath turn into mist.
The wind swirled around her gently, brushing against her cheek as if it were curious. It didn't feel scary, just uncertain.
"You feel it too," she said softly.
From the trees behind her, Bruni, the little firespirit, peeked out with a chirp of concern and quickly scampered up to sit on Elsa's shoulder.
"I'm not sure what it is yet," she told him. "But something is calling to us."
Meanwhile, back in Arendelle, Anna sat hunched over her council desk, looking over reports about overflowing rivers, strange snowstorms, and a whirlwind that seemed to whisper secrets only children could understand.
Kristoff was nearby, bouncing their toddler, Elin, on his knee. "Do you think it's... her again?" he asked cautiously.
Anna sighed. "Elsa has been in the Enchanted Forest since peace returned. But these strange happenings feel familiar—as if they're looking for her."
She turned to gaze north from the balcony. "Or maybe for someone else."
As the northern lights danced across the sky that evening, Elsa ventured deeper into the forest than she had in weeks. A deep silence surrounded the trees, one that even the forest spirits respected. She followed a path beyond the river, where ice met fog, and trees leaned under the weight of old storms.
Then, just beyond the mist, she spotted her.
In a quiet clearing, a figure stood with her arms wide open, surrounded by swirling winds. Her hair flowed down her back in thick, loose braids, a mix of silver and brown, almost like it couldn't be controlled. She wore soft, layered clothes in gentle shades of blue, green, and white, blending in with the forest around her and making her look like part of nature.
Her hands swept gracefully through the air as she moved, almost like dancing with the wind. This wind didn't just play around; it felt like it genuinely listened and responded to her, creating an incredible bond between them.
Elsa approached carefully, feeling the ice shimmer beneath her feet with every step.
The girl turned to face her.
For a moment, they locked eyes—two women connected by winter. One was made of ice, and the other felt wild and mysterious as if the forest had breathed life into the wind.
"I didn't expect anyone else would hear it," the girl said, her voice soft yet firm, like a storm ready to break.
"Hear what?" Elsa asked.
"The whisper," the girl replied. "It called to me first, and now... to you."
Taking another step closer, Elsa brushed a loose hair from her face as the wind curled gently around her arm.
"I'm Elsa, Guardian of Ahtohallan," she introduced herself.
The girl lowered her arms, and the wind settled into a soft breeze. "I'm Kaelen," she said. "Daughter of the Gale."
For a brief moment, they stood in silence—not awkward, but one filled with meaning that they both sensed but didn't fully understand yet.
The trees rustled.
The wind hummed.
And somewhere far away, Ahtohallan began to stir from its long slumber.