Survival Queen of the Frozen Wastes novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24 The Kitten

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Her hair was a tangled mess of blue and pink, with tiny flowers actually growing right out of the strands. They looked wilted now, petals drooping from the cold and the fear, smudged with dirt.

“You’re a mess…”

Riley eyed the dark stains on the girl’s face. No way she was letting all that grime anywhere near her clean sheets.

“Come on.”

She stood and motioned for the girl to follow.

Sylvie carefully wrapped up the rest of her bread, tucked it into her pocket like it was gold, and trailed after Riley.

Riley led her to the bathroom.

She twisted the faucet. Warm water rushed out, splashing into the white sink.

The girl jumped back. Stared at the endless stream pouring out like it was magic.

For her, it probably was.

Riley showed her how to wash up, then pointed at the dirt on her face and handed her a soft towel.

Sylvie seemed to get it.

She looked down at her own grimy clothes. Then at the spotless sink. Then at Riley’s clean sleeves.

Her mouth pressed into a line.

Then she did something Riley didn’t see coming.

She stepped back. A soft green glow started radiating from her body.

She crouched down. In that light, her shape blurred and shifted.

“Plop.”

Just like that, the girl was gone.

On the floor where she’d stood? A grayish–white rock. Small enough to fit in a palm.

Riley’s brain stalled.

She can turn into animals. And rocks?

She knelt to look closer.

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Chapter 24 The Kitten

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The rock wasn’t perfect. You could tell something was off if you really looked. Maybe she hadn’t mastered it yet.

Then the “rock” started moving. Hopping. It bounced up onto the counter and rolled straight into the sink full of water.

Under the stream, the mud washed right off. That dull gray stone turned clean, almost see–through. Brand

new.

Few seconds later, the clean rock hopped back down.

Green glow flickered again.

And there she was. The girl.

Not just her face clean. Her clothes too. Even the little flowers in her hair stood perky now, plump with water. Like she’d been fully purified.

Riley stared. No words.

That was… actually genius. Bathing without bathing. She felt a tiny pang of envy.

Clean now, Riley led her to the bedroom.

Outside, wind screamed and snow kept falling. Inside? Quiet. Warm. The fire crackled, filling the room with that nice pine smell.

Riley was about to point to the couch. Or the floor. They weren’t exactly close yet.

But the girl’s eyes weren’t on the bed.

She was staring at the nightstand.

Wild berries sat there. Bright red. The ones she’d traded Riley for bread a few days ago. Sour little things. Riley had stashed them for vitamins.

The girl pointed at the berries. Then at herself. Looked at Riley with hopeful eyes and made a giving

gesture.

Those came from me. You kept them?

Riley nodded.

Didn’t need words for that.

The girl’s whole face softened. That tense look from before? Gone.

Something warm flickered in Riley’s chest. She pointed at the bed. Big. Thick comforter.

“Sleep here tonight.”

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