A Song for Winter: Jaina's Talisman

    The day had come for Jaina’s eighth birthday and as William’s only daughter he had to make it extra special for her. A typical present wasn’t going to cut it as the young lynx hybrid was starting to play with magic. Jaina had thought that her little experiments with the arcane were a secret but William had known immediately. Being the only other person who still possessed the Winter Song, the second someone else tried to use its power William sensed it immediately. Luckily, Jaina had been too scared to try anything too dangerous but it was only a matter of time before she did try a potentially hazardous spell all by herself. 

 

    On the morning of Jaina’s birthday, William had his daughter hike into the woods behind their house with him. Through the snow and branches, they marched until they reached a clearing that was lit perfectly by the midday sun. William’s parents, Odin Drackonas and Katherine Wintersong, along with his wife and Jaina’s mother, Julia Stormchild, were buried here in this clearing. A well-kept spear marked Julia’s gravesite on the left-hand side of the clearing. The wooden shaft of the spear showed no signs of age as the shine of the stained wood caught the light of the sun and the metal spearhead lacked any signs of rust on its razor edge.

 

    “Jaina, I brought you out here to your mom and grandparents on your birthday because I wanted them to be present when I told you that we are starting your magic training,” William told his daughter as he knelt in front of her.

 

    Jaina’s eye lit up as she asked, “Do you mean it? I get to learn how to use the Winter Song?” 

 

    “Yes, but first you’ll need a talisman and while it is traditionally left up to the wielded to make their own,” William explained as he pulled a wooden round shield from the pack on his back. “I thought you might like to use your mother’s shield. It is a little large for you but this world needs more defenders.” Overjoyed Jaina took the shield and struggled to wield it properly for a few moments before William had her set it back down. 

 

    They took seats in the clearing as William explained the true nature of the Winter Song to his daughter. How it was once used to save the world from a great conflagration and that it may take different forms for different users like how William whistled the runes. Jaina couldn’t whistle despite her best efforts but once William attached a piece of Clan Wintersong’s sacred enchanted ice to the shield Jaina was able to do something no other Wintersong had been able to do before. With her new talisman shield in hand, Jaina could create the runic notes in the air with merely a thought. Although the notes appeared out of order to perform the proper spells William knew he could help his daughter learn to be the strongest Winter Song user there ever was. A task that would be much easier now that she had a talisman of her very own.