Page 1 of Frost and Felines

1

MALLORY

Mallory curled deeper into her oversized armchair. She drew the thick wool blanket tighter around her shoulders as she gazed through the glass-enclosed deck at the distant horizon. The December wind whistled through the tiny gaps in the weathered frame, creating an oddly comforting melody. Dark clouds gathered far across the water, their shapes morphing and twisting like ink dropped in water. The sight sent a familiar tingle down her spine - a storm was coming, and a big one at that.

"Well, isn't that just perfect timing," she muttered, taking a sip of her now-lukewarm tea.

Her pantry supplies would last maybe three days, and with a winter storm of this magnitude approaching, that wouldn't be nearly enough. The last thing she needed was to be trapped in her clifftop house without proper provisions.

The thought of venturing into Saltwater Grove made her stomach clench. She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, as if it could shield her from the inevitable social interaction awaiting in town.

The wind picked up and rattled the windows. The house creaked in response as its old bones settled into the gusts. She had chosen this spot precisely for its isolation – no nosy neighbors, no unexpected visitors, just her and the endless view of the churning ocean below.

She stood up and pressed her forehead against the cool glass, watching her breath fog up the pane. The waves below crashed against the rocky shore with increasing intensity, sending white spray high into the air. The empty house creaked louder around her, its sounds somehow more hollow in December's grey light.

"You're being ridiculous," she told herself firmly. "It's just the grocery store. People don't actually care about your existence." She paused, considering. "It's a quick supply run. In and out. No need for small talk."

But even as she said it, memories of her last trip into town flooded back. Mrs. Henderson's endless questions about why such a "lovely young woman" lived all alone. The pitying looks from the grocery store clerk. The whispered conversations that stopped the moment she walked past.

"Maybe I could just... hibernate?" She glanced around the empty room, her voice echoing slightly. "No, that's not a thing storm witches can actually do. Unfortunately."

She crossed her house to the coat rack and pulled down her heavy winter jacket. The wool was worn from years of use, and the familiar scent of sea salt clung to it. She caught her reflection in the window - her platinum hair falling in waves past her shoulders, her light blue eyes rimmed with shadows from too many sleepless nights.

"Right then," she said, squaring her shoulders. "Quick trip. Essential supplies. No stopping to chat if you can help it, no matter how many times Mrs. Henderson tries to set you up with her nephew." She paused, then added, "And try not to talk to yourself either. People already think you're strange enough."

The wind picked up outside, rattling the windows harder as if in response to her words. She glanced up once more at the sky. The darkening clouds crept closer, and she felt that familiar pull, that connection to the approaching storm that both thrilled and terrified her. There was no putting it off any longer. Time was running out. She grabbed her emergency duffel bag and her laptop bag, erring on the side of caution.

She stepped out onto her front porch, the wooden boards creaking beneath her boots. Delicate snowflakes drifted down from the steel-gray sky, melting as they touched her skin. Her breath formed little clouds in the frigid air as she pulled her coat tighter.

"And here we go," she muttered, fishing her keys from her pocket. The familiar jingle reminded her of Eli – he'd always teased her about the ridiculous number of keychains she collected.

Her SUV sat waiting in the circular driveway, a practical dark blue model that blended with the coastal landscape. As she settled into the driver's seat, the leather cold against her back, she could almost hear Eli's voice: "You know, for someone who can control the weather, you sure complain about the cold a lot."

"I don't control it," she said to the empty car, starting the engine. "I just... encourage it. Sometimes. When it feels like listening."

The drive to Saltwater Grove stretched before her, a winding road hugging the coastline. Waves crashed against the rocks below, their rhythm as familiar as her own heartbeat. The radio remained off – she preferred the sound of the ocean and her own thoughts, even if those thoughts weren't always the best company.

Two years. Had it really been that long since Eli? The memory of his laugh still echoed in her mind, clear as the day she'd first heard it. He'd been the only one who hadn't runwhen her powers manifested during their first date – a sudden downpour that had soaked them both to the bone.

"Well, that's one way to make sure I remember you," he'd said, grinning as rain plastered his dark hair to his forehead.

Mallory smiled at the memory, then noticed the snowfall increasing. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to relax. The flakes immediately lightened.

"Sorry," she whispered to the sky. "Got a bit carried away there."

The road curved inland, away from the coast. Signs for Saltwater Grove began appearing – first the population count, then advertisements for local businesses. Each marker brought a fresh wave of anxiety.

"Just groceries," she reminded herself. "In and out. No different than facing down a category four hurricane." She paused. "Actually, the hurricane would be easier. At least storms don't try to set you up on dates."

The snow continued to fall in gentle flurries, matching her carefully maintained calm. She'd learned the hard way that emotional control meant weather control. One panic attack during her college years had resulted in a freak tornado that still made the local weather stations' highlight reels.

As Mallory guided her SUV through Saltwater Grove's streets, the snow started to thicken. She flicked on her wipers to a faster setting, trying to keep her visibility clear through her windshield. Quaint storefronts decorated with twinkling holiday lights passed by in a blur of red and green. The local coffee shop Cauldron & Cup's warmth beckoned through frosted windows, but she kept her eyes fixed ahead.

She soon passed Madame Rosa's Fortune Telling parlor, where the elderly psychic waved enthusiastically from her doorway. "I don't need another prediction about my 'tall, handsome stranger' future today."

Finally, the grocery store parking lot loomed ahead, already filling with other last-minute shoppers preparing for the incoming storm. Mallory pulled into a spot far from the entrance, away from the cluster of cars. A gust of wind rocked her SUV, and she watched snowflakes swirl in mesmerizing patterns across her windshield.

"Well, this is moving faster than expected." She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, contemplating the dark clouds overhead. "At least I'll have an excuse to stay home for a few more days."

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