Watch the Snow Fall

A cold winter chill ran with the breeze across the wide open plains just outside the castle walls, not as cold as Boreas had been prior to their move, but still much colder than Artorias cared for. It was especially worse as the boy jogged around the plains, panting hard with every leap and bound, getting through his daily exercise regiment. He worked out alone today, the cold and wind making it too inhospitable for Corbin to keep up with him today. That was fine; Art didn't mind being on his own. Humid clouds of foggy breath escaped his mouth with every exhale, his paws crunching across semi-frozen grass as he trained his stamina up, not another soul in sight. They were all probably back in the castle, trying to escape the chill. He would be happy once spring finally arrived; Artorias had already decided winter was going to be his least favorite season. The exercise helped to keep the cold out of his bones and so the boy kept on going, his lungs burning in a delightful way as he pushed himself further and further. The ground felt hard and unforgiving beneath his paws, and many of the herding prey animals had retreated from the open space of the plains in search of shelter. There was a feeling in the air, the kind that heralded an approaching rainstorm. But surely it couldn't rain if it was this cold, right? Then it would...

Snow. A few light flakes fluttered by Artorias' face, making the boy blink in surprise and turn amber eyes up to the heavy grey clouds overhead. Steadily, more and more snowflakes began to fall from the heavens, beginning a light flurry over northern Auster. Artorias huffed and continued his training. He wouldn't let a little snow keep him from his commitments. Through the biting cold, Artorias marched his little faux patrol around the Hallowed lands, watching as the flurries began to slowly grow in size and density until a soft dusting of powdery snow covered the ground. Grass and snow crunched under his paws, and the fog of his breath became much more noticeable. Artorias found himself wandering around the western borders of the plains, skirting the edges of the cliffs that looked out over the vast western sea. Under the snow-heavy clouds, the water took on a deep grey color, the seafloor lost beneath dreary waves. Everything seemed so much more lifeless in winter, and Artorias found himself missing the world of color. The trees, bare without any greenery to show, the grass browned, flowers withered, even the ocean looked sad... It was not a world he enjoyed.

Amber eyes turned up to the sky again, just watching as specks of white danced around him in the air. Despite his dislike of the season, there was something mystifying about the snow. He supposed every season had its pros to go with the cons. The snowflakes were so pretty as they flittered from the heavens to coat the earth like a fresh canvas ready to receive paint. For a brief moment, Artorias found himself wondering about their previous home. The falls seemed so far away now... What was it like back in Boreas right now? Was it snowing there too? Did they have more snow further up north? He thought about the plains along the sea and the tall grasslands that belonged to the Armada, trying to picture them browned and smothered with snow. What about the other lands too? Were the rivers still flowing? Was the lake where he saw all those fireflies with his mother frozen over? Everything about winter seemed so solemn and despondent. Even now, the small boy seemed to be the only discernible color amongst a greyscale world, a bright flash of blue with piercing orange flames for eyes. It was a humorous contrast, one that was lost on the young boy.

Artorias turned back toward the castle as the snow began to fall faster, starting to accumulate around his paws and across his back. As much as he wanted to continue his training, it seemed as if Mother Nature had other intentions for today. That was okay, he could always go find some of the other pups to train or play with, and there was still so much of the castle to explore! Little feet carried the boy back towards the high walls of his home, the grey parapets and battlements receiving and equally dense covering of snow with every minute that passed. As he walked back towards the castle, Artorias paused, peering back over the expansive plains of his new home, then gazed northward to the horizon beyond, picturing the lands of Boreas beyond in his mind. He silently hoped all of his family's friends back up north were faring okay in this winter. Resin had said it was one of the harshest she had ever seen. If it was bad enough to worry her, it had to be pretty bad... Saying a silent prayer that everyone would emerge into spring okay, Artorias turned and made his way home, disappearing back beneath the large gate into the castle.

Spring couldn't come soon enough...

WC: 863