Land of Ice

There was a creature that descended from the mountains. She was sculpted in the art of a canine, her ears tall and proud atop her skull. She possessed long limbs and a swooping gray tail. The Winter was thick and so her pelt matched it, gentle gray clouds wrapped around ivory bone and sinewy muscle, the finishing touch to her body. Her coat gathered in smooth fur around her neck and protected her. She had lost the awkward, gangly appearance of her childhood and developed a rounded, feminine body. She had worked for this. Her blue eyes were thoughtful and pensive as she travelled away from home. Her destination was unknown; but her step was sure. She was determined to plough through anything that got in her way. And she was determined to not look back.

Several days had passed since she had parted with her parents. In those days, she had discovered a lot about herself. She had felt the thrill of her first solo hunt, and the vigor it took to remain in tact. Too often prey would slip from her clumsy paws; and she would have to go hungry until her next successful catch. She felt less remorse for the poor creatures that fell victim to her claws. She needed this. The smoldering of her mind had not stopped since she left. Although she had more room to… Breathe, it was not quite right yet. And so she inhaled the cold wind that nipped at her. Her only comfort. The place she walked into on this cool evening was not much different than the rest. It was familiar, but not identical. Her blue eyes traced the line of the green pines against the dark horizon. Snow covered some of their delicate branches; and ice clung to the trunk and the ground. It was a snowland. Not the mountain of her birth but a place she could revel in. She took another step, letting the pine waft into her nose. She was serene, in tune with her body and nature, a feeling she had not had before. Inside she was a still pool of water, even-keeled, the whispers of darkness letting her alone for once.