Eon rolled over, feeling the cold air lapping at the entrance of his cave. It bit at his nose and made him shiver. He huffed, uncertain if he really wanted to leave his den, but he knew he needed to at some point. He couldn’t spend the whole winter sleeping; he wasn’t a bear, or any of those creatures that hibernated during the cold months, as nice as that sounded. Letting out a yawn, he stretched his front paws out in front of him. Why was he so tired all the time? Was it just a part of growing older?
Standing to his feet, the small wolf faced the entrance of his den, gazing out at the snowy landscape. The white snow blanketed everything, even the trees, sparkling in the sunlight with a golden sheen and casting wavering shadows on the dappled ground below. It felt as if the atmosphere were trying to lure him in with some sort of enchantment. He huffed again. Maybe he’d enjoy the snow if it weren’t so cold… Maybe he should just go back to sleep. It was warm and cozy in the corner of his den with his fluffy tail wrapped around him.
Still, he eyed the shimmering snow. He used to shimmer like that too. He supposed he still did, but not in the same way. He used to shimmer from the inside. Once upon a time, he would have happily plunged into the snow, even if it was cold. Now, just the thought of it made him shiver.
He shook his head and spread his wings, hoping they wouldn’t get frostbitten if he went for a fly. The snow was falling in gentle flurries, and the wind was cold but gentle. He flew above the landscape, watching as the rocky mountains turned to flat ground as he neared the lake. He landed beside it, noticing it was completely frozen solid. Gently, he stepped onto the snowy ground and approached the frozen water. Peering down, he saw his reflection staring back at him like it was a frozen mirror.
Perhaps all the stress lately had really gotten to him after all. He couldn’t deny there was still a spark deep inside him that wanted so badly to bubble to the surface, yet he suppressed it. What would others think of him if he started jumping through the snow, singing carols like some puppy? He was a noble now; he had duties and an image to uphold.
The snow began to clump up in his fur and he eventually had to shake it off. He didn’t realize how slippery the ground was beneath him, and soon found himself skidding across the ice, face-planting onto the frozen lake. Well, if anyone had been around, he certainly looked foolish now. Still, what escaped him wasn’t annoyance or embarrassment, but rather laughter as he struggled to get back to his paws. It took a bit of effort, but he eventually found his footing and slid himself back toward the snowbank—only to crash into it, unable to stop in time.
Standing to his feet, the small wolf faced the entrance of his den, gazing out at the snowy landscape. The white snow blanketed everything, even the trees, sparkling in the sunlight with a golden sheen and casting wavering shadows on the dappled ground below. It felt as if the atmosphere were trying to lure him in with some sort of enchantment. He huffed again. Maybe he’d enjoy the snow if it weren’t so cold… Maybe he should just go back to sleep. It was warm and cozy in the corner of his den with his fluffy tail wrapped around him.
Still, he eyed the shimmering snow. He used to shimmer like that too. He supposed he still did, but not in the same way. He used to shimmer from the inside. Once upon a time, he would have happily plunged into the snow, even if it was cold. Now, just the thought of it made him shiver.
He shook his head and spread his wings, hoping they wouldn’t get frostbitten if he went for a fly. The snow was falling in gentle flurries, and the wind was cold but gentle. He flew above the landscape, watching as the rocky mountains turned to flat ground as he neared the lake. He landed beside it, noticing it was completely frozen solid. Gently, he stepped onto the snowy ground and approached the frozen water. Peering down, he saw his reflection staring back at him like it was a frozen mirror.
Perhaps all the stress lately had really gotten to him after all. He couldn’t deny there was still a spark deep inside him that wanted so badly to bubble to the surface, yet he suppressed it. What would others think of him if he started jumping through the snow, singing carols like some puppy? He was a noble now; he had duties and an image to uphold.
The snow began to clump up in his fur and he eventually had to shake it off. He didn’t realize how slippery the ground was beneath him, and soon found himself skidding across the ice, face-planting onto the frozen lake. Well, if anyone had been around, he certainly looked foolish now. Still, what escaped him wasn’t annoyance or embarrassment, but rather laughter as he struggled to get back to his paws. It took a bit of effort, but he eventually found his footing and slid himself back toward the snowbank—only to crash into it, unable to stop in time.
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