[O] Cherry Snowcones

There was a corpse in the snow.

A coyote, and a rather mundane one at that, with only a hint of uncanniness that was probably overshadowed by the fact it was a dead body. The sick scent of disease overshadowed the fledgling rot- probably the cause of death for the poor soul. A light dusting of snow coated it's fur, attesting to how long they'd been laying there. Scavengers had finally found this buffet, however. The piercing calls of raven filled the air like flurries, and they weighed down the branches of nearby trees like black icicles. And they lighted down upon the snow, hopping warily and bobbing their heads, waiting for someone to take the first plunge.

A raven pecked sharply at a cheek, and the corpse screamed.

Instantaneously the flock scattered, leaving behind only dark feathers. This flurry of action was nearly enough to send the coyote tumbling back into the snow- she swayed as if the wingbeats were creating storms. She wasn't able to stay standing, but slumped back into the stained snow in a more controlled and marginally more elegant way. Her eyes flickered side to side, casting into trees and monotonous, snowy fields. The eyes of a prey animal.

She knew, in her putrefying guts, that something wasn't right. None of this was right. This wasn't anywhere she recognized- at least, she didn't think it was. And her body. Her body-

A beast. She knew she wasn't a beast. She was better, mightier. Although the exact distinctions were foggy, and overshadowed by thoughts of recompense, guilt, and regret for memories that didn't fit.

There was something in the snow.

She wasn't sure what she was suppose to be.