First Snow

Faylen pressed her paw down gently, feeling the cold powder sink beneath her weight. She shivered, her fur sticking up as she felt the white snow prick her paw pads. She bent forward, sticking her nose next to the powder and sniffed. She sneezed, scattering little snowflakes into the air, watching them swirl around her with sparkling eyes. Bunching her muscles, she leapt into the air and landed belly up into the snow, sending it flying in all directions.

Her father stood off to the side, watching his daughter’s delightful reaction to seeing snow for the first time. He smiled, shaking off the snow gathering on his fur and walked over to her, his paws leaving clear indentations behind him. Faylen squeaked as Ren leaned down and nudged her gently, the excited expression on her face never faltering as she got up and pranced around, exploring the newfound white wonderland.

Ren swept his tail around him, clearing a small patch for him to sit. It was Faylen’s first winter, her first time seeing snow, and it was obvious she was enjoying it. Ren let out a small sigh as his daughter frolicked, more of the soft powder covering her fur every second. He didn’t need anything else to make him happy, only to see that Faylen was. Watching her play was one of his favorite things. Suddenly, Faylen let out a cry and came running back to her father. She was obviously distressed about something, and Ren stood up, looking back the way she had come to see if he could identify the problem.

“Faylen? What is it?” He asked, facing her so she could see him speak. Her delicate ears waved back and forth as she shook her head, continuing to whine worriedly. She tugged on her father’s leg with her paw, urging him to follow. Ren consented and walked after her as she ran to her previous spot, brushing away the snow off the ground. “What’s wrong-” he began, and then saw the cause of her distress.

Beneath the snow was a wilted flower, it’s life having been snuffed out by the cold season. Faylen brushed aside the snow that laid around the flower, nudging the dead plant with her nose as if it would come back to life. Ren’s expression softened as he realized the problem.

“Ah, I see.”

He spoke softly, and though his daughter could not hear him, she sensed his mood and calmed down, though her worry was not gone. “This season, winter- it’s the time when everything dies, everything sleeps. Everything is silent.” Faylen watched him intently, reading his words as he spoke.

“This is the season of renewal Faylen,” he continued, brushing the flower with his paw gently. “This flower may have lost its beauty, but the time will come when it, and many others, will return, more beautiful than ever.” The small viscet sat down next to her father, leaning her head against his fur. “It may seem impossible now, but there will always be a time when it gets better.” There was a moment of silence, when all but the very faintest breeze ruffled the fur of father and daughter. A peace seemed to settle on the two as Faylen nodded in understanding, though Ren could still sense an aura of sadness coming from her.

“There still are many things that lie in wait before that time comes, however,” he said, smiling as he bent down and licked the top of Faylen’s head. “So I suppose…” he trailed off and suddenly blew down at the snow, sending a puff of snowflakes right into Faylen’s face. She snorted, shaking the flakes out of her fur and turned on her father with a mischievous look in her eyes. Ren raised a brow, but before he could react, Faylen had thrown a pawful of snow in his face. He narrowed his eyes teasingly and started chasing after her, the two wrestling and tumbling through the glittering powder.