“Hey darling, why don’t we…head back?” Veera looked up at her human, her eyes just barely visible under the hood of her cloak. No snow had fallen, but Winters figured she was just excited about trying out her new item of clothing, to say nothing of the anonymity offered by a hood and the darkness around them.

“Do I detect a hint of mischief in those eyes Veera? It’s only been about fifteen minutes. Even for a couple of virgins like them I think we should give them a bit more time, don’t you think?”

“I never said we’d go back inside,” Veera clarified, tugging lightly on his arm. He didn’t bother hiding his interest in her proposition.

“You are a naughty woman.” He grinned as she pouted at him. “Can’t contain your curiosity?”

“Fine then, if you’re going to be this way we can just walk around the quarter again!” She huffed, turning from him in an attempt to trudge off in the other direction. With a smooth motion, he wrapped her in his arms from behind.

“I never said I wasn’t curious too. You know they’ll never forgive us if they find out, right?”

“Hmmm, then I suppose we’d best be quiet then,” Veera chuckled, allowing herself to relax into his broader form.

“After you then, my inquisitive feather kitten.” Winters released her, allowing her to retake his hand and guide him back towards their home. In a few moments they paused, both eying the faintly glowing doorway from a distance. With a silent nod Veera stepped forward, eventually reaching the wall of the dwelling and pressing herself against it stealthily. Winters took to the other side of the street, giving their home a wide berth until he could come at it from the other side. As the two of them drew closer to the doorway, they could faintly hear the voices from within. Veera brought her hand up to cover her mouth.

“Hey Asha, wait what are you…gnnngh! Love, what’s gotten into you? We just did it!” Zolta’s faint protests reached their ears, though it was clear his heart wasn’t in it to resist much. From Winters’ point of view, it sounded as though the two eager teens had succeeded, and that Zolta’s stamina had more or less met expectations given the situation. Asha evidently had other plans.

“And it was marvelous Zolta, though I found it to be a bit short for my liking. Don’t you want to try again? Doesn’t my tail feel good? Or are you already bored of me?” She teased her mate. Oh man, she does not fight fair. Good luck Zolta, you lucky little bastard, Winters thought, desperately wanting to whisper and gossip with Veera but holding his tongue. It sounded as though the two young lovers had wasted no time after they had been left alone.

“Asha you know that’s not…” Zolta’s speech was halting and ragged, surely the result of his most recent conquest. “Oh now you’ve gone and done it haven’t you woman?” Asha giggled.

“It would appear that I have Zolta, what do you plan to do to me?” Her coy and feminine voice reached their ears, followed quickly by a pleasant gasp. “Oh by the twins, yes Zolta! Right there…bite me!” Winters tore his eyes away from the door to find Veera’s chocolate orbs looking at him from across the way. He was sure his own were similarly large. He saw her chest rising and falling pronouncedly under her cloak, obviously affected by what she was hearing. After a few moments of moans, rustling, and the creaking of wood, Zolta’s confused voice reached them again.

“Asha…why are you on your back?”

“Do you not like to see me like this?”

“No, of course it’s not. You could even say this is more pleasing than the alternative. It’s just…will this work?”

“You can see where you need to be Zolta, can’t you?”

“Well…um…yes.” Winters couldn’t help a smile at Zolta’s embarrassment. Oh, to be that young again and embarrassed at the sight of a naked woman…

“I know this is a bit strange but…I’ve been thinking Zolta; it’s hard not to when you know people like Veera and her human. I do of course want to bear your cubs, my love. I pray that your seed is already taking root in me but…I wanted to see your face.”

“A-Asha…”

“Please, come into me again Zolta. Please kiss me,” she implored. Veera couldn’t hear any response from Zolta, but as Asha’s joyful moan was quickly muffled by what had to be a kiss from her mate, her body betrayed her, fueling a certain warmth in her core even as her shame and embarrassment grew. From the look on Winters’ face, she surmised that he too believed their little game had run its course. He silently motioned to her with a hand and she complied, stepping quietly back and away from the door and joining him across the street. Just to be safe he pulled her into a nearby alleyway.

“Kiss me! By all the gods Russell!” Veera’s wish was immediately granted as her mate pressed her up against the rough wooden walls of someone’s home, demanding entry with his tongue and making no attempt to hide his own arousal as it pressed against her midriff, which was by then flushed with heat. “We are…shameful people, aren’t we?” She finally asked once they’d broken apart. Her lips tingled with the aftershocks of his presence. He shrugged and smiled at her.

“Might be, yeah. But I can’t deny the rush, not to mention my pride.”

“Pride?” She asked, taking a deep breath and recovering from his attack on her mouth.

“I think Asha’s talks with you did a lot, but I never really had a chance to talk to Zolta about that sort of thing. Not sure if he’d even want to talk to me about mating. I’m glad he’s rolling with it, that he’s willing to think of sex as something other than just giving Asha cubs. Feels like a father moment in a weird way,” he explained. Veera nodded against him, hugging him to her and nuzzling the side of his face.

“It gave me hope for us,” she told him happily as his arms wrapped around her under her cloak.

“Then I’d say this was worth the trip. Would you like to take that walk for real now? Maybe cool down a bit? I have to say I’m enjoying this crisp night air. The cold adds a certain something, don’t you think?”

“I do, and I would love to walk with you. Speaking of the cold, did you really fight on a planet made of ice?”

“I did.”

“Can I hear the full story?” She requested excitedly, taking him by the hand and leading him out of the alley and back toward the west gate along her road. She looked to him impatiently. “Well?”

“Alright alright, I hear you Veera,” he assured her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “So this particular drop I remember fondly in a way, though I certainly didn’t think I would at the time.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because not only did it interrupt one of the few moments Jess and I were able to share aboard the Lancer…that interruption came in the form of Shifty banging down her door.” Winters couldn’t help a self-effacing smile as Veera’s peals of laughter graced his ears before fading off into the night.

-----

“So, you’re saying there wasn’t anything alive on the planet after all?” Veera made a plea for clarity as she and Winters meandered through the village, allowing their feet to take them wherever they wanted. At that time of night, with the weather what is was and the light of the stars and moons missing, it felt almost as if they were alone in a world. As their breath misted and mingled in the air, her human continued his tale.

“Yeah, turns out there was something in the ice down there. Don’t know what it was to this day. I doubt it was alive in the way that we would understand life, but something about the way that planet worked was off. The ice seemed drawn to the science team’s camp; it was threatening to devour the whole thing.” He allowed their plight to hang in the frosty air as Veera took his near hand in hers. Her pads had softened slightly in the weeks since she’d stopped working the farm.

“Your hand is cold Russell, are you alright?”

“I’m fine Veera. The human body can tolerate some significant temperature differences. As long as the core of my body remains warm, my hands and feet, arms and legs, they can be significantly colder. Between my clothing and cloak, I’m feeling comfortable. Besides,” he looked down at her, smiling warmly as she turned her head to face him. “Your hand is soft and warm.” A large plume of frosted breath sailed from his girlfriend’s mouth as she sighed happily and pressed up against him.

“Stop making me feel all mushy inside and finish the story, you lovable human! What happened? How were you able to help them if there was nothing to kill?” Winters gave her the same smile he usually reserved for the moments just before a drop.

“Simple. I loaded up with as many heavy explosives as I could carry and dropped right on top of them. The shock of my pod’s impact on the ice field actually helped too, even if it meant I had to climb out of a bit of a hole while lugging a grenade launcher and some C4.” His animated nature easily conveyed the fondness of that particular memory.

“You lost me, my darling. You were carrying what?”

“One of those things you can stick onto surfaces and it goes boom. The other shoots things that go boom.”

‘You are the absolute barbar.’

“Uh…hello there. Aren’t you in standby…and like far away?” Winters asked, shocked to hear Io’s interjection.

‘I would never miss this sir, a romantic tale of explosions to punctuate a walk between lovers. Besides, it’s all I can do to ignore the incredibly sweet and awkward lovemaking happening a few feet from me.’ Winters’ mood shifted rapidly.

“Just tell me it’s possible Io,” Winters commanded urgently, feeling a surge of both guilt and dread as he contemplated what a negative answer might mean for him and for his mate. Veera rested her other hand gently on his arm.

“Russell…”

“C’mon Io, don’t go silent on me now!”

“Darling, please. You’re making a scene,” Veera informed him quietly. She was relatively unconcerned though. Without his helmet he was speaking in English, and very few villagers were out and about at all. It was almost enough to feel like the village was theirs alone.

“But Veera!” Winters pleaded. “I need to know this!”

‘I’m ever so glad we had our little talk. Knock him dead Veera.’ Io’s playful command came through her earpiece. Pulling the two of them to a stop, Veera reached up to grab Winters’ face in both hands.

“I already know darling; I was trying to tell you.” She spoke softly, running one paw up and through his hair. She knew he was being a bit childish and single minded, but it was impossible for her to fault him for the same curiosity that had almost consumed her a week prior. Winters immediately ceased all fidgeting, letting out a couple breaths before refocusing on her.

“You…you do?” He asked hopefully.

“Io and I kinda…figured it out together,” she offered. A spark of understanding played over his hooded features.

“Girl talk…right?”

“Yeah,” she whispered. “You’re not…mad at me are you?”

“No, of course not. It was more than clear between you and Io that it wasn’t my place to pry. I’m sure what went down involved…scanning?” He accentuated the last word, receiving a coughing fit from Io’s line. He smiled at Veera. “Thought so. And the results?” Veera drew very close, trapping them in pitch darkness at their hoods came together and her muzzle reached his ear.

“Yes.” His intake of breath at her single word was wonderful to her senses. She chose to savor it a moment before tell him the other half. “But…”

“Chemical compatibility, gotcha.” Veera pulled away, shocked.

“How did you?”

“Was the next logical hurdle, that’s all. No snooping, on my honor!” He crossed a closed hand over his chest. “We’ll figure that one out together, alright? Whenever you’re ready to take that step and however ends up being least awkward in the moment I guess. Sound good?” He asked. The hug he received was a plenty fine answer as Veera took in his warmth and scent again, somehow sharper in the crisp night air.

“Story, please?”

“Right…where was I again?” He asked, scratching his chin in embarrassment.

“Things that go boom?”

“Right!” He exclaimed, taking her by the hand and leading them onward once again down avenues and side streets at a leisurely pace. “So once I’d gotten all my gear up that blasted hill, I noticed plenty of structural weaknesses in the ice thanks to my pod. I stuck a bit of C4 in there and basically blasted my way in. By the time the shuttle had landed I had all of them waiting outside with a few hard drives worth of data. The rest of the equipment was lost. I didn’t have enough to keep the ice at bay long enough to get it out, damn stuff kept growing…”

“But everyone was ok, right?” Veera inquired worriedly, hanging on his words.

“Well, a couple cases of frostbitten fingers and toes, but nothing the med bay couldn’t clear up in a few hours. So yeah, in the end everyone was alright! They…never got around to analyzing that data in full though.” Winters’ expression had fallen almost immediately and he drew Veera firmly to his side, seeking support. It was a role she was more than happy to play for him.

“It wasn’t for nothing Russell; at least I don’t think so. As you said at the shrine…Mara sounds like a much nicer resting place than whatever that planet was,” Veera offered, not knowing how she could offer any further solace.

“I know Veera…at least…I can tell you that I know. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, like what I did on those planets ended up being for nothing in the end. Not sure if that’s alright or not. It just is. Anyway, on the subject of Mara, would you tell me a story now? Tell me something about your planet or your people?” He requested, noticing that Veera seemed a bit taken aback. They had reached the central square, deserted save for their two forms in the night.

“You…would probably find them silly or boring,” Veera told him. He shook his head and draped an arm around her.

“This is my home now too. This is where we first spoke…really spoke to one another. Would you tell me a story?” As his wish hovered between them, he noticed a light distortion out of the corner of his eye. Looking up and away from Veera, he was greeted by the unmistakably pleasant sting of a snowflake on his cheek. “Veera…” She had already joined him in looking to the sky. Her voice was tinged with excitement.

“Winter is here, your namesake. I think…it will be beautiful this year.” Her voice was hopeful and confident.

“I admit…I’m a bit excited myself. It’s been a long time.” He looked down again to meet Veera’s gaze, entranced as her irises sparkled faintly before him. As they stood silently, holding one another at arm’s length, the notes of a single piano

began to play. Winters had no idea how Io had responded so perfectly to the situation, but he made a silent promise to take her sledding as soon as he could. Hoping that she had selected the entire album, he stilled as Veera spoke again.

“Do you…feel this too?”

“What’s that love?”

“It’s almost like our first kiss,” Veera declared breathlessly, tilting her head and sighing with satisfaction as he fulfilled that promise immediately, softly claiming her lips with his own, the occasional snowflake melting on their noses as they unhurriedly re-familiarized themselves with each other. “Would you like to hear about your season? About why we worship Kel?” She offered as he reluctantly pulled away. Winters nodded, gratified as the music continued on to the next track of the album, providing them a soothing ambiance for storytelling.

“You mean there’s another side to Thantis’ tale about the cycle of being and all? I’d love to hear it,” he affirmed, holding her close enough to share some heat but with enough distance so that she could easily look up at him and hold conversation. After looking around and confirming that they were truly alone beneath the first flurries, Veera began.

“Did it ever strike you as odd that we have temples to all of the gods but one?” Winters took pause, realizing that she was, of course, correct.

“I…can’t say I ever counted them out.”

“That’s alright love. There’s Seil, Eiur and Auril, Kel, Meylith, Tyrdus, Uthos, and Valta.”

“Hold on a second…which one is the temple of Uthos? The barracks?”

“Good guess.” Veera rewarded him with a small kiss, feeling the swelling emotions brought on by her mate’s desire to understand more about her and her people. “You know of the other temples as well.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen them all except the one to the Twin Moons, but obviously Asha’s more than filled me in on that. So…who’s the unlucky god?” He asked, earning a delightful laugh from Veera.

“The god who’s just beginning his slumber, Felen.”

“Felen huh? So…sleep…winter. Is he some sort of summer god?”

“Not exactly love, the god of the rains and sky.”

“But not the snows?” Winters looked to the sky, feeling Veera press closer to him.

“No, not the snows.”

“Sounds like a good story, feather kitten.”

“When Mara was young so were the gods, young and even playful. Seil was imbued with the divine spark, the ability to create life; and Felen the power to nurture and grow it. For a time there was balance. Life began, grew, thrived, and died, returning to the ground and to Kel. These three existed in balance for a long while, but one day Kel found no life had come to him to continue the cycle. When he reached the surface to search for the cause, he found a great horror. Seil and Felen had grown rash and rampant, creating and nurturing life so fast that the Mara itself threatened to be consumed, Kel and the other gods with it. He called to them, pleaded with them to listen, for he was Death, and death is the final reason. But they would not heed his words; for they were the sun and sky, existing above all. Even when the others joined with Kel and bade them to stop, they did not.” Veera paused for a moment, meeting Winters’ eyes.

“I’m beginning to think your death god might not be such a bad guy after all. Keep going? Oh wait…are your feet cold?” Winters suddenly asked, noticing a thin layer of snow had begun to accumulate around them.

“I’m perfectly fine my love, but you’re kind to ask. I’ll be the first to take us inside if I experience discomfort.”

“Fair enough. So…Kel went to war with the other gods?”

“Hey now! It’s not fun if you guess everything!” She slapped his chest lightly.

“Sorry! I don’t mind though, sounds badass. What did he do?” Veera was more than mollified by his enthusiasm, clearing her throat and continuing her myth.

“After Felen and Seil refused him, Kel retreated to plan how he might restore balance. It was not to be an easy task. The world itself had been created in a great battle between Kel and Seil that existed for time immemorial. It was only that creation which achieved a halt to the fighting, and Kel knew that if he were to attack Seil directly, all would be lost. Chaos would return. They are the light and dark, life and death. One can never truly exist without the other. So Kel decided he would have to halt Felen’s rampant rains and influence without drawing Seil into the conflict. After a long time spent in thought Kel enacted his plan, and the first winter blanketed the planet of Mara. The rains halted as the cold came and snow covered the ground, killing the devouring life and obscuring Mara from the gaze of Felen and Seil. Felen, the closer of the two to our world, immediately moved to confront Kel, his rage at the loss of life consuming him. It was this moment of hubris that Kel waited for, for Felen to leave the relative safety of the sky without the protection of Seil. The two gods clashed, but the outcome was preordained. None, except for life itself, can stop death. Kel pierced Felen’s chest and ripped out one of his four lungs, the source of the winds and rains. Before Seil could intervene and continue the conflict, Kel banished Felen back to the skies, where he was forced to slumber for a time to recover from his injuries. When his sleep ended, Kel concluded the winter and allowed Seil to melt the snows, giving the gods of life access to Mara again, preserved and cleansed of their folly. Though Seil remained furious and blazed with anger, Felen learned his lesson, his lost lung a constant reminder. From that time, the balance that we experience today has existed. Seil is the spark of life; life that is nurtured by Felen’s rains for three of the seasons. But each year Felen must slumber and recover, for his wound is unending. That is the time of Kel, winter, when death covers and protects Mara in his own way, to return it to life the next spring. It is a time of trial, but it is part of the balance that preserves our world. And somehow…for all of the terror that death is capable of…” Veera looked again to the skies, the snows now falling freely around them in a soft blanket of white. “He is also capable of great beauty and peace. That is why we worship death, Russell. That is why we gladly suffer the winter. That is the story of how balance came to Mara…just as you brought balance to me…right here.” Veera’s kiss took his breath away, her lips soft and demanding, her tongue silky and warm. He returned it gladly, memories of his mate flashing behind his eyes as the snows came down around them.

“And I think it’s fair to say you’ve brought me peace. Thank you Veera, for everything. I don’t think I would mind being the avatar of Kel so much now.” She smiled wide for him.

“So you…liked the story? That’s why we don’t worship Felen; we don’t wish to disturb the balance.” She dug a talon into the thin snow, her voice hesitant.

“It was pretty awesome actually! Kel sounds like a pretty reasonable guy actually, the whole god of death thing aside. Why wouldn’t I like it?”

“Because it’s…probably not real?” Veera tightened her hold on him. He hummed and began caressing her neck just under the curve of her jaw.

“Who’s to say that’s not how it happened?”

“You and Io, you big dolt,” she whispered.

“That doesn’t mean that your gods can’t be real Veera,” he whispered back. “They just might work in ways you don’t expect.”

“I…you’re just saying that to make me feel better,” she insisted, remembering their nights in front of the fire, atomic theory, the galaxy.

“Times like this can change a man you know,” he revealed, his voice low and earnest. “I know a few scientists myself, and I’ve heard of plenty more who claim to have seen the face or the hand of god thanks to their work. These are people who are far smarter than I am; people who understand the world much better than I ever will…and they still believe. If anything, their faith is stronger because of it, because they’ve seen things so incredible and unbelievable that they refuse to believe this was all just chance. Seil is still the spark of life on your planet…just maybe not in the way Vash tells it? Besides, I’m sure he doesn’t tell that little legend I just heard, right?” Veera tilted her head down and to the side, looking up at him coyly.

“Thantis always had the better stories. As for me…and you…sometimes the gods were all I had Russell. I don’t want to forsake them now.” He placed his lips on her forehead.

“Don’t change Veera. I love you as you are, not as some fictional cauthan in my mind. Would you like to head home now?”

“Do you think we could stay just a bit longer? It’s been so long since I’ve enjoyed the snow, or had someone to enjoy it with.”

“I like the sound of that.” He held her to him as the piano faded to silence.

-----

A while later, once Veera and Winters had finally begun to truly feel the cold, they headed for home, guided by the faint light of fires and torches from indoors. Snow crunched lightly underfoot as they carried on in silence, content to clasp hands and be close. When they arrived, they were met by the faint red glow of embers and an empty home. Removing and shaking their cloaks free of snow, Veera moved to rekindle a small fire while Winters did his best to bang the snow off of his boots.

“Those two are precious,” Veera said. “And how are you doing Io? Did you miss us?”

‘You have no idea Veera. The two of you make love with such…confidence. I didn’t think I would miss it until presented with the alternative. Asha will get her sea legs quick enough but Zolta? I daresay without the two of you there’s no hope for that one.’ Io shook her head dramatically.

“We haven’t made love yet,” Winters interjected. Io was unperturbed.

‘Splitting hairs. In either case, that was quite the little stunt the two of you pulled! You could have at least warned me. If I didn’t know better you’d have me believing that all dinner parties involved vacating the premises so that your guests can engage in sex.’ Io gave them a significant pout over a cold shoulder. Winters didn’t bother hiding his laughter.

“We’re sorry Io; this was a very spur of the moment kind of thing. I hope it wasn’t too bad?” Veera replied sympathetically; though she truly felt that Io was only upset because it hadn’t been her and her human mating that night.

‘I suppose after they figured things out it was…rather intimate and adorable, as I said. I’m still trying to be upset with you, even though they cleaned the whole place and left the two of you tea.’ Io gestured to two mugs, still faintly steaming, one on each chair. Winters joined Veera as they sat next to a now faintly burning fire, providing a last bout of warmth for their home before bed. After a tentative sip, he nodded approvingly.

“Just what I need after a couple hours in the snow. Gotta hand it to those two, they’re excellent house guests.”

“I’m personally looking forward to seeing Asha again,” Veera admitted slyly. “What do you think she was trying to get Zolta to do when we were…eavesdropping?”

“Missionary.” Winters’ reply was curt but certain. He took a long draught of his tea as he felt his face flush.

“Darling, you’ll have to elaborate,” Veera patiently informed him.

‘Or I will,’ Io threatened with a smile. Winters conceded defeat.

“Two of you will be the death of me I swear,” he mumbled. “Anyway, the name isn’t important. It’s…a position for mating.” Veera looked only mildly surprised.

“I’m guessing humanity has many of them?”

“More than I could count. And give Asha credit, sounds like she figured out a second one all on her own.”

“It certainly didn’t sound like…whatever you’d call a normal mating position.” Veera sipped her tea. “We don’t have a name for it. It’s just mating.”

‘Humans refer to it as doggy style Veera.’ Io supplied the correct term as Winters’ blush spread. Veera rendered her judgment.

“That’s a silly name Io.”

‘Yes, I suppose it is, especially if you’re unfamiliar with dogs. I suppose the closest analog on Mara would be hyrven style.’ It was Veera’s turn to be embarrassed as her feathers quaked.

“I suppose we do mate in the same way…”

“That’s what the name comes from, it’s meant to indicate an animalistic way of mating. What Asha suggested to Zolta is face to face, with the male atop the female. The angle works,” Winters reassured her as she cast him an optimistically curious look.

“That does sound quite nice. I know I’d prefer to see your face…” Veera trailed off, lacing her fingers very tightly around her mug.

“There’s no need to push yourself, you know that right? Especially not now that we’ve begun to, you know, actually discuss this sort of stuff in the open.” He placed a hand on her thigh as Veera looked into the fire.

“You won’t…”

“Whatever unreasonable thing you’re thinking, no, I won’t.” She chortled for a moment, dispelling some of the tension that had needlessly built between them.

“I had thought it would be most reasonable for a male of breeding age, but thank you my human. Should we turn in for the night?” She finished her tea and set the mug aside. He soon joined her.

“Yeah, let’s do that,” he agreed, quickly downing his own drink before removing his shirt and boots and laying down for the night. Veera returned to him and he beheld her figure in the waning light.

“Everything alright Veera?”

“It’s cold tonight. I hope you don’t mind?”

“I’ve never minded Veera. Seeing you naked was…entrancing and beautiful. But the last thing I need is you being cold at night out of some sort of feeling of obligation.”

“Thank you darling.” Veera settled herself atop him, the touch of her fur partially replaced by the texture of her dress. Winters breathed out audibly as she immediately went for his neck, having learned how to work him up with her tongue and lips before biting down. “You taste good, as always.”

“I thought you wanted to sleep. Not that I’m complaining,” he groaned, encircling her with his arms and settling their new blanket over them both. She paused.

“I do…I just…I love you,” Veera whispered into his neck, pressing herself tightly against his side. “Would you believe me if I said that the last week has been…a bit uncomfortable?”

“Yes.”

“I was that obvious?”

“Maybe just to me.”

“You’re suffering though…”

“It’s nothing Veera. I’ve dealt with far worse pain before. I’d be a damn pathetic soldier if I couldn’t deal with this. I’m just annoyed I didn’t pick up on your discomfort sooner.”

“Just know that in spite of it all, I liked it as well. This making love thing is so very confusing to me…” He could hear her already drifting off into a warm and satisfied sleep.

“Yeah…I hear that.” Winters kissed her feathers and closed his eyes.

-----

“Darling!” Veera’s voice reached through the darkness of his waning sleep.

“Mmm, what’s huh?” He ground out, rubbing his eyes.

“Russell, come look!” As his vision swam and cleared, Winters saw Veera standing in the doorway, looking out past the leather flap and into the street. I really need to get that thing replaced, he thought before stretching and throwing his legs off the side of the bed. A few moments later he was dressed and joined a very impatient Veera, yawning at her side. The unusual brightness outside that he’d noticed from the bed turned out to be the glint of early morning sun deflecting off of almost every non-vertical surface in the village. A good three inches of snow had covered the village as they slept, the melt off only just beginning. “Isn’t it beautiful?” Veera asked breathlessly. Winters felt his face straining into a wide grin as he gently placed an arm around her shoulder. The cold air against his face was more than sufficient to finish waking him.

“Yeah Veera, it sure is.”