Haven’t all birds migrated south by now, including doves?

I would assume so but this wasn’t a dove, that much I was sure of. It sat erect and proud, its white feathers more like glistening diamonds, even with the little sun that shined. On its head seemed like a ponytail of feathers arching backwards. It’s long tail flowed down from the branch it was perched on.

I don’t know why I straightened as I saw it, memorized by its beauty. At that moment, all thoughts of the frozen pond beneath my feet vanished as I stared at it.

Suddenly its great head turned and I saw that it’s eyes looked like blue crystals, piercing and deep.

My breath caught and I swore that it was staring straight at me, almost bearing into my soul.

Almost as if this was one of the many dramas I had watched, the moment it turned and looked at me was the moment that snow began to gently fall down. It had been blessedly clear today, making my ice skating less hazardous in my opinion.

I stopped to gaze up at the sky. Snow began to get in my eyes, so I titled my head back down to the white bird.

A bird that was no longer sitting on the branch.

I looked around, wondering if anyone else saw it. Everyone was skating, either by themselves, in pairs or in groups. Conversation flowed over the frozen pond, one which Anika found herself privacy to judging by her skating with some people. She looked up, either happenstance or feeling my gaze (Though she would tell me it’s to check on me), and upon seeing me, she broke out into a grin, and began to maniacally wave.

I lifted my hand once in acknowledgment.

I see she was still happy as a clam on a frozen pond.

Shaking my head, I thought that perhaps, it was just some trick of light or something. Maybe I’m getting too cold. I should probably head in for a spell. Grab some hot chocolate or something.

I thought to make one more round and flag Anika down. With this thought I began to skate forward again, only to be startled once more. Across the pond was another tree. But it wasn’t the tree that caught my eye for I had seen it during my uncountable rounds around the frozen pond.

It was the figure that was standing next to it. Even at a distance I knew that it was a male, tall and sturdy like the oak he was standing next to. He stood, back erect as if the cold didn’t bother him. Even from the distance I swore could sense the crease between his brow.

Although I didn’t put any power into my skating I continued to slide forward towards the figure. The bird flew into my vision, landing on his shoulder. The man didn’t seem to acknowledge it standing much like the tree next to him for a long moment.

Then he slowly brought his hand to his mouth, palm up. His lips puckered and I saw him blowing something out of his palm. Blue and white that shimmered forth cascading forward and around.

Was that snow?

The snow began to pick up a bit more and I looked around. Everyone seemed more delighted than anything, chattering about the freshly fallen snow. But why did no one react to that man standing by the tree? It wasn’t like you could miss him, although he seemed to blend into the snow behind him with skin the color of a blue diamond. His light purple robe seemed strangely unbothered by the wind of snow falling.

Still I continued to slide towards him without any power. As I got closer I could see that he was barefooted and seemed to be standing directly on top of the snow, not sinking into it.

He stopped blowing as he extended his arm. Blue and white still continued to fall from the center of his palm. I wasn’t exactly sure where it was supposed to be going. He tilted his head back as if observing. But then I saw some pieces begin to attach itself to the frozen pond. It glittered more and more as they built on top of each other. I glanced back at the man and saw the corner of his stern mouth lift in what looked to be a smirk.

And then I heard something.

Something I had prayed I wouldn't today.

Something like a crack.

I looked around and spotted that a jagged line was beginning to make its way towards me. My eyes widened and I began to skate off to the side, with something of a yell. Whether I was able to make a coherent warning I could not say given that it all happened in seconds.

As I skated off, I looked up at the man whose eyes were wide as he seemed to be looking directly at me.

And just before I ran into the snow bank, I saw him straightening, lowering his arm, eyes still wide.