Here we go! Word Count: 486
The trees were bare, the grass scarce, and drops of frost now turned to dew glistened in the sun. The wind swept through the few plants that were still trying to shed their faded ornaments of spring and summer--flowers, leaves, and stems that were late for their departure. On this particular morning all things in nature seemed to whisper contentedly about all that was well in the world. At least, that’s how it seemed to Glaiven. The grasses and trees raised their voices above the wind one moment, and sighed happily in the calm at another. All the while Glaiven skedaddled about them, not caring about the fact that to any onlooker she would appear merely foolish or even slightly mad. She rejoiced in the simple freshness of the air and the coldness of the world around her, running through tall grasses and ferns only to halt a few steps away and watch the strands and leaves flutter down around her.
After many rounds of this juvenile and made-up game, she looked around and found herself to be near a rather large stream. Glaiven spotted several fish swimming through the glistening water, and decided that here was another game. She never gave up a chance for a game. Bracing herself for the cold, Glaiven took a running leap right into the middle of the small group of fish. As she broke the surface, she gasped at the cold that penetrated her skin—although the water did not make its way through her fur, the freezing sensation did. Glaiven made a note to herself to make sure she slept in an especially warm and dry place that night so she wouldn’t catch cold. She smiled at the thought of what her friends would say about her now. They would probably make some obvious comment about how the cold made her even more spontaneous than usual! She almost laughed out loud, but stopped herself just in time to avoid swallowing a huge amount of water.
She had been treading water up until this time, and now decided to make her way upstream. Powerful legs pumped through the previously undisturbed water, becoming numb from exercise and the bitter cold. Her body became accustomed to the temperature of the water and her breath ceased to hang white in the air. Glaiven maneuvered herself over to the bank, gingerly pulled herself out of the water, and shivered as the wind swirled around her saturated coat. Her fur clung to her skin, and she felt truly awake for the first time this morning.
She looked about and stepped back a bit, surprised that she hadn’t noticed the still, dark figure amidst the pale landscape. Of course, she thought, my nose is slightly numb. That probably contributed to her unawareness. She giggled faintly, then caught herself before she could startle the stranger.
“Excuse me,” she asked the unmoving form, “are you alright?”
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