300+
The snowfall had faded into a steady drizzle of rain. This alone had taken the smile from the swarthy girl's face; she'd come to love the snow, even if it was wet and dirty and not too fun to play in. She wanted to see her snow fairies again, dancing down from their world in the clouds. But the rain had taken over, chasing them away. Rio felt a deep sadness, more severe than it should be, for she didn't understand the concept of weather. She simply thought the snow was gone and never would come back. From her solitary place on the porch, she watched the rain fall, shivering in the bitter chill of the afternoon. Her periwinkle eyes shimmered, becoming pools of blue-lavender as tears welled within them. She didn't know why she was so sad, other than because of the idea of being abandoned by those dancing little fairies that so joyed her.
She felt very lonely without them. Her tail limp behind her, Rio slumped to her belly, her head resting between her paws. Tears leaked down her cheeks, creating trails in the dark fur. She wished only that someone would come outside with her, although she didn't remember if Mama or Papa or her siblings were still in there, or off somewhere else. She may have gone inside to look, but she didn't feel like moving. She felt confined, fixed to where she lay under the sparse shelter of the wooden roof. A small whimper began in her throat, slowly escalating into repeated yet quiet cries. She called for someone, anyone, to come to her and tell her that she was not alone. "Papa... Mama... Oh," her voice quieted with the last word from her lips. Small paws rose to cover her closed eyes, pitching her into darkness.