As the girl took each step into the snow covered forest, her previous steps were covered by heavy snow that sprinkled only over her steps until the print was completely erased.

She hardly noticed as the air wrapped around her body dressed in a tank top and shorts.

The cold nipped at her fingers, colored her already pink cheeks, forcing her to hug her body, tightening her grip on her arms.

Her eyes looked around in wonder at the beauty of the ice covered trees, the bed of snow at the foot of every tree, the brown of each tree heavily contrasting with the beauty of the snow somehow making the trees even more beautiful.

The ice cycles above her threatened to fall, though she didn’t notice it, but Jack stood off to a distance, watching the girl in curiosity. Jack solidified the ice cycles above the girl enough for them to stay in place a few seconds until she passed them. They fell a few feet behind her and she didn’t so much as jump at the cracking sound that filled the air.

The girl continued through the forest, a bit slower than before. Jack hid in the trees, floating in the wind every few trees to keep up with the girl.

If she thought the winter day was a sight, she would be amazed by a winter night. The full moon out, glistening across the snow, shining reflectively against the ice cycles. The lake shone most beautifully and they weren’t far away from it now.

The girls hair was now covered in snow, her chattering stopped almost suddenly, her arms were no longer hugging her body tightly, they were at her sides, touching each ice cycle she could reach and knocking snow off each branch she jumped up to hit.

Eventually, they made it to the lake. She looked around at all the wildlife birds digging around in the snow for food, more bunnies playing chase around the lake, a couple of deer laying in the snow, sleeping together.

She put a hesitant foot out on the frozen lake, no crack, and soon her other foot followed. She took one step after the other and before she knew it, she was halfway across the lake. Most of the creatures there looked at her curiously but none of them ran off. Jack whispered little things to keep the lake appeased, to make sure it didn’t swallow her whole.

She giggled uncontrollably as she fell again and again. She got up each time, wiped her backside of any snow, and continued her ice skating as best she could.

He jumped down from his tree top, gliding down to the ice and beginning his own slide across the frozen water. He followed after the girl for hours, both of them laughing, both of them enjoying the ice. Eventually, growing too tired to continue, the girl sat at the edge of the lake. A few animals came to sit with her. Jack followed, taking a seat next to the girl.

The animals kept their distance from Jack, sitting closer to the girl.

The girl laid her head down against the snow, resting her arm beneath her head as a pillow.

“You shouldn’t fall asleep.” His warning came out as the sound of wind, blowing harshly against her skin.

She hugged herself tightly, curling up against herself. Her breath showed in the cold air, the animals rested closer to her, giving off warmth but there wasn’t enough.

“Don’t go to sleep.” He tried again but she only curled up tighter, his words were nothing but encouragement to sleep.

The air formed a blanket over her, her nose was past red, it was white as were her previously rosy cheeks.

The deer poked its nose at her but she didn't so much as swat at the offending wet nose. Her quiet snores sounded softly for a few minutes before no sound was heard from her.

“Please wake up.” He asked her, he still wished to play with her, he still wished to show her the moon lighting up the dark night. He still wanted to show her what he experienced alone every day for years now.

She didn’t respond, she didn’t hug herself tighter, she didn’t curl up, in fact, she almost seemed to slacken. Her body gave up its search for warmth. Her body gave up the fight to stay warm.

She didn’t notice as the air wrapped around her tiny little body.