Prologue

She trudged through the midwinter drifts of Mossflower wood, half conscious and completely freezing. She pulled her gray cloak tightly around her, and pushed herself onward. The sun had almost completely set, and the wind bit at her face. She tripped and fell, her arms stretched to catch her fall, when she noticed that she had landed on a path. Pulling back her hood, she smiled and stood. Forgetting her composure, she started running, faster and faster, until a red fortification was visible through the raging gusts of snow. Her footpaws were sore, and she was tired, but she still managed to run the rest of the way to the gates of the red castle.

She banged her paws to the door, too tired to yell. After a few minutes, a tall red squirrel with one ear opened the solid wooden doors. She was instantly alert, and ran out to the maid outside. "You alright, missie? What're you doin' out in this weather? Who're you?"

The maid smiled—she had come to her destination. "Late…"

She collapsed in the squirrel's arms.