"Ya!" Emerald yelled as her horse galloped across the desert.
Besides her another green haired girl, with orange eyes instead of dark red, and slightly brighter green hair rode a horse besides her. "Fu, how much further?"
"Don't know," Fu called out from her horse as they raced through the desert, "behind them was a group of Grimm closing in, "damn those Centaurs don't give in!"
Centaurs, horse like Grimm that had a pair of hands on their backs, the hands can grab many people before they'd eat them. Vacuo was their common habitat, open desert, and without a need of water they're excellent for the environment.
In fact, Grimm never needed water to survive, just like they didn't need human flesh, but they'd do so anyway. Either for pleasure, or animalistic instinct no could say, but Grimm still consumed food. It was just unfortunate that a lot of the food they enjoyed was usually apart of the human body.
Unless you're a Faunas, then they'd enjoy whatever was in addition to the human body when it came to you.
"They're gaining!" Emerald yelled. The thirteen-year-old attempted to make her horse go faster, "at this rate we'll be dead!"
Fu, the bright orange eyed youth that was slightly younger, just turned to her and looked about. "I don't know about that, there is a huge sandstorm coming!"
"Wait, what?!" Emerald yelled as the sudden storm erupted from nowhere, "that wasn't there a second go…oh man please don't be a giant Grimm!"
As the sandstorm blew over them, the two girls watched as the storm consumed the centaurs as well. However, the screaming of Grimm and a large shadow appearing where they had been made both Emerald and Fu look on as the tall figure just seem to melt back into the sand.
"What the hell was that?!" Emerald screamed as their horses made it past the storm.
"I don't know!" Fu yelled as she stopped her horse and Emerald followed suite, "whatever happened…those Grimm are gone."
"Yeah…" Emerald sighed in relieve, before noticing something near her horse. "Holy crap…look at this!"
Fu looked down, noticing giant footprints, and trail from a large tail being dragged was present in the sand. Albeit, the sand was quickly covering it up, Fu sighed before smiling. "It must've been a guardian!"
"A guardian?" Emerald questioned as she slowly relaxed, "you mean like a spirit?"
"Yep," Fu chimed, "they're usually much smaller though. However, when I get to Vacuo I'll be praying in thanks to whatever saved us., because holy crap that was close."
"You're telling me!" Emerald laughed as she, "Cinder is going to freak when she hears about this. Besides, she'll be glad that we secured that trade deal back in Aneesa!"
"Yep!" Fu stated, "so should we get back to Vacuo before we get double training duty?"
"I think that'd be wise! My uncle may be freaking out by now, we're supposed to have been already back!" Emerald stated as she made her horse move towards a large walled city in the distance.
"Yeah, ya!" Fu yelled to her horse, which made began to move towards the city in unison with Emerald's.
Naruto was eating a bowl of ramen with Lee, and Sakura. "Ah…this is the food of Gods."
"You seem to enjoy my cooking more each day Naruto," Ayame chimed as she made another bowl, "Why is that?"
"Don't ya know, you're the bomb!" Naruto told Ayame as he smiled bright, "besides I needed this."
"Naruto passed his exams, for once, in History this week. Lee here got held back a year though." Sakura stated as she finished her bowl.
"Unfortunately, but Bushy Brow here is more than capable in a fight…I don't think anyone in Signal can beat him. Especially Yang!" Naruto gritted his teeth at the name with fire in his eyes.
"Quick question Naruto, why do you hate Yang so much?" Lee inquired as he slurped down his noodles.
"I don't, I just have rivalry going on with her." Sakura spit out her drink in the declaration made by Naruto, "what?!"
"You idiot you're supposed to be my rival!" Sakura yelled at Naruto, "I'm still winning last time I checked."
"Heh, not for long, besides Sakura she's the only other blonde in Signal. Can't we just have more fun by fighting each other, instead of being buddy-buddy because of hair?" Naruto inquired as he had another bowl brought to him, "besides she has a similar fighting style to you anyway."
"And?" Sakura questioned as she crossed her arms.
"She's a lot better at keeping up with me in the long run." Naruto merely stated before having his head punched by Sakura, "ow!"
"It's what you get!" Sakura yelled before looking away and crossing her arms, "if she's so much better than me you should train with her."
"Well excuse me," Naruto argued as he rubbed the sore growing on his head, "but I just think she's more ferocious."
"I think Naruto has a point Sakura," Lee agreed as he got his third bowl, "in your spars with Naruto you're being cautious against him. You're still the better fighter without a doubt, more trained and precise, you just lack the stamina that Naruto has."
"Oh…" Sakura figured out as she rubbed the back of her head, "sorry…thought you meant she was fully better than me."
"Well…at least she gives me a warning before punching me." Naruto joked as he rubbed the sore, "besides the point…has anyone seen Yang?"
"No, you Lee?" Sakura asked as she looked her friend.
"Now that you mention it, despite being like Naruto, she never really skips class." Lee said as he stopped eating, "and she hasn't said anything about skipping class."
"Hey, I only skip one class and that's the range!" Naruto argued as he crossed his arms, "besides not my fault they can't see my kunai are legitimate ranged weapons."
"Oh brother…here we go again, it's almost Winter's end Naruto, you've been going on with this all Winter." Sakura complained as she pinched her nose, "just pick up a pistol and learn to shoot."
"Nope," Naruto merely crossed his arms, "if I put in the effort to make something like my kunai then by Gods I'll be using them more than a damn pistol."
"Language." Ayame stated over her shoulder before sighing and walking over to him, "here's the bill by the way."
"Thank you!" Sakura plucked it away from Naruto's hands, "I got this."
"Eh?" Lee and Naruto looked at her.
"Oh, don't look at me like that, I forgot to give you a birthday gift after all Lee." Sakura smiled before paying for the food.
"Well…I guess that's fine." Naruto said as he sighed, "I guess I should be getting Sakura home."
"Right, Instructor Gai and I were also going for a late day run." Lee stated while a fire burn inside of his eyes, "and I told him if I couldn't beat him I'd do four hundred pushups."
"I just had a thought, why doesn't Lee just try to make The Grimm exercise with him? They'd all die out from exhaustion." Naruto deadpanned in his head, "Oookay then."
Naruto and Sakura were walking through Cassardis as the sun hanged low into the sky, "so Sakura, why has Kizashi been sending us out a lot lately?"
"Dunno," Sakura shrugged, "but I'm not complaining."
"Hear that, Teuichi gave me the week off from work as well, I think for once I don't have anything to do." Naruto told Sakura before he frowned, "no…still got homework."
"You can get that done today." Sakura said as she saw the calculating look Naruto's face.
"Eh," Naruto bopped his head side-to-side a little bit, "maybe…It's Saturday."
"You're hopeless no wonder you're barely passing several classes," Sakura admonished as she crossed her arms, "you know…Anko threatened me to drag you to the range."
Naruto stopped in his tracks, a fear swept over him, "A-Anko?"
"Mmhmm," Sakura hummed as she looked at the fear stricken Naruto, "she said she'd be on your case like Bees to honey if you didn't come to class Monday."
"Great…" Naruto drawled as he rolled his eyes, "eh?"
They both stopped, seeing their teacher Taiyang running back and forth across the street. "Isn't that Taiyang?" Naruto asked as he saw the fellow blonde and blue eyed man run back across the street, "he's freaking out about something."
"You go ahead and waste time," Sakura stated as she walked off, "when you get home I'm making you do your homework…or I'll take your secret stash away."
"Eh?! Don't touch my special ordered books Sakura, Sakura?!" Naruto yelled as she just walked off, "please don't!"
Sighing in defeat Naruto just walked over towards Taiyang, the man was in tears, but Naruto knew Taiyang to be slightly eccentric about things. It was one of the reasons why Naruto enjoyed the man's classes, and one of the reasons why besides Iruka he respected Taiyang more than the average teacher in Signal.
"Oi, Instructor Long!" Naruto called out as the man passed him, the man stopped before backpaddling towards him.
"Naruto, have you seen Yang…Ruby?" Taiyang questioned as the man shook.
"No," Naruto answered, "what's wrong...and where is Rubes at? She's usually with you."
"That's why I asked you dumbass!" Taiyang yelled at him, a brief pause insured before the man sighed. "I'm sorry…it's just that, Yang went missing since last night. I assumed she skipped school to hang out by the docks with her friends."
"Oh," Naruto suddenly got a worried look on his face, "yeah…now that you mention her friends have been running around her lately too."
"Naruto…please, listen to me. I need your help to find them, Yang can handle herself sure…but Ruby." Taiyang suddenly grew worried over his youngest daughter, "can you help me in anyway?"
"Sure!" Naruto stated, "I can run along the outside of the town."
"Good, here's my scroll number, please call it if you find them. Don't wonder too deep into the forest, I have Qrow looking there now." Taiyang said as he hastily written his scroll number, "and this also has Qrow's number."
"Thanks," Naruto quickly entered the number and put them to a speed dial number. "If I run into leads or problems I'll let you know."
Naruto began to dash off, "Naruto…please be careful."
"Roger that Mr. Long!" Naruto realized what he said, and chuckled as he ran down the street.
A half hour later, Naruto had been dashing around the entire town, before coming upon a man broke down in the middle of a road. His wagon had been banged up bad, and he looked at Naruto. Running over to him, the man just looked at Naruto.
"Kid, have you seen a blonde hair girl and a mix anywhere?" The man questioned.
"No, did Taiyang get to you as well?" Naruto questioned as he looked around while talking.
He had called Sakura, Lee, and their acquaintances to help in the search.
"Tai-who?" The wagon bearer questioned, "no. I'm looking for two brats that decided to hitch a ride on my wagon when I was outside this little hamlet. I've been checking inventory ever since getting into town."
"Where?" Naruto merely stated.
"A few miles outside Cassardis." The man answered, "near Shadow River."
"What color were their eyes, and who looked older?" Naruto continued his questioning.
"Silver, and lilac. The blonde was much older than the mix haired girl. Why?" The man questioned before having Naruto shake his hands before backing off.
Naruto hands clutched, "thanks you've been a big help!"
The man was about to say something when Naruto took off dashing, and began to put Sakura, Lee, and Taiyang on a group call since he couldn't get ahold of Qrow. The phone ringed, and ringed a few more times, before finally Taiyang answered.
"Hello?" Taiyang called out first.
"Yeah, Mr. Xiao-Long, it's me Naruto. I just found a guy who said a couple of girls fitting Yang and Ruby's descriptions hitched a ride on his cart. They were last seen near Shadow River." Naruto stated as he ran fast towards The Southern Wall.
"Shadow River…and how long ago was this?" Taiyang questioned.
Naruto stopped, "I forgot to ask…"
"Idiot…never mind it's the best we got. It'll put them ten miles away from Cassardis. In a circle, and even further if they walked straight." Taiyang reasoned, "I got a Leo search squad going up in an hour."
"An hour?!" Naruto stated, "but they'll be further away…Mr. Xiao-Long…I'm going in the forest to help Qrow."
"Naruto, don't you dare, there is a blood moon tonight. Grimm get restless on a blood moon!" Taiyang yelled only to have the scroll click.
The blonde had hung up on Taiyang, who would obliviously continue to yell. Naruto wasn't proud of it, but he had to bring out an old set of skills he had as a fisher for Roman. Stealth and speed. Right now, Taiyang yelling at him would be distracting, he was sure however all the other instructors were in the forest as well.
Nearing the Southern Gate, the blonde took a moment to look at the dark gray trees in front of him. Shaking slightly, he swallowed his fear as he checked his pouches. Counting the number of kunai, he had, which was the full twenty-five.
Sighing, he checked his pocket, feeling three dust crystals inside of it. Crystals that Sakura had gotten from Lee, and Naruto had gotten from her. Taking a second to pray, the blonde gathered his nerves and began to dash into the forest.
Running fast enough to have his hands behind his back.
Yang had her little sister on her back as they wondered through the forest, "Yang…how much further…dad's probably mad at us."
"Ruby, just a little further, and we'll get to see mom I promise." Yang said to the soon to be eleven-year-old.
"Yang…I'm scared." Ruby commented as she laid her head against Yang's shoulder and whimpered, "I'm really-really scared."
"Okay Ruby, I know, but don't worry I took down that Beowulf earlier." Yang gave her sister a classic smile, "we'll be fine."
They both continued to walk, before coming to an old tree. Yang had several cuts along her body, some bleeding a little bit, but she just pressed on. Her aura was slowly restoring, it wouldn't be long before it did.
Snow had begun to fall, white flakes of purity giving false light to bleak forest around them. "Yang…I'm cold."
Yang clutched her sister a little closer, before they both took a seat by the tree. Yang nestled her sister closer to her. The blonde looked at her, before giving a frown. She should've never brought Ruby along with her, despite the girl insisting that Yang's mom would be her mom too since her mom treated Yang as such.
They were both naïve, Ruby for pushing to go, and Yang for going at all.
Then something hit her, she shook as it did, when her father told her that Summer wasn't her mother. Suddenly Yang for all her rashness took to a reasoning that she didn't want to believe, what if her mother was already dead…what if her mother didn't want her.
This made her sulk as she just clutched her sister, she should've been just happy to have her small family with her sister and father. She knew about Lee not having anyone and being adopted by Gai despite telling no one save her.
She really liked Lee, he had moxie just like her.
Looking to her baby sister, she gave her a sad smile, she had been very brave to push herself to come with Yang. They were both hurting deeply inside, the duo clutched each other, before Yang watch the moon breach the horizon's mountains.
Yang's eyes narrowed as the moon slowly turned a pinkish red as it slowly rose more and more through the sky. For once, she prayed that whoever was out there would make sure she and her sister would make it out alive.
She had forgotten the blood moon, how foolish of her.
She felt something wet roll down her face, wiping it off, she saw that it was melted snowflake…yeah, she could go with that. Shaking, more melted snowflakes dropped down, before she knew it she was silently sobbing as she thought about the mother that always took care of her and Ruby.
Summer.
Summer Rose, and Ruby's surname's namesake. Super mom, none of these could ever describe the compassionate bad ass that was Summer to Yang. The blonde whimpered herself, before looking at her sister, "I brought her out here…mom…I'm sorry!"
Yang hid her lilac eyes, not wanting to have Ruby see her cry from them. She was supposed to be the tough sister, not the crybaby. She half expected to have a Beowulf descend upon them now, the amount of sadness and despair she was displaying must've been a beacon to them.
The cracking of branches, under the now dark night sky, made her look up to see someone coming. She noticed blonde hair, blue eyes, and thought it was her dad for a moment before noticing it was a classmate of hers.
"Yang, Ruby!" Naruto screamed as he nearly ran past them, before noticing the oddly colored branches on a tree.
"Hey…Naruto…" Yang said as she finished wiping her tears away, "Ruby's asleep."
Naruto looked at the mix haired girl dressed in red near Yang, before looking at Yang and sighing. "Mind if I take a seat too…I just got done taking down a Beowulf."
"I guess you could…" Yang muttered dejectedly as Naruto and took a seat by her.
The blood moon was now high in the sky, giving both blondes hair a red hue over them, with both looking like oranges. Slowly take a deep breath, Naruto looked at Ruby and Yang, noting their physical condition of ripped clothing and a few scratches.
Sighing, Naruto merely placed both of his hands on them, before Yang could protest she felt a rush aura enter them. The blonde quickly withdrew his hands, "it'll take me a half hour to recharge…so let's talk."
"Huh?" Yang muttered while looking at the younger boy, "what do you mean talk…we just went out for a walk…and got lost."
"Bull crap Yang," Naruto glared at her, "you put yourselves at risk for just a walk?"
"We're blonde Naruto, we do stupid things." Yang muttered in an attempted joke, "it's what we do best…stupid things."
"Heh," Naruto chuckled as he put his hands behind his head, "then I'll guess I'll stay here…by this old tree then."
"That's stupid Naruto…you could run back to the others and get us a way out." Yang noticed the sheepish grin on the blonde's face as he scratched back of his head, "you got lost too…didn't you?"
"Yep," Naruto muttered as he slowly had a smile form on his lips, "Lee is worried about you guys."
"Lee…" Yang mumbled, "is he mad?"
"Oh, he is pissed." Naruto chuckled. "you left him out of your grand escape from class…how could you."
"This isn't funny Naruto…I screwed up big time, and now we're like a beacon to The Grimm in the area. You're out of aura, I'm nearly out, and Ruby…Ruby can't defend herself." Yang took the situation in audible form.
"And your father is probably cussing me out for coming out here…now there are three lost kids in The Gray Forest." Naruto said to Yang, "and both older ones are blonde…and hardheaded."
"Will you just stop…stop smiling, and stop being stupid." Yang growled, "stop taking things so lightly."
"You can only go through the grove slowly to observe dragonflies, run through…you'll only notice the flies." Naruto spoke to her, "it's something my grandfather said to me…it means to just take things slowly and enjoy life."
"Who cares what your old fart of a grandpa says!" Yang yelled at him while covering Ruby's ears. "Look you may be a year older than my sister but I'll beat you like a grown man if you keep this up! Screw your words, screw your wisdom, and screw you Naruto you don't know anything about this!"
"I get it Yang…even if you don't think I do." Naruto muttered as he looked past the red moon and into the stars. "It's not like you're the only one to experience loss."
"I know that…but I just…I found out that Summer wasn't my real mother…and I foolishly tried to search my own." Yang said as sobs finally escaped, only to see Naruto look at her, "happy?"
"No, actually, I'm sad for you." Naruto stated as his smile faded. "I'm good at hiding sadness, it's been my thing since I was a young."
"You make it sound like your older than what you are," Yang said as she wiped away her tears, "so why bother coming to look for us? We barely know you, last time I checked you'd be happy being the only hyperactive blonde in Signal."
"Your father is my friend, your best friend is my friend, Sakura is your friend…and last time I checked I think I like fighting another blonde…it's almost fighting an older sister." Naruto said as he sighed, "and I think that's why I want to be a Hunter…to defend the ones I call friends…family."
"Call…isn't Sakura supposed to be your sister?" Yang asked as she Naruto frown, "I just assumed since you live in their home."
"Mebuki, her mother, adopted me." Naruto answered as he relaxed a little bit, "she took me in less than a year ago. Sakura is my sister, we fight a lot, but we're nowhere near sibling…just really good friends."
"You almost sound like you regret them doing that for you." Yang muttered.
"Not because I don't like it, I do…I'm indebted to them." Naruto stated as looked at Yang. "There are times…I feel like I can't, I can't repay them, no matter what I do. I've lived a hard life to this point, and legitimate work and even a true family is foreign to me…even now. If things had played out different I'd either ended up dead or joined up with The White Fang."
"What do you mean? I get that your Faunas and it's tough…" Yang questioned while looking at him.
"I've been a slave both directly, and indirectly for eight years of my life. I'm twelve Yang, you do the math from there. From being forced to mine in Mistral to being blackmailed by a criminal boss…" Naruto spoke as his eyes seem to gleam in the starlight and moonlight, "and I never thought it would end."
Yang looked at him, mouth agape. "What about your mother…father?"
"Don't know…." Naruto moved his right to his chest and clutched the shirt fabric just above his heart, "but I feel it that they're alive somewhere out there."
"They must be like my mother then…" Yang dejectedly spoke, "don't give a damn about what happens to you."
"That may be true." Naruto agreed but then smiled, "but Yang you've got a good life."
"It was mostly a lie save my father." Yang told Naruto before breaking down again, "and now…I want…Summer back."
"You'll always want them back, my adoptive grandfather died to tracer's almost a year ago." Naruto said as he put his hand on Yang's shoulder and squeezed it to give her comfort. "There won't be a day you won't want them back. You wish for one last time, one last thing to say, one last hug…one last "I love you" and all other things."
"You…mentioned being blackmailed…" Yang watched as the snow continued fall, only to notice Naruto was now crying.
In fact, the blonde was sobbing, he was shaking as he did. "I was being force to steal things from people to pay for my grandfather's medicine, but because of my stupid ears, my stupid Faunas traits…they gave me the wrong medicine. Not to mention, Roman, the man forcing me bare face lied to me on which ones to get…"
Yang looked at Naruto he clutched his eyes, sobbing so more, "and in the end. I came home to old dead body. After being beaten by that bastard…that's how my chapter began for this life I have here…"
Yang was stunned, her tears long gone, before she looked at Naruto who just then stared at the moon. "Sometimes…I wish I could go to the moon, and leave everything behind. Stop being a burden, stop being here, and just fade."
"What about your family you got now, you think they'd want you to die?" Yang questioned him which made him look at her with a smile. "Wait, why are you smiling."
"Because you realized it…" Naruto said as his tears dried up, "and I need to know now are you going to now. You gonna keep sulking here with me, or are you going to home and give your father a big hug? Give your father his daughters back, and love him better than before you pulled this stupid crap."
"It's not stupid…just…" Yang bit her tongue before looking at her fellow blonde, "why didn't you just tell people how you felt?"
"Because, I know life can be harsher than it's been already." Naruto simply stated as he got up, "but as long as I can stand up one last time…I can continue to find my way through it. Now c'mon Yang, you're older than me, so suck up those tears and let's go!"
Yang got up, only to hear her sister sobbing, "Ruby you okay?"
"Yes…" She said through her own sobbing, "I'm sorry I called you dumb the other day Naruto."
"Eh?" Naruto looked at Ruby before chuckling, "why are you sorry I think your right."
"That's a little random Ruby." Yang said she carried her sister, "you know it's pretty silent for a Blood Moon."
"So, why don't you just tell everyone about your past?" Ruby questioned as she looked at Naruto, who smiled.
"What's the point, we've all got something that put us where we're at today. Me, I didn't have a good life starting out…but I'm here now…with friends." Naruto said while his eyes were closed and smiling.
"Friends…" Ruby muttered, "is that why he became a Hunter?"
Naruto looked at the puzzled Ruby, smiling a little bit, before looking at the forest. "I lied about another thing…I know the way back."
"You ass…" Yang chuckled dryly as she looked at him, "so all that was just to get me to open up?"
"Everyone has to let loose occasionally," Naruto told Yang, "you've got more responsibility than me. Ruby, your father, your school…I just have my word and school."
"Women are stronger..." Ruby noted as she remembered what her mother used to say, "we're the bearer of many burdens."
"And you said I'm wiser beyond my years." Naruto mumbled at Yang.
"I said you speak like your older, doesn't mean you act like it." Yang jabbed back at him.
"Well can I just tell something else?" Naruto looked at them both, turning to walk backwards and talk to them.
"Sure, go ahead." Both Yang and Ruby allowed.
"If I was to say one thing about life, just like the stars, the road continues. There's no stop, not even in the next life, and you know guys…I think Summer is with us now. Haven't you all noticed something warm in the air?" Naruto questioned as his aura started to become full again.
Ruby and Yang stopped, before noting the warm feeling around them, Yang took out her scroll. She noted that her aura level was only mid yellow, to a point where it should just be rejuvenating her stamina.
Ruby wiggled herself free of Yang's arms, to walk on her own, slightly stretching with each step. They both walked with Naruto into the forest. As they passed a tree, no one took note of the figure dressed in all white walking behind them.
Nor they noticed it's glow, or the hair of the figure that perfectly matched Ruby's.
Naruto could feel this, even if he couldn't sense it, but however even behind him was a figure. An old man, walking with a staff, and glowing white armor. The old man had his hand placed on his shoulder, proud smiling adorned his wrinkled face, before pushing Naruto.
"Keep pushing forward…" Naruto heard in his head, he stopped a moment before a single tear fell down his face. "I'm here…I'll always be here, till the end."
"Gramps…" Naruto mumbled, "I…felt you."
"Everything okay Naruto, you see any Grimm?" Ruby nuzzled closer to her sister, scared that the moon had made Grimm come to them.
"No…guys, it's all good." Naruto told them he turned to them, "I'm just warm."
"I can say, you're overflowing with aura…thought you said it'd take you a half hour to recharge?" Yang questioned as Naruto noticed the thicker than normal orange aura around him. Tears glistening in his eyes, he looked forwards.
The blonde stepped forward slowly, looking up at The Blood Moon, the boy just smiled before cracking his knuckles. He looked behind him, noticing the two sisters walking together, his eyes widened as he saw the faint outline of a woman standing behind them. Not solid in any fashion, more like a thin vapor.
Turning away, the blonde smashed his left knuckle into his right hand. "Alright then…Gramps, I'll keep pushing forward. I don't show it, but I'm scared, but if my aura is this full and I have friends to protect then I'll never fail. Uzumaki Naruto never goes back on a promise, that's my Hunter's Word…that's your code."
Naruto could feel it in the back of his head however, that they were at least being watched by several Grimm. It's just, maybe due to the spirits around them, they didn't dare attack. His ears twitched, signaling movements, but unlike rough steps and unlike the sisters.
He heard soft, gentle, steps upon the snow-covered forest floor.
It walked so close behind the two sisters, they should've felt its presence, but could only feel the warmth around them. Even though the snow was coming down harder, just like their tears had been, but a wise man once said also.
With the heaviest snowfall, comes the warmest of springs.
