Eventually I stumble upon a pond, the glossy surface untouched by snow and scratches, so polished and smooth I almost mistake it as a mirror. I creep closer to it, peering at the frozen water from the banks. I can see my reflection perfectly from here, every detail of my face captured in the ice. I have an elfish face, with high cheekbones, slightly pointed ears, bright green eyes, and a flurry of freckles dusted along my nose. But my most startling feature is my hair, the odd mound of fur the color of rust with streaks of green and blue, something I have never seen before.

Something compels me to adventure out onto the ice, my bare feet sliding and slipping on the smooth surface. I laugh in delight as I skid into a snowbank, the water crystals flying up in a delicate puff above my head. I do not feel the chill as the ice and snow rub against me, not melting against my skin even when I hold a handful before my eyes. I glance up at a ridiculously tall tree, stretching acres upwards towards the sky. I rush to it, my feet scrabbling for a hold on the pond's surface. As I come to the base of the tree I realize how truly monstrous in size it is, taller than most buildings undoubtedly.

I run my long pale fingers along the bark, feeling it's worn smoothness of age. This is when vines creeps from beneath my fingers, covering the wood in swirling green patterns. I gasp, pulling my hand back, seeing that all of the bark was covered in the plant except for the spot where my hand had been. I reach higher up, touching the bark in an unfrozen spot. I watch the vines appear again, twirling it's way up the tree.

I begin to smile, watching in amazement as the vines continues as I climb higher up the tree, racing me with each placement of my hand. I feel powerful, strong, and independant as I scramble higher up the tree, grabbing hold of the branches and swinging myself from them as if I have not a care in the world. I climb as high as I dare, not wanting to grab hold of the weaker branches and fall the deadly trip to the ground far below.

I swing my legs as I sit on a branch, my feet tapping delicately against the trunk of the tree. From here I can see the entire forest, a huge winter wonderland of snow and ice as far as the eye can see, and the dots of light in the distance of what I imagine to be a town, the faint orange glow of civilization appearing like a colorful beacon from the sea of white.

The wind tickles my cheeks, whispering in my ears as it rushes by to it's destination. It says 'Jump'. I brace myself against the trunk of the tree, using my hand to steady me as I peer at the forest ground so far below. I hesitate, knowing that growing vines from my very fingertips is one thing, and flying another. This is certainly a situation to stop and think things over.

But the wind is relentless, tugging me forward, farther and farther away from the safety of the trunk and out towards the precarious end of the branch. The wind whips around me, growing restless with my stalling. It whispers to me, promises and wonders that I wish I could guarantee. "It'll be okay" I whisper to myself, my words whipped away the second they leave my lips.

'Jump jump jump' the wind chants, rising in strength as I walk further down the branch. As I stand at the end, the wood dips beneath my weight, threatening to break at a moments notice. Taking a deep breath I close my eyes, not wanting to see the outcome if it goes south, and I leap from the tree. I am immediately pulled downwards, the laws of gravity being particularly cruel and speeding up just for me. The ground comes closer and closer, the snowy banks rising up to meet me.

*Author's Note*

Second chapter ready to go! Anybody liking so far? I hope you do because I actually have a lot planned for this story! Read and Review!

-AngelxWings14