The first snowflakes drifted down slowly, unsure at first - like someone stepping onto a dancefloor for the first time. Pisque lifted her muzzle slightly, sunlight glinting off her warm tan coat, her light blonde forelock brushing soft along her neck. A quiet spark hummed inside her, something waking up just as the cold from Veilheim rolled near. Folks labeled it frost sense - the natural pull toward winter’s sharp breeze. She prodded Stargazer gently with her nose; the dark-coated mare, speckled like midnight foam, was busy trying to taste an icy drop stuck on some stiff grass. “Look, Stargazer," Pisque called out, her tone bright like morning bells. "Here it comes - things are starting now." Stargazer, always playing pranks, stopped cooking and glanced over. Her blue eyes - normally full of tricks - grew a bit wider. Snowflakes kept appearing outta nowhere, falling slow without a sound. They hit Pisque’s fur, vanished quick, just a flash left behind. But on Stargazer’s deep-colored skin, they stayed put, like small bright dots against black night. “What's that?” Stargazer asked - his tone light but edged with real wonder. “Do they fall from above like little pieces of heaven breaking loose?” Jasper, the silver-black overo stallion, moved close with his typical sarcastic flair. His patchy patterns twisted like thunderheads across his shiny fur. Not far off, he muttered under his breath - sky scraps? Seriously, Stargazer? That’s your big idea? A dry chuckle escaped him, icy air swirling out through his nose. Just flurries, pal. Winter poking around the door Stargazer batted a dismissive hoof at Jasper’s leg, the water element in her shimmering with a playful threat. "And you, Mr. Frosty-Nose, would know all about the cold, wouldn't you? You practically radiate it." She turned her attention back to the sky. "But I've never seen it like this before. It's… white and soft and everywhere." Pisque chuckled, a warm, pleasant sound. "It is snow. It happens every winter here in Veilheim. It covers everything like a soft blanket, making the world quiet and beautiful." She stretched her neck, inhaling the crisp, clean scent of the falling snow. "It feels like magic, doesn't it?" The flakes kept drifting down, heavier this time, hiding the far-off mountains coated in snow. Heavy with powder, the pine trees bent low, turning into frozen guardians shaped by ice. Around them, the rough terrain they knew began to blur, its corners fading, shifting slowly into a hushed world washed in pale tones. Stargazer stood still, totally caught up in what she saw. Her water magic, normally full of life and flow, somehow matched the sharp sparkle of falling snow. She moved ahead slowly, allowing one tiny flake to touch her soft nose. It vanished fast, giving just a chilly damp spot behind. A second dropped, then a third. Before long, little white specks clung to her lashes, forcing quick blinks filled with wonder. "It tickles!" she exclaimed, a giggle bubbling up. She nudged Pisque again. "Is it always like this? This… silent explosion of white?" "Sometimes it's a gentle dusting, and sometimes it’s a blizzard that makes it hard to see your own hooves," Pisque explained, her frost-kissed fur rustling. "But it always brings a special kind of peace." Jasper, even though he seemed tough, felt kind of amazed. He scraped the dirt, kicking up clouds of soft white stuff. Not peace - more of a hassle; hunting good grass got tricky. Glancing at Stargazer, she tried tasting falling flakes. To her it’s magic, to him just cold drops from sky Stargazer didn't reply, just stared ahead - her blue eyes flickering from the snow’s glow. A couple steps forward, hooves sinking slightly into untouched powder. “Feels fresh,” she said, “like the world got washed.” Spun around slow, arms out, moving like someone drifting through waves. Cold air bit at her words: “Almost want to dive right in.” Pisque laughed. "Not quite, Stargazer. Though you might enjoy the challenge of a good snowdrift." She nudged Jasper. "Come on, you grump. Let's show her what winter in Veilheim is truly like." Pisque went ahead, so the trio moved deeper into the quiet woods blanketed in white. Snow weighed down the trees, turning them into something like a shelter made by nature itself. Branches stretched overhead, linking together like a roof that kept things out. Not much stirred - just the muffled snap under their hooves and now and then a faint rustle from pine needles touched by breeze. Stargazer started out confused, yet soon burst into pure amazement - full of energy, spinning around nonstop. Instead of standing still, she began playfully swating snow behind her, blasting clouds of flakes skyward like tiny bursts from a storm machine. Rather than just watching, she pushed her nose into icy twigs, staring close at how frost carved wild, lacy shapes no one could copy. Then came the moment she licked snow right off Jasper’s rump, which made him choke mid-breath, totally caught off guard. "Get off, you icy fiend!" Jasper yelped, shaking himself vigorously. "You're going to freeze me solid!" Stargazer let out a soft laugh - her water magic sparkled nearby, wrapping her in warmth even when the air turned icy. Yet she couldn't stop smiling; to her, each tiny ice flake danced like a game partner joining the moment Pisque looked on, smiling softly. The difference between the pair always warmed her heart. Stargazer bounced with pure excitement, while Jasper - grumbling as usual - still couldn’t hide his quiet amusement. She stood there, filled with a calm kind of happiness. The snow felt like part of her, a soft closeness calming her mind. She wandered forward, hooves pressing clean marks into the untouched layer, while icy energy whispered a peaceful rhythm. They came to an open spot with an old, towering oak tree, its limbs hung with icy spikes that sparkled. Snow piled high around it, forming fluffy heaps perfect for jumping into. Right away, Stargazer dashed ahead, feet plunging into the light white fluff. She leapt and thrashed about, full of energy that made you want to join in. Jasper hesitated - then jumped into the fun, trading sarcasm for pure energy. Over a snowy mound he sprang, his dark-gray fur sharp against the pale ground. Pisque came behind, smooth and calm, savoring every quick turn of the game. Stargazer didn't care - just lying there in the snow thrilled her. Lying flat, she kicked gently through the powdery stuff. Cold crept into her jacket, yet it didn't bother her; it woke her up, sharp and fresh. She let flakes land on her tongue, tasting them - one by one, quick little zaps of icy joy. "This is the best thing ever!" she announced, her voice muffled by the snow. "Better than a summer rain shower, better than a dew-kissed meadow. This is… alive!" Pisque nudged her gently. "It is beautiful, isn't it? And it's just the beginning. We have a whole winter of this to enjoy." Jasper snorted while fumbling with his hooves to shape a tiny fortress from snow. 'Only if some green’s left hiding beneath this mess.' Stargazer didn't notice anything else - snow had pulled her into its quiet magic. Still moving, she let water swirl through icy flakes, blending in unpredictable ways. Sure, she liked pranks... yet right then, awe lit up her face. Her debut with snow? Nothing would ever feel quite like it. When the sun started sinking behind the hills, painting dark violet streaks over the icy ground, Pisque pushed her friends gently - time to turn around she said - the glow won’t last much longer Stargazer got up slow, pulling free from the snowy daydream. Then she jolted loose - a burst of flakes swirled around. That smooth black coat? Now streaked with frost, giving off a wild wintery glow. “Will it stay this amazing?” she said to Pisque, her blue eyes huge with wonder. Pisque smiled, a gentle warmth radiating from her. "Every snowfall has its own magic, Stargazer. And this first one, for you, will always be special." While they walked toward the far-off glow of Veilheim, snow kept drifting down - gentle, hushed, like a whispered wish. Stargazer, now used to winter’s marvels, moved with fresh delight, her watery essence taking shape as ice deep inside the cold. Yet Pisque, happy within her natural surroundings, sensed this was only the start of countless serene journeys under snowy skies. Meanwhile Jasper, despite his grumbling, held a flicker of warmth behind his gaze - not sarcasm, but wonder at the land changed by frost.