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Snow was crunchy and fun to stomp on. That was, until it turned to ice. Ice, Nuawahn decided, was not fun to stomp on at all. Such were the conditions that fine spring Zenan day. Ice and water glittered on the path ahead of him, promising both beauty and treachery. Nuawahn was not happy about that.

But! He could do it! He had gone through worse, and he would see things just as bad. It was the way the world worked, no matter what he thought about it. There was always bad, but good was always there... like the town that this path led to!

“We'll be warm-warm, Jelta!” he chatted to his moracker, who curled up unhappily in his cloak, “You'll see! We'll be there soon!” Soon, of course, being a relative term. Soon, meaning that he wouldn't freeze. Soon meaning that he hoped it would be today.

The wind picked up, blowing droplets of water and stray snowflakes through the air. “Oof!” he said, raising his scarf to protect his face. It was not the windling's favorite weather. “Oo...f!” he exclaimed again, an exhalation of pure wonder.

For, out of the shimmering mist, came a pair of mammu. It seemed to appear like a mirage, out of nowhere, and it was vast. Maybe, Nuawahn thought, they were biggest mammu he had ever seen, mottled blue fur making them look strangely primordial, as if cut from ice. They moved until it was just within visibility and stooped, staring at Nuawahn with small, judging eyes.

Nuawahn was unafraid and unphased. “Hello Mister Mammu! Hello other mammu!” he said cheerfully. One should always greet people and animals – it was simply polite. He squinted through the sparkling mists, “Ohhh, you're a lady mammu. I'm sorry Miss Mammu! And your a miss mammu too!” He giggled, “Are you a mommy mammu and a daughter mammu? Thats cute! Haha!”

The two simply stared at him, contemplatively, studiously... menacingly.

Nuawahn was aware that he should be afraid. He knew what he would do if something went wrong. A wall here, to block it. Spells to stop its movement. Illusions to startle it away. He knew what to do. He much preferred to chat with it, however.

Because why not.

“The snow is pretty! Don't you think the snow is pretty? I think that it can be really cold sometimes, so I don't always want to touch it. But its pretty!” Nuawahn rubbed his hands together to abate the numbness in the tips of his fingers. “You're both pretty too! You look like the ocean... or ice! So pretty! Pretty-pretty.” He stepped closer, carefully.

One of the Mammu turned away, walking nonchalantly back into the forest. The other mammu huffed but did not move. She could easily crush him with its feet and gore him with its tusks. Nuawahn knew that – even he knew. But if he wasn't hurt, if he talked to the mammu, wouldn't it be a great memory? Actually, his true goal was simple – to pet the fluffy thing, town forgotten.

“Have I met you before? I bet not – I bet I'd have remembered you.” he cooed, “Even without my medicine!” The mammu did not move. Nuawahn crept closer.

“Are you a nice mammu?” Nuawahn wasn't sure, but that was all right. He liked them anyway. “You look nice.” he decided, hand outstretched.

The mammu made a loud, nasally sound.

Nuawahn stopped. “Bwoo?” he mimicked, “Bwoo!” Yay, they were talking. Now if he just got a little bit closer, he might be able to...

The mammu made another sound, flaring its ears.

“Is that good, or...?” Nuawahn considered it.

The mammu hunched down, pawing at the ground.

“Are you mad at me?” Nuawahn hoped not. He didn't want to make things mad.

It charged, and Nuawahn leapt out of the way. “Waugh!” he said, summoning a flash of light and a blast of wind to defend himself, “Nooo!” When the light faded, he was on the ground and so was the mammu. It blinked, stunned, and Nuawahns hands went to his mouth in shock. “Oh no!” He rushed over, hands glowing with magic, to make sure that the mammu wasn't hurt. “I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!” He reached down into its thick fur and pet it, checking it visually and magically for wounds. “... I think your okay.” he said, frowning. He ran his fingers through the fur. “... I'm sorry.”

It made a sound like a garrumph and began to move.

“I'll just... go now.” Nuawahn said, backing away, “Bye...!” He said, turning and running. By the time he'd gotten a few meters away, he was smiling again. He'd pet a mammu! And had a good memory. Maybe next time it would be nicer, but at least everything was okay!