The sun glittered over fresh snow and Ilanis pranced, delighted. Crisp little crunches sound as she moved gaily, first high-stepping then bounding between white mounds that were slowly but surely melting, all the while avoiding some mud splotches that others would no doubt find prime splash and splatter zones. A sniff, a snoof, and a sharp exhale sent ripples of mist over the surface and only a few small crystals tumbled forward. This was such a lovely day!
She frolicked to and fro and then made her way into the trees, finding looser, higher snow that obeyed her every snort and plumed into the air. So enamoured with the crisp sparkle and warmed by her enthusiastic hopping, skipping, and jumping, Ilanis hardly noticed the creeping chill until the first wisps of snow filtered through the canopy of evergreens and bare branches alike, pushed forth by a frosty breeze. She slowed, breathing hard and wide-eyed from excitement and beheld the absolute silence of the woods. An ear flicked, back, then forward, followed by the other. A few flakes tumbled down, drifting by wide eyes that flashed their whites as she faced the dawning horror: her tracks were blown away and it was cold, and dim, and the dark loomed ever closer.
Her heart pounded and she spun on a back hoof, racing the way she thought she came. Back and forth she darted, getting more and more lost before she started to shrilly whinny. Even that sound seemed swallowed by the forest, and wind, and snow. Her panic grew more and more until, running without paying attention, she slammed against something warm and then kissed the cold snow in a sobbing heap.
A waft of warm air fell over her head and she shook it before looking up. A snow white Soquili stood over her, ice clinging to his forelegs. She wondered if they had been trudging through the icy rime before she dissolved into more tears that drown out the low sound they made. He nosed her to her feet, not unkindly, and she tucked close to his side, relaying she was lost, somehow, and couldn't find her way back. She shuddered against him, soaking up what warmth she could, and stuck close as he guided them away, through to a shrouded sanctuary to wait out the storm. He didn't say much to her but that was fine. What mattered is this large stallion kept her warm and calm and safe.
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