The winter came early that year.
Snow began falling in late autumn, blanketing the valley in white before the last leaves had fallen. The stream froze solid, its cheerful burble silenced. The animals grew scarce, retreating to their dens. Caleb worked tirelessly, stockpiling firewood and reinforcing the cabin against the cold. He built an extra wall, insulated with moss and mud, and stacked enough wood to last for months.
Elara preserved what she could from the garden, filling their store with dried vegetables and herbs. She hung bundles of rosemary and sage from the rafters, their scent filling the cabin. She stored root vegetables in the cold cellar, layered in sand to keep them fresh. They would not starve. They would not freeze. They had prepared.
Luna loved the snow. She spent hour
