The North Haven region of Silkkassa was no stranger to deep, freezing winters, but this one had the fiercest bite Kyojuro had felt in years. It dug into his bones as he trudged through an endless expanse of white, trees reaching out like blackened antlers against the darkening sky. Somewhere in the frozen woods, a branch cracked, and Kyojuro couldn't help but jump.
He was glad to settle beneath an outcropping of stone, taking advantage of the windbreak to sleep....
