{"sf1_id":255254,"sf2_id":"dmWyvaJ1","title":"Winters-Lament.txt","author":"Afril","words":521,"posted_at":"2011-06-02T16:52:00.000Z","tags":["No-Yiff","Winter","Wolf","prose"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/255254-winters-lament-txt","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/dmWyvaJ1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/38/6a/386aa829-6da1-443a-adfa-5d8e2f40aff1","description":"","content":"Winter's Lament  \nby Afril  \n  \nEnrobed in frost, her silver fur twinkling in the cold light,  \nThe white maiden does yet jealously guard the moon's passing.  \n  \nHer breath is the North wind,  \nHer touch brings the ice, stopping rivers, covering lakes.  \nAt her footstep, the frost covers tree and ground alike.  \n  \nAnd yet, for all that, she is not a Cold Mistress.  \nA swirl of her robe brings the snow to cover the Feral's Den.  \nThat brings the cubs and adults alike out, wrapped and bundled like Winterhaven packages to squeal and bounce and toss hand-made projectiles at each other.  \nBreathing on hands and yipping when an icicle is dropped down one's back.  \n  \nThe fevered cry out for her cooling touch, the old wait for her to sit beside them.  \n'Sleep', she whispers in their ear.  \n'You have done much, you have earned rest. Your body will nourish others, your hide will keep another warm. Sleep Now.'  \n  \nAnd when the sun is warm again. When the creeks and rivers shake off their frozen shackles, you can hear her screams in each tortured ice-crack.  \nTighter, Ever Tighter the White Lady squeezes her fist upon the Land. She knows her time is ending...  \nAnd yet, She will give up the soil when they drag her frozen claws from it.\n\n\u0026nbsp; But she relents when Spring comes to sing to her.  \nTo warm her cold bones and lighten her burdens.  \nAnd she allows him to walk her back to the highest places, the farthest reaches, where even Hot Summer can not melt her throne of Snow.  \nAnd there she waits for the Seasons to turn, for her time to again Rule.  \n  \nFor Spring has Summer, and Summer has Fall - But Winter has only the Wolves who sing to her in the wastes.  \n  \nNever forget, We are her Children -  \nShe brings us Food, when we would otherwise starve.  \nShe brings us Shelter from the larger predators, who sleep away the dark nights.  \nShe makes us Strong by taking the weak, Who would otherwise sicken and face a much worse death.  \n  \nSo remember when you grumble about the crunch of snow between your toes,  \nThe breath that freezes on your whiskers,  \nThat She has given you these Gifts freely.  \n  \nSoon enough, your head will be bowed low,  \nAnd you will wish you could remove even your fur,  \nBecause the Heat beats down upon you.  \n  \nYou will wish with all your heart for Her return.  \nFor the cool nights and quiet days.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; For a time of rest,  \nWhen no field is plowed,  \nAnd the harvest you gather needs little but a sharp axe and a strong arm.  \n  \nWhen you sit and tell tales to the young ones.  \n  \nWhen you groan because the mice have gotten into your grain sacks...  \n  \nYet, you would not set a trap for all the gold in the Chamber's Treasurebox,  \nFor a dozen little fur-balls are clamoring all over your youngest cub,  \nMaking them laugh as sweetly as a New Dawn.  \n  \nWhen the Night is open,  \nThe moon full and bright,  \nSing to her, My brethren.  \n  \nSing of Winter's Lament.  \n\u0026nbsp;  \n  \n\n"}