Winter awoke after the carriage slid sideways and struck an ancient walnut tree encased in ice. One of its branches snapped and crashed down, blocking the carriage from going any further.

Winters foot warmer still contained some heat, so she must not have been asleep for very long, She loved these dreams. She was strong in them, vividly valiant and courageous too. Soon, a simultaneous rapping on the door and jiggle of the ebony door’s handle, “It’s frozen shut, use your foot!” Instead, she picked up the warming stone and gently tapped around the door’s edges and it soon gave, and she unfolded herself from the carriages warmth.

“Wouldn’t want to break it down, now would we Wheezer?” she asked her coachman and ally. “We wouldn’t at that, I agree. We can’t leave the Night-Mares standing still, would you be kind enough to release them while I hatchet this limb?”

As Winter gently released the Mares’ halters, one of them spoke to the other, “This is the second time she’s released us, our debt increases”.