Of hunters and mountain goats

She momentarily lost her concentration, wincing when the bridge of her nose was kissed by the very first snow of that winter. 

Many more snowflakes fluttered high over her head after that first bold one. Falling from the sunless sky, the snow crystals landing on her coat lingered a few seconds more, but the ones touching the ground on the eastern side of Lanark's Forest melted immediately.

She closed her eyes practicing a childhood ritual of making a wish whenever the gates between heavens and earth were opened like this. May my soul and Kannen's soar over these lands together as one. 

"Adelaide," 

Her father uttered her name with concern.

She opened her eyes, a melancholic gleam inside of them.

"I will be right back, father"

Walking purposefully, she headed where her father's lands ended and the ones hijacked by the von Conradies started, passing Andreas on her way there with a small nod that he politely returned.