The road after winter

Winter passed gently through the lands of Yarzat, its presence felt more in the crispness of the air than in any true harshness. There was no snow to blanket the fields, no ice to seal the rivers, only the subtle shift in the wind and the shorter days that reminded the people of the season's passing. The mornings carried a bite, and the nights were cooler, but the midday sun still warmed the earth, ensuring that life never truly paused, only slowed.

Now, as February crept forward, winter's grip loosened further. The days stretched longer, and the first hints of spring stirred in the land. The trees, which had shed only a few leaves in the mild chill, now seemed to swell with anticipation, their branches heavy with budding life. Green shoots poked through the soil, eager to claim the sunlight. The scent of damp earth filled the air as the first rains of the season softened the roads and fields.