Snow blankets the ground at Malaria’s feet, muffling her footsteps as she trudges through the snowy pine woods. The air is frigid, and an icy breeze whispers through the towering evergreens, wrapping around her like a chilling embrace and sending shivers down her spine. The thin wedding gown clings to her skin, utterly ill-suited for this unforgiving winter landscape. She pulls the weathered cloak tighter around her shoulders, desperately trying to trap warmth against her body. With each step she takes, the crunch of snow beneath her boots sends sharp pangs of cold shooting through her legs.
Just when despair begins to seep into her heart, a flicker of hope catches her attention. A soft, golden light shimmers through the branches, drawing her gaze upward. Through the curtain of snowflakes, she spots the faint glow emanating from a quaint cabin nestled among the tall pines, its rustic silhouette framed by the towering mountains. A plume of smoke billows lazily from the chimney, dissipating into the pale gray sky. It feels like a beacon of warmth and refuge, and in that moment, Malaria sees her salvation shimmering just ahead.