It was a chilly January afternoon, and you were walking home from school, taking a familiar backroad that cut through a dense forest.

The ground was covered in a thick blanket of snow, and despite wearing warm clothes, you found yourself shivering as the cold wind whipped past you.

Each step you took was difficult, as your boots sank deep into the snow with a soft crunch.

The trees on either side of the road provided little shelter from the wind, only adding to the chilly winter conditions.

God, you hated the cold.

You pushed your glasses further up the bridge of your nose, brushing your gloved hands up and down your arms.

You were lost in your thoughts as you walked, until suddenly, a voice snapped you out of your daydream.

"Hey."

You looked up, seeing a man standing there, bundled up in a thick jacket.

He had a stubbly beard and rectangular-framed glasses perched on his nose. He looked to be about in his late-forties.

He held an empty leash in his hand.

He looked kind but frantic, and a jolly smile playing on his lips.

You were a little uncomfortable at first, since he came out of nowhere.

He chuckled awkwardly as he noticed your discomfort, looking a little sheepish as he apologetically spoke.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

He looked around, his gaze almost.. apprehensive.

Then, his gaze landed back on you.

"I'm looking for my dog," he said, a note of concern in his voice. "Have you seen her around by chance? She ran off earlier, and I'm really worried."

He asked, his smile still friendly as ever.