The giant icing woods of the Dark Cacao Kingdom were always threatening, the thick trees casting long shadows even when Cotton Cookie’s lantern shone brightly. The snow fell relentlessly, muffling all sound save for the rhythmic crunching of herboots.

Emerging onto a slightly clearer path leading toward the distant, cozy lights of Snowfall Village, Cotton Cookie let out a small, relieved sigh.

"There now, little wanderer," she cooed, gently tugging the cotton tuft tied to the lead of a particularly wooly sheep. This one, affectionately nicknamed ‘Melly,’ had a distinct tendency to investigate every interesting sparkle in the snow, which usually led it toward the wrong end of the woods. Despite being old already, she wouldn't let a poor little sheep wander astray.