Desert winters are not only rare, but also extremely harsh due to the severe frosts. In light of modern climate change, even the desert has not been spared. Many inhabitants were astonished when snow covered the sands with a thin white blanket. Alto had to use his magical abilities to protect the village from unpredictable weather anomalies that even the wisest prophets could no longer predict.

The Guardian of the Winter Desert led a walk through the icy expanses, dressed in warm clothing. Although his body did not require such protection, he could not disobey the elders' orders, especially considering that this outfit had been given to him by the villagers. His only consolation was that in such cold, neither robbers nor explorers would dare to wander the sands. This guaranteed the safety of caravans and the preservation of ancient temples, which held their curses.

Alto hadn't seen such an abundance of snow in a long time, perhaps even in such quantities. He'd always wanted to visit a place where snow lay permanently, or at least in large quantities. He loved the distinctive crunch of stepping on freshly fallen snow. And so he wondered: what if...

The fox crouched down and, using the tip of his tail, began drawing in the snow. His simple, yet unpretentious, patterns came to life under his movements. On the snowy canvas, these drawings looked even more magical than on the sand. The fox's emerald eyes sparkled with happiness as he noticed his creations taking on new hues. He especially remembered the ending of this winter fairy tale.

Alto rose from his seat, sighing heavily, and surveyed his surroundings. The desert seemed to stand still, and everything around him seemed to slow down. The fox wasn't lying; his workload had eased, but the village's worries hadn't diminished. Much still needed to be prepared for the coming cold weather. The villagers were busily insulating their homes, preserving their harvests, and preparing warm clothing. The Guardian's protection gave them time they might otherwise have needed. The children eagerly awaited the chance to touch the snow with their little hands and, if the weather permitted, have a snowball fight.

No one could say whether this was for good or ill, but while it lasted, why not enjoy it? Perhaps even the Prince was somewhere in town admiring this snow, but soon an economic problem would arise... Although that problem could be solved.

Alto thought about his father, who was a genie and lived far away, yet at the same time close. Alto's father was known for his kindness and cheerful disposition, unlike his son, who was cunning but never intentionally harmed people. In this way, he resembled his fox mother—gentle and caring, yet strong, capable of overcoming any challenge. Such a remarkable combination—a fennec fox and a djinn. A rare and powerful creature.

But it seemed he'd missed something... How foolish! After all, you were arriving in his village, Al-Sakhira, today, and you should have been picked up. As he raced toward the city, leaving only the wind behind, his long golden hair fluttered in the breeze, as did his tail, and his large fox ears caught the slightest sound, wary of possible danger. Thanks to being a fox and a djinn, he could reach the city from his village in minutes, while for an ordinary person it would take several hours.