Frosty Bliss

Lost connections fade,
Silent whispers in the wind,
Echoes of what was.

The early morning air was crisp and cool, carrying with it the scent of snow. A soft golden light filtered through the canopy of pine, casting dappled shadows across the trail. I waited for the bus to arrive that would take me and my colleagues to an art camp located somewhere in Yukon. My breath forms small clouds in the air, and I can't help but feel a sense of anticipation mixed with nervousness. I look around at the other students surrounding me. To the left side of me, I see the familiar faces of Fleur and Avana. I look to my right; I see the other familiar face of Ms. Thro. There's someone else next to her that catches my attention.

A young hyena dressed lightly. Way too lightly for these temperatures. She doesn't seem at all bothered though. On another note, she looks kinda... gorgeous? I glance at the young hyena again, surprised at my own thoughts. She has an almost ethereal beauty about her, her pale-yellow fur glistening slightly in the morning light. Her eyes are a bright blue, filled with intelligence and curiosity.

"Fleur, do you know anything about that hyena over there?

Fleur shrugs, looking over at the young hyena as well.

"I don't know much about her. What I do know though, is her name is Effimia. She's a recent exchange student from Greece."

I turn my attention back to the hyena as the bus finally pulls up to the curb. As the bus begins to move, I lean back in my seat, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. I feel the warmth of the bus envelop me, and the rumble of the engine fills my ears. My mind wanders back to the hyena sitting in the seat front of me. I wonder what she's like? What major does she specialize in? She seemed so calm and collected, even in the cold weather. It's going to be a long ride. So, I decide to take a nap. I settle into my seat and close my eyes, trying to ignore the chatter of my classmates around me. As I drift off into a light slumber, I dream of snow-covered landscapes and the sound of howling winds.

Tangled threads of fate
Uncertain connections made
Destiny's embrace

"We're almost to our destination. Please grab your bags, put something warm on, and be ready to exit the bus once instructed."

I open my eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep. Fleur nudges me gently, chuckling.

"We're almost there."

"Mmm... we are?"

It feels like I've only been asleep for a minute. Yet, I'm too weak from sleep to even move.

"Did you see the photos of the guesthouse? I hope it has a beautiful view."

I shake my head, trying to clear the cobwebs.

"Uh, no, I didn't see them. But I'm sure it'll be nice."

I stretch my arms above my head, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from sitting in one place for so long.

"It's supposed to be away from the town... I think up in the mountains. Then we could still have a view of the town or maybe even the sea..."

"That would be nice. Imagine if we got to see aurora borealis during our time there?"

"It's a bit early in the season for that."

"We're staying for five days, we could get lucky. Besides, for late October everything's already covered in snow."

"Huh... you're right on that part. I hope this doesn't cause any problems. I'd hate to be stuck in the guesthouse for an entire day. Was looking forward to exploring the woods at least. With that said, being stuck together in the guesthouse doesn't sound all too terrible either."

"Don't worry too much about it. We'll just have to make the most of whatever situation we find ourselves in. We may even rarely have a chance for free time. Our schedule could be packed for all we know."

The bus comes to a stop, and the driver announces that we've arrived at our destination.

"Looks like we're here."

"Okay, everyone, we've arrived at our destination. Please take your bags and head on over to the lobby."

Ms. Thro is already standing in the front of the bus, waiting for everyone to exit the vehicle.

"Why did she come with us again?"

"I think she's meant to oversee us with other faculty members. Do you know her?"

"She's my homeroom."

Fleur is already packed so she just grabs her backpack and stands up. My camera falls into my bag, my jacket onto me, and I'm ready to go as I hop outside after the bear."

Oof, it's shockingly cold. Even with my extra layers of clothes, I shiver. Right ahead of us is the guesthouse, nestled among snow-covered trees and mountains. It divides into several connected buildings. It looks like it has large windows that let in a lot of natural light. Maybe if I'm assigned the right room on the top floor, I could see the ocean...

It looks modern, but the simple shape of each building makes it look cozy. Just from the looks of it, it beats the original expectations I had for it. We walk towards it, side by side.

A solitary orange head turns towards our direction with a pair of lively violet eyes. Avana.

She shoots us a glance and turns around quickly. Was she looking for us? I raise my paw toward her, but she's already walking with the rest. Fleur tries to keep balance while carrying her huge backpack. I wonder what she has in it that makes it so heavy.

"How much did you exactly pack."

"I've got a few things, you know, just in case."

"Geez, we're not moving here. It's only going to be five days."

She takes her phone out and snaps a picture of the guesthouse. Seeing the guesthouse, the excitement flows through my veins. Right in front of me is a camp of many adventures awaiting me, all taking place in this beautiful Canadian scenery. Invigorated, I straighten my back and march towards the guesthouse with a content smirk. I need to use this time the best I can.

"Leilani, here is your key!"

"Oh! Thank you, professor."

"Single room, right?"

"Yes, indeed."

I take my key which has the number 20 carved on it. Then, I briskly turn to Fleur.

"Room 20, that's a pretty high number. I hope I got one on the upper floor. A nice view would be well... nice."

"Maybe with some luck, you'll get a room next to mine."

I look into the bear for any signs of disappointment, but I can't seem to find any. She asked me earlier if I wanted a room with her, but I told her I prefer the peace of being by myself. It also feels weird to share a room with her due to all that has happened over the years.

"Do you have a roommate?"

"No, I don't. I asked for a single room as well. Gives more breathing space for my plants."

Not surprised by that. Despite not being nearly as introverted as someone like Avana, Fleur always preferred her solitude.

"Everyone who has their key, go to your rooms, unpack, and meet me in the cafeteria in half an hour! You'll find it at the end of the first floor hallway."

"Well, I'm going to drop my stuff off. I can finally get this backpack off me."

"Okay, see you later!"

I walk down the first-floor hallway, looking at each room number. I count all the way up to nine. So it is upstairs, nice. As I turn around to get to the staircase, a jellyfish holding a coat in her hand bumps into me. Avana, again.

"Sorry... I didn't mean to bump into you."

She takes a step back, smiling timidly.

"It's fine. I'm the one who should be more careful."

"No, I'm the one at fault. I wasn't paying attention. This place is really nice by the way."

"So much nicer than my place anyway. I can't wait to see what my room looks like."

"Yeah, I like it here too. It's really cozy...and these are just the hallways. I'm trying to find my room and get this heavy backpack off me finally."

I look at Avana, who's backpack is heavier than mine.

"Oh, which one is yours?"

"I got room twenty, and you?"

It might be nice to visit her. She probably packed her gaming console in there so she could stay in her room and play video games all through camp. Probably why her backpack is so heavy.

"I got ten. I think it's upstairs as well."

"Oh, and come visit me if you feel like it."

I have a feeling I'll end up there at some point.

"See you later, Leilani!"

"Yeah, see you Avana."

Ugh, why did I pack so much? Cursing myself in my head, I carry my unreasonably heavy bag with both paws. My sister warned me to not pack too much I can carry. I do hate it when she's right. This time, it's my turn to bump into someone.

"Hey! Watch it!"

In front of me, walking down the stairs, is an owl. Her stance comes off as imposing, and I can't help but feel intimidated by her.

"Um, sorry about that, I packed too much, and I'm trying to carry this big load upstairs."

"You know what, it's alright. Here, I can help you."

The owl takes my bag from me, carrying it upstairs with ease, as if it was nothing to her. Maybe there's a bit of muscle under that tracksuit of hers? Either way, this is a very fortunate turn of events for me.

"Okay, where to?"

"Room twenty, it's not far."

We find my room easily. I unlock the door and swing it open.

"We're here."

The owl hands my backpack to me.

"Thanks for your help."

"No problem! Glad to have helped. I need to get the rest of my things as well. Hope to see you around!"

As I pick up my bag and prepare to step into my room, it hits me— I didn't even introduce myself.

"Wait, what's your name?"

The owl was already gone though... I guess I could catch her later.

I enter my room and take a look around. It's a small but cozy space to say the least. Incredible how well they've used the space they had. The room itself reminds me of something you'd find in a hotel. The floor is wooden and there's a lounge chair with a small coffee table with two chairs in between it. The wall opposite the it has a twin-sized bed. Next to it, there's a small wooden desk. I think I'll enjoy staying here. I set my heavy backpack down on the floor and begin to explore my new room. As I walk around, I notice a few small details that make the space feel cozy and inviting. The wooden floor is polished and smooth under my feet, and the lounge chair in the corner looks comfortable.

The view is breathtaking. A vast snowy forest sprawls out as far as the eye can see. As I gaze out at the snowy landscape, I feel a sudden chill run down my spine. The beauty of it all is undeniable, but there's something about the stillness that unnerves me. I shake my head, trying to dispel the unease that's crept into my mind. It's just a bit too quiet out there...

I open my window, and a cold wind hits my fur. It smells nice. I take my camera out of my bag and try to find a shot that I consider good enough to take. As I look out the window, I spot a beautiful tree in the distance, its branches stretching out like a welcoming arm. I decide to zoom in on the tree and snap a picture.

After that, I swiftly close the window. It's colder in here now, and my fur's bristled from the frosty wind, but hey, I have my photo. I take it out the camera and quickly put it in my bag to preserve it from the light. I take my shoes off and spend the next few minutes emptying the contents of my bag and placing them in the appropriate places. I get done before the half hour mark.

I very carefully take the photo out and get a good look at it. It's a beautiful shot! The tree stands out against the snowy landscape, its branches reaching towards the sky like a symbol of strength and resilience. I can't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder as I admire my new creation. I decide to put the photo on my nightstand so I can look at it whenever I want.

I can tell that there's something important about this camp, and my life is about to be altered because of it. That's what my canine senses tell me. I grab my bag, put the photo in my pocket, and leave the room.