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// An Annoying Awakening 
// Story: A Lone Snowflake 
// by Accalia Lupa 
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	Ever slightly wake up only to be too uncomfortable to return to slumber? That's how mine started itchy and a bit prickly, even so I still tried to get some more shuteye which only lead to a itch in my side. Groaning I rise from the bane of my slumber scratching my leg in annoyance then rub my eyes blearily looking at my surroundings.

So first off I'm laying in a clearing in a forest not the most ideal place to get sleep, and secondly I'm a bit cold. Looking around for anything to help I find a snow white coat with some blue and gold trimming laying across my waist like a blanket, I smile a bit and throw it around my back and catching it with the other arm slipping it on with ease, as thin as it appeared I felt like I was wearing a super comfortable winter coat. As I look myself over I find three...shall we say dangerous objects the coat had been covering, one was a fairly large black and gold scythe with two sets of blades, the next a black handgun with a silver outline, then finally the most useful looking weapon being a decently sized black and white rifle with gold trimming and sights. Not completely sure if I should even be touching any of these lest I hurt something or myself, I leave them for now and turn my attention back to the question at hand.

I stand up slowly and look around curious as to how I ended up in the clearing, I look around the area slowly doing a three sixty seeing trees everywhere that blotted out the sunlight of morning thankfully, no need to add blinded to the list of things that made my morning rough, not able to see much I decide to close my eyes and try to focus my hearing for any sign of life or hopefully a stream so I can quench my thirst. I push the weapons aside from me and sit back down closing my eyes, for a while I hear nothing but the wind and a few small creatures running through the grass and fallen twigs, slowly but surely I listen carefully and hear the familiar sound of a nearby stream. Not wanting to leave dangerous weapons lying around in the open I reach down grabbing the scythe in one hand and the the pistol in the other, not sure where I could store them I search around the coat and find metal straps on either side. Taking a hopeful guess I hold the pistol to my side and let it go, sadly it falls but makes me stare at the coat as it clings to where my thigh is instead. Shrugging I almost try to put the scythe on my side as well before seeing how silly that'd be given how big it is. I give some thought on it before reaching my arm over behind my back carefully, as the blade comes close it latches onto me a bit forcefully causing me to think I dropped it for a second and panic. I sigh and shake my head before reaching down to picking up the rifle and placing it with the scythe.

Now fully armed for the apparent apocalypse coming I stand up and begin my trek through the woods towards the sound of flowing water. Looking around the forest its seemed rather dark and foreboding. This however mattered little compared to my current objective, get a drink and find out where the nearest form of civilization resides.

As I continue my walk I can feel eyes on me but can't see from where, taking precaution I reach over my shoulder and grab the rifle checking it for a chambered round. I slow my pace only slightly as I step lighter so my hearing is improved. While I can hear a few rustling bushes from a pair of bunnies nearby and the distant sound of a woodpecker living up to its name, I cannot however catch a beat on whatever is causing my paranoia. Luckily it seems I've finally arrived at the stream.

I set the rifle on a elevated rock so I have quick access if need be. I cup my hands together and lower them into the stream filling them with freshwater, as my hands raise out of the water I notice the water looking a bit slushy. Thinking this isn't really the time to be picky I drink it anyway and take a few more handfuls, ok way more than a few but still less than a water bottle I think. Feeling much better with a energized state I take a breath in and stretch my limbs which pop and crack from going unused, finishing up my stretches I let out a long exhale that fills the air with mist as if you let out a breath in the winter. I take in another breath and let it back out but this time there's no mist so I chalk what happened up to my imagination, turning my attention back to the stream I scoot back over near the bank and stare at the river not seeing any ice or slush.

Curiosity got the best of my and I put my hand back in the water letting it flow through my fingers feeling only the small force behind the current, so I cup my hands back in the water and bring my hands to my face looking at it for any slush. While at first I saw none my eyes widen as the water slowly started to freeze in my hands. I watch in fascination until I am left holding a half sphere of ice, flipping it over I notice I managed to make a perfectly rounded surface which reminds me of a snow globe.

While knowing that what just happened is not normal I can't help but laugh a bit and smile, placing the "snow globe" in my coats side pocket. My little experiment is cut short as a low growl cuts through the sound of the river, I quickly grab my rifle and hold it at the ready looking for my hunter. Turning to look behind me I tilt my head in confusion to what I've been greeted with, a wolf made completely of wood with leaves serving as eyebrows and parts of its ear. "Uh...nice doggy?" I offer pathetically so maybe I won't have to kill a wild wooden dog thing, my response is him inching closer with barred teeth. I sigh "Just gonna be one of those days huh?" I say shifting my head to aim down the barrel at the creature.