marmelada claim 2!

Gusts of wind washed through the valley, sweeping up errant snowflakes and sweeping snow off of bare tree boughs. Two little red-tipped ears pricked up towards the outer brush, bells jingling on her tail when she trotted over to investigate. Shortly, an interloper emerged from the forest, shaking her own tree branches - er, antlers - free of entanglement.

Their eyes met, strangers in species and in place. More bells twinkled around the interloper's neck, thick with grey-brown winter hair. She gazed back at the little red pony, just as intrigued by her.

A dance began, hesitant circles in the snow ever so slowly closing in. Cloven hooves were better in this terrain, surely, but the mare was just as assured in her step, inching closer with every stride, until - oh! Their noses bumped together, both jumped back in surprise, then quickly met again for a proper introduction.

This new creature was strange, split hooves and lack of tail unfamiliar to the pony, but friendly all the same. My, what big head ornaments you have, so striking and beautiful silhouetted by the white of the snow. The interloper shook her head, playful now, brandishing them like a bull towards a matador, but bounded away when the red mare approached - she gave chase, leaping through the ground cover herself, an excited whinny punctuating her flight.

Their bells jingled, together, gentle, festive chimes in the otherwise quiet day. They frolicked, pranced, played together, unfamiliarity quickly turning to companionship and joy. The interloper became a friend, a wonderful presence, as they explored the bounds of hilly pasture and leafless trees.

Ever so slowly, day turned into night, whisking away the sun's vague warmth and turning the air into bitter cold. Despite the chill, the snow sparkled, shimmering in the moonlight that cut through the clouds. Snowflakes began to fall, in time, filling in hoofprints and the trails carved by both of them.

They were not thwarted by cold, though, and continued through the snowfall. They caught rogue snowflakes on their tongues, played hide and seek and followed the bell chimes, forging paths that quickly disappeared again.

In time, they entered a forest, silence brought on by the blanket of snow nearly stifling. The pony wandered ahead, eyes bright and curious, searching for something new - but distant bells caught their attention. The reindeer paused, ears pricked towards the summons, then turned back to her companion.

Noses touched once more, confidently now, before the reindeer departed, leaving the pony alone again. She elected to leave the forest, search for new friends until hers returned. The stars were so bright and beautiful where they peered through the dissipating clouds, final snowflakes resting in their places to make way for clear skies.

And as she gazed up to see them, many bells jingled across the sky, heralding her friend's true departure and another night flown all around the world.