Dawn had broken.
With the onset of severe winter, the nights had grown long. People had to adapt not only to the prolonged darkness but also to the extreme cold. The bone-chilling, icy winds roamed freely in the night. Their pace was sharp, their movements agile. Every greeting from them was as swift as a sharp blade cutting across the face. In the beginning, it wasn't painful or itchy, but by the time one realized it, the pain that pierced their hearts would have them writhing in agony.
