The blizzard seemed to come from nowhere. The young man had seen snowstorms leap into existence before, but this was by far the worst one he had dealt with. Looking back, it was no wonder his dog Riley had went back home. He'd always been a smart dog. He trudged on as the snow and wind battered his body. It was cold, even through his fur coat and long johns.

Drake thought he was heading to his snug little cabin, but after an hour, he knew that he was lost. The freezing air and howling wind seemed to suck the heat from his body. By the second hour it felt like his bone marrow had been replaced with ice.

By the third he thought he heard his mother's voice on the wind. [I]Just rest a bit, my little dragon[/i], it seemed to say, using the pet name she had called him when she was alive. But Drake knew that if he were to curl up now and sleep, he would wake up in the afterlife.

By the fourth hour he was about to give in. However he saw something that snapped him awake. [I]Lights![/i] he thought. [I]A cottage![/i]