<center><div style="width: 560px; background: url('https://www.transparenttextures.com/patterns/wet-snow.png');background-position: top; background-repeat: repeat; background-color: #bfd7e1; border-radius: 300px 300px 0px 0px;box-shadow: 0px 0px 10px #000;padding-top: 10px;border-top: 1px solid #8dadba;border-right: 1px solid #8dadba;border-left: 1px solid #8dadba;"><div style="width: 540px; background: url('https://s7.postimg.org/ej3hwrly3/Marg_Fox.png'); padding-top: 10px; background-position: top; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-color: #7897a9; border-radius: 300px 300px 0px 0px;padding-top: 480px;border-top: 1px solid #8dadba;border-right: 1px solid #8dadba;border-left: 1px solid #8dadba;"><div style="width: 480px; margin-top: 10px;margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 15px; background-color: #e1ddde; font-family: Times; color: #596068; font-size: 12px; line-height: 120%; text-align: justify; border-radius: 20% 20% 0 0; border-top: 6px solid #8dadba;border-right: 1px solid #8dadba;border-left: 1px solid #8dadba;box-shadow: 0px 0px 20px #262336;"><div style="font-family: 'Times', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: #8dadba; text-align:center; letter-spacing: 1px;padding-top: 10px;padding-bottom: 15px;font-style:italic;">These are a few of my favorite things.</div>There was just something about winter that she loved. It was cold and slippery and at times unforgiving. But it was also full of white shiningness and transformed landscapes. The little red filly loved following the tracks of others in the crisp snow, trailing after deer and rabbits, learning how they spent their days. Stay right here, baby, mama's got to be alone for a little while. I'll be back later. Be good sweetheart, I love you more than you'll ever know. It had been a few weeks now, since mama had whispered those words in her tiny ear. She hadn't seen hide or hair of the sad-eyed lady since then.
She had done as mama had said, though, she had stayed put. The playground fairies had seen to it that she didn't starve, and there were always new foals to play with. She had mastered hiding at the end of the day, when their mamas and papas came to collect them. It had gotten tiring after the first couple days, having to smile up at well-meaning faces, and explain how "yes, mama would be here soon, she must be running late." It wasn't a lie, exactly. Mama said she'd be back later...
It was another snowy day, the sunshine making the trees sparkle magically. She had been attending to the half grown fox cub she'd found yesterday. The poor baby had been half frozen, curled up beneath a yew bush. After a night thawing out, sleeping on the girl's fluffy flank, he seemed to be doing much better. She was following the bushy red creature around the clearing, watching him sniff for mice at the bases of trees, when a colt came to the playground accompanied by the most beautiful mare she had ever seen. She stopped in her tracks, in awe of the brilliantly caped lady. Not wanting to be rude or draw argon to herself, she quickly turned back to the foxling. She was just quick enough to see him catch and wolf down a wriggling brown mouse. A grimace passed over her face, but she shrugged to herself. He could feed himself, so she didn't have to worry about that...
She was taken by surprise when a few minutes later, the colt that had come in by the stunning mare's side walked up to her, and invited her to come gather with the rest of the children. "Oh... alright then!" She decided, smiling at the younger boy. Playing with the others was still fun, even though she was more focused on her canine companion at the moment. Trotting off towards the rest of the group, she noticed a flicker of red out of the corner of her eye. Her new fox friend was following her now!
They made it to the little cluster of children who had gathered around the peacock lady. Margaux was phased to discover that her voice matched her lovely appearance, and when she started her story, it was easy to pay attention to. So involved did she get in the tale of mysterious Santa Claus, that she squealed a bit when the fox cub leaped to perch on her back. She snorted at him in annoyance, then looked around nervously, hoping she hadn't interrupted too badly. It didn't look like it. Soon, too soon, they were being dismissed.
Margaux looked around. Though she was the smallest one there, she could see that she was a bit older than most of the foals here today. The red pony filly watched as they wandered off in different directions, chattering excitedly about finding Santa. It was a cute story, but were they actually meant to find him? She glanced back at the fox, who had made himself very comfortable in the soft curve of her spine during the story. "Well... I guess it couldn't hurt to look?" She said to him, not expecting an answer. She got what she expected, which was a toothy yawn and a blink of golden eyes. A giggle escaped her, and she set off across the playground, searching for Santa.
The fox decided he wasn't keen on her stumbling through belly high snow drifts, so he hopped down, and trotted off in another direction. "Hey! Hey come back!" She hollered after him, suddenly afraid that he was going to leave and never come back. Like mama... no, she mustn't think like that. Swallowing back the hard lump that had sprouted in her throat, she cantered after the white tipped tail. If he wanted to lead the way, then fine. But he wasn't leaving her. The pointy nose looked over it's shoulder, making it clear that this was his intention all along. Margaux coughed somewhat wetly, embarrassed at her reaction to a dumb fox walking away from her. With dainty steps, they wandered through ever thickening trees, until she knew they were no longer within playground boundaries. Snow was thin on the ground here, and it was much colder. Suddenly the foxling stopped, staring hard into the shadows. He had caught sight of something she hadnt seen yet. Heart pounding in her ears, she looked this way and that, trying to figure out what he saw. They hadn't found Santa Claus, had they? A wolf seemed more likely, but she was really hoping it was Santa. Santa probably wouldn't eat her. Probably. A sniffle fought it's way from the red girl. Mana wouldn't be able to find her if she got eaten by a wolf.
<center><br><img src="https://s7.postimg.org/ot5ww3buj/Marg_Fox_Name.png"></div></center>
She had done as mama had said, though, she had stayed put. The playground fairies had seen to it that she didn't starve, and there were always new foals to play with. She had mastered hiding at the end of the day, when their mamas and papas came to collect them. It had gotten tiring after the first couple days, having to smile up at well-meaning faces, and explain how "yes, mama would be here soon, she must be running late." It wasn't a lie, exactly. Mama said she'd be back later...
It was another snowy day, the sunshine making the trees sparkle magically. She had been attending to the half grown fox cub she'd found yesterday. The poor baby had been half frozen, curled up beneath a yew bush. After a night thawing out, sleeping on the girl's fluffy flank, he seemed to be doing much better. She was following the bushy red creature around the clearing, watching him sniff for mice at the bases of trees, when a colt came to the playground accompanied by the most beautiful mare she had ever seen. She stopped in her tracks, in awe of the brilliantly caped lady. Not wanting to be rude or draw argon to herself, she quickly turned back to the foxling. She was just quick enough to see him catch and wolf down a wriggling brown mouse. A grimace passed over her face, but she shrugged to herself. He could feed himself, so she didn't have to worry about that...
She was taken by surprise when a few minutes later, the colt that had come in by the stunning mare's side walked up to her, and invited her to come gather with the rest of the children. "Oh... alright then!" She decided, smiling at the younger boy. Playing with the others was still fun, even though she was more focused on her canine companion at the moment. Trotting off towards the rest of the group, she noticed a flicker of red out of the corner of her eye. Her new fox friend was following her now!
They made it to the little cluster of children who had gathered around the peacock lady. Margaux was phased to discover that her voice matched her lovely appearance, and when she started her story, it was easy to pay attention to. So involved did she get in the tale of mysterious Santa Claus, that she squealed a bit when the fox cub leaped to perch on her back. She snorted at him in annoyance, then looked around nervously, hoping she hadn't interrupted too badly. It didn't look like it. Soon, too soon, they were being dismissed.
Margaux looked around. Though she was the smallest one there, she could see that she was a bit older than most of the foals here today. The red pony filly watched as they wandered off in different directions, chattering excitedly about finding Santa. It was a cute story, but were they actually meant to find him? She glanced back at the fox, who had made himself very comfortable in the soft curve of her spine during the story. "Well... I guess it couldn't hurt to look?" She said to him, not expecting an answer. She got what she expected, which was a toothy yawn and a blink of golden eyes. A giggle escaped her, and she set off across the playground, searching for Santa.
The fox decided he wasn't keen on her stumbling through belly high snow drifts, so he hopped down, and trotted off in another direction. "Hey! Hey come back!" She hollered after him, suddenly afraid that he was going to leave and never come back. Like mama... no, she mustn't think like that. Swallowing back the hard lump that had sprouted in her throat, she cantered after the white tipped tail. If he wanted to lead the way, then fine. But he wasn't leaving her. The pointy nose looked over it's shoulder, making it clear that this was his intention all along. Margaux coughed somewhat wetly, embarrassed at her reaction to a dumb fox walking away from her. With dainty steps, they wandered through ever thickening trees, until she knew they were no longer within playground boundaries. Snow was thin on the ground here, and it was much colder. Suddenly the foxling stopped, staring hard into the shadows. He had caught sight of something she hadnt seen yet. Heart pounding in her ears, she looked this way and that, trying to figure out what he saw. They hadn't found Santa Claus, had they? A wolf seemed more likely, but she was really hoping it was Santa. Santa probably wouldn't eat her. Probably. A sniffle fought it's way from the red girl. Mana wouldn't be able to find her if she got eaten by a wolf.
<center><br><img src="https://s7.postimg.org/ot5ww3buj/Marg_Fox_Name.png"></div></center>