100 Words a Day 521

He widened the entrance to the small snow cave and crawled out, finding himself in a silent, snow-covered, sun-lit, landscape devoid of any signs of humanity. The only fauna visible for miles were a few sentinel pine trees, standing a lonely vigil. Far away he could see the beginnings of a forest. It would take him many hours to reach it in the current conditions. The snowfall the previous night had been heavy, leaving a white quagmire between him and the shelter of the trees. As he prepared to set out, he heard the harrowing howl of an unknown beast.