Prompt #16 - Snow Angel

The cold morning dew coated the pasture where Mina lived. She enjoyed the winter months, and her favorite thing about it was the snow. Mina lived in Northern California, and even though snow was rare, she had a feeling she would get to play in some this year. Mina and her friends frolicked in their pasture, enjoying the crisp air. As night began to fall, later that day, Mina prayed to the horse gods that snow would soon fall.

The next morning the sky was much darker than the day before. She hoped that this meant snow was finally coming. Mina anxiously waited, and paced around the pasture. But, the hours passed and night soon came. Mina laid in a pile of hay and wallowed. Mina's friends came over to her. "What's wrong Mina? We were all about to head to the creek but we couldn't find you." Her friend Ryker said. Ryker was the head stallion, a tall black pearl, show jumper. He was owned by the best rider in town. She also owned the equine center they lived at. "It's nothing. I don't really feel like going." Mina sighed, laying her head down. "Are you sure? We'd love you to be there." Ryker frowned, and nuzzled the buckskin mare. "Don't worry about me, Ryker." She assured him with a crooked smile. Ryker nodded, and the group took off.

The days seemed to drag on, as each brought no snow. Mina began to lose hope, and started to let go of the sadness. She played with her friends in the field, enjoyed the creek with them, and soon she forgot all about the snow. December 24th rolled around and Mina was ecstatic. Her and her friends had matching pj's to wear for Christmas Day! That night, they all sat with their owners by a bonfire and enjoyed toasted marshmallows. Ryker was lucky enough to get a sip of hot cocoa too! The night finally finished and Mina and her friends eagerly awaited Christmas Day. Mina woke up suddenly, with a cold wet nose. As her eyes flicked open, she realized what was happening...it was snowing! Mina jumped up and whinnied excitedly. "Ryker, Ryker!" She exclaimed, as she nudged him awake with her nose. "W-what..." he stuttered as he blinked the tired from his eyes. "It snowed!" Mina exclaimed.

For the next hour, Mina ran around with her friends. She dipped her nose deep in the snow, and tried to eat every icicle she saw. The snow was deep and fresh. Mina galloped up and down the pasture, sometimes jumping into the bigger piles of snow. Before long, her owners got her from the pasture and made her put on her rug. She was a little upset, but she understood. Ryker and the other horses also had their rugs on. Mina happily went back over to her friends and they all chatted about their brand new Christmas blankets. Once the main conversation died down, Ryker turned his attention to Mina. "Hey, have you ever made a snow angel?" He asked her. Mina shook her head, "what's a snow angel?" She asked him. Ryker began to explain how to make one, and Mina got excited. "Well, c'mon then, let's do it!" She told the group.

Mina travelled out to an open space of the pasture and laid down. She then got on her side, and swung her legs around in the snow to make the angel. They were all having so much fun! About twenty minutes later, all the owners came out to join them! The rest of Christmas Day was spent making snow angels, running from snowballs the humans were throwing, and jumping into snow mounds.

When the day was done, Mina had a nice dinner with her friends, and they all talked about what they were going to do tomorrow...