Whitebark Stream You make my heart feel like it's Summer.

He nodded, a quiet agreement. It would be a good attempt to further strengthen the bond they'd begun to work on, the silver Alphess and her gilded ranger. There was still so much to learn of her: her vast family here in the Teekon, the places she'd seen, the things she held dear to her. A mystery to him, one Artyom felt determined to discover.

Dawn presented an opportunity for fun, shooting him a confident grin with a gleam of mischief in her eye. His tail lashed behind him, enthusiastic to accept her proposal: "I will accept this challenge!"

And they were off, a pair of carefree creaures that darted through the snow, void of responsibility for just a short time. Artyom, though swift on his ivory paws, was no match for the nimble Alphess, who tore ahead with remarkable ease.

When the race was over with a clear victor, the golden ranger and his leader laughed together as they paused to regain their breath, content to simply share in one another's company.