Why Snowflakes Are Snowflakes

Winter was a beautiful princess with golden, curly hair and big blue eyes. She seemed perfect. But she didn’t like being a princess. She liked waking up earlier than the sun. She would then hop on her horse and gallop off into the forest. One day, she noticed something.

“Amy, stop, girl,” she said to her horse. She stayed very quiet. Apart from Amy’s breathing, there seemed to be no sound. Usually animals came to run with her. It was too quiet, and also a little chillier than normal in Sunset Kingdom. She decided to ride home and tell King John and Queen Anna.

When she got home, she led Amy to the stable and hurried to tell her parents.

“No animals?” asked her mother.

“No animals,” replied Winter.

“Cold?” asked her father.

“Cold.”

Her father’s face turned pale. “What- what- when-“ he stammered.

“What?” asked Queen Anna.

“Well, I was . . . urm . . . wondering . . . when did the last Death come?”

“The last what?” asked Winter, growing suspicious.

“Oh, that . . .” The queen’s face paled.

“What?” asked Winter.

“It’s- it’s been ten years, I think,” she squeaked.

“What is it?” Winter asked, never having seen her parents so worried.

“Death Storm,” she answered. “It comes once every ten years. It is very dark and cold during the Death Storm. No crops grow. The sun rarely comes up.”

That night, Winter snuck outside, wearing her highest boots and warmest coat. She took her sword and razor pen with her. FLOMP!!! went something. FLOMP! FLOMP! FLOMP! She dived into a cave. The Snow blocks wee falling!

“I am not a coward!” She screamed, ran outside, and drew her sword. She sliced at the falling blocks of snow. She carved into the remaining blocks. No more deadly blocks fell. The snow she had sliced suddenly rose. They gathered under Winter and took her into the sky. No one has seen her since. People changed Death Storm’s name to Winter, for Winter created beautiful snow out of deadly cold. Even now, no snowflake looks the same as another.