The faint snowflakes fell like sprinkled grains of salt, covering the mountains and rivers and turning the boundless fields white.
On the straight and wide road, a thin layer of snow had accumulated, making it slippery and sparsely populated with travelers.
At that moment, a crisp "ding-dong" rang out, accompanied by the galloping of a horse-drawn carriage from a distance. A common black horse pulled the carriage, which wasn't unusual. However, what was surprising was the fact that instead of traveling at the center of the road, it ran side by side with the black horse. It was a smooth-skinned, spirited...mule!
No, upon closer inspection, it was an unusual creature that seemed part deer, part horse, part ox, and part donkey. On the back of this enigmatic beast was something that resembled a sword.
