In the deep hush of the winter solstice, when the sun lingered only as a pale whisper on the horizon, the witch Alderra wandered the snow-soft woods. Frost clung to her cloak like silver dust, and each breath curled into the cold air like a tiny spell of its own.
Alderra loved this time of year, the quiet, the stillness, and the gifts the forest offered. She gathered pinecones crusted with ice, sprigs of wintergreen, and the dark red berries that gleamed like embers against the snow. Each treasure she tucked gently into her satchel, humming ancient solstice songs that stirred the branches overhead.
When her basket was full, Alderra returned to her moss-covered cottage, ready to weave the forest’s winter magic into charms of warmth and wonder for the long night ahead.