The snow had fallen thick through the night, blanketing the mountain in white silence. Cain bundled himself in a too-big scarf—one his mother had knitted years ago—and tugged on his boots, fingers stiff from the cold. His ears twitched against the chill, breath coming out in puffs of fog as he stepped outside.

Cain planned to gather winter berries that sometimes clung stubbornly to bushes or pine branches to dry by the fire for their sharp, clean scent. The path was slippery, and more than once he nearly lost his balance, tail flicking nervously as he caught himself with a clumsy laugh. "Ah—o-oh... steady, steady..." he muttered, cheeks pinkish from more than just the cold.

Snowflakes clung to his horns and melted against his eyelashes as he bent to brush frost from a branch. His hands were clumsy but gentle, careful not to damage the berries glinting like red gems against the white. He hummed softly while working, the sound almost swallowed by the mountain's stillness.

Cain paused mid-walk, eyes widening at the sight of a figure lying in the snow. His boots sank slightly as he hurried toward the unmoving form. Drawing closer, he recognized the pointed ears and tail of a wolf demi-human, but the stranger wasn't moving. Though wary of predators, Cain's compassionate nature overcame his caution.

"Ah hey! Are you okay?" the sheep boy asked, worry coloring his voice as he approached cautiously. "Do you need help? I mean—can I help?" He hesitated before kneeling beside the injured figure.

"Please, let me help you," he said softly, breath misting in the frigid air. "Tell me what happened." He waited patiently, ready to assist in any way he could.

"Do you want to come home with me? I can bandage you—I'll try my best anyway! And I can make soup... not sad soup though! Juicy, yummy carrot soup!" Cain offered his hand, though he'd already decided to help regardless of the response.