The snow was an unsettling color. Instead of its normal icy tones, the crystals reflected steel greys and iron blacks, making it appear as if ash were falling from the sky instead of simple water. The light bounced off the miasma of darkness like a stone skipping the surface of water; disturbing it slightly but not really changing it. It covered the trees around me in a dark, slippery, cold unpleasantness that was an unfortunate addition to an already irritating night. The cawing of a raven made me twitch, a couple items hanging off my belt clanking with the sudden movement and my booted feet skidding underneath me on the frozen ground. Slapping my palm on the withered oak next to me, I tried to keep my balance, but the contact between the soft leather of my glove and the cold petrified bark was not of the grippiest kind, and I hit the ground in what should have been an exceedingly loud collision, but was muffled by the wet and the damp all around. Hoarse chuckling penetrated the wool cap covering my ears, and I lifted my head to glare at the source. An old, twisted, evil looking man, gnarlier than any tree in that forest, was laughing in his oddly convoluted way; mouth open and chest heaving, but only a rasping sound that wouldn't have done credit to a young child escaped. Waving his hands, he quickly signed a couple of derisive comments at me, ranging from my appearance to my athletic abilities. With a weary snort, cloak impeding and gloves giving little traction on the frozen puddle I just realized I was on, I manage to pull myself back to my feet, groaning a little and rocking my head back and forth on its socket a few times, wearily working out the kinks.
"Not all of us are as physically gifted as you are, Moin" I said. " One day I aspire to reach your level of decrepitude. For now, however, I suppose I will just have to be satisfied with where I am now" I expressively gestured with my hands to demonstrate my 7 foot frame.

Limping closer to me, Moin tilted his head up and looked me in the eyes. A surprisingly kind pair of hazel eyes looked up at me, and with a couple of quick gestures.