She chose the elf who had pawned away a piece of its soulfire to sail a tiny boat through the River of Time and bring her back.
She chose the woman whose eyes always softened with affection and pity whenever she mentioned her mysterious student—GodDraw77.
She chose the present.
The snowman in her hands no longer looked as fine or delicate as before. Its round little body was lumpy, its face bruised and dented, and one of its eyes had caved in.
"From this day forward, you'll be my apprentice, Lightchaser's apprentice. Now, tell me your name."
"My name is Rita."
"Lightchaser Rita. Perfect. You were destined to be my student."
That was where the story truly began.
But as she worked, the snowman gained more details: a tiny tuft of snow like candlelight at the tip of its tail, a moon-fox fang made of frost hanging from one ear, a feather-shaped patch of snow at its waist, fine and perfect as an owlet's plume.
