She Slipped On The Mask
Alice watched from the treetops. She had noticed them more than an hour ago. But, so far, they hadn’t noticed her.
The girl was skilled.
She had carefully moved along the trees. So quickly and with such a light foot, the snow did not fall from the branches to reveal her position.
Alice knew that there were at least four others with her. The scouting parties of Winter always had at least five. Unlike Spring, who often sent scouts out alone, believing them less likely to be spotted this way.
It was true. But, it was also much easier for those scouts to be killed or die from an accident without the aid of a team. That, however, was not the primary concern of Spring.
In fact, every scout was required to make hourly notes and place them in a small container at their waist. The opening at the top allowed the paper to be slipped inside, but the only way to open it was with a device kept by the scoutmaster in Spring.