WEBVTT

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The world was painted in shades of pale

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sapphire and ash gray.

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holding its breath before the coming day.

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High above the timberline. perched on the razor

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edge of a jagged Himalayan cliff.

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the ghost of the mountains surveyed its domain.

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His thick. heavily spotted coat blended seamlessly with

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the frost -spitten granite.

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Every breath plumed into the freezing air like

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a wisp of smoke.

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melting instantly into the biting wind.

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Far below. cradled in the deep abyss of

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the valley.

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a dense blanket of dark pine trees slept

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beneath a fresh. silent layer of powdery snow.

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The winter storm had passed hours ago. leaving

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behind a pristine. untouched wilderness.

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Soft dawn light began to bleed over the

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eastern peaks.

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washing the jagged stone in a pale wash

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of gold and rose.

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A gentle flurry of snow still danced in

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the high -altitude breeze.

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glittering like diamond dust as it brushed past

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the cat's emerald -green eyes.

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He shifted his heavy paws. the long. thick

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tail draped over the frozen rock edge like

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a regal

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balancing pole. For a long moment. the leopard

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remained entirely still. a master of a wild.

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unforgiving realm. Then. with a low. rumbling exhale

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that vanished into the freezing expanse.

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he turned his gaze toward the horizon and

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melted silently into the rising light.