a dusting of snow covered the praries'stiff winter grasses, and the only color as far as she could see came from occasional clumps of crimson - leaved bushes. no trees broke up the horizon, and the sky above was almost as pale and colorless as the snowy plain beneath. in the distance, towering gray clouds threatened more snow, and she shivered as a chill wind gusted, nipping at her ears and blowing her hair into her face. 