In the Kingdom of the Ice People speed is essential. There is a very small window of time to get to your destination before Ameratsu, the destroyer of all things cold, rises over the horizon and anyone not where they must be are melted where they stand.

The last of the morning crowd is racing to their destinations, some going this way, others going the other way. This is right at the very limit of their ability to stay out in the open, as Ameratsu is gathering her power and soon the full focus of her heat will be felt on any traveler left in the unprotected light of day. They bend forward as it their posture will cause those ahead to move faster. Others lower themselves as they scurry along hoping that by doing so, they will suck some of the cold radiating from those on the outside lane, giving them the extra life they need to make it out of this dangerous open space.

Unfortunately as you can see by the shadows cast by the last of those still exposed most of them are already doomed. As Ameratsu increases her power these poor victims will return to their other form and their essence will trickle down to drop on to the next dimension. What happens next is unknown, but these Ice People will not see the next night and its welcoming cold. They have found that Life is hard and It’s often unkind.