A River Of Stones: Stone Number Thirteen

I flinch as I leave the warm car. I feel something inside shrink back, resist reaching out and embracing the cold. The tips of my ungloved fingers go first. Ache. Burn. Then my cheeks. My lips. Why didn't I put on lipbalm? Why do I need to be out doing this? I look towards the mountains. The sun is large today, bright. I breath out my dragon-breath and then move to get warm.