Elrin shifted his footing again as the sands shifted. Even the bulk of their ship offered no protection from the wind and only marginal from the heat. He squinted into the distance, but golden dunes were all he could see. No plants. No life. No shelter. And certainly no rescue ships would find them here. He raised his arm and whipped the sweat from his eyes.

The sun disappeared below the ground and the sky erupted with light. I and down the street I saw people turn to look up, pointing and smiling. If the Engineer Corps had any say, and we did, tonight’s display would be amazing. I refused to look up though. I should have been with them. Not stuck down here.

I held the gift at eye level. The orb swung gently from the constant rumble of the ship’s drive. A single snowflake glimmered at the center, its crystalline edges and lacework perfect. The structure refracting the circuitry sparking along and obscuring the back of the orb. The orb was cold to the touch. Snow, actual snow. I hadn’t thought to see it.