Bhí an lá fuar agus ceomhar i lár an gheimhridh.

It was a cold and misty day in the middle of winter.

Bhí sneachta ar na crainn agus bhí an fásrachán clúdaithe le sluagh de sholas bán.

Snow covered the trees, and the undergrowth was cloaked with a blanket of white light.

Ag siúl tríd an foraois bhí grúpa scoile, faoi threoir múinteora díograisigh, ag déanamh turais páirce.

Walking through the forest was a school group, led by an enthusiastic teacher, on a field trip.

Bhí an t-am Imbolc ann, féile na hathbheochána, ach bhí an fuacht fós ag brú ar na daltaí.

It was the time of Imbolc, the festival of renewal, but the cold still gripped the students.

Bhí Aisling ann, cailín óg a raibh grá mór aici don dúlra.

Aisling was there, a young girl who had a great love for nature.

Bhí sí ag iarraidh dán a chumadh do chomórtas scoile, ach ní raibh an tsíocháin ann.

She was trying to compose a poem for a school contest, but there was no peace.

Bhraith sí go raibh a cairde, Cian agus Maeve, níos gaire dá chéile ná í, rud a bhain geit as a buairt.

She felt that her friends, Cian and Maeve, were closer to each other than to her, which added to her unease.

Bhí sí ag éisteacht leis an gcrith gutha ón ngrúpa eile ach uaidhse sin, níor tháinig solace.

She listened to the chatter from the other group, but no comfort came from that.

Cian, buachaill a raibh iarracht i gcónaí aige aon gháire a bhaint as a dhaoine.

Cian, a boy always trying to elicit a smile from people.

Ach sa chúlra, bhí amhras ann faoina áit féin sa ghrúpa.

Yet in the background, he was doubtful of his own place in the group.

Bhí Maeve mar an laoch foirfe.

Maeve was the perfect hero.

Bhí sí cliste, tuisceanach agus bhí sí fíor-mhaith ag réiteach achrainn idir chairde.

She was smart, understanding, and very good at resolving conflicts between friends.

Fé chíod na breacaí fearthainne a bhain ar a aghaidh, bhí sí dírithe ar choinneáil suaimhneach.

Despite the raindrops on her face, she was focused on maintaining calm.

Bhí Aisling suite ag deireadh an ghrúpa.

Aisling was situated at the back of the group.

Bhí sí ag smaoineamh ar na focail nach dtagann.

She was thinking about the words that would not come.

D’fhéach sí timpeall.

She looked around.

Uair amháin, os comhair crainn mhóra, shocraigh sí uirthi féin dul ar fán leis féin.

At one point, in front of large trees, she decided to wander off alone.

Bhí gá le ciúnas, leis an saoirse chun smaoineamh.

She needed silence, the freedom to think.

Ach ní fada go raibh sí dícheangailte.

But soon she was disconnected.

Bhí an foraois ghlasra i ngach treo.

The forest was green in every direction.

Ní feictear na rian gcos níos mó.

The tracks were no longer visible.

Bhí mearbhall uirthi, ach mheas sí í féin a bheith cróga agus lean ar aghaidh.

She was confused but thought herself brave and continued onward.

I dir sheomra an choillte, thosaigh Aisling ag mothú eagla.

In the middle of the woods, Aisling began to feel frightened.

Bhí rith sa ghiorracht, ach chuir an ceo troime cos aithne ar tír na seanra.

There was a stirring nearby, but the heavy mist masked familiar landmarks.

Buailfadh an taitneamh ar a chroí i dteannta an fuachta.

The thrill struck her heart along with the cold.

Ghlaoigh sí amach ach d'imigh a guth ins na gaoithe.

She called out, but her voice vanished into the winds.

D’fhan Cian agus Maeve ar a haisléan nach bhfanfadh sí chomh fada sin.

Cian and Maeve waited for her, realizing she wouldn’t stay gone so long.

Bhí sé ag dul déanach agus bhí imní ann faoi láthair Aisling.

It was getting late, and there was worry about Aisling's whereabouts.

© Ghnóthaigh sé teannas ó Maeve nuair a chuir duibheagán na coille corraí ionat.

It triggered an unease in Maeve as the depths of the forest unsettled you.

"Bhí sí istigh sa choill," arsa Cian le teann díograiseora.

"She went into the woods," said Cian energetically.

"Caithfimid í a fháil."

"We have to find her."

Thosaigh na beirt ag cuardach.

The two began searching.

Bhí siad buartha, ach bhí Cian agus Maeve sásta dul i ngleic leis an ngort.

They were worried, but Cian and Maeve were determined to face the wilderness.

Bhí an t-am ag dul seachadadh agus, ar deireadh, fuair siad fothain beag áilne.

Time was passing, and finally, they found a small, charming shelter.

Tháinig siad ar rian Aisling, ó bhuiochán go bascadh dúch.

They came across Aisling's trail, from yellowed pages to ink stains.

Nuair a chonaic Aisling orthu, scaoil sí asúch.

When Aisling saw them, she let out a sigh.

Ba bheag an faoiseamh ná aoibh gháire a scaoileadh as í, scéal a phós le scéal Maebh.

The relief was so small that it almost turned into a smile, a story shared with Maeve's.

Sheas na caraí le chéile, faoi thuirse báistí dhoirtealacha, ach sásta a bheith in éineacht.

The friends stood together, under the weariness of drenching rain, yet happy to be together.

Fiadhnaise na crainn ag bogadh mar chlocháin i gcoill níl saoire.

The trees swayed like stalwarts in a forest that had no respite.

Ach láithreann faoisimh Aisling in óige lae wasn ag máguaird.

But the presence of Aisling's relief in the youth of the day around her turned the choice that brought sadness in years past for that day.

Aistrigh an rogha í a thugás míshonas i na blianta roimh don lá sin.

She was determined to be impactful, promising to hold onto the lightness of shared laughter and warmth.

Tar éis téarnamh go dtí an grúpa eile, bhailigh siad timpeall tine beag.

After returning to the other group, they gathered around a small fire.

Bhí Aisling ag síneadh an leathanach páipéir, le focail dán nua scríofa ann a rinne ciall, ní hamháin don Imbolc ach don ghrá cairde freisin.

Aisling extended the page of paper, with the words of a new poem written on it that made sense, not only for Imbolc but for the love of friends too.

Agus mar sin, d’fhoghlaim Aisling nach raibh uaigneas i ndán di, ach le cairde, fiú fiú sna choillte fuara, bhí cineál solas i gcónaí ar cosáin dileas le cairde.

And so, Aisling learned that loneliness was not meant for her, but with friends, even in the cold woods, there was always a kind of light along the familiar paths with friends.