Who is holding onto your heart

Ten thousand moons ago a lonely shepherd looked out across her flock and noticed how still they all were, her faithful dog too was standing almost in a symmetrical way to the flock and each one of them had a peculiar air about them. The shepherd looked up to the sky and beheld white fluff falling from the sky.
The wind began to blow strong and the white fluff fell gently onto the ground and started to spread a white blanket across the landscape so much so that the shepherd could no longer make out her flock. Amidst all the panic she could hear the local town crier far off in the distance ringing the bell to address all.
She whistled to the dog and began to descend the hill on which she was stationed.
The snow storm began picking up pace and within a few short minutes the lonely shepherd was caught up in a blizzard, her trusty dog stayed close by her side but the storm was to strong for her to continue and she made haste to retreat to a small shelter cut and built into the rock many hundreds of years ago.
Once inside she sat staring out at the great white mist whilst stroking the warm head of her dog.
The dog looked up at his master and together they drew into each other for the sake of warmth. All around them they could hear the howling of the wind as they looked out from their shelter at the white nothingness of the world.

Back down in the town a few of the locals had gathered up their warmest garments and hastily began to form a search party, they had never seen snow before.
Despite the strength of the blizzard the search party continued crying out in hope of hearing a faint call, but it was no use, the blizzard was playing tricks on them, amongst the storm the search party could hear all sorts of calls and whistles blowing in from all direction, a trick of the wind they exclaimed, it was no use, she must be dead by now cried out one of the searchers.

Alone in the cave she began to loose hope, the night was drawing in colder and the dog began to whimper, by now she was shaking desperately with her fingers glowing bright red. The storm had by no means cleared but it began to show signs of slowing down. She sat their for a moment contemplating herself and any hope for life if she was to get through this terrible time. Eventually she made her decision, she would have to attempt her own leap of fate.
Looking around the shelter for something that she could use as warm she managed to find an old coal sack probably been used by shooting parties to carry loose goods. She tore at the sack and pulled it on past her head, it was not much of an improvement but it was better than nothing.
The dog by now had also started roaming around the shelter and began growling and tugging at something stuck in one of the crevices at the back of the shelter.
What have you got boy she said as she headed over, the dogs tail was wagging and his head pulling from side to side. As she approached she could see something inside the crevice glistening from the faint light of the moon. She bent down to take a closer look, it seemed to be some sort of travel bag, but how on earth had it come to be placed into such a tight spot she thought to herself. With a little adjustment the bag was safely pulled out.
By now her hands were so cold she could barely hold it, let alone open it, so she put the bag over her shoulder and made a dash for it out of the shelter.
The blizzard had by now calmed down to a gentle falling of snow and despite her cold fingers and toes she knew she could make it home. The search party had given up on her without her even knowing they had tried.
At last descending the hill she made her way into her modest home just on the edge of town and quickly got the fire blazing, the pain in her hands and toes was by now unbearable and the tears in her eyes showed it. She began to sob at the thought of how terrible her ordeal could of been or even was, but she was also grateful that she had made it through. Gradually as her hands began to warm the pain started to pass and she was able to open the bag.......