A War to Warmth

The snow was cold beneath Lio’s hooves, but he couldn’t stop to warm them up. No. This was war, and there was no stopping in war. He’d been hit several times already, the ice melting through his sweater.

“Lio!” Hart’s playful voice sang through the chilly air. “You’re not hiding very well.”

“Does it look like I’m hiding?” He asked. He bent down, scooped up a handful of snow, and formed a ball. “Why don’t you come out from hiding, hm? You’re not scared of a little snow, are you?”

He heard Hart giggle. “Scared? I’m not scared.”

“Then why are you hiding?”

“So I can do this!”

Lio felt the snowball hit the back of his head before he could move, and he twisted around to throw his snowball; however, he missed. Hart giggled again and spotted him running off further into the courtyard.

Not one to be slighted, Lio chased after him.

He was alone once more, snow piles surrounding him and then—PLAP. Another snowball to the back. Hart was too good at this for it to be his first real time playing in the snow. Lio sighed. If he were to win this war, he would have to get creative.

And creative he would get. He sneaked around one of the snow piles and kept himself low—which was difficult in itself when his ears stood taller than the pile—seeing as he couldn’t do anything about that, he continued sneaking. He wasn’t expecting to find Hart sitting behind one of the piles—waiting for him.

PLAP! PLAP!! PLAP!

Lio got pelted in the face.

Hart was a giggling mess. Lio took his opportunity. He scooped arms full of snow off the closest now pile and dropped it on top of Hart.

“Got you!”

“It’s cold!” Hart squealed, but he didn’t stop laughing.

Lio laughed along with him as he made more snowballs and dropped them onto the pile. “Look who’s all covered in snow now,” he said.

Hart squirmed beneath the snow. Once free of it, he grabbed one of the snowballs Lio had made and threw it at him, only to miss. Lio’s aim was much better at short range and easily hit his mark.

It was Hart’s turn to turn tail and run, Lio chasing after him with what little snowballs he had. When he ran out, he ducked behind the nearest object to make some more. He was working on his fourth when Hart found him, arms wrapped around himself and shivering. “Lio, it’s cold.”

Lio dropped his ammo immediately. “Let’s get inside.” He stood from his hiding spot and wrapped an arm around Hart’s shoulder. The heat inside the house was an immediate relief, but Lio didn’t stop at the threshold; he took Hart to the fireplace and sat him down. “I’ll be right back. Take off that wet sweater.”

Hart peeled the damp fabric from his body, tossing it to the floor while Lio disappeared upstairs. He returned a short time later, arms full of clothes and blankets.

“Here we go,” Lio said, slipping a dry sweater over Hart’s head. “Nice and warm.” Hart hummed softly in reply. “Pants next! Don’t worry, I won’t look. I don’t need any more of Judah’s wrath pointed my way.” He handed Hart a pair of pants before unfolding the blanket. He held it up in front of him, completely blocking his view of Hart, but Lio still looked away.

“All done, Lio,” Hart said after a moment.

Lio smiled and lowered the blanket. “Getting toasty?”

Hart nodded. “What about you? You’re still wet. Aren’t you cold?”

“I’ll change in a bit,” he said, “I wanted to make sure you were warm and dry first.”

“Thanks.”

Lio nodded. “It’s the least I could do.”

Hart kept his eyes on Lio, though, a sweet smile on his face. “Not just for the clothes, Lio.” Lio tilted his head curiously. “It’s cold outside and snowing, and you agreed to go play in the yard with me.”

“It’s—” He was about to say it was no big deal, but to Hart, it was a big deal. “It was fun,” he said. “If you want to play again later, maybe we can drag the others out with us. Juno might put up a fight for having to wear pants, but I’m sure Khepri would have fun. Maybe even Judah.”

Hart giggled. “Judah? In the snow? I’d like to see that.”

“Then it’s settled. We ask Khepri to come play in the snow with us, drag Juno outside, and then trick Judah—or—” Lio grinned. “You could just ask him to throw a couple of snowballs. He’ll do anything you ask, so I don’t see why he wouldn’t join that way.”

He could see Hart contemplating but chuckled when he nodded. “I can ask him—but not right now. I’m still cold.”

“Not to worry,” Lio said, “maybe tomorrow or the next day.”

Hart smiled. “Yeah!”

“All right,” Lio repressed a shiver, “I’m going to go change and come back down to warm up.”

“Okay! I’ll have a spot ready for you when you get back.”

Lio passed the blanket off to Hart. “Be back soon.” The chill had well then seeped through his clothes and into his body. A hot bath and some new clothes would do him well. Next time, he’d win that snowball fight.