The sky was overcast and the five young people didn't care. They ran and chased each other through the snow, throwing snowballs, and having a friendly war. Laughter ran out, in the clear crisp air.

After an hour of being outside, Tori went inside to make hot chocolate for everyone. She wanted to make some lunch and warm up. The boys continued their fight.

"Who wants some hot chocolate?" Yelled Tori, and the boys turned to her. All smiling and ran towards the porch.

"Did you fix lunch too?" Ask Shane as he walked in the cabin. It was warm and inviting, the heat from the fireplace, and the crackling fire brightened the room. The boys took off their coats, and hug them by the door. They all went to the table and grabbed their hot chocolate and roast beef sandwiches and went to sit before the fire. Sitting around on large brightly colored cushions, on a big rug.

"How about after lunch we go and find a tree?"

"Great idea Blake, soon as we eat. Then we can make some popcorn, and make stringers for the tree."

"I'd rather eat it." Said Shane as he took a large bite of his sandwich.

"No kidding. We brought some board games to play tonight."

"Hey I brought a tv, and plenty of batteries." Tori turned to Dustin.

"Dustin! A tv? How is that part of an old fashioned christmas?"

"Hey I also brought a vcr and some movies." The other guys grinned. Tori just looked at them and frowned.

"I give up." She gazed into the fire, and ate as the boy joked with each other.

After lunch the boys went into the forrest with an ax to find the perfect tree. Tori stay ed behind, to decorate the room. She hung garlen around the room, and up the handrail to the stair case. Stockings on the fireplace. She opened the box of ornaments....She picked them up one at a time and looked at them. They had bought the plain wooden round ornaments, and then all had decorated them. Each revealed a lot about the owner. She smiled.

Hunter turned back and returned to the cabin. He came up to the front and saw a dog there, it looked at him, and wagged it's tail. Hunter leaned down and called softly to the dog. It came over to him, looking up with what looked like a smile on his face.

"Well boy, what are you doing out in this weather?" He checked and found no color, and the dog was skinny. "Come on boy, I bet you would like some food." The dog followed him onto the porch and into the cabin. Tori turned and looked at him, and then the dog.

"I see you found a new friend."

"Yes, I think he would like some canned stew." Hunter went towards the little kitchen and hunted around for a bowl to put it in. He found two old plastic ones, he filled one with water and the other with the stew. The dog sat there waiting for him, wagging it's tail.

"Good boy, eat up." Hunter came into the other room, and looked at Tori. "Need any help?"

"Well you could pop the popcorn if you want. Or string the cranberries."

"No good with needles, but I can work on the popcorn." He smiled at his fellow blond and went for the popper.