Unity
Ch.43: Got Wood?
Every year, Igneous enjoys his wood. Thinking to his childhood, he recalled the experiences of winter with fondness. A child helping his father stack the wood for the long winter ahead.
Not long before I arrived in Pandestria, Igneous had been informed that his back was not on a good path. This did not mean arthritis, but his Doctor would advise him to be careful on what he lifted. After taking it over with Cloudy, he decided to not risk it.
We would be stacking the firewood.
Two weeks plus three day after Halloween, he would tell Pinkie, Marble, Maud, and I this during breakfast. I smiled, having no issue with helping. That was until I remembered something important- I had no winter gear.
In our attic at home, Mom and Devin stuffed our winter gear into three totes and put it in the attic. This meant I did not have the stuff. Maud tapped her chin in deep thought.
"I have some stuff that may fit you. If you don't mind girls stuff anyway."
I smiled across the table at her, unknowing that Rainbow Dash was watching across the street behind a bush. She cracked her glove-covered knuckles together.
A wolf in the night, stalking its prey.
Not forty minutes later, we were standing outside. Marble was getting started on a row of wood. Pinkie was assisting her, as Maud and I worked on the other side.
I took the cease in conversation to think. I had called Maud a sister. That was undeniable. I looked at Marble like a sister. Did my mind go there for Pinkie?
Having great timing as always, Pinkie grinned across from me. "Does Lexi like snow?"
I nodded. "Loves it. I remember last December, we went outside and made a snowman together. She named him Bob."
"Bob?" Pinkie asked in amusement, Maud holding back a roll of her eyes.
"Yes" I laughed. "Man, do I miss her" I frowned. Pinkie said nothing, the four of us focused on completing the pile. During this, I felt a hand on my back. The hand receded as quick as it had come. Maud had turned, catching the eye of who had done it. She said nothing, her expression saying it all.
"Get him, Tiger!"
Confused, I felt on my back. On my middle back, I felt tape and paper. Gently removing the paper, I simply stuffed it in the pocket of the coat. It could wait.
As we finished, and I went to turn to retreat inside, Marble stopped me.
"As sad as you are about missing Lexi, I think... no I know! I know she is proud of the person you are becoming."
I turned back to her, allowing a smile.
"I bet! But there's something you gotta know" I said, squatting in the snow.
Before Marble could blink, I had projected a snowball at her. I grinned, flexing as if I was the World's Strongest Man. In response, the girls grinned, each grabbing a snowball and walking towards me, manelavent expressions on their person.
"N-now let's talk about this" I tried to bargain. The response was Maud stepping up, face to face, and smearing the snow all over my face.
Cloudy was unamused by the snow we tracked into the house a time later. Oh yes, a snowball fight had taken place. All the while, a simple note waited to be opened:
David,
Heya. I'm sorry you and Aria stopped being a thing. After Christmas, wanna go on a date?
-Rainbow Dash.