Caim, Quinn, and Mark waited outside while Jake hid his shopping bags. "They're Christmas presents and some people like looking early," he explained before rushing off to his room. Quinn thought she heard Caim mutter something along the lines of "But you hide them in the same place every year" but she didn't press it.

"Alright!" Jake cheered, jumping the three steps from the mansion. "Let's get building before everyone gets outside!" He raced off towards the back of the school and Mark and Quinn followed Caim. "What's he talking about?" Mark asked.

"It's a nice Saturday," Caim replied quietly. "People will be playing outside as soon as they're done breakfast. Kitchie wants you guys to be able to send some time out here without being bombarded." Then he fell silent. Quinn tugged her scarf tighter around her neck and coughed, forgetting that it was around her neck and not her face. "You ok?" Mark asked. She merely nodded and kept on walking, her eyes focused on the footprints that Caim created in front of them.

A minute later Caim stopped so suddenly and so quietly that she bumped into him. He turned around, eyes slightly wide. "Sorry Quinn," he said quickly. She gave him a slight smile. "No problem," she replied. He turned around and she thought that she noticed his shoulders hunch forward, like he was curling in on himself, but the motion was so subtle that she wasn't sure. So instead of thinking too hard on something that might not exist she looked past him to see where they were.

Jake had led them to a small clearing where there were already one and a half snow forts. One looked like a large igloo, with two mini-igloos attached to the sides. She guessed that a mutant was the reason why the domes weren't collapsing in on their occupants.

The other fort was just two walls positioned in an L shape placed across from the three igloos.

Jake poked his head out of a hole in the largest igloo. "Hey guys!" he called. He disappeared before scrambling out through an exit in the back of the fort. He ran up to Caim, smiling broadly. "Cheer up," he said. Caim laughed quietly. "This is me happy," he replied. Jake rolled his eyes in an over-dramatic fashion. "Yeah yeah," he muttered. Then he turned to Mark and Quinn. "Have you guys ever built a snow fort before?" he asked. Mark shrugged one shoulder. "I tried once, but it wasn't that great." Jake nodded, still smiling. "What about you Quinn?" She blinked and stuck her hands in her pockets. "No, but I've watched kids do it." Jake laughed. "Alright! Well at least you guys know how to make one even though you haven't really made one." Quinn blinked at the confusing sentence, but apparently it wasn't meaningful enough for Jake to rephrase it. Instead he grabbed Mark by the hand and pulled him over to the igloo.

"This is our base," he informed him. "And that-" He pointed at the L shaped fort. "Is a bunker. We're in the planning of making two others so that we can surround the base."

"What about protection from behind?" Caim asked, walking over behind the igloos.

"All taken care of!" Jake beamed. "It's only forest back there so we'll just set up a sentry or two; we don't need anything in the way of a fort for protection." Quinn followed their conversation but wasn't understanding much of it. It sounded like they were planning a real war. "Um, guys…" she asked slowly. She opened her mouth to speak again but Jake cut her off. "Ah man! I knew I was forgetting something!" He looked over at Caim, who was tossing a snowball from one hand to the other. "We should probably explain what the Snow Wars are." Caim rolled his eyes and the feeling of "No duh" were easily conveyed.

"Ok," Jake started, turning to face Quinn. "The Snow Wars is basically a giant game of capture the flag. Instead of tagging people you hit them with a snowball, but, like capture the flag, it only counts if it's on the other person's side. Now, the sides are divided by some neon pink ribbons that we've tied to trees. When you know them, you'll see them." He took a breath before continuing to talk: "So that's basically it. We're allowed to use our powers to a minimum, a minimum being that you can't hurt anyone else. Um…" He glanced at Caim. "Am I missing anything?" Caim shrugged. "We'll teach them as the game progresses." Jake smiled and nodded. "Right!" Then he looked back at Quinn and Mark. "Great. So you guys ready?"

And that was when the first snowball flew.

AN: Chapter 20 whoo hoo! Yay! So *ahem* there you go. Enjoy!

THE SNOW WARS HAVE BEGUN!