Challenge: Sledding. Only with something other than an actual sled.
The floor was ice under my bare toes.
I fidgeted with the corner of the ratty quilt across my shoulders. A door creaked open and a draft of cold air with it. I sneezed violently, "ACHOOO!" A deep voice from behind made me jump. "Bless you Nya."
I turned to look at the short man. His eyes were green and every inch of skin I could see was covered in freckles. And I could see a lot. "Don't you ever get cold?" He smiled at me, "Never." I puffed frozen air through my nose.
Even still I could feel the ice and snow shifting around us as we plummeted down ward. Icy air stung cheeks and bright red ears as my midnight hair lashed skin. But through the blur of white and blue and rising panic and frozen tears were his steady arms. His warm steady strong arms wrapped protectively around me.
Shivering there in the dim hall I looked at him and again he didn't seem so small.
I could imagine his skin still radiated heat even as it was now—bare in the chilly room. The flop of orange curls only added to his charm. "Thank you for saving me." He laughed. "No problem. I hate snakes anyway." I felt my skin warming with hope. Being alone and lost had made it sink so low.
"You're not the only one." He shivered pretend. "I might just hate them the most though." "Serpentine." He frowned, "Huh?" I corrected myself. "Those snakes are called Serpentine." He nodded, "Well, they had no business chasing you around." I opened my mouth to say that they had a lot but stopped, "Here," I offered him the blanket but he shrugged me away. "I'm fine." "But you're not wearing a shirt and I'm freezing!" He quirked an eye brow.
He looked so funny, pink skin and hands on dark jean-ed hips.
"Well," He swung his bare arms and whistled, "It's about time I got you home." He stepped to the make shift clothes rack and pulled his still damp shirt free. I couldn't help saying it again, "Thank you, really. I live with five ninja's and none of them are as brave as you." His eyes widened. "Real ninjas?!" I nodded trying to hide my grin.
"What can I give you to make up for getting you into my mess?" A sly look flitted across his face. "A kiss would be nice." I squeaked. "I'm not even eighteen!" He gasped with fake shock, but we were both laughing. I had never been one to blush but right then I did.
In my mind's eye I could see him. He was pulling me into his puffy gray jacketed chest as he jumped off the side of the hill—snakes looking shocked for the first time ever and my stomach rising in my throat. I knew I had screamed but in that moment all sound had cut off leaving me to see. And I saw strong jaw and too much white glare and bright.
As if he had seen the same scene as me just then the ginger man grinned. "Now you can say you've gone sledding." I swatted at his arm but laughed. "You were an amazing sled!" He smiled, thoroughly pleased with himself. "Yes I was."
"Nya!" The cold and his smile like sunlight shatter as I am jolted out of memory by Jay's voice. Three expectant faces look to me, "What?" I'm irritated but can't remember what had brought that day back to mind... "Well? Have you ever gone sledding?" Jay looks so expectant I can't help grinning. My eyelids droop a little from the disappointment of being pulled away from happiness, but a thought strikes. "Yes... yes, you could say that."