Count Your Blessings
By SMYGO4EVA
"Phew, glad that's taken care of," Makio said tiredly, her hands on her hips. She was covered head to toe in dirt and sweat—even though chores were expected, it was no easy task to gather all the firewood for the cold times. "Is that everything?"
"Yes, that's pretty much everything." Hinatsuru called out, setting down her own pile of firewood near their home. She rubbed her neck of any soreness as Suma just plopped down to the ground, her haggard breaths escaping her.
"Thank goodness, I'm bushed." Suma said aloud, wiping the sweat off her brow. "Who knew that gathering all that firewood would be so exhausting?"
"It is exhausting," Makio walked up to the other two, leaning over Suma's supine form. "You're just not used to it as I am, so you might as well just as shape up."
Hinatsuru and Suma frowned—they knew Makio could be brash and arrogant at times, but this was almost a step too far.
"Hey, I can shape up, I so can!" Suma remarked, pouting as she sat up straight.
"I bet you can't."
"I so can"
"Cannot!"
"Can too!"
"Alright, that's enough, the both of you!" Hinatsuru shouted, crossing her arms and looking at the two in annoyed frustration. "There's no need to argue or act like children, especially when we're doing what's important to survive through the cold times."
That shut them up, as Suma scrambled to her feet, and Makio with a dumbfounded expression.
Hinatsuru was able to talk a deep breath, and exhaled out any pent up feelings she had left. "We all love each other very much, and we all must do our part to make sure we get through the incoming cold, and to do that, we all work together."
A hush fell between them. Hinatsuru looked up and her face softened as she saw Makio and Suma share a guilty look on their faces.
"You're right, I'm sorry." Suma replied, sniffling as she rubbed her eyes, and Makio let out a deep sigh.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, too," Makio replied, rubbing her arm.
Hinatsuru looked at them both, and then, in one fell swoop, she wrapped her arms around them both, hugging them close.
"Apology accepted." Hinatsuru remarked, as she saw growing smiles on both Suma's and Makio's faces.
With that, she soon joined them.