Some children, giggling, having a snowball fight, toss a few at Wraithvine, Gikka, and hir apprentice mage. They ask the travelers to please, come play. -- Anon Guest
Winter is rarely the favoured season of the dragon-kindred. Even one with a Ring of Elemental Resistance, like Gikka did, was prone to get pouting and grumbly in snowy weather. Just as Gikka was doing now.
"You're all right," Gikka complained. "You're only in the snow up to your knees. Meanwhile, I'm waist deep in it."
"You can always ride on my shoulders," offered Wraithvine. "At this point, you're choosing to be up to your waist in it." And at that point, a snowball hit hir in the chest.
Giggling from the snow forts on either side of the road. One of them was using a pair of braies as a flag. The other had a kerchief. "The knickersons did it," called a kid on the kerchief side. "Join the Snotrags and fight back!"
"Nuh-uh," called a voice from the other fort. "It was the Snotrags that did it."
Strodius murmured, "I could create a flurry of snow to drive them all inside."
"You need to learn how to have fun," said Wraithvine. "Pick a side."
Gikka, still muttering Draconic curses, burrowed into the snow to opt out.
"You're not," said Strodius. "You're the world's most powerful Wizard. You're worshipped as a god in some areas. And you're going to join a kids' snowball fight?"
"Joy is rare and fleeting," said Wraithvine. "I'm siding with the Snotrags." Ze blinked into the little fort and began conjuring snowballs. Most of which, ze flung towards Strodius.
It didn't take very long for Strodius to enjoy the game in spite of his previous objections. He was laughing and throwing snowballs with the kids right up until their families called them in for the night.
"See?" said Wraithvine, extracting Gikka from her burrow. "Laughter makes the world lighter for having it."
[Photo by Andre Morales Kalamar on Unsplash]
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