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Prompt 11 (Snowball Mini-Game Tie In): What would winter be without snowball fights? Maybe you were just out walking, maybe you were looking for trouble, maybe it was all your idea--but a snowball fight has started, and you're in the middle of it. Are you an innocent bystander who now has to flee? Do you decide to join in and participate? Or, were you the one lying in wait, preparing to attack someone? Maybe it was random, maybe the target was selected--either way, snow is flying and you need to react, fast.
One did not simply go out in to the street in winter, during daylight hours, and expect to come out completely unscathed. One needed to be prepared, to done all necessary gear and ensure they were as stealthy as possible. Even as a cat this particular Mauvian had learned this lesson. It wasn't that the children were intentionally aiming for people, it was simply that snow wars were serious business and the crossfire was real. She had already seen the casualties first hand from the window sill, and she'd had the joy of witnessing it up close and personal as Regula had been assaulted from several angles as he walked towards his own front door.
...Granted, that last part may have been deliberate given he was well known for returning fire depending on his mood; but that didn't mean that the Mauvian wasn't aware of the potential for her pristine fur to be covered from ears to toes if she had a single misstep.
It was for this reason that she had donned the equivalent of a feline snow suit, an outfit that would probably get the neighbours talking about Regula's tastes, and she was carefully creeping out the backdoor. This seemed to be the safest route and given she was currently warm she genuinely had no interest in any wayward snow trickling down the back of her neck. Thus, she kept low to the ground and close to the hedges, slipping passed the snow mounts pushed up against the roadside. All was quiet and still for now, there appeared to be no signs of life and save for her own paw prints the ground beneath her seemed to be largely undisturbed.
She might very well be home free!
Or rather, she assumed she would have been and she was almost out of the woods and into the 'safe zone', when she detected the tell tale click of several doors opening. Her ears flicked backwards, met only by the sounds of slow footsteps crunching against snow. She kept walking, even as the creak of cold, metal gates could be heard behind her and then she heard it. No sooner had those gates open than the childish squeals erupted across the street and before she could even dive for cover several snowballs went soaring overhead.
She was fortunate that their aim was so poor when they first woke up, but give it five minutes and the cold would wake them right up. In no time at all she would be in the middle of no man's land and that wouldn't do at all. It was time to go, and it was with that in mind that the Mauvian gathered her wits about her and quickened her pace. Bonding through the snow, she hopped behind snowmounds to take cover until she was finally out of harm's way. A quick glance behind her confirmed that they were indeed beginning to wake up and if anyone else chose to walk out now then they were fair game.
Geez, and all she'd wanted was to sample the drinks at the little cafe she'd kept hearing about.
At this rate, they better be good...otherwise she wasn't sure navigating No Man's Land there and back again, was going to be worth it! For now though, she carried on towards the town. She'd worry about getting into the house again later, for now she had other things to do...
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