January
“Do you wanna build a snowpony?” Dandy’s voice rose an octave as her eyes gazed upon the fresh winter snow.
Winnie chuckled. Though her sister was a full grown mare, she hadn’t changed one iota since she was a young and carefree foal. It certainly was one benefit to being second born. Her mind was always on what fun could be had, whereas Winnie being the elder was always planning for what came next. Especially with the new year arriving. It wouldn’t be long before the changing of the seasons.
“We haven’t done that since we were foals.” For a moment she did ponder if they had time. She shook her head as if to clear the thought away.
“No, no. I don’t have time. There is much that we need to do,” she stressed the we portion but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.
Dandelia’s full focus was on the glistening blanket of snow. Her tail twitched as if she were about to rush through the trees and romp in the cold.
“We have a lot to plan,” she lectured to her sister’s backside hoping that some of what she was saying was actually heard. “In a few short weeks Spring will be here. We will need to host the Changing of the Seasons, just as the Windcloves did for us. The Flickerglades will be arriving earlier than last calendar…I think.” She paused. It seemed that true Winter was not lasting as long as it had in the past. She sorely wished that the last few years had been a fluke but alas it seemed to have become the norm.
Her sister didn’t answer so she continued, “We need to prepare the sleeping quarters. It has been nearly a year since our last guests. The official invitations also need to be drawn up and sent. Oh goodness, I nearly forgot! We need to double check our stores. I hope we have enough for everyone. Perhaps we should go to the market?”
“Do you think Marella Wonderpearl will visit? I can’t remember the last time we played together.”
Winnie had to take a moment to place the name to a face. All she could remember was a bright eyed slightly awkward filly that the sisters would occasionally play with during large royal gatherings. It was so long ago that she really couldn’t recall anything more than that, just a vague memory of the three of them traipsing through the woods. “Umm a little,” she said finally.
“Marella would love to play in this snow.” Dandelia sighed wistfully.
“I think you would like to play in this snow,” Winnie retorted.
Her sister nodded silently.
Normally she’d groan and start rattling off their itinerary, but this time she was struck with an idea and acted on it. “Then the last one in is a rotten robin egg!” She kicked up her heels and sped out of the icy alcove of trees and headed straight for the frozen sea that was normally a vast meadow in the warmer months. The snow was so thick and piled high that most trees were covered at about half height and a few with just the tiniest tip sticking out like a fresh sprout. Her legs sank down with a soft crunch and her belly flopped in the chilly powder. She laughed as she couldn’t run anymore, now she was just flailing and kicking up chunks of white snow with her hooves.
A shriek and a giggle followed behind her as she tried to flop and swim through the blessing of winter. She looked back just in time as her sister went fully under the snow then popped back up with even more giggling. “Oh my goodness!”
“I’m alright!” Dandy called as she went under and popped up again. “I just have to find my footing!”
Winnie kicked up a pile of snow towards her sister’s depression in the snow. “Ah!” Her sister shrieked then laughed. “I’ll get you for that!”
“Come and get me, rotten robin egg!” She teased.
The further into the meadow, the softer the snow was, and her legs sank deeper and deeper. This time she was up to her chest flopping in the snow. Though the snow was cold, it didn’t have much effect on the sisters. They were well accustomed to the freezing temperatures.
Dandy stopped and scooped her large antlers into the powder, sending bits of it at the bluer mare. “Take that!” She called.
Most of the snow landed on Winnie’s backside as she floundered in the snowpack. “Ack you got me!”
She tried to run away again but this time she couldn’t. She finally turned to her sister, sliding a bit on the ice as she twisted.
“Now who’s the rotten robin egg?”
“Still you!” Winnie grinned, she kept grinning even when another massive pile of snow showered down upon her head. Dandy burst into a fit of giggles, sending her into her own fit of laughter. Perhaps there was always time for some play after all, thought Winnie.
Words: 843
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