Zarbon glared out the window at the gray, cloudy sky and the snow covered landscape. He zipped his heavy coat and
wrapped his thick scarf around his neck. Pulling on his warm gloves, he opened the front door and stepped out into the
searing cold. Stuffing his hands deep into his pockets, he trudged out to the mail box, the snow crunching under his
boots. The only mail was a bunch of credit card offers for the girls.
Turning on his heel, Zarbon began his trek back to the house. Hidden under the snow in his path hid a slick
sheet of ice. He slipped, tried to catch himself, but slipped again and went down hard. Wincing at the pain in
his leg, he stood carefully and tried to put weight on the leg.
"I hate winter," Zarbon growled as he limped back to the house.
- - - - - - - -
Zarbon sat shivering in his car, waiting for it to warm up enough to drive. Being the only person not in
school or working on something a that moment, he had been volunteered to go to the store to pick up supplies. His fingers
were numb from scraping the partially melted/refrozen snow from his windshield, and his toes were frozen from marching through
the frozen slush filling the parking lot. And now the windsheild was fogging over as the heat finally began to produce
some heat. Rolling his eyes, he flicked on the wipers to clear it away, but one was frozen in place.
Sighing heavily, Zarbon rubbed his temple. "I hate winter," he said.
- - - - - - - - -
The axe blade cut through the log like butter and bit deep into the chopping block. Tossing the split log
into the wood box, Zarbon set a new log on the block and took up the axe again. He could feel the sweat begining to
trickle down his back, but his nose and fingers were frozen with cold. The box was almost full, and soon he could go
back inside and warm up.
Just as he tossed the last log into the box and had hung the axe in its place, and snowball hit the back of his
head. It stung and some of the snow fell down his collar, but he couldnt reach it. He whipped around to glare
at his attacker, and a second snowball caught him square in the chest. Sebastian grinned at him, lightly tossing and
catching a third snowball in his hand. Zarbons eyes narrowed as Sebastians grin turned into a smirk and he prepared
to throw the snowball.
Suddenly, a snowball hit Sebastian square in the side of the head, quickly followed by one to the hip. Tonya
dashed up carrying an armful of the rounded missles, pelting Sebastian mercilessly, forcing him to run. Jessica and
the other girls were a few steps behind her, exchanging fire with each other.
Zarbon brushed the snow off his coat before picking up the wood box to take it inside. "I really hate winter."
- - - - - - - -
Zarbon pulled on his long sleeping pants and a long sleeved shirt. Thick socks covered his feet as he slid
on his slippers and donned his robe, tying the sash tight. He could almost swear he could see his breath as he heading
upstairs to Tonyas room. The bed was piled with thick blankets and quilts, and Tonya lay curled up in the middle with
just the top of her head visible. She barely stirred as he came in and said nothing as he toed off the slippers. He
tossed the robe on the vanity chair and checked to see if the vent was actually open.
Carefully, he opened the covers, trying to slip into the welcoming warmth without subjecting his partner to the
cold air. He slid over closer to her and adjusted the blankets to maxium heat retention. Her arm slide across
his torso as she rolled over to snuggle against him and he paused. Her head came to rest in the hollow of his shoulder
as her leg crossed his. She sighed contentedly and he wrapped his arm around her.
A soft smile crept
onto his lips and he pressed a kiss to her hair. Maybe winter isn't all that bad, he thought as he drifted
off to sleep.
