Once Upon A Time (10 page)

Pressing a
kiss to my Mate's cheek, I waited for her eyes to open.

I was a bit
surprised when Owain mentioned Merida at the competition but it was
not my call. I’d just keep my concern for her safety to myself and
make a mental list of items to add to my bag to cover any human
needs. “You are a photographer? I would love to see some of your
work. I enjoy keeping nature scenes around me. I find them
soothing.”

I stood up and
brought the coffee carafe to the table, refilling my cup before
sliding it down, closer to Merida should she care for any. “I
noticed the snow-forts and walls are all in place outside. This
should be fun today.” I roll my shoulders in mock readiness. “I’ve
been practicing my aim so beware. You all might want to start
kissing up, I might go easier on you.” I winked at Merida once more
and grin. “Do you think I have them worried yet?”

"Of course I
am staying for the snow and the food...."I laughed some eating
more. When Owain had mentioned the biathlon and actually invited me
I had looked around the table, when I mentioned taking photographs,
but no one protested so maybe it was ok to say yes. "Yeah, I'm sure
I will get some great shots....and yeah, I adore photography. That
is one of my hobbies."

Smiling at
Angharad, I had looked at Owain as Garad asked if she was doing
well on trying to worry them. I made a slight funny face and nodded
looking back at Garad. "Oh yes, you are getting there. I'm sure a
few more minutes and they will be running downhill." I chuckled and
finished my coffee, but refilled my cup halfway.

“
Don’t feel bad Owain, I seem to remember Bran retreating
behind a tree while trying to shake the snow out of his clothing.”
I leant to Merida like sharing a secret. “Don’t let these big guys
intimidate you. They just make bigger targets. Targets that we take
full advantage of.” I smiled sweetly at them all before digging
into my cantaloupe.

“
Merida, you said that you don’t plan to participate in the
snowball fight so be sure to fill me in on anything I miss. Last
year I completely missed Gavril being buried in a snowbank. I heard
only his feet were left showing.” I sigh in mock sadness. “I hate I
missed that.”

Gavril
Negrescu

I still had a
smile on my face from when I had heard about the good-natured
teasing over breakfast about who was going to be flattened by whom
during the snowball fight.

The whole
point about the annual snowball fight was for everyone to let off
steam, and my Betas and I knew that this meant that we were
legitimate targets for everyone in the Pack, with the younglings
aware that this was an occasion when there would be no comeback on
them if they buried us in the snow.

So, warm
clothing in layers was a GOOD plan. Last year, I was buried by the
teenagers. Bran was the target of a sustained attack, and Owain was
the victim of the kindergarten crew, of all age groups.

Roll on the
fun and games.

I squatted
behind a snowbank and double checked my supply of snowballs,
cracking my knuckles and ready for the fun to begin. Today I am not
the pack healer nor an adult female. I am a youngling all the way
and ready to have fun. I chose a spot a little uphill from the
younglings and about even with the group of adults taking their
positions.

I rammed my
foot into the snow to get a good foundation for power-throws when I
was beaned on the head by a snowball. Gales of laughter erupt
behind a stand of trees and I squinted my eyes in mock anger and
threat. “I’ll get you now!” I quickly grabbed a few balls and lob
them at the trees, not hitting any of the young but spraying them
with the snow spatter when my aim hits the trees above their heads.
“It’s on now! War!!!!!

Their high
pitches squeals are in time with their coordinated attack. Two jump
out to throw at a time, thus making it hard for me to get a chance
to aim. “Oh ho! You guys planned your attack today. I’ll remember
that the next time I have to mix something up for upset tummies.
How does liver flavored medicine sound hey?” I sprinted over,
getting hit repeatedly with snow and I lobbed snowballs their way.
My last throw was done underhanded as I slid behind some cover.

Watching Owain
make a target of himself for the benefit of the kindergarten crew,
my own eyes narrowed on my target, or rather the group dared by
their teachers to try to 'take down the Alpha'.

Crouching
behind a snow wall of my own, a good supply of ammunition at my
side, I scanned the treeline and the snow fort for any signs of my
target. Of course, I pretended not to hear the attempt at a
stealthy approach from the side of my snow wall, but did jump up as
snow was stuffed down the back of my jacket.

Leaping up, I
spun round, shaking the snow from my hair. "You think you can get
me that easily." I mock-roared at them. "Eat snow, you little
miscreants!" I yelled at them. "I will show you!", as I let rip
with my own volley of snowballs. The teens dove out of the way,
with howls of laughter. Narrowing my eyes, I contemplated which of
the three groups I should follow.

I saw the
younger ones are now full-on attacking Gavril and Owain so I set my
sites on the rest of the pack that are light-heartedly tossing
snowballs at each other. I load my sled up with ammo and move
around the perimeter to sneak up behind them. Of course I was
uphill as I scoped out the playing field beforehand. This year I
vowed that I would not be buried under a pack-made snowbank
again.

After my first
volley my position was made and they turned as one to bombard me.
Wynn nailed me in the forehead and I went down like a felled tree,
his laughter echoing through the yard. I growled loudly and stood,
ready to return fire. “I’ve been practicing Wynn. Aha!” My shout of
glee was cut short by another round of missiles from the group so I
quickly ducked down behind a tree, spitting snow out while I
planned my strategy.

For all the
fun involved in a snowball fight, the reason why I ended up with
the teens was because this also gave them a chance to work out how
to fight as a team. Given that, as Cŵn Annwn, we still had to
harvest in battle zones, it was a useful skill for them to learn
and to know how to use to best effect.

Having
selected which group I would target first, I reminded everyone via
open mind link that they must not flash themselves out of danger,
as we had a human watching us, and more importantly, a human with a
camera.

Crouching
behind my wall, I bobbed my head up to confirm where I need to aim.
Letting loose a rapid fire, I made sure that the snowballs hit
their targets. "You will have to move faster than that!" I yelled.
"One of me to six of you? Surely you can do better?"

Another group
began to attack Wynn and his buddies so I stood up and gathered my
strength. Only ten snowballs left in my supply so I would have to
make them count. Suddenly I recalled an idea to use something I saw
in a movie. Lord of the Rings, if I remembered correctly. I piled
the snowballs in my arm and jumped on the sled, aiming right for
Wynn. I threw two which hit their targets with precision as I
barrelled down the hill.

My shout was
cut off quickly as sadly, the sled moved faster than my body and I
crashed to the ground amid hearty laughter. I tried to roll and get
up before they reached me but was unable to do so before being
buried in snow. “Buckets? It’s a snowball fight not a snowbank
fight!” Someone grabbed my ankles and pulls me out of the pile and
before I could say thank you, he shoved some snow down my back.
“I’ll remember that.” Soon another attack came from the teenagers
and I found myself joining in with Wynn’s group to defend our
position. Thankfully the males are larger than me and provided a
good level of cover. I grinned and sat down on a small snow pile
and let them duke it out while I surveyed the activity around
me.

Owain was so
funny playing with the younglings and Gavril was having a time
also. I just loved this free-wheeling fun. No rank, just friends …
no family, letting go of all care and worry in order to enjoy life.
My reverie was cut short when they noticed that I had not taken
part of the defence and they moved aside so the attackers’
snowballs landed steadily on my unprotected body.

Grinning at my
chosen targets, I lob a flurry of snowballs at them, aiming for
sides and above their heads. As I yell my challenge to them, the
other two groups decide that they need to work together, and try to
outflank me. Hidden behind the safety of the snow wall, where
Merida can't see me, I decided to flash in more ammunition. Similar
piles appear behind the groups of my opponents, out of sight of our
human guest.

"I say again.
Is that the best you can manage?" I ducked behind the snow wall. I
wanted this group to realise that just flanking me won't work.
Popping up, I lobbed another couple of snowballs before ducking
back down. "Getting bored here. Looks like I am going to win this
battle." I taunted them. Come on, work it out, I said to
myself.

My laughing
was cut short when I heard a teen shouting my name accompanied by a
youngling’s cries. Everyone knew to leave me alone so I was safe as
I ran across the playing field to the treeline. “Oh sweetie, you’re
supposed to hide behind the tree, not ram into it.” I chuckled
softly and lifted her into my arms. Her bloody nose and scraped lip
married her sweet face. “I’ve got you, come on.”

I carried her
over to Aaleahya and Merida before setting her down on a chair.
“This little one got a little banged up but you’ll be ok sweetie,
here, let me clean you up and we’ll go inside.” She cried out a no,
clearly wanting to continue with the play when we heard the call
for hot chocolate. Aaleahya stopped her from running off as I dug
the cloth out to clean her face. “Let Angharad clean off the blood,
little one, then we’ll all go in for some hot chocolate and
pastries.” It didn’t take me long to fix her up enough to let her
go. “Here sweetie, hold this cold cloth to your face until you get
inside, then you should be ok.” She ran off to the house and I
grinned at Merida. “Think you may want to join in next time? It’s
fun.” She shook her head no with a laugh. “Not after the injury I
just saw, I think it’s safer over here.” I chuckled and grinned at
Aahleahya. “Hot chocolate it is then. Well, after I get this snow
out of my clothes.”

I quickly ran
to my room and changed into some dry clothes, grimacing as I peeled
the wet denim from my body. “Someday I’ll get the better of them.”
Of course I grinned knowing I’ll never best those males in a
snowball fight and actually, that was half the fun.

Merida was
standing with Owain as I entered the dining room, Bran was with
Alix and Gavril near Aaleahya. I smile at the easy way they seem to
fit together. It takes a strong woman to smooth the male’s rough
edges and to do that without the males realizing it is a feat only
a female can master. That thought makes me chuckle and I step
around the children to be handed my cup of hot chocolate. “Mmm,
nice and hot.”

I moved over
to the corner and watched the happy crowd, sipping my drink while
soaking in the happiness and warmth of the pack.

I was already
laughing at how the adults acted, specially Owain with the little
ones. The laugh and smiles on their faces were great. Angharad as
well made me laugh, and Gavril ... whilst he had seemed
intimidating to start with, overall everyone, they were so
natural.

Me of course,
staying aside, God knows if I had gone in to fight I would already
have a badly hit, some bruise or something, I wasn't much of a
sports girl. They all took such good care of the young ones; it was
like a big family. All the time I had been taking pictures of them
playing around. I had evidence how they had owned Owain just for
the fun of it. I promised myself that I would make an album with
them. I hoped he might like it, perhaps as a late Christmas
present?

I watched as
the young ones rushed inside for snacks. I looked at Owain as he
approached me. "That was amazing what you did with them.” I smiled
and stood on tiptoes to his height and kissed his cheek. I had
decided that I would take him up on his suggestion and would be
staying another few more days to be at the biathlon. I was actually
getting excited just from thinking about the pictures I would be
able to take of the event.

"Maybe
tomorrow I can take pictures around. I like the scenery here." I
told him with all honestly as we stood inside. "Oh, and you just
wait until I reveal all the pictures I took. I want to make an
album. It will be amazing." I laughed remembering some of the shots
taken. I moved to take a cup of hot cocoa, a new one, for Owain, I
wanted to be nice to repay him. "Here, you should get changed. You
are all wet. It wouldn't be nice if you get sick."I smile and touch
his clothing, and I could feel the warmth of his body seep from it.
That was strange, he wasn't trembling from coldness .... in fact,
.... as I look around, no one was. I shook that thought off my
head. They are inside and drinking hot chocolate so that must have
done the trick.

I was sure by
the time we all go to bed, we will have a pleasant rest, and such
silly thoughts would be just a distance memory.

Eventually,
the teens realise what it was that I was trying to have them do,
and a wild flurry of snowballs attacks me from both flanks, whilst
a distraction volley comes from the front, and a further volley
from behind me.