The snow had fallen heavily the night before, freezing temperatures keeping everyone in the Ministry den huddled under blankets or if they were very lucky, snuggled up next to a Fire Ghoul.
But the following morning, Phantom was up like a kid on Christmas knocking excitedly on everyone's doors, begging them all to come out with him to play by the lake, which had finally frozen thick enough to drive a car on—which Frater flatly refused.
Not that that stopped a few of the more adventurous Ghouls—Phantom and Aurora to be exact—cajoling and promising hot chocolate after to anyone who would join in the fun.
Dewdrop, Mountain, Storm, and Rain were bundled up in their warmest clothes and ushered out to the lake's edge. Aether, Cumulus, Haze, and Cirrus all stayed behind with Frater to whip up some warm goodies for the rest of the pack on their unenviable return.
"I've had enough inclement weather to last me a lifetime," Copia said, pouring a generous splash of whiskey into his cocoa. "But you all have fun. And no shenaniganery-eh?!" But Aurora was already waving out the door, shoving Mountain, Storm and the rest after a scuttling whooping Phantom.
"Snow day! Snow day!!" he sang as he raced Dewdrop to the lake behind the Ministry. Trailing behind, it seemed as if Rain was wearing every scarf he owned and Mountain was no less bundled, sporting a hat, gloves, scarf and boots.
Earth Ghouls were the second most acclimated to cold weather after Fire Ghouls, but the drummer was only comfortable in thick-soled non-slip boots. His hooves were another story entirely.
The group made it to the lake and Dewdrop immediately shucked off his shoes and socks, walking bare claw-footed onto the frozen surface. His feet steamed slightly, his high temperature a contrast to the frigid lake's surface.
Phantom did the same, but his feet were a little more sensitive to the cold than Dew's. He hissed at the cold but still eventually put his feet on the ice, claws leaving shallow gouges on the snowy expanse as he bounded after Dew.
"Mounty, c'mon! It's fun! Join us!" Phantom raced over to the edge where Storm and the Earth Ghoul was standing, skidding and nearly colliding with Mountain. The Earth Ghoul started to step out with his boots when Phantom put a hand on his chest.
"No, Mount, without your shoes," Dewdrop chortled, wagging his dripping toes in the Earth Ghoul's direction.
The drummer sighed. "I will, just… don’t laugh like last time?"
"No promises," Dew was chuckling already as Mountain sighed and sat down to unlace his boots. He unglamored his feet and his shiny nut-brown hooves left round prints in the snow at the lake's edge.
"Come on, Mount! You're missing all the fun," Phantom scampered away, nearly getting hit by a snowball Aurora had hucked at him. "Hey! Rora!" The Quint scampered after her, flinging snow in his wake as Mountain took his first tentative step onto the ice.
It creaked under his weight even though they all knew that the lake could have held a tour rig. Mountain's stance was wider than normal, trying to keep his balance on the slippery surface. He took a few more steps, wobbling and trying his hardest to stay upright.
Crash! The ice trembled with the force of an Earth Ghoul landing on it face-first with all his weight. His limbs were sprawled out starfish-style, as wobbly-legged as a baby deer. Phantom turned at the sound, seeing a once-upright Mountain splayed unceremoniously out on the ice.
"Mount-! What-?" Phantom turned around, trying to look concerned, but the big buck just looked so silly, so embarrassed and entirely done for the day, that the Quint couldn't help but giggle a little.
Dewdrop was already laughing up a storm, having previously been burning a hole in the ice with his index finger. Storm, who'd stayed diligently on the frosty shoreline was trying to decide how to help the Earth Ghoul without meeting the same unfortunate fate.
Everyone was giggling as Mountain sighed under his breath, trying and failing multiple times to get his hooves under him. The cold wasn't that bad in his unglamored feet;. but he'd be freezing if he changed them into his human form. But how was he going to get off the ice otherwise?
Dew's laugh was cutting and shrill. "That was two more steps than last year, Mounty!" he said, wiping warm tears from his eyes and pulling his phone from his pocket to snap a quick picture before standing and walking over with Phantom to finally help Mountain up onto his feet.
Storm grabbed for the unsteady Earth Ghoul, holding out Mountain's socks and shoes as he made it back onto solid ground, sitting heavily to pull his boots back on, grumbling about how this is why he hates winter.
The walk back included Aurora shrieking and slapping Phantom because he put a handful of snow down the back of her jacket. Rain, who'd been bundled up like a mummy the whole time, was the first one back inside the Ministry, wrapping his freezing fingers around a steaming mug of hot cocoa and stuffing a warm gingerbread cookie into his maw.
The rest of them followed suit as Copia passed around his flask and the quickly-emptying plate of cookies. Mountain took it all in stride, just enjoying the company of his pack; even if they sometimes poked more than a little fun at each other.
The next morning he rubbed sleep out of his eyes as he opened his door to find a piece of paper taped to it—most likely by Dew—titled "Spot the Difference" with the picture of him sprawled out on the ice next to a picture of a fawn in the same bewildered position. He tore the page off of the hardwood and smirked to himself.
Maybe next year he'd make it seven steps.
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