“Are you sure you can handle it?”
“Of course I can. It should only be a few hours right?”
Oh how I’d eaten those words...
A typical day is how it started, yet groggy and grumbling one member of the trio was nudged out of bed. Hair in a tousle and bags under their eyes, it was clear the night hadn’t treated them well. With a wide grin another stood at their side, gently guiding them away from walls and the like.
After the storm last night a fresh blanket of snow covered the ground out in the garden, the windows and doors closed tight from the chill. As paintings of frost clung to the glass and the plants everything glimmered in the early rays of dawn, the icicles clung to the edge of the roof and above the door, a few catching the light so perfectly they seemed to glow.
When they got to the kitchen an odd sight awaited them, the table filled with small scraps of paper, paints, and streamers. With a smile the shorter one turned to the other,
“We have to get all of this ready before they get home Shadow. I have a few more things to pick up from the grocer, I won’t be gone long. Think you can get the rest of the decorations up?” Atia spoke softly, she didn’t want to wake him up this early, but knowing the others, they were likely already on their way.
“Calm down, I’ve got this under control.” The shade responded after a yawn, “Just hurry back when you’re done, or you’ll miss all the fun.” He grinned and ruffled the girl’s hair.
Grabbing a coat, scarf, gloves, and a basket as well Atia nodded with a smile and stated “Farewell!” She stopped at the door and turned towards him again, “Are you sure you can handle it?”
“No problem!” He laughed, “Of course I can, It should only be a few hours right? I’ll have most of this up no sweat don’t worry. Now go on or you’ll get caught in the early market frenzy.” Shadow smiled and waved his partner off, before cracking his knuckles and taking a look at when had been done so far.
The banner was finished and just needed to be hung, carefully rolling it up with a string he attached one end to the wall against the staircase, the other in front of the doorway to the kitchen. Securing the tie ever so carefully he made sure it hung enough to be pulled back down easily. Going back to the table he grabbed handfuls of streamers, carefully placing them to dance in the breeze from the furnace.
It took a while until the shade looked at his handiwork, brilliant streaks of violet and silver covered the halls and the dining room. A loud grumble caught his attention as he glanced down towards the floor to another companion.
“Spade ya lovable lizard where have you been all morning? Come on you can help me move these into place.” With a cocky grin he laughed as the ‘small’ dragon scampered away.
Looking at the time he went back to the kitchen, taking out various foodstuffs. “It wouldn’t hurt to make a bit of breakfast right?”
When Atia returned, the kitchen smelled foul, a plume of smoke rose from the stove to the ceiling. Catching the sight she practically dropped the basket, before running to grab the burn kit. Sprinting back and uncorking a potion she carefully poured it on Shadow’s hands before wrapping them.
“Alright I’ll handle everything else while you get some rest. I’ll be up with food in a bit I’m sorry I wasn’t home sooner.” She spoke softly, ushering Shadow back upstairs for some rest.
With that she began cleaning up the unfortunate mess, looking at the clock she nodded. The minute everything was cleaned off and aired out, she began her next task, grabbing a mixing bowl and the ingredients she had just gotten that morning. Rolling up her sleeves she got started, hoping that the third wouldn’t be home until everything was spotless. Nudging Spade out of the way a bit she smiled and laughed, knowing the other three were out with him, it was likely they wouldn’t be back before nightfall.
As everything baked she set the table out, carefully covering the cloth with plates of food, all covered for freshness and kept chilled with a spell. It was only ceremonial but she lastly placed out the wine. True it wouldn’t likely be opened, but still it was placed.
A sigh left the male’s lungs as he looked at his comrades, they left before dawn but it seemed like they’d gotten nowhere at all. Green wouldn’t let him see the map, Red kept insisting they knew the way, and Blue was being a general ass as per usual. Having skipped breakfast he rolled his eyes while the others began an argument again over the map.
“Are you sure that we’re heading in the right direction, it feels like we’ve been walking in circles for the past two hours.” Vio pinched the bridge of his nose, “Perhaps we should stop for lunch?”
The others froze, ‘Have we been found out?’ they internally questioned. Having gotten a letter from Atia they were stalling for time, they had been moving in a giant circle but were hoping that Vio was too sleep-deprived and groggy to notice it. Taking a nod they traveled over to a clearing for lunch.
Shadow was able to use a bit of magic to heal his wounds a little faster, helping Atia with the rest of the food prep, mostly putting on the decorative flairs after setting them at the table. With the sun starting to set the final piece was finally cool enough for the icing. Carefully the duo worked painstakingly to make this perfect. The sun had finally set when they were done and there came a knock to the door. Smiling they went to the foyer and opened it to greet everybody.
Candles suddenly lit as the whole group shouted,
He was shocked, having forgot which day it was he smiled and started laughing, hugging each member of his family, “So that’s why we took all day to get back.” He chuckled, before a skittering got everyone’s attention.
It was too late, the dragon had already launched from the floor to tackle Vio down, knocking the table and most of the food over in the process, tail waving happily the scaled pet nuzzled at the pinned hero before backing off and going to eat the items from the floor.
“Well, at least we already have a clean up crew.” Everyone laughed at Red’s remark before Atia went to get the cake. It was marble with various shades of purple frosting, the words on it were in black.