Pride Of Man - The Order

Part 1

3 years after current events...

   They were locked inside that night, overplayed boardgames scattered the coffee table and floors.

"I'm bored!" Nala complained, playing with a stuffed cat in the air.

"We can't go outside," Liken told her strictly, "snow will get in the house if we try."

"I know, I know." She groaned, "you've told us so many times."

"Then stop complaining." Liken scowled.

Marsh meanwhile, was slowly spinning in a chair behind the couch they were on. "Wanna play checkers?" He suggested boredly.

"You always win." Nala sighed.

"Hey guys!" Red said excitedly, "I think it's clearing up!"

Liken looked out unenthusiastically, and despite this being true, there was still at least a foot of snow outside and it was getting late. "There's still snow in front of the door." Liken pointed out.

"Yeah," Red agreed, "but now Henry can get rid of the snow on the ground with his magic!"

And that's when he remembered, Henry, their only neighbor in miles, was a relatively friendly witch.

"Oh, right!" Nala shot up, instantly excited. "Let's go ask him!"

"Not it!" Marsh called, dashing into his room.

"What's your deal?" Liken asked him.

No response.

"Whatever, Marsh." Liken sighed, "I'll do it."

"You sure?" Red asked him shyly, "it's really cold outside tonight. We can go?"

Liken laughed, "no way," He told them, "I'm not letting any of you get frostbite. Besides, I'm sick of being locked in here anyways."

Liken walked to his room and pulled on a coat, making sure to fasten the buckles tightly before climbing a latter to the roof.

He opened the trap door, a cold breeze instanly sending shivers up his spine and shuffled to the edge of the roof. He then lowered himself down to the snow and tried to step on top of it, however, he ended up sinking down to his knees.

Henry spotted him through the window of his house and stepped out into his cleared patio to watch him make his way across. "What the Jeffrus are you doing?" Henry asked in disbelief.

"Henry," Liken asked tiredly, "Red thought that you might have a spell to clear the area around our house?"

Henry checked him up and down, half of his body still submerged in the snow halfway between their houses. "Ah!" Henry nodded, stepping inside to get something.

Hopefully, Liken waited. Soon after he emerged, then passed Liken a strange shovel and did a fancy motion with his hands "magic!" He said, before walking back inside.

Liken starred at it for a moment, unsure of the strange shovel's purpose, but stumbled back to their house anyway.

When he returned, they were all urgently waiting for him on the couch. He showed them the tool and Red rolled her eyes.

"Do you think it has magic in it?" Liken asked in confusion.

Red groaned, "it's a snow shovel." She explained.

"How does one activate said 'snow shovel'?" Marsh asked.

"Are you boys serious?" Red asked in disbelief, "it's not magic, it's used to manually clear snow! You know this, right Nala?"

Red looked at them with an extremely surprised and annoyed expression, but decided to show them instead, "come with me," she sighed, "I'll teach you."