The Ranch

Happy Holidays (1)

There's this feeling in the air. Everything feels more cheery than usual. It's also been getting colder, which is the first time the temperature has changed since they arrived half a year ago.

Kai brings up his concerns with Private Scott," Is it just me, or is everything more...festive, than usual?"

"Ah, right, it's about that time of year." Private Scott says as if reminded of something. "Since every culture has different kinds of holidays, the island bunches it all together for one week of festive activities. The temperature will cool down so they can make artificial snow. The cafeteria will turn into a cultural market of holiday food. Most of the soldiers get the week off of work-"

"Most of?"

"The cooks won't get a break. At least they spend more money on a self-operating Ferris Wheel and snowboard rental shops, so they don't need workers for them. Some people would be more than willing to work during the holidays though. Anyways, it will be very joyous this upcoming week." Private Scott shows a rare smile.

He'd be working all year round if it weren't for this holiday...well he still has to work, but those around him feel more generous around this time and take some of the load off of him to give him time to relax.

Once the first day arrives, Kai snatches Tih first and takes him to the now snow-covered mountain. Their steps make a crunching noise over the freshly fallen snow. It's a blindingly white blanket with a cool, fresh smell.

Kai smiles," I've heard that you can make snowmen if you roll the snow into a ball like this." He packs a baseball sized snowball and starts rolling it into the snow. The snow on the ground clings to the ball. It grows into an uneven sphere the height of Tih. Tih rolls the second smaller ball and Kai finishes it off with another for the head.

They take pebbles from the lake for the eyes and smile, sticks for the arms, and a carrot nose from the farm. A tried and true snowman, just like in the books.

Kai brings Tih along for snow angels and kicking trees to watch the snow fall. Tih tries some of the snow, it melts on his tongue.

They spend a few hours messing around before climbing up a designated path to the top of a mountain. The path is semi-crowded and so are the other paths designed beforehand leading to different spots. Each trail leads to a different slope difficulty. The path with the most people is the black diamond slope.

Usually there would be a gondola for people to ride up the mountain, but that's not how it works on the island. What would take a normal person two or three days to climb takes the islanders a bit over half an hour. The lines of people running up the mountain almost resemble a escalator at times five the speed.

Kai and Tih reach the top and wait in line at the rental shop that's been installed just for this week. "One of those." Kai points to a single oblong sled and hands over his ID.

Kai takes the sled and Tih to an open space. Kai looks downhill, it's steep. He's never been sledding before but it should be fine.

Kai has Tih sit in the front and he sits behind so his legs and arms are stretched out around Tih in case he falls out. Kai grabs the rope attached to the sled, he'll use it to steer. Tih's curls are in the way so he has to lean to the side to see in front of him. He scoots forwards until the teeter on the edge.

Kai gulps and tenses his muscles and gives it one more shove. The sled starts sliding down and picks up speed quickly. They start turning left because Kai is leaning that way to see. He realizes this and switches to the right side. They scrape past a tree. The sound of the snow scraping across the bottom of the board is loud in their ears.

Kai pulls on the rope but it only bends the front of the sled. Perfect timing. They slide across a snowy rock and fly through the air before landing heavily on the snow. Kai let go to hold onto Tih when he saw Tih's body lift off the board.

Tih feels a weightlessness as he hovers momentarily before being dragged back down. Kai puts one arm around Tih's waist and one on his arm. He leans right, pulling on Tih's arm. They barely miss a tree. Kai sticks his hand in the snow to slow their descent. It doesn't work. Kai pulls out his hurting hand to see a bunch of small scrapes.

The trees are two dense and the surface too uneven. Kai has no control. They fly through the snowy mountains, spiraling out of control. They're moving too fast to jump off.

The front part of the sled knocks into a rock, and they spin around. They head down the mountain backwards. Kai has to lean in so the board doesn't get stuck in the snow and fling them off, but now he can't see behind him.

A nearby snowboarder notices a pair in a sled about to ram straight into a tree. He crouches low to pick up speed. The snowboarder spots the rope and grabs it and he wooshes past. The sled jerks at the sudden force. The snowboarder finds a flat surface and leads the sled to a stop.

He takes off his helmet with huff visible in the chilly temperature," I've seen idiots, but I've never seen them sledding backwards. That has to be a first." Then he sees their faces," Oh, I know these two idiots."

He slaps Kai's head,"What were you thinking?"

"Wha-why only me?" Kai questions as he rubs the pain away.

"Cuz I know you dragged Tih into it." Instructor Kane picks Tih up off the sled.

Kai remains silent as he climbs out.

"You ever sled before?" Kane gives him a question.

"No." Kai mumbles.

"And you thought you could take on a steep mountain on your first go?"

Kai's lowered head dips further,"Yes."

"Okay, let's go." Kane sets Tih down and puts his helmet back on.

Kai looks up," Go where?"

Kane smirks," I'll be your red-nosed reindeer for the day."

Kane glides down the rest of the mountain with the sled in tow. He zips past all the trees with ease, even showing off a bit and messing with the two. Spinning them around, pushing and pulling them around, jumping over them.

Author's note: y'all like the new cover?