The Scientist

The First Winter

Zedaph pov:

Time really had flown by, and with everything getting so hectic, it felt like years or months had passed. I realized the first snowfall of the season was already upon them, set to happen tomorrow night. Winter had crept in quietly, unnoticed amid all the chaos.

The freed subjects, once shy and reserved, had slowly begun coming out of their shells. The anticipation of the snowfall seemed to lift their spirits even more. Grian, in particular, had been a bright spot in the community. His unfiltered chaos brought energy to everyone around, an infectious and unpredictable whirlwind of activity.

Tango had also made great progress. He’d developed a curiosity about redstone and spent a lot of time learning from Mumbo and Impulse. The three of them could often be found huddled together, scribbling diagrams, and setting up contraptions. I had watched as Tango’s excitement grew with each new concept, the way his eyes lit up when things clicked.

As winter approached, i had suggested everyone make a list of things they wanted for Christmas. This was met with blank stares and confused murmurs.

“Christmas?” cub asked, head tilted in puzzlement.

That’s when Skizz had jumped in to explain it all. The way he spoke about it—a time of giving, warmth, and togetherness—captivated the group. Grian’s eyes had immediately lit up with mischief, though no one was quite sure what chaotic plans he was cooking up just yet.

I was still processing how quickly everything had passed, the realization that what felt like years had only been a single summer. He muttered to himself, “Wow… It felt like years… but it’s only been summer.”

Grian overheard and tilted his head, confused. “What do you mean, ‘only the summer’?”

I laughed, bewildered. “It just got to winter! Tomorrow’s the first snowfall, Grian. Doesn’t it feel like we’ve been through years of stuff?”

Grian blinked, then frowned. “But hasn’t it? I swear it’s been forever. Look at everything we’ve done—the chaos, the freed us, and now Christmas?” He gestured dramatically, his feathers ruffling slightly. “Time’s weird, Zedaph. You know that, right?”

I nodded slowly. “Yeah… I guess it is. I was just caught off guard. Didn’t even realize we were so close to the first snow.”

Grian smirked, eyes lighting up with interest. "Hey, what is snow? Can you play with it like the soul sand?" he asked, his curiosity clearly piqued.

I chuckled and nodded. "Well... yeah, you can. But it's cold. And it's only going to get colder from now on, so we’ll need coats, gloves, and hats."

His wings fluttered a little as he thought it over. "Cold, huh? I don’t know about that part. But playing with it sounds fun. Can you build things with it?"

I couldn’t help but grin, already picturing Grian's chaotic energy in a snowy setting. "Oh, definitely. You can build snowmen, forts, whatever you want. It’s a lot of fun—just make sure to bundle up, or you'll freeze."

Grian narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. "Interesting... I’ve got some ideas already."

I raised an eyebrow. "Just don’t go overboard, Bird Brain. We’ve got all winter for that."

"Overboard?" he laughed. "Come on, you know me better than that."

I gave him a look, and we both knew it was a lost cause. Grian was already planning something wild for when the snow finally arrived.

Hels wasn’t happy about the snow, and I could tell something was weighing on him. He hadn’t said much, but after the incident at the Dirty Spoon, his quiet demeanor had only grown more noticeable. He always seemed to have a sharp remark ready or that cocky grin on his face, but lately, it was like he was somewhere else—distracted, maybe even worried.