A large blanket of snow covered a beautiful forest. The moon shined its reflected light down onto the many trees. It was a quiet night in the snow-covered forest. A calm, cold night. A night that wasn't special or magical. It was a night for memories to be made. A night that would be remembered. Because it was a very cold night.
The sound of crunching snow broke the silence of the forest. A being bundled in heavy gear was walking through the forest. It was strong. The being was carrying something heavy on its back. The item weighed it down. So, much, so that the snow shoes it wore left deep impressions in the snow on the ground. It was also moving very slowly and it seemed to strain itself with every step it took. It was getting closer to its destination with each heavy step. Every time it heard the crunch of snow beneath its shoes. It knew that home was a step closer. It looked up the path it was following and saw a distant glow. A warm glow. A glow that brought a smile to its face. And, it added a little pep to its weighted steps. One more step that brought it closer to home. One more step that brought it closer to its heart. One more step that brought it closer to its family.
The cabin was large and covered in fresh snow. The glow from the inside was bright and inviting. At a glance, the cabin looked like what you would see on a Christmas card. A large snow-covered cabin in the middle of a snow-covered forest. A clear sky above it with the moon shining down. The light of the moon just barely illuminating the woods. While the stars decorated the skies with beautiful constellations. The being walked through the brush and up to the cabin door. For a moment it stopped and admired its surroundings. Hardly, anyone can see things like this. It was grateful for the moment of beauty and peace.
It reached for the doorknob and gently grabbed it. Slowly, it turned the knob and opened the door. As the cold air rushed into the cabin. It was blocked by the warm air inside. The being gently stepped into the cabin. It rolled its' steps as it entered; trying to keep the noise it made to a minimum. As the being entered the cabin it was greeted by happy smiles and slow waves.
The cabin was occupied by seven other creatures. One was a young human adult named Jack. He was inside the open kitchen with Nama. A changeling that used to be a wandering chef. That was until she met Hitch and Sparky. Those two were resting on one of the two couches. Hitch, an earth pony who retired from being a sheriff. Sparky, his adopted dragon son. Hitch was smiling down at his son; who was currently resting against him. His son purred gently while nuzzling into his father's side. On the other couch sat a pegasus known as Zipp. She was a former princess now turned expert engineer and mother. At her sides rested her adopted children. Both of them were Digimon she had raised since they had hatched from their eggs. Guilmon, her oldest, was a red dragon-like digimon that had no wings. While her youngest was Gammamon. Another dragon like Digimon. But, he looked more like a dragon than his older brother. He had wings on his back and had more dragon-like features. Both of them were purring as well as they snuggled with their mother.
Jack waved at Goose and greeted him softly. “Hey, Goose.”
Goose quietly closed the door as he turned and looked towards his friend. He gave him a tired smile before replying in a soft voice. “Hey, Jack.” He began to take the backpack off. The backpack was modified to carry large amounts of items. In this case, it was a huge amount of freshly chopped firewood. As he placed the backpack down. Jack had quietly walked up to him. He had a cup with something steaming inside of it. Goose caught the familiar scent of honey fire tea.
He perked up at the scent of the hot beverage. As he turned to face his friend again. Jack had reached him and was already holding the hot cup out to him. Goose smiled at him again and took the cup from him. He felt the heat of the liquid radiating through the cup. His claws were immediately warmed from the heat. He brought the cup up to his lips. The full scent of the tea wafted into his nose. The scent slightly calmed his nerves. As he took a sip of the tea he felt himself being warmed. The sweet-tasting tea melted the last bit of cold in his body. The honey and cinnamon slightly restored his energy. While the tea's slightly bitter taste at the end gave him a slight perk up.
As Goose sipped on the tea he took a look around the cabin. The main light source was from the smoldering coals of a fire that had just died down. The other light source came from a candle in the kitchen. The cabin was very warm and cozy. It was a wonderful place to stay during winter. As he finished his tea; he noticed Jack was already unloading the wood.
He set the cup down and spoke softly. “I got this Jack.” He motioned for his friend to go rest or one of the empty spots on the couches. Before he suggested. “Go rest up.”
Jack simply waved him off before replying. “I got this.” He picked up a small stack and turned towards the fireplace. He rolled his steps again as he walked towards it. He paused a moment before turning to Goose and saying. “By the way. She's been waiting for you.” He tilted his head to an area just in front of the fireplace.
Goose knew who his friend was referring to. He gently walked up to the area; while Nama made her way from the kitchen and to the living room. As he walked around the couch Hitch and Sparky rested on. He saw the most adorable sight any of them could see. Lying on the carpet just in front of the fireplace was a small dragoness. She was about the same size as Sparky when he first hatched. But, unlike him, she didn't have wings and she had fur instead of scales. The little drake rested her head on the page of a book she had been reading. She was adopted like the other children of this mixed-up family. Adopted by Goose. But, she was not his daughter, no, she called him by another name. A name he was proud to be called.
He walked up to her and knelt in front of her. He smiled at her as he reached for her and gently rubbed the back of her head. He felt her purring as she slowly stirred from her slumber. He quietly called to her. “I'm back, Honey.” He heard Honey yawn before she started to look up at him. Her tired eyes slowly blinked into focus. His smile grew a little wider as he spoke to her again. “Big brother is back.” He chuckled a little as he called her by her nickname. “Lil Squeaker.”
Honey smiled happily at her older brother. She tried to stand up but only managed to get to her knees. Her tiny arms reached for him. He quickly scooped her up and hugged her close to his chest. She began to nuzzle him happily. She soon started purring again. Her purring then slowly turned into happy squeaking. Whenever she got very excited or happy; she would suddenly start squeaking every now and then. The reason why he would call her “Lil Squeaker.”. He chuckled a little as he walked over to the couch where Hitch sat. Hitch smiled at him as he moved over. Goose sat down on the couch; his little sister snuggling against him. She squeaked again causing him to smile.
Jack had finished placing wood inside the fireplace. He reached for some kindling they kept near it. He placed the kindling beneath the wood before he reached into his pocket. He pulled out a lighter and flicked it open. He struck the flint and a small flame ignited at the top of the lighter. He moved the lighter closer to the kindle and held it there for a few seconds. Once the kindling started to smolder, he moved the lighter away and gently blew on the smoldering kindle. For a moment there was smoke. It soon turned into a small flame. When the flame started to spread to the wood he had placed. He stopped blowing on the kindle and watched as the fire grew larger and larger, and larger. Soon the whole living room was illuminated by the fire. It was also getting a little warmer. Jack smiled at his work before he got up and walked over to the couch where Zipp and Nama were. He sat down beside Nama.
They sat in the wonderful silence of the cabin. The only sound was the occasional crackle from the fire. Along, with the occasional purr that came from the children. Honey rested peacefully in her older brother's arms. She felt safe in his hold. For a moment her eyes opened. She yawned before looking at the fire. Watching, as the flames flickered in the fireplace. She felt the warmth from the fire wash over her body. It made her feel more comfortable and safe. She looked down at the rug and saw her blanket was still on it. She struggled a little in her brother's hold.
Goose asked her. “You want down, Squeaker?”
Honey nodded and Goose set her down. She walked over to her blanket and picked it up. She moved it away from the fireplace; only to spread it out on the rug. She then laid down on top of the blanket. Before she looked at her brother with pleading eyes. Her ultimate weapon against him. For, a moment Goose was stunned. He then sighed in defeat before getting up and walking over to her. She moved over and he laid down next to her. She purred happily before snuggling into his side. He smiled lovingly at her.
Sparky noticed the two and gently tugged on his father's arm. Hitch was confused at first. But, he figured out what his son wanted just a second later. He chuckled a little before he stood up and stretched himself out a little. Sparky grabbed the blanket and walked over to the two. Goose noticed them and smiled as Sparky laid his blanket down. Like Honey, Sparky had spread his blanket out and laid down on it. His father walked over and laid down on the blanket next to him. But, instead of snuggling into his father's side. Sparky crawled into the open space at his father's forehooves. He curled up and rested his head in the crook of his father's neck. Hitch chuckled again as he nuzzled his son.
The two started a ripple effect in the cabin. Because Guilmon and Gammamon were practically dragging their mother off the couch. Zipp fiend feeling too tired to move. It caused her oldest to move underneath her. Allowing him to carry her on his back. He was strong for his size. Before Zipp could protest her sons were already walking towards the others. Gammamon had laid the blanket down and spread it out. While Guilmon moved to the center of the blanket and laid down. He rested in a position that reminded her of how some dogs rested. It made her giggle a little as she moved from his back and rested against his side. Her youngest crawled his way in between her forehooves and pressed himself against her warm chest. He purred happily.
The only ones left sitting were Nama and Jack. Both of them looked at their friends and smiled at the cute sight. Jack rolled his eyes before looking at Nama and motioning her to come with him. They got up from the couch and walked over to a nearby room. Goose watched them enter the bedroom. He then saw them walk back out with various pillows and blankets. They walked over to the group and placed pillows underneath the heads of the adults. After, they layed the blankets over their bodies and then joined them underneath the covers. Nama and Jack just cuddled with each other.
The inside of the cabin was barely lit by the roaring flames of the fire. The fire kept the home at a comfortable, warm temperature. The children purred happily as they rested in the holds of their loved ones. The adults smiled lovingly while they enjoyed this moment of true peace. As the wood crackled in the fireplace. The sounds of gentle snoring and purring echoed through the cabin. They were all resting peacefully on the floor of the cabin. They were a family. A family that knew for that moment. All of them were safe.
Author's Note
Just a small oneshot i felt like writting