Winter 2023

Winter at its core meant going out and having fun in the crisp, chilly air, doing extraordinary things like snowball fighting with friends, sledding down untouched hills on a new toboggan, or walking into town to enjoy a delicious cup of hot chocolate at the cafe. These extraordinary winter activities made the season reasonable great, especially if they were supposed to be a part of your souls aspect. However, on this first week of snow in the winter season, Winnie found himself anything but excited for winter. The wintery brownbird boy was wrapped up in his Butterfly Wing Cloak, gazing out the window miserably, with a thermometer hanging out of his mouth. By his side, a cozy fire sizzled happily as Blossom's kettlekat Magna helped by tossing another fresh log on the dancing flames to feed it. Sure, the ship had heat, but there was something more warming and healing, like a real fire near the fur.

"How many more days of this?" Winnie groaned feeling the soreness of his throat and body. Blossom took the thermometer from his mouth to read it with a worried expression but switched to one of sympathy rather quickly. An uncomfortable chill ran through him despite the fire warming him completely. These symptoms were atrocious to deal with and each day it felt like something new he had to endure. Even now he could barely keep his eyes open, sleeping would come soon enough.

"I actually cannot say... you're the healer after all," Blossom tried to stay pleasant as always, even with Winnie's rather trying temperament. She was forgiving, since this was not like him at all. The poor boy had caught some terrible winter curse — a virus, one that even magic could not heal up in a jiffy. All she could do was read her book on common colds and viruses and go from there. It made her make a mental check to pick up some books on illnesses to have around the ship. For cases of a not so magical healer of the old ways. Lucky for her the snow lady seemed to be immune to the virus entirely resulting her being the current care taker.

"This is downright awful. My whole body hurts, and all I want to do is sleep," Winnie groaned, giving Magna, Blossom's kettlekat, a pet as she curled up in his lap, feeling sad for him. "I can't believe most of the school caught this, others in town and on the ship...and now me. Me!". Discomfort was not something Winnie was use too. The boy lived a very happy and positive life, his healing magic made quick work to illnesses or wounds, but this nulled him. He was so weak his magic could do nothing. Even in his discomfort he was grateful to Blossom for taking care of them all when he could not. The boy tried his best to not whine or snap, but the illness had everyone in a sour mood that was hard to fight.

Blossom tucked Winnie's Butterfly Wing Cloak closer around him as if it was a loose scarf, making sure he was nice and snug so no cracks of cold could touch him. "Stay wrapped and warm... I'll aid you this tea when it cools." She moved to the fire and took the now whistling white kettle from it. There, she arranged four cups of tea with herbal items that beckoned on immunity and inner healing. From reading the book she guessed it would work over time. Nothing as instant as magic but still helpful nonetheless.

"The ship was more of a surprise than anything," Blossom spoke, making sure the water was not too hot before she gave it to him. "Medi boasted he was healthy as a horse, never getting a winter flu a day in his life... When you brought this home, it took him out first!" Blossom slightly laughed, feeling bad at the irony. When the captain had caught it the poor fire brow was sneezing flames like a dragon from his nose. And despite being so hot in temperature, the captain felt as cold as ice and he too would not leave the warmth of his blanket and the crackling of the fire at his bedside.

"I told him not to get too close..." Winnie's ears pinned back, feeling sheepish for bringing this plague upon them. But not like he could have done anything or known he has contracted it. The others were adamant that they would be immune to this rumored mini plague. "Now Medi has been sleeping for two days straight, and Quinn just caught the virus too...". The other members of the ship had disappeared entirely upon hearing of a contagion. It was not that they did not love the sick members, they just knew better than to catch it.

Blossom sighed with a humble expression, pulling out her adorable carrying tray to place the remaining three cups upon it. While she did so, the snowgirl spoke, "Speaking of them, I best go get these cups to them while they're still hot... you stay here by the fire, and when I come back, the tea should be ready to drink." Picking up the tray, she was off and on her way down the hall before Winnie could protest. To the sick individuals she ventured with hopes they would accept her little peace offering of a calming cup of tea. She figured Medi and Quinn would be thankful for the tea… Diaval on the other hand. That would be an interesting interaction.

There, with Magna in his lap, Winnie stared out the window, still upset but content to hear the soft purrs of the kettlekat. Whatever this virus was, he could not wait for it to be over. The sooner the days went by and his body built strength the sooner he could get back to normal. First thing in order would be to conjure of an immunity spell so he and the others never had to endure such a week or more again! Until then, he tugged the Butterfly Wing Cloak up to cover the bottom of his face as a cover. The warmer the better, and brought Magna into a snuggled hug as he waited for Blossom to get back so he could drink his tea.

“I'm glad you and the other companions can't catch this Magna. It's no fun at all. Completely annoying it is. Being tired and stuck inside all day while it looks so good out there”. From the ship's window he could see a few known landed neighbours out enjoying the air. Lucky for them they had not caught the curse, yet. Disappointment loomed watched a few toss snowballs and a couple in the distance building a snowman. “Ohh the agony…” Winnie whined.

“You hurt that bad?” Blossom seemed to speak out of nowhere coming back into the room with an empty tray. The other sick brows had accepted the tea with no questions asked simply wanting their nightmare too to be done with.

“ oh no..” Winnie was quick to correct turning from the window and towards her. “ I was just being a bit dramatic watching the others outside”

Blossom looked past Winnie and out the window seeing what he had viewed. It indeed looked dreadfully fun. “All in good time” she smiled instructing him to finally sip his tea. With Winnie Blossom nested down by the fire with her own cup.

“All in good time..” Winnie repeated then sipping his tea. It warmed his insides and soothed him, good stuff. For now he would rest with the others and wait for better days.