It was in the backyard of the Daniels house that they’ll tell you it happened: The Great Snowball Battle of 2013. Two big walls of piled snow hid the combatants of both sides from the enemy. With a tense atmosphere, no one dared poke their heads over the wall… meaning the sides were busy strategizing until it was wartime.
The snow wall on the east side of the yard saw a yellow fox and brown raccoon crouched on the ground, muttering to each other, planning their attack.
“Justin’s gonna be the first to jump up as soon as Alex spots one of us sticking up over the wall…” Calrin explained, drawing in the snow.
Richie smirked a bit. “But what if he decides to be the one who throws first?”
Calrin giggled and started forming a snowball. “We win.”
Richie laughed and started forming a ball too. “Works for me!”
Meanwhile, at the west side of the yard, a wall of snow kept two red foxes hidden from sight. The younger of them was squirming and whining.
“This is boring, Justin!” the younger fox called out. Justin patted the wool-knit cap-covered head of the other cub and giggled.
“Don’t worry, Alex! Just gotta wait them out!” Justin told his younger brother. Alex whined and huffed.
“I don’t wanna wait!” Alex said. Justin rolled his eyes slightly and started to form a ball.
“Then stick your head out… see if anything’s peeking out the top of their thing.” Justin told his brother, an annoyed inflection in his voice. Alex nodded slowly and slowly lifted his head just enough so that his eyes were over the top of his and his brother’s snow wall. His eyes widened when he saw a brown and black-stripped tail sticking out over the enemy encampment. The young fox snickered and turned to his older brother, lowering his voice to a whisper.
“I see Richie’s tail, big bro!” Alex whispered excitedly.
Justin grinned and nodded, a nice, big ball of snow rolled up in his mitten-covered paw. With a mighty battle cry he jumped out from under the wall and was prepared to lob his volley… when two snowballs pelted him in the face rather suddenly! Alex couldn’t help but laugh at how his brother wound up looking after the fact: The snowballs hit Justin square in the eyes. The older of the red foxes shook the snow off of his face and looked towards the enemy snow fort, where Calrin and Richie were high-fiving each other. Justin grinned mischievously and started forming another snowball.
“Think you’re funny, huh? Take this!”
Justin lobbed his volley straight towards Calrin. Before the yellow fox could react, Richie blocked the shot for him, taking a snowball square in the chest. Calrin gave a fake, yet playful gasp as Richie took the hit.
“Richie, no!” Calrin called out as Richie got hit. The raccoon laughed and shook it off, grinning.
“I’m fine!” Richie called our triumphantly.
Justin grinned and gently nudged Alex… and more snowballs started getting made on both sides.
----------------------------------AN HOUR LATER--------------------------------------
Alex and Richie were completely tuckered out from the war. They were lying on the ground; eyes closed, and panting, snow matting their fur and dampening their clothing. And yet, despite being worn out, Calrin and Justin were still going at it. Their entire snow forts were completely destroyed, and snow covered their jackets and pants… and small speckles lined their hair ad fur… but the two young warriors would not yield. Instead, they stood there, snowballs in their hands, staring at each other.
“This is it, Cally!” Justin called out, smirking, “Whoever hits now, they’re the winner!”
Calrin nodded and grinned, bouncing the snowball in his paw. “Sure you don’t wanna give up now, Justin?”
Justin laughed and winked at his friend from across the way. “In your dreams, Cally!”
Calrin looked as determined as possible, waiting for the moment… both of them were. They didn’t want to be the last to throw, so they were watching each other… and then it happened. Both foxes released their snowballs, sending them flying…
And time slowed down. Justin watched his snowball sail towards Calrin… the red fox grinning wide as it looked like the ball would hit. Likewise, Calrin was watching as his snowball went soaring through the air, passing under Justin’s ball, watching it fly towards Justin. Both foxes felt confident their snowballs would land, but Justin smirked wide and started to mutter under his breath for his snowball to hit… But then it sailed right past, just barely missing Calrin’s outstretched arm. Justin frowned as Calrin’s ball beamed him square in the gut, knocking him back. Once Calrin saw this, he jumped into the air and laughed.
“I won! I won!” Calrin said, giggling, looking down at Richie and shaking him. “We won!”
With a yawn, the raccoon stood up and smiled weakly, laughing a bit. “Yay… can we go inside now?”
Calrin giggled and nodded before turning to Justin. “You owe me a favor now, Justin!”
Justin chuckled and picked up his brother, dusting both of them off. “I know, Cally, I know, don’t worry!”
Alex looked up at his brother and jumped a bit. “Can we play video games now big bro?!”
Richie grinned and pointed towards the house. “Sounds good to me! I miss the warm!”
Justin nodded and stretched out. “Works for me! Wanna race?”
Calrin rolled his eyes before nodding at his friend. “You’re on!”
“I guess I’ll do it too!” Richie said, getting a little excited.
“Yay! Racing my big bro!” Alex chimed in.
Justin grinned and immediately took off, surprising everyone. The other cubs weren’t about to let Justin win from a head start, and took after him. And so was The Great Snowball Battle of 2013. Not a complete chronicle, but ad the end of the day, why would it have been? They’re children, after all, and children aren’t always the most astute characters in the world.
