//------------------------------// // T'was the Night Before Hearth's Warming Eve // Story: Hearth’s Warming Stories // by Don the Bassman //------------------------------// It was the night before Hearth’s Warming Eve, and clouds covered the sky. The winter wind howled through the city of Vanhoover, rattling windows and stirring the snow as it flowed through the streets. The frigid air turned the crashing waves into a frozen mist, thickening the ice that covered the docks and shore. Steelsong opened her eyes as the windows of the large cabin rattled, the roar of the wind causing the red pegasus to shiver and snuggle closer to her husband, Atisuto. She smiled, noticing the unicorn’s eyes open and the sparkling red glow of his horn as he pulled the blanket tighter around them. The mare kissed the dark blue stallion and nuzzled his chin, his light blue and purple goatee tickling her muzzle. Atty wrapped his front legs around his wife, pulling her close. He closed his eyes as Steelsong buried her face in the nape of his neck. The mare tilted her head, laying her ear against the unicorn. She sighed contentedly, listening to Atty’s heartbeat and steady breathing. Sliding a wing around her husband, the pegasus closed her eyes. Feelings of love silently shared, wrapping the couple in happiness as they began to drift back to sleep. The door to the room slowly creaked open, followed by the sound of small hooves creeping towards the bed. Outside, the wind howled prompting the little hooves to quicken their pace. Atty kissed Steelsong on her head just before they scooted apart. As they separated, two crimson colored pegasus colts jumped onto bed, each clutching a yellow striped stuffed lizard. “Mommy!” the twins cried as they dove underneath the blanket. “Daddy! It’s Windigos!” Steelsong extended her wing over the two foals as they hid. “It’s okay Firefly, Star Chaser.” She spoke softly to the scared colts, attempting to sooth their fears. “You’re safe.” “Windigos won’t come in here,” Atisuto softly smiled at the little cyan maned ponies, giving them each a kiss on their forehead. “They’re afraid of your momma!” he whispered to the colts, causing them to softly giggle as they settled in between their parents. “May I join?” a voice asked from the darkness at the foot of the bed. “Of course, Azure Moon,” Steelsong replied to her daughter. The colts scooted apart as the lilac-colored unicorn climbed into the bed. “You’re getting good at moving quietly!” “Thank you! I’ve been practicing.” Atty lifted the blanket, allowing the young pony to slide between her little brothers. “Scared of the windigos too?” “No,” the violet maned filly replied, giving her mother a kiss on the cheek. “I just wanted to join the cuddle pile.” “You’re not scared?” Star Chaser asked his big sister, his golden yellow eyes wide. “Of course not!” replied Azure. “Aunt Whiptail and cousin Shadow are just down the hall.” She snuggled her brother. “Then grandpa and grandma are downstairs, not to mention mom and dad.” The filly rolled over, giving her father a kiss on the cheek then snuggling her other brother. “Nothing would DARE come in here!” Steelsong smiled at their daughter’s observation and adjusted her wing around her children. Atty smiled as well, shifting his foreleg around his family. Star Chaser yawned causing his father to follow suit. “You two feeling safer now that big sis is here?” the stallion asked. “Uh-huh,” Firefly nodded, yawning just after seeing his father yawn. “G’night.” “G’night.” Star Chaser echoed, closing his eyes. “Love you,” whispered Steelsong, her eye lids growing heavy. Atty smiled, noticing that Azure was already fast asleep. “Love you too.” He whispered back, closing his eyes. Outside, the winter stormed continued to rage. The wind angrily howled into the night, the cold air ripping through the streets of Vanhoover. But for Steelsong and Atisuto’s children, they were warm and safe in their parents embrace, dreaming in a blissful slumber, the love of their family keeping the windigos at bay.