6. Chapter 6

After finding

their rooms and taking some time to unpack and get settled, Argo and Crys

finally joined their companions downstairs. The tigers had all been sipping a

hot chocolate and caramel concoction that had been prepared for them by the

chef, and were all feeling warm and relaxed by the time Crystalandra and Argo arrived.

Crys looked around for the waitress, and Argo quickly spotted the simmering

cauldron on the table. He poured each of them a drink and handed a steaming cup

to his beloved, touching her glass with his before he chugged it down. It was

very hot, but the tiglon didn’t care for it was the first real warmth he’d felt

all day and to him it was pure bliss. Argo refilled it twice and was savouring the

third cup when Rangerkitty stood and crossed the room over to him. Once she was by his side, RK discreetly

whispered to her friend,

“Argo, you

might want to take it easy. There is liquor in this… you might not want to get

drunk this early in the day.”

He chuckled

quietly. “Is there? I had no idea. I was wondering where this buzz I was

feeling was coming from.” And he downed the warm drink. “So? What’s the plan?”

“Skiing!” Ranger

declared.

“Skiing?”

both Argo and Crystalandra repeated, neither being familiar with the sport.

“Exactly what

does this skiing involve?” The she-cat

inquired, daintily sipping her cup.

Galina jumped

up and made to grab both of the Sh’iars’ arms, but recoiled suddenly as she

neared the tiglon. Damn this promise!

She touched Crystalandra’s shoulder instead making the Sh’iar queen turn and

look. “It’s a time honoured tradition and a great sport--I guarantee you’ll

like it!”

“It’s out

there in the cold snow, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but

you’ll be plenty warm! The activity and the snowsuits will keep you feeling

just great! It’s when you sit around doing nothing that you feel the chilly

cold!”

“Oh joy…” Crys

shuddered and regarded her mate who was swaying slightly. “Um, Argo, are you

all right to try this skiing thing?”

“Don’t be

ridiculous I’m fine!” He nodded and saluted, “and right as rain—onward we march

to the slopes we go—HO!”

She knew he

was up for anything, and Crys certainly couldn’t be shown up by her tiglon.

“All right Galina, let’s go.” She conceded, and Galina waved her hand pointing everyone

towards the lockers located in the far wing of the lodge where they could suit

up in preparation for the fun.

While Tygra

and Rangerkitty each chose a snowsuit, Argo leafed through the selections

looking for one at least big enough to fit him. He was very tall and had a much

broader build than he figured most on Third Earth were used to due to his unusual

lion/tiger mixed heritage. He gasped and then chuckled as he reached the end of

the clothing rack and saw a suit that had a safety-pinned note to it, ‘For the biggest hunk on the planet. –Gali’

“That gal

never ceases to amaze me.”

Pulling the

hanger off the bar, Argo opened the plastic wrap around the suit and found a

stylish black and blue snowsuit in his exact size and measurement. Grinning

broadly, the tiglon glanced over at Galina who was already smiling at him

pleased he had found her gift: she

winked and he winked back in recognition.

“Thanks.” Argo mouthed; he turned and sat down to pull

the suit on. Feeling giddy, Galina rushed

over to her tigress friend.

“Ranger, he

winked at me!”

“Nothing

unusual there, it’s something Argo does a lot.”

“Oh yeah? How

many winks have you gotten today?”

“Three.”

Galina

gasped. “You’re keeping count?”

“No.”

Rangerkitty smiled, peering around her she noticed Tygra had finished dressing

and was waiting on her. “But it’s still early--I’ll lose count after six or

seven.”

The white

tigress fumed slightly and narrowed her eyes. “I’ll get more winks than you do

by day’s end.”

Rangerkitty

chuckled and pulled her boots on. “Okay Gali. We’ll see.”

“Yeah, we’ll

see, I’ll be the winner.” Galina turned

and strode over to Bengali, who was going over the wide selection of skis and

poles at the desk. Crystalandra having

donned a purple snowsuit which matched her mane, and Tygra, wearing dark blue,

joined the white tigers. Rangerkitty

being the last person to dress stood and was zipping up her red snowsuit when

Argo approached pulling her hair out of the way. RK looked over her shoulder at

him,

“Thanks

Argo.”

“You’re

welcome, my lady.” He winked.

She smiled

back and inwardly chuckled, that’s four.

Argo walked

along the length of the desk scrutinizing the ski selections and frowned

concerned that they would snap in two pieces under his weight. “I don’t know

about this, Ben.”

“You don’t

know about what?” The white tiger

inquired.

The tiglon’s

eyes widened noticing the ski Bengali was holding in his hand was much larger

and there was only one, not two. “What’s that?”

Argo asked, pointing. “I wouldn’t

mind one of those instead.”

“This? It’s a snowboard. It’s kind of like a space

board or surfboard, and you can use it to surf in the snow.” Bengali explained. “Why don’t you give it a try?”

“I like the

idea of that…I think it will suit me better.”

He declared with a huge grin on his face. Ah here was something more challenging for

him to sink his teeth into!

The feline at

the desk handed another snowboard to Argo who gladly accepted it. Galina took

the third board, and the others were content with skis. Everyone now ready with their equipment,

headed outside to where the snowmobiles were standing by, ready to transport

them up the mountain. Two snowmobiles could carry three people each; they

looked at one another trying to decide who would sit where. Tygra dashed

forward beating Galina to the first vehicle and gripping the handlebars he

announced, “I’ll drive.”

Being someone

used to having her own way, the white tigress pouted and crossed her arms in

defeat. “Not fair.”

Rangerkitty

walked over to the second snowmobile and smiled over at Crys and Argo. “Why

don’t you two climb on with me? We’ll take turns.”

“Sounds fine

with me,” Argo agreed, “Crys?”

“Yeah, whatever…” Crystalandra sat behind Rangerkitty and Argo

sat in the rear seat. He slipped his arms around his woman’s waist and rested

his chin on her shoulder.

“Hey there

snow angel…” He mused and affectionately rubbed his nose against her cheek.

Crys giggled,

and then realized she would have to hold onto Rangerkitty once they started

moving if she didn’t want to fall off. Awkward. The hybrid would have preferred it if it were

Argo driving the snowmobile instead of Rangerkitty but beggars can’t be

choosers.

Rangerkitty

turned the key and started the engine, then turned the right-sided handlebar

which started the snowmobile moving forward. Crys felt the machine lurch and

quickly grabbed the tigress to keep herself in her seat. Tygra followed suit

with Galina holding his waist and Bengali behind her. Both snowmobiles sped up

the mountain, weaving through the maze of pine trees and through the fresh

white powder that had fallen the night before. The sun was shining high in the

bright blue sky, and the visibility was optimal for skiing. Crys tried to keep

herself positioned directly behind Rangerkitty to avoid the cold wind from

blowing in her face.

“Put your

goggles on, babe—it might make it a little easier to see!” Argo called over the

sound of the roaring engine.

Crystalandra reached up with one hand and pulled the goggles

that were on her forehead down and over her face, feeling instant relief; it

was a perfect barrier to the snow that had been getting into her eyes. She

blinked a few times and sent a silent Thank

you to her mate who squeezed her even more tightly in acknowledgement.

Arriving at the mountaintop, Rangerkitty and Tygra slowed down and put the

machines into neutral. Everyone climbed off and collected their skis and boards

to start their first run down the ski slope. Two lodge staff members came to

collect the snowmobiles returning them down the mountain so they would be ready

for the ThunderCats’ next ascent.