It was snowing in Peak Country, on a new year. Snow had fallen down and blanketed the entire ground in snow. Kids would play in the snow, make snowmen, and sometimes, sometimes they start snowball fights.

At Slither Scale's house, it was a typical morning. Feathers and his siblings were cleaning up the living room. It was barely a mess after Feathers' birthday party, but with teamwork, they managed to clean up the place. Slither had turned on the gramophone and played a record, as music was playing.

On that fine snowy day, Feathers had just finished shoveling snow off the pathway when a snowball hit his diaper butt, as he flinched. He heard a chuckle and saw Otis pointing at him. "Oh, yeah?" he smirked as he made a snowball and threw it, as it hit Otis.

"Oh, you want some more, Feathers?" Otis asked as he made a snowball and threw it at Feathers as it hit him in the face.

The two threw snowballs at each other. Slither had just finished making hot chocolate, when he noticed the snowball fight and opened the window. "Alright, knock it off, you two!" He demanded, but then a snowball hit him in the face.

Otis and Feathers flinch at realizing Slither at the window.

"Oh, we're sorry, sir!" Feathers cried.

Slither dusted the snow off his face. "If you're gonna be fooling around in the snow, that'll happen AFTER work."

"But I had started with removing snow from the roof before I did the pathway, sir," Feathers said. "Skylar did the shoveling in the backyard."

"And I had brought firewood for the fireplace this morning," Otis said.

"Yes, I appreciated that," Slither said sternly, "but I will not remind you that work comes before playtime. Beyond that, come inside and help yourselves some hot chocolate. You both seem to feel cold from working outside."

"Yes, sir," Feathers said, and they went inside.

"We could use some of that hot chocolate," Otis said.

Inside the house, Feathers and the others had grabbed their mugs and were sitting by the fire, having a sip of hot chocolate.

"Ooh, that's hot," Ince said.

"It sure is," Bess said. She then pondered and asked, "Slither, can there be a story for us to hear?"

"I'm usual to history and fantasy books," Slither said.

"Any animal related stuff?" Otis asked.

"Oh, come on, Otis, you're not that kind of a bookworm, are you?" Skylar asked.

"I happen to love animal fantasy, Skylar," said Otis with a smile.

"So am I," Feathers said. "One of my favorites was with the dragon and the sorcerer."

Ince sipped his hot chocolate. "Slither, do you have any books a kid like me can read?" he asked.

"Well, there were some kid books I've read to Feathers when he was a chick," Slither pondered. Then he smiled. "Ah, of course!" He slithered toward the bookshelf and pulled out a book. "Here's one. It's about a lion's cub looking for his lost crown in the jungle."

"The Lion's Missing Crown," Ince read the book title. "Oh, that I gotta read! Thank you, sir!"

"Huh, I'm surprise you collect children's books these days," Skylar said. "I was expecting some stories for someone like me, a teenager."

"Ah, but there were some books that are indeed children's books, Skylar," said Slither.  "Some of those were those I keep when I was young, some things I treasure for good times."

"I do miss all the fun times of those books you used to read me when I was a chick, sir," Feathers said, "like the classic Pinocchio book. It's too bad I'm too old for a book like that."

"Nonsense, no one's too old for books. Sometimes books are those who enjoy reading them, young or old. But enough talk about books. This is just a short break, and I want you three back to work. The backyard might still need some snow shoveled off."

"More snow?" Otis asked.

"You should've seen how piled the backyard looked," Skylar said.

Feathers' ears droop. "I'm not surprised."

The three went out the backyard, and it was indeed piled with so much snow.

"How did that get piled with THAT much snow?" Otis asked.

"How should I know? I'm not the snow expert," Skylar scowled.

"Well, let's just get to work, guys," Feathers said.

The three began shoveling snow out of the backyard. They would scoop big amounts and toss them over the fence. Otis scooped snow and tossed it at the group.

"Hey!" Skylar snapped from the snow hitting her, and Otis laughed. She scowled. "Very funny, Otis."

"It's a joke, Skylar," Otis giggled. Skylar shoveled snow and tossed it at him. "Hey!"

"I think those delinquents had taught you rude manners those days, so tit for tat," Skylar smirked.

"Guys, come on, let's get back to work," Feathers said, as he dusted snow off his shoulder. But just as he shoveled some snow, Otis scooped the snow and tossed it onto him. "Hey!" He glared at Otis as he laughed. He scooped the snow with his shovel and tossed the snow at Otis. "Tit for that!"

"Oh, yeah?" Otis said, as he shoveled the snow and tossed it as the snow hit Skylar and Feathers. "Right back at ya!" He laughed.

Skylar and Feathers look at each other and nodded. They scooped up the snow with their shovels and tossed the snow onto Otis as he yelped.

"Tit for tat, Otis!" Feathers and Skylar laughed.

"Enough, you three!" A voice hissed. The three startled that it was from Slither, who had just come outside and was not happy with what he saw. "You're supposed to work together as a team, and what I saw was basic horseplaying. I want no more of that nonsense this instant!"

"Otis started it," Skylar said as she pointed at Otis.

"No, they started the fight," Otis protested.

"I don't care who started it," Slither said sternly. "One more act of horseplay, and you three will be punished! Do you understand?"

The three's ears droop, as they said, "Yes, Slither. Sorry, Slither."

"Good," Slither nodded sternly. "Now get back to work." He then slithered back to the house as he shut the door.

The three went back to shoveling snow without any more trouble.

"I didn't think Slither's this strict," Otis said.

"That's how he is, but he knows best," Feathers said.

"I could only imagine how you handled his rules for fourteen years," Skylar said.

Feathers said nothing, as they continue shoveling snow, obliviously wetting and messing their diapers, until the backyard was clear.

"Phew, that about does it," Otis said, wiping his forehead.

Feathers looked at his diaper. "Yeah, just in time to get our diapers changed," he said.

The three went inside, wiping their feet on the mat, and proceeding to the bathroom to change their diapers. They later went to the living room, as Slither was changing Ince's diaper. Bess laid on the mat, as her diaper was wet.

"Will I get a change?" Bess asked.

"Wait your turn, Bess," said Slither as he cleaned Ince's bottom. "I'm almost done with Ince." He taped the new diaper on Ince. "There you go, child."

"Thank you, Slither," said Ince as Slither patted his belly playfully. "You're so like my parents."

"Thank you, my boy." Slither then turned to Bess. "Now it's your turn. Thank you for waiting."

"No problem, sir," Bess said.

Ince for up from the changing mat as he saw the three. "Hi, guys. We were just getting comfortable in the house."

"As we should be too," Skylar said.

Slither removed Bess' wet diaper as he said, "Hold still, girl, this requires a little clean up."

"Okay, Slither," said Bess.

Feathers noticed the fire getting low, and he put a log into the fireplace, careful not to get burned. He took out some paper and rolled it before putting it in the fire. "Slither, would any of us learn to change Ince and Bess' diapers some time soon?" he asked.

Slither had finished cleaning Bess and taping a new diaper on her. "Not yet, Feathers," he said. "I would teach you some time."

"But sir, I had learned how to change my first diaper."

"That's different. You can't expect to just do anything without learning first things first."

Feathers' ears droop. "I understand, sir."

Slither looked at the fireplace and said, "You might wanna put another log in the fire."

Feathers looked at the fire and said, "Sure thing, sir." He put another log into the fire.

Soon, nighttime fell, as everyone gathered by the fire, with mugs of hot chocolate and blankets due to a sudden drop of cold temperature.

"I wish I'd buy a jacket with my allowance," Feathers said.

"You used up that allowance to buy that fruitcake for Slither," Skylar said.

"I know, but... oh, if I knew it's gonna be colder, I..."

"It's alright, Feathers," said Slither, patting him on the back. "We have each other to stay warm, like the fireplace."

That made Feathers smile weakly.

"Oh, and speaking of fruitcakes," said Slither as he pulled out a slice of a fruitcake. "I've been saving this last slice for you, Feathers."

"That? But that's your fruitcake."

"I know, but I wanted to save that last slice, for you."

Feathers didn't know what to say. He looked at his siblings, then at Slither. He smiled and took the plate. "Thank you, sir. You're the best." He then ate his cake, as Slither tousled his head.

"You're welcome, my boy."

Everyone sat warmly by the fire, enjoying the night as a loving family.