Kya was impressed with how quickly Alexander and Kadense gave out the jobs. She noticed that they took the time to figure out the best job for each individual villager. They were becoming one of her best diplomats. Hopefully they would be up to the next challenge she had for them.

When the last of the villagers willing to help in the winter festival had gotten their assignment. Kya motioned for Alexander and Kadense to come over. They both walked toward her. Alexander had the list folded in his hands.

"All done." Alexander said as he handed the creased list over to her. Kya opened it up and looked at it. Beside each task was a name penciled in. Some of the tasks even had two names. Clever.

She pocketed the paper. "I have just received word that there are two diplomats from the new colonists coming and have their dietary requirements. We are going to need to go hunting. It seems they like meat of all kinds."

"It's going to be hard to hunt with all the snow on the ground. It's not the right season.

"We can take some out of our storage. Take this list and take out the food we might need." Kya handed them another piece of paper. This one was not creased and once again the list was hand written.

"It's my turn to carry the list." Kadense said as she reached past Alexander and snagged it from Kya's hand.

Kadense started to scan through the list. "I don't know what half this stuff is."

"Here let me see. " Alexander leaned over Kadense's shoulder to see the list.

"Oh I know what that is." he said as he pointed to something on the list. "But I don't know what these are."

Kya sighed. "I will come with you." She got off her box she was standing on and onto the hard packed snow. She noticed that several of the villagers were already at work shoveling the snow from the area.

The larger of the two suns had already disappeared behind the tall black snow covered mountains leaving only the smaller of the two suns touching the peaks. And long dark shadows were being cast by the buildings.

"We will start in the morning. It's getting dark and too cold." Kya said.

"Sounds like a good plan. See you in the morning then. First sunrise." Alexander said. Kadense pocketed the list and they both left for their own house.

"All right you three. I love the fact you are willing to work but it's time to go home." Kya said as shooed the remaining villagers.

Satisfied that everyone was either home or on their way Kya left the town square herself and headed home.

The next morning Kya went to the town square. No new snow had fallen but the ground had frozen solid that would make it much harder to clear.

Kya spotted Alexander and Kadense talking to little Noel.

"Good Morning!" She called out in greeting. And made her way to them.

Alexander bent down and gave Noel something and she scampered off.

"We are good to go." Alexander said.

"I have the list." Kadense said as she patted a pouch that always hung from around her neck.

All three left the town square and headed toward a small building on the far side of the village.

As they walked the snow crutched under their feet. Someone had shoveled the trail that led to the house and left mounds of glittering mounds of snow on the side.

Kya was glad when they were inside. Although it was almost as cold inside as it was outside. Inside were two small sleds parked to one side and a staircase that led to the cold pantry where all the food was stored. Kadense pulled out the list and Alexander flipped on a light switch that was next to the door. The small room was suddenly flooded with light. And the larger area down the stairs was now lit. Making it much easier to see what was inside. Kya and Kadense went down first then Alexander.

Kadense pulled out the list and they all looked at it.

"I'll get these." Alexander said as he pointed to the first three that were on the list.

"And I will get the ones you two don't know what they are. Which leaves these two to find." Kya said.

They separated and Alexander went deeper into the food pantry where he knew the foods he was getting were kept. Kadense had to search for hers as they were on opposite sides.

They lost sight of Kya when she went off into an otherwise unknown part of the cold pantry.

It took all three of them about an hour to gather all the food and place it in one of the two sleds.

They threw over a net and secured the load.

"That should be enough for Dion to make a nice fancy meal from." Kya said as she stepped back from tying down the last of the netting.

Alexander took up the rope and with Kadense's help they got the sled moving and out the door.

Now that they were on the snow the sled was easy to pull. Alexander aimed for Dion's house that also happened to be where he had his diner. Dion was the best cook in the village.

They went through the edge of the town square and Kya was amazed at how much it had changed in so little time. The ground was half way cleared of the snow and a booth was already being set up.

Dion home and was actually expecting them. "Of course I will cook the main meal. I would not dream of anyone else doing it. Must have the best you know." He said as he started to unload the sled. "Now shoo, I am sure you have other things to do and I have a meal to plan."

Alexander and Kadense waved goodbye to Kya as they went to do some other task leaving Kya to figure out what she could do to hurry things along.

It was the big day. The town square had been transformed into a bustling winter festival with all sorts of booths that were selling wares from fried rat tails to wrist bangles. And it looked like everyone was having a grand time.

The two diplomats from the new colonists were sitting at a large table that was filled with all sorts of food talking to Kya and Kel about maybe setting up a village of their own not too far away. And maybe even staying at the village until the snow melted.