Peaceful Farming (28)

The next morning greeted them with a sky of pale gold and soft pink, the sun rising sluggishly over the frostbitten farm. Overnight, a fresh layer of snow had settled on the rooftops, weighing down the beams and forming heavy drifts along the eaves. Arpious, ever watchful of the farm's needs, pointed toward the barn and farmhouse. "If we don't clear that soon, the weight might cause problems."

Elara nodded in agreement, fetching a sturdy ladder and a long-handled rake. Arpious climbed up first, the cold metal of the ladder biting through her gloves, and began carefully pulling the snow down in controlled sections. Elara's son stayed below, using a shovel to push the piles away from the foundation, ensuring that melting snow wouldn't seep inside.