Mythlands: THE HEIST

Part Two: Let it Snow

Future Now:

Both Hares stood, looking ahead at the white wilderness that lay before them. The Hare ... that is to say our Hare, the one we know, who had come from the past to witness this bleak future and attempt to alter it, that Hare shivered as the cold permafrost penetrated to his very bones. Having recently come from the desert, the change was abrupt, unnerving and palpable.

Future Hare, that is to say the longer haired five years older version with the eye patch (on account of being blinded in that milky white orb) nodded knowingly. 'Haven't been this far north in a year or more, but yup, no sign of the thaw. Wouldn't expect any, on account of the magic.'

'The what now?'

'The magic. Or did you really think all this ...' he indicated the field of white, beyond which lay the start of the Magic Forrest, '... was a natural occurrence?'

'Then how ...'

'That son, is a tale and a half, but because we're out here freezing our nuts off, rather than back at the camp with the others, I'll cut it short. Loki got one of his minions to do this as a sort of barrier cutting off the forest from the desert and north from south.'

Hare nodded. Magic actually made sense. A few hundred yards back it was warm and cosy by the make-shift encampment where Jessica and the others and the Rabbitz were currently cooking up dinner; but go across the line where the sand ended and the plains had previously started and it was as if you were walking from the outside scorching heat of a hot land into an air conditioned building ... except this blast of cold air was arctic.

'Who ...'

'Did this? An old 'friend of ours, goes by the name of ...'

Future Then:

'Jadis!'

The Queen turned and glanced contemptuously at the four foot figure who strode towards her. 'What do you want you ridiculous creature?'

'Whadda I want? How about some god damned respect for a start sister! Ho ho!' declared The Mouse.

The White Witch sniffed haughtily. 'Looking as you do, that is a hard ask ... rodent.'

'Hah ha, I sorta like you Jadis, ya got sass ho ho, but call me rodent again and I'll ha hah, put you in the fucking ground!'

'With what army? And does it match mine?'

The Mouse grinned. 'Your god damn army belongs to Loki, same way mine does ha hah. Besides I already ho ho, have my kingdom but yours is hah ha, contingent on pleasing the heh ha, Lord of Evil.'

Jadis was fuming but realised the truth of The Mouse's words. 'Then stand back foul creature, while I perform my task.' With a twist of her hand, the White Witch began to over-turn nature. Where she pointed, a barrier of harsh, cold, chilling wintery white began to blanket the ground, starting where the desert ended and extending northwards.

With a maliciousness she belatedly considered, beneath the dignity of a Queen, Jadis took a moment to aim beneath The Mouse's large yellow boots and smiled as she watched him jump.

'God damn, ya almost froze my feet you ho ho regal bitch!'

'Cease your whining Mouse and let us begone. The process, now started will continue unabated and winter will reign here evermore.'

Jadis turned on her heels and stalked away. Behind her, The Mouse shrugged into his thick fur jacket, made from a talking bear with a penchant for green hats, that he had slaughtered himself, and followed her.