The Joys of Winter: Chapter Two

Frozie's teeth gritted and her brow furrowed as she pulled up on her zipper. The metal groaned with each tug, unable to move forward or close easily with the puffy mass in it's way. Finally with a giant gasp of air, and Frozie sucking in her gut, the zipper slowly slugged along until reaching midway up Frozie's chest, exposing her black and white checkered bra and a small amount of cleavage... small only due to her lack of it.

Frozie turned in the mirror in front of her. She had filled out a bit in the past two months. No doubt her new 'cookies and milk' diet was the culprit. She let her hands run the course of her torso, first over her newly apparent chest, and then down on to her swollen tummy. The hints of a split in her girth were showing, as she passed over a plump dollop that creased before spreading outward into her new paunchy jelly belly. Slightly larger than a throw pillow is how she estimated its size... and that was a bit disconcerting.

Even in her largest top, which her Mamma had packed 'just in case' her belly was what seemed like just an inch from poking out from the bottom and catching a draft on its own.

Speaking of which, Frozie quickly adjusted her scarf to hide her exposed chest. It was chillier than ever, as the thermometer outside her window attested to. Though... she couldn't really say she felt any colder than a few months back. In fact, she'd say she was a tad more comfy, but that was just her adjusting most likely.

No it would not be good to dwell on her new size. Not her belly or her rather thick hips... or her growing bottom which threatened to pop out from her top and expose her leggings and matching underwear each time she took a step. She'd just have to cut back on the cookies. There were other things to eat around here... she just needed to look for them.

But that wasn't important today. No, she had plans. Turning around, she found Piney already sitting down, next to a large tin bucket, and holding a tiny metal device in her hand.

Dressed up in her own tiny boots and scarf, she'd also nicked one of Frozie's extra scarfs and wrapped it around her torso a few times, so she looked rather well bundled.

Frozie stared down at her little body double and motioned her head to the door.

Piney leaped up, grabbing the bucket and drug it behind her. She'd been looking forward to this for quite some time.

Frozie chuckled and walked ahead to open their way out.

-

The winds were low, and the temperature raised as the day went on, but it was still far from anything but freezing. While Piney was largely unaffected, due to being, you know, wood, Frozie was slightly less fortunate. Most of her time on the long search was spent gazing through her nearly frosted glasses, looking for that darn tree, and rubbing down her chest and stomach, warming her core. Being out in the elements was much less hospitable than indoors.

With each passing of her hands over her smooth upper arms, or veiled forearm gliding across her doughy belly, a tiny wave of motion took to her added fluff, and more than a few times, Frozie heard her zipper moan in agony.

Finding their destination proved harder than Frozie had promised. She'd thought, after seeing it once as a child, she'd be able to find it much easier. But it was so long ago, and all these trees looked the same. Green, covered in a layer of powdery snow, fluffy and conical. True evergreen firs.

Layers of frost crunched beneath her feet and she could hear Piney's bucket banging up and down as her tiny legs pumped faster and faster to keep up with Frozie's own longer (and well padded) ones. Frozie was fixing to give up. This was bleak. Boring. She'd much rather be home with her legs kicked up, or laying in front of the fire, zipper down, and plump middle exposed to the lovely heat, napping, mouth open, a line of drool running onto the floor, not a care in the world.

But she did have a care. She wanted to do this. She made a promise, even if it was technically to herself.

And just as she had reached her new revitalized determination, she saw a glint of gold between the mass of white and green in front of her. Picking up her speed, Frozie ran ahead.

Yes, this was it.

Pushing through the trees and into the clearing, Frozie walked into a most beautiful sight. A huge maple tree, larger than most any redwood, towered above her, unseen from the outside. This was a sacred place. A secret place. But it wasn't gloomy or formal. It was lush.

The ground no longer crunched at her feet. Instead, it made no noise. Behind her, she heard Piney's bucket pang-pang-panging at the ground, until it only became a dulled thump. Turning, she saw her little puppet had crossed from the thick tundra like terrain of the forest onto soft springy grass carpet of the Maple's clearing. And just as silent as she always was, Piney dropped her bucket and tap and gazed up, little carved eyes growing wide.

The Maple's leaves weren't dead. Not in the slightest. Colors of green, orange, red, yellow, and all in between created a ceiling on this place, and with the green walls around them, gave a cozy feeling of isolation from the harsh environment. Indeed, for all the light that was in the clearing was not from the sky above (for all they knew, it could be night now), but instead, regularly from the tree, small glowing lights, like golden spores slowly drifted to the ground before being soaked up into the earth.

Frozie tapped on Piney's shoulder with the toe of her shoe and nodded toward the tree. Piney shook her head and returned to reality, then nodded. Grabbing her bucket and tap once more, she ran to the tree, with Frozie walking at her heels.

Frozie grinned at the little metal spike in Piney's hands. She had insisted on bringing it, even if it wasn't useful. When they reached the tree once more, Piney's bucket fell to the ground again, and she raised a hand to the tree in almost a respectful manner, before pressing against it... and after a few seconds, the rest of her followed in almost a hug.

Confused, Frozie reached out as well, and felt the rough bark as well... but beneath, she could feel a warmth radiating and rushing through its insides. Much like Piney, she pressed up to the tree for the precious heat, not caring that her belly spread out against it.

This time, it was Piney who kicked Frozie to get off the tree, and tapped her bucket with the tap. Frozie rolled her eyes and shook her head. Taking the tap, she stuffed it into the scarf wrapped around the doll, and led her around the tree, walking just around until a small ornate brass faucet was attached to the massive trunk about level with Piney's face. A fancy matching plaque with a swirly natural looking design, and black background was nailed in above it.

Piney reached up with her fingers and began to go across the letters, while Frozie placed her bucket under the faucet.

“Yggdrizzle: The Great Maple Fountain”

Frozie stood back and watched as Piney bounced on the balls of her feet in excitement, just like she did. And without a second thought, Piney reached up and twisted the spigot. For a few seconds there was nothing, and Piney's joyous dance began to slow down, but with a mighty WOOSH followed by a heavy SPLOOCK, a wave of shimmering amber erupted from the faucet, slamming into the bucket.

Piney's tiny hands began to clap together as she bounced. This is what she had been waiting for.

But the bucket filled very quickly, and unwilling to let it stop, wanting to watch the thick spray of overly gorgeous liquid continue, Frozie was the one to have to bend down and turn it off, just in time for it to fill to the brim. But she had to do it quickly... as her zipper made the loudest protest yet at this simple action.

Done, Frozie let Piney examine her well earned booty (the syrup, of course, not.... nevermind). Piney looked into the bucket the golden viscous concoction, steaming with heat, was clear for the moment, and reflected Piney, staring back.

But when Piney went to grab the bucket, she found a problem. While taking it with her here was fine and dandy, a full bucket was far beyond her ability to carry. After a few failed attempts at making it budge, Piney let go and fell to the ground... and Frozie could tell that if she had the ability, tears would be welling in her eyes.

Sighing, Frozie pulled down her scarf slightly and picked up the bucket on her own, by the sides, careful not to spill a drop. Preparing herself, Frozie put her lips to the edge of the bucket. If she didn't get rid of some of this... it would spill out on her, so... bottoms up.

Incredibly rich, and so very sweet, that distinct maple flavor flooded Frozie's senses, her nose caught nothing but the scent of it, and her tongue let it wash over itself, and her stomach began to fill with the extra warm mixture while she slowly slurped it. More and more went down, more than the few inches she had intended to take in at the start of the drink. The warmth rushed through her body even faster and more effective than when she'd hugged the tree. More than half. She needed this for the trip back! If she was carrying the bucket, she couldn't warm herself, right? More than three quarters. Her top was getting so very tight... maybe she should stop.

Finally she felt content and lowered the bucket from her face, an overly giddy smile on her face and her eyes lax and content. Looking down, she found but a few dregs of syrup at the bottom. Oops.

Placing it back under the faucet, Frozie watched this time and made sure to turn it off at the right time, giving a good amount of space to allow a bit of sloshing.

Piney looked much happier as she reached up to grab Frozie's free hand, the other toting their golden bounty, and they walked back home.

-

Sitting on her bed, Frozie was still warming herself. Without her arms on the trip back, she felt like she made a mistake... almost. But she couldn't just leave without getting what they came for. Frozie rocked back and forth, the near gallon of syrup she gulped still sloshing around, now much less hot than before, inside her belly.

Piney was in the kitchen doing something but Frozie couldn't tell what.

Finally from the corner of her eye, Frozie saw the little doll trotting over to her, a large something in her hands. Two large somethings.

Clattering up to her, Frozie was presented, with a large twinkling very proud set of eyes gazing at her in victory, a tray full of star shaped sugar cookies, coated with a maple frosting, and a tall glass of warm clear syrup. They were messy, the frosting applied haphazardly, and the glassing having several drops and strings of syrup on the side, but Frozie couldn't help but smile. Was this the little rascal's plan?

Frozie reached down and placed the cookies next to her and brought the glass to her lips. She needed that extra warmth right now.

Once again a similar sensation met her tum tum, as she filled up. And when the last gulp went down, it proved to make her a little too full.

RYIIIIIIIHP

The zipper finally gave way. The poor thing popped right off, and her belly started to push the little guy open, getting right down to her new deep belly button before stopping. The rest of her stomach stayed cradled in her outfit, but there was no saving it now. She'd finally destroyed her largest outfit.

Frozie sighed and gave the glass back to Piney. Piney's eyes were wide with guilt and worry, but Frozie smiled, picking up one of the cookies.

And she made a mental note to write a letter to her mother asking for a few more sizes up, before taking a bite of crumbly goodness and giving Piney a huge smile punctuated by chubby cheeks full of her gift.