Introduction
Scanlan Shorthalt leans against an evergreen. His knitted purple vest stretches over his round snowy chest. He pulls his corn cob pipe out of his mouth.
Oh hello! He looks out at you. Flashing a shimmering grin. Are you here for a story? Pausing dramatically, Scanlan continues. Well then… this one happened several years ago. But it’s one of my absolute favourites for this time of year. It was a particularly cold winter in Christmas town. Not like this year, it’s so mild this year. I haven’t even needed to put my long underwear on once and Christmas Eve is right around the corner!
You see, Santa had the elves working double time that year. The orders from around Exandria were just crazy! The things these kids were dreaming up, incredible! For the first time since he still had red hair, Santa was worried he might not be able to get all the good children their gifts this year.
Santa Caleb
Caleb sighed heavily. “Oh Astrid, I am worried we will not fulfill all of the children’s wishes this year.”
“Nonsense,” Astrid replied. “You’re Santa Claus, you always find a way to bring joy to every good child on Exandria. This year will be no different.”
“I don’t know.” Caleb looked out the window. “There’s talk that some of the younger elves don’t like their working situations, and it’s going to be such a difficult year. My magic is already feeling stretched thin, and it’s only just spring!”
Astrid pat Caleb on his back. “Why don’t I go get Essek, he’s always better at cheering you up than I am.”
Caleb continued to mope, his face in his hands, as Astrid closed the door behind her.
The Reindeer Hand
Essek was making his rounds checking in on all of the reindeer on Santa’s A team. Essek preferred being out of the main house and away from the workshop. Even though it had been years since Caleb had melted his cold heart, many of the elves still remembered Essek as the Krampus he used to be.
Next up were the Donners. Mr. Donner had been on the Santa Sleigh team for decades, and Essek knew he and his wife Mrs. Donner, had just given birth to their new fawn.
Approaching the little hut the Donners lived in, Essek knocked at the doorframe. “Hello,” calling softly, Essek poked his head in.
He was met by a beautiful sight, of father and mother deer playing joyfully with their little fawn. The baby’s eyes still weren’t fully open, but she was already taking shaky steps. Bounding towards Essek, the baby reindeer lept (miraculous for a newborn), skidding to a stop just short of Essek’s cloak.
“Why hello there, little one.” Essek pat the tiny reindeer. “What’s her name?”
“This is Laudna.” Mr. Donner announced, proudly.
“Well, Santa is going to be very excited to see little Laudna at the reindeer games this summer.” Essek smiled. “I’m very glad to see she’s doing well, you too Mrs. Donner.”
Laudna blinked up at Essek and smiled. Just then, Laudna’s nose started to flash a bright red.
Confused, Essek turned towards the Donners. This was only his second year greeting fawns, but this seemed out of the ordinary.
Panic stroke the Donner’s faces. “Oh dear.” Mrs. Donner stammered, going over to collect her daughter.
“I’m so sorry Essek!” Mr. Donner apologized.
“Oh, no worries.” Essek began to recover. “I’m sure, whatever that is, she’ll grow out of it.”
“Yes.” Mr. Donner confirmed.
Reindeer Games
A few months later, Mr. Donner took Launda into town for her first meeting with the other fawns her age. She hadn’t yet grown out of her flashing red nose. In fact, it had seemed to get worse, now occasionally making noise.
“Now Laudna,” Mr. Donner started. “Remember, you’re just meant to get out there and have some fun. Meet the other fawns. There’s no need to impress Santa or anyone else. There will be plenty of time for that when you’re older if that’s what you wish.” He smiled down at his little fawn.
Nuzzling her father’s side, Laudna replied. “Thank you, father. I’m just excited to finally meet other reindeer my age!”
As they approached the fence where the reindeer games were happening, Mr. Donner nudged his daughter forward. “And, I know it’s uncomfortable, but…” He looked into her eyes and then down at her nose. “Just keep it on for now. No need to scare the others so early, right?”
She looked at him tentatively, nodded, and swallowed the lump in her throat. Laudna marched forward.
Andy
“Hey!” A fawn about her size cantered up to her, his freckles and sandy blond hair making him quite a cutie. “Haven’t seen you around before, you’re Donner’s doe?”
Laudna nodded shyly.
“I’m Cupid’s buck. Andy.” He introduced himself. “Come on! They’re just about to start the first reindeer game! You won’t want to miss it.”
Laudna grinned and trotted off after him. Maybe she didn’t have anything to worry about.
“Gather round, gather round!” I’m Coach Comet, and I’ll be leading the reindeer games today. A buff reindeer strutted forward. Laudna recognized him from her father’s team photos up in the house. “I’ll be your coach for fly practice. Now remember, I don’t expect any of you to be able to fly today. That’s why I call it ‘practice’. It’ll be years before most of you can fly, don’t worry too much about it today! Today, we’re going to start with practicing your take-off.”
Comet gave a demonstration and a few tips, before he had lined them all up and started calling names.
Meeting the Hells
“Come on, Laudna.” Andy gestured. “It’s going to be a while before he calls us to go, we can go meet some of the others.”
He led Laudna to a small group of fawns. “Hey, wanted to introduce you all to the newest of the bunch, Laudna!”
A group of other young reindeer all turned to Laudna and Andy. One had soft purple locks and bright lavender eyes that looked intensely at Laudna. She couldn’t hold the stare and let her gaze drop, stepping closer to Andy.
“Smiley day, Laudna.” The smallest of them stepped forward. “I’m Fresh Cut Grass, but you can call me FCG or Grass for short. Dancer’s my mom. She runs on the A-Team with your dad!”
Laudna remembered seeing pictures of Dancer too. Hazarding a quick look up, she noticed FCG seems to be missing much of his mother’s athlete genes, but she’s not one to judge appearances. “Pleasure to meet you.” She curtsies.
“The pleasure is ours.” A bigger, buffer fawn introduces themself. “I’m Ashton. And this weirdo is Imogen.”
“Hi.” The fawn named Imogen breathes out quietly.
“Hi.” Laudna lets her eyes flitted up to meet Ashton’s then Imogen’s. The purple gaze was blinding though, and she quickly returned her eyes safely to the grey-trodden snow on the ground.
“Donner!” They heard Laudna’s role call from Comet.
“That’s you Laudna, quick!” Andy escorted her back to the front of the line. But not before Imogen stepped up and whispered, “Good luck.” And gave Laudna a smile she had never experienced before. Unsure of what it meant, she couldn’t deny she was intrigued.
“There you are,” Comet called. “Ready?”
Take-off
At that moment, Caleb and Essek walked up along the fence. They stood next to Mr. Donner to watch Laudna’s first attempt at take-off.
Laudna nodded to her coach and took a few steps to gather speed. She kicked off of the ground, just like Comet had instructed. And she felt nothing underneath her for a few seconds. Panicking, she looked down. Laudna realized that she was high up in the air. But then, the ground quickly approached, and she had to scramble to land properly on all four hooves.
Well, that seemed like a pretty successful first try. She thought to herself.
“Woohoo!” Andy’s voice rang out as he bounded towards her. “That was amazing! You were amazing!”
Blushing, Laudna squeaked out. “Thanks.”
“Amazing Donner, that’s your daughter?” Caleb crosses his arms content.
Andy was next and he wasn’t as graceful as Laudna, but at least he didn’t fall flat on his face like some of the other fawns. Andy and Laudna play and celebrate, softly nudging each others’ heads in laughter.
Suddenly, Laudna could breathe a lot easier. Panicking, she realized if she can breathe… that must mean…
They laughed and called her names
A siren-like noise went off and her nose flashed a bright red light across the field.
“Holy fireball, what the-” Andy fell over in surprise. His gang gathered around and started pointing, laughing, and calling Laudna names.
“What’s up with the big red nose!” One shouted. Laughing meanly.
“Yeah, what are you a freak?!” Another jeered.
It was all too much. She couldn’t handle it. She ran, without even thinking where she was going.
“Hm… that’s too bad.” Caleb spoke to Mr. Donner. “She really had some promising talent with that take-off. Hopefully, time will improve her relationship with her peers… But she really could have been a good addition to the team, someday.”
Mr. Donner just nodded sadly. Santa knew best. A good teammate had to be liked by their peers.
A special someone
When Laudna was sure she was far enough away from everyone, she let her haunches sink into a snowbank. The nose cap was gone, she’d have to make a new one. Or, maybe, she could just leave Christmas Town forever. By now, all the other reindeer would know she was a freak. She’d never make any friends.
A twig snapped behind her, and Laudna whipped her head around to see a bob of purple hair.
The young reindeer, Imogen, stopped in her tracks. “Sorry, I…”
Laudna stood, ready to flee.
“No, wait.” Imogen started. “I just wanted to check, if you’re okay?”
Well, that wasn’t some threat to throw mud in her face or chase her away. So Laudna sat back down, exhausted. “I will be.”
“Cuz that flight you had. That was pretty amazing.” Imogen batted her eyelashes and looked down.
“Sure. Until you all saw the freak of nature I really am.” Laudna sighed.
“Are you talkin’ about your nose, Laudna?” Imogen asked.
“Of course.” Laudna sulked in response.
“I like it”
It was quiet, and Laudna was sure Imogen must have slunk back to the reindeer games. But then she heard a small voice, “I like it.”
She looked up. Imogen had made her way closer to Laudna. She looked into those sparkling eyes. Feeling just… at home, for some strange reason. “You did?”
“Yeah. I’ve never seen any reindeer with a red nose before. Makes you pretty special.” Imogen smiled.
“Oh.” Laudna wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Or to the way her body was tingling. It must be that she was getting cold, she’d been out of the house for longer than she ever had before. “Well, I should get going, back home.”
Imogen’s smile faltered a bit. “Sure. I, actually probably should too.”
Not wanting to be the reason for the smile to vacate such a beautiful face, Laudna ventured. “I’ll walk you home?”
“I’d love that.” That smile returned and Laudna stood to walk side by side with her new friend.
The Aftermath
Things were rough for Laudna after that. Now that all of the other reindeer knew about her nose. Even the adult reindeer called her names, though mostly behind her back. At least she had Imogen though. Imogen quickly became Laudna’s whole world. Her best friend, her confidant, and he fierce protector. If Imogen was around when one of the others was being mean, Imogen would jump to defend her. Sometimes that meant giving the other reindeer a hoof to the face.
But things couldn’t go on like this forever. Laudna knew she was dragging Imogen down. Laudna would never be able to hold a high station in Christmas Town, and Imogen had such potential. Her mother was Santa’s lead reindeer, and Imogen would undoubtedly take on that mantle one day.
Laudna had made up her mind. She spent a few weeks preparing in secret. Squirrelled extra food away and gathered supplies. Then, one night, she just slipped out. No note, no goodbyes. It was better that way.
Great Escape
She had barely made it to the outskirts of town when an elf popped out from a snowbank.
“Hey, where are you going?” The elf boldly looked Laudna up and down, her tiny hat bobbing as she animatedly cocked her head in question.
“Oh, I’m, going…” Laudna trailed off. She didn’t know where she was going, just away from here. “I’m going… nowhere in particular.”
“Huh.” The elf cocked her head in the other direction. “Well, I’m going to Canada. I hear they need nurses, and I’m a nurse!”
“Oh, Canada, that sounds… nice?” Truthfully, Laudna knew nothing about Canada, just that it was cold and snowy. But Christmas Town is also cold and snowy…
“I think so! I’m Prism.” The elf held out her hand.
“Laudna.” She introduced herself, meeting the small hand with one of her forehooves.
“Pleasure to meet you, Laudna!” Prism smiled as she dusted the snow off of herself.
Laudna sighed in relief, it seemed like at least one elf didn’t know who she was. “You too.”
A new direction
“Since you’re going, nowhere in particular… any interest in travelling to Canada with me?” Prism asked. “It might be a little easier going with two of us together. Keep the abominable snowman away, you know?”
Laudna remembered the last time she saw that menace of a snowman. She had been with her father, learning about the world. She shuddered. “That sounds great, I’d hate to get caught up with her.”
Prism and Laudna travelled together for about a week. Laudna learned that Prism also was a bit of an outcast. She didn’t have many elf friends back home, and her boss didn’t see the value in her training to become a nurse. She was being forced into a toymaking career because that’s what the rest of her family did. But she was passionate about helping people and reading. Reading had led her to learn about nursing, and she had found a textbook, and now was adamant on becoming a real certified nurse.
They would pass their time playing make-believe games during the day, trading stories back and forth. Creating characters on the fly. Then, Prism would make a fire and Laudna would walk a perimeter before bedding down for the night.
Lost without you
Not a day went by that Laudna didn’t miss Imogen immensely. The rest of her friends and her parents, sure. But no one as much as she missed her best friend. Her evening routine would always end with her lying on her back, staring up at the night sky, thinking about Imogen. Some nights she would see the dancing stars and wish upon them. Please let Imogen be living her best life, without me. One night the Aurora Borealis danced across the sky, and as the purple flicked across her vision, Laudna saw Imogen’s smile and heard her laugh like it was right there. But it wasn’t right there. It was back in Christmas Town, the real Imogen was becoming the protegee she was born to be.
Weeks passed, taking ice floats from island to island, and only a couple of near misses with the abominable snowman. They stopped to play with polar bear cubs and trade snacks with seals. Laudna felt herself growing up and into her body. She was also beginning to think Prism didn’t actually know how to get to Canada.
Explorer, Eriks Eshteross
A particularly bad storm hit, and they wandered aimlessly before miraculously finding themselves in some semblance of civilization. Three tiny wooden huts poked their roofs out of large snow bluffs. Smoke pumped out of one of the chimneys. Laudna trudged towards the hut, Prism’s legs were barely working anymore and so she had the elf sitting on her back.
Laudna raised a hoof and knocked on the front door. A tall and burly man opened the door. “Why hello there. What brings an elf and a reindeer all the way out here?”
Prism collapsed on the ground and crawled past the man towards the woodstove he had lit inside.
“My friend is a nurse, and we’re looking for work in Canada.” Laudna smiled, hoping she wouldn’t put off this stranger.
“Oh, how noble! I’m Eriks Eshteross. Famous explorer, but now I’m old and mostly retired.” The man ushers them in to warm their bones by the fire.
Once they warmed up considerably, he offered them one of the other cabins for the night to wait out the storm. In the morning he planned on setting out. He had a friend on an island nearby he hadn’t seen in a long time. “I really owe them a visit… no one visits The Island of Lost Toys.”
At this, Laudna perked up. An island of lost toys?
Easily settled, Laudna and Prism decided to join Eshteross in his journey to the island. Maybe they need a nurse and a reindeer.
The Island of Lost Toys
The Island of Lost Toys ended up being exactly the magical wonderland Laudna had imagined. An ice castle, serenely sitting atop a mountaintop, with snow-dusted pines scattered in an open glade below. Morning’s light reflected off of crystals in the snow like magic glitter. Little snow caves housed all manner of interesting toys. All without children to love them, but making the best out of life regardless.
“I’m a rat, but I ‘ave a bird skull… and a Cockney accent. No one wants that.” One of them declared.
“And I’m a boat, but I sink.” Another introduced themself.
“I’m a rope, but I can’t tie knots!”
“I’m a marionette doll, but I’m missing strings.”
They were all so wonderful, Laudna wondered why no children wanted them.
“Eriks…” Laudna started. “These toys are so lovely, and it seems like they are also quite sad.”
“Well, yes.” Eshteross looked at Laudna confused. “A toy’s sole purpose is to bring joy to its child. And these toys… are purposeless without such children to play with them.”
“That’s so sad!” Prism exclaimed. Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.
Santa to the rescue?
Laudna agreed. “But surely, there are children who would die for these toys. I’m sure Santa could find someone for them.”
This comment caught all of the toys’ attentions. “Santa?” “You know Mr. Widogast?” “You know Santa? Could he really help us?”
“Well, I can’t make any promises…” Laudna realized in that moment, if she wanted to help these toys, she would have to go back to Christmas Town. Plead their case to the man himself. “But I’ll do everything in my power to help you realize your dreams.” She pledged then and there.
Surely Santa would be able to find a child who would love them. Especially this year. She had heard her parents speaking in hushed voices when she was supposed to be sleeping. How worried Caleb was that the elves wouldn’t be able to make enough toys this year to keep up with the growing population of Exandria.
Journey home
The trek back to Christmas Town was a lot easier with Eshteross navigating. A couple of the lost toys had decided to come with them as an envoy. Pate, the rat with a bird’s skull for a head, and Caviar – a stuffed dog whose skeleton was on the outside of his body.
When they got to the gates of Christmas Town, a strange feeling was in the air. Christmas Eve was less than a week away, and while the factories were going strong, it was quiet. Too quiet.
“This is weird,” Prism noted. “Usually this time of year everyone’s singing and dancing, and spreading holiday cheer. What is up with this gloomy quiet? Last year was a riot.”
“It is strange…” Eshteross admitted. “Perhaps, we should go straight to Caleb.”
He was easy to find. Astrid and Essek had him in the main dining hall. “Got to fatten up Caleb! Nobody likes a skinny Santa!” Astrid jeered.
Caleb sighed. “How can I eat, not when I’m missing one of my finest reindeer, and my elves all want to quit!”
Essek patted his arm, and then turned towards the door, seeing Laudna and her strange entourage walking towards them.
“Laudna?” Essek gasped. “You’re alive!” He seemed… happy about that.
Laudna slowed, “Unfortunately for you all, yes… but I bring more important tidings.”
She launched into the story of the Island of Lost Toys and all of the misfits there. How all they wanted was to make a child happy. Laudna introduced Pate and Caviar.
Ill tidings
“I want more than anything to help these toys, Laudna.” Caleb stepped towards them. “But, not this year. This year will be so hard as it is…” He paused, hesitating. “Your parents, Laudna, I’m so sorry.”
Caleb sat them all down and he told her the dreadful news. Her parents had been captured by the abominable snowman. And that wasn’t even the worst of it. Imogen, FCG, and Ashton were gone too. Imogen. No.
“How long?” Laudna couldn’t even manage a full sentence.
“It’s been months.” Essek frowned deeply. “Your parents left as soon as they noticed you were missing. They went looking for you.”
Laudna’s stomach dropped. The guilt felt overpowering.
“The young ones followed maybe a week later.” Caleb sighed.
“Months!?” Laudna almost screamed. “And no one’s thought to go looking for them?”
“We did.” Astrid countered. “And that’s how we know the abominable snowman has them. Or, had them at least… we don’t know if they’re still alive.”
Caleb shot Astrid a stern look, then softened his gaze for Laudna. “I’m so sorry.”
“You’re sorry? My family, all of my friends-” She stopped herself. But this was all her fault. “Is there anything else you can do?”
“Not this close to Christmas, I’m afraid.” Caleb’s eyes were cold, but he seemed truly sorry.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Prism patted Laudna on the back. “We have your family to save.”
The Abominable Snowman
It had taken three days to climb to the cave where the abominable snowman was holding Laudna’s friends and family hostage. The stormy weather had turned into an all-out blizzard on the way. Ice and snow whipped across their faces. Prism and Eshteross never complained, they followed Laudna, her bright red nose marking the path forward. Her determination to save her friends kept them going. Pate and Caviar stayed behind with Caleb, hoping to win the old wizard over and rescue the rest of the misfit toys from their sorry existence. Three more young reindeer, Orym, Fearne, and Dorian, joined the rescue party. They had assisted on the initial search.
Sighting the cave
Laudna poked her head above the snowbank to get a better look. The abominable snowman had visited her in her nightmares ever since the first time she had laid eyes on her. She remembered her father teaching her to look for food under the snow when a terrifying roar interrupted them. “Quick, this way. Hide.” Mr. Donner had shown Laudna to safety. She had only caught a glimpse of the terrifying monster. Long, sharp claws and gnashing teeth. A foul stench of death and decay overwhelmed her senses. Now she was leading a troupe into the lair of the beast itself, intentionally. She had to, in order to save them. To save Imogen.
“I can’t see much, Orym what about you?” Laudna asked, blinking into the snowstorm.
Orym was on his stomach, he slowly poked his head up to look at the cave with one eye. “Nothing seems to be moving up there. I think the coast is clear, for now.”
They had strategized different plans during the long journey over. Would they sneak their way in? Or fight the monster head-on?
“I am forever grateful that you all made this journey with me,” Laudna spoke. “And I will have no hard feelings if any of you want to stay back while I confront the abominable snowman.”
Fearne and Dorian exchanged looks. Prism gasped, and Eshteross chuckled lightly.
“Laudna,” Orym sighed. “We’re in this together, whether you like it or not. We’re a team.”
The power of friendship
Nods of agreement were shared, and with that, Laudna felt something warm in her chest. It was similar to when Imogen had snuck up on her at the snowbank, what felt like, ages ago. A tear came to her eye and she quickly blinked it away. “Well alright then.”
The reindeer went up to the front of the cave entrance, while Prism and Eshteross snuck around to a side cavern, too small for the beast to use. The plan was for them to free the captives, while Laudna and the reindeer distracted the monster.
It looked like the group arrived just in time. As soon as Laudna caught her first glimpse inside the abominable snowman’s cave, she saw a purple-haired fawn clutched in the monster’s terrifying claws. The monster cackled and gnashed her teeth, bringing Imogen dangerously close to her mouth.
Laudna stepped fully into the cave entrance, her voice boomed. “Let her go!”
More curious than anything, the abominable snowman paused. She turned to face Laudna and the three other reindeer, who now flanked her. Glowing purple eyes narrowed and the monster roared at them. She dropped Imogen on the ground and stepped towards Laudna.
Heavy hitters
The fight was long and arduous. Orym and Dorian traded blows with the beast in close, while Fearne and Laudna sent magical beams at the monster from the outside. Prism and Eshteross were able to find and free all of the monster’s prisoners, including an elderly elf who looked like he had been in there much longer than everyone else.
The abominable snowman swept the reindeer away in a powerful move, all but Laudna were slammed against the cave wall. Laudna grit her teeth, and for once didn’t hold back the magical light and noise that emitted from her nose. She allowed all her arcana to bubble to the surface as she ran straight at the monster. It was enough to cause the beast’s footing to falter. Stumbling near the edge of the cliff, the abominable snowman almost fell. But not quite. It was at this moment that Eshteross and Prism joined the fight. Ice pick and stethoscope in hand, Laudna’s two adventuring friends launched themselves onto the beast. Together, they flung the thing off of the cliff.
“Eriks! Prism!” Laudna shouted as she watched her friends tumble with the monster, sacrificing themselves for her. “No.”
Family reunion
After a bittersweet reunion, the group made their way back to Christmas Town. The storm was in full force now, and they arrived back at Santa’s workshop merely hours before he was set to take off for Christmas Eve. Elves were making last-minute adjustments to the sleigh. Astrid and Essek were following Caleb around feeding him and getting all of his equipment strapped to the suit. At least Caleb was now looking more like the plump Santa that everyone would be expecting. Chetney was warmly received by Caleb, the two embracing like old friends. He immediately got to work commanding the group of elves that would be riding along on Santa’s sleigh that night.
“We’re so proud of, Laudna.” Mr. and Mrs. Donner leaned into either side of their daughter. “And we’re so sorry we made you feel you had to leave!”
“You made me realize, that sometimes people in charge say things… and we don’t always have listen.” Mr. Donner said. “I’ve blamed myself every day you’ve been missing.”
“Well,” Laudna started. “I forgive both of you. If you forgive me for acting so selfish in the first place. I didn’t realize what kind of hurt I had caused by leaving like that.”
“You really have no idea.” Ashton stepped up, he had FCG and Imogen with him. “But, we forgive you too.”
“Next time something’s wrong, please talk to us first Laudna.” FCG pleaded.
“Those dumb other reindeer just make fun of you cuz they’re jealous.” Imogen declared. “You’re amazing. Anyone who can’t see that is an idiot.”
“Yeah, heck, your new friends threw themselves off a literal cliff because they cared about you and believed in you so much.” Ashton added.
Return from the grave
Their discussion was all of a sudden interrupted. A loud growl and banging came from the front door. The door burst open, ushering in a wild wind and tufts of snow. A gargantuan beast shadowed the doorway, gurgling nonsensically. Everyone gasped. Someone screamed, “The abominable snowman!” The monster walked into the hall.
Eriks Eshteross and Prism the elf followed quickly behind, shutting the door after them.
“Grrr, grr!” Eshteross teased. “Don’t worry! She’s harmless.”
Laudna felt tears in her eyes and joy in her heart with all of her friends, safe and in one place.
Prism jumped up onto the monster’s chest. “See?” She put her hands into its mouth, and ran them over the razor-sharp teeth. “No danger here!”
Eshteross led the abominable snowman by a rope and chain around its neck to help deck the giant tree. Prism skipped over to Laudna. “Here!” The little elf held out her stethoscope.
“What’s this for?” Laudna asked.
“It’s how we can keep her under control now.” Prism showed Laudna the little purple gem that sat in the middle of the instrument. It pulsed like a heartbeat. “Nursing isn’t the only thing I’ve read about,” Prism admitted.
“You are full of surprises, Prism.” Caleb walked over. “I think we could make use of your services here in Christmas Town. I’d be happy for you to write up the job description yourself.”
Gaping, Prism shook the taller man’s hand profusely. “You have a deal Mr. Widogast, Santa Sir!”
Caleb chuckled.
To fly, or not to fly?
“Alright Santa,” Chetney’s voice squeaked above the rest. “It’s just about time to saddle up. You sure you’re ready for that storm that’s out there?”
Caleb looked pensive for a moment. He looked to Laudna and the young bucks and does that surrounded her. “You’ve all grown up quite a lot these past few months. I was wrong to doubt you, Laudna.”
The room went quiet as Caleb spoke. Even the abominable snowman stopped fussing with her chains to stop and listen.
“Sometimes, we are blinded by the status quo. Held obtuse to change even when change is already upon us.” He looked from Laudna to Orym, Imogen, Ashton, Fearne, and Dorian. Then he glanced over at his team of seasoned reindeer, getting ready to make yet another trip around the globe. “Oh Laudna, with your nose so bright. Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Laudna looked to her friends, and then back at Caleb. “You sure you want to trust a bunch of rookies for a task so important?” She smiled, challenging him.
Caleb smiled back. “I think you and your friends have shown all of us, you’re not just kids. You’re the future.”
A moment’s respite
In a rush to find all the right gear for the new team that would now be flying Santa’s Sleigh, Laudna felt relief wash over her when Imogen nudged her to the side. They slipped into an empty room.
“This is all so much.” Laudna admitted.
“Yeah.” Imogen looked slightly worried. “I don’t know if you realize how lost I was without you.”
Laudna’s brow furrowed. “ You , lost without me ?”
“Of course.” Imogen scoffed.
“Not a night went by where I didn’t think of you.” Laudna admitted.
Imogen blinked up at Laudna and whispered, “Can I kiss you?”
Shocked, Laudna stepped backwards. “Wh-what?”
With more confidence, Imogen repeated. “Can I kiss you?”
“Al-alright?” Laudna stood awkwardly. “Alright.”
Imogen leaned in and Laudna met her halfway. That funny tingling she felt all that time ago, when they spoke in the snow bank, returned. ‘Oh, that’s what that was.’ Laudna realized as the sweet but chaste kiss ended.
She smiled widely as Imogen grinned, her eyes sparkled up at her. “Shall we find those lost toys and save Christmas?”
“Let’s!” Excited, Laudna launched into telling Imogen about the misfits, Boaty and Ropey, and Sashimi. They imagined all of the shenanigans these toys would get up to with the children they were destined to be with. As Chetney put the finishing touches on their reins, Laudna stood side-by-side with Imogen at the front of Santa’s sleigh. For the first time in a long time, she even imagined what her future may look like.
Outro
Well, there you have it. Scanlan dusted some cookie crumbs off of his vest. The story of Laudna, the red-nosed reindeer. Santa found a home for every one of those misfit toys too! Except for one. Pate decided his destiny was to stay with Laudna. Now, don’t forget to leave out some soup for Santa this Christmas Eve, and ginger cookies for Laudna and the reindeer. Though I doubt they’ll be a match for Eshteross’…
Scanlan fishes another cookie out of his pocket, before turning around and shuffling off. Turning back to you, he calls out, and a Happy Winter’s Crest to you all!
This is a fan fiction piece, characters are not my own. Everything is completely fictional. It takes place in a magic wintery world and draws inspiration from Critical Role characters, and Christmas classics, including Rudolph.
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