Image by Sue Goyen
Sebastian, The Christmas Moose, And Icicle, The Lost Arctic Fox, Learn of the Night That Animals Speak.
With a shake of his head Sebastian finished tearing off a piece of bark, and chewed quietly. He was now full with dinner, and as always his curiosity was getting the better of him. He could sense it was deep into the night, which meant the humans would be in their dens. Of course, that meant that they weren't singing, but with them inside maybe he could do a better search for flying reindeer.
With great, even, strides he began to head towards the humans' town. And soon he saw a movement of white on white, with amber eyes studying him. "Want to go?" he rumbled to his friend.
"Just as well," Icicle said. Her hunting had gone well, and while not infatuated with the idea of flying reindeers (she had had _enough_ of flying!) she was curious about humans. And Sebastian was good company.
First the forest began to thin, and open land appeared, with this being followed by fences. The snow lay thick on the ground; so thick that not even stubble was showing through. Above was the vastness of black and the sharp glitter of stars. The air was clear and scents, and sounds, carried a distance.
Being animals of the woods and solitude the friends needed no conversation as they neared the human town.
“Merry Christmas!” came a grumbling, almost barking, voice.
Startled Sebastian threw back his head, and came to a stop.
Icicle froze, suddenly blending with the snow bank at the side of the road. And both watched as a rough-coated brown dog strolled across the field; as he neared they could tell he was amused. But amusement was not a reassuring expression on his face, since his lips were still pulled back.
‘He’s speaking human words,’ the young moose suddenly realized. This brought back a memory of when he was a bull calf – his mother and he had fled when a cow had spoken to them.
“Merry Christmas,” he tried tentatively, and was again startled – as human words rumbled from his throat.
“How?” Icicle asked in surprise.
“We all can,” answered the hound. He settled on his haunches by the fence, and added, “Something about this night. All animals can. But, according to my dam, we dogs were to try to keep humans from listening.”
“Why?” the arctic fox asked.
“My dam couldn’t remember, except that it isn’t safe for them.”
“Too bad,” Sebastian said, “Then I could have asked them about the flying reindeer.” He brightened, and swung his massive head towards the dog. “Have you seen them?”
“Why, do you want to go flying?” the hound asked, with a laughing bark.
“It would be nice….”
The dog could see the earnest expression in the young moose’s liquid gaze, and heard the wistfulness in his voice. “No, I haven’t….”
“How about Santa Claus?”
“Nor him. Though you hear a lot about him around here. Though I will tell you that these are restless times, and other beings stir.”
“Are they dangerous?” Icicle asked.
“Can be,” the hound answered, “But that is why I am on patrol tonight – they don’t like dogs.”
Icicle could sympathize, though this dog was being cordial. “What are these beings?”
“Trolls,” the dog said, “But the humans have forgotten that they come on Christmas Eve.”
“What are trolls?” Sebastian asked. His curiosity now taken up with a new topic.
“Well, I’ve only seen them as a pup….back when all the houses went dark one Christmas, but my dam, and others, kept them away……They walk kind of like humans, but are odd colors, and very hairy. Some even have tails or horns.” The hound thought a little longer, and added, “Haven’t seen them in several seasons. I don’t think they like the lights that don’t give heat.”
“Well thank you,” Icicle said, “And….Merry Christmas….” She was ready to head back to the safety of the forest, and could tell Sebastian was now restless too.
“Merry Christmas,” the moose added.
“You too,” the dog said, getting back to his feet, “And you know, my humans talk of there being twelve days of Christmas. Something about a Twelfth Night….So maybe your flying reindeer will some in those nights….”
After they thanked him again the friends started back, but as they entered the fringe of the woods Icicle whispered, “Stop!”
Sebastian froze, and soon saw why the fox was alarmed…..
Several yards away were human-like, hairy, creatures gamboling in a pack. They varied from tiny to monstrous. Their colors ranged from bluish, to green, to muck yellow, to mushroom red, and several had purplish patches; plus several had cows’ horns, and long, whipping tails. But more frightening than the trolls was what followed them….. though with great dignity… a white bear and a strangely attired man. What made them more frightening was that the bear, and the man, glowed with a pale light.
The friends stayed frozen till the strange parade vanished into the dark of the woods.
Icicle gave one more worried look at the direction the ghostly polar bear had gone, and then urged a willing Sebastian back to the safety of their home woods.
With great, even, strides he began to head towards the humans' town. And soon he saw a movement of white on white, with amber eyes studying him. "Want to go?" he rumbled to his friend.
"Just as well," Icicle said. Her hunting had gone well, and while not infatuated with the idea of flying reindeers (she had had _enough_ of flying!) she was curious about humans. And Sebastian was good company.
First the forest began to thin, and open land appeared, with this being followed by fences. The snow lay thick on the ground; so thick that not even stubble was showing through. Above was the vastness of black and the sharp glitter of stars. The air was clear and scents, and sounds, carried a distance.
Being animals of the woods and solitude the friends needed no conversation as they neared the human town.
“Merry Christmas!” came a grumbling, almost barking, voice.
Startled Sebastian threw back his head, and came to a stop.
Icicle froze, suddenly blending with the snow bank at the side of the road. And both watched as a rough-coated brown dog strolled across the field; as he neared they could tell he was amused. But amusement was not a reassuring expression on his face, since his lips were still pulled back.
‘He’s speaking human words,’ the young moose suddenly realized. This brought back a memory of when he was a bull calf – his mother and he had fled when a cow had spoken to them.
“Merry Christmas,” he tried tentatively, and was again startled – as human words rumbled from his throat.
“How?” Icicle asked in surprise.
“We all can,” answered the hound. He settled on his haunches by the fence, and added, “Something about this night. All animals can. But, according to my dam, we dogs were to try to keep humans from listening.”
“Why?” the arctic fox asked.
“My dam couldn’t remember, except that it isn’t safe for them.”
“Too bad,” Sebastian said, “Then I could have asked them about the flying reindeer.” He brightened, and swung his massive head towards the dog. “Have you seen them?”
“Why, do you want to go flying?” the hound asked, with a laughing bark.
“It would be nice….”
The dog could see the earnest expression in the young moose’s liquid gaze, and heard the wistfulness in his voice. “No, I haven’t….”
“How about Santa Claus?”
“Nor him. Though you hear a lot about him around here. Though I will tell you that these are restless times, and other beings stir.”
“Are they dangerous?” Icicle asked.
“Can be,” the hound answered, “But that is why I am on patrol tonight – they don’t like dogs.”
Icicle could sympathize, though this dog was being cordial. “What are these beings?”
“Trolls,” the dog said, “But the humans have forgotten that they come on Christmas Eve.”
“What are trolls?” Sebastian asked. His curiosity now taken up with a new topic.
“Well, I’ve only seen them as a pup….back when all the houses went dark one Christmas, but my dam, and others, kept them away……They walk kind of like humans, but are odd colors, and very hairy. Some even have tails or horns.” The hound thought a little longer, and added, “Haven’t seen them in several seasons. I don’t think they like the lights that don’t give heat.”
“Well thank you,” Icicle said, “And….Merry Christmas….” She was ready to head back to the safety of the forest, and could tell Sebastian was now restless too.
“Merry Christmas,” the moose added.
“You too,” the dog said, getting back to his feet, “And you know, my humans talk of there being twelve days of Christmas. Something about a Twelfth Night….So maybe your flying reindeer will some in those nights….”
After they thanked him again the friends started back, but as they entered the fringe of the woods Icicle whispered, “Stop!”
Sebastian froze, and soon saw why the fox was alarmed…..
Several yards away were human-like, hairy, creatures gamboling in a pack. They varied from tiny to monstrous. Their colors ranged from bluish, to green, to muck yellow, to mushroom red, and several had purplish patches; plus several had cows’ horns, and long, whipping tails. But more frightening than the trolls was what followed them….. though with great dignity… a white bear and a strangely attired man. What made them more frightening was that the bear, and the man, glowed with a pale light.
The friends stayed frozen till the strange parade vanished into the dark of the woods.
Icicle gave one more worried look at the direction the ghostly polar bear had gone, and then urged a willing Sebastian back to the safety of their home woods.