[Sarah]

Noel skipped through the park, her festive fur rested comfortably blocking the cold from reaching her skin. She hummed along to some unknown song as she padded down and around her eyes flitting from one item to the next. The air was sharp this morning, and a grey layer of clouds covered the pretty blue sky, causing most people to have less energy, and to stay in bed longer. It was early though; at least Noel thought that six in the morning must be early for mortals.

[Sarah]

No, Noel was more than a mortal, but not quite a god, she was a winter elf, responsible somewhat for the changing season and Christmas, her favorite time of year. Being an almost god had its perks, she didn’t have the earthly needs and so she never had to eat or drink. She was never particularly cold, or warm. Skipping around the part she noticed that no one was with her, no humans or their pets had come to join her in celebrating the wonderful morning.

[Sarah]

It was nice being an almost god too because she was able to hide herself from humans, in doing so she was able to see and hear things she knew she shouldn’t. She was one of the best winter sprites, or fairies, or what-have-you, but she wasn’t an angel, in fact she made a point not to associate with angels, or demons for that matter. They were such downers. Either you had to be perfectly good, or perfectly evil. She was neither, she was a nice in between, she walked the thin line between hell and heaven without the consequences of a mortal or moral clock running out.

[Sarah]

Laughing she pawed a bit of snow, watching the flakes split apart and then come back together, it was beautiful and she got to interact with it in a way no mortal could even dream. She prided herself in that she wasn’t a mortal; she could not begin to imagine what a dull life it would be. Walking closer to the outside parts of the part she noticed a small strip mall had been rented out, she knew what each held, and she knew what each store was named. Being one of the high ranking winter sprites she had directs communication with Mr. Claus himself.

[Sarah]

Skipping down a barely clear path she walked up to the stores, the lights weren’t on, so the presents sat dark on the shelves, the few that there where anyway, for the most part Christmas was over, but some people where known to be very late shoppers. She had firsthand experience with that, laughing she followed the line of stores, each dark with half-stocked shelves. She smiled, it seemed like most people got what they had wanted for Christmas. It was not often that everyone got everything they wanted; in fact it was probably impossible for that to happen. Since the discovery of where Mr. Claus lived and what he was able to do with his powerful magic, higher governments had forced the winter sprites to make money from their gifts.

[Sarah]

It made Noel depressed when she thought about it, she remembered thousands of years ago when she was able to sit at a table and process millions of gifts for everyone, without needing any money, or asking for anything in return, besides a big smile of course. She was a skilled crafter too, so when she heard the news, she had taken a tonic that made her conjurations powers to be suppressed; now she was a simple snow sprite, one with high connections in high places.

[Sarah]

Amused slightly at the thought she decided she wanted to have a sunny day; the world surely needed the brightness of a new day. She pushed the clouds away, letting the early sunrise show its rosy fingers stretch across the horizon. –Today will be a good day- Noel thought smiling. It didn’t take long before curtains where being opened, and people where waking from their winter slumber. She felt better already, with all of the good energies in the air; her spirit was being filled and renewed.

[Sarah]

With the waking of the sun, and the waking of the people, she was no longer alone in the park, a few early risers where jogging down the paths that twined themselves through the large park, she could spot Lucain, Sahound, Tali, all of the Evelon pets either appearing out of the shadows or following their master happily out of the house. A few matches flew overhead, the flames on their tails burning brightly. Smiling widely, the small Kuhna wandered down paths, waving her tails delighted that she brought everyone happily into the new day.

[Sarah]

The thick aroma of coffee hit her nose and she almost died, she loved coffee it was one of the reasons she was able to get up early, she always looked forward to early morning coffee. Open signs flickered on, and she could see business in the morning was slow, well not really for the coffee shops, but other stores very few people went in, and the workers looked like they would like to be in line with the other people getting coffee. Knowing she would be wired all day but still not able to resist she went into one of the stress and bought herself a small coffee.

[Sarah]

She entered a shop that was one she had delivered gifts to. “Hello Noel.” The manager said happily, if not groggily. She waved her tails, and with the flick of a paw coffee was made fresh and warm on his desk. He shook his head, but accepted the coffee gratefully. “You know you shouldn’t do that, someone could she you.” He scolded, she shrugged this shop keeper had been so kind to her, and she knew she could trust him. Long ago when she gave up her powers she had not had enough money for it so in return she became a maid for the sorcerer, but recently she had stopped going, and slowly she gained her powers back.

[Sarah]

She knew that if anyone found out she would have to go back to toy making, but she was not going to keep her powers in around someone who she considered family, trusted family at that. She knew that some families where rude and backstabbing, not her and the shop keep, she would be here all day, helping him and inviting, or enticing customers into his store. Each year he never had to worry about money, he always knew that he could rely on Noel, but still he tried his hardest and acted as if he would not have help, but each year the Kuhna had come back.

[Sarah]

He supposed it was because she was loyal, most of her species where, so in return he was loyal to her, knowing that breaking the trust would be fatal to the both of them. Recently it seemed like they needed each other more and more. Noel needed him for the moral support, she hated to lie to her fellow winter sprites, and he needed her because though he was young his health was failing. A typical tragedy story really.  Noel smiled up at him, she was ready to face the day, and now it looked like he was ready too.

[Sarah]

The store was small, it had shelves on the edge walls, and only two in the middle, the counter was made of glass and showed some of the more expensive items, though it was small, it held a surprising amount of gifts and different things. During the summer and fall he sold trinkets, and jewelry, and during the winter he sold presents. All year Noel was with him, a loyal follower though they had before she was just a delivery sprite. She didn’t know what had made her bond to him, but now she was and she planned on helping him in any way possible. She didn’t think it was his sad past, no she didn’t usually go for those, and there was just something about him that made him different from the rest.

[Sarah]

Maybe it was his willingness to fight even when his doom was so close, or maybe because he was kind to her, and kept her secret. All she knew was that he would be joining her once he died, she had already made sure, she had talked with Mr. Claus and he had agrees that he would make a fine winter sprite. She had been thrilled of course, and though she didn’t want him to die any time soon, she was excited for him to find out. She hoped he would be happy.

[Sarah]

He had never struck her as a religious person, and so she didn’t think he would be mad for not going to heaven, maybe it would be ok. But she would not find out anytime soon the outcome of her choices on his life, or life thereafter. Her tails curled in happiness as the first customer came into the store. “welcome.” The shopkeeper said happily, and the man who had come in smiled kindly and patted Noel on the head softly. –good, not a bad person- she was relieved, she didn’t know what she would do if a bad guy came through the door.