Winter Festival
The town square was usually a rather dull place during winter. It was always too cold to go out and spend time at the local bakery or the vendors. But on this particular evening, something special had happened and the square had been transformed from empty and gloomy, to bright and lively. There were lights hanging from every rooftop surrounding the square, and the smell of gingerbread wafted through the many vendors. There were people milling about here and there, some holding mugs of cocoa and chatting animatedly to one another as they fed the geese who called the fountain in the middle a temporary home. Some of them were sitting near a large, roaring fire, recounting stories of Christmases long past, or simply chatting with one another about what they were getting their families in terms of presented.
Off to the side, a small, cheery bakery was open all night, handing out free gingerbread and inviting customers in for more yummy treats. A roasted chestnut vendor was off to one side, offering people warm chestnuts to heat their chilled fingers and fill their bellies. And beside his cart, there was a table set up with free hot cocoa, which would be welcomed after spending the cold night out in the open air, visiting the various attractions. Beside the vendors was a petting zoo, filled with beautiful, winter-time animals, including a very large, very docile reindeer.
A bright, blaring, cheery Christmas tree stood over the entire scene, glowing with Christmas spirit and lights in blue and red and yellow and green. Beneath it sat a multitude of presents, all eagerly waiting to be opened by the participants. Inside each present sat a small token to be given out at the end of the contest, though no one quite knew what the tokens were.
Outside of the square, there is a storm raging, and it has brought more and more people to the warmth of the fires and the homes. But it seems as if some sort of magic is protecting the small, cheerful gathering, and the snow seems to bounce off some sort of invisible wall, steering clear of the revelers. As you near the square, cheered by the bright lights and atmosphere around you, you’re suddenly aware that you are being watched by what appears to be a Equi Sygriff. She is covered in snow, but she doesn’t seem very cold, and clutched in her beak, there is a holly branch. Beside her, a steadfast little lamp glows brightly in welcome, guiding your way to the square and it’s warmth and welcome beyond. “Good evening!” the Sygriff calls, and she extends her wings in invitation. As she does so, the snow seems to stop falling around the two of you, and the magical barrier that protects the square is now protecting you from the cold.
“And welcome to the annual Holiday Festival! I’m so glad you could make it.” She seems to notice your confusion at being addressed by a seemingly random Sygriff, and quickly clarifies. “Oh, I’m the caretaker of this lovely little square. My name is Aura, and I decided to host this little shindig myself this year." She pointed over towards the cottage-looking bakery. “That’s my friend’s bakery, over there. Myself and a few others are giving away some lovely Christmas presents this year too. But you have to work for them!”
At the face you pull, she only smiles. “Come now, what’s Christmas without a bit of fun, huh? Nothing good in life is ever truly free, after all.” She smiles secretly. “And I have a few helpers hidden around here too. You may run into them if you look hard enough.” She makes a shooing motion with her head, waving you off with a bright grin.
“Go on, go on! Have fun!”
The town square was usually a rather dull place during winter. It was always too cold to go out and spend time at the local bakery or the vendors. But on this particular evening, something special had happened and the square had been transformed from empty and gloomy, to bright and lively. There were lights hanging from every rooftop surrounding the square, and the smell of gingerbread wafted through the many vendors. There were people milling about here and there, some holding mugs of cocoa and chatting animatedly to one another as they fed the geese who called the fountain in the middle a temporary home. Some of them were sitting near a large, roaring fire, recounting stories of Christmases long past, or simply chatting with one another about what they were getting their families in terms of presented.
Off to the side, a small, cheery bakery was open all night, handing out free gingerbread and inviting customers in for more yummy treats. A roasted chestnut vendor was off to one side, offering people warm chestnuts to heat their chilled fingers and fill their bellies. And beside his cart, there was a table set up with free hot cocoa, which would be welcomed after spending the cold night out in the open air, visiting the various attractions. Beside the vendors was a petting zoo, filled with beautiful, winter-time animals, including a very large, very docile reindeer.
A bright, blaring, cheery Christmas tree stood over the entire scene, glowing with Christmas spirit and lights in blue and red and yellow and green. Beneath it sat a multitude of presents, all eagerly waiting to be opened by the participants. Inside each present sat a small token to be given out at the end of the contest, though no one quite knew what the tokens were.
Outside of the square, there is a storm raging, and it has brought more and more people to the warmth of the fires and the homes. But it seems as if some sort of magic is protecting the small, cheerful gathering, and the snow seems to bounce off some sort of invisible wall, steering clear of the revelers. As you near the square, cheered by the bright lights and atmosphere around you, you’re suddenly aware that you are being watched by what appears to be a Equi Sygriff. She is covered in snow, but she doesn’t seem very cold, and clutched in her beak, there is a holly branch. Beside her, a steadfast little lamp glows brightly in welcome, guiding your way to the square and it’s warmth and welcome beyond. “Good evening!” the Sygriff calls, and she extends her wings in invitation. As she does so, the snow seems to stop falling around the two of you, and the magical barrier that protects the square is now protecting you from the cold. “And welcome to the annual Holiday Festival! I’m so glad you could make it.” She seems to notice your confusion at being addressed by a seemingly random Sygriff, and quickly clarifies. “Oh, I’m the caretaker of this lovely little square. My name is Aura, and I decided to host this little shindig myself this year." She pointed over towards the cottage-looking bakery. “That’s my friend’s bakery, over there. Myself and a few others are giving away some lovely Christmas presents this year too. But you have to work for them!”
At the face you pull, she only smiles. “Come now, what’s Christmas without a bit of fun, huh? Nothing good in life is ever truly free, after all.” She smiles secretly. “And I have a few helpers hidden around here too. You may run into them if you look hard enough.” She makes a shooing motion with her head, waving you off with a bright grin.
“Go on, go on! Have fun!”
Oceanus was out shopping for the holidays with his mate, Pacifica, who was watching the people in the town square. This year the Teulu was going to celebrate the holidays at the bar, Mystic with some other Teulu shifters, which was extremely rare for Teulus to come together. He didn't mind it much, Pacifica was happy to have a large group come together in the first place, since she was more of the family type. Oceanus grabbed his mate hand as the walked along the crowded square, Christmas music was playing on loud speakers and he could here some people singing along to the song. He, himself couldn't figure why people celebrate this holiday nor did he understand why it became large holiday. Oceanus thought his was type of thing the corporations expected shoppers to spend all their money, just to make the head corporate people rich. He didn't say it out loud since his mate would be upset with him.
He continued to walk the crowded streets with his beloved mated. They were in front of the bakery that was handing out free gingerbread cookies. Before Oceanus could enter the building, Pacifica stopped him his tracks. 
