The stoat sat alone, a squirrel caught in her paw. She held the rodent tightly, watching as infection covered his body. Then she let it go, and watched it run off, now carrying her disease.

Iugulare sighed. There was something depressing about this time of the year for her. Maybe it was the coldness of the winter months, or the unusual amount of cheer the deer had during this time. She didn’t understand what would make them act like such despite such dreary weather.

Or perhaps it was the amount of loneliness she felt. Sure, she had Anirapio and Nekumbra, but her desire was more on a romantic level. She wanted someone to care for her, to love her. And there was only one person on this planet that she desired a relationship like such.

As she was deep in thought, she heard a strange sound. Looking to the sky, she could have sworn she saw several deer flying through the air. The stoat blinked a few times, and then realized she indeed saw flying deer! They came closer, pulling something behind, and soon landed close by her. Iugulare had never seen such a thing, when an oddly heavyset human wearing red and white stepped out from the sleigh and approached her. “Hello, Iugulare! Merry Christmas!”, Santa Claus said to her.

The stoat tilted her head, ”…And who might you be?”, she asked. She didn’t know very much about the Christmas season.

“Ho ho ho! You sure are a funny girl, aren’t you?”, Santa laughed, “I am Santa Claus, the bringer of joy and peace to the world on Christmas Eve! And I come with a request just for you.”

[=darkgrey]”A request?

Author’s Note – This story was included this year in honor of those who celebrate Hanukkah during this time.


Once there was a town where many animals lived and went about their daily lives. They were farmers, merchants, craftsmen, and the like who worked for golden acorns, which was the local currency. The town was also inhabited by local beggars whose lives were difficult as it was, but with the coming winter they had to brave the elements as well as beg for food. Many of them were simply unable to work or had difficulty finding a job. They went about their lives each day with hope that tomorrow would be better.

One beggar was named Luis, who was a humble stag that lost his home to a fire, and since could not find a suitable shelter. He saved his acorns for when he was in the most need, and even shared them with other beggars. He was quite humble and knew the value of compassion and generosity, even as a beggar.

There was a day where he happened upon a silk purse that was lay in the street. He looked around for an owner of the purse, but when he found none, he opened it and was surprised to find a hundred golden acorns within! With this money, he could certainly work toward returning to a normal life. But his ears perked when he heard someone calling out, ”A reward! A reward to the one who finds my silk purse!”

Luis approached the merchant who was calling out.

Winter had left the Forest dwellers to find less-than abundant food. The Twin Gods would not let any of their own starve, but they were busy with other things, so mushrooms and grass were not as plentiful in the snowy months. During this time, the deer would rely on other food sources, such as nuts and roots, to sustain them. Most deer knew how to crack open a walnut to the treasure within.

Poor Foxglaive had no idea what to even do with a walnut.

He was walking one day, searching around for oddities when he came across a strange little sphere in the snow. Tilting his head, he studied it a little more, looking at the strange texture of the thing, the odd color and such. Then to his shock, he looked to the clear sky above. He scanned and scanned, his heart skipping a beat. “The Moon fell from the sky!”, he exclaimed, “I found the Moon in the snow!”

The stag walked around the little walnut, thinking it was the Moon above that had fallen. It seemed to be the same size as it is in the sky, and looked pretty close. He sat and began to ponder this for a while. What should he do with the Moon? How could he get it stuck back in the sky?

Gently he picked up the walnut and trotted away, looking for somewhere close to the sky so he could put it back. He went to the tallest hills and spat the Moon out, only to have it land on the ground. He tried again, but with no luck. He went to the Playground and stood on the largest rocks, and placing the Moon gently on his hoof, he tried to catapult it to the sky.

The leaves had begun to fall one by one off the trees. Soon frost and snow would cover the land, and there would be little safety, food, and warmth for the birds of the Forest. They prepared their feathers to fly away from the cold, migrating south to warmer climates. A crow would soon join them, Bartholomew was his name. He made sure to eat his fill of berries and worms, for he would need all his strength for the flight ahead.

One day, he was hunting on the ground for things to eat when from out of nowhere a deer raced by. The doe did not even see him there, and by accident she kicked him in the side with enough force to send him crashing into a nearby tree. The crow cried out in pain, and soon discovered that his wing was broken. The doe approached and apologized for her wrongdoing, but was in a hurry to find her fawn. Bartholomew replied, “No no, it’s okay. It was an honest mistake.”, and forgave her immediately.

As the doe bowed and ran off, the crow soon realized he was in a terrible situation. With his wing broken, he could not fly south for the winter. The trees were nearly naked of their leaves, and very soon it would be very cold for his body to survive. The crow would soon learn that trees are not always kind.

Bartholomew looked up to the birch trees and asked for help, but they were boastful of their beauty, and told the crow that they would not shelter a crow.

The Endless Forest was quiet this night
The fawns all slept, oh what a sight!
They dreamed of the morning, the moment they see
What Santa Claus left them this Christmas Eve
But while the fawns and adults dreamed their dreams
One plotted against them, so it would seem
Her name was Tafari, and she despised Christmas Day
She loved misery and hatred, she loved things her way
“Those fools want Santa to come and bring cheer
But I will surprise them with horror this year!”
She spoke these words with a sudden thought
Of a brilliant scheme, a villainous plot
The deceiver would steal their Christmas away
So when they awoke it would lead to a fray


She kicked Redd awake, who was slumbering near
And said, “We have work to do, you worthless dear.”
“Y-yes maam…”, the stag stuttered a reply
While grimacing at his now painful thigh.
“We’ll take their decorations, their presents, their cheer
So when they awake, they shall be frantic in fear!”
The plot was simple, and so they began
To steal and plunder Christmas from the land
They took the filil mushrooms left for Santa
And took the ornamental tasyer off the ajeeta
They took the frichilsa and yijash from the fawns
They even took the Twin Gods’ iliryon!
While stealing a soojirk, they were startled to see
A fawn awake, looking to them with glee
“Santa, is that you?”, Christoffer asked with eyes plup
Tafari schemed a reply, “Yes, child, why are you still up?”
“I needed some water, and saw you near…
But Santa, what are you doing here?
Is there something wrong with that soojirk?”
“Why yes, it is broken.”, Tafari

”Dear sisters, it is now two months since Halloween. Our Forest friends are now thinking of sugar plums and such rather than chills, thrills, and the occasional spills. So what are we to do tonight, on this Christmas Eve?”, Nekumbra asked the other witches as they sat in a circle around a glowing magic flame.

”The usual, I would assume? Terrorize and harm those who deserve it?”, Medea suggested.

”No undeserved justice tonight, Medea. The wicked should be allowed this night to rest. It is a holiday, after all.”, Herla spoke.

”Then perhaps we could haunt and spy on some of the little ones. See if they are enjoying their holiday?”, Nebel offered.

”Perhaps…perhaps we could reward some of those who we find. Show them the meaning of peace and happiness even from witches.”, Honeyfur added.

”Not a bad idea, really. But what would we reward them with?”, Sorrel asked.

”Well, we have…”, Kerrigan thought for a moment, ”…there’s those old trinkets we have stored away. They could do as nice gifts.”

“Oh this would be quite fun! I am interested!”, Marie Antoinette said in anticipation.

”Then it’s settled. Random gift giving tonight. We shall depart immediately.”, Umay said.

“Agreed!

The late Fall months were upon the Endless Forest, and it was the time for the animals to collect food for the winter. Some struggled through this process, others were more successful. Akemi was more than prepared for the winter, and even was generous enough to help others. She collected pinecones several months in advance of the other animals in the Endless Forest, and had a hoard of them saved for not only herself, but those who were hungry as well. On a regular basis, she would be approached by a deer who was unable to find food in the dwindling months, and she eagerly gave each visitor twelve pinecones, as she had more than enough to share.

One afternoon, Akemi was approached by a lowly doe. ”Hello, Akemi, I heard you were giving away pinecones for the winter. May I have a dozen?”, Mystress said.

”You heard right. I’ve got enough to give. Here, let me give you some.”, Akemi replied, and soon offered Mystress twelve pinecones.

The doe saw how many pinecones was in his hoard, and politely asked, ”If you don’t mind, may I have one more? I asked for a dozen.”

Akemi tilted her head, ”I gave you a dozen pinecones and you want another? Listen, I only give away twelve.”, she spoke.

Mystress frowned, ”You can’t spare one more pinecone? I asked for a dozen, not twelve.”

By now, Akemi was becoming annoyed. She replied, [b]”Look, I need to save the rest of these for the winter. I simply cannot give away too many.

The stealthy ninja climbs the concrete pillar
He hones his skills, the expert fulfiller
Treading upon both vine and stone
Kinsha trains upon the Ruins alone

A morning glory grows on the slab
The kunai thrown, the flower stabbed
With a cling and a clash, line in crosshair
He catches the bud as it drifts through the air

The ninja now sits, the flower in grasp
A sigh now heavy, he releases his clasp
So severed bloom now flutters away
To land almost perfectly on an unmarked grave

The ninja now sits much like a gargoyle
While below something shifts in the soil
And soon the dearly departed arrive
Their dirt and snow covered bodies revived

They look to one another, their eyes of death
And now spot the one who draws his breath
Eight deceased deer now climb the ruined shrine
To meet the silent ninja of living tine

He spots their movements with sudden surprise
These eight enemies who surely seek his demise
Kinsha rises from his stance, and with a bound
Backflips off the stone and lands on the ground

The dead ones soon follow, their intent unclear
But the ninja did not wish to be a meal to these deer
So with swift hoof and nerves on edge
He raced across the Forest, past tree and hedge

Here chased Roe with eyes black as night
Her vision locked on the ninja’s flight
And close was Trunks, the spirit of the land
The chase easy for his legs to withstand

Soon followed zombies, Valentine and Birth
Unstoppable forces that now walked this Earth
After the ninja was also Brynhried
Who could easily match Kinsha’s speed

Ghost Fawn and Shyla pursued together
Their bodies swift and l

The kings have traveled from far away
They follow the bright star, never to stray
Past shepherds and their flock, they do not delay
To bring gifts to the newborn fawn of the hay


The first to come is Kody, the king of wolven clan
His ebony fur shimmers beneath the starlit land
His gift to the fawn to rise and command
The lupin stone of scarlet firebrand


The second king is Crucio, of pride and tone
The silent reaper of fearful crone
His gift is meant only for those of the throne
A sacred relic, a dragon’s wishbone


The third is the ruler of science, Mar Sart
His crown bears truth of a deer so smart
The gift he brings is closest to his heart
A golden key with knowledge to impart


The three bow to their fawnly king
Gifts to lead, master, and inspire they bring
They see the future as bright and brimming
As the Great Star above on this holy evening

Author’s Note – This story was included this year in honor of those who celebrate Hanukkah during this time.


On an autumn day, a doe met a kind stag, and the two were soon mates. Ourania was looked on with favor by her mother, Ma, and the doe loved her mother dearly. Ourania and her new mate soon decided to migrate to a new home far away, and once every year her mother would come to visit.


But when they arrived at their new home, Ourania soon discovered that life had become more difficult. There were new challenges for the couple to handle, such as low food sources at times as well as predation from coyotes. Ourania was lucky that her strong stag could protect her, but the night time was especially terrifying for her when she heard the coyotes call. But there were other things that were troubling to her in this new place. The environment was not as clean as Ourania had liked. The water in the streams tasted odd, and the air had an unusual smell.


When Ma came to visit, she learned that Ourania was miserable in this new home. ”Mother, I hate this forest. The grass and berries taste terrible, and there are too many coyotes attacking us. I’m on edge every night just thinking about them.”, Ourania spoke.


[=#EDDA74]”Oh mon enfant, it is quite belle here, no? Why not give it some time, I am sure you will love your new home then.