Christmas had come to the forest at last. The ebony hind and her mate could be found curled up in the den together, sharing stories while the blizzard rages outside.

"I still can't believe I could've been so jealous!" She would laugh, her voice somewhat muffled by his fur.

"I know, but I didn't even notice it," he says, and the Clydesdale would chuckle; shaking her about in the process.

"I can't believe it is already Christmas."

"I know. The time...it goes by so fast."

It was almost time for Christmas. Mitsuki still couldn't believe that Stormchaser had returned. She had hoped for this for a long time since his disappearence and it hadn't helped her to be so anxious. Even with him back, her 'sickness' had gotten worse. She was frequently getting sick, having headaches more often than ever before, and the dreams... Whatever it was, it wasn't caused by the stress of Stormchaser's absence.

The doe had prepared months ahead for Christmas, and her preparations extended to the winter season in general but mostly for this time of year. It had taken much work on her part, and the ebony hind was glad that she had gotten the work done before she'd become ill, because otherwise she didn't know what she would've done. The project wouldn't have been finished.

Mitsuki started clearing out the snow that had crept up closer to the entrance of the space. She peeped her head out briefly to check on the state of the plants that wove their way up the "walls" of the den. She had woven the reeds into an impenetrable wall encircling a tree, and from there had planted in the homemade trellis hyacinths and poppies. It had taken months to complete, but it was worth it. Even if the flowers weren't blooming now, they would in the springtime, and it would make for a beautiful sight.

Then the doe would step gingerly outside, breathing in the cool, crisp night air. She needed to go find Stormchaser next; Mitsuki had ordered him away for the evening(although teasingly), so that she could finish up.

She found him by the pond, as always. Mitsuki was practically hopping up and down with suppressed energy, and she urged him on faster. She couldn't wait to show him her finished project.

"What is so important?" he rumbled with mock annoyance saturating his tone.

"You have to see this!" she would trill excitedly, not paying attention to the sarcasm. Then they reached the spot where the poppies might be if the snow hadn't blanketed the ground. And now the entrance to the home that she had crafted came into sight.

"I was hoping...well, I was hoping t-that if you like it, maybe this could be our home. I built it myself," she murmured softly, "I didn't want to wait until Christmas, and it's so cold outside..."

"I'm sorry..." he began, causing her to look up at him, her silliness bleeding away immediately. "I don't think that I could have waited any longer to see this myself."

She headbutted him playfully, breathing a sigh of relief. "So you like it?"

"Of course I like it, it's perfect."

He started to enter the den, and she followed happily. The ebony hind curled up beside her mate to sleep, welcoming the dreams that came as she drifted off.

The ebony doe lay curled up with her hooves dangling over the edge of the pond. Lost in thought, Mitsuki lingered on the boundary of the dream world. Wounds from her scuffle with the finned doe were now only fading memories. Just the day before she had given herself a thorough wash in the stream that ran from the Crying Idol. A sleepy glance at the sky, eyes brightened as the weather dimmed.

“It’s been too long, hmm?” Head rested on the ground, eyes began to close. “Where…is…he…”

Moments later a warm flank was pressed gently to her side as she limp, already fast asleep. Then a velvet nose nudged her closer to the equine, half-rousing her.

“Why do you have to sleep so much?” came his quiet, teasing complaint. But Mitsuki slipped back under the trance.

She couldn’t breathe. Heart racing, the little black doe backed up into a tree, pausing to catch her breath. Thick, pungent smoke obscured the trees. Mitsuki fluffed out her obsidian fur, blue eyes glittering fearfully.

That was when she noticed she wasn’t alone. A fawn cowered between her front legs, dark as she and dotted with silver. Mitsuki was sharply aware of the rumbling of thunder overhead and the frigid rain seeping into her fur. The fawn shivered and she forced herself to curl herself around the tiny creature, fighting her numbing limbs for control—

“Mitsuki! Mitsuki, wake up!”

Her head shot up but her eyes did not open. She shook her head drowsily.

“Just a dream,” she mumbled, “Not real…dream.”

“Yes,” he sounded shaken. “You looked…upset. I thought it would be best to wake you.”

"Don't worry. It was only a dream."