On a cold winter morning
Mouse awoke without warning
As a cold gust of wind had blown
As he sat under a tree
He didn’t expect to see
His antlers had caught mistletoe

Mouse bounced all around
To shake off the crown
But it would not fall from his head
So he gave up and yawned
And walked to the pond
For a drink of water instead

As he drank the cold drink
He didn’t seem to think
That anything would happen this day
But as he rose from the brook
A doe gave him a look
And began to walk his way

Aria Myst was the first doe
Whose eyes were all aglow
At the buck with the crown on his head
And without a moment’s waste
She kissed his cheek with haste
And then quietly she said:

“What a glorious day it is
To find such a handsome prince
Adorning the mistletoe
As your day has just begun
I wish you wondrous fun
And a kiss from every doe.”

Aria Mist walked away clear
And Mouse stood without an idea
Of what had just happened this morning
And as he went toward a pine
He was stopped by another hind
Who eyed his mistletoe adorning

Richter was exceptionally giddy
To see Mouse looking so silly
And she skipped around the hart
With a swift and loving kiss
His second gift was this
Another speech would start:

”Well isn’t this a surprise
I couldn’t believe my eyes
So my kiss was given to you
Where did you find it at?
And…oh, what was that?”
Richter ran off to see something new

So Mouse left in confusion
Finding somewhere in seclusion
To get the mistletoe out of his prongs
But for a third time he was seen
However this time by someone mean
Iugulare approa

This is the journal of Pema, the marionette. The date is December 24th, 2012. I am reciting the day’s adventure to someone who can write, since…well…I can’t really hold a pen using these stuffed hooves of mine.

I was asked by the Twin Gods, Michael and Auriea, that someone needed my help this day. I did not know what they meant by this, but I accepted and was sent on my way. Using their powers, the gods transported me to an unknown place. It took me a moment to realize where I was – it was a traditional toy store, one that made toys like myself by hand and not through a factory or anything. I barely remember when I was made, but I know I was never on a conveyor belt…

This place was dark. It looks like wherever I am, it is night time. It’s really cold here too, I can even see my breath in the air. I checked the ceiling of the place, there was very little my strings could catch onto. Good thing too, I don’t like being tangled up.

I noticed a lot of boxes here, it looked like they were empty. There must be some purpose about all of this, I knew this place was different. Most toy stores wouldn’t be set up like this. This looks more like some kind of factory than a store.

I heard something coming from one of the boxes. There was a word on the box, something I didn’t want to read… ‘Defects’. I looked in and to my surprise there was someone in there! It was a stuffed cat plush, it looked much more like a big cat but I wasn’t sure what variety. But he was crying in the box, all alone. And then I saw why – he was missing his front right arm.

“Hello there, are you lost?”, I spoke to the cat.

It was a chilly night in the Endless Forest, and Isaita couldn’t sleep. She started to pace back and forth, trying to settle, but the cold made her uncomfortable. A bit annoyed by this, she started wandering aimlessly through the Forest. There were deer all around, sleeping in their favorite places. She accidentally bumped into one with a hoof, who sat up and moaned, “Hey, watch where you’re going!”

Not responding to the deer, she just kept going, hoping she would wear herself down to be able to sleep. As she walked, she noticed someone else was awake too, standing around idly. He was a small brown goat, with a pictogram that read ‘Victor’. ”Hello there…can’t sleep either huh?”, she asked the goat. Victor turned, and smiled to the doe with a nod. ”Victor? That’s an interesting name. I am Isaita.”, she said, wondering why he didn’t say anything. The goat nodded again, not saying a word but blinking a few times as he shifted his weight. There was a bit of an awkward silence, before the doe spoke again, ”You don’t…talk, do you?” The goat opened his mouth as if to speak, but nothing really came out. He demonstrated that he was mute, but that he understood what she was saying. ”Oh…you really are…oh I’m sorry.”, Isaita immediately responded. Victor silently laughed and nodded.

The doe was about to speak again when something caught their eyes, and looking to the distance, they noticed an odd glow. Victor was so curious that he had to go toward it, and Isaita followed him, wondering what they were seeing herself.

On a cold winter’s night, a doe walked alone
Past naked trees and where the moonlight shone
She was lost without direction, looking for the throne
Of the Forest Gods, the place she called home

The doe was tattered, unkempt and unclean
But she lived with purpose, her new life to bring
A lesson learned, a dream to achieve
A story that many would remember and sing

As Taya stopped and sniffed the fresh air
She caught vision of light, a glowing glare
It was faint and distant, but the doe did dare
To investigate and discover what was there

The village was all aglow and ready this night
Waiting patiently for Santa’s great flight
Bright glowing trees, and bows tied tight
The doe confused at seeing this sight

“What’s this?”, she asked with a tilt of her head
Though speaking to herself, misty words said
She descended to the town for her eyes to be fed
Not with fear but wonder instead

She stopped by a tree that was lit all aglow
She paced around it, leaving tracks in the snow
Poking the light with a cloven toe
Taya left still a confused doe

She then saw a window, and peeking to see
Another of those, another glowing tree
But inside the house, giving the house glee
A tree warm and regal and snow free

Taya turned and smelled the air, catching a whiff
A delicious scent filled each sniff
She ran to the source, a bakery on a cliff
That left gingerbread outside that was too stiff

The doe had a bite or two or three
And with each satisfied crunch she said to thee
“What is this?