12-17-2017, 12:52 PM
<center><div style="width: 560px; background: url('https://www.transparenttextures.com/patterns/wet-snow.png');background-position: top; background-repeat: repeat; background-color: #bfd7e1; border-radius: 300px 300px 0px 0px;box-shadow: 0px 0px 10px #000;padding-top: 10px;border-top: 1px solid #8dadba;border-right: 1px solid #8dadba;border-left: 1px solid #8dadba;"><div style="width: 540px; background: url('https://s7.postimg.org/ej3hwrly3/Marg_Fox.png'); padding-top: 10px; background-position: top; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-color: #7897a9; border-radius: 300px 300px 0px 0px;padding-top: 480px;border-top: 1px solid #8dadba;border-right: 1px solid #8dadba;border-left: 1px solid #8dadba;"><div style="width: 480px; margin-top: 10px;margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; padding: 15px; background-color: #e1ddde; font-family: Times; color: #596068; font-size: 12px; line-height: 120%; text-align: justify; border-radius: 20% 20% 0 0; border-top: 6px solid #8dadba;border-right: 1px solid #8dadba;border-left: 1px solid #8dadba;box-shadow: 0px 0px 20px #262336;"><div style="font-family: 'Times', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: #8dadba; text-align:center; letter-spacing: 1px;padding-top: 10px;padding-bottom: 15px;font-style:italic;">These are a few of my favorite things.</div>He was tall. That was the first thing she noticed. And it was evident that he was not typically one to miss meals. His pelt was strawberry roan, more roan than strawberry now. The hair grew long and shaggy, trailing from his face, and snowy feathers whirled from his knees to his hooves. His kind face held the most red tinting, and even that was sprinkled generously with white.
He stood shoulder to shoulder with her ursine companion, a serene look on his Roman face. Margaux smiled back tentatively, looking to the snow bear for confirmation. The frosty creature seemed at peace, and so she dared to step closer. The old stallion's smile broadened, and as she drew closer, he dropped to his knees. No longer towering above her, she could see into his eyes. They shone like the snow bears, as though lit from within, though they did not share the blue color. His eyes were a deep evergreen, swirling with the wisdom of ages. A matchingly verdant wreath of red-berried holly circled his mighty crown. Politely, she bumps her tiny red nose to his much larger one, drawing a deep chuckle from the old man's chest. "Yes, Margaux, I am Santa Claus. Or Saint Nicholas, if you prefer. I have had many names, to many creatures. And I see you've met Lumi! He is a great helper of mine. It looks as though you've been a help to him as well tonight, hm?"
The child's eyes were as round as saucers by now, taking it all in. He was a great old man, though how old, she couldn't say. "Y-yes sir, I-i tried... Oh!" she murmured. A sudden burst of scarlet erupted from the crook of Santa's leg. "Hey, come back here!" She yelped at the fox, embarrassed. Santa didn't seem bothered, however. Instead, he lightly bushed the top of his head, strange soft growlings emanating from his throat. The foxling stared at him intently, holding perfectly still, finally responding with his own series of yips and yowls. The old man looked back up at her after a minute of this, looking pleased. "Fyr seems to think well of you as well, my dear. You have a kind heart. It's no wonder Lumi brought you here. Come now, I have something to show you."
With a gentle sigh, he heaved himself to his massive feet, reminding the girl just how big he was. Beside him, she felt small, insignificant. Santa had begun walking into the luminescent grove, leaving glowing tracks in the drifting snow. A bright jingling followed him as he moved, drawing attention to the tiny golden bells knotted into his mane. Sprays of merry holly adorned his tail as well, she saw. He walked slowly, allowing her time to catch up. More of the twinkling lights glimmered into existence as they walked, lighting the way.
The shining evergreens let them out into another grove, this one much busier than the last. Hundreds of red squirrels were grouped about, chattering away cheerfully as they went about their business. Silence fell as the majestic man and little girl appeared before them. A great fat squirrel bounded up to them, a bucktoothed grin on his face. Margaux giggled. She had never seen a squirrel that was quite so chubby in her life. He was adorable! He had come to a rest several feet before them, tufted ears quivering excitedly. Santa eyed him with all the meticulous surity of an experienced foreman. "Well Gustav, is it ready?"
The squirrel chatted back in response, fluffy tail whipping back and forth as he did so. Santa nodded, looking pleased. "Lead the way then, if you would. Gustav is my head elf, he's very clever." He said, turning to Margaux as the red squirrel turned to bound away again. He led them through other troops of fellow squirrels, who she now saw were busy sculpting beautiful statues from the pristine snow.
As they walked through, Santa touched his whiskery nose to each sculpture, making it glimmer and glow. Suddenly the snow seemed to fall away, leaving a marvelous toy in it's place. So he really was magic... The pony girl watched him in amazement, forgetting for a second that they had been following Gustav. Shrill chitters reminded her, and she sheepishly went back to trailing his bushy tail. At the end of the row of squirrel elves, they came to an empty workstation. Gustav went to stand beside the snow sculpture standing in it, his whiskers twitching with pride. The sculpture was a breathtaking abstract tower, whorls and upsweeps creating a shape that she could almost name. "Oh Gustav, this is absolutely wonderful!" She gushed, thoroughly impressed with the squirrel's craftsmanship. Santa, Lumi and Fyr stayed back as stepped forward to inspect it further. After a minute, Santa cleared his throat, bringing red Margaux back to his side.
"This is amazing Santa! All of it is so beautiful. I hope everyone else gets to see it." She told him with enthusiasm, remembering the others from the playground. The old man smiled at her congenially, and nodded in assurance. "Rest easy, my dear. Every good child gets what they wish for on Christmas." He reminded her, gently nosing her forlock from her eyes. "And now Margaux, it's your turn. Tell me, sweetheart, what is it you wish for more than anything right now?" He moved over to the lovely sculpture that Gustav had clearly put so much work into, muzzle poised to administer his magic to it.
For mama to come back to her was almost the first thing from her lips. But she held it back at the last second. It had been weeks. She had known, deep in her heart, that mama wasn't going to come back for her. Mama had said once, that her mind didn't always run like it should. That sometimes it made her sad, made her scared of living, and it was making her tired to be constantly at war with herself. She had left her daughter in a safe place, and then gone away. And Margaux realized now, that she had finally lost her war with her mind. Mama wasn't coming back.
A hard stone lodged itself in her throat, threatening to choke the breath from her. A red bottle brush laid itself across her ankles, as Fyr the fox pressed closer to his distressed friend. She smiled at him through the tears that had found themselves in her soft cocoa eyes. She looked up at Lumi, the not-so-abominable snow bear, with a shoulder full of bloody moss. She knew what she wanted for Christmas. "Santa, can you give me a way to help my friends better? Maybe a healing kit, or just a way for them to tell me what's wrong? A way to make them happy? Most of my friends aren't horses." She explained, gesturing toward the wild creatures beside her.
Santa considered her request, looking at the young girl with a serious expression. Had she asked for too much? Was this beyond the power of Santa? But her nerves were settled a moment later when a booming "HO HO HO!! I think we can manage just that!" echoed across the meadow workshop. Squirrels gathered around, watching excitedly as their boss did what he loved to do best. Bells chimed in the air with joyous sound as the jolly holly king bowed his head to brush ever so gently across Margaux's gift. She gasped in wonder as her present revealed itself in a cascade of snowflakes. <center><br><img src="https://s7.postimg.org/ot5ww3buj/Marg_Fox_Name.png"></div></center>
He stood shoulder to shoulder with her ursine companion, a serene look on his Roman face. Margaux smiled back tentatively, looking to the snow bear for confirmation. The frosty creature seemed at peace, and so she dared to step closer. The old stallion's smile broadened, and as she drew closer, he dropped to his knees. No longer towering above her, she could see into his eyes. They shone like the snow bears, as though lit from within, though they did not share the blue color. His eyes were a deep evergreen, swirling with the wisdom of ages. A matchingly verdant wreath of red-berried holly circled his mighty crown. Politely, she bumps her tiny red nose to his much larger one, drawing a deep chuckle from the old man's chest. "Yes, Margaux, I am Santa Claus. Or Saint Nicholas, if you prefer. I have had many names, to many creatures. And I see you've met Lumi! He is a great helper of mine. It looks as though you've been a help to him as well tonight, hm?"
The child's eyes were as round as saucers by now, taking it all in. He was a great old man, though how old, she couldn't say. "Y-yes sir, I-i tried... Oh!" she murmured. A sudden burst of scarlet erupted from the crook of Santa's leg. "Hey, come back here!" She yelped at the fox, embarrassed. Santa didn't seem bothered, however. Instead, he lightly bushed the top of his head, strange soft growlings emanating from his throat. The foxling stared at him intently, holding perfectly still, finally responding with his own series of yips and yowls. The old man looked back up at her after a minute of this, looking pleased. "Fyr seems to think well of you as well, my dear. You have a kind heart. It's no wonder Lumi brought you here. Come now, I have something to show you."
With a gentle sigh, he heaved himself to his massive feet, reminding the girl just how big he was. Beside him, she felt small, insignificant. Santa had begun walking into the luminescent grove, leaving glowing tracks in the drifting snow. A bright jingling followed him as he moved, drawing attention to the tiny golden bells knotted into his mane. Sprays of merry holly adorned his tail as well, she saw. He walked slowly, allowing her time to catch up. More of the twinkling lights glimmered into existence as they walked, lighting the way.
The shining evergreens let them out into another grove, this one much busier than the last. Hundreds of red squirrels were grouped about, chattering away cheerfully as they went about their business. Silence fell as the majestic man and little girl appeared before them. A great fat squirrel bounded up to them, a bucktoothed grin on his face. Margaux giggled. She had never seen a squirrel that was quite so chubby in her life. He was adorable! He had come to a rest several feet before them, tufted ears quivering excitedly. Santa eyed him with all the meticulous surity of an experienced foreman. "Well Gustav, is it ready?"
The squirrel chatted back in response, fluffy tail whipping back and forth as he did so. Santa nodded, looking pleased. "Lead the way then, if you would. Gustav is my head elf, he's very clever." He said, turning to Margaux as the red squirrel turned to bound away again. He led them through other troops of fellow squirrels, who she now saw were busy sculpting beautiful statues from the pristine snow.
As they walked through, Santa touched his whiskery nose to each sculpture, making it glimmer and glow. Suddenly the snow seemed to fall away, leaving a marvelous toy in it's place. So he really was magic... The pony girl watched him in amazement, forgetting for a second that they had been following Gustav. Shrill chitters reminded her, and she sheepishly went back to trailing his bushy tail. At the end of the row of squirrel elves, they came to an empty workstation. Gustav went to stand beside the snow sculpture standing in it, his whiskers twitching with pride. The sculpture was a breathtaking abstract tower, whorls and upsweeps creating a shape that she could almost name. "Oh Gustav, this is absolutely wonderful!" She gushed, thoroughly impressed with the squirrel's craftsmanship. Santa, Lumi and Fyr stayed back as stepped forward to inspect it further. After a minute, Santa cleared his throat, bringing red Margaux back to his side.
"This is amazing Santa! All of it is so beautiful. I hope everyone else gets to see it." She told him with enthusiasm, remembering the others from the playground. The old man smiled at her congenially, and nodded in assurance. "Rest easy, my dear. Every good child gets what they wish for on Christmas." He reminded her, gently nosing her forlock from her eyes. "And now Margaux, it's your turn. Tell me, sweetheart, what is it you wish for more than anything right now?" He moved over to the lovely sculpture that Gustav had clearly put so much work into, muzzle poised to administer his magic to it.
For mama to come back to her was almost the first thing from her lips. But she held it back at the last second. It had been weeks. She had known, deep in her heart, that mama wasn't going to come back for her. Mama had said once, that her mind didn't always run like it should. That sometimes it made her sad, made her scared of living, and it was making her tired to be constantly at war with herself. She had left her daughter in a safe place, and then gone away. And Margaux realized now, that she had finally lost her war with her mind. Mama wasn't coming back.
A hard stone lodged itself in her throat, threatening to choke the breath from her. A red bottle brush laid itself across her ankles, as Fyr the fox pressed closer to his distressed friend. She smiled at him through the tears that had found themselves in her soft cocoa eyes. She looked up at Lumi, the not-so-abominable snow bear, with a shoulder full of bloody moss. She knew what she wanted for Christmas. "Santa, can you give me a way to help my friends better? Maybe a healing kit, or just a way for them to tell me what's wrong? A way to make them happy? Most of my friends aren't horses." She explained, gesturing toward the wild creatures beside her.
Santa considered her request, looking at the young girl with a serious expression. Had she asked for too much? Was this beyond the power of Santa? But her nerves were settled a moment later when a booming "HO HO HO!! I think we can manage just that!" echoed across the meadow workshop. Squirrels gathered around, watching excitedly as their boss did what he loved to do best. Bells chimed in the air with joyous sound as the jolly holly king bowed his head to brush ever so gently across Margaux's gift. She gasped in wonder as her present revealed itself in a cascade of snowflakes. <center><br><img src="https://s7.postimg.org/ot5ww3buj/Marg_Fox_Name.png"></div></center>