Christmas Stories for the Cynical. Story One: A Reindeer in Exile
"There you are! I've been waiting around the stable for hours freezing my tail off! Donner stamped the ground viciously to emphasize his point.
Vixen rolled her eyes. “Not everything is about you, Donner. Some of us actually have obligations still. I’m a busy doe with all the pre-Christmas prep you used to do.”
Donner’s antlers lowered for just an instant before he caught himself. It didn’t help to show emotion around Vixen. She used it against you eventually and always. But it was too late. Vixen noticed the aggressive gesture and gave a sly reindeer smile. Donner felt sweat dampen his fine undercoat. His next question would reveal a lot to Vixen but he just had to know. “How’s Olive?”
“Olive the Other Reindeer? Or Olive the elf in 4B?” Snow wouldn’t melt on the smug, supercilious smile on Vixen’s face.
This time, Donner not only lowered his antlers, but pawed the ground, preparing for attack. Pretending concern, Vixen nuzzled his neck with her nose. Donner felt his four legs instinctively relax at the gesture before Vixen stepped back to deliver her blow.
“Oh, that Olive?” Vixen looked around as if searching for an answer before nonchalantly scratching her antlers against the stable wall. “She’s still shacked up with Rudolf. Didn’t you know?”
Vixen rolled her eyes. “Not everything is about you, Donner. Some of us actually have obligations still. I’m a busy doe with all the pre-Christmas prep you used to do.”
Donner’s antlers lowered for just an instant before he caught himself. It didn’t help to show emotion around Vixen. She used it against you eventually and always. But it was too late. Vixen noticed the aggressive gesture and gave a sly reindeer smile. Donner felt sweat dampen his fine undercoat. His next question would reveal a lot to Vixen but he just had to know. “How’s Olive?”
“Olive the Other Reindeer? Or Olive the elf in 4B?” Snow wouldn’t melt on the smug, supercilious smile on Vixen’s face.
This time, Donner not only lowered his antlers, but pawed the ground, preparing for attack. Pretending concern, Vixen nuzzled his neck with her nose. Donner felt his four legs instinctively relax at the gesture before Vixen stepped back to deliver her blow.
“Oh, that Olive?” Vixen looked around as if searching for an answer before nonchalantly scratching her antlers against the stable wall. “She’s still shacked up with Rudolf. Didn’t you know?”