In a smaller font beneath the welcome, it says “Home to the Circle of Nine, Santa’s renowned sleigh team.”
I turn around slowly, taking in the twinkling lights adoring rooflines, the feet of powdery snow, and the perfectly shaped pine trees.
Ryatt is standing quietly with his hands clutched behind his back. His head is bowed as he lazily kicks a snow ball back and forth with his foot.
Chester decides at that moment to hiss, digging his claws into my forearm. I almost drop him until I spot what he’s hissing at.
An elegant woman is walking up, her olive green coat lined in white fur, wrapped tightly around her slender body. Her eyestwinkle as soon as she spots Ryatt, who is still busily kicking the snow ball.
He really is oblivious to the women who seek him. Something I’m learning to adore about him as the woman stops in front of him clearing her throat.
Just like before, this woman moves through her practiced moves. I’m about to step up when she moves her hair, but I halt when I take in what’s in front of me.
Instead of the rounded ear of a human, hers are lonely pointed, reaching towards the back of her head. Close to the end are two bells dangling from gauges. One silver bell and one red bell.
I blink my eyes a few times, and when it remains, I wipe my eyes furiously with my gloved hands. Wait..gloved hands. When did I put on gloves?
Ryatt dips his head slightly, an regal air in his stiff movements as the woman curtesy’s in front of him.
He told me to believe everything I see. Somehow he knew I’d have a million questions and possibly not believe it. She whispers to him, and all he does is smile a very tight smile before nodding once. It’s clear he doesn’t want to talk to her or be around her. But why?
I mean outside of the ears, which are super intriguing, she is a stunning woman. Is woman the right word? She elf? Shelf? No, scratch that last one. Even I know that’s ridiculous.
She dips down one more time before scurrying down the path towards town. Before she moves past me, she smiles, and speaks in a language I’ve never heard before.
“Vynara,” she bows her head before walking away.
Ryatt walks over to where I’m standing, still not elaborating on what is happening. It doesn’t feel as though he’s ignoring me though, more like giving me a chance to absorb everything before adding to it.
Before I can ask what she said to me, the air fills with a loud, thunderous crack. It feels as though the crack vibrated my own ribs as I turn to find the source. There on top of the hill, where the sound of something clacking against something else, is something I never thought I’d see. My jaw almost hits the sugar-frosted ground.
Two enormous reindeer are circling each other. Not the kind I’ve seen in nature documentaries or the mall displays. These are mythical creatures carved straight from the massive pine trees and the glacier ice that surrounds them. Their antlers, which easily stand an additional five to six feet above their heads, glisten in the moonlight as if they too are frosted in ice.
Their massive black hooves thrash in the air, almost as if they are boxers preparing to spar before they slam to the ground. The sound thundering down the hill to where we stand.
The one on the right snorts roughly before he slams his head into the one on the left. Their massive antlers lock as they both thrash their heads.
I don’t even realize my jaw is hanging open or that I’m practically frozen in place by the sight until Ryatt chuckles next to me, snapping me out of it.
“If you hold your face like that any longer I’m pretty sure it’s going to be frozen in place.”
“Not funny,” I say as I swat him. “I’ve never even seen a reindeer in real life, yet here are two that I’m 100% positive aren’t theaveragekind.”
Ryatt reaches up, scratching the back of his neck as his cheeks redden. “You could say that.”
I wait. Sure he’s going to elaborate, but when he doesn’t I nudge him with my elbow. “I’m trying really hard to not freak out here. You said to believe everything I see. But now it’s your turn to fill me in. Where are we really Ryatt?”
“Well you are in Sugarplum Hollow, the land of Santa’s reindeers, and me of course.” A raspy, sweet voice comes from behind us, and Ryatt's eyes shut slowly as his shoulders drop back.
He doesn’t say a word as we spin around but the second I come face to face with the voice, I know immediately who she is. Because I’ve seen this face before. Except she wasn’t real.
I look up at him and he nods once. I don’t even need to ask, it’s probably written all over my face.
“That’s right dear. I’m Mrs Claus. Although, please call me Estelle.”
I…she looks just like the display he somehow made without moving. Down to the the curly gray hairs framing her face and the half moon spectacles delicately balancing on her button nose.
I can almost smell the lingering scent of freshly baked cookies wafting off of her. Her dainty hands are clasped together just beneath her chin as she walks forward, swooping me into a hug that feels like Christmas morning when you rush down to see what Santa left you.
