“Oh my goodness,” breathed Mira. “You’re just as beautiful as the reindeer in Santa Claus the Movie.” A movie she had watched over two hundred times as a child.
Branch snorted, but when she held out her hand, he pushed his muzzle against her, allowing her to stroke him.
Branch was showing her his beast – his reindeer bull. She had watched in awe as he stripped and shimmered through the change, and now she was getting up close and personal with him.
She ran her fingers over his magnificent antlers, and he pawed the ground.
“This is so incredible,” she murmured.
Words didn’t do the moment justice. It was the most wondrous thing she had ever seen.
Mira scratched his ear and whispered, “Thank you for showing me this.”
No matter how short her acquaintance with Branch would be, he had certainly made it a magical Christmas.
*
December 20th
It was Christmas movie night. Another herd tradition that Mira was loving and Branch was tolerating.
Mira had retreated to the kitchen to gather more snacks while the debate raged on about which movie to watch next. They had already sat through It’s a Wonderful Life – all members of the herd conceding it was a classic that needed watching every year, but there was some argument about what to watch next. One faction was lobbying for Elf, while another demanded Scrooged and a small contingent asked for Gremlins. Mira would happily watch any of them and left the herd members to duke it out.
She found Ariel already in the kitchen, staring into space.
“Hey. Everything okay?”
Ariel blinked. “Sorry,” she muttered, “I was a million miles away. Have they chosen anything yet?”
“Not yet, but the Elf lovers seem to be gaining momentum.”
Ariel smiled. “Last year they resorted to races to see who got to choose.”
“Races?”
“Yep. They turned into their reindeer and ran around the garden racing each other. Eventually, they stopped accusing each other of cheating, tired themselves out, fell asleep and we ended up watching Christmas episodes of The Simpsons.” Ariel shook her head in resignation. “Reindeer bulls tend to be hot-headed idiots.”
Mira snickered. She could believe that considering the argument that she could still hear raging.
“I don’t think Branch is very hot-headed.”
“Oh, you don’t know him that well.” Ariel’s eyes widened, and she flushed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply…”
“Oh no, it’s fine, you’re right – we haven’t known each other long.”
Barely a week – if they were really mating, that fact might alarm her.
“But you have the rest of your lives to get to know each other.”
Ariel gave her an encouraging look, and Mira smiled nervously.
“Right, yes.”
“I’m so glad he met you. I’m so glad he’s mating you. It’s the smartest thing he’s ever done.”
“Oh, you’re sweet to say that,” muttered Mira as guilt needled at her.
“It’s true,” said Ariel earnestly. “I haven’t seen him so happy in years.”
“Oh,” murmured Mira faintly.
Made her wonder just what he was like before her then. He was already pretty grumpy. But then, he was grieving for his mate.
“You two are perfect for each other,” insisted Ariel. “I just know you’re going to be together forever.”
“I don’t know about that.”
Was it hot in there? It felt like it was hot in there.
Ariel took her hand. “I’m serious. Branch would never have wanted to come to all these herd parties until he met you. He’s kind of been drifting away from us for years, and now it feels like he’s coming back.”
“You give me far too much credit,” protested Mira.
Ariel didn’t reply, just pulled her into a solid hug and gave her an extra firm squeeze. It was easy to forget that the slim young woman could actually turn into a huge, tough reindeer, but that hug was enough to remind her. Ariel smiled at her and shuffled out the room, her faraway expression returning. Ariel’s arms and legs could easily be described as willowy, but as Mira tried to realign her spine, she suspected the young woman could easily lift cars with her muscles.
Mira chewed her lip. His family was going to be incredibly disappointed when they ended their mating in a couple of months. She wished she could tell them the truth. Wished they weren't so darn nice to her about everything. It would be easier if they hated her, but no, they loved her, and she loved them.
Branch strode into the room, faltering on seeing her expression.
“What’s happening? Who upset you?” he demanded, his eyes swiveling around the room looking for the culprit.
“Nobody, I’m fine,” she replied in her cheeriest voice.
“Humph.”
He didn’t seem to believe her entirely, but he let it drop. “Having a good time?”
“Yes, are you?”
He rolled his eyes. “They finally settled on the movie, Elf.”
He didn’t sound altogether pleased by that, but then he hadn’t wanted to watch It’s a Wonderful Life either.
“Not a fan?” she snickered.
“No.”
“My favorite’s Home Alone.”
“Ugh, worse.”
“Are you kidding? One of the reasons I moved to Chicago was to see the Home Alone house.”
“Dear lord,” he breathed in mock horror.
Mira chuckled and playfully tapped his arm.
“How about some mulled wine? That’s sure to put some cheer into you.”
“Why not?”