Alexander the Caracal's Christmas

Out into the Snow and Back into the House

With a few of the students, Alexander went forth out into the snow. He had not been out in the snow for a while and was still unsure of what to make of it. Taking a moment to sniff a snow drift, the Northern Caracal felt he had had enough and walked over to the nearest open window to jump back inside, as the front door had been closed. Landing upon the windowsill, Alexander looked to see his master and mistress conversing, the great-horned owl Cleopatra perched nearby, talking about thirty-nine of the students having elected to stay here at Quebec Castle rather than go home to their families.

"I really can't understand it, Igraine." Said Captain Smith. "The thirty-nine who don't live here, and that is all of them but Ian, have decided to stay here. Do they really think we all won't be alright because this is the first Christmas without my mother, sister and brother-in-law?"

"They are all good children, Kull." Answered Igraine with a smile. "And it is their decision. They will see their families when they come for the Christmas party."

"What?" asked Captain Smith, surprised. "What's that?"

"The Christmas party that Zenobia and I have been planning." Igraine replied. "We have been getting dresses made for the girls and would like to bring you and Conan into it."

Captain Smith could do naught but smile. "How I love you, Igraine. You are well ahead of me."

"Oh, Kull, you have moments where you are well ahead of me as well, much more before..."

"Before the passing of three of our family." Captain Smith gave a nod. "Aye, that is the case. Captain Thorsen once told me that you can be as far ahead as everyone else as possible, but when you lose family, you are going at the same speed as everyone else."

Jumping over to the floor nearest to his master's chair, Alexander meowed a greeting. The first one to reply was not Captain Smith but rather Cleopatra, hooting as she looked down at the Northern caracal. Her mate Herod was no doubt nearby. Herod and Cleopatra were both falconry owls, good birds that Alexander trusted, not like the Canada goose Lucifer.

Smiling, Captain Smith gave Alexander a pat on the head. "Not enjoying the winter so far, Alexander? I suppose it takes some getting used too. Aye, I would take some getting used to it myself if I had grown up in a place without snow."

"Uncle!"

"In here, Alan!"

When Alan and Ian entered the room, both covered in snow, Alexander arched his back, widened his eyes and flattened his ears against his skull. What had happened? Had the snow come alive and attacked his master's nephews?

"Good heavens, boys, what happened?" inquired Igraine.

"Some snow fell out of a tree on top of us, Aunt Igraine." Ian answered.

Pointing at an envelope in the right hand of his elder nephew, Captain Smith asked: "What have you got there?"

Alan handed the letter to his uncle only for Cleopatra, situated on the table between the two of them, to take hold of the envelope in her beak and begin to play tug of war with her master's elder nephew. Annoyed, Alan exclaimed: "For God's sake, Cleopatra!" Alexander watched, somewhat amused. He had seen this before. Captain Smith would simply play tug of war with Cleopatra until she grew bored, but Alan was most annoyed by this piece of the owl's personality. Her mate Herod would not do this, but Herod was a different manner of eccentric altogether in his own way. Finally taking the letter from the female great horned owl, Alan handed it to his uncle. "Here you go, Uncle." He then shot Cleopatra a look, which she responded to with a loud hoot. Rolling his eyes, Alan uttered: "Yeah, I know, you like to play tug of war, but for once can you not do it with the mail?" Again, Cleopatra gave a loud hoot and Alan commented: "Why am I not surprised?"

"What is it, Kull?" inquired Igraine as her husband opened the envelope.

Holding a letter in his right hand, Captain Smith replied: "Severine's aunt Sofia has invited us over to her home for the winter holidays."

"You mean that former barracks from the Fenian Raids?" asked Alan. "Big place, could fit all forty of the students in there."

"I don't doubt it, Alan." Replied Captain Smith. "And it seems she is aware of the students' decision to stay with us here at Quebec Castle for the holidays as well and is asking that they come along as well."

"I haven't been there since I was six years old, when you invited my parents and I to come along." Commented Alan, leaning on a chair and smiling.

"Back when Darius was alive." Stated Captain Smith.

At the mention of his predecessor, Alexander looked around. Darius' spirit did not seem to be anywhere in the room. Where could he have been then? Letting out a loud meow, Alexander called for his friend. He received no answer, not that his human companions would have heard. They would not have even seen Darius even if he had been in the room.

"What's the matter, Alexander?" asked Igraine, stroking the Northern Caracal's fur. "Why so loud?"

"You calling for someone?" asked Captain Smith.

Alexander did not turn to look at his master or his mistress. He merely listened, hoping Darius would reply. When he did not, Alexander turned his attention to grooming himself, licking his right shoulder.

Alas, the moment of grooming was short lived. No sooner did Hippolyta and Olga Asimov, a Romani girl Hippolyta's age, enter the room running did Alexander cease his grooming. What reason was there for their sudden appearance and to come running?

"Daddy!" Hippolyta yelled.

"Herr von Fell, sir!" exclaimed Olga.

"What?" asked Captain Smith, half-alarmed and half-annoyed. "What is that old devil up to?"

"He is here, sir!" Olga answered.

"Coming up to the house!" Hippolyta added.

Immediately, Alexander made his way to the entrance hall of Quebec Castle. That man who was a devil, if not the Devil, would be barging in any moment... With that albino chimpanzee Beelzebub.

For a long moment did Alexander wait, his master walking past and placing himself five feet from the doors with arms crossed. Sure enough, Herr von Fell did enter the house, slamming both doors open, though curiously Beelzebub was not with him.

Herr Ludwig von Fell was sixty-eight years old and stood at a height of five feet and ten and a half inches. He was fairly athletic in build, deathly pale and his hair still retained its black colouration, not a single one even greying. He was square-jawed with coal-black eyes and a handlebar mustache that was said to have been stolen from Kaiser Wilhelm II himself. Upon his left cheek was a horizontal scar as if something had slashed him. His attire consisted of his uniform from the Franco-German War, a monocle over his right eye and a medal over the right breast of his uniform's jacket.