Love Guardians Part 2: Christmas Love

Clara

North was young and wild. He hadn't a care in the world. Pitch was gone and everything seemed fine. He was actually in the days of planning something big, but this was a resting day. North was tending to his horse, Petrov, as usual.

Petrov stopped his smooth breathing of enjoyment. He paused and looked at the sky. North paused, glaring and sensing around him. Something in the sky caught North's eye. He looked up at the shimmering light coming toward Santoff Clausen, and he realized that Nightlight had returned.

Katherine ran out of the door of the enormous tree, Big Root, and greeted the spectral boy back to their home. North smiled when he saw Nightlight and Katherine embrace each other, there was nothing better than seeing his friend smile. Katherine said something, but North was too far from them to hear it. North shrugged, smiling to himself, and simply turned his attention to Petrov. "It is their business, not mine." He laughed, remembering his young days of flirting with his sweetheart. He remembered her long hair and that she sang all the time.

North moved a stray black hair away from his face as he noticed the sun was setting. He began to whistle as he brushed Petrov's black mane. That was when he heard someone in the forest that guarded Santoff Clausen. He looked at the forest and could see the radiance of the spirit that Ombric created to guard the forest who surrounded Santoff Clausen.

She was laughing and chattering away with someone. North squinted his eyes in order to see the new arrival, but he couldn't see because of the trees in his way. The duo reached the edge of the trees and stepped into North's view. His eyes widened when he saw a smooth flow of honey-brown hair beside the spirit's shimmering veils. The honey-brown hair flowed over the shoulders of a young woman's torn, red coat.

North paused. "Who is that?" He seemed to ask Petrov. Petrov shook his head in response.

The women continued to talk and laugh until the spirit spotted North. "North!" The spirit gestured for him to go over to them. "I'd like for you to meet our visitor!"

North exchanged glances with Petrov, and Petrov gave North a gentle push with his snout. North laughed lightly, keeping his gaze on the blue eyed woman next to the spirit. After all, the spirit couldn't leave the forest that she guarded, so how did the spirit find the woman?

The spirit smiled, placing a hand on North's shoulder. "North, this is Clara. She got lost and wandered into our forest and needs a place to stay for a while."

Clara's glance shifted from North to her own fingers. "Hello." She nervously held her hand out to him as she locked her gaze with him.

North smiled and shook her hand, noting how soft it was. "H-how'd you get lost?"

Clara looked down at her hands. "I was traveling with my father, and we decided to hunt in different directions. When I came back, he was nowhere in sight and he never returned."

North's eyes slightly widened. "So you've been traveling alone?" 

Clara nodded. "I wandered around really. Eventually, I found the big oak trees on the outer rim of this place. I weakly continued walking and found her." She looked at the spirit.

The spirit gently smiled. "I was testing her heart about richies, offering her the gold you once denied, North. She refused the riches and continued asking for food. That is why I realized I was doing wrong, so I fed her and brought her here." The spirit looked to the forest. "Clara told me she came alone, but I'll look for people who may have followed her. Please tell Ombric about our visitor."

North watched the spirit leave then looked to Clara. "Do you know where you are?" His brow slightly raised.

Clara placed a finger on her chin. "A place called Santoff Clausen. That's what the spirit told me. But most people in Russia said this place was a myth. A great treasure hunter supposedly came here, and he never came back. I think he just bought an island somewhere."

North smiled and nodded. "I was hoping to hear that's what he did. I'll show you around. Maybe you won't believe this place is a myth." He smiled and whistled for Petrov to gallop over there.

The horse seemed to bow to meeting Clara. 

She petted his mane. "You're a magnificent-looking horse." 

Petrov held his head higher as he neighed.

North laughed. "Careful, Clara. He takes compliments extremely well, like me." He helped Clara up and walked beside Petrov, guiding him at his side. Petrov began to walk beside North toward Big Root. North began speaking of the children. He mentioned how brave most of them were when he first arrived and had to defeat the great, black bear that defended Santoff Clausen. He continued telling her about the children's lessons and love for magic. She smiled at their curiosity and tilted her head when he mentioned speaking to insects and animals.

"You mean that children can speak to caterpillars and worms here?" Clara asked.

North nodded. "It's a skill that all the children here can do."

"That's wonderful. I didn't think anything like that was possible." Clara now looked around with marvelous eyes. "It's like I'm in a dream or something."

North smiled as they arrived at Big Root. "It's magic."

Petrov stopped beside North and Clara looked at the giant tree.

Her breath stilled as she smiled. "It's beautiful. I had no idea a tree could grow big enough for people to live in."

North helped Clara down from Petrov.

Nightlight flew out of a window and down to North and Clara. Nightlight tilted his head at Clara, scanning her face.

North smiled. "Nightlight, this is Clara. Clara, this is Nightlight."

Nightlight waved at Clara and Clara waved back.

Clara seemed to examine every inch of Nightlight. "Are you a child?"

Nightlight tilted his head from shoulder to shoulder.

"I'm guessing you don't speak." Clara smiled.

Nightlight shook his head.

Katherine ran down the stairs of Big Root's entrance and faced Clara. Katherine smiled at Clara. "Hello."

"Hello," Clara smiled back. "I'm Clara."

"I'm Katherine." Katherine beamed. "What brings you here?"

"I got lost and wandered here, well, your forest actually. The spirit of the forest found me, and I met North. This is a very nice tree."

"Oh. Thank you." Katherine's eyes widened a bit with a smile. "Are you staying the night?"

Clara smiled and glanced at North. "I'm hoping so." She looked from Nightlight to Katherine.

Katherine looked from North to Clara, grinning. She turned to Nightlight. "Nightlight, could you find Clara a room somewhere in Big Root?"

Nightlight nodded and jerked his head for Clara to walk beside him.

"Thank you." Clara said to Katherine before she left with Nightlight.

North tried to follow, but Katherine had him stay put. She watched Nighlight and Clara enter Big Root and then began to speak to North, who had his eyes on Clara the whole time.

Katherine moved into North's view. "Oh, North. You have it bad." She grinned.

North's brows furrowed. "Have what bad?"

"You like her." Katherine poke his arm.

North blinked, moving back slightly. "Like who?"

"Clara." Katherine nodded toward Big Root.

North smiled, looking away. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He began walking into the giant tree.

Katherine stood in place, smiling. "Christmas is coming soon, North."

North's eyes widened, but he continued walking. "Yes it is." He smiled to himself.