Holidays

(A/N: I own nothing but the plot. This one-shot has no particular place in the KotLC timeline. Also, I apologize in advance if you don't celebrate Christmas. Happy festive reading!)

Sophie got out of bed, yawning. It was Saturday, and there was no school. What would Sophie do today? She would probably do some of her linguistics homework, and maybe go to Everglen later. Or maybe she would stay at home and make some starkflower stew for Calla's tree. Sophie loved days like this because there were so many possibilities.

She swung her legs down to the flowery carpet, stood up, and stretched her arms and legs. Sophie clapped her hands twice to open the shades, and a very strange sight was displayed before her.

The expansive grounds of Havenfield were covered in a soft layer of snow, decorating the animal pastures with beautiful whiteness. In the distance, Sophie could see Calla's Panakes tree shrouded in snow, and Verdi the tyrannosaurus romping around, shaking snowflakes out of her neon feathers.

Sophie ran downstairs in her pajamas, where she was met by Edaline in the kitchen. "Did you see the snow, Sophie?" her adoptive mom asked. She snapped her fingers and conjured a bowl of purple mush and a spoon out of thin air. "It looks beautiful, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, I did," Sophie answered in wonder, taking the bowl. The mush tasted minty, almost like a candy cane. "I've never seen it snow here before. It's always so bright and sunny! Has that ever happened before, or is this the first time?"

Grady's voice chimed in from the back door, "Only twice. But when it does, it snows for quite a while, so there'll be more before it's gone." He attempted to brush a clump of purple fur off of his cloak, but gave up and took it off. "The verminion went on a rampage again. Apparently it hates the cold. Fortunately, I got it back in the pen, but we should be prepared for that to happen again," Grady sighed.

Sophie stifled a giggle. "The snow reminds me of Christmas."

Edaline and Grady both stared at her curiously. "What's Christmas?" they asked simultaneously.

Sophie explained, "It's a human holiday. Every year on December 25, families give each other presents, decorate a tree, and put colorful lights all over their houses." She proceeded to explain more about the holiday, wistfully remembering all the past times she'd celebrated Christmas with her human family.

(flashback)

Seven year-old Sophie ran in circles around the Christmas tree, clutching Ella the stuffed elephant. "MOM! DAD! Can we open presents?"

Her parents walked into the living room, their eyes tired but joyful. Her dad was holding her sister Amy, who wiggled out of his arms and joined Sophie by the pile of gifts begging to be opened. Festive music softly played in the kitchen, filling the air with jingles of bells.

Her mother answered, "Of course, Sophie!" as she took a sip from a steaming mug of coffee. Her parents' thoughts were nothing but joyful.

"Me first!" Amy giggled. She found a gift and, after struggling with the bow, tore open the wrapping paper. Inside was a stuffed penguin with sparkly blue eyes. "Isn't he cute, Sophie?" Amy squealed.

"Yeah," Sophie agreed. "But not as good as Ella!" Sophie grabbed one of her own presents and proceeded to rip up the reindeer-decorated paper, revealing a full boxed set of the Harry Potter books. "Thank you, Santa!" Sophie called happily.

(end flashback)

"Wow, that sounds like so much fun!" Edaline commented.

"It is." Sophie gazed off into the distance. The snow was beginning to slow, but it would lay on the ground for a while yet. "Elvin holidays are just as fun, but they're just... different. Sometimes I wish I still could celebrate ones like Christmas," she admitted.