**Working on a Title**

Prologue

Fairy tales would have you believe Santa's reindeer are magical creatures. In truth, they are but not in the way everyone believes.

Common Christmas mythos varies, but one of the most popular is that the reindeer are normal reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) commonly found in Arctic and sub-Arctic, tundra, mountainous, and boreal northern regions; which are  then enhanced by elves through a special food given on Christmas eve which imbue these creatures with special abilities. These abilities include enhanced speed, strength, stamina, and even flight.

Yet another mythos is that these are simply magical creatures that are born with these innate abilities due to the magical nature of the hidden area of the North Pole where Santa calls home.

The truth is far darker. These creatures are magical, but reindeer are not their native form. You see, their natural form is that of Santa's elves. You see, the names you know for these reindeer are not names. These names are titles. Hard sought after and hard fought for titles.

The elves compete for these titles year-round and come Christmas the ones who show the traits of these titles earn the right to be transformed that year and become the sleigh-pullers, the reindeer of legend.

Many an elf labor over their workbench, dreaming of earning one of the titles. These titles are fought for and defended. These are not a title to go to simple workers but the more active and sometimes darker nature of elves. Once an elf receives the title, they defend it vigorously as they will not settle for anything less than the prestige the title gives them all year long and the enhancement they have renewed on their most sacred of nights, Christmas eve.

Santa knows this goes on but ignores it. If the toys are made, his equipment is ready, and he has reindeer to pull his sleigh; he does not care about the squabbles of his elves. His thoughts are on his own plans, which the no one has truly figured out.

Every Christmas eve, the chosen of the elves step forward and don the vestment of their title. As the sun sets their powers are renewed, they transform into the forms that are needed and stand ready to fulfill their titular duties; no matter what that entails.