Eight - A Reindeer Story

Chapter 1

"Blitzen!"

He awoke to a hoof prodding his shoulder. He raised his chin from his folded forelegs and found himself looking into the face of a familiar dark ginger buck. "Rise and shine, pal!"

Blitzen yawned. "Sunrise already?" He slowly stood, kicking loose bits of hay from his hooves.

This cozy pile of hay was where he slept every night. Seven other nests lay along the walls of their home. It was a cozy, warm barn with Christmas lights strung across the walls, troughs of food and water, and warm wool blankets.

"Yep!" The younger buck trotted toward the barn door. "You know the drill." His eyes gleamed. "It's December 22nd, and Santa wants our help around the workshop."

I know. It's been the drill for centuries! Blitzen nodded his great antlered head. "I'll be right out, Comet."

As Comet galloped out of the barn, Blitzen stepped out of his bed of hay and surveyed his surroundings. A few of the others were still asleep. "Prancer, Vixen, Donner," He called quietly. "It's time to wake up."

"Already?" Prancer moaned as his chin plopped down in the hay. "But it's waaaayyyyyy too early, dude."

Across the barn, Donner grunted. "We've only been on this schedule the past two-hundred years! Get used to it."

"Don't be rude, Donner." Vixen blinked his gentle hazel eyes. "Yes, it is early, Prancer, but it will all be worth it when those children smile on Christmas Day!"

As Donner rolled his eyes, Blitzen stepped out to his water trough and lowered his head, drinking the cool arctic water. The golden star shaped pendant hanging from his neck tapped gently against the side of the trough.

Two-hundred years had passed since that stormy night Blitzen had lost his life. But he had been given another by the hand of Saint Nicholas. After the revival, the old man had explained his miraculous story to Blitzen. The man had lived alone in the North Pole for years, fishing, sawing down trees for firewood, and simply surviving off of the snowy land. Nicholas claimed that one night, when all felt lost, the spirits of the northern lights gave him a gift- the ability to revive the dead.

However, this ability wouldn't work for humans, nor dogs, cats, or horses. Only one animal could receive this gift. The deer. Why? Even Saint Nicholas didn't know. The northern lights only promised that these noble creatures would help him bring joy to the world.

When Blitzen finished drinking, he started toward the barn doors, Prancer and Vixen following. Twitching an ear, he looked over his shoulder. Donner remained in his bed, his dark body motionless. "Donner?"

"I'll meet you at the workshop, okay?" The buck grumbled.

As Prancer and Vixen exchanged a glance, Blitzen hesitated. "Alright." He looked forward and led his companions outside.

The pale sun had begun to rise over the snowy hills in the distance. The cool air felt good on Blitzen's brown coat as he stepped onward, his hooves sinking gently into the snow, which glistened with the light of morning.

Up ahead stood three other deer. Dasher, a sleek coated dark brown buck stood tall and proud. Dancer was staring out into the distance at who knows what. Cupid stood calmly and patiently, his gentle eyes fixing on Blitzen as he neared.