Don't Mind the Mess

Away from the fires and warmth of Firsden, the cold bites a bit more. Though it isn’t dark yet, the mountains are much colder than the town below. Vesta pushes along the mountain path, following the fresh footprints left behind by Uri. Reeve follows at her side dutifully, keeping an eye out to the sides of the path as Vesta keeps looking ahead. He huffs, the cold fogging his breath, and mumbles, “he’s a kid….. How did he get so far? His legs are like sticks….”

Vesta shoots him a look, saying, “stop that…. You wanted to go look at the lights. How are you surprised that he ran off? We practically asked him to do that.” She moves a bit faster through the snow, forcing Reeve to pick up his pace. Up ahead, they can finally see the end of the path, and they stop in front of a large lodge, dark at the windows. The snowy footprints head up to the door, but Uri is nowhere to be found. Reeve groans when he goes to the door, reaching a poof out to swing the cracked door open.

“Wonder where he went…..” Reeve grumbled. “Vesta, I can’t apologize to any more strangers today. I can’t do it.”

Vesta gives him a look again before entering the workshop quietly, calling out in a loud whisper, “Uri? Uri, where did you go?” Reeve follows behind slowly, looking around as Vesta whispers. The tall dark shelves are imposing, and the shadows of toys make Reeve step just a bit closer to Vesta. He shivers a little and jumps as he bumps into a toy castle, which rings out music loudly.

Vesta jumps in front of him at the sound before turning around and hissing, “don’t touch anything! What are you doing?” Reeve looks embarrassed, grumbling under his breath. Vesta glares at him before turning back around again, only to yelp and jump as Uri appears in front of them.

"Mom, look!” Uri bounces excitedly, oblivious to the panic of his parents. “It’s St. Veti!! He’s asleep though…. I can’t get him up, he’s too big.”

Vesta catches her breath before looking past Uri to see the slumbering form of St. Veti. He appears curled up under heavy blankets, and rests on plush looking pillows. He snores slowly, his breath heavy enough to blow the fur on Uri’s head. Uri doesn’t seem to be bothered by it, and prances back to St. Veti.

Vesta whispers quickly, “Uri! Get away from him. Don’t be rude.” Uri ignores her, trying to lift one of St Veti’s giant paws. He grunts from the effort, getting one of his paws slightly off the ground before it drops down heavily again. The ursuki shifts in his sleep, and before Vesta can say anything, Uri yells loudly in St. Veti’s face.

Both Vesta and Reeve flinch from the sound, and St. Veti suddenly opens his eyes, blinking in confusion. Uri screams still, and St. Veti stares at him with wide eyes. Eventually, Uri trails off as he runs out of breath, and the workshop is left in quiet as he and St Veti stare at each other.

Eventually St. Veti breaks the ice saying, “how…… did you get in? What are you doing here?” Vesta and Reeve look at each other awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Before any of them can say something, Uri bounces up in front of them.

He runs around in small circles, looking excited as he says quickly, “it’s time to deliver presents! Did you forget? St. Elidi and St Hart said you were missing. That happens to me sometimes too. I eat too many treats and fall asleep under the table and then I forget where I am.”

St Veti’s eyes follow Uri, going around in circles and circles. He blinks, eventually getting too dizzy to catch up, and says, “the gifts…? Is it time for that already? I thought there was time still?”

Vesta clears her throat, saying hesitantly, “no sir….. The letters from you should have come already. I think you slept a bit too long.” Uri nods with her, tugging on St. Veti’s blanket.

“You have to get up now!” Uri pulls hard, trying to get the blanket off of St. Veti. “Everyone needs presents. I want a new sword this year so you need to get up and make it for me.”

St Veti blinks again, scratching his face with his claws as he wakes up more. “I…. I don’t know if I’ll have time…. It’s late already. How am I supposed to get it done now?”

Vesta looks back at Reeve, who gives her a look. She ignores it and looks back to St. Veti, sighing before saying, “I guess…. We can help you.”