Anathema Secret Santa-Wintry Wonders

A heavy snow had fallen over the manor, covering the landscape in shimmering, fluffy powder. Some may have found it beautiful, with icicles forming prisms and the snowfall capturing a thousand different lights. Walking about the wintry scene was as close as one could get to stepping into painting.

But Grimmr Crevan Invaerne was not so pleased with the blizzard he had woken up to. Already he could hear surprised yips and calls, the crunch of snow underneath little paws and talons. The stallion stood at his window, staring outside with the uttermost dismay on his face as he watched his skulk and flock prance about in the snow in a confused joy.

He turned from the window, making his way over to his closet and selecting a few of his warmer clothes, which were perhaps not as fine as the azure silk tunic he had been given by a sea-faring merchant, reportedly woven from silkworms fed only ground sapphire pigment and gold flake, or the spring green scarf embroidered with images of running hares and soaring doves. No, to combat these troublemakers he decided upon his maroon woollen cloak, which was slightly frayed at the edges from fox kits wishing to play.

Grimmr left his room and marched down the hallway, hooves clicking against the tiled floors. As he descended further into the house his frown became deeper and deeper, steps a little louder-he was sure that he had penned all of them in last night, he had checked the lock twice after all-there was no answer as to why the animals had been let loose.

“What is going on out here!” The courtyard’s door was flung open, hinges whining in dismay as it fell back into place, rattling the walls of the house. Immediately the noise in the courtyard vanished, a dozen pairs of shining eyes all staring at their keeper in some expression of embarrassment and confusion. A few ruffled their feathers or shook out their coats, trying to act as though they hadn’t just been caught playing.

He stood staring at his companions, breath creating little clouds in the frosty air. Nothing moved for a moment, even the snow seemed to stop falling from fear of another outburst. Then, slowly, one of the vixens approached him, padding through the snow on light paws. She stopped at his feet, whiskers twitching in curiosity as she met his gaze. Blue eyes held green, until she bunched her limbs underneath herself and with one fluid motion leaped up, gently catching Grimmr on the chin with her teeth before falling back down into the snow.

The vixen then wriggled around in the snow, chattering happily as she covered herself in powder. The joy in her eyes could not be mistaken, and soon Grimmr found himself smiling, and then a few seconds later, laughing. He reared back on his hindlegs, letting out a happy cheer before falling back to the ground, hooves thudding into a snowbank. Any trace of coldness had fled Grimmr’s body and had gone into the weather, and the warmth of fur and feathers was sure to keep any chill far, far away.