As the sun dipped behind the mountains, staining their snowy peaks orange and purple and red, Christmastown was coming to a decision of sorts.
"Frosty seems absolutely guilty," said Paksu. "He won't even donate his hat to the Suzy Snowflake memorial? What kind of monster is that selfish after a tragedy like this!"
"Guilt hovers over him like the smell of fried fish in a house after you fry fish," moaned the Ghost of Christmas Present. "Frosty the Snowman has a heart of snow, and he'll murder us all if we don't stop him."
"I think it was Little Cindy Lou Who," Olive said. "She was always jealous of Suzy when she was growing up. Resentment grows with age, you know."
Tiny Tim nodded thoughtfully. "She has been awfully quiet toDay," he said. "A guilty conscience?"
"You should know better, Olive," Jack Frost snapped. "You can't pick on Little Cindy Lou Who. That shows a heartlessness matched only by the murderers of poor Suzy! In fact, I'd say you are one of the murderers!"
Santa nodded darkly. "I'm moving you to the darkest corner of the naughty list, Olive," he said.
"Really, Santa?" Rudolph said. "Honestly, you've been getting more and more ridiculous for years now. You've gone mad. It wouldn't surprise me if you were a murderer."
"Nonsense," Valkotukka said, "it's clearly Olive. The only reason she's even in Christmastown is because she forced her way up North because she 'thought Santa meant her' when he said 'all of the other reindeer'. I mean, really, who does that?"
"Olive it is," Frosty said firmly. No one else said a word as Jack Frost froze Olive's paws together. Santa lifted the little dog onto Rudolph's back, and Rodolph flew her out to the middle of a frozen lake and left her. Jack Frost froze a pyramid of ice over her, burying her completely. He left only a small gap at first.
"Did you kill Suzy?" the Sugar Plum Fairy asked.
"No!" Olive said. "You have to believe me!"
"Liar," Jack Frost growled, and froze shut the gap. Not even air could get in - Olive would either suffocate or freeze to death before the Night was over.
Living
Sally - Little Cindy Lou Who
Shasta - Jack Frost
G55 - Rudolph
Coppermirror - The Ghost of Christmas Present
Steve - Valkotukka
Morsul - The Grinch
Nerwen - The Sugar Plum Fairy
Zil - Frosty
McCaber - Tiny Tim
Lommy - Paksu
Legate - Santa Claus
Dead
Lottie - Suzy the Snowflake - Moddess
Boro - Olive the Other Reindeer - Ordo
Night 2...well, it started three and a half hours ago, but if you haven't already, wolves may talk, Seer may dream, and Ranger may send me someone to protect. Wolves, please send me the name an hour before DL so I can write the narration in advance.
__________________
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. Double Fenris
|