The reindeer had spent the rest of the 22nd bringing the wrapping paper to the workshop, helping the elves pack the sleigh, and gathering extra supplies. At the end of the day, Blitzen had been surprised to find Donner where he'd left him in their barn.

"Donner? You've been here all day?" Blitzen had asked in surprise as he approached the darker buck. When Donner didn't give any kind of response, even to acknowledge Blitzen's presence, he went on. "We could have used your help in the workshop today. Nicholas was expecting you."

For a long moment, Donner had remained silent. "I didn't sleep well last night." He said at last. "I'll be there tomorrow."

The next day came: December 23rd. The snow sparkled under the midday sun as The Eight headed through the outskirts of the village.

"Excuse me!" Twinkles the elf scurried past the reindeer with a stack of presents. The side of one box jabbed into Donner's side as she passed. "Sorry, Donner." Donner regarded the elf with a grumble, his ear twitching in agitation as he watched her disappear in a crowd of elves.

Donner had kept his word. That morning, he had left the barn with the rest of the team. But his hooves dragged reluctantly through the snow. Perhaps he is just tired. Blitzen thought, though he couldn't persuade himself of this.

The Eight had spent the morning helping with last minute gifts in the workshop. Saint Nicholas had just dismissed them until Christmas. "You boys have done a remarkable job!" He had told them. "Your only task now is to be sure you're fit and well rested for tomorrow night."

Prancer yawned as the reindeer trekked through the snow. "I think I'm gonna take a nap. I'll be in the barn."

"I'll join you." Cupid blinked heavy eyelids. "At this rate, I'll fall asleep mid flight tomorrow."

Comet blinked in astonishment as the two bucks separated from the group. "Seriously? I'm full of energy!" He leaped forward, and Vixen ducked swiftly as he flew over his head.

As Comet landed gracefully in the snow, Blitzen gently scolded him. "You know we only fly on Christmas Eve and in emergencies."

"Well, our powers aren't going anywhere, are they?" Comet pointed out, his eyes shining. "Why not have a little fun?"

"Yes!" Dancer skipped around Comet gleefully. "We can have a little fun, can't we, Blitzen?"

"We should practice, anyway." Dasher looked proud. "I told the does I'd impress them tomorrow night."

Blitzen smiled. He felt that he was the most mature and responsible of the Eight. But he admired the carefree spirits of his companions. Fun is at the heart of Christmas, as Nicholas says. We should enjoy every moment of what we do.

Movement at the corner of his eye caught his attention. A pile of snow shot up from the ground and onto Comet, who yelled out in surprise, swinging his head. But it wasn't a pile of snow at all.

"Haha! Got you, Comet!" Bright yellow eyes gleamed from the white creature as she sat up on Comet's back, wrapping her fluffy tail around her paws.

"Yuka!" Comet broke into laughter. "You never fail to surprise me!"

This arctic fox had been a friend to The Eight for several years now. A playful trickster, she loved hiding, her bright white fur blending perfectly into the snow where she waited to surprise one of the reindeer. More often than not, this reindeer was Comet, who matched her in energy and sense of humor.

"Good day, Yuka," Blitzen greeted her with a chuckle. "How are things?"

The white fox giggled and leaped away from Comet, her paws sinking into the snow. "Oh, wonderful! And I see you guys are busy as usual."

"Actually, we're free until tomorrow night." Dancer said brightly. "I don't suppose you would like to play a game?"

Yuka's ears perked up. "Who, me? Of course!" She swished her snowy tail as she let her playful gaze travel over the reindeer. "That is, if you think you're any match for a clever arctic fox."

Dasher frowned. "Where is this clever fox? I only see you."

Yuka's snowy fur fluffed up in amusement. "Oh, you'll pay for that, Dasher!" With that, she charged, and Dasher spun, taking off into the sky. "Hey, no flying! Cheater!" She yelled after him.

Comet rushed to Yuka's side and lowered his head. "Hop on, and we'll catch him!"

The arctic fox leaped neatly between Comet's antlers and gripped onto them with her forepaws. "Dash away, Comet!"

As Comet took off into the air with Yuka, kicking up frost behind him, Vixen and Dancer trotted forward, staring up into the bright sky. Comet and Dasher circled each other high above like two rivalling eagles.

Yuka's yell echoed through the sky. "How are you going to pick up that sleigh tomorrow night when you can't even pick up a doe?"

"Why, you!" Dasher gasped.

"Well, this is a game I don't want to miss." Vixen chuckled. "Come on, guys!" He galloped through the snow, Dancer on his tail.

Blitzen started after his companions, carefree and eager for some fun. But the feeling didn't last. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Donner slowly heading in the opposite direction: a small wooded area. His head lowered slightly as he disappeared among the trees.

Where is he going? Blitzen stared after him for a long moment. Concern trickled through his veins like frost.

"Blitzen! Come on!" Dancer called from a distance where he and Vixen stood, watching him expectantly. "We'd better do something before Yuka roasts Dasher to death."

He hesitated, but knew very well that Donner's feelings were far more important than Yuka's teasing. "I'll catch up with you later." He called back. The two bucks exchanged a disappointed look, but didn't question him.

Blitzen trotted through the snow until he reached the trees, where he slowed his pace. Donner hadn't gone far. He was just up ahead, sniffing at the frosty trunk of a pine. Blitzen slowly continued toward him.

Donner was aware that he was being followed. He paused and raised his head from the pine, though he didn't turn. "Who's there? A polar bear?"

He had to be joking, Blitzen thought. But there was no humor in Donner's tone. He sounded serious. Polar bears were dangerous to reindeer. And yet there was no fear in Donner's voice either. He sounded... Emotionless.

"No." Blitzen responded slowly as he stood behind his teammate. "It's Blitzen."

"Oh." Donner sounded mildly disappointed. He cast a dark glance over his shoulder. "What do you want?"

I've known Donner for over a century. He's always been reserved and grumpy. Blitzen studied his companion. But this is something different. He decided to express his concerns. "Something is troubling you, Donner. You're not yourself."

Donner looked away. "I'm fine," He grumbled.

No, you're not. Blitzen stepped to his side, staring at him with concerned brown eyes. "If something is on your mind, you can tell me. Are you overtired? Is it... Well..." He found his gaze resting on the jagged scar across Donner's eye.

Donner seemed to sense his fixation on it and narrowed his deep blue eyes. "Mind your own business, Blitzen." He said coldly.

He gave a small nod and shifted his hoof in the snow. Neither buck spoke for several moments. Then Blitzen raised his head. "Tomorrow is Christmas Eve," He tried to sound positive. Donner stiffened. "Nicholas says the children have been very good this year. We'll have a lot of stops to-"

"I don't want to hear it!" Donner snapped, startling Blitzen as he swung his head toward him, his eyes dark with anger. "Not a word about Christmas. I'll hear about it enough tomorrow."

Blitzen's eyes widened as he struggled to find a response. I've never heard him so angry... Especially about Christmas! But before he could summon words, Donner hurried away through the trees, leaving Blitzen alone staring after him.

***

Blitzen found himself thinking about Donner for the rest of the day. He couldn't understand how his teammate had become so depressed over the years. He has always been different from the rest of the Eight... So reserved, quiet, and grumpy. Blitzen had thought Donner would become more friendly over time. But after a couple hundred years, his attitude had only gotten worse. And now, he didn't want to talk about Christmas.

Blitzen felt restless that night, tossing and turning in his bed of hay. After what felt like years, he lifted his head, his gaze traveling across the barn where his companions slept. Only Prancer's snoring broke the silence. The Christmas lights strung across the walls of the barn glowed dimly, gleaming eyes of red, green, and yellow. These lights flickered occasionally over the bed of one reindeer.

Donner.

He found himself staring at the dark buck as he slept, and his attention rested on the hole in his ear and scar across his eye. This was something he could not do while Donner was awake, for he would yell at him or hide this side of his face. What had caused these scars? And why hadn't they healed like the wounds on the rest of the Eight had? Surely it meant Donner hadn't accepted his death, or something in his past.

Curiosity and concern twisted in Blitzen's stomach. He watched Donner for a moment longer before rising to his feet decisively. There is only one person who knows about Donner's past...

He started slowly toward the barn door, but despite his best efforts to be quiet, his hooves clicked loudly on the hardwood. If I wake anyone, I'll have to explain where I'm going. And they will need their sleep for tomorrow.

Seeing no other option, he summoned his powers of flight. Giving a tiny bounce upward, he watched his hooves rise from the floor, and allowed himself to hover.

He remembered when he'd first done this all those years ago. Saint Nicholas had stood before him, encouraging his ability. "Go on! You can do it, boy."

Blitzen had stared at Nick like he'd grown two heads. "But this is nonsense, surely? Only birds can fly! What kind of deer can fly?"

"A deer like you, Blitzen." Saint Nicholas' eyes twinkled with pride. "The spirits of the northern lights have chosen you. I believe in you."

This is insanity. Perhaps Nicholas is getting so old he's losing his mind! Blitzen hadn't felt an ounce of hope that he would fly that day. And yet when he leaped into the air, he had hovered as if on some invisible hill. While birds had wings, he had magical hooves that carried him through the sky.

"What's happening?" Blitzen had gasped in astonishment when he'd found himself hovering above the snowy ground. "My goodness, I'm flying!"

Saint Nicholas had let out a hearty laugh as he looked up at him, his face beaming with delight. "What did I tell you? You can fly!"

When Blitzen landed clumsily in the snow, both shaken and awestruck by his experience, Nicholas stepped forward, his boots crunching in the snow. He rested his gloved hand on Blitzen's head. "This is how our dream comes true," He told the deer. "This is how we change the world."

Returning his attention to the present, Blitzen carefully nudged the barn door open with his antler and drifted outside. He let his hooves sink softly into the snow and paused to admire the night. It was cold and silent. A few snowflakes drifted downward and settled onto the blanket of snow spreading across the land as far as one could see.

Looking into the distance at the village, he saw it was mostly dark. The elves and other reindeer would be asleep now. Only one golden light gleamed from the window on the top floor of the workshop. Of course he's still awake.

Blitzen leaped gracefully and let his magic and the frosty air carry him over the snow. It was so quiet and peaceful. He enjoyed the feeling of frost on his coat as he traveled toward the workshop. For a moment, he almost forgot his worries, embracing the beauty and calm of the moment. But as he reached the village, he was reminded of why he had come here.

The workshop was dark as he entered. The mighty wooden door broke the silence with a long creak as it opened. Blitzen's hooves thumped on the hardwood floor as he headed inside. All of the presents were wrapped and stacked in corners, ribbons and bows gleaming in the moonlight beaming through the windows. He continued up a set of red carpeted stairs until he reached the top floor.

Saint Nicholas sat at his desk, labouring over a map of the world as he sipped hot chocolate. A candle sat on each end of the desk, providing light in the darkness. Blitzen slowly stepped into the dimly lit room, dipping his head. "Am I interrupting?"

The white bearded man looked up. "Ah, Blitzen! You startled me." He frowned. "Shouldn't you be resting? We have a big night ahead of us."

"I'm restless," Blitzen replied as he crossed the floor to stand by the desk. He tilted his head as he studied the candle closest to him. "You know, humans invented lightbulbs a while ago," He pointed out jokingly.

Saint Nicholas chuckled deeply. "Oh, yes, but you know I'm very old fashioned." He put on his glasses and looked at Blitzen closely. "What is troubling you?"

Blitzen twitched his ear in surprise. "How did you know something is troubling me?"

The old man smiled. "Why, the same way I know if the children of the world have been naughty or nice."

The ways of Saint Nicholas were a mystery. He received many gifts from the northern light spirits. Blitzen thought. And I'll never understand half of them.

As Blitzen hesitated, Nicholas watched him silently and patiently. When he had gathered his thoughts, he spoke. "Donner has seemed... Different this year." He began. "He is more depressed and agitated than ever before."

Nicholas nodded slowly as he scratched his beard. "I see."

"Nicholas?" Blitzen felt uneasily as he prepared to ask the question. "What happened to Donner? When you found him?" When Nicholas didn't respond, he added. "How did he, well... Die?"

The old man leaned back in his chair, his eyes distant and thoughtful. Blitzen's ears pricked as he waited for a response, his heart pounding as he awaited the reveal of this long hidden secret. Candlelight flickered between them in the silence.

"I do know about Donner's past life," Saint Nicholas murmured at last. "He has been unable to accept it. This has deeply affected him for years. But I'm afraid it is not my place to tell you what I know." As Blitzen opened his mouth to protest, the man went on. "Only Donner can share it. You understand, surely?"

Blitzen understood this. How could a man as pure as Saint Nicholas betray Donner by giving away his secret? "Yes, sir." He nodded slowly. "I only wish he would tell us. Then we might be able to help him."

Saint Nicholas' eyes shone with understanding. "You are a good friend to him. Donner will tell his story when he is ready."

It's been two hundred years. How much more time does he need? Blitzen wondered, but didn't speak his thoughts. He dipped his head respectfully. "Thanks, Nicholas."

The old man looked amused. "You know, all of the elves call me Santa Claus now. As does the rest of the world."

"I know," Blitzen replied. "But old habits are difficult to break. You will always be Saint Nicholas to me." He quickly added. "Unless you'd prefer I stopped calling you that?"

He laughed quietly. "Oh, I don't mind, Blitzen." He looked over his shoulder out the window into the snowy night. "Why don't you go get some sleep? I'll need my lead reindeer in good shape tomorrow."