A Krattmas Story:

By: Taralynn Wakelin

The snow began to fall again as he hid behind a large snowdrift, he looked around the side looking for his target; he smiled to himself as he scanned the frozen land in front of him. He didn't see his target so he hid again and continued making the perfect snowball. The wind picked up a little causing the snow to blow into his face, he wiped the snow out of his blue eye's and pulled his hat further down over his short, blond hair. He continued making the snowball, until he got it just the way he wanted it. He checked for his target again, and when he still didn't see them he returned to his hiding spot and looked around him. He loved being outside in nature, no matter the season and since arriving in the Arctic with his friend's the day before he had wanted to get out into the snow and have some winter fun! He was supposed to have met his best friend, and younger brother outside five minute's ago, but his brother was running late! Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of boots in the snow! He smiled again as he picked up his snowball and crouched waiting as the person came closer. He waited until they were in position before he jumped out laughing loudly as he threw the snowball. As he released the snowball he realized at the exact moment he did his brother threw one too! Both of them froze realizing the snowball's meant for each other had hit someone else! He looked into the brown eyes of his brother, as his brother ran a hand through his short, brown hair nervously. Before either brother could say or do anything an angry voice broke the silence, the brother's looked at each other nervously before back to the other person.

"MARTIN AND CHRIS KRATT! YOU TWO ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE!"

"Uhh…sorry Aviva, I thought you were Chris!" Martin said nervously.

"Yeah Aviva, we're sorry! I thought you were Martin!" Chris added.

"Run!" Was all Aviva said getting up off the ground a snowball in each hand.

"Now?" Chris asked looking at Martin.

"Now!" She answered as she threw the snowball's just missing both brother's who had turned and were running away from her.

Two Day's Later:

The snow fell lightly as he sat on his bed finishing wrapping his Christmas gifts for Jimmy, Aviva and Koki! He had just finished when the door opened and Chris walked in smiling, he sat on his bed across from Martin and pointed to the gift's as he spoke.

"Finally get your gift's wrapped bro?" Chris asked smiling. "You know I had mine wrapped two day's ago!"

"Yeah, yeah it's always this way every year, and we have the same conversation every year!" Martin answered smiling.

"Come on let's go put our gift's under the tree!" Chris said getting up and grabbed his gifts out of the closet. "Ready?"

"Yep!" Martin answered as he stood and grabbed his gifts. "One of those wouldn't be mine would it?" Martin asked as they went to the control room.

"Nope! I'm not done wrapping your's!" Chris lied, truthfully, he didn't have a gift for Martin yet he wanted to give him something special, but so far he couldn't think of anything. "Sorry bro, you'll just have to wait until Christmas!"

"Its only two day's away, I guess I can wait!" Martin said smiling as they placed their gift's with the others under the tree. Martin was worried about his gift for Chris, he wanted to give him something special, but hadn't thought of anything! "There, done!"

"I love this time of year!" Aviva said coming into the room followed by Koki and Jimmy. "I love Christmas!"

"Me too! This will be the first Christmas we've ever spent in the Arctic before!" Koki added. "It make's it more magical!"

"All this talking about Christmas is making me hungry!" Jimmy said smiling. "Good thing I made these!" He said as he put a plate of Christmas cookies on the table. "Anyone want one?" He asked.

A half hour later everyone was off doing their own thing, Martin sat in the control room trying to think of a special gift for Chris, he needed one fast Christmas Eve was tomorrow! He was so lost in his thought's he never noticed Koki come in until she touched his shoulder scaring him a little she sat beside him as he spoke.

"You scared me Koki!" Martin said smiling.

"Sorry MK, I thought you heard me come in! You okay?" She asked.

"No, actually I'm not!" Martin said looking around to make sure Chris wasn't in the room. "I have a problem!"

"Can I help?" She asked smiling.

"Maybe…I want to get Chris the perfect gift for Christmas!"

"Okay, so what's the problem?"

"I…I don't know what to get him! Christmas is in two day's and I don't have anything to give him!" Martin said as he got up and began to pace.

"Okay, okay don't panic! With my help we'll come up with something special I promise!" Koki said smiling as she stood too.

"Thanks Koki!" Martin said smiling.

"You're welcome MK! Do you have any ideas at all?"

"Nope! Now do you see why I have a problem?"

"Alright MK, don't start panicking yet! Let's think…hmm, what about some new climbing gear?" Koki suggested.

"Climbing gear? Nah, not special enough!" Martin said sitting down.

"Okay, how about…a new snowboard?"

"No, it need's to be something personal…from the heart! He's my brother!"

"Don't worry Martin, we will find the perfect gift for Chris I promise!"

"Thanks Koki!"

With Chris:

Christmas was in two day's and he had no gift for Martin, he was panicking! How could he not give his brother a gift, he felt like the world's worst brother! He flopped backwards onto his bed just as Aviva walked by and saw him she came in and smiling spoke.

"You okay Chris?" Aviva asked leaning on the doorframe.

"If being the worst brother in the world is being okay…then yeah I'm great!" He said.

"I thought Martin was the dramatic brother, not you?" Aviva teased.

"Oh great! I'm having a crisis and you're making jokes!" Chris said sighing.

"You're right, I'm sorry CK! What's wrong? Maybe I can help?" She asked.

"I don't have a gift for Martin! Christmas is in two day's and I don't have a gift for him, I need to get him something special!" Chris said sighing sadly.

"Alright don't panic CK! Between the two of us we're sure to come up with something great!" She said smiling.

"Yeah you're right! Okay, have any idea's?" Chris asked.

"Hmm…how about a new book about animal's? He has that collection of…"

"A book? Aviva no offence, but that's not what I had in mind! It need's to be something from the heart!" Chris said.

"Alright…how about if you get him a new pair of skis?"

"Aviva I'm going for from the heart!" Chris said before flopping back onto his bed sighing loudly. "I need it to be special!"

"Wow…this mean's a lot to you doesn't it Chris?" Aviva asked gently.

"Yeah it does, he's my brother Aviva!" Chris answered sadly.

"Alright let's not give up!" Aviva said as she stood and began to pace. "Let's think, I'm sure we can figure it out together!"

"Thanks Aviva!" Chris said smiling as he sat up.

Later:

After thinking of a gift for a couple of hour's Martin and Koki finally thought of one; Chris used to have a special box as a kid the size of a jewellery box, that he used to keep his important thing's in their grandfather had made it for him. It had gotten broken a couple of year's ago and Chris had been upset about it. So, remembering about it Martin decided with Koki's help he'd make him another one, he just needed to find the right material's for it. He quickly got into his outdoor gear while Koki drew up the plans for it using what Martin had told her as a guide.

Chris and Aviva spent time thinking of a gift, but weren't having much luck until as Aviva starred at picture's Martin had laying around that were obviously important to him she got an idea. Her idea was to put all of the picture's onto a DVD, that way he'd always have them and the original's they would put into a special album they'd make themselves, Chris loved the idea knowing how sentimental Martin was. He just needed to get the pictures while Aviva got everything else ready.

Martin had just finished getting his gear on and was putting his pack on when Chris came into the control room, Chris looked at him confused and spoke.

"Where you going Martin?" Chris asked.

"Oh…I'm going to check out some seal's I spotted earlier, I just thought I'd check them out for something to do!" Martin lied.

"Seal's? Sound's like fun! You…you don't want company do you?"

"Uh…no, that's okay bro! You stay here and if I see anything exciting I'll let you know okay?" Martin said quickly, he hated lying to Chris, but he couldn't tell him the truth. "I might not even find them, after all I did see them earlier this morning!"

"Oh, well okay if you're sure?" Chris was secretly relieved he wanted to go alone. "I have stuff here to do anyway, I told Aviva I'd help her work on a new invention!" Chris lied hating it, but he needed to work on his gift.

"Cool! I'll see you later bro, have fun!" Martin said smiling as he left.

Once Martin was gone Chris gathered up every picture Martin had laying around in various places, then he went back to where Aviva waited. He smiled to himself, he was really excited about this gift he knew Martin would love it and he couldn't wait to see his face when he opened it!

With Martin:

After leaving he still felt guilty for lying to Chris, but it was worth it, he couldn't wait to see Chris' reaction Christmas morning when he opened his gift! He wanted to find the right material's to make it so he walked around close to the Tortuga, but after a half hour of looking he hadn't found anything so he took off further into the frozen land to search. He lost track of time as he searched, he knew he'd find something if he kept looking he could feel it! He was so caught up in his search, he never realized how far he walked or how the wind picked up. He searched for what seemed like forever with no luck, until he suddenly spotted something laying on the ground by a large rock. He went to it and bent down brushing the snow off it, he smiled as he uncovered the small tree it was the perfect wood and he knew he had finally found the right material! He carefully took some of the tree and wrapped it in some cloth from his pack. After putting the wood into his pack he stood as it began to snow, he looked around and realized just how far he had wandered. He knew how quickly the weather can change in the Arctic, so he put his pack on and was about to head back to the Tortuga when the storm picked up suddenly and quickly became a blizzard! He quickly began walking back the way he came, he had to stop a couple of time's to figure out where he was going the storm making it difficult to see anything! He continued walking in what he thought was the right direction, not realizing that he had gotten turned around and was now walking away from the Tortuga instead of to it! After walking for a while and he still didn't make it back he stopped realizing that he was going the wrong way! He knew he had to find shelter or he'd freeze, he'd have to wait out the storm he didn't have any choice, if he tried to keep walking he could get even more lost or hurt! He looked around and through the blowing snow he thought he spotted a cave, he quickly walked towards it hoping that he had really seen it and wasn't walking towards more snow! Ten long minute's later he finally made it to what he saw and smiled it had been a cave! He picked up his pace, he went into the cave and stood in the entrance brushing the snow off himself as he starred out at the storm. He took out his Creature pod and tried to call Koki to let her know about his situation, but the storm messed with the signal and he couldn't get through. He took his headlight out of his bag and put it on glad he had thought to bring it and went into the cave to explore. It was a small cave, but at least it was deep enough the wind wouldn't be able to blow out any fire he made. He then looked around to make sure this wasn't an animal's home, the last thing he needed was to be surprised by an angry bear or other creature not happy about having a new roommate! After realizing the cave was vacant, and no animal would be joining him anytime soon he put his pack down and decided to find something to make a fire knowing the storm wasn't going to be slowing down anytime soon!

With Chris:

He smiled as he finished wrapping the box in front of him, it had taken a while, but he had finally finished Martin's gift with Aviva's help and it had turned out even better than he hoped! He was so happy, he knew Martin was going to love it and he couldn't wait for Christmas he felt like a kid again! He picked up the box and went to the control room humming Christmas carols as he went. He went into the room and headed for the tree, he put his gift down and still humming he went to the table and picked up a cookie and began to eat it. Nothing could wipe the smile off his face, or ruin his good mood! He still felt guilty about lying to Martin, but he knew it would be worth it when his sentimental brother opened his gift and loved it! He decided to go help Jimmy make some more cookies and that thought made him really feel like a kid again! Before he could leave the room, Aviva and Jimmy came in he smiled at them as he spoke.

"Hey guy's, I was just on my way to help you make more cookies JZ!"

"That's going to have to wait guys!" Koki said as she quickly came into the room looking nervous, seeing her Aviva spoke concerned.

"Koki what is it? What's wrong?" Aviva asked.

"Have any of you looked outside lately?" Koki asked as she typed something into her computer her back to them, Jimmy went to the window and looked outside.

"Hey its snowing!" He said as Aviva and Chris joined him at the window.

"Its not just snowing, it's a blizzard! A big one too!" Koki said. "Here look at this weather radar alert I received!"

"Whoa! That storm is huge, it'll take at least two day's to blow itself out!" Aviva said as they all starred at the computer screen.

"Come on guys, don't let a little storm ruin Christmas!" Chris said turning from the monitor, the other's turned to look at him Jimmy spoke.

"That's not a little storm CK! That's a huge blizzard!" Jimmy said.

"So? Guy's we're in the Arctic! Storm's like this happen all the time! Come on JZ let's go make more cookies!" Chris said picking up the empty plate and smiling headed for the kitchen, Koki spoke to his back stopping him.

"Chris…Martin's still out there!"

"Are you sure?" Chris asked turning around, he put the plate down as he returned to the others. "Maybe he's back by…"

"Chris he's still out in that storm!" Koki said worried.

"Try his Creature pod!" Chris demanded.

"I did twice!" Koki answered.

"Try. It. Again!" Chris demanded again emphasizing each word.

"Alright!" Koki said trying his pod, but once again didn't get through.

"Chris the storm's making it impossible to get a signal!" Aviva said gently.

"You're right…I'm sorry Koki!" Chris spoke looking at her.

"Its okay Chris." Koki said as she checked the radar. "The storm will be worse in an hour!"

"Why did he go out in the storm anyway?" Jimmy asked nervously.

"He didn't know it was coming! Like Chris said these storms appear so quickly, he thought he had clear weather!" Koki answered. "I only got the alert 10 minute's before it started and I tried to warn him, but got no signal!" Koki said as Chris went and began getting his gear on, Aviva noticed him and spoke.

"What are you doing Chris?" Aviva asked.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going to find my brother!"

"Chris you can't! Not in this storm, you'll get lost too!" Aviva said.

"It's a chance I'll have to take! I'm going!" Chris answered.

"Chris the storm's getting worse and you have no idea where he is!" Jimmy added.

"I have to try…don't you guy's get it? Martin's out there somewhere in that storm, I can't just sit here while he's out there!" Chris pleaded.

"Chris we're all worried, but its too dangerous!" Koki said upset. "Please wait until it slows down at least?"

"Fine, you win! I hope you're happy! As soon as it calm's down I'm going and none of you are going to stop me!" Chris said upset as he took his gear off and went to his room.

With Martin:

He sat by the small fire he had made with wood from outside the cave and piece's of paper he had found in his pack. After finding what he needed in his pack he smiled to himself grateful Chris had reorganized his pack for him the day before. Usually he got a little annoyed with how organized Chris always was, but this time he was grateful for it! He watched the storm rage outside as the sky grew dark, he looked at his watch and sighed realizing he was spending the night in the cave! So to keep busy he took out the wood and as he looked at it on his lap he decided to look in his pack and see if he had any tools. He finally found a small tool kit buried in one of the pack's pocket's, it was used to make small repair's to thing's while they were exploring…Chris had thought of everything! He knew with his limited tool's he wouldn't be able to make Chris' gift the way he had originally planned to with Koki, but he knew Chris would love it anyway! So, for the next couple hour's Martin worked on Chris' gift, when he was finished he smiled as he looked at the small box he had lovingly made. Looking at it reminded him that Chris was back at the Tortuga worried about him and he sighed sadly wishing he could at least contact him and let him know he was okay. He yawned and looked at his watch realizing it was late, so he wrapped the box up and put it in his pack before he used his pack as a pillow and lay down by the fire and was soon fast asleep.

The Next Day:

He stood looking out the window at the snow that continued to fall heavily, and for once he had found himself hating nature. After his blow out with the other's the night before he had stayed in his room starring at the weather radar on his laptop. He couldn't sit still doing nothing, he wanted to go look for Martin, but knew the other's were right he could get lost too and that wouldn't help his brother. He didn't sleep that night…how could he when his brother was lost in a storm? He had taken position by the window since sunrise hoping Martin would show up. Today was Christmas Eve, and without Martin it meant nothing to him! The other's were just as worried they all had tried to be strong for Chris, but he had heard Aviva and Koki crying alone in their room and Jimmy had been so quiet lost in his thought's. He heard the door's open, but he didn't turn to see who it was the person came and stood beside him, it was Jimmy neither spoke at first.

"It doesn't feel like Christmas without Martin!" Jimmy said gently. "Normally he's jumping around like a little kid, so excited!"

"Yeah…and then he'd want all of us to make gingerbread houses!" Chris added sadly.

"You know I never noticed how quiet it is without him around!" Jimmy said sadly.

"Yeah, it is pretty quiet isn't it?" Chris agreed sighing not in the mood for conversation.

"I'm going to go see if Aviva and Koki need help with anything. See you later." Jimmy said catching onto Chris' mood, he walked away sadly.

"Where are you Martin?" Chris asked sadly as he touched the window.

TBC…