Disclaimer: Hi everyone! This is my first fan fiction that i've written, so I hope you like it. I think that it is festive cause of the season :). i was inspired by a book written by Julie Czerneda. It's called Beholder's Eye. I just wanted to play around with some of my favorite characters a smidge so don't be mad if I don't follow the book exactly. This is my version of what happened on New Year's. i own no characters in other people's books. tee hee!! Yeah, y'all have to read it please and tell me what you think!!!

New Year's

I looked around at the streetlights and storefront windows. Each displayed various decorations of red and green. Tinsel hung from doorways and was occasionally accompanied by mistletoe. Snow fell in slow motion, each flake covering the festivities and the many people talking excitedly around the square. I lightly sniffed the air. Christmas definitely has its perks. Gingerbread, peppermint, hot coco, pine…. There wasn't a smell that wasn't as inviting as the crowd around us.

Paul and Tomas hurriedly snatched at my paws and dragged me through the crowd. The tension in the air began to grow thick. Something was about to happen, but what? We broke through the clustered groups of people into a small clearing.

"Es, close your eyes…okay?" Paul could hardly contain himself. Already his hands searched in his pockets for some unknown object before Thomas covered my eyes so that I couldn't see. Suddenly, a loud blaring sound erupted from Paul's direction and a bit a paper tickled the end of my nose. I pushed the mittens out of my eyes and saw a yellow and purple spotted noisemaker in his hands. He blew again and I felt a smile creep onto my face. I gave him a one-toothed grin and he offered it to me. At that moment, all of my worries about getting back to Ersh's moon and what Ersh would say when she found out what I had been doing melted away. I was finally having fun. I wasn't worried about my work anymore.

"Make sure you blow it when midnight comes!" Tomas shouted so he would be heard over the surrounding dim. I gave it a practice blow and they both clapped me on the shoulder sporting their own wide grins.

Was this what it was like to have friends? I grasped the stick firmly in my paws and held it close to me. My first present. I wish we could exchange presents within the Web instead of just memories. I tucked that thought in the deepest part of me. I was sure that Ersh wouldn't approve of that kind of thinking.

Before I had thought anymore on the matter, Paul and Tomas once again whisked me off through the mass of people. On the way to wherever we were going, they grabbed me an interesting drink they called 'spurl'. The spiced drink was thick and warm. Many cups were being passed around along with a 'Merry Christmas' and a 'Happy New Year'. When we finally stopped walking, we stood before a tall clock. The yellowed face showed that there was only a minute before midnight. All around me voices began to count down the time. TWENTY…NINETEEN…and then…TEN…NINE……THREE…TWO…ONE…HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

All around hats were bring thrown up, voices were screaming, people were banging on pots and pans with spoons and other kitchen utensils. No seemed to care that they were hugging complete and total strangers. Paul and I turned to each other and embraced, seemingly much longer that anyone else was. When he pulled away, he had tears in his eyes. I found out that they were tears of joy when he hugged me again and whispered "Happy New Year," softly in my ear.

My first New Year's celebration was perfect, especially for the reaction I found in Paul those few moments ago under the clock with the confetti pouring over us. Christmas is definitely my favorite time of year.