Author's Note-As my regular readers already know, my parents were staff at Yellowstone National Park and spent my summers growing up living in Ranger housing at Old Faithful. While little facts from that time of my life have snuck in various other stories, a bunch of little snips about day to day life have gradually been filling up my slush pile. Luckily, my annual advent calendar gave me some inspiration to create you something that lasts all year long. I hope that you will enjoy it!

Cold Moon

All things considered, Maru actually liked the winter months. Compared with the constant stress of the summer months, the blustery weather that occurred in the Park's mountains and valleys tended to lead to quiet days and long nights hunkered down by the fireplace. As long as Maru helped Cabbie keep the runway clear (because everyone knew that Blade was utterly worthless for the task), the mechanic had plenty of time to tinker.

By the relaxed pace of November couldn't last. Just when Piston Peak was starting to settle into a winter rhythm, the holidays arrived and everything once again went into overdrive. But unlike the summer months, during the short holiday peak, the park was severely understaffed to handle the large numbers of visitors exploring the park's winter landscape.

"We have an overdue hiker." The call from the lodge caused the Piston Peak Air Attack base to spring into action. Maru got on the horn to get details while Blade hit shower for a coat of deicer and Cabbie warmed up on the runway. It took less than 30 minutes for both aircraft to be in the air and only 45 for both of them to be in position over the trailhead the hiker was believed to have used.

"I have bad news for you two." Maru interrupted, Blade and Cabbie's radio chatter. "You are looking for a white vehicle."

The mechanic was actually proud that Blade managed to keep a civil tongue in his mouth. Cabbie, on the other wing, managed to utter a string of expletives that included words from at least a half dozen languages.

"Language." Blade huffed over the air attack channel once Cabbie had to pause to take a breath.

"And you weren't thinking the exact same thing." Cabbie shot back, then after a short pause, a tinge of humor seeped into his voice. "Also, really, you choose this moment to go all 'Captain America' on me."

"I can do this all day." Blade snipped back.

It didn't take long for the two aircraft to fall into a comfortable rhythm, scanning the landscape below but not having much luck locating a white car in a snowy white landscape. Eventually, the sun began to slip lower in the sky, and the lengthening shadows made the searcher's work even more difficult.

"On your left!" Blade chimed once again as the two aircraft crossed paths on the search grid once again. To which Cabbie simply gave a good natured grumble.

"Dudes, you guys are embarrassing me in front of the wizards." Maru only just managed to not chuckle over the radio. "But honestly, we are running out of light. Time to come back in. We will get Cabbie fueled up and back out once it gets properly dark."

"Wilco." Cabbie commented. "I will follow the Chief's aft in and make sure he doesn't get lost in the dark."

" At least it is America's Aft. "

Maru shouldn't have found Blades comment as funny as he did...but the mechanic couldn't resist.

Finding the missing vehicle proved to be easier to do in the dark of night. It only took Cabbie about an hour to spot the hiker's taillights and guide the ground team into the snowbank that the car had managed to get themselves stuck in. By the time the old plane had gotten back to base, Blade and Maru had gotten a proper dinner put together.

"It isn't too late…" Maru commented as he cleared the dishes after the meal. "Why don't we pull out a Christmas movie?"

"You are going to make me watch Die Hard again, aren't you?" Cabbie sighed tiredly.

"Maybe." Maru smiled into his coffee. Which of course meant that Maru already had the projector and 'classic' Christmas film set up in Blade's hanger, and while Cabbie grumbled for a bit he still joined the two other vehicles to participate in what was now an annual holiday tradition...and no one was surprised when Maru pulled out Ironman 3 to fill out the Christmas double feature.