This strange city interested Noelle. It really was a place that she'd like to visit, under better circumstances. The lights went on for as far as you could see, the buildings higher than the tallest tree. The sounds of countless cars driving by. It was beautiful… immaculate, even.

Exploring this bizarre world stirred old thoughts, old feelings that were buried under the weight of responsibility. Of what once was and what could've been.

Walking beside her, separated by traffic cones, was Kris. Noelle glanced at her companion, studying them.

The Dreemurrs were known for their physicality. From Toriel who can often be seen holding her children's hands to Asgore's overbearing hugs to Asriel and his penchant for extreme empathy, the town knew how loving and affectionate the Dreemurr family was. Wherever a Dreemurr went, you knew that they were at or near the center of attention. That's just how things were.

Kris was an anomaly.

Kris wasn't the most physical or affectionate person. Often during social gatherings, they would be hidden away in a corner, avoiding anyone and anything like the plague. Not out of anxiety, but they were simply reserved and preferred to keep to themselves. They rarely initiated contact. The only times they had all eyes on them were when they were in trouble for one reason or another. Everyone in town knew this, knew that Kris was the shadow of the Dreemurr family.

Noelle had known Kris long enough to know their quirks. Of how they would show the barest signs of interest during conversations they did care about- because if they didn't care then their attention wouldn't even be on you, or the faintest of smirks they wore when they were in the middle of pulling a prank. It was a point of pride for the young reindeer that she could read the mysterious human, who had a plethora of rumors following them.

But even she did not fully understand them. Perhaps Asriel was the only one who could ever truly understand. And yet… Noelle had her doubts that even Asriel knew everything behind the shroud that surrounded Kris.

Which was fine. Trust was the foundation of friendship, so Noelle had no problem putting her trust in the enigmatic human. They've never betrayed that trust before, so there was no reason to fear them. The two were once the best of friends, and even now when they've drifted apart that friendship is still there. It has survived, not withered away.

Noelle looked towards her friend again. She regarded her companion, the one who showed her this strange world. The one who had guided her through it.

They knew pretty much everything about her… how weird she was. She told her father everything, but Kris had witnessed that everything. And they never judged her. Even when Dess…

Noelle shook her head, clearing her thoughts.

A lot of the town consider Kris to be a creep. Mischievous, malicious, troublesome. A lazy slacker who couldn't even wake up on time. Nothing but a prankster who could only play the piano well because Toriel forced them to. An outcast meant to be forgotten, an echo of a past that was destined to fade into obscurity.

Noelle looked away; her expression downcast. They didn't know Kris. They didn't know her friend.

Friend…

Guilt bubbled in the reindeer's chest, her expression started to sour slightly. The friend whose situation she knew very well. She knew Kris… had issues. They were the only human in a town of monsters, the human who only ever wished for horns so they could feel truly a part of their family. That they belonged.

No matter what she did… what the Dreemurrs did, Kris never seemed satisfied with who they were. They tried anything and everything. Those cute monster horns that they used to wear to convince everyone else… but plastic was a far-cry from the real thing. They begged to Santa Claus, they performed occult rituals. But nothing worked, horns never grew and would never grow. And with the divorce-

Noelle shook her head. There's nothing that could be done about that. Kris was a human, and nothing was going to change that. Perhaps, when they escaped this world together, things will go back to how they were. Back to the days of the forest, of getting lost without a care to give. Yes… perhaps its time to reconnect. And Asriel should be back soon, he could join as well… just like… the old… days…

It's a strange sensation, feeling a particular wetness roll down your cheeks. While reminiscing about the past, Noelle hadn't realized that she had tears rolling from her eyes. Memories flooded her in a quilted pattern, flickering in and out. Memories of cinnamon, of warm hugs and eggnog. She could almost hear laughter, familiar laughter. Was Kris laughing?

She quickly snuck a peak to her left. No, Kris was as stoic as ever. Then who…?

Suddenly, a memory flashed before her. Everything was so big… and trees were everywhere. Giant trees that towered over the world. And someone was holding her hand, but no face was there. Just a hand covered in white fur. And in front of her was… Kris, a smaller Kris but still undeniably them. They had a smile on their face! A rare sight to see but why?

They were… running? Running from who? Then she saw- another reindeer. Taller than Kris, taller than her! That reindeer had the bat… she carried that with her everywhere. Said it'd teach punks a lesson if they messed with her. She looked angry, was she angry at Kris? Noelle didn't know, but she didn't feel anything negative about this intrusive memory. Kris was laughing, so they must've done some kind of trick.

Despite herself, Noelle started to laugh. It was a quiet kind of laugh, a half chuckle. She felt warm, and sick, happy yet despondent. Is this nostalgia? Why was she crying?

She looked to Kris to find them watching her. It seems that the both of them had slowed down, no doubt due to Noelle's current predicament. Kris's unreadable face stared her down, analyzing her. Noelle knew better to try and talk her way out of this, she had no excuse to give and she never was a good liar. So she told the simple truth.

"Fah… I just miss them, you know?"

Kris looked forward, away from Noelle. Then they nodded their head ever so slightly- if Noelle didn't know Kris like the names of Santa's reindeer she would've missed it. Then they extended their hand outward, open palmed to their right. Towards Noelle.

Noelle's eyes widened. Was Kris really…?

After a moment's hesitation caused by surprise, Noelle extended her left arm to meet Kris's right. Grasping the open hand with her own, the two connected their hands together. Both hands gripped each other, reminding their owners that they were still together. That they weren't alone.

The two continued their walk like this, hands together over the cones as they walked deeper into the city. The days of the past are gone. That doesn't mean they can't be there for each other now.