Chopper

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The blizzard was fierce that night, the streets of Bighorn empty as snow settled in drifts over rooftops and pavements. It was the worst snowstorm the island had in years, and with Christmas only a day away, it was causing distress for many who lived in the village.

The streets had been near-empty for days; no one venturing out of their warm homes unless it was strictly necessary. This left one child very worried, and she sat in her window fretting as she looked on the street.

"Come back to bed, sweetie. You shouldn't be up with that fever."

The girl, face flushed red despite shivering with cold, turned to face her mother forlornly.

"But Mama, it's Christmas tomorrow! And you said Santa can't make it with any of the presents! Even though his treat is ready by the fire!"

This wasn't too far from the truth, the mother thought. With her eldest sick with the flu, youngest still in nappies and father vanished on some mission thanks to that ridiculous King Warpol, she had no way of venturing out in this weather to pick up presents. The family needed caring for first.

"I know sweetie, but you really need to go to bed. Come on."

Wrapping her arms around her mother's neck, the girl let herself be carried, all the while thinking about poor Santa being stuck in the storm. A thought struck her and she mumbled into her mother's chest.

"Maybe Rudolph can help him?"

"Sorry?"

"You told me the story, where Santa couldn't fly because the sky was stormy, so Rudolph used his red nose to guide everyone. Maybe he could this year and Santa can still bring me my presents!"

As she put her daughter to bed, the mother sighed resignedly. Either way, it appeared her daughter would be a little disappointed tomorrow. But it was Christmas, and her child was sick, so she didn't have the heart to kill her dream.

"Maybe he will sweetie. Off to sleep now."

The girl coughed to herself as she settled to bed, and her mother was startled by a firm knocking on the door. At this hour, in this weather, who could be about?

She was thoroughly startled to open the door to an elderly woman clearly not dressed appropriately for her age or the weather conditions. She held the doorframe protectively.

"Doctorine? What're you doing here?"

The old woman brushed past, walking into the house like she owned the place. Trotting behind, completely bemusing the woman still standing at the door, was the doctor's small reindeer pet.

"I was told by some patrons of the pub that your eldest had a nasty bout of flu. That can be lethal for someone her age. Let me look at her."

She wanted to say no. To get this crazy woman and her ridiculous prices away from her home and her baby. But the girl was fading, and there were no other doctors, and she just wanted her little girl to be okay, so instead of arguing she just followed Doctrine and the Reindeer as they walked into her eldest's room.

The little girl was roused as the elderly doctor shook her gently, examining each ear before looking in her mouth when she yawned. After a few minutes of poking and prodding, doctoring administered a vaccination; supplied by her handy animal assistant, and within minutes already had colour returning to her face.

"What did you do?"

The mother was in awe. Doctrine stood and smirked, popping open her bottle of alcohol as she did.

"Just gave her an inoculation. Give her these pills twice a day until they are gone and she'll be good as new."

A bag of pills found its way to the mother's hand, and she nodded in understanding as the doctor walked back out to the living room. So amazed was she by the results, she didn't notice the young girl stroke the little reindeer, or when the girl climbed out of bed to follow the creature outside.

"Now, about my payment..."

Doctrine was glancing round the room, looking for anything of value for payment. As she saw this, the mother grew scared; she didn't have much of value, and could need them over the coming months. Her concern was thrown when she heard a young, joyous voice by the door.

"Mama, look!"

Sure enough, she saw her daughter practically vibrating with glee as the doctor's young reindeer dragged a sack in the house. When he stepped away its contents rolled out; the gifts she had ordered from the carpenter a few weeks back, as well as some vegetables and the makings of a hearty Christmas dinner. Barely distracted from her examining, Doctrine smirked to herself and laughed when the woman tried to thank her for the gifts.

"Hmm, this was nothing to do with me. Chopper there was insistent we picked these up. Apparently some men at the pub were trying to bring these to you, but you're so far out they couldn't make it. And of course, he's so soft he made sure we brought it instead."

Startled, the woman looked at the reindeer who was also looking at her. As soon as she turned his way he avoided her eye, and she could have sworn he was blushing? Whoever heard of a reindeer do such a thing!

"Thank you, reindeer-kun. You saved our Christmas."

The little girl, all trace of sickness forgotten in glee, clung to the reindeer's neck, causing the timid creature to jump a mile.

"Mama, do you think he's Rudolph? Cause he guided Santa to our house! But his nose isn't red!"

"Either way, we wouldn't have Christmas if it weren't for him. What do you need to say?"

The reindeer, terrified after the close contact, was already on his way out the door. But he still heard the little voice follow him out into the cold, and it filled his heart with warmth.

"Thank you Rudolph! Merry Christmas!"

Chopper only had to wait five more minutes for Doctrine to exit the house, and he sidled over to her silently as they walked back to the village together. He saw her munching on a mince pie; a bottle of Sherry in one hand and a carrot in the other. Upon seeing him looking, she laughed and passed him the vegetable.

"Payment, for treating the girl. These were left out for Santa and his reindeer. Thought they would be appropriate, eh Rudolph?"

Chopper blushed, his charge only laughing louder at the result. Just because he wasn't able to be involved in the village's Christmas celebrations, didn't mean he didn't want to be. And giving and spreading cheer like that, Chopper thought that sometimes it was what Christmas was all about.

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