[A/N] I dedicate this chapter to the memory of my fallen netbook. It served me well for 3 years and helped to produce hundreds of thousands of words before finally giving out, it had in the past broke down at times, delaying me slightly, but always it pulled through and barely scraped out Broken Bow 5, but I guess it just didn't have enough steam left in it for a Christmas special… and so I gave it the Viking burial it deserved: I took it apart and cannibalised it's parts. It has regretfully taken this long to fund a replacement and since my laptop was too bulky to carry during the day when I write I've never had the time to continue this fic. Well let's hope that wont happen again and so will keep you waiting no longer… Now….where was I?

Broken Bow: The 12 Years of Christmas

Chapter 10: 2011 (Part 3)

'Santa' kept his eyes locked on the crouched figure. The old man's demeanour changed as he tightened up his guard. Whatever this was, it wasn't something he had anticipated…

And he rarely admitted that.

He raised his sword up cautiously, watching as Armani's erratic posture changed. The god could practically see the tendons in the boy's legs tightening in preparation to strike. He crouched forward slightly, brow clenched. The god was for an instant reminded of the way a cat arches it's back the instant before it strikes.

What has he done? His eyes…and his entire body language; it's changed completely.

The god observed the boy's sword, which was hanging loosely in his had as if forgotten, and the old man suspected this lax guard to be a deception, as every other part of the boy's body screamed out an intent to attack.

'Santa' readied, sensing his opponent about to charge. And he was right, the boy was about to attack, but he didn't charge.

He pounced.

The boy sprang up into the air directly at the old man and, with an almost feral smirk and banshee-like shriek of delight, brought his sword up overhead to strike.

The god was taken aback, disturbed, and almost forgot to block the boy's strike.

His inhibitions too… They're gone, completely gone!

Armani landed with his foot in 'Santa's' chest, both hands pushing down his sword as he stared into his opponents eyes with something akin to glee.

'Santa's' other hand gripped the pommel as the boy remained crouched on his chest trying to cleave him open. "What the hell have you done?" said the god through gritted teeth.

With a flick of his wrist 'Santa' managed to dislodge his opponents sword enough so it slid down the length of his blade and, as it struck the guard, he wheeled about and shoved the demigod off him.

As Armani landed, 'Santa' lashed out and latched firmly onto his ankle. This proved to be a mistake.

Before 'Santa' could stamp down on the boy and put him into submission, the half-blood leaned back, essentially pulling himself up into 'Santa's' grip.

He twisted his torso about, 'Santa' reflexively bringing his sword up to guard an attack from Armani's blade, but was not prepared from an attack on the opposite side.

The god didn't have time to prepare as the demigod slashed out with his left hand at the older man's face. There was a splash of gold as the boy's nails raked open four lines of flesh on the god's face.

The god let out an indignant cry, releasing both boy and blade, as he went to cradle the side of his face.

Armani landed on both hands and sprung up into a roundhouse kick that struck the old man on the opposite cheek, sending him hurting to the floor halfway across the roof, the demigod landing crouched on his hands and feet, eyes locked on the enemy before arching up and letting out an ecstatic howl of victory into the night sky.

The aura about the half-blood seemed to separate into a swirling mist that dissipated into the night for an instant before returning to the child who then crouched back down to watch the prone enemy.

'Santa' lay silent for a moment, face concealed and didn't get up. The temperature on the roof began to fluctuate wildly, pulsing up from between sub-zero and tropical temperatures. The others noticed the roof's black coating bubbling underneath the crouched god.

All the while the boy remained poised, sniffing the air occasionally as if in continued reassessment of the situation.

This isn't human movement, nothing about this is human.

"Who are you?" demanded 'Santa' after a moment.

The boy's eyes narrowed at the question. He tilted his head in response. Something akin to an amused smile came to his face, as if it had trouble imitating the emotion, "Don't you know?"

'Santa' looked up, eyes blazing; the wound on his face closing up, "You are not Armani."

His eyebrows rose as if this were perfectly acceptable, "True," he admitted in that strange voice that resonated under his own like a whisper in the winters night, "and I'll ask again: don't you know? After all, I've always been here, right here. Simmering beneath the surface. You see; I'm the moment of the wolf's bite, the instant the tiger bares it's claws, the howl in the night to those you cannot see but somehow know can hear. I am action without thought."

"Instinct…" breathed Aren almost disbelievingly, "You're Armani's instinct."

Instinct turned 'her' head about to regard the Nymph and the suspended Huntress, the nymph flinching back for a second behind Aren.

Aren seemed to shudder under her scrutiny, "Precisely." 'she' said after a moment.

"There's no way… no way you should be in control." said the disguised god.

She smiled, "Of course not. In fact, I shouldn't be at all. If Armani were born in a conventional way, he'd merely have me as a silent force granting him greater reflexes and slightly sharper edges to his personality, but he wasn't conventional; very little is about him…unfortunately. Think of me as a bit of a glitch; a happy result of the birth of a demigod that never should have occurred."

"Then why haven't I sensed you up until now?"

The question seemed to amuse her, "Because I haven't allowed you to. Haven't you ever wondered how Armani was capable of guarding his thoughts from you even in his sleep? How even if he was distracted but his intent was to keep you out, that you were unable to see inside his mind?"

'Santa' scowled, "You're saying that was you?"

She just smiled slightly, "Who knows…"

His frown deepened in response and his golden blade shot back into his hand, "Enough of this. I think you've wasted enough of my time. I'll admit I was surprised to begin with, but now that element is used up."

Instinct didn't bother raising her guard as 'Santa' prepared to attack, "Oh, I wouldn't say that." she said ambiguously.

It was as the god closed half the distance between him and his enemy that he found himself with less than an instant to curse his own hubris.

And then that instant passed.

And the wolves were upon him.

A pack of a dozen ethereal silver wolves leaped up over the sides of the roof in a circular formation.

'Santa' let out a cry of shock and pain as several of them sank their teeth in, bringing him to the ground, each attacking with the viciousness that existed at the core of the one who summoned them.

It would also be less than tactful to reiterate the stream of Greek curses the god began bellowing as he tried to pull himself up, the wolves doing their best to keep him down.

With a deep growl, the man began pulsing with light, his body levitating up off the roof several feet and with an enraged roar, let out a sphere of blazing light around his body, vaporizing the assailants who had still been latched onto him.

He oriented himself back up in mid-aid, red suit in tatters and stained with gold, only to be struck by a well placed side-kick to the chest by Instinct which sent him flying off the roof and, ironically, crashing into a 7 foot tall hollow fibreglass Santa statue that had been standing on the lawn.

The decoration rolled over onto it's back, the god still inside.

Instinct landed on the edge of the roof in a crouch, looking down at the statue.

Her brow twitched and she sniffed the air quickly as the statue shifted, rolling side to side before suddenly rolling upright on it's rounded base.

Everything was silent for a moment.

Instinct rose back to her feet, eyes trained on the statue as it rose into the air of its own accord.

The plastic form suddenly began vibrating, rocking quickly in the air and, with a bellowing roar that echoed over the night skies, a giant twenty foot tall 'Santa' exploded outwards from within, eyes ablaze with light that cast eerie daylight over the condo.

"BOY!" he bellowed down at the demigod who continued to regard him impassively.

"Do you see a boy around here?" she asked dryly after a pause.

The giant Saint Nic gritted his teeth, hand lunging for the demigod who leapt nimbly onto the outstretched limb, bolted up, and kicked him square between the eyes.

"Way to add petrol to the fire, Armani or whoever you are!" barked Aren from the sidelines as she watched the situation go from bad to worse to absolutely catastrophic.

The god let out another growl, one hand going to his face.

Instinct landed on his wrist, readying to attack again, when 'Santa's' left arm lashed up with blinding speed and snatched the demigod out of the air and into his grip.

'Santa's' other arm dropped to his side, a smirk spreading over his face, "Got you…"

"Armani!" cried Aren, momentarily forgetting it wasn't her boyfriend currently in the driving seat.

Instinct shifted slightly, judging if a struggle for freedom would be effectual and then went still, regarding her captor in her usual manner.

"You will not harm me." she said simply.

'Santa' gave a sharp, bitter laugh, "Oh, and what makes you say that?"

Instinct cocked an eyebrow, "Because I know you will never hurt Armani, no matter how angry you get, you always hold back against this one."

The god's eyes glinted darkly and, just for a second, what could be interpreted as worry flashed over the possessed demigod's face for an instant, "But as you quite clearly pointed out a moment ago: you're not Armani right now…are you?"

Instinct looked back blankly, "…did not think of it that way."

'Santa's' smile widened, "I didn't think you would… now let me remind you of something I once told your host: never oppose the gods; we always make you regret it in the end."

"You're really going to rub this one in, aren't you?" asked Instinct dryly?"

The god's grip tightened, "Rub? No, I was thinking more of a crushing, grinding sort of lesson in humility."

Instinct gritted her teeth, "Armani was right, you really do have a petulant temper." she grunted, shuffling in the god's increasing grip.

"Don't worry, I wont leave any lasting damage, but I assure you this will not be an experience you'll forget in a hurry" he said, holding the demigod out in one hand like a small doll. He leaned in, inclining his head, "What? No more witty remarks?"

Instinct didn't respond, her eyes flicking to Aren and back.

"No? Very well then, I guess I'll just have to-" he stopped, frowning as a rustling, grinding noise became audible, "What the-?"

He didn't have time to contemplate further as a huge rope-like tendril erupted from the earth and lashed about his outstretched wrist, tightening firmly about it. "What is this?" he bellowed as more shot up out the ground, binding his arms and legs. Another came out and snapped about his throat, pulling him back.

'Santa' glared indignantly, eyes blazing, down at the small form of Lya, "I thought I told you-" he began, struggling still.

The little nymph yelped, looking down at her own hands as if to confirm something, "I'm not doing this! I was told not to get involved in the fight."

The god growled as the one about his wrist tugged once, twice and then a third time. Each pull banging his wrist against the rim of the roof with a nasty cracking sound. More and more roots lashed about the god, binding him tightly. He struggled, tearing himself partly free only for more bindings to erupt and replace them. The momentary distraction obviously tore his attention away from the captive huntress as the barrier about her cracked and shattered into nothing, releasing the girl who landed in a readied crouch.

Instinct's eyes narrowed at her impassively and then sighed, "How tiresome…Well I suppose that's my job done. As always, the rest is up to you…" she lamented, her eyes glazing over as they returned back to their normal state.

-A-

It was a strange sensation, like being submerged in warm water, images flashing dreamlike before my eyes; thoughts beyond my comprehension flicking across my mind before vanishing into the darkness each time I attempted to grasp hold of one.

And then it was over, I was back to normal as easily as one might sit up in the bath.

I shook my head, clearing the last of the red that seemed to have been covering my eyes.

I immediately took stock of the situation.

Aren was free; this was the first thing I saw and top on my list of priorities.

Then I looked down and about myself.

I appeared to be encased in a very large velvet covered fist which, upon cranking my head around and up, turned out to be attached to the arm of a very angry and very large Santa Claus.

Instinct!

You rang?

What the hell?

What? You asked me to get your precious mate free. This was accomplished. I think I'll leave the rest in your very capable hands.

I looked up again at the god, whose eyes blazed back at me whilst what appeared to be tree roots repeatedly burst up through the ground and bound him.

Well THANKS for all your help!

You're welcome.

I decided to forestall any further chastisement and consider how to get free.

Suddenly the god lurched as the thick root about his arm tugged, slamming it against the rooftop and rattling my teeth with the impact.

The hand twitched, loosening slightly and, upon the next smash, I wriggled free and leaped over the fist out onto the rooftop.

I rolled over and grabbed my sword and up into a readied stance. It appeared however that the giant Santa hadn't even realised my escape and was far more concerned with his current root problem.

He obviously seemed to have underestimated just how powerful those imbued with the power of the forest would be in this place, a temple of Artemis by a forest, under a full moon. This wasn't to mention the fact his own powers would be somewhat diminished because of those same factors.

"Lya, are you-?" I began, but she just cut me off with a confused shake of the head, "Then who in the heck-" again I couldn't finish as the bound giant tensed up, looking past me towards the hill leading up to the forest.

"You!" he said in a voice that was half-way between his elder and younger persona as he glared off in that direction.

I turned about, and immediately found myself becoming as shocked as the god.

At the edge of the driveway, standing next to a figure in a grey hooded cloak, her outline glowing slightly in the moonlight, was Lanaya.

I gaped at her, the shock giving way to momentary elation, "Miss Lanaya!"

Her eyes, which had been fixed on the giant Santa, flicked to me and I noticed her expression soften, "Hello, Sapling. Why, you've barely grown at all."

I let out a slightly choked laugh, "What are you doing here?"

She cocked her head in that way that made me feel like I had asked a totally ridiculous question, "It's Christmas Eve, little one. Where else would I be?"

"Okay, now I'm seriously calling foul!" said 'Santa' in his younger voice, "This is totally cheating!"

There was suddenly a blur of movement as the figure that had been standing next to the elder nymph dashed forward and leaped up onto a windowsill and then pulled himself up onto the roof.

He strode forwards and tore his cloak off, tossing it to the side.

It really was a night for unexpected surprises, "Father!" I gaped as Hippolytus dusted down the midnight-blue suit he was wearing. I glanced between her and the nymph, "But… how?"

Lanaya sighed, "If you must know, I found him wandering in the forest."

"I was not wandering. I had merely…lost my bearings momentarily."

I looked over at him, "You were supposed to be getting a cab straight here from the train station. How could you mess that up?"

He sighed, "Alas, my journey turned out to be fraught with more peril than first I imagined. My locomotive transport departed without me, forcing me to seek alternate travel arrangements with the friendly people at a company named 'ABA'. However, they did not take me as far as I had hoped, meaning I was then forced to traverse a forest as the shortest way here. Things were complicated further when a wayward carrion absconded with my charts, no doubt to line it's nest on this cold winter's night. Thankfully, this wayward tree spirit was heading in my direction and kindly assisted me with my quandary."

I nodded thoughtfully, "Aren?"

"He missed his train, took a bus, a bird stole his map and he got lost in the woods."

"Ah."

"So, you have reinforcements." said the still bound god, bringing my attention back to the matter at hand.

I took a step forwards when suddenly my father extended his arm sideways, blocking me.

I looked at him and noticed there seemed to have been a change in him, something clicking into place, as a look of seriousness I had never seen in him before appeared.

With a flick of his wrist he had drawn his slender blade from inside his suit jacket.

If he was afraid of the giant Santa looking down at him, then he wasn't showing it, and I suddenly realised what it was that had caused him to act like this. It would also appear that 'Santa' had forgotten just what this place was now.

Hippolytus flourished his blade and said, in as simple and matter-of-factly a way as possible, "It is my duty to inform you that you have violated the sanctity of a temple of the great Lady Artemis... Prepare to die."

He lurched forwards, moving to cleave 'Santa's' throat clean open, only for the giant man in red to escape his bounds by the simplest means possible.

He shrunk.

Hippolytus skidded to a halt, eyes locked on his enemy and I realised Lanaya had somehow appeared at my side.

Aren retrieved her dagger and readied herself to attack also.

'Santa's' blade appeared back into his hand as he backed up to the edge of the roof, eyes flicking from enemy to enemy.

Finally his eyes settled on me, and his shoulders seemed to sag as he sighed, "You know what the worst part of all this is?"

I frowned, "And what's that?"

He let out a tired breath, "I totally saw this coming…"

To be concluded…

[A/N] Well it's been a while and good to be back. I'm glad you all showed me patience and didn't resort to lynching me for the delays in getting this one out, and I promise the next one will be out ASAP. Until next time!

See you all in Chapter 11: 2011 (Final)