25 Days of Rudolph

Day 17: Rudolph and Thrasher

In the quiet corridors of Santa's castle, where the air hummed with the anticipation of Christmas magic, Rudolph found himself being ushered into a secret elevator. The elves, with a twinkle in their eyes, informed him that he now possessed the clearance to meet someone of great importance. Intrigued and a bit puzzled, Rudolph stepped into the elevator, curious about the mysterious encounter that awaited him.

As the elevator descended, the air became colder, and the atmosphere more mysterious. The doors opened to reveal a hidden hangar, its depths concealing a secret that only a select few were privy to. And there, amidst the shadows and the soft glow of Christmas lights, stood Thrasher the Reindeer.

Thrasher existed in the hushed corridors of myth. To many, he was an enigma, a shadow cast upon the stories of his more celebrated kin. Rumored to be the elusive second cousin of the illustrious Dasher, Thrasher's role was veiled in secrecy.

His purported duty was a unique one — transporting elves ahead of Santa to ensure the meticulous preparation of houses for the grand present delivery. Stealth and speed were his forte, and the stories spoke of his extraordinary measures to achieve these attributes. It was said that Thrasher, in his pursuit of unparalleled swiftness, had his antlers shaved smooth, a daring choice to enhance aerodynamics. Legend had it that the undersides of these antlers were painted jet black, an artful camouflage against the radar of the night sky.

Thrasher, as whispered in the tales, was not a reindeer of frivolity. His demeanor, as cold and crisp as the winter air, added to the mystery that surrounded him. He moved through the silent nights with a stoic determination, the very embodiment of his clandestine role.

Rudolph couldn't help but gasp. Thrasher, long believed to be a myth, was right before his eyes. The stoic reindeer, with jet-black antlers, dark sunglasses, and an aura of mystery, regarded Rudolph with an icy gaze.

"You're real?" Rudolph exclaimed, a mix of awe and disbelief coloring his voice.

Thrasher merely nodded; his expression as cold as the winter night.

"I've heard of you," Thrasher remarked, his tone flat. "Too flashy for my liking."

Rudolph blinked, then let out a chuckle. He was surprisingly cheerful in the face of Thrasher's cold demeanor, grinned. "Well, I do have a glowing nose. Can't really hide that, can I?"

Thrasher, unamused, stated, "I get that you're needed for flying through storms and fog. But Christmas is serious business. Making sure it all goes well is serious business. Making sure the houses are ready for Santa is serious business. So. . . I stay alone, out of sight, so I can focus."

Rudolph, always one to find the silver lining, pointed out the colorful candy cane protruding from Thrasher's mouth. "So you're super serious, huh? What's with the candy cane then?"

Thrasher's gaze shifted, almost guiltily, and he muttered, "Noel, the elf, gives them to me."

Rudolph, his spirit undeterred, suggested, "You know, you should get out more, spend time with Dasher and Noel and your other friends. All work and no play is no good, after all."

Thrasher mulled over Rudolph's words, a rare moment of contemplation crossing his cold features. "I'll consider it," he finally conceded.

Rudolph nodded and said, "Good to here! Well, the elves said to make the visit short, so. . .

Thrasher fixed Rudolph with a stern look and said, "Don't tell anyone about me. Or else."

Rudolph, still grinning, nodded in agreement. "Your secret's safe with me."

And with that, Rudolph left the hidden world of Thrasher, back into the warmth and light of Santa's bustling castle. Thrasher, though shrouded in mystery, found himself pondering the unexpected encounter and the vibrant spirit of Rudolph, who had brought a touch of warmth into the shadowy corners of his solitary world.


Several days later, on a Thursday, Blitzen approached Rudolph and said, "So, I hear you've met . . . Thrasher."

Rudolph looked around to make sure no one was within earshot, then said, "Yeah. I have."

"Did you notice that holy leaf tattoo on his leg?"

Rudolph nodded, "Yeah. . . what was up with that?"

Blitzen grinned, "Well you might find out tonight. Right out of the blue, Thrasher decided to invite Dasher, Noel, and us to a card game. . . in a secret location, of course."

Rudolph smiled warmly, aware that he had a hoof in this decision. "Yes. Of course."