"Hello Internet!" The young, pale brown haired declared cheerfully, giving a wave to the camera on his iPhone, over his shoulder his wife did the same, "We're back in Colorado, at a Christmas Tree farm in Aspen." He informed his viewers before panning around him to showcase the calming, beautiful winter scenery.
He panned down to show his red knitted sweater with large, plastic bulbs in green, dark blue and a lighter blue before panning up again, "As you can see, it's festive around here….and the Patricks are gettin' in on the action!" He widened the camera as his wife came closer. Her glossy, semi-wavy, short black hair fell down to the middle of her back, a thick brown headband resting atop her head as reindeer antlers branched out.
"It's our sons turn to pick the tree this year!" She explained, pale green eyes sparkling with excitement as they walked down an aisle, camera facing outward.
"Mommy! Mommy!" They heard faintly in the distance and soon a little boy was running toward them, a little antler headband atop his dark blonde hair. He wore a red felt nose and his dark green eyes were bright with excitement.
"Whoa! Whoa! Little Rudolph!" The man said as the boy nearly tripped on a hidden, snow covered crack in the dark pavement. His wife went to meet him halfway and he took a small step back as the excited little boy almost caused his wife to stumble back into him. Opal didn't seem to notice as he wrapped his tiny hand in hers.
"I found a tree! I found a tree!" He exclaimed with the manic, frantic, breathless energy only a five year old could muster. The kind that made Stephen glad he and Mara decided to have their son in their 30s.
He chuckled to himself softly as the little boy guided his parents to the tree he'd picked out. It was tall, full and a slightly darker shade than the others around it. The pine tree was fragrant and smelled faintly of sap.
"See," Opal exclaimed proudly, standing tall next to the tree with a hand out, palm facing down, "it's way taller than me!" He jumped slightly to emphasize the point as Stephen laughed good naturedly.
"No! No, Sayti!" The YouTuber playfully chided as the bearded man mimicked taking a bite out of the Christmas Tree that now stood proudly in his living room. Its branches were fully fluffed out and ready for decorating. The spiky haired man pouted, slinking away with his head down and shoulders hunched.
The pale brown haired man laughed softly from behind the camera at his friend and co-workers antics, part of a bright red couch with slightly darker pillows in the shot. On the back of the couch was a light blue Tree Skirt with white trim.
"Ah, you make cookies out of your tree one time." He stepped forward, plucking a light blue Ornament from the box filled with smaller red ones before turning toward the tree. His wife took a half step back after placing a dark green ornament on a higher branch.
"Whoa!" She exclaimed, turning toward him, "I think I just saw something move."
"No way!" He stepped forward anyway as their son came to stand by Mara. His eyes widened as he indeed caught a flicker of movement in between the branches.
Sitting off to the side, far away from the camera, a black tom with gray paws and swirls in his pelt trilled curiously. He came forward, making sure to avoid the camera and trilled again, dark blue eyes fixed on a point in the middle of the tree. He heard a sharp, abrupt chatter in response.
The humans blinked as a small brown squirrel emerged, looked very annoyed as he sat on the branch and chattered loudly at them, big, fluffy tail curled and twitching.
"Aw, fluffy." The boy cooed and the young man fought a laugh as the squirrel seemed to glare at his son.
The squirrel hopped smoothly off the branch, landing in a box of yellowish gold Ornaments. The cat blinked owlishly, thoroughly unimpressed. A heartbeat later, a purred rumbled in her throat and his tail tip flicked as the smallest Twoleg wandered over.
"Hi squirrely." He said softly, "We keep you?" He asked as the creature blinked, clearly confused.
'That makes two of us.' Hawk thought, tucking his front paws farther under his chest. He wandered away to whisper in the females ear before she left the room, returning a short time later with a small, squirrel sized Santa hat, complete with holes for the adorable rodents ears.
A small door was made so the squirrel could come and go as she pleased. Opal was overjoyed when his small, furry friend came back the next year with three small babies in tow.