Song: Thistlehair the Christmas Bear

By: Alabama

Start song at (1)


"Vonderful!" North enthused, startling Bunny.

"So why don't you have these elves help around the workshop more?" Bunny asked.

"Vhat do you mean? Zey do their jobs just as Yeti's do. Zere are more and more scout elves being adopted every year and the coal elves have made a big impact on naughty list kids, tis shrinking every year."

"And the prep and landing elves? Have you really been getting help all this time and still claiming your job is as tricky as mine is?"

"Ha ha ha! Of course, I have a tricky job, vhat do you call my deliveries in one-night vith one slay instead of multiple tunnels?"

"He he, here we go. North if you have elves that prep the houses before you come then you can't say you have a tricky job because all you do is drop off the gift, the elves make it easy for you. I on the other hand have to dash back and forth across my tunnel system to get each egg where it needs to be."

"Bunny please, eggs do all ze leg vork."

While this went on a large bear was slowly ambling around. Several of the younger spirits, mythics, and legends crowded around him when he came into view. He smiled kindly at each and offered several rides on his great white back. The only parts of him that weren't white were his kind black eyes and a black beard-like tuft of fur on his chin. Hearing the two holiday icons bickering the bear shook his head. He ambled up behind them and, after gently letting the kids off his back, stood on his back legs to reveal his impressive and legendary largest bear in Russia's height.

"Ah, guys?" Tooth whispered as the bear's shadow fell over the two Guardians.

North and Bunny turned slowly to face the bear.

"Now is this any way for two high-standing legends such as yourselves to be acting, especially in front of all these spectators and fellow spirits?" The bear said.

North gaped for a bit, he had a feeling he had seen this bear before but he could not recall ever knowing a talking bear.

Bunny for his part knew who was in front of them but having never been on the receiving end of his intimidation tactics was unable to find his voice, all he could do was swallow hard several times.

Jack, seeing the whole exchange, decided to take pity on his fellow Guardians and came to sit on the bear's shoulder. "Thistlehair, great to see you could make it this year. How are things in Santoff Claussen?"

Thistlehair looked at Jack and smiled a pleasant smile. All are doing well Jack! Big Root is thriving and under its branches so are the villagers. The trees and the protective spirit have also grown in strength."

"So does that mean you have been able to fully embarrass your Christmas job now?"

"To a degree, this legend has seemed to spread farther than I ever thought it would and I have yet to be able to get to all the places that have heard of me."

"Vait! Santoff Claussen? Bear! Is zat your Bear? As in 'Ombric's Bear'?" North rambled.

"Correct," Thistlehair told the Guardian of wonder. "But I've gained a new name over the years. Many call me Thistlehair the Christmas Bear now."

"But you could not talk before, vhen…?"

"Around 1985. A sweet song came out and the legend kind of found me. But I suppose that it must not have reached the Pole, you really should get out more North."

Being chastised by the bear that he had fought side by side with, and once against when Pitch Black had possessed the animal, made North shuffle his feet.

"What song is that mate?" Bunny asked, finally getting control of his voice and bringing a little of the attention off of North.

"If you two promise to stop bickering, I would be happy to share it with you."

"Yes, yes, please Thistlehair!" The young spirits, mythics, and legends begged.

"Sounds like a good compromise to me." Teased Jack as he hopped off Thistlehair's shoulder and the bear returned to all fours.

(1)Thistlehair began tapping his claws on the ground, a rattle-like sound, and the kids started using their hands to beat out a simple drum beat in accompaniment. Then one of the forest spirit children produced a wood pipe and played a sweet wind tune. Thistlehair sang in his gentle but deep voice. "Cities full of manger scenes and stores lit up with red and green. But down the road just out of town, there's more magic to be found. The countryside is all aglow with holly trees and mistletoe, and in those woods there lives a bear known to all as Thistlehair."

The kids then practically shouted out: " OH, Thistlehair the Christmas bear, spreading the good news everywhere. About Christmas time and what it means, to all the children of the world. Every little boy and girl out there loves Thistlehair!"

The kids climbed onto the bear's back and they made their slow parade around the fairgrounds. The song told of how Thistlehair came around and spread Christmas cheer, how he welcomed kids and told them stories of the nativity and the holiday that is Christmas.

Then the bear brought everyone to the woods surrounding the fairgrounds and showed them a Christmas tree decorated with holly berries, cotton fluff, pinecones, and twinkling lights of fireflies. They all danced around the tree singing with Thistlehair and other furry, feathered, and scaled animals who joined them.

"Thistlehair the Christmas Bear, La la la la la la la la. Thistlehair the Christmas Bear, La la la la la la la la." As they got quieter and quieter the group stared at the tree in a comfortable contented peace!