Pahano :: Part One

The air was not complete without it's sparkling flurries. The soft wet flakes settled between the others; an eternal snow that coated the antarctic tundra. The only bumps on the perfectly smooth stretch of white were the igloos of the humans that dwelled there. Thin ribbons of smoke rose from the ice-bumps, keeping the people warm in this beautiful, unforgiving world.

They were not the only ones who lived here. Nearby lived a large colony of penguins, raising their young. They didn't mind the people, though they worried that their little ones would grow lazy eating from the hands of the humans. Their hatchlings had a bad habit of visiting the igloos to enjoy the warmth, food and comfort of the people who lived in them.

And this time the snow picked up into a terrible storm, and Pahano got lost on the way home. As he walked farther, he realized that he could have been walking in circles, and by now he couldn't even see the smoke rising from the igloos. Pahano sat in the snow as it piled up around him, and he had the hardest time trying not to cry.

And then, with a great thump, a large red blur lodged itself into the snow. The storm was too thick to see what it was from where Pahano stood. It was better than blubbering, so the little penguin picked himself up out of the snow and fought the raging winds. Step by step the winds got stronger but Pahano did not give up. And soon enough, he was face to face with the wooden bottom of a great red sled.

Around the sled were boxes, great and small, wrapped up tight with tender care. Pahano scooped one up. Something inside the box rattled. He shook it, gently of course, and again it rattled. What was the point of a rattling box? He picked up another one, and this too rattled! This was all very amusing, with all the bright colours and ribbons, but why so many? Especially when they all do the same thing!

"Wha, haven't seen presents before, kid?" The monster stood in the snow, a giant with four, long thin legs, and branches on his head. He looked like what the humans described as horses, but there was no way this monster and those horses could be one and the same.

"Blitzen, who are you talking to?"

"There's some penguin kid over here." The monster called over his shoulder. Pahano froze. There were more of them! "I think I spooked 'im."

"Well stop daudling and help me out." Another voice called over the sleigh. The Monster didn't seem all too pleased, but he turned around and vanished into the storm. "I think boss hit his head or something. Hey Comet. I know those guys aren't far. Let them know we're coming."

"Sure thing." Pahano heard one of the company sprint for a bit in the snow, and then his footsteps vanished. He looked up to see over the sled, when suddenly he saw one of the monsters, floating in the sky!

"Dancer, Donder, Vixen." The voice rang again. "Stay here and watch the cart. Prancer, Cupid, Blitzen and I are gonna carry Santa down to an Igloo, and we'll send Rudolph back with the word when we get a real grasp of how bad off he is."

"Why do I have to go back and forth, Dasher?" A younger voice protested.

"Because you're the bright-faced runt, that's why." The first monster groaned. "Now move it."

"Hey, you heard the boss." Dasher snapped. "Be nice to the runt. Now you can stay here with the cart. Donder, take his corner."

"What?" Blitzen snapped, but there was no more arguing. Pahano looked around the sled just in time to see the monsters hoist a giant red human onto their backs. With a great strain, they carried him off. A tiny monster, with a bright red nose lead the way through the storm's ferocious snow.

Pahano couldn't help but stare at the three monsters. They picked up the boxes, fixed the sled to stand upright, and put all the stray boxes in a giant bag. Finally, the first monster looked to him. "That present's gotta go in the bag."

The little penguin nodded. He climbed onto the sled, and carefully placed the box into the bag. He wanted to run away, but he didn't know which way was home. Wherever he ran, he was sure that he would only be getting further from home. This surely put him into a bit of a panic.

"Hey, brawny doofus over here is Blitzen, I'm Vixen, that slow guy over there is Dancer, and you must be very confused."

Pahano nodded. That's all he could think of to do.

"What's your name, kid?" Blitzen groaned into the snow. Already he was coated with a heavy blanket of snow. "That's what clever-foot here tried to ask you."

"P-P-Pahano." The penguin stammered.

"I'm not slow." Dancer had his face in the snow, too. The three monsters let out a chuckle. They reminded Pahano of the older hatchlings, how they joked and made fun of each other. Pahano wasn't sure if this made the three more scary or less.

"You're pretty lost, aren't you?" Vixen sighed.

"I went to the igloos, and then the storm kicked in." Pahano whimpered. "Now I can't find my way home."

"Yeah, Vixen?" Blitzen picked up his head and the snow broke off like ice on a great wave. "This kid's too young to know what Christmas is."

"Pft, shut your mouth, Blitzen." Vixen leaned his face closer to Pahano, who fell back on his rump. "What 'chu know about penguins?"

Blitzen stood up, and now Pahano could really see how big he was. He stood over Vixen, more muscular too. Vixen trotted off a few paces and laid down in the snow by Dancer, far enough not to get their antlers all tangled up. Blitzen nudged the penguin back to his feet.

"Aw," Dancer sneered. "Blitzen grew a soft spot!"

"No." He snorted. He shook off the snow from his antlers, as if that ended the matter. "I guess we can't walk this kid home. Dasher would rat on us or something."

"Wait until Rudolf comes back." Vixen laughed. "Make him do it."

"Make me do what?" Rudolf groaned. The three stared at him with a touch of confusion. "What? The igloo was literally right there. If it wasn't for the storm we could see it from here. Santa's in bad shape. There's no way he's getting up before morning."

The three faces fell. They snorted, hoofed through the snow. Blitzen walked in a tight circle, then stood back by the sleigh.

When the silence was too much, Pahano finally worked up the courage to speak. "Who's Santa?"

Rudolf stared in wonder. "You don't know who Santa is?"

"It's his first Christmas." Blitzen explained. "Doesn't know a thing."

"Well." Rudolf dipped his head. "We're not going anywhere. Might as well fill the kid in. Help pass the night."

"That's a bright idea, Rudolf." Blitzen smirked. He pushed the little monster into the snow. Rudolf groaned. At least this time it was a groan to a bad joke. Pahano smiled a little at Rudolf's shining muzzle. He sat down in the sleigh, ready to hear what everyone seemed to think was the greatest thing.

"Yeah, when Blitzen gets off me, I'll tell you all about this Christmas."