A few days have passed since Chetan left, and I already miss him tremendously. The days feel longer, and the nights feel colder without being wrapped up in his arms. At least from the experience, I have learned that I can never ever be without him. No more living with vampire clans, or thinking I don't belong with my pack.
I love the snow beneath my feet as I walk through the forest. It smells of cranberries, and I know each species of characters are doing something special with the elves. Well, all besides the red caps, I feel their special holiday would be Halloween.
Stopping in my tracks, I hear feet walking towards me. I know I am instructed by the Alpha to howl at any sign of new creatures, but once again I just disobey him. Though I'm used to seeing mythical creatures in this forest, this one surprised me. He looks like a big wooden statue walking towards me. In my opinion, he looks like some type of soldier. He was painted in a soldier's uniform with a blue top hot on. His white hair leaked out the sides of the hat.
"Nutty at your service," he bows to me like you would royalty.
I smile.
"And what Christmas creature are you, Sir?"
"Why am I a nutcracker, of course?"
I smile.
"And you must be the princess of the forest."
"I'm no princess."
"Well, I have seen real princesses, just like the sugar plum princess, you of course don't disappoint."
He holds out his hand. "May I have this dance?" My eyes watch as birds fly out of the trees, and they make the most beautiful music just by tweeting. It was definitely a softer beat. like something used for a ballet recital.
Taking his hand in mine, it felt wooden, and unnatural. Just like Jack Frost, these characters are more peculiar than the ones that normally appear. They look as they escaped from a children's fantasy book.
Then my feet glide across the floor as I dance with this wooden Nutcracker in the forest. It was calm, beautiful and graceful.
As I arrive back to camp, I notice Ajay, Nora, Dev and Riya sitting at the picnic table, frosting sugar cookies with a few of the elves.
"Did you have a nice walk?" Ajay asks me.
I nod. "I danced with a huge wooden Soldier."
Dev cracks up laughing. "That should technically sound delirious."
"Living in this forest," Riya shakes her head.
"What did I tell you, Zare?"
"If there's a new creature, I'm supposed to howl."
"Yeah, so apparently you understand my command."
"Not everyone wants to talk to Alpha Ajay."
"Oh really?" His eyes grow to the size of a quarter.
"He wanted to talk to a princess."
"Well, that's still technically Ajay," Dev says with a grin.
"Whatever," Ajay laughs.
"Was he handsome?" Riya asks.
"I mean, it's really peculiar. I guess he was even though he was made of wood."
"Chill, I do not want to tell Chetan, his future wife, left him for a wooden toy," Dev says.
Ajay about fell out of his seat laughing.
"This Christmas is getting stranger and stranger."