Howling Christmas

Getting a grip.

Merry walked quickly, hoping to avoid anyone she knew. One thing she hated about her face was the inability to hide her emotions. People were able to read her, it was frustrating when she wanted to do everything but talk about her feelings. I'm Merry Rose Thistle, daughter to High Guardian Una Thistle and Seelie counselor to the King Krystobel Thistle. My parents had met during the Dark Winter of 1890. Humans had actually made it to their home. Viking's lost at sea, had found the entrance beyond the Ice Wall and come to their home. It had been a scary time, they had shockingly managed to escape. But not before they received the Fenrir Virus and took it back to humans. It was how lycanthropy was leaked to humans. It was never meant for them. Lycans protect Magical hubs, and lands. They work in balance with Faery. Lycans protect us, and when needed... Police Fae, However, Fae are very capable of protecting themselves. They possessed eternal lifespans, glamour for small trickery with humans. Advanced healing, A hand of power only Royals or High ranking Fae had. They were stronger, faster and smarter than humans by an immense lead. Lycans can shift without the moon, Are usually born, only bitten are referred to as Werewolves. They usually have to be taken into a clan or become mindless monsters who have to be put down. Lycans that are Alphas, can shape shift their faces to look different. Are ten times stronger than humans and faster. Excellent hearing, eyesight and sense of smell. Being a child of both hadn't made my life easy. Usually the Lycans and Fae grew up together but were segregated by schooling and work. The Lycans were here to protect us from enemies and Humans. I however didn't have a wolf, but was Seelie. However I wasn't built like my cousins. I was small, 5'5. My body is hourglass, and skin that was pale as moonlight. My hair shone like tinsel, silver with pale white streaks. The undercut black as midnight with parts that seemed to glitter with life. Eyes the color of vermilion in the center, a baby blue outer rim on the iris, and green inner rim on the pupil. All Lycans had one eye color, and it usually turned Gold when the threat of shifting was ever present. All face had multifaceted eyes. My fathers eyes green, gold and silver. When he was threatened,his power pushed his eyes to glow emerald.

Lycans didn't look like massive dogs, more like actual Wolf-man movies. The most accurate movie was Van Helsing. She loved that movie. Lycans were excellent protectors. Fiercely loyal, can smell lies and ill intent. They can sense disease and smell poisons. No one was better than Lycans to protect their sleepy town, that only sprung to life during Christmas. As cliche as it sounded, Merry worked in Santas workshop. She lived at the North Pole, and as cheesy as it sounded. She loved being a Christmas Fae. They weren't all Elves and goblins. The Seelie were made of the happier side of life. Santa gave hope, and they were all about Hope, Joy, and love. The Unseelie, were the creatures of Nightmares and sadness and pain. They would love to destroy their town and ruin the balance of magic in nature.

I however, am a weird freak of nature. My sister Elves and Seelie were all gorgeous and tall. Hair made of spun gold and majestically thin bodies. Here I am, with this massive bust, and ample backside. I was only made fun of an laughed at. A familiar voice rang out.

"Merry! I found you!" She turned to see her only friend running up to her.

It was Tassle, she was so pretty. at 6' she towered over me, and I got myself ready for the neck pain.

"Hiya Tassle." I tried to swipe my cheeks, so she didn't see the tear stains from my parents fight.

She had been sprinting to me, as she caught the movement. She slowed, and tilted her head. "Heya, are you okay?" her eyes scanned my face, making me feel naked. My hand waved away her eyes away. "Its nothing, what were going to say?" Merry faked a smile and turned to make her face match her fake feelings.

"If you say so.." Tassle wasn't taking no for an answer. Merry turned and started making funny faces at her. Tassle arched a brow, placing her hands on her hips as she twisted her lips. "That REALLY doesn't convince me lady. But okay, so last night there was an attack at the border!" Now this was news, no one ever made it past the ice wall. She was looking up, her hands posed in prayer position. "Did anyone die? My cousin was patrolling?" Her heart was hammering as she thought of Fang.

Tassle whistled, "As if anyone could stop that hotly with a body! Yikes, gimme ten minutes.." her head tilted up as she let a full body shiver overtake her. Merry smacked her arm. "So he's okay? We should go check on him." Tassle snapped out of it.."Now? But work?" She pointed to the toy shopped. All of them seemed to be packed at the doors for shift change. Merry looked over, biting the cover of her lip. "We have fifteen minutes before we get demerits. Come on, lightening fast!"

The girls ran off to the border town, that was directly in front of their town. Soon stopped by Toy Soldiers, Merry called out. "Hey Walnut! Coming to see Fang!" She had a bypass on her mixed heritage, it allowed her one guest and Tassle took advantage of being able to play with the wolves.

Walnut's grim face met them.

"Sorry Merry, Valens orders. His beloved isn't to be allowed near the wolves."

Merry's face fell ashen, and then slowly turned red as a apple. "Wait, what?" Tassle, looked to Merry. Her voice cracking, "Why is my Valen saying your his?" Her lips trembled, and the knot in Merry's throat choked her. s**t! She forgot to tell Tassle. Tassle had been in love with Valen since he saved her from bullies as a kid. She had always hoped they would be matched, but in their world... Marriage was only happening if parents worked on it, or someone was pregnant. Merry dropped her gaze, unable to watch Tassle's heart break.

"My mom told me this morning. It came from the King, I don't have a choice. Tassle, Im so sorry. Pleas" but Tassle cut her off. Merry had tried to reach for Tassles hand, but she yanked away and turned, giving Merry her back. "No, no of course. You can't help it if the King says so. I just thought.." Tassle had spent the summer stealing kisses and making promises to Valen. Honestly, he was beautiful. But Merry had caught him staring at his reflection once too often to think him worthy of Tassle. Now, she was stuck with him. The frustration of it all made her clutch the hem of her shirt. She was wearing a candy cane smock, and a pair of khaki skorts and red stockings in white boots. Her hair fell freely down her back and braids were mixed in with loose strands of hair. Tassles hair was beautiful gold ringlets that framed her face in a adorable bob. Valen had talked her into cutting her hair, he did that with all girls he coaxed into his bed. So everyone knew whom his conquests were. Fae women didn't cut their hair, and to cut it meant pain or ownership. Now, she had to walk around with her shorn hair and know he chose another, her best friend. Merry felt awful, "I don't want too."

Tassle laughed in a way that broke my heart, it was almost cruel.

"Of course you don't, because your life is so terrible. Mom, dad. Favor of the King and his beautiful Nephew. No, Merry always has it so hard!" She spun on me, and the creature before Merry wasn't her best friend. She was frightening in her pain.

"POOR POOR MERRY!!" She turned and ran so fast, that she left Merry stunned. Walnuts hand on her shoulder woke her from Tassles outburst. "She'll come around. Yall are best friends. It's hard is all." he said shyly, Walnut was from the Southern border towns. His soft accent always made Merry Giggle. Today she looked at him, and for the second time today, burst into tears.