The Secret Of Rudolf

Between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day is , by far the most hectic time in the North Pole , especially if you’re one of the reindeers in Santas keep .

During the few days around Christmas impossible tasks are done .
The essence of the magic is many fold things .
The gift of flight is given to the chosen reindeer who are to pull the sleigh around the earth . They also are given supernatural strength for a number of days as well as the gift of speech and high intellect .

Only those reindeers who truly believe are able to receive the gifts of Christmas time .

During the rest of the year the reindeers are kept busy with normal everyday life in the North Pole where special events are organized like the Reindeer Races which culminate in the Santa Cup that is run during the spring .
There were other events , like Antler Show day , when all the stable elves had to present the best reindeer on parade . There was also Fairy carnival day and Be kind to an elf week , so as you can see the reindeers and elves are all very close friends .

Ruby the reindeer was one of the oldest of Santa’s team and could map the earth by the stars . Navigation from one point to another was a simple task for Ruby . All she had to do was gaze at the sky and she knew where to go .
Everyone respected Ruby and they counted on her expertise every year .

One night in the stable all the reindeers were a little worried .
Tiche , the stable elf came to see what all the fuss was about .
It is a well known fact that elves and reindeer are connected with the same though patterns . They not only communicate in such a way but they have an uncanny way of feeling similar emotions at the same time .

“What ever is the matter ?”
Said Tiche to the Blixen and Donna .

“ Ruby’s been missing all day .“
Said Comet .

“Its just not like here to disappear with no reason . “
Said Blixen .

A few other reindeer added a word or two .

Ron said ,
“A word in Santa’s ear might not go astray .“

Rex replied ,

“You’re right there all right Ron .Its not like her to just get upo and go like that without a word said .. It doesn’t make sense .“

Prancer nodded and said ,

“I didn’t want to say anything before but during the spring I noticed Ruby often taking little day trips while we where at the races . She usually was back before dark . I thought she just needed some time out and never spoke . I guess I should have said something before now .”

Fixen the reindeer said ,
“ It might be nothing , but them again you never know , I’ve heard about a reindeer illness called sun downing ,where they wander off and never ever return “

Tiche the elf tried to calm things down and said ,,
“Lets not panic just yet . It’s not Christmas for another week yet .I’ll go and speak to Santa and see what can be done .“

Immediately Tiche went off to the Toy Factory but was told Santa was too busy to talk to anyone . If it was urgent maybe an appointment could be made .
The elf was a little disappointed that he never got to speak to Santa so because it was an emergency Tiche decided to ring the Warning Bell outside Santa’s house .

No one had ever rung it before as far as Tiche could remember but with less than a week before the sleigh was to be loaded Ruby’s disappearance was an emergency .

Tiche stood under the huge bell and started to tug the chain cord .

The noise of the bell sent shivers through him .
Santa came running from the main office up towards his house .
When he got to the bell stand Santa was breathing hard . After a moment or two he said .

“Tiche , Tell me what ever is the matter . “

“Ruby’s gone missing Santa .”

“What ?”
Santa said .

The stable elf continued to explain the situation to Santa . More and more elves and reindeers were rushing to Santas house to see what the problem
was .

Santa said ,

“Ok everybody its mush too busy for us all to look for Ruby . So you can all get back to your duties . Until I return stay together in groups of five .
Three elves , two fairies and a reindeer . “

Santa went into his house and took his large red suit coat and put on his big black boots and walked off towards the glacier peak that seemed to glimmer under the starlight .

In and around the snowy paths he walked calling Ruby . He opened his magic telescope and pointed it in different directions .
Then he saw footprints in the snow . They looked fresh enough to follow .

He used a special torch light that showed up footprints in snow and sure enough they were reindeers tracks .

It was dark and cold on the snowy wilderness and Santa tried to keep himself amused by singing little tunes and talking to some unknown companion .
“Oh for a little peace on earth . “
He said .

The big man walked through the night and another day and another .
It was close now to Christmas Eve and Santa finally caught a glimpse of Ruby .
The reindeer was climbing up the glacier peak .

“Ready or not hear I come “
he whispered ,

As hen tried to climb up the glacier , he slipped now and then on the way .
His boot came off and as he tried to lace it up , it fell from his hand and skidded all the way down to the3 bottom of the glacier .

“Oh well . That’s a shame .

He said as he called Ruby by name .

Santa caught sight of her as she turned around and then off he went ,
Running after that reindeer on a ground so white and cold .
He had one boot and one boot off and the trail of Rubys tracks were fresh and easy to follow . He followed all through the night until the light of the morning star came and hovered above his missing reindeer .
He called her by name again and she pretended not to hear .
Again he made his way to her along the snowy path .
He walked close to the edge of a glacier peak as she played hide and seek
With him , jumping from ledge to ledge in the hope he would turn back and give up chasing her . But Santa kept on relentlessly after her .

Eventually Santa came to a dug out snow cave , where he saw Ruby go inside . He made his way there and quietly stood and looked in .
Oh what a beautiful sight he saw .

What a surprise he for there before his very eyes was Ruby’s little fawn
She was so unique and as he tried to speak he saw the fawn had a nose that shone .

Santa knew then , why Ruby had hidden her baby away .
She was afraid that other would make fun of her fawn .
Santa smiled and patted the fawn on the head .
The he said ,
“Oh my reindeer friend with the nose so bright . For goodness sake ,
look at you .”

Ruby stood there so proud and said ,

“His name is Rudolf .“

Santa then replied ,
“Oh ,m it is a joy I‘ve found today . A beautifully bred reindeer called Rudolf and I would be so honoured if you guide the way , tonight on my sleigh , because it is Christmas Eve and we must be on our way .”

In that moment , there something so rare occurred . The special gift of flight and great strength was given to Ruby and Rudolf .
Suddenly Rudolf’s nose shone so bright and Santa climbed on to Ruby’s back and as they left the cave the reindeers leapt into the starry sky and made their way back to Santa house .
.
There was no time to spare as all the toys were packed and the sleigh was ready to go . How proud Ruby was that Christmas Eve night as Rudolf took his place beside her at the front of the sleigh .

The sleigh made its way across the earth that night and in the morning light a glow of happiness shone from every child’s face .

Rudolf was chosen to be one of the few in Santa’s keep and from that day on all other reindeers knew how much he was loved .

The End

By Paul McCann