Which Neighbors

Which neighbors in the Valley celebrate Christmas?

On a little morning not too far away from home, Sunny stepped out into the light. Not unlike most individuals, she stepped out into another workday. Her blackened coat stood out, yet the white snow blended in with her gray-white belly separated in the middle by a nice white corset like a ray of white light. One of her eyes, a dark brown, shone out like a doe’s eyes. The other, blue, matched the reflecting light off the forest floor which was once only snowflakes.

The sunlight above stood up high to replace the R.O.Y.G.B.I.V twinkle lights that dotted the mountain at night during the winter season. Looking out now, it may as well of not even been near Christmas in this landscape which was always voluptuously snowy. However, nightly, that would change.

As she trotted, she took full advantage of the fresh morning atmosphere; stretching out her entire frame with large, strutting steps over the hills of snow. Maybe choosing a little spot to nap was a bit too far away… Hurriedly, she rushed to where her Russian owners had settled in Alaska. With their Russian heritage, their breed stood out, anthro borzois. As they readied the sleigh to carry timber and other supplies across the now light-stricken landscape, she found Snowberry trotting up to meet her.

“Snowberry? What’re you doing coming up to me like this? Have you gone mad?” as lead mare, Sunny huffed to secure her position at the very top of the hill she was about to descend.

However, Snowberry had already made her way half-way up the hill. The mare, though young, had grown out her full rapunzel tail which Sunny couldn’t help but envy. However, Sunny’s soft disposition would never allow for such a bitter personality, as even Amber Polar sported a rapunzel appearance.

Snowberry’s white mottled coat looked somewhat like snow over a conundrum of reddish-cream fallen leaves. Her white tobiano patches caused her to stand out with a husky-type pattern on her face even though she didn’t possess the real husky coat/gene. A black patch on her muzzle where there was melanin instead of pink stood out as dog-like. Almost as if she were a red husky dipped in white chocolate. Though Sunny possessed the name, it was Snowberry who had some real pretty sunny eyes that glinted yellow-orange especially against the rays of the sunshine bouncing off the snow.

“Hey! I was gonna ask you - - - you wanna come visit the Bartholomew’s with me?” popped the question that was apparently on Snowberry’s mind.

“Oh. Well, I mean… Did you ask anyone else?”

“I was actually wondering if you’d come with TideWalker and I.”

“Pfft. TideWalker is such a loner! What is he thinking going to the Bartholomew’s?”

“Er…” TideWalker entered the scene just behind Sunny, his white face blushing a bit with shyness, “I was just hoping you would come with us. It’s getting a little tiring hanging around home so much when there’s so much space and so many other neighbors in this valley.”

Next to Snowberry’s bright coat, TideWalker’s amber champagne coat almost looked dull in comparison. The gentle transition of TideWalker’s dark points caused a soft look reflected even by his personality. His splash coat was what gave him the resemblance of a husky. His white belly went with his white face. A white face which peered out like a gentle barn owl.

Snowberry bumped in with a simpler explanation, “We’re going to be off-lead today, and we’re supposed to ask one other to come with us - - - we’re curious to see who else on what properties celebrate the Holidays.”

Already beginning to tune her comrades out, her focus set on Aleu, the one true decider down below next to the barn where the timber was being loaded. His shiny, frost coat glinting out to match the landscape even moreso than she. Though plain despite his coat color, with only a white sock, his blue husky eyes shone through his husky coat which was his only other trait than the sock.

The diamond on his forehead stared straight through her. Almost as if he could sense her gaze- and maybe he could- he’d lift his head right up. His echoing whinny signaled his approval.

Casually, Aleu would go about his business afterward as the leader of their little herd. However, when it came to the job, their roles became different. On the sled, it was TideWalker who held the lead as he was most receptive to being very attached to the tall little two-legged anthromorphids. A good-listener, TideWalk took his command’s approval and went with it. Dutifully, he trotted over to explore the Christmas decorated landscape and see who else lived in the valley if there were even other Loshenka.

“But… why do you want me to come with you?” Sunny asked, casually asserting her position in a manner which made her wonder why they’d want her around to ‘scold’ them as much younger members.

“…uh? You’re smart?” Snowberry snorted. “Unfortunately, we gotta make sure we don’t end up as tiger meat!”

Holding in her laughter, Sunny let TideWalker correct her.

“There’s no tigers, you goof! Just… snow leopards. Maybe a cougar. Nothing to worry about! Right, Sunny?”

“Weeelllllll… have you ever heard of the YULE CATS who travel the countryside this Christmas season..?” Sunny trailed, proving that she could add to the sarcasm on their way to this supposed little meet-up.