December 2018 -- 75-word writing challenge -- VICTORY TO MAD ALICE!

[Bob Senior]

ONE STEP AHEAD

'Twas the day of the night before Christmas, Santa is enjoying his morning Irish coffee when Donner charges in.
" We are on strike Boss, here is a list of our demands ! "
" Give in or find another way to deliver all those gifts in one night ."

" I saw this coming, what with fat reindeer laying around, not working out ."
" And Rudolph's drinking is out of control !"

" So I cut a deal with Amazon, drone delivery."

 

[Vince W]

Founder of the Feast

Fire burned red, blue, and green.

“What happened?”

“Quiet old one,” said Wren, colourful smoke reaching upwards.

“What that smell?”

Wren inhaled deeply. It was nearly done. “Worry not old one, you will receive your due.”

“My… due?”

“Yes.”

“Oh no!”

Cutting off a strip of the roasted leg Wren bit deeply into the flesh. Using the red sleeve to wipe his mouth Wren asked, “What do you call this animal?”

 

[chrispenycate]

Raid
​

Meat and leather, sinew, bone,
Cornucopia,
Camel of the tundra.
Patriarch beside his own,
Suckling calves mill under 'er.

Night serenity intent is rent
Weapons groped for, bows are bent
Hooves and antlers face the frost-furred foe.

Pack caribous that carry booze,
Clothing, weapons, tents, domestic use,
Were-transformed to warriors, outer ring protection.
Landsnecht antlers threatening,
'Gainst lupine insurrection.

Pack decamping, casualties
Wolf, deer entrails and human wounds,
They lost combatants, we did also.

 

[subtletylost]

First Christmas In A New Home
​

The lights glittered upon the snow, sparkling like the stars upon the sky, though there were not the same stars she once knew. It was miraculous, standing on this planet so far from Earth, and watching her associates settle in, Christmas lights glittering, and songs being sung while they watched. They were not the reindeer of legend, pulling Santa’s sleigh, but they were close. For a moment, she could almost forget how hungry they were.

 

[Dan Jones]

Roofies

Taptaptap came the noise on the roof.

“Shut your bleedin’ noise!” yelled Ron from his armchair.

“It’s just the rain, dear,” said his wife, Dawn.

Taptaptap.

“Right!” Ron grabbed his blunderbuss and bounded outside, soaking his Ron Maiden T-shirt (he’d coloured in the ‘I’ with biro, the tightarse). “Clear off, or I’ll put you in a pie!”

“It’s the rain, dear!” Dawn called.

“Shaddap, or I’ll put you in a pie!”

And he did!

 

[Parson]

Reindeer and Christmas 2518​

Planet Christmas

Charles looked at the perfect Christmas scene: reindeer, a stunning Christmas tree, and a gourmet feast, all under a full moon. He sighed. “Boring! Christmas is so banal. Why bother?”

-----------------------------------------

Lower Chicago

Chuck huddled with two dozen proles in a storefront church. As together they sang “What Child Is This?” his tears flowed. There was no reindeer, no tree, no feast and no moon. Christmas was beautiful. Chuck sighed. “Thank you, Jesus.”

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Sometimes There’s Magic​

It stood on the snowy roof beneath his garret window. Danny watched all day from his bed.

What else could it be but a flying reindeer?

Through the broken glass the reindeer’s eyes looked deep and kind. Could … could it be there for him, to rescue him from a drab, cold life?

Danny crawled out the window, climbed painfully onto the reindeer’s back.

Then it was whoosh into the air. Who knew what adventures awaited?

 

[scarpelius]

Storm over the New Iron Curtain

They've asked for reindeer. They've remember the last time Santa arrived in his sledge, a snowy day at the mall.

The Political Commissioner said there will be no New Year's Eve "... until we defeat Mad Clown's empire".

The city is blanketed by snow again, heavy tanks replaced the cars on streets, the new space-edge fighters are howling over our heads and Christmas is nowhere to be seen.

Maybe next year my child.

Maybe...

 

[Hugh]

Even in Siberia.....​

Aani’s drumming softened as the embers glowed and the smoke rose. The reindeer spirits drew closer, carrying him up and away through worlds upon worlds as he sought the soul of his patient.

Finally he reached her essence, faint and clouded by dark intrusions. Gently he assisted the reindeer in teasing away the darkness, until it took separate distinct form and could be dissolved in the cauldron of the Great Mother..... it was another Smartphone.

 

[Jondo_]

Beast Glatisant

The Shaggybeast paused on hooves like frosty stumps, silent in the snow. Its frosty, branching horns carried the wisdom of frosts forgotten, skeletal fingers reaching for the sky. The Beast’s ears pricked up: There was some minute sound, and it turned: Golden eyes held the warmth of summer and knowledge of frosts forgotten, and the woodsman trembled as he was beheld.

He dropped his ax and the Shaggybeast leapt, leaving the silent woods behind.

 

[drmatteri]

Rudolph of the Red Nose
​

Nikolas was a good thane.
We Snow Elves remember his glory
And noble reign.
Listen well to our story!

The Krampus and his army of monsters
Cast an evil fog over the land.
Many warriors died as martyrs.
On blood-soaked snow we made our final stand.

Nikolas then mounted Rudolph of the Red Nose,
Banishing the fog with glow so bright.
Nikolas struck with fierce blows
And the Krampus fell under righteous might.

 

[Artoriarius]

The Lost Expedition

Franklin stumbled wearily through the snow. The cold wind bit at him, but he no longer cared.

His wife would expect him in vain. His ships would never escape the ice. And his men had been lost in a blizzard.

Now, he saw nothing but cold, snow, ice, and... flying reindeer?

The shock of the sight took the last of his strength. As he collapsed, he heard the reindeer landing and footsteps approaching. Then, nothing.

 

[nixie]

Someone Always Cares​

I’ve always been on the outside looking in.

I slowly walked away from the village, the noise from the celebrations fading into the background.

The woods would do, I could lay down and sleep never to awaken, no one would miss me.

The cold seeped in, I slowly drifted away, darkness descended time to go.

Warmth chased away the cold, I opened my eyes, a beautiful white reindeer curled round me sharing heat, giving life.

 

[stormcrow]

Natural History

In Northern latitudes, Orion bestrides the skies. It's solstice night; all is calm, all is bright.

'Tis the hour of fabled time-defying Reindeer; thick pelts, splayed hooves and broad antlers. All female; the males having lost theirs back when the rutting ended.

Yearly, the fairest one will tear the heart from a sacrificial human male, staining her muzzle blood-red.

Yearly, Old Nick reworks dark bloodied magic to restore their powers of nocturnal circumnavigational flight.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

I'm a Rangifer Tarandus...Get Me Out of Here!

"Welcome. I'm Dec de Halls with co-host Holly Boughs."

"Thanks Dec. Today's challenge is set by our special guest all the way from the North Pole."

"Hello everyone. This trial involves inclement weather and vehicular guidance without artificial light sources."

"Now, I've noticed the majority of contestants have joined in the games, but one contestant seems excluded. However, I think he'd be ideal for this one."

"So, are you up for the challenge, Rudolph?"

 

[Aun Doorback]

When Shamen flew their herds at night.



Sami smoked his magic pipe,
And drank his potent drink.
Upon the fells of Lapland,
He dressed in robes of mink.

He flew with herds of reindeer,
Underneath the midnight sun.
Singing ancient songs of charity,
To his favourite red nosed one.

Hollowed haired and prancing hoof,
Danced above the grazing land.
With eyes that changed to winter blue,
From yellow summer sand.


'It's Christmas!' He cried with mirth,
'Bless all people upon the Earth!'

 

[Peter V]

Beware of Geeks Bearing Gifts

“A huge hollow reindeer?” Claire looks up from the table she is decorating.

“Yeah, label says Happy Christmas from the Science Club.” Brad scratches his head, puzzled.

“The idiots still can’t come to the party. Just check they aren’t inside.”

“A Trojan reindeer?” Brad laughs. “Don’t worry, its empty but it will make a great centrepiece.”

***

“Friends, they’ve taken the teleport receiver inside.” Henry grins at the assembled club.

“We shall go to the ball!”

 

[Scookey]

Reindeer in Time

“They're coming.”
“I can't look.”
“When I uncuff you, run to your turbo trike. Get to the energy.”
“Why save me?”
The reindeer looked at his prisoner.
“We're only told we're enemies. We don't both have to die.”
Released, the android boy ran, then stopped.
“What's your name?”
“Rollo.”
“I'm San.”
“I know.”
“I'll free the calves.”
“I know...”
Recharged, San kept his promise.

 

[Mr Orange]

The Reindeer with the Red Nose


Rudolf the red nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose,
Santa would always say
“F#ckin’ stop that glow!”

The reindeer lived in terror,
Of Santa’s list of names;
They all already wore
The marks of the candy cane.

One final Christmas eve,
Santa came to say,
“Rudolf, I’m really sorry alright,
“Please, put down the knife.”

All the reindeer love him,
Now they’re truly free.
Rudolf killed a tyrant,
But he’ll go down in history.

 

[LittleStar]

Why Change With The Seasons?

“I don’t care. Santa’s wrong!” Dancer snapped. “Why teach kindness and love for only one day?”

“It’s always been. Since Old Nik, or Jula herself.”

“It’s about time that changes then, Ru.”

“How?”

Her breath caught. “Not you too, Dasher.”

“We can’t fly without winter ice.”

“Then we walk... miss next Eve—”

“He’d have us skinned.” Comet turned her head.

Dancer was losing them. “Peace and joy, year round. That’s bigger than any of us.”