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Christmas Run

By Puma

Here I sat, Christmas Eve, drinking coffee in a truck stop in Northern Nevada. I was in a bit of a dilemma as I had a hot load to deliver in San Francisco by midnight and all the roads were closed from Lovelock on. Beside that, after reworking my logs, I had ran out of hours back at the Utah- Nevada border. Logs are supposed to be a driver's friend but more often than not, his biggest enemy. In the course of a day, a driver could only log just so many hours driving.

I was racking my brain trying to justify being three quarters of the way across the state, and hoping somehow they would reopen the roads. I was so involved with my logs I barely noticed when somebody saddled up on the stool next to me. Without looking, I gathered up my things from where I had spread out over two spots and mumbled a weak apology. The man merely waved at the bar tender who came down to take his order.

"I'll have a hot chocolate, please. And bring one for my whiskered friend here. I don't think his nerves can handle much more caffeine."

"Sure thing old timer, you want anything in it? Rum? Peppermint Schnapps?" the bartender asked.

"No, no, no," he snickered, "I still have a long way to go tonight."

"How about you, Cat?" the bar keep queried me, "And don't say coffee, you've already slammed down two pots of my strongest. The old guy is right, any more and you're going to pop a mainspring."

I looked wide eyed quickly at the gentleman setting next to me then to Daryl before answering, "Oh, why not, it's not like I'm going anywhere tonight anyway. Coco please, just Coco."

"Commin' right up gents," the bar tender said as he walked away to get our drinks.

I turned my attention back to the gentleman setting next to me and looked him over more carefully. He was of average height but a bit more than average weight. He had a full white beard that matched the hair that stuck out from under the black Bowler hat. He had on a floor length overcoat of the same color as his boots. This gentleman was much too 'well to do' to be a driver. But even though he was way out of place there was a faint familiarity about him.

"Thank you for the drink my friend, but maybe you should reconsider going any further. Montgomery pass is closed, there is a wreck on 95 North, and they closed I-80 West from Lovelock to Sacramento about an hour ago. That leaves Winnemucca and here, personally this is a better choice because you're already here." I said, still searching my memory. "Have we ever met? I mean, you seem familiar to me...."

"If I traveled by a more conventional means I would consider those options, but weather and road conditions are of no concern to me. " He said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye." And yes, we have met, In a small cave a long time ago, Puma Concolor."

My jaw dropped and my eyes opened even wider."Nic?"

"Your drinks, gents. Don't drink 'em to fast, they're hot." The bar keep said, setting the cups down on the counter and collecting payment from Nic.

"Nic, it's been 80 years!" I whispered so as not to be overhead. "You don't look a day older than when we last met!"

"Thank you, Puma. I know you have a deity keeping you fit and trim. We elves' have a similar magic. Besides, who else would you have to be Santa Claus?" He chuckled.

"So very true, but what brings you to a truck stop in the middle of nowhere Nevada? Shouldn't you be delivering presents?"

"Well the reason I'm here is you. That load you have on your truck is mine."

"What? No way; the manifest says it's dry goods going to some company on Nicolas St.?"

"It's not a street, it's a name, Saint Nicolas, that's Me." he said with a bit of a silly grin.

"Ok, I stand corrected."I said, feeling more than a bit foolish."So,,,, you're shipping by common carrier now days?"

"Yes, well, I have the loads distributed to key locations around the world, that way I don't have to carry so much on board. With the rising population it's necessary. After all, my sleigh is only so big and 8 reindeer is not all that much horsepower" He snickered.

"Ok,I see your logic. That's why the dispatcher labeled it a 'Hot Load'. Too bad he didn't have the foresight to look at the weather reports"

"Yes, but I do have the flexibility of flying reindeer, so I came to you. That brings me down to another small issue. Grab your jacket. I need to ask of you a favor and it would be best to show you than try to explain here." He said standing and finishing his hot chocolate.

I donned my old jacket, and gathered up my belongings before following Nic out the doors leading out to the parking lot. A wind had picked up and blowing snow now obscured my truck from sight. As we got closer to my truck it was as if we walked into a calm. It must have been elfin magic for there set a sleigh backed up to my open trailer. A dozen or so elves were busy off loading my cargo directly into it.

"Not too much there lads, we've got to keep it light." Nick shouted as we approached.

"So what is this favor you need Nic?" my feline curiosity getting the better of me as I looked on. "And why are you leaving part of the load on the truck?"

"We had a little mishap coming over Montana. One of my deer clipped a high tension power line, and messed up a hoof. "He said and gave a low whistle as I looked at his team.

Indeed, there were only seven Reindeer hitched up, the eighth turned looking our direction before turning and hobbling painfully in our direction. "Puma, meet Vixen." Nic said, "I need to pull her from the team as she is slowing us down and I'm afraid she is going to hurt herself farther if she keeps pushing herself."

"Oh No! Is she going to be all right, I hope? You did say she, right?" I said, eying the magnificent antlers.

"Yes, female Reindeer have antlers too." Nic said following my gaze. I could have sworn I saw the Reindeer roll her eyes at my comment. "She'll be fine once we get her back up North. Ms Claus will have her fixed up in no time. But I need her to ride with you tonight."

"I'm glad she will be ok. She is so beautiful, and calm around big cats. Most deer would freak in the presence of something that would normally be eating them." I noted

"Don't even think it, Fuzz Butt! Even stove up, I can still kick your ass!" This time the voice came from the Reindeer who was now glaring at me and showing her teeth in a low growl.

Startled, I jumped back behind Nic as I was not sure if she was going to charge or what.

"Vixen! Now be nice. It's OK Puma, she's just a bit cranky, that's all."

"I didn't... I wasn't expecting... Aaaaaa.... Sorry, My Lady?" I stammered.

"Yea, you'd be cranky too if you drop kicked a steel tower at 80 miles an hour." Vixen mumbled looking away.

One of the elves approached us and announced, "All set Mr. C. You can take off any time. "

"Before you close up the trailer, I'll need a bit of help loading Lady Vixen and making her comfortable." I asked of the Elf.

He looked at me like I had gone completely nuts, "Her? In there? Good luck with that bub." With that he turned and whistled, making the universal 'wrap it up' motion with his hand.

It was now the Reindeer's turn to intercede her displeasure with the prospect of riding in the trailer.

"Like Hell! There's no way you or anybody else is going to stuff me in some cold metal box and bounce me around for the rest of the night! I'll be riding in the cab, Thank You!"

"But, Ms. Vixen, you, you're,,,,,, Aaaaaa ,,,,,, the wrong shape to set in the seat, let alone get through the door. "

"Think so? Watch and learn, oh ye of little brain." She said as she sat down with a smirk.

As I watched, her form began to meld into that of an anthro deer. Her fore legs became arms and her hooves into hands although her fingernails were much thicker. As she stood, her legs were still unguligraded but the biggest change was to her body. Her hips were wide and abs flat but soft looking. I guess most of her body mass had been redistributed to her chest as she was now well endowed with no sag one would expect from breasts so large. Although she wore no cloths nothing showed through her winter coat of fur.

"So, what you think? I bet I'll fit now!" she said with her hands on her hips and the smirk still in place.

"Better, but we still have an issue. That rack will still never fit through the door of my cab."

"Chauvinist Pig!" She spat, now bearing her teeth and growling at me again.

Nic, now looking quite thoughtful and rubbing his chin said," I do think he is quite right, my dear. I'm afraid they are just going to have to go. Now be a good girl and just hold still and this won't hurt a bit..."

"_ SANTA!!! _" she exclaimed with a look of shock and horror, covering her chest with both arms as Nic approached her hands out stretched.

Before she had a chance to turn and hobble away, Nic had her not by the chest but the antlers and with a small twist removed them with nary as much as a pop. Her shocked look quickly changed to that of hurt as she now rubbed the bare spots where her antlers were attached just moments before.

"There there now, no need to look like that. You were just going to shed them next month anyway. You'll have a brand new set by next fall." Nic said as he turned and exchanged his black hat and coat for the more traditional red furred hat and coat. The elf bearing them seemed to have just appeared from nowhere to stand behind us. Nic passed the antlers to the elf who looked at the reindeer and did a soft wolf's whistle and winked at her.

"Pervert!" she spat at him .

"You two had better load up if you're going to follow me." Nic said as he began ushering us to the cab.

Once there, I opened the passenger side door and held it for Vixen as she started to climb up the steps. A conventional Freightliner is hard enough for a person in good stature, but for Vixen, with her hurt ankle it was going to take a monumental effort. Her first step up was on her good leg but the next was her hurt one which started to fail about half way up. She had missed a critical hand hold and was now starting to fall backwards from the truck. Instinctively I reached up and took her weight by placing a paw on her back side just under her tail, steadying her.

"Watch the paws buddy. Just because I don't have any pants on doesn't give you permission to grope my ass. Last time I checked, this bucket wasn't United and you're not the TSA." She growled down at me.

"And you would have rather fallen on said ass than have me catch you?" I answered back, growing a bit irritated with her attitude. With a huff, she yanked herself up into the seat and slammed the door behind herself.

"So what bug was foolish enough to crawl into her anyway? I haven't seen anyone with that bad an attitude since I helped out a little vampire several decades ago." I asked turning back to Nic.

"I'm sorry puma. I know she is a bit high strung and sharp tongued, but having to miss out on Christmas, you really can't blame her for being a bit grumpy. If there was any other way, I would simply have the elves take her home. But I need her in your truck tonight if you're going to follow me. Just try to be patient. You only have to get to Hawaii and then I can have the lads take her home from there."

"Hawaii? Nic, if I push hard and fast, even with the roads open it would still take six hours to drive to San Francisco. But that is where the road stops. This is a truck, not a boat."

"Oh you're not going to drive, my boy. You are going to fly! I'll need to refresh my load twice as many times as I can only haul half as much. Vixen will fill you all in on the details but right now we need to go. Time is wasting and we need to hurry." Nic said as he turned and hurried off towards his sleigh leaving me bewildered.

"Follow along behind him? Fly!?! This should be interesting. I just hope that deer is a bit more cooperative or this is going to end in a real disaster." I mumbled.

As I trotted off around the nose of my idling truck, there was a candy cane colored van pulling out with all the Elves on board. They stopped as the passenger side window rolled down. The elf inside leaned out and held out his hands.

"Mr C said you was havin' trouble with those funny books. Let me have em and I'll run them past the book keeper. He'll fix em right up. Oh here," He said as I handed over the useless books. He handed me back two extra large thermoses and a bottle of aspirin. "If you're going to be stuck hauling the Gorgon around tonight you're going to need these. I hope Mr.C is paying you real well because you are going to earn every penny of it tonight. Good Luck. See you at the end of the line. Just remember, you can't kill her, no matter how bad you may want to. " He snickered as they pulled away.

That last statement worried me, but then again, I was on another mission and like Nic was saying, time was wasting.

I sung up into the driver's seat, removing my jacket and stowing it in the sleeper along with the other previsions. I started going over the gages, turning on my lights, and disengaging the parking breaks.

"So Miss Vixen, how do we get through all the snow?" I asked her.

"We are not going through any snow, we're going over. " She said with a huff.

"Over? As in fly, right?"

"Well Duh! You see the back of that sleigh? Follow it!"

Looking out the windshield, I could see Santa just lifting off and gaining altitude over the freeway.

"Follow? But he's flying! As you pointed out just a bit ago, this rig is seriously lacking in the wing department."

"Don't worry about the lift part, that's my job. After all, I am a flying reindeer, you just drive this thing."

"But how am I supposed to drive? This rig was designed to go _ down _the road, not _ up _ in the air!"

"You turn left to go left and right to go right. Step on the gas to go up and the brake to go down. So simple even a truck driver can do it. Now, Go, Go, Go, Go!" she said, waving her hands as if I needed directions as to which way to go.

With a sigh, I slipped the tyranny into gear and started to ease forward gaining speed. I pointed the nose of the truck in the direction Nic had taken off and grabbed another gear nearing the ditch. I had a sinking feeling this was going to end abruptly in a mass of twisted metal when we ran out of road so I just squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the impact. Needless to say it never happened.

I opened my eyes to see Vixen looking at me in disgust.

"You can look now... We're airborne, and Santa went that way. You think we should follow or is it faster to get to San Francisco through Las Vegas? "

"But How??? What's holding us up?

"Magic, dumb ass. Gravity pushes down, my magic pushes up, and the wheels go round and round. Now, are you going to steer this pile of crap or am I going to have to do that part too?"

I looked over at Vixen with a heated glair as I tentatively eased the truck into a gentle right hand turn. It banked over slightly and did indeed turn as if we were on dry pavement. Instinctively, I reached over and grabbed another gear and accelerated. The higher the gear the more we gained altitude, easily clearing the Humboldt mountain range and pointing towards Lake Tahoe nestled in the Sierra Nevada range.

We hadn't been up for more than 20 minutes or so when the radio crackled to life. Strange as I hadn't remembered turning it on, nor was it on any frequency I recognized. "Hay you two, How's things going back there?" the male voice crackled.

Vixen snatched the mic up quickly and spoke into it as if she was an old hand.

" We're doing ok Blitz. The dip stick is starting to catch on although he still drives like grandma," she said with a definite smirk in her tone.

"Be nice to him Vix. After all, he is helping us out here. Can I talk to him?"

"Ya, like we need any help! We could have made it just fine without having to recruit rookies." She said in a huff.

"Well, if a certain someone hadn't been arguing with Donner and paying attention.... Now be a good girl and hand the mic over. Don't make me pull rank on you."

With a huff she tossed the mice over to me saying, "He wants to talk to you..."

"Puma here, go ahead Blitz." I answered into the mic.

"How's it going Puma?"

"Not bad I think I could get used to this flying thing."

"It is kind of addicting, isn't it. We have to talk about it more over a beer some tine. So is Vixs giving you much grief?"

"Nothing I can't ignore."

"Well, hang in there. Big C wants you to hold your altitude and heading and just keep going. We'll be zigzagging around under you but we'll catch back up. Air defense have all been informed so no one is going to mistake you for an incoming missile. You might get a fly by or two when we fly over Fallon Naval Air Base. Just smile and wave. Ok?"

"Air Base!?! Nobody had better fire on us!"

"Trust us Puma. We have contacts everywhere." The voice snickered, "Any officer with kids would never dare shoot down Santa Claus!"

"I'll be holding you to that Blitz." I said laughing, even though I was more than a bit worried.

"Ok Puma, just stay on this frequency. It's secured so no need for call signs. Just yell for me or Big C if you need anything. Blitz Out."

"Ok Blitz, 73's. Puma clear."

I handed Vixen the mic just in case she wanted to say something to the rest of the team but all she did was look daggers through me.

We were approaching the California- Nevada border, it seemed like normal time but my watch hadn't advanced more than a few minutes. I chalked it up to more magic. My passenger had done little more than sulk and mumble to herself while rubbing her sore ankle since her last conversation with Blitz. I decided to try and strike up a conversation with her.

"So, what's your plans after this night is over?"

"Why, you looking for a date?"

"Well,,,no. I was just wondering what Reindeer do for the other 364 days of the year. "

"We end it with a great big party that lasts till New Years. Not like you're invited or anything."

"I'm sorry you feel that way. I still hope you have fun."

"Not likely. Not with a fucked up ankle anyway. "

"Well at least you'll be there with your friends. That has to count for something."

"Yea, big frigging deal."

"It sounds like you may have some issues in that department."

"What department?" she said with a huff.

"Friendship."

"What do you know about friendship? You're just a stupid truck driver for peats sake."

"Now that was just a bit uncalled for! I have been nothing but cordial to you and you have been on the war path ever since we started this little adventure." I said finally losing my patience. "What's bugging you anyway?"

"What? Do you think you can sweet talk me into a blow job or something? Your only chance of getting any tonight is with your own paw!"

"Look lady! Sex with you was the farthest thing from my mind. It just so happens I have a little Coyote who is twice the female you will ever be! It wouldn't hurt you one little bit to dump the 40 pound chip off your shoulder because like it or not you're stuck with me and it will be a damn site easier on both of us if you start being a little more civil!"

"Figures! The only tail you can get is attached to a flea bitten cur! Probably has mange too! Do us both a favor, ass wipe, just leave me alone!"

"That's it!" I said as I scooped up the mic. "Hey Blitz. You got a copy? Puma here."

"Yea, go ahead Puma, what can I do for ya?" The voice crackled back.

"Where is the stop points?"

"Santa Rosa, LA, then San Diego. We'll take the last of that load, do a trailer swap and you guys can take off to the Islands. The rest of the loads are distributed close enough together we can handle the last bit of the continent just fine. Why you askin?"

"We're having a little issue back here. I'm going to put down and take care of it." I said gearing down and starting my decent.

"I'm impressed. You lasted longer than I thought. You want us to swing around and help you out?"

"Negative. You guys keep going. This isn't going to take long at all." I said picking out a lonely stretch of road and lining up with it, dropping another gear.

"You sure? We can always circle back and put another one of us with you. It will be a little harder but all we need to do is get you to Hawaii and we're home free. "

"No. I can handle it. We just need to have a little discussion and get a few things straight between us. That's all."

"Ok Puma, will do. Just remember, you have to keep her on board until you get to Hawaii. Once there, I don't care if you kick her into Kilauea. She has been nothing more than a pain in the back side for the last two years. Quite frankly, Rudolph will make an excellent replacement. After this year I don't think we'll have much trouble convincing Mr. C it needs to happen." I could hear Vixen gasp at the last comment.

"Ok Blitz. I'll take that under consideration. See you in Santa Rosa. Puma Out." I said as the wheels touched the ground and rolled to a stop. Once I had the parking breaks applied I shut down the motor and snatched the keys out of the ignition. Jumping out of the cab and walking around to the passenger side, I had not once even looked and the reindeer sitting on the passenger seat much less spoken to her. I inserted the key into the lock knowing full well she had locked the door to prevent my reaching her. I jerked the door open and looked up at her with blazing eyes.

"Get out here!" I growled up at her.

As she looked down at me she still had a look of defiance on her face but also a look of apprehension. "No!" she said."You heard Santa, you need me.."

"Right now I couldn't care less. I said get out here,,,, NOW!" I hissed menacingly.

She shook her head and tried to duck back over to the driver's side of the sleeper. I jumped up quickly and grabbed her by the fluffy tail yanking her back and out of the truck. I made sure she didn't land hard but I did let her fall flat on her tail. While standing over her with my claws fully extended and my ears flattened against my skull, I hissed loudly exposing my sharp canines. She cringed back in instinctive and primal terror.

"I've been the Master of her Majesty's Royal Guard. I have been servant to lowly peasants. I have been shot and stabbed, shouted at and disgraced for more than three lifetimes. That I can take! But to have somebody disrespect The Goddess Coyote? I've seen her restore life with nothing more than a touch. I've cringed in a corner as she stood between Humanity and the Devil himself just to have some spoilt brat like you call her a _ mangy cur! _ From hence I came, we have a code of honor against raising a hand to a lady. But from where I stand, you fall terribly short in that respect." I said before reaching down and pulling her back to her feet by an arm.

Once she was standing, I quickly drug her hobbling over to the truck where I sat on the bottom step and yanked her over my knee before she had a chance to regain her balance.

"Be thankful it is I who administers this punishment and not Coyote fore she would gladly skin you alive and roll your twitching caucus in salt!" I said, as I grabbed her fluffy tail out of the way and brought my paw slamming down hard across her exposed butt.

I paddled her until my paw ached but I knew I had hurt her more, both physically and morally as she wailed like a young calf, tears streaming down her cheeks. I pushed her unceremoniously from my lap to once again sprawl on the ground.

Standing, I looked at her briefly and growled, "Get back in the truck, we have to go."

She slowly picked herself up off the ground and tentativelywalked back to the open passenger door where she stood as if waiting for me to help her in or at least say something. I hissed once more sending her scrambling up into the passenger seat. Her look of hurt and terror said all I needed to know as I closed the door. I felt bad for having to resort to such a juvenile punishment but if the deer was to learn the lesson of respect, she first had to know the consequences of her actions. It was clear she was running out of allies and her livelihood as one of Santa's Reindeer was in dire jeopardy.

I drew a deep breath, gathering all my resolve before I climbed back in the driver's seat. If my actions tonight failed to break her attitude, I was truly worried for her future well being. I restarted my rig and was waiting for the air pressure to build so I could release the trucks parking breaks and start back on our journey.

"I want you to listen to me and not say a word. You're out of friends and the only thing that keeps you doing what you do is that old elf's love for you. The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference, and that's what I see all around you. You are killing that love with your bad attitude. I want you to sit there and think about it. I don't want to hear anything out of you until you're ready to apologize for what your said about Coyote. Then, and only then, I'll try and help you. You had better take my offer because it's probably the last chance you'll ever get. And trust me, with that attitude, the last stop on your journey will either be road kill or as someone's winter meat. " I growled.

Her only response was another gulp.

We had just made our last stop and trailer swap in San Diego and had parted ways with Nic and the team as he continued south through Mexico. For us, we turned South East towards the Hawaiian Island. Due to the population there I was now pulling doubles, (two trailers). The only question asked was Blitz wanting to know If I was still ok to make the trip out. No one asked me about Vixen. After checking my fuel which seemed to be topping itself off magically, I assured him I was as we took off.

We had been over open water for just a little over an hour with nary a word out of the little reindeer other than a few sobs every once in a while.

"Sorry...." I could barely hear her say.

"Pardon?"

"I'm sorry, Puma," she said again, just a little above a whisper.

"Sorry for???" I prompted.

"Sorry for what I said about you and your Coyote."

"Like I said, I can take it, but what I need to know is why you would attack someone you don't even know?"

"Because I knew it would hurt you. I know you're just trying to help and all but right now I don't have much use for men in general."

"Oh? And why is that you suppose?"

"Because none of them will have anything to do with me."

"It wouldn't have anything to do with your attitude by chance."

"I know I'm a bitch," She sniffled, "but you would think someone would care."

"Someone meaning one of the male reindeer?"

"Male or female. When it comes to being lonely, I'm not picky... " As I glanced over at her, I could tell she was deeply embarrassed by the redness of her ears. All she would do is give me a sideways glance.

"So why single out just men then?"

After a long pause she finely answered me, "Donner hurt me, so did Comet, all of them did so fuck em. Fuck em all. I don't need any of them. "she sniffled unconvincingly.

"They hit you?"

"....no...." And after a pause she continued, "Donner said Cupid was a better lay than me!" She finely broke down and wailed.

After several minutes of crying her eyes out she finely turned to face me, "Puma, I'm so sorry I said what I said about your coyote. I'm scared. Scared no one will want me anymore. What will I do Puma? If Santa doesn't want me around anymore, who will take care of me, love me?"She said between sobs. " I don't know how to apologize for being stupid. What do I do Puma, what do I do?"

I looked over at Vixen, her large brown eyes still damp, threatening to burst forth in another flood of tears. I could feel my heart melting as I smiled at her," You are making an excellent start, now you need to convince Coyote of your sincerity."

"But how? How do I apologize if she's not here?"

"You might try asking." came a new voice from the sleeper. I knew she was back there as I had picked up her scent several minutes earlier.

As the bunk light came on to reveal my beautiful desert goddess, I felt the truck drop as Vixen jumped and screamed in fright. As I fought to regain control, I knew it was useless without Vixen's magic. I grabbed the wheel as I felt our decent slowing but it was not Vixen as she was still in the throes of panic. I glanced over my shoulder to see Coyote with her paws out stretched and eyes closed as if supporting something unseen. I had seen her do this before long ago and I knew it was her power that was saving us.

With her eyes still closed and her insatiable smile on her lips she addresses the little Reindeer, "Get a grip girl. I can save your butts but you're much better at this levitation thing than I am. That is unless you really want to take a bath in the middle of the Pacific Ocean."

"Ah Aaaaa, No, no. Ok.... I can do this... "Vixen said as she was patting chest to regain her breath.

I could feel a gentle shift in forces as Vixen once again took over control of keeping the truck airborne.

"Vixen, I would like to introduce Coyote. This is my desert goddess of whom I owe my life and love."

"Pleased to meet you Vix, I hope you don't mind me calling you Vix, I going to anyway." She laughed as she offered the Reindeer a paw to shake."

"H-Hello. Have y-you been back there all along?"she asked, gently taking the paw in a shake.

"No, and yes. I'm everywhere and nowhere all at the time. Always have been, always will be." Coyote said with a toothy grin. "

Vixen looked at me puzzled. "Coyote is where she wants to be, when she wants to be. You just have to learn to accept it." I said, answering her silent question.

Coyote looked at me with a small giggle," Skinning and rolled in salt, Pumie? And I thought I was sadistic. I'll have to remember that one. And you, Ms Vixen, I accept your apology under one condition. You lose that hateful attitude and apologize to my big kitty here. And mean it, not just for today, but forever."

"Oh, I do, Ms Coyote. I do. I don't really want to act like a bitch. It's just..... you know"

"Oh, I do know. Everything."

"You do?"

"Yep Hun, I do. Your problem is not sex appeal. Goodness knows you have a body that would give a dead man a hard on, but you expect too much out of your relationships. You can't expect everyone to fall all gaga in love with you just because you're willing to let them between your legs." She said.

" But Donner...."

"I know what Donner said, and Prancer and all the rest. You of all people should know not everyone has the same taste in who they take as lovers. And don't judge them by it either. It doesn't matter if someone is straight, gay or Bi. As long as you are good in here they will love you and you them. "Coyote said leaning forward tapping Vixen's chest indicating her heart.

"But...." Vixen started to say.

"Tell ya what, Puma. Put this thing down and we'll creak open those thermoses and have a snort so we can talk about it more." Coyote grinned.

"Will do, my Love." I answered as I eased off the throttle.

"Put down? But we're,,, " She paused as we broke through the cloud cover to the lights of Honolulu "here... How???"

I grinned and pointed to Coyote, "Like I said earlier, she is where she wants to be, when she wants to be."

When Nic caught up to us, the girls had consumed over half the Hot coco and Schnapps and were singing Christmas carols. Or maybe howling Christmas carols would have been a better description. The other Reindeer stared in disbelief at our little party going on and whispered between themselves.

I had picked myself up off the ground to meet Nic's approach and help the ladies to their feet.

"Starting the party a little early?"

"We got here in record time. And the girls wanted to unwind a bit. We got a lot of issues straightened out. I don't see there being any future problems either. I grinned"

The girls had now managed to hobble / stagger up to where we were standing.

"Hi Santa! *hic*"Vixen beamed, "Can Puma and Coyote come to the party tonight? Coyote promised to show me what a Mei age Da... Monrad try...?"

"Ménage à trios." Corrected Coyote.

"Yea. Whatever that is. Can they, Pleasssse!!!"

"Ammmm, yes my dear. You're an adult. You can do anything you want." Nic replied, looking at Coyote with raised eyebrows.

"Hurray! I'm going to go tell the others! This is going to be a great party this year!" Vixen said as she threw her arms around Nic's neck kissing him before staggering away to the rest of the Reindeer.

"Still trying for the naughty list I see, Coyote?"

"Hi Nic. You know me. Always up for a little fun. Besides the biggest problem with Vix is sexual frustration. It'll do her good to have her brains fucked loose for once."Coyote answered now noticeably more sober.

"If you say so, you're much more acquainted with that subject than I will ever be." Hs said with a slight snicker.

"I'm not so sure about that. Need I remind you of your younger days, when you were not quite so 'Saint', Nic?." She grinned back knowingly. I didn't know the old elf could get any rosier, but he did...

"A hum, we don't talk about those days anymore... and particularly around Ms Claus. "He cuffed.

"Now would I ever do something like that?"Coyote grinned even bigger.

"And you Puma. You ok with the trip?" he said still eying Coyote in an un-trusting way.

"Yes, I haven't touched the coco, besides I'll need Vixen to get the truck back stateside. It will be a little hard explaining a truck registered in Idaho being in Hawaii." I grinned sheepishly.

"Mmm didn't think of that. Ok then, I'll be seeing you later today then. I need to run, gifts to deliver you know."

"Mmmm, Nic one more thing..." Coyote walked over to Nic with her typical sexy sway and whispered in his ear and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"Oh! Oh! HO HO HO HO!" He said as he turned back to his sleigh with a pronounced spring in his step.

"What did you tell him?"I asked as Coyote walked back to me and placed her arms around my neck and smiling with a decidedly sexual gleam in her eyes as she looked into mine.

"Oh ,nothing . Just gave him a little Christmas present Coyote style. Let's just say. Ms Clause is going to be very happy this next year... "She beamed, "Now, my Kitty, kiss me so I can wish you a Merry Christmas too...."