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"Are you ready?" asked Oddclaw.

"Y-yes," said James, "I am. Hhhhhh...a-are you certain that this is alright?"

"I am, as long as you want to. Moonclaw said it was fine too."

"Alright...but...w-would it be alright if you...spoke in your original language?"

"You want me to?" asked Oddie cocking his head.

"I-if that is alright...I...I find it very...handsome."

[i]"Hhhmhmhmhm...alright."[/i]

The raptor returned to his native tongue as James clicked on his translation collar with a deep sigh to ease himself. The growling voice of Oddclaw trembled through the air as the lemming blushed when he felt his claws slip round his waist. The forest around them was full of strange noises in the night, haunting beasts that would whoop and chitter to each other's nests, but James blinkered his senses to focus on the raptor now before him. Not another soul was around to disturb them in the deep dark as they stared into each other's eyes of purest green.

[i]"What would you like to do first?"[/i]

"I-i-i...was, h-hoping you would lead."

[i]"Well, how much do you know about mating?"[/i]

"I-i...I know that..." the lemming blushed a neon pink, "th-there is oral...and, the vaginal but we cannot do that."

[i]"Well, males have a vent too."[/i]

"Wh-what do you-EEEP!" James shivered upright when he felt the raptor's hands slip down to his rump. "H-h-h-hoh...w-what?! A-a-are you...you can...i-i-is that something p-people do, up the...r-rectum!?"

[i]"Yes, you did not know?"[/i] asked Odd smirking down at him.

"N-no...I...I never knew you could...h-how is that possible is that not where-"

[i]"It is. But let us play with our snouts first just so you feel good."[/i]

"Um...alright then, you lead, I-i am terribly sorry about not knowing any of thi-"

[i]"Shhhhh."[/i] He pressed a clawtip to the lemming's lips. [i]"Calm yourself. We are friends James. We are just having fun, it is fine."[/i]

"Yes...y-yes it...it is fine, you are right. I trust you...I most certainly trust you."

[i]"Good."[/i]

Bending down to meet his face, Oddclaw pressed his lips against James' own as a soft whimper escaped him. He playfully pushed his tongue into the lemming's mouth causing him to gasp and suckle by instinct as they wrapped their arms round each other, the height difference of a foot between them clear to feel as James was pulled in closer to feel Oddclaw's shaft turning erect against his robe. His hands roved up and down the smooth scaly back as their tongues twisted gently against each other's cheeks, suckling moans as James felt his own erection tenting inside his prussian-blue cloak. Oddclaw moved his hands inside of the robe when he smelt James' arousal growing, gripping the youth's cock and carefully teasing him with a slow gentle stroke.

"M-MMMMPH! Mmmmhhhhh..."

The lemming bucked slightly as he bent his body with a little tremble in his breath, shivering from the lukewarm fingers that caressed his warm length and teased his foreskin with a circling clawtip. He flinched with little sounds in Oddclaw's throat before he pulled his tongue free from his mouth, gasping hotly across each other's faces.

[i]"You taste nice,"[/i] said the raptor with a toothy grin, [i]"I wonder if all of your body tastes as good."[/i]

"U-u-uh...wh-what do you mean, are you-"

[i]"Could you sit up on that stone, please?"[/i]

"Y-yes, yes sir."

James sat up onto a rock as the raptor kneeled before him to lift up his robe and reveal his undergarments for the first time. A shirt and a pair of pants made out of woollen cloth gave him extra warmth as Oddclaw gripped the hem of his pants and pulled them down to expose his sweet pink cock. It was a strange-looking length that resembled a hairless canine sheath, but with a rather thin protrusion like a circumcised penis standing proudly nervous above two rosy testes at a length of 6 inches. It smelt like grass and soap.

[i]"Mmmmmm...you have a nice cock."[/i]

"H-hhhhh...d-do you like it?" gasped James.

[i]"Oh yes. It is very cute, like you."[/i]

The lemming blushed frantically with hands over his snout as he watched Oddie lick his cock. The tongue felt warm with saliva dripping across his skin, heated breaths creeping over his flesh which throbbed terribly with excitement and fear.

"H-hoh, HOH! O-o-o-ohhhhh...O-odd...Oddclaw..."

[i]"Does that feel good?"[/i]

"Y-yes...s-so...warm I-AAAH! Mmmmph!"

He felt the raptor's tongue creep into his sheath, slithering his oral muscle beneath the surface of loose flesh which made him feel a thick suckling sensation that pulled him towards Oddie. James whimpered fightfully as he gripped the stone beneath, fingers raking across the smooth basalt when he started to feel thick pre spill out of its head and drip down the raptor's tongue. He lapped at the glans once it started flowing before he wrapped his lips around and swallowed the whole thing gently.

"A-aaaaAAAAH! Ohh t-TALISMAN'S-MMMMPH O-o-odd p-please!"

[i]"Mmmmmmhhhh..."[/i]

Oddie started to deepthroat him easily to the hilt, pressing his chin against the soft sweet balls whilst his tongue glided carefully up and down James' length. The raptor's nostrils pressing against his belly soothed the lemming as he sighed and leaned back slightly, taking in the full view of Oddclaw pleasuring him as his thoughts went wild.

[i]This...this is happening. I'm actually...I am actually being pleasured by the son of my very saviour. Hoh...ohhh talisman he looks so handsome...is it...is it wrong I desire him like this? He has a family, but he said it was alright, I mean his tribe are not some traditionalist Lemming society I cannot judge them for this of course but...h-how...how strange is this?! Should I really be enjoying this? I wonder if this is how his father would have...no, no I cannot do this.[/i]

"Oddclaw, s-stop, please please stop."

[i]"Mmm?"[/i] He popped the cock from his mouth wet and glistening erect. [i]"Something wrong?"[/i]

"No I...yes, I...I am afraid I have not been truthful with you." He took a deep sigh and clasped his head. "I...I-i am not sure that the reason I wanted to do this was because of you."

[i]"I do not understand."[/i]

"I...hhhhhh...please forgive me for what I am about to say, I know you do not want me to compare you to your father but...I fear that I am having some bizarre desire for you because of who you remind me of."

[i]"Who I remind you of?"[/i] The raptor cocked his head. [i]"...are you saying you have desires for my father?"[/i]

"N-NO, I-um, I...well...th-this is terrible I am so sorry I feel I have wasted your time."

[i]"Noooo no it is fine,"[/i] said Oddie sitting up beside him, [i]"well, it is odd I admit I um...I am not sure what to say."[/i]

"I know...wh-when I was...when I was aroused about you I admit it was of you at first but when I started to think about it in the days leading up to our intimacy I...I could not admit fully to myself that it was of YOU and not your...body."

[i]"So, wait...you desire my body?"[/i]

"I...yes that seems, as shallow as that sounds I-"

[i]"I do not mind!"[/i] said Oddie pulling him close. [i]"That is what I thought you wanted, is that not what friends do?"[/i]

"Wh-what do you mean?" stammered James.

[i]"Having fun because we enjoy each other, and each other's bodies too. You like me yes?"[/i]

"I-i do, of course I do!"

[i]"And you like my body, as you said, so what is stopping you from mating with me?"[/i]

"I...w-well I was...I am sorry I had to be honest with you I felt like I-i was...deceiving you somehow if I was not being honest about my desires being not for you but...I do like you Oddclaw. I truly do."

He placed a hand upon the raptor's shoulder and smiled warmly forgetting his nakedness.

"I think you are a wonderful person, you have a very...h-handsome body and your mouth was...h-hoh, incredible I have never felt such sensation."

[i]"Hmhahahaha...what do you want then?"[/i] The raptor turned more fully towards James. [i]"Tell me what you actually want and we will do it."[/i]

"I...I actually do not know what I want. I want to enjoy your body, but I do not know HOW to enjoy your body, and my mind keeps getting hung up about your f-father because I know that he...let me explain."

James ruffled his hair whilst biting his lip.

"Your father was the most important creature in my tribe's entire progeny. He is why we still exist, if not for him my entire people would have been wiped out completely, can you imagine that?!"

[i]"I...well, to be fair my father is the reason why my tribe ALSO still exist so yes I do understand James."[/i]

"O-of course but, we worship him, we praise and idolise him as a saviour because he was not one of us, because he was a strange beast from another world and-"

[i]"I know."[/i] Oddclaw sighed staring down at his wilting cock. [i]"Did I ever tell you about Eyeclaw?"[/i]

"No...who is Eyeclaw?"

[i]"He was the father of my alpha. He was killed nine cycles before in a great battle against the first starbeasts we fought."[/i]

"O-oh...goodness I am sorry to hear."

[i]"He was very old and he was one of my father's friends. He spoke to him greatly and for cycles he told me how he always believed that I would become as great as my father. He never stopped telling me that, and I do not know why because all it has done is make me think that my entire tribe will never see me as my own self. That is why I have chosen not to be like my father by doing something that he could never do."[/i]

"And what is that?" asked James.

[i]"To have a family."[/i] He looked up to the starlit night. [i]"To see one's children grow and to teach them to hunt, to love, to be good beasts that are kind and strong and will protect their tribe. I know you love my father James, but I cannot share that same love, I do not mind if you love him so for what he has done, but please..."[/i] he turned his head back towards the lemming, [i]"think of me as just a different beast who just happens to be from the same tribe as my father was. If your father did something great to my tribe, I would not consider you to be anyone but yourself, would I not?"[/i]

"N-no I suppose...you wouldn't," muttered James rubbing his arm, "especially not my father but you...you make a good point. I...hahah, I really am being foolish with this obsession, you're just a normal person in the end, you have a family and you live each day with little expectations."

[i]"Exactly!"[/i] The raptor clasped the lemming's face with his hands. [i]"You have nothing to fear about being with me, I am just Oddclaw. When you are with your tribe you can speak about my father all you wish, but here it is just me. Alright?"[/i]

"A-alright...thank you...Oddclaw-g-gosh your hands feel so...lovely on my skin."

[i]"They do?"[/i]

"Y-yes...I...I-i um...can you......can you touch me more, please?"

[i]"Alright."[/i]

He smirked at the young virgin as he caressed his hands across the naked pink flesh. Feeling his warmth creep through his scaled fingers, Oddclaw sighed as he watched James relax with an equal sigh of blissful relief as the knots untwisted in his gut. His claws carefully poked and scraped the most tender parts, feeling the spots where the muscles were most tense before digging into them. Slowly he moved towards the lemming's back and worked his way down the spine making James flinch and twitch in gasps before everything melted into his fingers.

"H-HAAAH! OH! O-o-ohhhhhhnnnnmmmm...hhhhh...ohhhh...I-i-i never knew you were so...so good at massaging."

[i]"I learned to soothe my mother like this,"[/i] said Oddclaw pulling him close with fingers pushing into the shoulder blades, [i]"having odd claws makes you very useful for such things."[/i]

"Your...y-your fingers feel incredibl-HAAAH...ohhhh! H-hohhhh r-right there, g-GUH, aaaah...ohhhh!"

[i]"Yeeeees...just relax...let me take care of you."[/i]

The raptor smooched his cheek, tenderly sliding a hand round his body to grasp the hairless sheath between James' legs and steadily stroke it back to awakening. His own length grew with the scents of arousal he smelt brimming from James once again as it pre'd softly onto the small of the lemming's back, a warming smear that made him shiver at the lewd stickyness.

"Haaaah...h-hoh...ohhhh e-even your hand feels good on my p-penis-"

[i]"It is not the only part of me that feels good, if you like."[/i]

"Wha-aaat do you...mean?"

[i]"What if I let you mate me? This sweet juicy cock...stuffed...up my vent."[/i]

He made the lemming squeal a soft sound when his finger teased around the glans, gently rubbing up and down the slit as a wad of pre formed a string between his claws.

"Y-you...y-you would...really let me do that?"

[i]"I am quite...big, and you are quite smaller than me...until I can prepare you I do not think my cock will fit."[/i]

"N-no, I...I-i suppose not b-but can I...can I taste you first?"

[i]"Mmmmmm..."[/i] he slipped his claws up along James' belly, [i]"do you want to?"[/i]

"I...I feel it is only right after you pleasured me."

[i]"Alright...get down in front of me then."[/i]

Pushing himself off the rock, James knelt into the dirt and stared up at the brimming huge meat of Oddclaw surging before his face. 10 solid inches of a thick brown shaft had his heart racing at the thickness of it that he gently gripped. It felt hot in his hand as the moment he moved closer he was hit by the musk that sweltered from the beast, filling his nostrils with a hot spice that he wasn't sure whether to be excited or distasted by.

"H-hohhh...talisman you are...huge."

[i]"Hmhmhm...thank you, Jeremy said the same too."[/i]

"I-it is no wonder you have children, y-you must be incredibly...fertile."

[i]"The first time I bred my mate, she was pregnant with my children. So yes, I am."[/i]

"W-well, g-good thing I am not a woman!" His eyes widened at the stupidity of his words as Oddie smirked. "Th-that...was terrible to say I am so sorry."

[i]"Why?"[/i] said the raptor smiling wider. [i]"If I had no mate already and you were female I would have bred you full of children."[/i]

"R-REALLY?! Ohhhhh this has taken a very weird turn-"

[i]"But somehow you are more aroused than before, so you must like the idea of me breeding you...deep."[/i]

"N-no! No, I am not, th-that is preposterous I-"

He felt a sudden squirt of his pre trickling down his balls as he tightened his lips. Oddclaw grinned at such a reaction with hands behind his head watching the lemming squirm with such ideas.

"Alright n-never mind just tell me what I have to do, please."

[i]"Hmhmhaha, alright then. Just suck me James. Suck me nice and slow, use your tongue, and be careful with your teeth. You do not have to swallow all of me if you cannot, just do your best."[/i]

"Alright...here goes."

The first breaths he made crept warmly over Oddclaw's sheathed foreskin. He pulled it back to expose the full glans flowering like a mushroom before him of brazen red lust before he gave a tentative lick of pre-cringe to expect a rancid taste. It tasted like nothing, slightly salty but a very neutral taste nonetheless that surprised him. The drooling pre however intrigued him and not displeasing it he licked again. Then another four licks increasing in speed until he built the confidence to slide it into his mouth with a gentle moan at how it slipped across his tongue.

[i]"Mmmmmm...that is good. Just like that James."[/i]

His breath became hotter from the blushing he made, whimpering at the compliment as James swallowed deeper. Oddclaw guided him with a hand on his head, stroking the leafy curls of his hair to soothe him.

[i]"Remember to breathe."[/i]

"Mmmhhhmmm-"

[i]"Swallow slowly and breathe...yeeeees...good boy."[/i]

"Mmmhhh!"

[i]"Ohhh you are good at this-"[/i]

"GHLLLKH!"

[i]"Hahaha, do not swallow ALL of me I am too big! Just swallow half."[/i]

"Mmmmhhh...mmmmmhhhhh..."

With the tender growls of the raptor helping him, the virgin lemming slipped his mouth up and down the thick length, tasting Oddclaw's musk that turned slick in his throat, the tongue flopping clumsily across the hot flesh before he grew confidence enough to correct it. He curled his tongue trying to taste new parts, new creases of the cock, grasping it with one of his hands and stroking it as best he could in front of him. His confidence grew with each bob of his head, getting faster and faster once the shaft slickened even further with his spit that mixed with pre. James started whimpering with a newfound hunger in him, a lustful urge to taste more of the thickening salt that Oddclaw fed him with throbbing spurts of a fertile mix.

[i]"Y-yes....yes...h-hhhhhh...a-aaaaaah...ohhhh James, yes, k-keep...h-haaaaaah...such a good boy you are."[/i]

"H-hmmmmhhhh! MMMMHHH! Mmmmhhhh-"

[i]"Haaaah, haaaah, aaaaaah, a-aaaah-NNNNGH, NNNRRRRAAAAAARGH!"[/i]

He felt his cock shudder and bulge against the lemming's cheeks, grasping his hair and twisting his fingers into the curls as he held him still to watch him swallow the hot jizz. James' eyes grew with a shocking realisation amidst the stinging heat of cum that slathered across his tongue and slithered down into his throat with a bitter taste.

[i]Oh...by the SAVIOUR I just...I am drinking the seed that...that he would have had...what...what should I do?! Is this, is this blasphemy?! ...is it?![/i]

"GLLLLRK, RRRLLLLKHHHH!"

James pulled off a little too early to gag and cough from the building sourness in his tongue, just in time to receive a few squirts of jizz upon his bulbous snout much to Oddclaw's smirking blush.

[i]"S-s-sorry...hhohhhhh...sorry I...ohhh that was wonderful."[/i]

"I-it...it was-KHHHhaaach!"

[i]"Hhhahahaha, too bitter for you?"[/i]

"Y-yes...I...blehhh...is it SUPPOSED to taste like that?"

[i]"Jeremy said so yes, he called it an acquired taste."[/i]

"Well...I-i am not certain if I would acquire it myself. A-are we...done?"

[i]"Not yet."[/i] The raptor rubbed James' head before scraping some of the jizz off to lick himself. [i]"Mmmmm...you still have to fill me."[/i]

"What?" He felt a toeclaw tenderly rub at his still untended cock. "OH, n-no I do not-"

[i]"No no no, I insist. It is not fair you do not fill me. But I want to show you something new."[/i]

Shifting himself he laid onto his back on top of the rock to expose his rear before the lemming. Tail hung down over the side of the stone, his large sickle claws on either side as his winking pucker invited him.

"O-oh...you...y-you really want me to...i-in there?!"

[i]"Yes. Please, let me give you something. I want to give you this."[/i]

"I......well, if...it would be terrible of me to refute such an offering from you. E-even more insulting considering who you are-n-never mind, I will then."

[i]"Just push your cock into my vent. All of it, do not worry it will not hurt me."[/i]

"Are you certain?"

[i]"Jeremy is bigger than you and he has mated me plenty times. I think you will be fine."[/i]

The student burned with a reddened face but he consented, standing up and gripping his cock to gently line it up against the loosening anus. He was nervous, his hand shaking in its struggle to stay on target until he looked at Oddie. His smile encouraged him, to see the large beast before him humbly submit gave him greater confidence to push forwards, pressing his rosy glans against the dark pucker before it sucked him inside.

"A-AAAAAH!"

[i]"Nnnnngh...hhhhhh...ohhhhh yes. Just slide all the way inside...then pull out, and back in. Then do it again."[/i]

"A-a-alright, h-haaah, aaaaaaAAH!"

The heat was incredible, much tighter than Oddclaw's mouth had been and yet somehow drier than he expected. But just as the raptor said he had little problem penetrating deeper beside his own awkward reservations as he pushed all of his length inside, feeling the strange grind of his hairless testes upon the taint, the rim of his sheath kissing the puckered hole when he hilted. The reptile smirked his teeth at him with twitching clawed feet on either side of James as he started to thrust carefully, slowly opening himself up to the pleasures of sex.

"H-haaaaah...a-aaaaah...O-odd...c-claw I...hhhhohhh t-talisman's grace you fe-feel so good!"

[i]"Yes...mmmmhhhh just like that you are very good at this James."[/i]

"A-are you certain, I...h-haaaah, ohhh thi-this is so bizarre b-but it just FEELS incredible!"

His confidence shot up as he bucked harder into the raptor's ass, feeling the warm taint of his scaled rump grinding against his balls as his fingers rubbed across the raptor's ankles and felt his pebbly skin. The sounds of sleeping beasts could be heard faintly above their breaths, the younger virgin trying to force every thought from his mind as he stared upon Oddclaw's eyes whilst occasionally glancing at the swinging shaft that dripped pre all over Oddie's belly. The raptor made a rhythmic clenching of controlled experienced muscles to help elicit James' bliss, tightening and suckling along his member until the pucker smooched against his sheath's lip. The raptor reached out to him, sitting up slightly to grasp the lemming's hand and pull him forwards with a yelp as their bellies kissed to smother the cock between them.

"Wha-AAAH, wh-what are you doing?!"

[i]"I want you to feel close to me, also you can push better like this."[/i]

"R-really?"

[i]"Yes, try it now."[/i]

"H-haaaaah! AAAAAH Y-YES! NNNNGH th-that DOES feel better!"

[i]"H-hhhhh, yes, y-yes, ohhh James keep going, k-keep going!"[/i]

Harder he went into the raptor as he fwapped his naked hips, smacking loudly in the still night breeze of the ancient forest as James whimpered from the burning bruise that built up in his thighs. Gritting his teeth he picked up the pace when he felt his cock trembling to spurt, the shooting spasms rattling through his nerves as he placed his head upon Oddie's naked chest, the raptor stroking his hair and holding him close.

"A-AAAAAH, AAAAH, ODDCLAWWWW! NNNNNA-AAAAAGH!"

[i]"NNNNNNRRRRrrrrggh! Hhhhh...yeeeeesssss..."[/i]

The feeling of another creature's seed pumping inside him was a feeling he missed. Squirting trails of semen coated his anal walls as the two of them sighed deeply in relief whilst the lemming moaned and twitched in his toes, panting against the raptor's pectoral as Oddie kissed his head. Once the stuttering orgasm ceased and his tunnel was smothered in jizz he hugged James tightly with both of his burly arms.

[i]"Mmmmmmmmhhh...that was wonderful."[/i]

"W-was it? Really?" The lemming looked up to him with nervous pupils.

[i]"Of course, I loved it! I like you very much James. Did you like it too?"[/i]

"I...I-i-i...THINK I did. I mean my legs feel they are made of jelly and my privates feel red as the setting sun, but it feels like a good pain, the sort of pain you get after a long mile run, you know that feeling?"

[i]"Oh yes, that is when I know I have hunted well that day."[/i]

"What if you haven't caught anything?" asked James squirming from his awkward position.

[i]"Are you alright?"[/i] The raptor looked down at him. [i]"You seem uncomfortable."[/i]

"I-it is fine, I do not...want to disturb this-a-AAAAH!"

Oddclaw pulled his friend up with both hands on his naked rump until he was fully on top of him.

[i]"Is that better?"[/i]

"Y-yes...thank, you." He blushed at the raptor but kept his hands to himself. "I um...I-i-i...is this alright?"

[i]"What do you mean?"[/i] asked Odd.

"We are not...committing some sort of terrible liaison yes? I mean I know you have a f-family and I-"

[i]"James. We are just friends."[/i] He kissed the lemming's cheek. [i]"This is how I am with all of my friends. And you could have refused anytime you wanted, so what you should be asking is...are YOU alright?"[/i]

"I......I am not sure." He swept a hand through his curling hair. "But...I-i had fun, I loved it, it...I never would have thought I would lose my chastity at this age."

"Hmhmhm...well you have. And if you ever want to mate with me again, you can always ask, but if you do not want to...I will not force you. We are just friends."

"Yes. Just friends."

They cuddled up once more beneath the starlit night, savouring each other's warmth before they would have to sleep.

[u][i]Alistair's Diary[/i][/u]

[i]31st of Lemhar, Year 22 AF[/i]

[i]Today is very exciting, my family are all travelling to the Highlands! Father said it was a good time because a lot of trade was happening, so he offered to bring us all along. It will be a long walk, but I have practiced my camping skills with James to make sure I am ready for night time. I have never been to the Highlands before, I heard it is very cold so mother made us some coats to keep us warm. It will take us two days to reach the Highlands so mother has made us food, then we will stay with the Highland tribe for a day and return home. I cannot wait to tell everyone about it, my family tell me that there is a BIG festival that happens at the end of the year and it will be my first time seeing it![/i]

"Do you write in your diary EVERY day?" asked James walking beside him.

"Naaaah just once a week," said Alistair, "teacher said we have to write in it once a week about things we do."

"Ohhhh yes I remember that, I think I have mine somewhere still."

"I made sure to keep them," said their mother nodding, "you had such astounding penlemship for your age."

"Hah, so I am the writer and little brother is the artist, we should combine our talents to make an illustrated novel."

"YES!" squealed the child with arms up. "That would be AMAZING I can draw and you can write-OOH OOH, you can write about the adventures you had with Oddclaw, I-i'll draw the monsters!"

"YEEES!" The older brother high-fived both his brother's palms. "That is an EXCELLENT idea...actually, Alistair would you mind if I took one of your maps? I would love to give them to Oddclaw's friends as a gift."

"Really?! W-would they wanna see?!"

"Absolutely you're the best cartographer we have they would love it!"

"O-okay! When we get back I'll pick one for ya!"

"Excellent!"

The cold morning air greeted them on the second day of their journey, the rumbling of their father's wagon a constant tremble through their feet as the highlands loomed into view before them. Grand snowy peaks rose above the land sitting atop the mountain range that straddled across the north horizon. The brothers tightened their furry coats around them as the chill started to seep through their bones, the rugged hairs of beasts repelling the cold winds that gasped through their hair and flattened James' curls. Winifred clutched them both against her bosom and pulled them aside to let Harold pass, his wagon full of wares becoming a shield against the wind that scraped through his green beard as he pushed onwards. Slowly the mountains opened up to reveal a path between them, winding back and forth like a serpent made of stone as the gales shrieked through the passage to ripple through their coats, fluttering hard as his family hugged against the back of his cart. The force of the wind was strong enough that it pushed the wagon back as Harold faltered, shuddering as his family pushed back to keep it going.

"NNNNGH, H-HAAAAAH IT'S SO C-COOOLD!" squealed Alistair.

"Just bear your teeth and push!" said James. "Come on, fight the wind!"

"NNNNNGH YOU'RE NOT MY MASTER DEMON WIIIIIND!"

"OH, G-GOODNESS!" cried Winnie shoulderbarging against the cart. "Come on, just push, push harder dears you can do it!"

They managed to breach through the gusty pass, shoving all they could through the wall of wind until the wagon rumbled on gladly into the tundra. Snow started to form around their feet the closer they got to the village of the Highland clan, a hearty homestead of thick-furred huts where smoking wisps rose through the chimneys and lemmings walked back and forth in resplendent tartan cloaks mixing red, yellow, green and blue. The grass was pale like mint ice cream as the family felt their noses turn red against the chill whilst some locals greeted them, all of whom wore tam o'shanter caps.

"EYYYY HAROLD HOWZEH DAEIN'?!"

"Whut ye been up tae ya mad lem cummere!"

Two males hugged him and shook his hand vigorously as he smirked and playfully punched them on the shoulder. One lemming had a hard-grooved scar across his snout as he bent towards the rest of the family.

"Well who's THIS gorgeous maiden ehhhh, issat you Winnie?!"

"Hahahaha, hello Ogden how are you?" she hugged and kissed in a friendly embrace.

"Ahm nae bad yersel'? Lookin' mair beaut every day."

"Ohoho you know that is not true."

"An' who're these laddies eh?!" Ogden ruffled the two sons. "Thought ya only wun bairn 'ere whurr's this un been hidin' eh?!"

"Heehee, hiii mister!" said Alistair politely. "I'm Alistair, what's your name?"

"Awww sae polite, ahm Ogden, friend o' yer da, this yer first time up in thuh Highlands?"

"Yep! It's really cold!"

"Hahaha, ye get used tae it but ah see yer maw's gied ye thuh right idea with them duffels on ye." The greeter turned then towards James with a smirking look. "Still wi' that brolly on ye lad?"

"Indeed," replied James resting his hand upon its hilt, "Are you well sir Ogden?"

"Ehhh nae bad, zat a differen' hilt on yer brolly thurr?"

"You don't remember? Last I came here my handle broke because the wind snapped it off and I found this new handle here!"

"Och aye yer right jeez talisman's grace ahm gettin' auld!" Ogden slapped his head dramatically with a stagger that made Alistair giggle. "So wee laddie howsaboot ah take you's round thuh place whilst yer da gets his junk all set up?"

"NOT!" The father barked with a mocking look. "Junk...better...you door!"

"Hahahaha ahm jus' ridin' ye Harold, so you's want tae see whut we all aboot here?"

"YES please!" squeaked Alistair bouncing on his feet. "I'd love to see the village, mother can I go?!"

"I'll come with you," she said bowing to step alongside him, "James you can help your father with the cart alright?"

"Yes...mother."

He tried to hide his annoyance at being stuck with chores but she said nothing and walked off with her youngest son gleefully roving his eyes all over the settlement. Some of the huts were formed almost entirely from the bones of sea creatures and the furred hides of beasts that roamed the hills, whilst others were made of classic wooden structure. But in the midst of this there were crafting shops that worked on tanning leathers and forming brooches with rich minerals found in the highland caves. James pondered towards one stall where gold and silver glinted freely in the form of various objects.

"Boy." His thoughts were broken by his father's hand on his shoulder. "Take, down."

"Y-yes, sorry father."

"Shine...give, take...buy."

"I know, I know, bartering is the way to glory."

The father and son began to set up their stall using tools from the cart. A banner was placed up to proudly proclaim their commerce was open as Harold pulled out trays with unusual ornaments, clothes and figurines. Some were decorative like pendants of wings from the Egyptian lands or sculptures harkening to the original Lemming aesthetic of semi-Euclidean spheres and columns. Others were more useful such as swimsuits from the beach tribe made from an especially durable rubber, or finely-crafted knives from the shadow tribes with the sharpest folded steel. A wealth of culture spread across his cart as James stood at the side acting somewhat as translator for his father who barely ever spoke except to correct him.

The lemmings that approached never had money since the island operated entirely on a bartering system. Bakers brought bread, butchers brought meat and farmers brought crops in exchange for the clothes and trinkets that were on the cart. One side of the cart had a selection of specially-designed scarves and cloaks entitled "Winnie's Wares" which James personally manned.

"Oh this is a LOVELY cloak," said one customer.

"Thank you," replied James bowing, "my mother made all these clothes so please feel free to browse!"

"Yer mother's a fine tailor, thuh stitchin's braw on this scarf ah been needin' sumthin' fer mah neck ken?"

The highlander carefully slipped her hand across the cloth feeling it between her fingers.

"Alrigh', whit're ya wantin'?"

"Well what have you to offer?" asked James stroking his chin.

"O-oh well I have um, see ahm a stonecutter so um...ah dinnae suppose you'd be interested in me craftin' ya summat?"

"Hmmmm...you know I AM actually looking for something a little more particular, for a friend of mine."

"Ohhh?"

"It would be quite a specific order, I feel only one scarf would not do so if I offer you another item of clothing of your choosing, would you make me something?"

"Sounds good tae me!"

The lady smiled as they shook hands and he told her his idea. Once she accepted he gave her the scarf and her other choice would be delivered upon her side of the bargain being completed. Harold continued trading through his tried and tested means of finger gestures and the odd parsing of three-to-five words that everyone knew by this point. Soon half the cart had been emptied of its stock and replaced with payments in hidden compartments for safekeeping.

"So is this better or worse than usual?" asked James to his father.

"Mmm!" He made a face of approval and gave a thumbs up.

"Glad to hear! So where do we park this for our stay overnight?"

"Bed." Harold pointed to the northeast as he picked up the cart's handles. "Stay, wheel."

"Right."

"Hmph. Fun?"

"Oh well I mean yes," shrugged James walking beside him, "I may not be anywhere as good as you with the saleslemship but...was I alright?"

"Mmhmm! Good, not...book."

"Pardon?"

"Book." He pointed at his son's satchel. "Book, sells...sells...hhhh-"

"What are you implying?"

"Can't. Sell, mind. Sell, thing. Thing."

"I made my choice father," sighed James palming his face, "please do not start this again."

"You, good face. Good, eyes, sell."

"I do not want to be tradeslem, I want to be a scribe and I AM a scribe."

"Words." The father shrugged confused. "Can't sell."

"It is not about selling wares, it is about obtaining information, learning of things beyond our realm that we could improve our lives with."

"Stones. Not here, so school...not?"

"Just because something does not exist on our island does not mean it is untrue, stones or not, there are many things we can learn!"

"Bottom!"

"Why do you insist on berating my profession?!" James stood before his father with crossed arms of insult. "I do not bemoan you about your cart hocking other lemmings' wares instead of actually MAKING something like mother does!"

"Oi." Harold dropped his cart and swung a finger at his son with the sternest look. "Not. Ever...mouth me."

"I am not a child anymore father, I am my own lemming and have my own business as a trader of information. Master Durai and myself have been quite successful in the past year and your criticism means nought."

"Him, soft. Speak poem, not work."

"So because he is a scholar, you don't trust him?" The lad swung his arms out wide with a few looks from the locals. "This is exactly why I became a scribe father, to open minds like yours."

"Soft, poem. You, soft." The father tapped his head warning him. "Head soft, no good."

"My mind is sharper than it has ever been and I daresay it is sharper than yours even."

"Leg arm soft. Poem speak, you soft...can't...live."

"You would never say this stuff to Alistair. You know why."

The father sighed and clenched his hands to try and quell his frustrations before forming his next words.

"Forgive. I, Please. You, too small, to feel-"

"That does not make it better, you KNOW it does not." The son puffed his chest out with hand over his heart. "You are just going to have to accept that one, I will never forgive you, and two, my occupation is my own business and three, you are my father, not my jailer!"

"NOT!" He barked at James with a slap in the air between them. "Learn, that, BUT! But...hhhhh, you, sleep, MY house-"

"HOIIIIIIIIII!"

The voice of Alistair came ringing across the village, the cheerisome youth bouncing on his heels with a pack of fudge tablets in his hand whilst his mother trundled behind him with two tartan cloaks over her shoulder.

"OPEN YER MOUTH!"

"Wha-GLLMPH!" He was assaulted by a tablet shoved into his lips. "M-Mmmmmph! MMMMM!"

"Delicious huh?!"

"Mmmhmm, MMMM!"

"Mister Ogden's friend makes LOTSA fudge, it tastes SO GOOD!"

"Mmmmm it does!" James struggled to swallow it as they shared the bag of candy. "So what did you do whilst I was helping father?"

"We met a lady that makes tartan, she was weaaaaaving it and turning it so it made lotsa squares, it was amazing!"

"And here I thought you would find it boring!"

"Nah-uh, YOU'RE boring readin' books all day!"

"Books are wonderful Alistair," argued James with a mocking sneer, "if I didn't have you already as a brother I would have a book for one instead!"

"Whaaaaat nooooo that's STUPID!" the boy shoved him weakly. "Why wouldya want a book for a brother?!"

"Well it would be quiet for once!"

"G-GETOOOFF!"

The big brother noogie'd Alistair's head with an armlock before they ate up their fudge. Winnie walked over to her husband and looked over the cart behind him.

"Business good today?"

"Mmm," he nodded, "James, gave...good speak, your clothes."

"Really?" She gasped at the sight of her side of the cart almost empty. "Oh my goodness there's barely a scrap of my cloth left! I was worried that things would be rough between you two-"

"Mm-mm," he shook his hand at her dismissive, "good, boy. Speak good, traded, proper. Could cart, self?"

"Awwww..." She looked over at the two boys chewing up the sticky candy. "You have to admit since his travels he has become MUCH more confident. I know you wanted him to-"

"Hmmmm." The father shrugged defeated. "Here now, cart, me. Him, cart, here, next next, him, poem."

"I know Harold, but maybe Alistair will make a fine trader, think about this." She wrapped her arms around him until their bellies bumped. "You can bring him along and he can sell his maps, let James be what he wants to be, why not try it tomorrow?"

"Hmm. Good!"

He clapped his hands on her rump as she squealed before he smooched her lips, much to the disgust of their youngest son.

"Ewwwwwwww!"

"What they are just kissing," said James.

"Kissing is GROSS!"

"Oh and this isn't, BLUHHHH!"

James gaped his mouth open to reveal strings of fudge between his teeth whilst Alistair reeled with cackling cringe.

"HHHHAHAHAHA EWWWW!"

"Kumuh, duu ih wihhh meh, BLUH!"

"BLEHHHHHHHHH!"

Both tried to gross each other out with their gummy mouths until their mother made them stop, heading towards the inn together as Harold parked his cart in the stable and they made their way in. A larger place constructed of wooden logs unlike the rest of the bone-and-skin huts, they served beer and meat at the front with rooms full of beds in the back that were stuffed with featherdown for a good night's sleep. The night became long and rife with merriment as the locals danced in a festive cheer with local celebrations that James' family became part of. One of the reasons they had come to visit the Highland clan was its annual Wicker Lem festival, an oath to the new year in the form of a giant lemming effigy crafted from wood that rose to a good 20 feet.

The town gathered round in excitement with torches in every hand as three Highlanders stood before the wicker statue, two wizened males with long trailing beards and a female with a river of hair down her back of the palest wintry-green.

"BROTHERS AND SISTERS!" proclaimed the old woman. "Today we welcome another year of the Lemmings' sojourn into an age of peace. It has now been twenty-three years since our escape from the eternal darkness, and so we light the Wicker Lem to repel the Great Darkness that our seers have foretold will come to us one day. But we shall stand firm, we will NOT surrender into the good night and we shall never let darkness consume our eyes and our souls ever again. NOW!"

The leader of the three swept her arms wide with flaming torch in one hand illuminating her wrinkled face.

"COMMIT TO US OUR NEW YEAR, AND BRING FORTH YOUR BLESSINGS!"

The lemmings crowded up into a queue as each of the villagers tossed their torch into the wicker lemming. Slowly but surely a fire began to glow within its feet, creeping up its legs and smouldering within the belly.

"Whut are they doing?" asked Alistair.

"The Wicker Lem festival," explained Winifred, "is the Highland celebration for the new year where they set alight a giant wooden statue to fight back against the Great Darkness. Every lemming who has a torch must pray for the good things they want in the new year, like say having a healthy family free from sickness or meeting a new friend that will stay with you for life."

"OOooooh, okay!" He was handed a torch by his father. "Thanks daddy, whut are you gonna wish for?"

"Mm-mm, not tell," he made a zip motion across his lips, "wish not work, not speak, yes think."

"Ohhh okay, don't tell anyone but your heart right?"

"Mmhmm."

It was their turn next as they silently wished for individual things. They tossed their flames into the now-roaring inferno of the wooden beast, crackling snaps and burning gusts of wind that sent flickering embers across the breeze. It was a beautiful sight, almost ethereal as the fire spiralled and twisted above the Wicker Lem's head to become a beacon against the dark airs. They saw clouds starting to part against the strength of their hope and the crowd gasped with awe as the moonlight slanted through to reveal the ocean beyond. The old lemmings smiled happily as the woman proclaimed:

"[i]JOY TO THE NEW YEAAAAAR![/i]"

The Highland clan cheered with gusto as James' family were swept with the furore of a hopeful year. Peace would continue across the island as the moon shone across the endless sea as if showing them the way towards a new horizon. The people started to sing a song as old as their kind had existed for, a song of new friends and old farewells that rang through the mountain peaks. It was on that very night that Alistair understood what it truly meant to be a Lemming. He hugged his brother tightly. They said nothing as he hugged him back.

[u][i]Social Education - Annual Festivities[/i][/u]

[i]25-12-2040[/i]

[i]Recorded by Dr. Jane Addison[/i]

[i]In further efforts of their education, Professor Durai and his student James have partaken in our annual human holidays. We started with Christmas and Kwanzaa due to them having fixed dates as the easiest events to plan around, but we made sure not to forget Bodhi Day for the Buddhist members in our base. Initially it was a small footnote of the few practitioners we had but in recent times several of our robotic friends have also become Buddhist much to the shock of surprisingly few people on the base.[/i]

[i]The only thing I can lament is that Oddclaw is not joining us. His chocolate treats have always been the talk of the base and we have had them every December that he was over, even making batches months before the party in case he could not attend. We do have our own skilled chocolatiers and pastry chefs, but to me it was more than that. It was knowing that Oddclaw was here with us and even when he was not, he made sure that we were fed and happy. He once told me that "a hunter does not hunt for themselves, a hunter always hunts for family". Not having his chocolates to enjoy I understand now what he means by that.[/i]

"MERRY CHRISTMAAAAAS!"

"M-merry kriss-muss!"

"And a joyous good tiding to all!"

Haytham and James were greeted by the welcoming arms of Jane as she guided them in whilst the two carried presents in their satchels. The entire base was dappled in green, white and red with tinsel aplenty and baubles jangling through the halls whilst robots and humans laughed and cajoled with raucous jokes and raunchy stories. A low-to-medium level of drunkenness prevailed at a sensible volume as both newcomers were taken through amidst crawling steel bugs on the walls waving them by and moletanks hastily trying to correct their treads from the new ethanol mixture someone perfected for them.

"Ah HA HA HA, OHOHO jeez sorry things are rather hectic around this time."

"Pray do not apologise for one's merriment," said Durai smirking through his beard, "after all we are ourselves present for such frivolity."

"And youuuuu still have a thesaurus in your throat I see!"

"Iiiii take it you are inebriated too madame?"

"Jush a scooch," said Jane leerily pinching her thumb and finger at them, "now let's show you boys what Christmas is truly about!"

The student and his master walked through the corridors seeing various scenes of festive cheer. In one room a group of people were rocking out to a group of people that pretended to be a rock band through plastic instruments on a videogame. Another room had people sitting round to watch a movie about a hard-boiled cop fighting terrorists in a high-rise building. The kitchen was working tirelessly through the day to whip up a feast fit for kings as they also saw the makings of a huge party being set up in one of the gyms.

"How did you manage to get that tree inside?" asked Haytham pointing at the giant fir in the hall.

"Oh that's just a plastic tree," said Jane grabbing another drink, "real tree would just shed all over the place and die all sad without proper care so it's best we have a fake one."

"Is that considered acceptable?"

"Oh yes of course, mainly just because everyone taking a single tree for only a month of festivity per year is rather...wasteful."

"Why not grow your own trees?" asked James rubbing his head. "Then it would not be a problem."

"Oh not everyone has the space for that!"

"Ah, so you say ALL of this is in appreciation for your lord and saviour?"

"Well TECHNICALLY speaking," began Jane leaning in mid-walk, "it was a hodgepodge of Roman festivities during the winter solstice which then became combined with Germanic traditions in a revival period by the Victorians and it was placed upon December 25th as a mutually-agreed date for a birth that we actually find very difficult to pinpoint."

"And why is that? Are records untenable that far back?"

"Well they have been lost to time but we have managed to scrounge some things up, we know Jesus DID exist as an actual person so that is certainly true, but as for the born in December thing thaaaat is a little tricky since we use a different calendar now as opposed to back then-oh god sorry I'm just rambling now aren't I?"

"No no please tell me!" The lemming bounced rocking his feet. "I would love to learn more of your traditions and this krissmuss, also um...I-i have a gift but I do not know when to give-"

"Oh you can give it now, who is it for?!"

"Well..." he gently rubbed his foot into the floor, "I-i have one for miss...Anna, and also uhm, one for Kevin, a-and also you miss Jane!"

"OOOH let me see!"

He brought out a scroll and offered it to her as she unfurled it. It was a map of surprising detail showing a large island intersectioned with mountains in the far north, a desert to the south with stretching beach along the west and a variety of ruins, settlements and ancient structures dotted along the landscape with accompanying words that noted the names of rivers, peaks and domains.

"Wha...what is this?"

"This," said James proudly puffing his chest, "is a map of my home itself, the Lemming Island where all of our tribes live in different regions."

"O-oh my...GOD, this, this is marvellous, it looks fanTASTIC!"

"My brother made it too! He is quite an accomplished junior cartographer!"

"Wow he...this is incredible ohhhh my god thank you SO MUCH James!" She hugged him with one hand happily squeeing. "THIS is going straight up on my wall it looks fantastic tell your brother I said thank you and I love it."

"I will, I'm very pleased that you like it!"

"I also bear gifts for your friends," said Haytham bowing curtly, "for the major-general, sergeant Holt and doctor Dixon."

"Oh yes of course come come I'll bring you to them!"

Leading the two towards one of the party rooms, they found Holt and Brightman staring each other down across a felt-covered table whilst Kevin and Anna observed amidst the crowd. A serious concentration filled the room as they watched Thomas place a small red button on top of a smaller red one that angled towards a large plate with coloured rings on it that indicated numbers like an archery board. No one said a thing as Brightman pushed down hard on his button, sending the blue bit shooting towards the plate and landed it upon the yellow 25 as the crowd whooped.

"[i]OOOOOOOOOH![/i]"

"Beat that limey," said Thomas snickering.

"What is this?" muttered Haytham.

"Tiddlywinks," said Kevin pinching his hands towards the battlefield, "the most high-stakes game in the entire base."

"Tiddlywinks?! Hardly an intimidating name."

"It is a game of purest skill. Controlling your pressure with a single muscular flick, landing it in that sweet pot with just the right distance."

"I see, a game of technical prowess...reminds me of pub games back in my youth."

"SHH!"

Jeremy was up next, bending down at the table as he carefully judged his distance. He moved his green button back and pushed a larger green disc on top of it, testing the pressure as the crowd turned silent. The soldier took a deep breath and tensed his muscles, steadying his fingers and with piercing sight he lined up his wink. The crowd held its breath, Jeremy licked his stache and flexed his thumb against his index with a firm shove. Click. Clatter. Dink. The crowd went absolutely fucking wild.

"[i]AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH![/i]"

"HOLY [i]SHIT JER![/i]"

"HAHAHAHAHAAAAA MIERDA!"

The welshman leaned back in his seat much to Thomas' disgrace as he gently thumped his fist into the table upon seeing Holt's wink smack dab in the middle of the plate where a sumptuous 50 points sat.

"Well done," said the major-general offering his hand, "that was damn fine squidging there."

"Same to you dab," said Holt shaking his hand over the table, "wuz a righ' good game that were. NOW, who else wants to try their luck against thuh master winker!?"

"Challenge ACCEPTED!" said Durai bursting from the crowd. "I would look forward to such a riveting new game!"

"You wot?! HAHAH, ohhh alrigh' then but yer goin' in thuh deep end against me."

"We shall see, I'll have you know I was quite the maestro of Pitchagil back in the day."

"Pull up a chair then, need a fresher on thuh rules?"

"Please enlighten me."

Haytham sat himself down as Holt explained the high-stakes rules of competitive Tiddlywinks. James scratched his head somewhat confused but his master learned easily as he took a set of blue winks with a larger blue disc to make his shot. Clacked into 10 points to a cheerful applause as the lemming clapped harder than any other.

"WHOOO YES, MASTER!"

"Not bad!" Holt smirked crossing his arms. "Now lessee if you can 'andle this."

The soldier carefully aimed his emerald button towards the pot and licked his lips. He clicked it straight into the pot and managed to cover Haytham's blue wink with a rousing cheer.

"Wh-what happened?!" asked James.

"He just squopped your master," said Anna shaking her head solemnly, "covered his wink with his own and that means he can't claim the points from that."

"Oh, n-no!"

"I mean normally they play this differently back home in official games, but we had to mangle our own rules with the box we have here."

"Your turn good sirrah," said Jeremy clicking his tongue.

"Hmmmm yes quite the aggressor I see," Haytham rubbed his cheek with a stirring finger, "well then! I see no reason to hold back now!"

The next twenty minutes would pass as the battle raged on between the man from Ivalice and the man from Cymru facing off over the felt tabletop. James wasn't sure why the crowd was so hyped over a simple game but he cheered for his mentor regardless until it came down to the final winks. Haytham was 10 points behind Holt and second-to-last leaving him at a disadvantage. He timed his shot carefully as the crowd held its breath. Haytham kept his finger still, switching from thumb to index as he pushed down firmly with a squidging clack. The blue wink shot off across the board and hit into the 20 point-zone as the audience sucked in their teeth. Holt gave a wide smirk and with only half the deliberation tapped his own wink in, sliding coolly into the 20 points.

"Awwww damn."

"[i]WHOOOOOOOOOOOO![/i]"

"I wuz aimin' fer thuh middle but alrigh' then." He shook hands with Durai as James approached his side. "Good play dab, fer a first-timer yer pretty sly!"

"I spent many a youth shoving gil into the backbenches," said Haytham bowing in handshake, "thank you for a rousing game sir Holt, and I look forward to challenging you again."

"SPEAKING of!" rabbled James with finger in the air. "Master show him your gift!"

"OH yes indeed uhhh we have some gifts for our esteemed compatriots if now be a good time to proffer."

"Aw hell yeah!" cried Kevin striding forth with clinking legs. "What you guys get me?!"

"Paaaatience my good man could you first tell me where doctor Dixon is?"

"Oh she had to lay down, we uh...well, Ade and Bose tried to make this new drink aaaaaand they got sick, then she drank it and she got sick too before I could warn her soooo-"

"My goodness," muttered Haytham with hand to his beard, "is she recovering?"

"Ahhh she'll be fine she's tough! Now lemme see whatcha got me!"

Haytham offered his gifts in the form of a solid-cast pocket watch for Brightman, and a tartan cloak for Jeremy embrodered with red dragons upon a blue and green canvas.

"Wow, this is...ornate," gasped Brightman taken aback, "I don't know what to say I wasn't uh, expecting a gift."

"Crafted by the finest smiths of the Lemming Isle," said Haytham proudly before turning to Holt, "the cloak was made by the Highland clan, I asked if they could embroider dragons upon it for your good self."

"Awwwww maaaaate," Jeremy sniffed as he clutched the rough-weave fabric round himself, "fuckin' fantastic ah mean it's more Scottish than nowt with all them patterns but it's got them me ddraig goch on it! ...s-scuse me a moment."

The soldier marched off wrapping the cloak round himself even tighter with shuddering heaves as he barged through people, leaving Durai rather oblivious.

"Oh...dear me I hope I have not offended him."

"He's fine," said Thomas patting his shoulder, "I think you got him TOO perfect a gift."

"Ahhh...still I would not have-OH, yes I must find doctor Dixon if you would excuse me."

Whilst Haytham departed to find and offer his last gift, James gave Kevin a long crystalline length, half of which was white and the other half black. The scientist turned it in his hand confused at the monochrome mineral.

"What is THIS?" he muttered.

"It's a measuring tool!" said James with eager smile. "Actually it's a natural-forming crystal me and master Durai found in our travels. The white crystal can measure the level of acidity in something, whilst the black crystal changes depending on temperature."

"Whaaaaaaa? Holy shit that's really cool!"

"Please, try it out!"

He poured himself a cup of hot coffee and placed the white end of the crystal in. Just as James had said it would change colour to a grass-green hue of slightly acidic proportion. He double tested by turning it over and dunking the black tip in, where it flared to a smouldering red.

"Hohoho COOL this kicks ass, gracias!"

"Heehaha, and now for YOU madame."

"Meee?"

The lemming approached Anna as she put a hand to her chest, shocked by the small box he held in his palm that glinted silver with gold inlay.

"Well I am flattered dear but I much rather think I am too old for you."

"P-pardon?!"

"Oh it just looks like you're about to offer your hand in marriage."

"OH, N-NO NO I mean, um, you are a very lovely lady bu-ut I am not-"

"Hahaha, I am just teasing you dear it is quite alright I know."

She took the little box and opened it to find her own face staring back at her.

"I remember you saying you lost your compact mirror," James explained, "during the last kristmuss and I went through some places back home to try and find a craftslem that could make such a thing. It took a few months admittedly, the uh gold and silver was more of an afterthought because I thought the uh mirror was a bit TOO small and I couldn't remember-"

"I love it." She put a hand to her lips and tried to fan her eyes. "Goodness James you didn't have to do that all for me!"

"I wanted to. I wanted to show you my appreciation for all the wonderful books you've let me read and our delightful discussions on them, I really like you miss Anna."

"Thank you. This is absolutely wonderful, it's even better than that old thing I had before but at my age you need to have some little pleasantries."

"Hahaha, I-i am very glad you like it!"

Across the base Haytham was marching his way through to where Andrea's room was. He had never seen the inside of it until this day when he gently rapped at the door to hear a groggy snarl from within.

"Hooizzhit?"

"Ah, apologies it is Haytham Durai, I have come bearing gifts."

"Nnnnh? Alrigh'."

The door opened to reveal a haggard-looking physicist with hair bunched in one direction and pyjamas slightly covered in sputum. Her face had become blanched until her skin was the colour of mouldy week-old stew as she forced a heave back down with a fist to her face.

"KHHH-HMMNNGH, h-hey, um...s-sorry, bad time I uh...had some bad drink."

"Yeeees I heard from doctor Izquierda, may I come in?"

"Uhhh, s-sure."

She invited him in as she slumped back to her bed, groaning with a bucket beside her that was half-full of stomach contents. The room had several posters showing grand musical openings as well as the faces of scientists, colouring the place as a meeting between art and science that Haytham nodded at. He also noted a candleholder with three red candles, one black candle and another three green candles all in a row beside a simple wooden chalice.

"Marvellous displays, I remember you saying you were quite the theatrician."

"Mmmhhh." She took a drink of some fizzy water and coughed on the bed. "Sorry I'm...not at my best."

"No no that is quite alright, if you would rather I leave you with your gifts-"

"Nooo is fine I'm sorry just this...ugh, whatever is poisoning me is doing a fuckin' good job."

"Well, if you do not object to my presence then at least allow me to change your bedpan."

"N-no, whuuut no that's gross-"

"Please madam I insist."

He took the bucket into the shower/bathroom area and poured its contents down the toilet before rolling up his sleeves and scrubbing it clean with soap and hot water. He soon returned with a polished bedpan for her as she smiled queasily at him.

"Thaaaanks. You really didn't have to."

"I am no stranger to maladies and bodily ejaculations, my youth was spent in the hospice."

"You were a doctor?"

"Rather a nurse, during my degree I took work at the local hospice cleaning beds and pans and bedpans even."

"Wow that...that's really nice of you."

"Do not mistake it for charity. I was merely performing a tithe to cover my student fees."

"Mmmm I hear that," she said propping her head up with a fist, "was it rough?"

"Quite," said Haytham sitting up on a chair, "with many a humour spilt so I am well-acquiesced to such ministrations."

"Ha ha ha, uuurrrrkhhh..." she heaved with a shudder as a spittling drool trickled into the bucket, "s-sorry, god you were not supposed to see me like this."

"Well I like to think if I can see you at your worst then I can truly enjoy you at your best doctor Dixon."

"Pfffhah...hahaha, you are a damn silver fox."

"Why thank you." He bowed profusely. "Would you like to receive your gifts now in spite of your affliction?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Very well," Durai brought out from his satchel a neatly-folded cloth, "a most joyous Kwanzaa to you my fair lady."

"Hmhmahahah, and a joyous Kwanzaa to you too," she carefully took the cloth package, "but you...do realise that's tomorrow right?"

"Oh, am I premature?"

"A little, it's the twenty-sixth, the day after Christmas."

"Ahhh then my apologies, I have clearly made an error."

"No no it's fine this can be my Christmas gift too."

She unwrapped the cloth carefully to reveal it was much more gorgeous than she expected it to be. A faux-Egyptian style fabric of wondrous yellow and amber streaks that resonated with life of the sun, as well as the odd tints of blue and green rippling through like the streams of the Nile in the midst of the desert. Inside the cloth were blue pears and delicious green apples, along with thick cobs of corn that she smirked at.

"Hoholy shit, you...you actually brought fruit?"

"I remember well what you told me of your festivity, the word itself meaning fruit yes?"

"Essentially, it's part of a whole phrase but yes it relates to the first fruit harvests in southern Africa."

"I thank you again for allowing me and James to partake in your world's traditions."

"Oh it's fiiiine," she waved her hand weakly, "the whole point of them is to bring people together what kinda people would we be not letting you in I mean...we had Oddclaw join in and he always brought me fruit."

"Well then we shall call this but preparation for the day tomorrow, what say you and I spend the night in remission?"

"What, noooo you don't wanna spend time with me puking all over the place."

"I insist, please, let me be your nurse. It is entirely up to you of course, I have no qualms about leaving you be if that is your wish."

"Mmmmmmm...well I DO have these movies I'd wanna watch and they would be fun with somebody else new to them."

"Ahhhh yes!" He clapped his hands together and leaned back with his head turned towards the TV on the wall. "Shall we begin?!"

"I mean sure until I fall asleep...thank you."

"It is the least I can do for a fellow academic."

They smiled to each other before she turned on the TV and picked a movie from the small selection she had saved in its hard drive. They managed to push through Mary Poppins and West Side Story before Andrea would at last fall asleep from exhaustion, with Haytham becoming fascinated by the cultural nuances of two New York gangs vying for supremacy amidst an age-old love story being retold for a modern generation. The other film he found bewildering for its sudden shifts into animation, but also for how incredibly charming the relationship between the children and their nanny became. Once Andrea had gone to sleep, Haytham politely turned off the TV and departed her room of his own accord.