Ever since he was a child, Nolan has been obsessed with Christmas lights. White lights, blue lights, colored lights, you name it, he loved them all. So when he got seperated form his human family, Nolan decided to use this lights to send them a message. And so he did. Year after year starting when Nolan first got lost, he begun to decorate the local park where he lived and the houses that were close to it. All of this was done in the cover of night when no humans were active and the lights left dormant for a few days. Once the entire display was done though, he'd hook everything up to a waterproof generator and light the entire place up. The humans at first didn't understand what was happening but once they saw the beautiful display all lit up, they loved it. Nolan, seeing the joy his lights brought to the people, drifted slightly from his original purpose and begun to do this every year, this time for the humans in and around the park as well as his human family. Each time varying the design and colors of his lovely display. And to this day, the parkgoers still have no idea who creates the amazing light displays they enjoy each year, only that each time, a single, white rose is left on the picnic pavilion surrounded by red berries. A calling card that many have assumed is meant to resemble a Christmas wreath. Never undterstanding that the rose is part of the message for Nolan's human family that he still has hope of finding. The favorite flower of the human child who help foster his deep love of Christmas lights.
I always knew I was different from other viscets, even when I was just a small child. While other visclings were learning to hunt and defend territory, I was teaching myself to read from an old human book I had found and asking questions my parents didn't know how to answer. "What is a city mama?" "Is it true some viscets really live with humans?" "Do they actually get food out of those shiny things we sometimes find laying around?" And on it went. Question after question about humans and their habits, I never seemed to stop asking about them. Until one day, when my questions were answered in the most peculiar of ways. I found a human child in our woods.
She couldn't have been very old at the time since her head barely came past my own. Five or six winters at most I'd say, and noticeably very curious. Playing with sticks and laughing as she skipped around the fields. I must have watched her for hours before I finally approached. It had begun to get dark and the child seemed to be getting scared now. Her parents were still nowhere to be seen and I felt I had to help her. At first she was afraid of me. After all, I did look like what humans classify as a wild animal. It took a lot of patience and me simply laying down for her to finally approach me. What a strange feeling, being poked and prodded by a human child. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to it. This was my chance to learn about humans and I was going to take it.
When the child's parents eventually found her, she was curled up in my fur and fast asleep. They seemed to panic for a few minutes at finding their child snuggling a strange animal so I decided to back off. It wouldn't do to have these humans hating me and coming after my family with their weapons. However, something unexpected, although I likely should have considered the possibility, happened after that. Instead of simply leaving with the child and her parents, some of the humans stay behind and point an odd device at me. Before I could ask myself what this fancy stick was used for, a loud noise sounded and sudden pain hit in my shoulder. Then everything went dark.
When I awoke, I was in some sort of metal box with bars blocking the front. Trapped, apparently by the humans. It was terrifying, I didn't know where I was or how but this place was not my home. For the first time, I questioned my fascination with humans. I also thought back to my family in the woods. They didn't know where I was and were likely very worried. I'd really screwed up this time it seemed. It didn't help that this box was distinctly uncomfortable and smelled funny. It also was several feet off the ground. 'Was I in some sort of human tree den or a mountain cave?' 'Why were these humans always staring at me?' I wondered for a long time before I finally got my answer. It came in the form of an older viscet who had the box next to me. He answered my questions as best he could and expressed a curiosity about my life in the wild as well. So we talked for many sunrises about anything and everything. Until one day he was gone. I didn't know why or where, just that my friend has disappeared. I soon fell into a depression.
I'd woken up from my nap one afternoon to find a human eyes watching me through the bars. Their owner quiet and more subdued that the children I'd seen before. I'll admit I was curious too. He wanted to meet me, this time I let them. Something about this child drew me in, they weren't like the others. We took to each other right away and the child's parents decided to adopt me. Before I knew what was happening, I went from a box and a large den, surrounded by a family of humans. But what I found the most fascinating about this place though were the colored stars. The same ones I'd seen in the shelter when I met my friends. The stars that meant good things were about to happen. I knew then and there that I'd be safe here. And time went on and winters passed. Every year those stars, I now knew were called, lights would reappear. I loved those lights. They brought happiness everywhere they appeared. I wanted these lights to last forever. But it wasn't to be.
My humans eventually had to move. Having been transferred for a job. But I didn't want to leave. This place was my home. Maybe if I left, they stay, they'd come find me. So I broke away from them. I ran. I didn't want to loose my beautiful lights, my happiness again. So I kept running. I ran until I was deep in the forest of the local park. Somewhere we'd walked many times. A place I thought I'd feel safe. But I didn't. I was no longer wild. So I went back home. Or I tried at least. I couldn't remember where it was. I was lost and I missed my humans. But then, something happened I'd never forget. During my desperate search for home, I stumbled upon a dumptser fully of lights. The same lights is cherished in my home. And I got an idea. If I couldn't find my humans, I'd lead them to me. So I gathered up my precious lights and ran back to that park. I'd wait until nightfall and then I'd make a sign. Something to tell my humans I was still here, to bring them back to me. And I was happy. I knew they'd see my sign and find me eventually, all I had to do now was wait.
