I wrote the story that goes along with this drawing below. Little Prancer has tiny antler stubs since she's younger, and she hasn't gotten her bell collar yet either.
First Light
Many people know about Santa Claus. At least, they think they do. A jolly man in a red suity who delivers toys to children with his sleigh drawn by magical reindeer. And up till the last part, that's pretty much true. But contrary to what you and millions might think, Santa's sleigh isn't pulled by reindeer. That's just something people made up to try and make more sense of an already seemingly implausible idea. The truth, one few in this world know anymore, is far more special. Lend me your ears, for you're about to learn one of the truths of the North Pole long lost to most through the mists of time.
A tan antlered rat trudged wearily through thick snow. The air carried a chill unlike any she'd ever felt before, and she knew this was a place no rat was meant to be in. "Oh, Prancer, you've done it now!" She chittered to no one but the frosty air. Prancer's thoughts wandered to how she had gotten herself in such a predicament. In what seemed like just minutes ago, Prancer had been climbing and jumping from the tops of boxes and garbage cans, a favorite activity of hers. So lost she had been in her own merry excitement that when a joyful energy filled her hind legs, Prancer couldn't help but kick off the box with all her might. Next thing she knew, the world was streaking below her, stopping only when her head was stuck in a snowdrift.
Prancer shivered as another gust of wind bit through her fur. She knew she had to find shelter soon, but nothing stuck out in the white expanse stretching out before her. Nothing at all, except... Prancer's pointed ears perked up. She could just make out a small hole carved out in the bottom of a snow mound a few yards away. With newfound energy, Prancer forced her numbing body quickly to the hole. It probably would 't help too much right away with the cold, but Prancer figured it would do plenty against the wind.
Suddenly, she came to an abrupt stop. Holes didn't just dig themselves. Other animals dug holes. And that other animal might not take too kindly to an intruder. Prancer peered cautiously inside, ready to spring away if the need arose. The hole was actually a tunnel, stretching back at a downward angle. Darkness swallowed all but the tunnel entrance. Prancer lifted an ear, straining to hear any sign if the tunnel's inhabitant. There was none. Prancer slowly brought herself into the shelter of the tunnel. She reasoned it must be safe if no one seemed to be nearby. If someone did live here, they were probably deep inside, too far to be an immediate danger.
Prancer sat in the tunnel for a long while. Twice she contemplated leaving to search for food, for she was quite hungry by now. Both times, however, she resisted for fear of getting lost in the featureless ice. Every now and then Prancer would glance at the gaping maw of the deeper tunnel, beckoning her to explore the darkness. Ever since she'd entered the tunnel Prancer's curiosity had pestered her with thoughts of what lay deeper ahead. Perhaps she would find food to fill her empty belly. Or maybe it led the way out of this land of infinite cold. How Prancer would love if that were the case.
But it also came with thoughts of potential dangers. The owner of this den could easily be a fox, lurking in the shadows and waiting for Prancer to wander in deeper, away from the exit. She also considered the possibility of reaching a dead end and having the tunnel collapse behind her, trapping the rat underneath ice and snow for eternity.
Prancer's stomach growled loudly, reminding her of the threat of starvation. Her gaze flicked from the tunnel to the exit, and back again. Outside she would stand practically no chance of finding food. If this was in fact a den however, there was a chance that she would find a food stash deeper inside. Prancer crept slowly towards the tunnel and paused. Fox or no fox, this was a risk she had to take. Sucking in a deep breath, Prancer continued into the tunnel.
Bwahaha, evil cliffhangers are evil >:3
First Light
Many people know about Santa Claus. At least, they think they do. A jolly man in a red suity who delivers toys to children with his sleigh drawn by magical reindeer. And up till the last part, that's pretty much true. But contrary to what you and millions might think, Santa's sleigh isn't pulled by reindeer. That's just something people made up to try and make more sense of an already seemingly implausible idea. The truth, one few in this world know anymore, is far more special. Lend me your ears, for you're about to learn one of the truths of the North Pole long lost to most through the mists of time.
A tan antlered rat trudged wearily through thick snow. The air carried a chill unlike any she'd ever felt before, and she knew this was a place no rat was meant to be in. "Oh, Prancer, you've done it now!" She chittered to no one but the frosty air. Prancer's thoughts wandered to how she had gotten herself in such a predicament. In what seemed like just minutes ago, Prancer had been climbing and jumping from the tops of boxes and garbage cans, a favorite activity of hers. So lost she had been in her own merry excitement that when a joyful energy filled her hind legs, Prancer couldn't help but kick off the box with all her might. Next thing she knew, the world was streaking below her, stopping only when her head was stuck in a snowdrift.
Prancer shivered as another gust of wind bit through her fur. She knew she had to find shelter soon, but nothing stuck out in the white expanse stretching out before her. Nothing at all, except... Prancer's pointed ears perked up. She could just make out a small hole carved out in the bottom of a snow mound a few yards away. With newfound energy, Prancer forced her numbing body quickly to the hole. It probably would 't help too much right away with the cold, but Prancer figured it would do plenty against the wind.
Suddenly, she came to an abrupt stop. Holes didn't just dig themselves. Other animals dug holes. And that other animal might not take too kindly to an intruder. Prancer peered cautiously inside, ready to spring away if the need arose. The hole was actually a tunnel, stretching back at a downward angle. Darkness swallowed all but the tunnel entrance. Prancer lifted an ear, straining to hear any sign if the tunnel's inhabitant. There was none. Prancer slowly brought herself into the shelter of the tunnel. She reasoned it must be safe if no one seemed to be nearby. If someone did live here, they were probably deep inside, too far to be an immediate danger.
Prancer sat in the tunnel for a long while. Twice she contemplated leaving to search for food, for she was quite hungry by now. Both times, however, she resisted for fear of getting lost in the featureless ice. Every now and then Prancer would glance at the gaping maw of the deeper tunnel, beckoning her to explore the darkness. Ever since she'd entered the tunnel Prancer's curiosity had pestered her with thoughts of what lay deeper ahead. Perhaps she would find food to fill her empty belly. Or maybe it led the way out of this land of infinite cold. How Prancer would love if that were the case.
But it also came with thoughts of potential dangers. The owner of this den could easily be a fox, lurking in the shadows and waiting for Prancer to wander in deeper, away from the exit. She also considered the possibility of reaching a dead end and having the tunnel collapse behind her, trapping the rat underneath ice and snow for eternity.
Prancer's stomach growled loudly, reminding her of the threat of starvation. Her gaze flicked from the tunnel to the exit, and back again. Outside she would stand practically no chance of finding food. If this was in fact a den however, there was a chance that she would find a food stash deeper inside. Prancer crept slowly towards the tunnel and paused. Fox or no fox, this was a risk she had to take. Sucking in a deep breath, Prancer continued into the tunnel.
Bwahaha, evil cliffhangers are evil >:3
