The Elf

by Max Dune

  Past the frozen forests that ring the village, everything is exactly how our instructors described it. An endless horizon of white. The sky is gray at the moment, so at least I don’t have to worry about snow blindness. But I know each mile we travel carries us into greater jeopardy. Heck, even the guards know that. It’s probably why they called off the search.

  I have to push those grim thoughts aside. Otherwise, I’ll lose my nerve and run back to the village with my tail between my legs like Oleg and his pals did, and I can’t allow that to happen. There’s too much at stake for me to wimp out like they did.

  Blitzen, for his part, is enthusiastic. Exploring new places, smelling unfamiliar scents, munching on the odd shrubs he somehow finds in that frozen landscape. He’s loving it. Then again, he hasn’t lost anyone he holds dear. For him, it’s just another adventure.

  “Having fun, boy?” I ask, almost envying his naiveté.

  He snorts happily, maintaining a steady trot across the glimmering plain of crunchy snow.

  A chuckle escapes me. I sort of understand him. As much I enjoy our work, it does get monotonous after a while. We’re always stuck in the same forest, never able to venture out beyond the safe zone. Who wouldn’t get bored?

  More time passes. Several uncounted hours. The tree line has disappeared into the distance behind me, the frozen tundra ahead seems endless, and I begin to wonder if the landscape will ever change. The terrain is very flat here. Almost unnervingly so. There are no trees and no mountains. Just a vast expanse of whiteness, so bright I am forced to wear my goggles.

  As the day progresses, my priorities evolve, and I begin to wish I’d brought more food. The candy bars are almost gone, and I certainly didn’t anticipate Blitzen’s vigorous appetite. Tomorrow, I’ll have to hunt. That’s fine. In addition to the crossbow, I also have other weapons onboard. All sleighs are fitted with a survival bag, chockfull of useful survival gear like fishing kits, snares, fire-starters, and knives, in case we get caught in any sudden heavy blizzards. That happened to one chopper about ten years ago. The poor guy couldn’t find his way back to the village and froze to death. They found his body just a mile away. One mile from home. Ever since then, all choppers have followed the Boy Scout motto: “Always be prepared.”

  Santa took it a step further by requiring all choppers to take a survival class. It was pretty intense, but I enjoyed it. I learned a lot of neat stuff. Like how to start a fire with an ice cube.

  I gaze up at the darkening sky and realize I might very well need to put my fire-making skills to the test soon; the sun is already dipping behind the horizon, turning the azure sky into a purple-tinged amber. How could the entire day have passed already? I look back and forth and see no landmarks in any direction.

  I pull Blitzen’s reins. “We need to stop and set up camp now, boy,” I tell him, knowing it’ll be entirely dark soon. I need the full power of the sun to track Frost. I rummage through the survival bag. I find a one-man tent and sleeping bag, both designed for extreme weather. I make quick work of assembling the tent, all while the wind picks up to chilly blasts.

  Blitzen whines at the finished result.

  “I know. It’s only big enough for me. I’m sorry about that, but you’ll be fine out here. Just look at you, big guy. You’re built for this...and you’ve got that nice fur coat too.”

  He continues sulking and even offers me an unimpressed snort that sends steam flaring from his nostrils. Feeling bad about my travel companion’s cold night ahead, I search my bag again. “Bingo!” I say, pulling out a pack of space blankets and duct tape. I untie Blitzen from the sleigh, then begin wrapping him with the silvery, metallic sheets. Next, I tape them to his massive body. Although the material is thin, it reflects 90-plus percent heat. I stand back to inspect Blitzen. He looks like a baked potato, but at least he’ll stay warm. “Here.” I hand him the last candy bar. “You earned it.” I hug him, then head into my tent. “Sleep tight!” I yell out.

  Nestled in my sleeping bag, my thoughts drift back to the village. By now, I’m sure they know I’ve gone AWOL. I wonder if a search party has been sent out for me. It’s highly unlikely. Not only that, but if Oleg is in charge of it, I’m doubtful they’ll ever reach me. He’s not exactly my biggest fan. I stop to think about that. Would he purposely sabotage a rescue mission? Sure, our earlier scuffle didn’t earn me any brownie points but....would he be cruel enough to let me die out here? I honestly don’t know.

  The one thing I’m certain of is that Lily must be panic-stricken right now. I pray she stays strong until I return. I also hope that she understands why I had to do this. It’s the only way. I think about the message I left for her on the barn door and mouth it silently. “Stay strong, my love. Stay alive.” I fall asleep as images of her beautiful face play in my mind.

  * * *

  I awake to scratching sounds. As I open my eyes, I see the impression of Blitzen’s horns rubbing against the tent wall. I put my boots on and slip outside.

  Dawn arrives in a magical silence. A gust of frigid air hits me, and I shiver involuntarily. It feels much colder today. The reason for that is because I haven’t eaten enough. My body will need plenty of calories to maintain a healthy temperature out here. There’s only so much my insulated clothes and gloves can do. So I will need to find food. Soon.

  I hurriedly tear down the tent and pack it into the sleigh, then turn to my foil-covered companion. “Sleep well?” I ask Blitzen.

  He snorts.

  I remove his silver covering and pack that too.

  My stomach grumbles. Man, what I wouldn’t give for some strawberry waffles right now... and some scalding-hot coffee. I could drink an entire pot.

  Scanning the area with binoculars, I realize my breakfast options won’t be so appetizing out here—or easy to obtain. I remember what our survival instructor taught us. My best bet is going to be fish, birds or hare. Small game. I’m not Bear Grylls, and I’m not delusional enough to think I can take down large game like the musk oxen that roam the land. Too dangerous. They’re herd animals, and fiercely protective of each other at that. The last thing I need is to be trampled to death by a stampede.

  I put down the binoculars, frustrated. No birds or bunnies anywhere. “You smell any animals, Blitzen? Cause’ I don’t see any.” He lifts his shoulders and drops them, the reindeer version of a shrug. “Let’s keep moving then.”

  For the next hour, we amble along the flat plain, searching for tracks or scat any animals may have left behind. But there are no visible indications of wildlife. All I see is miles and miles of whiteness, untainted snow.

  Blitzen swoops his head down to the ground every so often, using his acute sense of smell, trying to find lemmings or baby seals possibly burrowed in snow tunnels. Each time, he comes up with disappointment on his face.

  Our energy rapidly dwindles, and by late afternoon we simply have to stop—more so for Blitzen, who appears as if he might topple over any moment. The poor guy is exhausted. Well, why wouldn’t he be? He’s been pulling all our stuff and me since yesterday all over God’s not-so-green Earth. Feeling guilty, I climb off the sleigh, with crossbow in hand. “You’ve done great, boy. Stay here and rest. I’ll be back.”

  He gladly slumps to the ground.

  I head out on my own, determined to find something for us to eat. As I walk, I mentally kick myself for my stupidity. Why didn’t I pack more food? Apart from water and fire starters, it’s the most important thing to have. I could’ve sneaked into the cafeteria and loaded up my backpack. My plan was reckless, and now we’re both paying the consequences.

  I find nothing, not so much as a nibble. The icy wind continues to blow around us, wailing as it assaults our bodies with its tortuous chill. All around, I see nothing but barren white. After three more slow spins, I drop my binoculars. What’s the point? I’m wasting time here. As much as I hate it, we must keep moving. I try to convince myself that we’ll eventually come across something edible, but the snow cracking under
my boots sounds bone dry and lifeless.

  Blitzen’s big, brown eyes gaze at me expectantly.

  I shake my head. “Sorry, boy. I got nothing.”

  He makes a sniffling sound, breaking my heart.

  I press my forehead against his neck and sigh. “I know. I’m hungry too. I shouldn’t have—”

  Crack!

  My apology is interrupted when, just a few yards away, the ground begins to thrust up from the tundra. The icy snow beneath melts as we watch, creating an opening about ten feet across. White steam rises from the watery hole.

  At first, I presume it’s a hot spring, but I’ve never heard of them popping up like that. No. This is something else. I wave to Blitzen to stay put and approach it cautiously.

  Small hands jut out of the crack and rest on the ice.

  I gasp, stop, and tightly grip my crossbow.

  A blonde head emerges slowly from the water. Her face is angelic, with full lips, creamy skin, and mesmerizing, amber eyes that drop down to regard my weapon nervously.

  Almost embarrassed, I put my weapon away. That sets her at ease. She smiles and props herself up on the ground with her elbows. Now I can see the copper scales that cover the rest of her long, serpentine body.

  I step back in disbelief. “You’re...a m-mermaid,” I stammer. Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to find that in the frozen tundra, if anywhere.

  She giggles, nodding. As if to prove it, she raises her tail out of the water. Her fins, a brilliant gold, are agile and strong.

  “I thought they, er...uh...you were just...a myth,” I confess in a nervous stutter.

  “We are as real as you,” she confirms in a magical voice that seems to bounce between my ears. “What’s your name?”

  “Lucian.” I pause. “What’s yours?”

  She draws circles on the ice before her. “Tashi.”

  “That’s pretty.”

  The remark earns me another gorgeous smile. “Thank you,” she says. “You’re an elf, are you not?”

  “Yes. How do you know?”

  “Humans have a foul smell.” Tashi’s nose crinkles. “Like rotting whale blubber. It’s quite gross.”

  The way Tashi says it, so innocently and honestly, makes me smile. “Is that so?” I ask after a slight chuckle.

  “Oh yes. I can smell them from miles away.”

  “And what do elves smell like?”

  Her head tilts to the side as she regards me. “Like molasses...and flowers.”

  “Hmm.” Didn’t expect that answer. I am tempted to sniff myself, but it doesn’t seem appropriate.

  She glances at Blitzen and my sleigh, then back at me. “You’re a long way from home, Lucian. What are you doing out here?”

  “Searching for...someone,” I say, sobering up as my mind wafts back to my mission.

  Her amber eyes remain on mine. “Would that someone happen to be Jack Frost?”

  “How do you know that?”

  Tashi giggles, a cheerful sound. “You just missed him. He used the portal directly beneath us.”

  My heart pounds in excitement when I realize we’ve been heading right direction. At least we’ve done something right. I study the ice beneath my feet. “There’s a portal here?”

  “Yes,” Tashi says. “He used it to flee into another dimension.”

  “Can I pass through it too? It’s rather important that I catch up to him,” I say, trying to sound like my intentions are innocent.

  Tashi nods. “Both of you can”.

  “How far down is the portal?”

  “Several feet below the water surface.”

  I grimace. “So we have to dive into the freezing water to pass through it?”

  “I’m afraid it will require a swim,” she says with a half-smile.

  “Fantastic.” I groan. “Are there any other portals? Any that aren’t submerged?”

  “No. I’m sorry.” She scrunches up her face as if it hurts her to break the news to me.

  I turn back to Blitzen. “How about it, boy? You up for a dive?”

  Blitzen doesn’t answer. He just continues lying on the snowy ice, his belly loudly rumbling.

  I touch my own aching stomach and know we can’t do anything else until we eat. The water will suck away the little body heat and energy we have left. We have to nourish ourselves before we even try a stunt like this.

  Tashi must sense this for she says, “You’re both hungry.”

  “Starving is more like it.”

  She nods to herself. “Wait here.” In one graceful move, she disappears into the deep, a glimmer of gold beneath the water. Blitzen and I exchange a look. Where did the mermaid go? It isn’t long before she re-surfaces to enlighten us. In her arms is the biggest fish I’ve ever seen. Artic char, by the looks of its orange belly. She throws it at my feet, a wide smile on her face. “My, he was a fighter.” Tashi gestures at the fish. “Well, don’t just stand there. Eat.”

  She doesn’t have to tell me twice.

  I slice the char into chunks with my knife, then cook them using the portable stove and skillet I’d packed. The meat sizzles in its own grease, growing tastier with each minute. I give the first savory steak to Blitzen, knowing his enormous form requires more than I do, but he stops after eating about a quarter of it and looks at me with pity in his eyes.

  I pat his head encouragingly. “Go on, boy. There’s plenty more.”

  After a snort, he bends his head and finishes it off.

  When the next batch is done, I devour it all. The soft, juicy flesh tastes better than anything I’ve ever eaten, and my fatigue quickly evaporates. Feeling much better, I cook several more arctic char steaks for Blitzen. It will take a lot more to fill him up. “Would you like some, Tashi?” I ask.

  She shakes her head, focusing on the setting sun. She appears to be worried. “We should hurry.”

  “Why?” I ask. “Does the portal close at night?”

  “No. It’s just... I must return home soon.”

  “Oh! I’m sorry. Please go if you must. Don’t let us keep you. You’ve been too kind already.”

  Tashi thinks for a moment. “But you may require my help.”

  I walk over to her. “Our biggest issue will be mustering up the nerve to jump in.” I point at the hole. “Does the portal extend over this area too?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. In that case, we shouldn’t have any problems.” I extend my hand for a shake. “Thank you, Tashi. You saved our lives today.”

  She stares at my hand, then grabs it.

  As soon as we make contact, my eyes widen, and I choke on my next breath. I watch her yellow locks twist and darken into putrefied seaweed, her fair skin shrivel into gray leather, and her colorful scales morph into deep, ashen black. I instinctively jump back in fear, but her grip on me is as tight as a vise.

  “Not so fast!” she shrieks through her growing fangs. “I think I will have something to eat after all...and it’s been ages since I’ve dined on sweet elf flesh!”

  Horror spreads across my face as the awful truth hits me.

  There is no portal.

  This sea witch has tricked me.

  “Let me go!” I demand, kicking at her. With ease, she twists away and trips me with her other arm. I land on the ice, and she sinks her claws into my left leg. I wail in pain while trying fight her off, kicking whatever part of her I can find with my right leg. “Get off me!”

  I try to pull away, but she is much stronger, and I soon find myself being dragged across the ice, inch by inch, straight into the water hole where her razor-sharp teeth are going to rip me apart. Where I’m going to die.

  Chapter Six

  The thundering of hooves draws my attention, and I jerk around to see that Blitzen is indeed running—only he’s charging toward us instead of retreating. The sea witch growls and pulls me closer to the edge, but just as my boots graze the water, Blitzen reaches us and rears up on his hind legs. He drops his front hooves down on the witch�
��s back.

  Her bones crack under the powerful blow. Even so, she doesn’t let go of me. Somehow, she manages to hold on, in spite of the next kick Blitzen administers to her waist. I pull back my free leg and slam it into her scaly chest. It prompts a muffled groan from her, but she perseveres. Geez, what is she made of? Titanium?

  Then an idea forms in my mind.

  “Her head!” I call up to Blitzen.

  A second later, his hoof smashes into her skull. That does the trick, and she relinquishes her grip. I roll forward and stand behind the reindeer, watching in fascination as my comrade continues pummeling her. Dark blood splatters everywhere, onto the ice, into the water, and all over me. Bits of bone and flesh drip from Blitzen’s hooves. Yet he doesn’t stop. He understands that the threat must be completely eliminated. He only pauses when the sea witch stops moving and screaming.

  I inspect the remains of the creature, wanting to confirm the kill. Oh yeah. Unless she can regenerate her head, she won’t be bothering us anymore. I stare at Blitzen with newfound respect. “I didn’t know you had that in you, boy.”

  He shrugs, as if to say, “Neither did I.”

  “That’s it. I’m giving you a new name. Blitzen the Barbarian.”

  His head raises in a regal manner. He likes it.

  Even though the witch is dead, I still can’t relax. There could be others lurking below, waiting to attack once we let down our guard. For that reason, I decide we must keep moving. Judging by the sun’s position, we still have another hour of light. That should be enough time to put a safe distance between us and any other sea witches that are lurking about the place.

  I grab the remaining fish, head to the sleigh, and pack up. In minutes, we’re off.

  Blitzen doesn’t struggle this time. He dashes through the thickening drifts of snow effortlessly, full of newfound energy from the food. Sitting in the sleigh seat, I feel the same way, rejuvenated and determined. As much as I hate to admit it, the sea witch did do us a huge favor. Without the food she provided, we would’ve been done for. Knowing that, I’m almost able to overlook the fact that she tried to kill me. Almost.