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(Part 1 of this story is located here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2545084 )
The breakfast was exactly what Benton needed. He felt rejuvenated and happier, especially now that he knew how Gent felt about him. He’d always understood that his dog loved him, but he never realized how much until he heard the description of his dream.
While resting on Bellows bed, he remembered back to his chess match with Tessa. “I bet he still feels guilty over the loss of the race.” she had said. The loss of the sled race wasn’t Gent’s fault; Benton knew this. Then, he remembered how he used his relocation money to pay for Gent’s veterinarian bills. Benton thought back to how scared he was after the race, wondering if Gent was going to die from hypothermia. He practically lived at the veterinary clinic until Gent got well again.
Perhaps Gent thought that Benton was mad at him because he had to use his last bit of savings to rehabilitate him. Is that why he made such an effort to contact these people?
Then, Benton remembered Bellows’ words in the stage coach: “Gent did tell us to do this. That’s why we’re here.” What was Gent trying to achieve by coming to this place?
“Benton?” A voice called out to him. He looked over and saw Georgia’s cheerful lapine gaze. He had drifted off for a while. “Did you get enough rest?”
He sat up in bed and looked around the room. It had been at least a few hours since he ate breakfast with the crew. Gent had gone for walk with Joe. No one else was around.
“I was thinking about Gent.” He told the rabbit. She sat down next to him. “I want to know why he came here.” He looked at Georgia. “What does this town have that other towns don’t?”
The rabbit grinned and pointed to herself. “We’re kinda unique.”
“Well, besides your race. Is there some…commodity that you possess that others would seek to obtain?”
“You really don’t know?” Georgia looked puzzled. “You’re probably the first one to visit our town without a desire to gain what we possess.”
“Which is?”
“Everyone only comes here for one reason. Let me show you.” She said as she stood up. “Come on! Follow the white rabbit.” she joked. Benton stifled a laugh.
He followed Georgia through twisting corridors and multiple meeting rooms. At each turn he saw a new animal interacting with humans in a way he’d never seen before.
“Hey! Georgia, my dear bunnykins! You gonna go to the Christmas play tonight?” A hefty polar bear addressed the rabbit as he tried to best a bat at checkers.
“Hi Chagall! I’ll be there tonight! See ya, my honey bear!” she giggled.
They passed through a bathhouse area with steam issuing up from beyond a glass door. It opened and a fit male human strolled out with a towel around his waist. Directly behind him walked a horse with shriveled up mane hair.
“Hey Paul, Vincent! How are you two today?” Georgia smiled at them.
The horse grunted. “I’d be a lot better if Paul hadn’t suggested I try out the steam bath! My mane is ruined!”
“Oh, you’ll be fine! See ya later, Georgia.” Paul said as he walked off with the horse in tow.
They finally entered a quiet hallway with no other occupants.
“This is it. Look, but please don’t touch anything you see.” Georgia placed her paw on the door handle.
“Okay.” Benton said as he waited in anticipation.
Georgia opened the door as a wave of brilliant light met Benton’s eyes. He found himself breathless as he stepped into the room.
There were six brilliant colored gems on pedestals arranged in a circle. Each of them shone with a magnificent light that illuminated the surrounding area. They were all gorgeous and Benton could barely stand to keep his eyes open.
“They’re beautiful.” He said in awe. “What are they?”
“Spirit stones.” Georgia walked up to the nearest stone, its rich purple hue mixing with her pink jumpsuit. It was set within a child’s toy box, mixed among building blocks. “My animal ancestors taught us how to unlock their power. They provide inspiration to those who desire it.”
“What kind of inspiration?” Benton asked as he moved his attention towards a yellow gem underneath a disc that stayed still as it sat on the peak of the stone.
“It depends on the stone color. There are six basic colors and all of them provide a different kind of inspiration. Yellow for balance, red for passion, blue for intelligence, orange for wisdom, green for strength, and violet for imagination.”
Benton moved over to the blue stone, set on a pedestal to the left of the violet gem. A beautiful painting sat behind it, filled with a dazzling spectacle of color and sapphire light.
“I made that painting thanks to the stone.” Georgia said with satisfaction. “I think that’s the stone Gent wanted to get for you.”
“You’re going to give me one of these?”
“No. These are reserved for the townspeople. We have to visit the mines outside of town to fetch a stone for you.” Georgia explained.
Benton couldn’t take his eyes off of it. It was as if his mind was opening up to the world, filling with the ideas of a thousand muses.
He stepped back from the stone as he realized what was happening. “It…gets into your head.” He said, rubbing his temples.
“Wow. You must be really receptive to it! Most people have to touch the stone before it has any effect!”
Just then, they heard a knocking on the wooden door. It opened and a small reindeer walked in, carrying a plush dragon.
“Georgia, Georgia! The play is gonna start soon! You gotta come see!” It said without moving its muzzle. A small red nose shone brightly in the light of the stones. Benton quickly realized that it was a costume.
“Grant! I’m sorry, I’ll be there right away! Go get ready!” Georgia rushed the little costumed boy out of the room as she turned back to Benton. “I have to go to a play now…hey! Why don’t you come with me?”
Benton looked at the stones and then back at Georgia. He smiled. “Sure.”
The gathering hall was HUGE.
Benton guessed that the hall had to be almost as spacious as a small opera house. Snow fell in through several illuminating windows as several birds flew up to the rafters to pull curtains over them. No less than twenty oil lanterns lit up the interior, providing ample light for the audience to see the stage. Hundreds of makeshift chairs filled the seating area with everything from boxes to logs and even burlap sacks filled with soil.
Benton had never seen so many people in such a cheerful mood. Hundreds of humans mingled in the makeshift aisles with dozens of animals. He noticed Chagall the polar bear from earlier and even saw Vincent the horse with a large fold of fabric hiding his mane hair. Yet, almost all of them seemed to be dressed in stylish 1930’s attire, courtesy of Joe and his fellow tailors no doubt. Benton could see Bellows talking up a storm with a female human, a dog, and an ostrich. Benton found himself smiling at the absurdity of it all.
“Over here!” Georgia called out to Benton. He walked over to her and sat down on a burlap sack with the rabbit.
Just then a mass of kids in elf costumes ran over to Georgia. She turned and hugged them one by one as she told them “Good luck!”
“You’re really popular with the kids.” Benton commented as he saw them run back stage.
“You should see me at Easter!” the rabbit giggled.
“I didn’t realize how many people lived in this village!” Benton glanced at the entryways. The crowd seemed to be settling into their seats, but he did see a dark black wolf enter the gathering hall wearing a coat and fedora. He was holding a red present.
“Do the actors usually get gifts?” Benton asked as his eyes followed the animal down to a side seat in the front row.
“Yeah, but I rarely see anyone do it anymore. We don’t really need presents. Getting together and having fun is more important to us than anything, especially since we’re so isolated out here.” Georgia explained.
Benton thought back to his past Christmas experiences at home. Sure, he bought presents for himself and Gent, and sometimes he even had Tessa over, but it was rarely more than a casual get-together. Where was the spirit of the season?
“Christmas for me usually involves unwrapping presents in my home with Gent by my side. I’m not saying I don’t like, but I’ve always wanted something more.”
“Aww…” Georgia moaned in empathy. She leaned over and kissed Benton on the cheek, much to his surprise. Her whiskers tickled him a bit as she leaned back and giggled. “That’s my present to you! Merry Christmas!”
The human painter blushed a little as he looked down at the floor, unsure how to respond.
Just then, the audience quieted down as the curtains began to pull back. A small chorus of costumed human and animal children stood over on the right side of the stage, each holding a piece of paper. A massive drop cloth hung at the back of the stage with an extremely realistic representation of a snow village.
<I painted that!> Georgia whispered to Benton with glee. He was taken aback. Her skill was amazing!
<It’s gorgeous!> He whispered back to her, to which she giggled hysterically. She hugged Benton and clapped her hands together in a fit of glee before calming back down. He found himself blushing again.
A procession of reindeer walked onto stage, tied to each other in the manner of sled dogs. Benton realized that the first six actors were real reindeer. He smiled at the sight.
Then, he saw the last two reindeer and widened his eyes in surprise.
There stood Nightfire with a brown costume that matched the fur color of the other six reindeer. She had a set of fake antlers tied to her head. Surprisingly, she seemed to be enjoying it. On her right stood Gent, clad in the same type of costume with a smile that could light up the world.
Benton found his eyes tearing up as Gent barked, causing the audience to laugh at the unique “reindeer” next to Nightfire. Warmth filled his heart like he’d never known before.
<Your dog looks so cute!> Georgia whispered.
<I know…I love that mutt.> Benton felt tears running down his eyes as he grinned with absolute joy. Georgia looked at Benton and hugged him close.
<I’m sure he loves you too.> She told him.
The chorus began to sing.
“You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?”
A little reindeer trotted onto stage, sporting a glowing red nose and a plush dragon.
<A plush dragon?> Benton asked with a smile.
<Grant never leaves anywhere without it! It’s fine! He’s a unique reindeer!> Georgia told him as Grant began to trot on all fours in front of the other reindeer.
The audience started to sing along too.
“Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose! And if you ever saw it, you could even say it glows!”
Benton found himself singing to the music as the audience began to clap during the chorus. He rocked left and right in sync with Georgia as they laughed at the wonder of it all. Grant sat in front of the reindeer as they pointed their hooves at him and pretended to laugh.
“All of the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.”
A large portly character waddled onto stage in an unmistakable red and white suit. The face was rather cat-like with familiar black stripes going down the sides of the cheek tufts. Benton immediately recognized the face of the bobcat tailor.
“Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say: ‘Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?’”
<Way to go, Joe!> Benton couldn’t help whispering.
<He made all the costumes for tonight’s performance!> Georgia told Benton.
The other reindeer began to rear up in joy as Grant trotted and danced into his position at the front of the herd.
“Then all the reindeer loved him, as they shouted out with glee. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you’ll go down in history!”
The crowd roared in applause as the actors took a bow. Gent barked happily as Benton clapped along with the audience. He looked around and realized something: for the first time in five years, he was actually happy. He didn’t worry about any problems or trivialities that he had back home. All he thought was that he’d never felt so much joy come from so many people. And he loved every minute of it. For once in his life, he felt at home.
(Continue to Part 8: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2545271/ )
(The Version of the Rudolph song that inspired me for this scene was Gene Autry's 1949 version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pISgVQOj_QM )
The breakfast was exactly what Benton needed. He felt rejuvenated and happier, especially now that he knew how Gent felt about him. He’d always understood that his dog loved him, but he never realized how much until he heard the description of his dream.
While resting on Bellows bed, he remembered back to his chess match with Tessa. “I bet he still feels guilty over the loss of the race.” she had said. The loss of the sled race wasn’t Gent’s fault; Benton knew this. Then, he remembered how he used his relocation money to pay for Gent’s veterinarian bills. Benton thought back to how scared he was after the race, wondering if Gent was going to die from hypothermia. He practically lived at the veterinary clinic until Gent got well again.
Perhaps Gent thought that Benton was mad at him because he had to use his last bit of savings to rehabilitate him. Is that why he made such an effort to contact these people?
Then, Benton remembered Bellows’ words in the stage coach: “Gent did tell us to do this. That’s why we’re here.” What was Gent trying to achieve by coming to this place?
“Benton?” A voice called out to him. He looked over and saw Georgia’s cheerful lapine gaze. He had drifted off for a while. “Did you get enough rest?”
He sat up in bed and looked around the room. It had been at least a few hours since he ate breakfast with the crew. Gent had gone for walk with Joe. No one else was around.
“I was thinking about Gent.” He told the rabbit. She sat down next to him. “I want to know why he came here.” He looked at Georgia. “What does this town have that other towns don’t?”
The rabbit grinned and pointed to herself. “We’re kinda unique.”
“Well, besides your race. Is there some…commodity that you possess that others would seek to obtain?”
“You really don’t know?” Georgia looked puzzled. “You’re probably the first one to visit our town without a desire to gain what we possess.”
“Which is?”
“Everyone only comes here for one reason. Let me show you.” She said as she stood up. “Come on! Follow the white rabbit.” she joked. Benton stifled a laugh.
He followed Georgia through twisting corridors and multiple meeting rooms. At each turn he saw a new animal interacting with humans in a way he’d never seen before.
“Hey! Georgia, my dear bunnykins! You gonna go to the Christmas play tonight?” A hefty polar bear addressed the rabbit as he tried to best a bat at checkers.
“Hi Chagall! I’ll be there tonight! See ya, my honey bear!” she giggled.
They passed through a bathhouse area with steam issuing up from beyond a glass door. It opened and a fit male human strolled out with a towel around his waist. Directly behind him walked a horse with shriveled up mane hair.
“Hey Paul, Vincent! How are you two today?” Georgia smiled at them.
The horse grunted. “I’d be a lot better if Paul hadn’t suggested I try out the steam bath! My mane is ruined!”
“Oh, you’ll be fine! See ya later, Georgia.” Paul said as he walked off with the horse in tow.
They finally entered a quiet hallway with no other occupants.
“This is it. Look, but please don’t touch anything you see.” Georgia placed her paw on the door handle.
“Okay.” Benton said as he waited in anticipation.
Georgia opened the door as a wave of brilliant light met Benton’s eyes. He found himself breathless as he stepped into the room.
There were six brilliant colored gems on pedestals arranged in a circle. Each of them shone with a magnificent light that illuminated the surrounding area. They were all gorgeous and Benton could barely stand to keep his eyes open.
“They’re beautiful.” He said in awe. “What are they?”
“Spirit stones.” Georgia walked up to the nearest stone, its rich purple hue mixing with her pink jumpsuit. It was set within a child’s toy box, mixed among building blocks. “My animal ancestors taught us how to unlock their power. They provide inspiration to those who desire it.”
“What kind of inspiration?” Benton asked as he moved his attention towards a yellow gem underneath a disc that stayed still as it sat on the peak of the stone.
“It depends on the stone color. There are six basic colors and all of them provide a different kind of inspiration. Yellow for balance, red for passion, blue for intelligence, orange for wisdom, green for strength, and violet for imagination.”
Benton moved over to the blue stone, set on a pedestal to the left of the violet gem. A beautiful painting sat behind it, filled with a dazzling spectacle of color and sapphire light.
“I made that painting thanks to the stone.” Georgia said with satisfaction. “I think that’s the stone Gent wanted to get for you.”
“You’re going to give me one of these?”
“No. These are reserved for the townspeople. We have to visit the mines outside of town to fetch a stone for you.” Georgia explained.
Benton couldn’t take his eyes off of it. It was as if his mind was opening up to the world, filling with the ideas of a thousand muses.
He stepped back from the stone as he realized what was happening. “It…gets into your head.” He said, rubbing his temples.
“Wow. You must be really receptive to it! Most people have to touch the stone before it has any effect!”
Just then, they heard a knocking on the wooden door. It opened and a small reindeer walked in, carrying a plush dragon.
“Georgia, Georgia! The play is gonna start soon! You gotta come see!” It said without moving its muzzle. A small red nose shone brightly in the light of the stones. Benton quickly realized that it was a costume.
“Grant! I’m sorry, I’ll be there right away! Go get ready!” Georgia rushed the little costumed boy out of the room as she turned back to Benton. “I have to go to a play now…hey! Why don’t you come with me?”
Benton looked at the stones and then back at Georgia. He smiled. “Sure.”
The gathering hall was HUGE.
Benton guessed that the hall had to be almost as spacious as a small opera house. Snow fell in through several illuminating windows as several birds flew up to the rafters to pull curtains over them. No less than twenty oil lanterns lit up the interior, providing ample light for the audience to see the stage. Hundreds of makeshift chairs filled the seating area with everything from boxes to logs and even burlap sacks filled with soil.
Benton had never seen so many people in such a cheerful mood. Hundreds of humans mingled in the makeshift aisles with dozens of animals. He noticed Chagall the polar bear from earlier and even saw Vincent the horse with a large fold of fabric hiding his mane hair. Yet, almost all of them seemed to be dressed in stylish 1930’s attire, courtesy of Joe and his fellow tailors no doubt. Benton could see Bellows talking up a storm with a female human, a dog, and an ostrich. Benton found himself smiling at the absurdity of it all.
“Over here!” Georgia called out to Benton. He walked over to her and sat down on a burlap sack with the rabbit.
Just then a mass of kids in elf costumes ran over to Georgia. She turned and hugged them one by one as she told them “Good luck!”
“You’re really popular with the kids.” Benton commented as he saw them run back stage.
“You should see me at Easter!” the rabbit giggled.
“I didn’t realize how many people lived in this village!” Benton glanced at the entryways. The crowd seemed to be settling into their seats, but he did see a dark black wolf enter the gathering hall wearing a coat and fedora. He was holding a red present.
“Do the actors usually get gifts?” Benton asked as his eyes followed the animal down to a side seat in the front row.
“Yeah, but I rarely see anyone do it anymore. We don’t really need presents. Getting together and having fun is more important to us than anything, especially since we’re so isolated out here.” Georgia explained.
Benton thought back to his past Christmas experiences at home. Sure, he bought presents for himself and Gent, and sometimes he even had Tessa over, but it was rarely more than a casual get-together. Where was the spirit of the season?
“Christmas for me usually involves unwrapping presents in my home with Gent by my side. I’m not saying I don’t like, but I’ve always wanted something more.”
“Aww…” Georgia moaned in empathy. She leaned over and kissed Benton on the cheek, much to his surprise. Her whiskers tickled him a bit as she leaned back and giggled. “That’s my present to you! Merry Christmas!”
The human painter blushed a little as he looked down at the floor, unsure how to respond.
Just then, the audience quieted down as the curtains began to pull back. A small chorus of costumed human and animal children stood over on the right side of the stage, each holding a piece of paper. A massive drop cloth hung at the back of the stage with an extremely realistic representation of a snow village.
<I painted that!> Georgia whispered to Benton with glee. He was taken aback. Her skill was amazing!
<It’s gorgeous!> He whispered back to her, to which she giggled hysterically. She hugged Benton and clapped her hands together in a fit of glee before calming back down. He found himself blushing again.
A procession of reindeer walked onto stage, tied to each other in the manner of sled dogs. Benton realized that the first six actors were real reindeer. He smiled at the sight.
Then, he saw the last two reindeer and widened his eyes in surprise.
There stood Nightfire with a brown costume that matched the fur color of the other six reindeer. She had a set of fake antlers tied to her head. Surprisingly, she seemed to be enjoying it. On her right stood Gent, clad in the same type of costume with a smile that could light up the world.
Benton found his eyes tearing up as Gent barked, causing the audience to laugh at the unique “reindeer” next to Nightfire. Warmth filled his heart like he’d never known before.
<Your dog looks so cute!> Georgia whispered.
<I know…I love that mutt.> Benton felt tears running down his eyes as he grinned with absolute joy. Georgia looked at Benton and hugged him close.
<I’m sure he loves you too.> She told him.
The chorus began to sing.
“You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?”
A little reindeer trotted onto stage, sporting a glowing red nose and a plush dragon.
<A plush dragon?> Benton asked with a smile.
<Grant never leaves anywhere without it! It’s fine! He’s a unique reindeer!> Georgia told him as Grant began to trot on all fours in front of the other reindeer.
The audience started to sing along too.
“Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose! And if you ever saw it, you could even say it glows!”
Benton found himself singing to the music as the audience began to clap during the chorus. He rocked left and right in sync with Georgia as they laughed at the wonder of it all. Grant sat in front of the reindeer as they pointed their hooves at him and pretended to laugh.
“All of the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.”
A large portly character waddled onto stage in an unmistakable red and white suit. The face was rather cat-like with familiar black stripes going down the sides of the cheek tufts. Benton immediately recognized the face of the bobcat tailor.
“Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say: ‘Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?’”
<Way to go, Joe!> Benton couldn’t help whispering.
<He made all the costumes for tonight’s performance!> Georgia told Benton.
The other reindeer began to rear up in joy as Grant trotted and danced into his position at the front of the herd.
“Then all the reindeer loved him, as they shouted out with glee. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you’ll go down in history!”
The crowd roared in applause as the actors took a bow. Gent barked happily as Benton clapped along with the audience. He looked around and realized something: for the first time in five years, he was actually happy. He didn’t worry about any problems or trivialities that he had back home. All he thought was that he’d never felt so much joy come from so many people. And he loved every minute of it. For once in his life, he felt at home.
(Continue to Part 8: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2545271/ )
(The Version of the Rudolph song that inspired me for this scene was Gene Autry's 1949 version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pISgVQOj_QM )
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 120 x 120px
File Size 27.3 kB
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