It was a week before Yule and Crone and her friends were chatting on their Crystal Balls and making Holiday plans when suddenly, popping into the middle of their conversation was Mrs. Claus looking worried. "Crone, we've got a bit of a situation, somehow Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty have seemed to have disappeared!"
All of the friends' pets had been listening in on the conversation and they begin to be anxious and worried. "Oh no!" meowed Baby.
"Oh dear. Is there anything we can do to help? “ asked Crone
"Just please be on standby in the next couple of days in case we need you to help. We had a Nisser show up here a few days ago and he seems to be missing also. I don't know what we're going to do! As you know Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty always ride with Santa and take care of all the good dogs and cats. I wanted to reach out to you and your friends and tell you the situation in case we need your help. I've got to go now, presents to wrap and sewing to do. We will keep you updated." And with that Mrs Claus was gone.
The friends were all talking at once. Their pets were anxiously pacing and making remarks.
"You gotta find Santa Puppy!”, "How can we help?", "I need a new catnip mouse!", "Do something momma!", "What does Santa Puppy look like?", "What does Santa Kitty look like?”, "What's a Nisser?"
"Ok pets, don't worry, things will be ok." soothed Crone.
"Santa Kitty is a tabby Norwegian forest cat." Jennifer informed everyone.
"Santa Puppy is a black and white Husky with blue eyes." said Luisa.
"A Nisser is a Nordic creature, similar to an elf or brownie that likes to live at farms and help protect the animals basically. I can see why one would show up at Santa's place. All those reindeer and other animals to watch over." replied Elouise.
"Well Crone, we better do some location spells and see if we can locate them." said Debra.
"I agree with Debra. Start doing some research on spells and start slinging them. " Ron remarked. "My fur babies are melting down!"
"Could this Nisser have taken them? Maybe we should do some research on that." Elizabeth L questioned.
"Good idea Elizabeth L. It could have even went to find them if something happened. Assuming something happened that lured them off." remarked Elizabeth P.
"I think we need to split into groups. One for research on spells, one for general research and one to make plans on how we can help." said Lyn.
And the friends began to make plans on who was going to be in what group.
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Meanwhile back at the North Pole Mrs. Clause and Santa were having a time of it. Mrs. Clause had informed the elves that if they didn't find Santa Puppy and Kitty soon, that 2 of the elves were going to have to put on costumes and pretend to be Santa Kitty and Puppy. And that set the elves off into a hiss fit. The elves were particularly high strung this time of year with the deadline for Yule rushing toward them. And when Mrs. Clause started measuring them for costumes, there was a major meltdown. “I’ve got enough to do without wearing a Santa Kitty costume!” screeched Jolly. “I’m not wearing a Santa Puppy outfit!” yelled Merry. The elves started chanting “Strike! Strike!”
“Oh dear! sighed Mrs. Clause. No one has to wear a costume. I’ll get Crone and her friends up here. Perhaps one of their pets can fill in.”
The elves stopped chanting and Merry stepped forward speaking for the rest of the elves. “You better get right on that, because we ARE NOT wearing costumes!” And all the elves begin to mutter among themselves. “If they want Christmas to go as planned I’d find replacements right quick!”, “Dress up as Santa Puppy or Santa Kitty, indeed!”, “Should have thought of that begin with!”
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“..So Crone, you can see Santa has a major situation on his hands. In 3 days it will be the eve of Yule, and no sign of Santa Kitty or Santa Puppy! Perhaps you and your friends can come up and investigate or have some of your pets fill in for Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty.”
“We’ll be there soon Mrs. Claus. We’ve been researching and have come up with some plans. And if we don’t find them in time, some of the pets can fill in. Now stop worrying.” Crone said. “We’ll call you when we are on the way.”
Crone called her friends on the Crystal Ball. Once everyone had joined in the conversation Crone informed them of her conversation with Mrs. Claus. “Ok, so I guess we will go up and investigate. Storm can always fill in for Santa Puppy, does anyone’s cat look close to Santa Kitty?
“Well Crone, Baby and Angel don’t.” answered Tena. “I know they helped Ron last year when he had to fill in, they can always help in the sleigh.”
“Help, yeah, they can do that, uh huh.” Ron sighed.
“Sorry Crone, Pookie and Lucy don’t fit the description.” Elouise informed Crone.
“Boo and Pepper don’t fit the description of Santa Kitty either.” said Cindy.
“I can bring Bernie my hen, sorry.” remarked Elizabeth L.
“My cats aren’t interested in going Crone but Jewel my new Unicorn and Pegysue will go.” stated Elizabeth P.
“Glad Storm will do it, because Mocha is a Chihuahua and Penny is a terrier.” stated Luisa.
“Sad to say Signe, Hagbard and Gurly don’t look the part either, but will be going.” Susan informed Crone.
“Crone, what about one of your cat colony? Didn’t you say some of them were tabbies?” asked Jennifer.
“You know what Jennifer, Socks is a Tabby, and huge. Great idea, I’ll see if he will do it.” answered Crone. “Ok I’ll have Mem get the broom bus ready, be here before nightfall and we’ll head for the North Pole!”
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Crone and her friends and their pets had just lifted off for the North Pole. Jurni was riding on her dragon Kam. Going on the trip were Janice and Debra, Ron and Tena and their kitties Angel and Baby, Elizabeth L with Bernie the Hen, Elizabeth P with Pegysue and her new unicorn Jewel, Elouise with Pookie and Lucy her cats, Luisa with her dogs Mocha and Penny, Jennifer and Lyn, Susan with her cats Signe, Hagbard and Gurly and Cindy with her 2 cats Boo and Pepper. And Crone of course with Mem, Storm, and 3 of her cats from her former feral cat colony, Jonathan and Sam and of course, Socks. “Lyn will you call Mrs. Clause and tell her we are on the way?” asked Crone.
“Crone, Socks is a big boy! So glad he agreed to come.” remarked Debra.
“Socks IS a big boy. When I explained what was going on he agreed to come, and Jonathan and Sam came because they are loyal kitties.”
“Gotta keep Crone safe.” meowed Jonathan. “That’s why Sam and I came.”
“So Crone, we’ll let the doggies and kitties and Bernie chat to the local animals. Pegysue and Jewel can talk to the local wildlife and we’ll see if any of them know anything.” stated Jennifer.
“Oh Angel and Baby are good at ferreting out information!” remarked Ron.
“Want to find Santa Kitty. I need a new jingle ball.” said Angel.
“Looks like we’ll be there in about 2 minutes Crone. I can see the Reindeer from here.” stated Jurni.
Soon the broom bus was landing and Santa and Mrs. Claus were meeting them.
“Thank the Goddess Crone you and your friends came. We need help.” Sighed Santa.
“Well we are here to help, and we’ve got fill ins if need be. Storm has agreed to be Santa Puppy, and this is Socks, who will help as Santa Kitty if we need him.” Crone informed Santa and Mrs. Clause.
“And the rest of the pets and us will look for information Santa.” stated Susan.
“Excellent. But first how about coming in and having a snack to warm you up?” suggested Mrs. Claus
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Everyone had finished their hot chocolate or pet friendly snack and headed out to investigate. Bernie the hen was the first to report back. She flew onto Elizabeth L.’s shoulder and proceeded to cluck in her ear what she had found out.
“Bernie says the rest of the hens agree that there was a Nisser here, but claim he only stopped in to talk to Santa Kitty.” reported Elizabeth L.
Then Mocha and Penny came back and hurried over to Luisa and started yapping their news to her. Luisa turned to the group and told them what Penny and Mocha had found out. “Apparently Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty are good friends and generally hang out together. The local doggies claim that if Santa Kitty went somewhere that Santa Puppy would probably go with him.”
The cat brigade soon showed up. Mem, Sam, Jonathan, Baby, Angel, Pookie, Lucy, Boo, Pepper, Signe, Hagbard, and Gurly had returned from the reindeer stables and other farm animal hangouts and had lots to report. They each hurried over to their human and reported what they had found out.
“Mem, Sam and Jonathan say that there was talk about somebody named Grýla.” said Crone.
“Who is Grýla?” pretty much everyone asked at the same time.
Grýla is a troll wife that lives up in the mountains with her lazy husband and bunch of sons and her animals. Nowadays around Yule time she punishes naughty children.” replied Debra.
Next up was Tena with Angel and Baby’s report. “The girls overheard talk about a bunch of boys that pull tricks around Yule.”
“I wonder if that is the same bunch that Lucy and Boo heard about? Wonder if they are called the 13 Yule lads?” asked Cindy.
And there were questions on who the Yule lads were.
“The 13 Yule lads are the 13 naughty sons of Grýla who around Yule take turns pulling naughty tricks throughout the villages and towns.” replied Jennifer.
It was now Elouise’s turn up reporting on what Pookie and Lucy had heard. “Talk was there was talk about the Yule Cat, whoever that is? Could that be another name for Santa Kitty.?”
“No.” answered Lyn. “The Yule Cat, is the pet of Grýla, who goes around and attacks those who don’t have on new clothes for Yule.”
“Well, I guess this is going to be another part of the puzzle, and perhaps the answer,” said Susan, “Hagbard, Signe and Gurly report that the Nisser wanted Santa Kitty to bring the Yule Cat some presents, and he and Santa Puppy went off with the Nisser.”
Everyone started talking at once. “There it is!”, “Now we know.”, “Now what do we do?”
Just then Jurni and Kam, and Elizabeth P, and Pegysue landed just as Jewel the Unicorn came galloping in.
“We saw tracks of what we think are Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty.” said Jurni.
“And apparently of the Nisser.” commented Elizabeth P. Jewel went up to Elizabeth and nickered into her ear. After a few minutes Elizabeth turned to the group and told them what Jewel had told her. “Jewel talked to quite a few local creatures and an Artic Fox told him he saw Santa Puppy, and Santa Kitty traveling with the Nisser. And the fox told him he heard them talking about traveling to Grýla’s cave to see the Yule cat.”
“Well, it looks like we gotta go bring them home.” commented Crone. “Operation Safe Homecoming is now in effect. Let’s organize!”
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“Alright, we’re down to 2 days before Yule. Storm will be staying here in case we don’t make it back in time, and Penny and Mocha will be staying to help him. Socks will also be staying as will Baby and Angel to help him. I’ve slung some spells as Ron calls it. So what plan have we got?” asked Crone.
“Elizabeth P and I will do aerial reconnaissance.” stated Jurni.
“And Jewel will scout ahead.” added Elizabeth P.
“We’ll have you and Mem, Jonathan and Sam out in front, with Jennifer, Debra, Ron and Tena following you,” said Janice.
“Behind them will be Cindy with Boo and Pepper and Elouise with Pookie and Lucy, followed by me.” Lyn continued.
“Then Janice and Elizabeth L with Bernie, and Luisa, and last me with Signe, Hagbard and Gurly.” added Susan.
“And we go on the hunt to find Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty.” stated Debra.
“And I hope Elouise has some hot chocolate!” and Janice laughed.
“Let’s move out troops! Enough talking!!” Mem ordered.
And the friends were off on Operation Safe Homecoming.
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Back at Santa’s Storm and Mocha, Penny, and Socks were patiently standing still as Mrs. Claus checked the fit of their outfits. Baby was driving everyone crazy handing out advice on how she thought Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty should act. “Now remember Storm, you are Santa Puppy. You have to look dignified. And Socks, you need to puff your chest out and not your tail…” And on and on she went. Finally Angel her sister walked over to a bench grabbed a Santa Hat and stuck it on Angel’s head. “Gee sister, with your big head, I thought for sure it would fit!” and finally Baby shut up as she was busy trying to get out of the hat!
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The friends had walked for miles and miles. Every so often they would take a rest break and Jurni and Elizabeth would land also as Poor Kam and Pegysue needed a break. Jewel the Unicorn had talked to an Artic Hare who told him that there was a fresh lake about 6 miles ahead. Everyone was happy to hear that as everyone was tired and jumpy. Mem who should have been a drill sergeant in the army was pushing everyone as fast as he could. Jonathan and Sam were taking their job of protecting Crone serious and were ready for a nap as was Boo, Pepper, Lucy, Pookie, Signe, Hagbard and Gurly. Bernie the hen had been smart and taken turns riding on everyone’s shoulders.
“You need to hurry up if you want to get to the North Pole Lake and have a snack.” Mem told everyone.
“He is one bossy cat!” whined Jonathan.
“I need a rest, I didn’t realize I was this out of shape!” complained Signe.
“I hope we find Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty soon!” commented Boo.
Everyone was getting ready to go on when Tena pointed and asked “Is that a rainbow?”
Everyone looked. “Yep that’s a rainbow” answered Ron.
The rainbow moved closer to them and suddenly standing in front of them was Jennifer’s dog Chloe who had crossed the rainbow bridge some months before, and then Ron cried out “Is that Snowball?” for standing next to Chloe was Ron an Tena’s cat Snowball who had also crossed the rainbow bridge, and then a black cat appeared and Crone exclaimed “It’s Salem!”. Salem had also crossed the rainbow bridge a few months before. Jonathan and Sam were excited and danced around meowing happily to see Salem.
Chloe looked at Jennifer and spoke, “I am healthy and well, and I miss you. Know that I love you and watch over you.”
Snowball looked at Ron and Tena and expressed her love for them. “ and I miss you and my sisters, but I am healthy now. I will always watch out for all of you.”
Salem looked at Crone, Jonathan and Sam and verbalized his love for them. “ I miss you all. Give my love to the rest of the colony. I will always watch over you all.”
And then with one voice they said “You must hurry to the lake, the Nisser has fallen in and Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty are trying to pull him out. He was bringing them back when he fell through the ice. If you go that way, a fox will show you a short cut.” And they turned and started walking back up the rainbow which disappeared as quick as it had appeared.
“Let’s hurry!” and Crone cast a spell to speed everyone up and make them feel refreshed. Jurni and Elizabeth P took to the air as Jewel hurried ahead to find the fox. Soon they were making rapid progress with the shortcut that fox had showed them. They arrived at the lake to find Elizabeth P and Jurni already there and on the bank.
“I don’t think the ice will hold either of us or Kam or Pegysue.” stated Elizabeth P.
“Now what do we do?” asked Lyn.
“Hang on a little bit longer, we will save you.” yelled Cindy.
“I’ve got a plan.” said Mem. “Pegysue you need to shrink down, Bernie we need you too. The two of you will lift the Nisser up, Boo and Pepper will grab his clothes and start pulling him back. Then the two of you, Pegy and Bernie will check and make sure the ice is safe for Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty to cross back to the bank on that side where Jurni and Kam can pick them up and fly them over here. The rest of us cats will help Boo and Pepper pull the Nisser back here and you humans will be ready to grab anyone that needs grabbed. When they get him close to the bank, humans grab him and the cats.”
Very slowly Boo, Pepper,and and then Jonathan crept over the ice. As they got closer, Bernie and Pegysue hovered over the Nisser. As they grabbed him, Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty let go. When Bernie and Pegysue had him a good bit above the water, Boo and Pepper grabbed him and started dragging him back where Jonathan grabbed on. Slowly they pulled him. Bernie and Pegysue gave the all clear to Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty that it was safe for them to cross back the way they had come. Jurni and Kam sprang into action and met them on the bank where they were lifted onto Kam’s back and given a ride back to the other side of the lake where Crone and her friends were. All of the kitties had joined in pulling the Nisser to the bank where hewas safely lifted onto the bank by the humans as were the cats.
Everyone was shivering from all the adrenalin flowing, or being in the water as was the case of the Nisser.
“Quick, everyone find some twigs or branches and bring them quick. Kam you catch the wood on fire.” ordered Mem.
Very soon there was a nice little fire burning and Crone had done a spell to dry the Nisser and warm everyone up. So there they set having a little snack and some hot tea. Everyone was trying to calm down from all the excitement and chatting and all the pets including Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty were taking a well-deserved short nap.
Suddenly they heard sleigh bells coming close to them. And there coming through the thicket was a huge sleigh and a small sleigh. And pulling the sleighs were snow white reindeer! Driving the large sleigh was a beautiful woman and driving the smaller sleigh was the Holly King!
“Greetings mortals, I am Khione, the Nymph of Snow, Ice and Hail. I’ve come to take you back to Santa’s.” the beautiful woman informed them. We’ll be there in a twinkle of a star.”
Everyone returned her greetings and then the Holly King spoke, “Greetings children, you’ve done a wonderful job! And I shall return the Nisser to his home and have a bit of a talk with him, and with Grýla, The Thirteen Yule lads and the Yule Cat. Jurni my friend, you and Kam close your eyes, count to three and when you open your eyes, you’ll be back at Santa’s. Elizabeth P, the choice is yours, will you and Pegysue ride with Khione or be transported?”
“I, um, ah, believe we’ll ride with Khione your majesty. Thank you.” stuttered Elizabeth as Pegysue shrunk down to her miniature size.
“Excellent, excellent. Jewel, close your eyes, beautiful one and when you open them, you’ll be back at Santa’s.”
And suddenly Jurni and Kam and Jewel had vanished. Everyone had finished getting into the sleigh and Khione waved her hand and the fire Kam had started went out. With a “Goodbye, and have a Merry Yule” the Holly King and the Nisser were off. In a few seconds more, Crone, all of the pets, her friends and Santa Puppy and Santa Kitty found themselves gliding as fast as could be over the snow. In a few blinks of the eyes they found themselves back at Santa’s. As they turned to thank Khione, she waved her hand goodbye at them and said “No thanks are necessary. Merry Yule everyone!” and off she and her sleigh went at a rapid clip and soon disappeared from sight.
Santa and Mrs. Claus and Storm, Socks, Mocha, Penny, Baby and Angel came rushing out to greet them all. Everyone begin to talk at once. “Oh you found them!”, “We’ve got so much to tell you!” “Thank goodness you’re back!” And Mrs. Claus hurried them inside. “You can tell us all about it as we eat a nice meal and relax.”
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George the broom bus was getting ready for the trip back home. Jurni and Kam were ready and Kam had the biggest Christmas stocking laying across his back, and a smaller one for Jurni. Elizabeth P and Pegysue had decided to ride the broom bus instead of flying on their own, and Jewel would gallop the magic on the trip home. Everyone including the pets were on the broom bus. All the pets and the humans had Christmas stockings. Santa walked over and said “We’ll never forget the help you’ve given us. A little reward will be a bit of magic dust to get everyone to Crone’s house in 2 shakes of a lamb’s tail. Thank you!!” and he sprinkled dust on Kam and Jurni, Jewel and the broom bus and everyone in it. With a kaleidoscope of color the magic swirled around them and before they were done saying their goodbye’s they found themselves in front of Crone’s house. The lights were on and warm and welcoming, and the door opened and out walked one of Santa’s elves, who said, “Inside you will find plenty of food and drink for all.” And then the elf turned around 3 times and was gone.
Crone and all her friends and all the pets were finishing up a much deserved feast. Crone lifted her mug of hot chocolate and said, “A toast to a job well done by all the pets” and everyone cheered. “And Merry Yule and Happy Holidays to all!” everyone said.
Merry Yule to all!
