After lunch Clyde led Eric on a quick tour of the village. Though the fur kept him warm, a stray breeze made him shiver Clyde put an arm on his shoulders but never broke tour guide. "That house is where Dancer and Prancer used to live." They passed a polar bear man wearing a big fluffy red robe and Clyde waved at him, "Johan!" The bear grinned and waves back. "He owns the local clothing store." Eric nodded, grinning a little but following along until they got back to the workshop.
"Guess it's time to head back." Eric said, surprised at how sullen he sounded. "But another lesson in three days right?"
Clyde nodded as they headed to the changing rooms. "Yup, we'll work on a couple more take offs and get the landings sorted." Clyde waited outside as Eric stepped inside. He walked up to the locker and put his hands on the collar. He hesitated for a moment but took it off. As soon as he did he felt the warming fur pulling back into his skin. His face, hands, and legs returning to their old human shape. He heard something hit the floor and looked down, seeing a pair of antlers laying at his feet. He touched his head, expecting to feel a wound where they fell from, but there was just unblemished skin.
With a sigh he changed out of the uniform and put his old clothes back on. He folded up the uniform and after a moment's thought put the antlers on top of the pile. Heading outside, he was struck by just how cold it was. That fur was really something, or maybe it was magic. He picked up the pile and stepped outside, Clyde had vanished.
He came bursting out of the workshop a moment later, a bag hanging in his hand, which he held out to Eric. "A few presents for the road, compliments of the Workshop." Eric took the bag, looking down at it. "Don't open it until you get back to the resort."
He handed the pile in his arms to Clyde. The reindeer looked oddly at the antlers on top of the vest. He picked one up and turned it over. "Are these yours? They didn't vanish? You don't want to keep your first set of antlers? Its a big thing for most reindeer."
Eric shook his head. "No, you can have them, from your first student." Clyde looked stunned, then smiled and nodded. With a motion he guided him back towards the train platform where one was already waiting.
"I'll see you soon." Clyde reached out and ruffled Eric's hair. "Not bad, you looked better as a reindeer though." He joked. "And remember don't open those until you're back at the resort." Eric gave the reindeer a quick hug and hopped on the train for the trip back to the resort. He daydreamed most of the way, sitting up in surprise as they arrived. He headed back into the main lobby, heading up to the counter where Lars sat playing solitaire.
"Hey Lars, I just wanted to check on when my next lesson at the Village is." He set the bag on the counter.
"So, you enjoyed it then?" The fox grinned slyly. "Yes, in three days, same time. Good to hear you had fun, are those from the Village then?" He asked as he nodded towards the bag.
"Oh just some presents Clyde gave me before I left."
Lars' grin turned to pure mischief. "Well, let's see them then."
Eric was about to object but sighed and reached into the bag, pulling out a pair of presents, neither was particularly big. He opened one, revealing a nice knife, the handle made of.. bone? Antler? He turned it over and saw Clyde's name carved into the handle. He showed it to Lars who let out a soft whistle. "Clyde the reindeer you met?" Eric nodded. "Some impression you made, that's probably a part of one of his old antlers."
Eric reached up to touch where his had been. "Does.. giving someone your antlers mean something?"
Lars was still grinning. "No." Eric sighed. "But I'm a fox, I don't have antlers. A buck reindeer though, that's as good as saying he likes you. Not just likes you, but likes you likes you." Eric's eyes went wide.
"Oh." Lars looked at him curiously, and Eric felt himself blush. "When I turned back human my antlers didn't vanish, they fell off. I.. gave them to him."
Lars burst into a fit of laughter. "Well, since I picked the trip for you, I think I deserve to be best man at the wedding. Still, that's some impression you must have made to have gotten that." He nodded at the knife. "What's the other?"
Eric put the knife back in his box and opened the second one. Inside was a red leather collar with a single bell on the front. Identical to the one he had worn all day. Lars whistled. "I can feel the magic coming off that. Lemme guess, that's what changes you into a reindeer?" Eric just nodded. "Yeah, you gotten a smitten buck on your hands. Good luck." Lars moved away as another customer came up to the counter.
Eric placed the collar back in the bag and headed out towards his cabin. Slipping inside, the fire was made and the inside was pleasantly warm. He set the bag down and pulled the presents back out, setting them out on the table. Sitting down he placed a finger on the antler handle on the knife. So.. Clyde liked him? He smiled at the thought. Then he picked up the collar, almost putting it on but setting it back down after a moment. He wanted a shower, fur did not seem like a good idea.
He stood up and headed back to the bathroom to get ready for dinner.