Eric looked up as green ribbons of light started playing in the night sky. The aurora was back, and something about it called to him. He looked around, then up. Rudy had said it was possible to take of from a stand still, so Eric kicked against the ground, willing himself into the sky. Snow swirled around him as he rose into the air, a bright laugh starting at the back of his throat. He spun a little as he rose, enjoying the freedom of being up in the arctic sky.
This could be his, too. A job, someone who cared for him, the skies, all of it could be his. He just had to give up being human and his human life. He sat, floating a dozen yards or so above the trees and rooves of the resort. He could make out some of the other tourists pointing up at him, the sparkles drifting down from him like a beacon pointing him out in the sky.
He turned his attention north. If he let himself feel it, he could almost sense a tugging, pulling him in that direction. Clyde, maybe? He could just make out another soft glow on the horizon that would be Santa's Village, the train tracks from the resort leading in that direction.
He leaped to his feet and ran. Snow and wind rushed by him, as he took long strides, feeling half like he was running and half like he was swimming through the air. The ground rushed by beneath him as the light in the distance grew brighter, then buildings became clear. A train ride of fifteen minutes was taking him just a few second as he leaped through the air, probably looking like a shooting star as he soared through the sky.
He stopped at the edge of Santa's Village, looking down at it. He barely felt winded, and it had been less than a minute of flying. He felt more alive than, well almost anything. Only that night with Clyde had made his heart race more. This could be his home. He scanned the light trimmed rooves, trying to guess which one belonged to Clyde, but he could feel that light tug, pulling him toward the workshop, right towards the sleigh yard.
"I shouldn't bother him." Eric muttered under his breath. He turned and ran face first into a solid wall of fur and muscle. He wavered and almost lost his flight, until a strong hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder.
"I wondered who'd set off the perimeter spells." The voice was deep and gruff, and Eric looked up into the face of an older reindeer. The longer he spent around them, the more he was able to tell their features apart. They looked no more alike than people did to him. This one for instance had a dark fur that bordered on black, a wide muzzle that seemed reminiscent of a strong jaw, and a stern expression. He was maybe middle-aged, but he was even bulkier than Rudy. Did reindeer just keep getting more muscular as they aged? No.. the pub keep hadn't been all that impressive. "Clyde's new pet human. People are only supposed to come to the village by train." His voice was stern as he let Eric go and crossed arms over his massive, furry chest.
"I.. uh, sorry, I didn't know. I just sort of started flying in this direction and it was so quick." Eric looked down, then back in the direction of the resort.
"I saw. You were quick. Surprisingly so." The older deer started looking him over, as if looking for something. "Clyde give you any speed boosters?"
"Speed boosters? No, I, just, I'm sorry, I should probably just go back to the resort." Eric turned to go but the older reindeer grabbed his arm in a powerful grip.
"I heard you're trying out for the open spot. No outsider has ever been picked, and certainly no human would even come close." The older reindeer leaned in close, sniffing. "No, no magic on you other than the collar. Though Clyde left his smell on you. You should just give up on this stupid plan."
Eric blushed, he didn't know how to respond to that but was saved by another sparkling light coming close this one tinted a brilliant red, resolving into the shape of Rudy. "Let him go, Bix. I already cleared it with the big guy. He has permission to come and go, we just haven't attuned him to the wards yet."
Bix let out a snort and let go of Eric. He gave him another critical once over then shot into the distance.
Rudy looked over to Eric with a frown. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow. Just your luck you'd run into Bix, but he's on patrol tonight." Rudy rubbed his glowing nose and sighed.
"I don't think he likes me very much." Eric muttered, rubbing at his arm where he could still those fingers digging into him.
"Bix doesn't like a lot. His son is trying out for the open spot, too, so, he might have a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Tag's a good kid though, not like his dad at all. If anything Tag might enjoy having a little competition. I saw that streak you were making, you've got some good speed on you. Almost like you're tapping Clyde's experience and not just his magic. Either that or you were born for this and somehow ended up in the wrong body." Rudy grimaced, looking like he hadn't expected to share that much.
Eric winced and looked away, and Rudy seemed to catch the mood. "Listen. I'm sorry if I seemed to put a lot of pressure on you. I'm just.. protective of Clyde's feelings." He lowered his head. "You do what you want, but I got the big man's okay for you to have free access to the village and the practice grounds, and it seems like you figured out how to get here whenever you want." The older reindeer laughed, his nose glowing a bit brighter as he did so. In that moment Rudy reminded him a whole lot of Tom.
"I should get back." Eric said, still feeling a little lame, but better. He turned back to the resort but felt a pair of arms wrap around him in a tight hug.
"Listen, kid, I know it's not an easy choice. But I want you to know, if you do stay you won't be alone, you'll have a family up here. And even the tribe will warm up to you. Even Bix, eventually. We're a herd, we can't help but look after our own." Rudy broke the hug and ruffled the fur between Eric's antlers.
Eric turned once more but stopped. "Rudy, you've seen people decide to stay before, right?"
Rudy nodded. "Never with us, but with other tribes, sure."
"Do you.. know what I'll look like?" He couldn't keep a bit of worry out of his voice.
"Well, a lot like that." He motioned to Eric's form. "Your brain picked that look out for you, even if you didn't know it, and the magic tends to be shaped by that. You might bulk up a bit more, you're kind of scrawny and we, well, there's no scrawny reindeer." Rudy laughs. "If it doesn't bulk you up, pulling a sleigh will. And if you're worried, you're damn handsome reindeer, I get why Clyde likes you." Rudy tilted his head to the side. "If anything, your human shape might be a bit different when you learn to change back. Furrier, a little bigger, stronger. Our true shapes tend to bleed into our human ones.
"Thanks." Eric offered with a nod of his head. Rudy returned the nod and drifted back down to the village. Eric turned and shot off back to the resort. His mind was so full of thoughts as he got back, he acted on instinct, lowering in the air as he neared, then he air beneath his hooves became solid footing and splashing snow. He blinked and looked at the snow covered ground beneath him. He had just landed and didn't even stumble.
He couldn't keep the grin off his face as he wandered off in search of some dinner. Flying really worked up an appetite.