《Iced Hearts》


 Section One: Ice ball

    Samuel Martin had lived his entire life on Earth, nestled safely within humanity''s tender love and care. Most of that life was spent as a less-than-exceptional mechanical engineer. With his wife, the two scraped together an idyllic life in the midwest United States. He would jump from one odd job and soul-sucking contract to another. All in the constant pursuit of the almighty dollar and the ever-present expectations society had set upon him to be a ¡°Real man.¡±


    Samuel had assumed that was all his life would ever be. That was until the Galactic Union(GU) arrived and uplifted Humanity to an interstellar species.


    After they took over, humans had food, water, and basic needs met. Yet many Humans found themselves out of work and living aimlessly. The GU would only allow a few Humans to travel to the stars with them. The exceptions were made for soldiers or those the GU deemed capable enough.


    The rest of humanity had no challenge, strife, or tribulations. For some, their lives were still a daily grind, with little on earth meaningfully changing unless you were one of those rare few.


    Samuel''s wife was among the former. For her, the challenge was not because of some job or life passion. No, Sarah had been diagnosed with brain cancer several years before the GU arrived.


    Sarah tried to keep her head high for so long and find a reason to wake up each day. But her decay was slow, painful, and wrought with spats of forgetfulness. As her end drew near, she could not even recognize Samuel anymore.


    Even with all of the GU power, medical technology, and ability to change the world, brain cancer was still lethal. No matter how much he begged, pleaded, and sought aid from the aliens, they never gave any.


    Samuel spent years upon years of his life hating the GU, despising them for failing to save his wife, his one true love. During those years, Samuel became cold and distant from those he once knew. They were hardly his friends, hardly his allies, just those he knew in the barest context. None truly understood his loss and life without his dear wife, Sarah.


    Not even his children came around to see him anymore. They all had decided helping their dear old dad cope was not as important as being among some of the first humans to travel to the stars.


    Throughout it all, he held his head high. Putting up a facade to show the world. In reality, he was little more than a broken, hollow, and hateful man¡ªsomeone with nothing to live for, with no actual goals.


    Then, one day, the group he hated the most had the audacity to approach him, the GU. They sought Engineers and those with technical backgrounds to spread out into the farthest reaches of their influence. They wanted people to man locations in the far reaches of space¡ªsomeone who could manage outposts alone. Likely someone who would not be missed by many.


    Samuel initially denied the offer, telling the representatives to shove it where the sun does not shine. Yet, after months upon months of them asking repeatedly, Samuel gave in. He surrendered to the fact that nothing was left for him on earth.


    Traveling amidst the stars would at least give him a fresh start away from Humans and aliens. He would have little to do other than keep some arrays active. At least that''s all the job had described.


    ¡ª---


    Baritin was, for the most part, a cold ball of ice. A small moon off in the furthest reaches of the GU, half the Milky Way away from Earth.


    There were sentient creatures on it, the Varintol. However, they were reclusive and did not like interacting with the GU. Much like Samuel himself.


    All he knew from the briefings was that the Varintol were a sentient humanoid species who lived in a tribalistic culture. Beyond that, they were unknown even though the GU had been on this moon for hundreds of Earth years. He had wondered why that was but never gave it more than a passing thought.


    This arrangement was perfect for Samuel; their existence would not prevent him from keeping the satellite array functioning or the outpost in ship shape. The more significant issue for him was the indescribable cold of the moon; while Wisconsin reached low temperatures, the tundra was truly frigid. At its highest, the temperature reached zero degrees Celsius and was always under heavy snow and wind. There were some warmer climates near the moon''s equator, but that''s not where he was going. No, Samuel was going to a barren tundra on the largest continent.


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    Samuel braced slightly while the shuttle shook and shuddered as it reached the moon''s surface. He sighed, glad the several-week-long journey from Earth was almost over. The GU rushed him out the door so quickly he never even had the chance to sell his house. It was ridiculous. That was neither here nor there; the house would crumble and be forgotten like he would.


    He thought about how much his life had changed; when he got married thirty earth years ago, he would have never imagined himself being anywhere but lounging on his porch, beer in hand with his wife at his side¡ªnow all of that was gone, nothing but a fading memory.


    Samuel was not a young buck, being well past fifty. He had a rather large belly but was muscular for a man his age. Chopping wood and working actively on job sites kept his body from becoming frail, which, coupled with beer, had endowed him with a build akin to a powerlifter.


    Running his hand through his thick salt and pepper beard, Samuel glanced out the window at the endless ocean of tall pine-like trees coated in blistering snow, fully anticipating this moon to be his lonely grave.


    The shuttle lurched to a stop, and the back hatch dropped, offering him exit. The horrendous winds of the moon''s surface bid him welcome as icy fingers ran down his collar and instantly chilled him to the bone.


    ¡°Sir, please reach out if you need aid,¡± the pilot said via the intercom.


    ¡°Yeah, I will,¡± Samuel shrugged before hefting his backpack and stepping off the shuttle''s ramp into the knee-deep snow.


    Samuel looked back at the shuttle as it took off and quickly vanished into the heavy snow. He thought about them leaving and realized he could, at long last, have what he wanted, to be forgotten. All it took was him coming to this horrible ice ball to make it happen. He had been forgotten by everyone else on Earth anyway. Here, at least, his reality matched his mentality.


    Samuel paused, looking at the outpost. It was a small grouping of gray buildings covered in heavy snowpack. A small array of satellites and solar panels were on the roof. They were all covered in thick layers of ice. The outpost had not been manned in years; apparently, most species would rather not be left out here where your nearest help was weeks if not months away.


    The main satellite dish on the mountain nearby was not visible through the near white-out conditions, but he knew it was there. He would see it soon while assessing the station after years of neglect.


    The wind whistled like wailing banshees between the buildings, defying Samuel''s dream of being alone. But if that''s all that disrupted those plans, who was he to complain?


    ¡°Home sweet home,¡± Samuel muttered, trudging through the heavy powder.


    Reaching the main building was a herculean task. He got it done by mustering up all the old man strength and stubbornness he could. Samuel pressed the button to open the door, But nothing happened. After a quick inspection of the frame, Samuel realized what was wrong.


    The building was frozen solid, sealing the doors shut like a weld. It took several minutes of driving his shoulder into the door to crack the seal and have the door open. Once inside, Samuel was exhausted and covered in sweat, having not had to do any form of physical exertion like that in a while.


    His last job that required him to do anything strenuous was years ago, and that was just a simple construction gig. There, he helped move bags of concrete and other supplies the young bucks felt they weren¡¯t strong enough to do¨Cthose lazy bastards.


    Why he had to do the physical labor was not beyond him. Samuel was not a young Human Marine; he was an old Engineer. Samuel could keep a mechanical or electrical system working like no other, but fighting, working hard, and lifting heavy objects were tasks he would rather not be saddled with at this point in life.


    Samuel quickly took to settling in. First, he set the temperature to a comfortable level and ensured the satellites were in good order, at least what he could do from the terminals. He was pleasantly surprised that despite the arrays being out of care for years, they were fully functional. After reviewing the rest of the technical manuals for the satellite dishes, Samuel smiled; if there were no issues, the systems would run themselves. He was only the backup; at least the GU was truthful about that.


    So long as nothing kept the systems and staples of his life from working, all he would have to do for the next few standard years was clean solar panels in the mornings and do regular maintenance. All of that was perfect for him.


    He could be forgotten and go with the flow until he kicked the bucket and ended up as a man popsicle when the arrays and power eventually gave out.


    Samuel sat down in the main room of the outpost and pulled out one of the MREs from storage. Glancing around, he could see a few rooms: Barracks, entertainment, an exercise wing, a workshop, storage rooms, bathrooms, and his workstation. But he hardly cared right now; letting his tired muscles relax was all he needed and wanted for the night. Samuel did not even inventory the weapons the GU gave him. He could do that later. Instead, he focused on the location''s solitude, enjoying his newfound peace and the deep snow surrounding his new home.


    The rest of the day was uneventful, giving Samuel ample time to settle in and learn the relays. Even with the storm outside, his new life was starting on the right foot. Simple, straightforward, and with no one to bother him.

 Section Two: Fur Ball

    Scarletra Ursana had lived the last few local years as a recluse. She had fled from her clan and home after years of Mother, using and abusing her over the course of her life. With the cumulative event being her attempting to force Scarletra to marry a young lad from another village for some political maneuver.


    Farun was nice enough, but he was so young, inexperienced, and unsure of himself that Scarletra found him repulsive.


    Scarletra would much rather enjoy the company of the older men in the village; their confidence, assurance, and experience set her body alight. But Mother would never approve, and the ones she fancied were either spoken for or uninterested in someone as young as her¡ªeven though she was an adult.


    She had been blessed as an adult woman years before Mother attempted to arrange her pairing with Farun; that was when her mother gave her a name. The fact that Mother named her after the color of blood was repulsive. Mother wanted a warrior, a leader, an heir, not a crafter, even though Scarletra would rather whittle and make sculptures.


    Scarletra stopped at a stream that trickled through the snow-covered rocks, hoping to soothe her drying throat. Today''s hunt had been long and arduous, with her only managing to hunt a single Khatnit stag. She dipped her large hands into the ice-cold water, washing the blood off her long claws. The water held her fur down as she brought the rejuvenating liquid to her lips.


    Looking into the water, she paused, spotting her reflection. She looked tired. Her once bright golden eyes had little luster left. Her large ears were round, still soft, and perched atop her head, poking out of silver-gray ass-length hair. She sighed, seeing flecks of blood on her face; despite being alone, Scarletra still cared about her appearance, at least somewhat.


    She was large, even amidst her species, standing nearly three meters tall, while most were around two. She had the arctic Varintol¡¯s usual build, thick and heavy muscles covered by even thicker layers of insulating fat. She did not like that it gave her a large, imposing frame juxtaposed with her gentle nature.


    Scarletra regularly hunted and killed but would rather not hurt anything unless she had to, much to Mother''s dismay. Scarletra would prefer to hold and cuddle the tiny creatures; they were cute and soft and did not insist she had to be a savage berserker or the next matriarch of the clan. They were okay with her being herself, even if they feared her.


    The only other notable difference between her and the others from her now oh-so-distant village was her fur color. Dull gray and white stripes covered her entire body, offering her effective camouflage in the deep, never-ending winter.


    Most of the village was one or the other, with a few that wore brown fur. But she had been blessed with a striped mix. A unique note of her alone. Without the camouflage it offered, she would have undoubtedly starved by now, so she saw it as a boon from the Great Mother.


    Scarletra rubbed her hands through her thick fur, combing out any remnants of the scrub and bramble buried within. She ensured her light clothing did not have unwanted stragglers like insects or other parasites; Scarletra ran her large knife-like claws around her thick hips and large breasts, ensuring no bugs had found safety in the deep valleys and crevices.


    Knowing none were there, Scarletra resumed her trudge through the green bows and deep snow toward one of the caves she called home. The caves are the only location where the judgemental eyes of her family could not find her despite their trying for years.


    ¡ª-


    Scarletra dragged her latest kill toward the cave, a heavy trail of blood sopping the snow behind them. Scarletra looked back at the creature and sighed. She hated seeing it. The kill was not clean; the stag screamed and flailed horribly when she ripped its neck open. The memory made her shudder. But she had to eat, and killing was the rule of nature in the tundras of Baritin.


    The noises and the stag''s horrified eyes made her nearly tear up as a knot formed in her throat; no matter how many she killed, it never got easier. She did not want them to suffer even if she knew the Khatnit stags were plentiful. They were another of the Great Mothers'' creatures who deserve love and respect.


    Why did killing them have to weigh on her so heavily?


    Scarletra sighed, dropped the stag near the cave entrance, and headed inside to retrieve one of the sacks she crafted and some rope but paused before reaching the entrance. Her large ears fluttered when a strange droning pierced the howling winds and drew her attention, looking skyward at a large shuttle entering the atmosphere, passing overhead like a comet.


    It was strange that a shuttle was heading toward the GU outpost. The GU tended to avoid Baritin. They had tried to establish outposts and contact the clans generations ago. But apparently, her elders'' gruff and stubborn demeanor was more than the GU wanted to deal with. So they built their large dishes and outposts in the reaches no one claimed, then left her family alone. She did not know if the other tribes still had contact with the people from the stars but assumed they were similar.


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    The GU never even left anyone at the outposts; they had been abandoned for years. Scarletra knew this because when she initially left her tribe to escape Mother, she tried to contact the GU in the hopes they might be able to offer her shelter and a new lot in life, but all of the outposts were vacant¡ªno matter how many times she went back over the years.


    Scarletra wondered how long the GU would be here, seeing this as her chance to get as far away from her old clan as possible, knowing they would eventually find her and try to drag her back into the fold, no matter how much she kicked and screamed. Seizing the opportunity, Scarletra rushed through the woods, uncaring of the trees she toppled and the boulders she tossed away in her wake.


    Scarletra''s heart overflowed with anticipation. Her years upon years of isolation would finally come to an end. All she had to do was reach the outpost before the ship took off. She had no doubt the GU would welcome her and let her escape this tundra. They tried to bring her clan to the stars before, so why not her?


    As Scarletra reached the precipice of a cliff that overlooked the outpost, her heart sank as the shuttle took off and quickly vanished over the distant mountains.


    They had hardly been on the surface for more than a few minutes. Scarletra initially thought she had missed her chance to escape and have someone, anyone she could talk to, hug, or hold dear That was until she paid more attention to the buildings of the outpost nestled deep in the valley.


    Someone was down there; they were slamming into the doors, trying to enter the most prominent building. Even with Scarletra''s exceptional vision, she could not make out any details about the individual from here. The kilometers of distance and the fluttering snow made them appear as little more than a shifting shadow amidst the gray buildings.


    Scarletra smiled, her heart overflowing with joy before she stepped down the snowy cliff. Someone more agile and petite than her might have been able to sled down the side without disturbing the snowpack much, but her massive bulk did not allow her to do that.


    Her descent was akin to a small avalanche as she plowed through the meters of heavily packed frost. She nearly tumbled several times on the way down when she collided with a few unseen boulders, but minor setbacks like that would not stop her now. All she had to do was make a good first impression.


    ¡ª-


    The sun had set long before Scarletra reached the GU outpost. Flood lights high above the facility bathed the area with bright orange light. Scarletra cautiously moved through the exterior gates and ambled past the smaller buildings.


    The odor of the outpost was disgusting; it was heavy and acrid. The scent of oil, gasoline, and other chemicals caused her eyes to water. How the creatures of the GU could stand being around here was beyond her; she hoped the inside of their homes smelled less repulsive.


    Scarletra took a deep, steadying breath as she neared the doors, worried her appearance would horrify whatever creature the GU had dropped off. Her massive frame was usually unsettling enough for her own kind. How an alien would react was unknown. For all she knew, they would like how she looked; she was big, huggable, and cute.


    At least she hoped that they would find her cute.


    The tales she had heard about the species of the GU said they were similar in size to the normal Varintol. At least if Mother and the elders were to be believed, they told tales of creatures lacking muscle, fur, and survival ability.


    Scarletra did not want to put faith in the words of those horrible people, not after what they put her through. She had to see for herself.


    As she neared the main building, she noticed the snow was disturbed by the actions of whoever was inside, likely from when they were slamming against the door. She spotted a small object poking out of the snow. Kneeling, she carefully pinched it between her claws.


    She drew the brown tube along her nose, smelling it intensely. It smelled woody and earthy, reminding her of some of the mosses that grew in the southernmost reaches of her territory during the summer. The blissful smell sent a shiver down her spine. She had no idea what this was for, but it was made of some dried leaf and reminded her of what other warriors would smoke before and after a battle.


    Scarletra tucked the curiosity into the belt pouch she used to store her few spices and other condiments and went to the door; she paused and curiously looked at it, her confusion growing as she could not find a way to open the metal hatch.


    Her tribe used skins as doors, and you just simply pushed those open. She did not have the slightest idea how to open the strange metallic hatch the GU had constructed. She spent nearly half an hour clawing at the door, carving into the relatively soft metal, trying to see if that would open the door. No luck.


    Having failed at her attempt to enter, she wandered around the outside of the building, trying to peek through the windows inside, but could not see through any of them. The inside was pitch black, and the ice was far too thick. It was so solid that even her clawing at the ice only gouged deep channels in the surface.


    Scarletra growled in frustration. She hoped that she finally would have someone else to talk to. Knowing that the only other creature within several days'' walk was only a few weak layers of metal away was infuriating. Yet she was not going to destroy their home just to see them. That would in no way help her meet her new neighbor.


    Her final attempt at making contact was knocking on the door.


    ¡°Hello, is anyone there?¡± Scarletra roared as she continued to bludgeon the entrance.


    Maybe they could not hear, so she struck the door harder and roared at the top of her lungs. The metal began to buckle under her heavy strikes. She immediately stopped feeling nervous that her new neighbor would be upset at the damage she had already accidentally caused to their home. Why was everything so soft and so easy to break? She did not want to destroy anything, but it just happened. Hopefully, they understand.


    Dejected, Scarletra rounded the area, leaving traces of her scent all across nearly every surface she could touch, hoping the creature inside would pick up on her subtle bouquet of spices and musk, allowing them to come and find her.


    Afterward, she stomped off into the winter night and back toward her cave, knowing it would take her a whole day to return. She decided to attempt to make contact again another day after getting a proper gift of friendship for them. Even if it meant she would have to kill another creature to prepare it, doing so would undoubtedly help her when they meet.


    Who doesn¡¯t want a gift, after all?

 Section Three: Settling In

    Samuel slept like garbage, tossing and turning with little genuine rest, having woken up sometime around midnight to the slamming and roaring of some beast outside; luckily, the building should be safe and would not buckle too easily. That and whatever animal it likely just came to investigate the smell of the food he made; it was probably the only food in several kilometers.


    He got out of bed and stumbled over to the light switch. The chill sent a shiver down his spine, making him wonder if something happened to the heating system. He flicked on the lights, and the blood-red emergency overhead lights activated instead of the typical white overheads.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± Samuel grumbled, realizing the storm must have knocked out the power, shutting off the heating and causing his systems to start running on their backup power banks.


    ¡°At least I have something to do,¡± Samuel sighed before putting on his headlamp and dressing in light skivvies.


    The bright white of his headlamp beam made it far easier to navigate through the dark rooms of the station, making it a simple task not to knock his shin into any of the furniture. The iced-over windows offered him little light from the sun; it might as well still be midnight.


    Once Samuel made it to the workstation in the maintenance room, he started to review the deep lexicons of instructions and maintenance manuals for the station''s innumerable systems and subsystems. He was glad the files were well-organized and easy to read through. Far too many times in the past, instructions or manuals might as well not be written in standard.


    Whoever was here years ago was also a wise individual. They had left him handwritten instructions on troubleshooting the systems based on their experience manning the station. According to his predecessor, someone named Vasco, the power goes out at least once a week, with the main issue usually coming down to the solar panels being covered in snow. That made sense; if the solar panels could not catch the sun, the computer would say they must be broken.


    Samuel made a mental note to read over more of Vasco¡¯s words of wisdom when he had free time. Any amount of understanding of the outpost''s personality he could get would be helpful. For now getting the power back online was more important than reading notes left for Samuel''s ease of mind. Vasco mentioned the emergency power does not power the roof''s de-icers, and Samuel ran the risk of the roof caving in from the snowpack''s weight.


    Samuel tossed on his parka and heavy thermal clothes. The gear was essential to survive any significant length of time on the moon''s surface; otherwise, it was far too cold for Humans to perform any essential maintenance in the frigid tundra.


    He tapped the control panel built into his parka sleeve and set the temperature to hold the suit at a comfortable 24 degrees Celsius.


    The tubes running inside his clothes twitched when the pumps attached to his belt activated and forced warm antifreeze around him, offering him steady warmth. The system did little to keep his face warm, but his thick beard and the faux fur-lined hood would handle that.


    Entering the winter room and groaning, he lowered himself onto the creaking bench, his tired muscles and sore knees screaming at him each millimeter. They always did when he woke up, so he had just come to think of it as his body''s warm-up cycles. After all, any well-used machine needed a little warm-up to work correctly, and his old body was just another well-worn machine.


    Slipping his boots on and quickly lacing them, he glanced around the room that kept the cold out of the main living area and let them store wet and drying clothes. It worked well for all of that, especially staging needed tools and the weapons the GU had given him, all of which were in packs and lockers across from him.


    Pulling out one of his cigars and antique flip lighter, he chuckled while struggling to flip the lighter open in his thick winter gloves. The lighter had been in his family since World War Two when his ancestor made it out of an old bullet casing. The age proved that if you cared for something, it would last forever; the lighter was well over five hundred years old, give or take a few decades.


    Samuel lit his cigar after pressing the button to actuate the doors, cringing as they scraped loudly against the door frame. That was odd since they worked fine the previous day.


    After stepping outside, he realized why the doors were malfunctioning. When the beast slammed against the doors, they had buckled inward and cut deep gashes into the surface, exposing dozens of wires inside holes large enough to slip his gloved hand inside.


    A growing sense of unease built in his chest while searching for any other damage the creature might have caused. To his horror, claw marks were on every window, including the one his head was next to when he slept. If that creature could carve into the aluminum siding, no doubt it could have smashed the glass and killed him.


    He tried to spot tracks, but the fresh powder covered up any prints the creature had made. Not that seeing the tracks would have been much help; Samuel was not familiar enough with local fauna to identify animals by tracks alone.


    ¡°I guess I will need to inventory those guns and check the cameras from last night. Maybe they caught a good view of whatever this thing was,¡± Samuel muttered after taking a deep drag of his cigar, ¡°Hopefully, this thing doesn¡¯t come back.¡±


    After Samuel was confident all of the damage to the building exterior was inventoried, he worked his way onto the outpost''s roof. A few near slips on the ladder almost had him falling into the snow below; at least the distance was short, and fresh powder would keep him from breaking anything.


    Once on the roof, Samuel looked at the vast ocean of trees and the deep valley the outpost called home. Yesterday, it was snowing so heavily that he could not see further than a few hundred meters. Now, with the sun high in the sky, the full grandeur of his new home was at his fingertips.


    The valley was part of a large canyon; two towering mountains covered in green coniferous trees stood high on each side of the outpost. They looked similar to pine trees, but Samuel knew they were not pines but a chance of evolution.


    The massive deep space satellite dish stood proud on the western ridge, the bright morning sun bouncing off its iced surface. It was the main reason he was out here. While it essentially ran itself and needed no maintenance, he could use the smaller satellite dishes nearby to communicate with it for any non-mechanical issues. He knew one day he would have to go up to the colossal structure itself; everything left alone long enough would eventually break; Samuel knew that all too well.


    For now, he had to clean off the solar panels and try to repair any damage done to the outside of the facility. So much for this being a do-nothing assignment; his first day already had him struggling to create solutions for problems he frankly should not have.


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    Cleaning off the solar panels was easy enough; the region was so cold that the snow had not congealed into a massive sheet of ice, so Samuel could wipe them off with his hands. The whole process only took him a little under an hour.


    He glanced down at his sleeve-mounted control panel and ran a quick diagnostic.


    ¡°Thank you, Vasco, whoever you are. That would have taken me a while,¡± Samuel praised as the diagnostic spit out that the main power systems were green. The only error codes he received were from the creature¡¯s damage.


    Samuel struggled to remove all the damaged aluminum panels. Whoever designed these generic prefabs did not consider the panels would ever be covered in thick ice. The entire surface was tightly sealed by almost four millimeters of sleet, including the flush screws holding the damaged parts in place.


    ¡°Mother fucking stupid engineers, not purpose-building your creations,¡± Samuel grunted while chipping at the ice.


    Situations like this were all too often a problem with prefab anything. They all followed the idea of being good enough to work because it was cheaper. Samuel preferred doing things differently than most other engineers; anything he built was for a purpose and designed from the ground up to accomplish a goal. It was, in a way, his raison d''etre.


    Between Samuel''s old man strength and his sharp screwdriver, he made quick work of the ice and could use the tool for its actual purpose, not as a makeshift chisel.


    Twelve panels in total were halfway destroyed. Samuel piled each twenty-kilogram panel in the garage nearby because the shop was both heated and had a welding unit. Samuel was glad he could at least take his coat off while repairing these things; being out in the cold would not make the difficult task of welding aluminum any easier.


    He felt right at home inside the garage. The entire shop oozed dirty worker vibes. Oil stained the floor, and the walls had racks of components for the facility. Several battered shelves were overflowing with tools he could easily use to maintain any vehicle he could want to repair, from a motorcycle to a landing craft. Samuel only had one vehicle on his roster for now, and it was the shop''s centerpiece¡ªthe glorious engineering marvel known as the Varintluk.


    The massive vehicle sported an environmentally sealed cab fit for up to a dozen people. It had been built with four large screw tracks, allowing it to glide over snow easily and traverse calm water. Both features would undoubtedly serve him well in the tundra.


    The Varintluk had everything needed to survive for multiple weeks: food, filters, heat, solar power, and communication systems. The thing even had an auto surgeon inside; they were not perfect, but they worked fine for minor stabilization and treatment.


    Samuel would have to take it out for a spin later. He had never been able to drive anything that large, and the bright orange vehicle looked oh-so-tempting.


    ¡°I will name you later on, beautiful,¡± Samuel growled, running his fingers along the front screw tracks.


    After returning to fixing the damage, Samuel spent most of the day relatively in the zone, mindlessly going back and forth between the shop and the broken wall sections. He welded the patches over the aluminum using some of the extra raw paneling. There was little point in using the CNC machine to make new ones when the old panels could be repaired. Even though Samuel was not an expert welder, the patches he placed over the aluminum were at least airtight, something he was proud of.


    Samuel also made quick splices on the wiring beneath the panels, which was good enough to eliminate the errors in his systems. Luckily, the shop had plenty of melting bridge connectors, making the job short and simple. The less splicing he had to do, the better. Especially since wearing his thick winter gloves gave Samuel the dexterity of a drunken hippo.


    By the time Samuel was back inside the main building, he was exhausted, having not eaten all day, surviving only on his cigars and water.


    Samuel inventoried all the supplies the GU had dropped off weeks ago. He had plenty of beer, freeze-dried food, and cigars. They also added many of the other small creature comforts he requested, which was surprising. Samuel expected the GU penny pinchers to shove a note in the shipping crates telling him to pound sand, but they seemed to have followed his request list to the letter.


    He had to be somewhat careful with how quickly he used supplies since they only gave him enough for one local month. The conversion for time meant he had slightly over two Standard months of food. That was not a big deal since the GU would send a shuttle down with the same items regularly unless he requested something else.


    At least he would be comfortable as he slowly froze to death out here.


    Samuel sat to review the footage from last night  last while shoveling rehydrated beef into his mouth. After not eating all day, the warm juices and salty flavor were a true boon. Had he not just poured the hot water into the mylar bag, he could easily have been tricked into thinking that a chef had freshly made the food. The food was another tick in his mental list of things the GU does very well. However, making survival food was not that difficult.


    Pulling up the previous night''s videos was an absolute waste of time. The snow was so thick that all Samuel managed to see was the slightest glimpses of the beast. The best picture he got of the animal told him two things: the monster was bipedal and stood as tall as the roof of the single-story building.


    ¡°Great, all the more reason to get the guns ready,¡± Samuel grumbled.


    After eating, Samuel returned to the entry room and opened the weapon cages. He paused in shock upon seeing the contents. The GU did a marvelous job supplying him with tools to keep the local flora and fauna a safe distance away.


    There was an old pump-action shotgun with a red dot sight. It was chambered in 12 gauge and had plenty of ammunition stacked below it. He looked at the plastic boxes of ammo; there was a healthy mixture of slugs, buckshot, and birdshot.


    Samuel could hunt some local animals with it if push came to shove. He had already seen several smaller birds and other creatures resembling foxes skittering amidst the trees. But for now, he was in no rush to start shooting everything around his new home, so long as they gave him a safe distance.


    The rifle just next to the shotgun was the current military-issued sniper rifle. The WLR-1(Winter Long-Range Model One) was a semi-automatic magazine-fed weapon¡ª that sported ten rounds of 12.7mm caseless love ready and at your fingertips.


    Samuel hefted the black rifle and cycled the buttery smooth action. The metal clinking of the perfectly designed rotating bolt operating was better than sex to an engineer. He wondered how precise the design tolerances were but knew he would likely never have those answers.


    He flipped up the iron sights and looked down them; seeing them glowing brightly made him smile. Samuel was excited about the weapon and its capabilities until he spotted the ballistically calibrated scope¡ª that the GU failed to mount on the top rails.


    ¡°Well shit, I guess I will have to do that later,¡± Samuel sighed.


    He knew the iron sights could shoot minute-of-man or at least minute of whatever lurked around his outpost. He just won''t be able to let the 12.7mm caseless ammo stretch its legs until he calibrates the optic. According to the weapon¡¯s manual, the round, rifle, and scope together in the right hands should be capable of drilling a man-sized target at two kilometers. Too bad Samuel was not the right hands. So, he only expected to be able to shoot 500 meters accurately.


    Samuel would zero the rifle tomorrow. Plus, needing to head out to find somewhere to shoot would be an excellent excuse to take the Varintluk out and put it through its paces.


    The last item in the weapon locker had Samuel acting like a kid with a new toy if that new toy shot flaming hatred out of its front end with a fifty-meter range. What red-blooded man did not want a flamethrower after all? A massive bonus for the flamethrower was that it was not a backpack style, so he could easily set it down and work with his hands.


    Samuel just had to keep some of the biodiesel tanks nearby and fill them up using the biodiesel synthesizer at the far end of the compound every few days. Now that Samuel knew a flamethrower was available, he would never shovel snow again. Work smarter, not harder, and whatnot.


    This tool would also be perfect at scaring off whatever was lingering around his outpost. Be it here or on earth, Samuel could not think of any creature unafraid of fire. He certainly could not think of anything more horrifying than burning alive.


    Before sleeping, the last thing he did was stage the loaded shotgun near his bed. Hopefully, he could get a hold of it and shoot back at whatever lurked outside before it caused him more work.

 Section Four: Hunting For a Gift

    Scarletra stalked the verdant pines of the forests a day''s journey north of her cave. She wanted to reach a particular section of her territory because of the animals there. The location was in one of the more harsh regions, with jagged cliffs and stronger than usual winds. But it was the only place her intended gift dwelled, the Lirit. A small furry creature enjoyed this area because there was a cave system and thermal springs underneath the mountains.


    Scarletra also enjoyed the caves and thermal springs; they helped her keep clean and  lounge about in utter bliss, a reprieve from the bitter cold.


    Though she would never admit it to anyone, the warmth of the water reminded her of the large communal sleeping areas in her old village. She missed the tender care of that skinship. Yet, with how she ran off in the middle of the night and shirked her apparent destiny, it was doubtful she would ever have that kind of closeness again, even though the desire to have it gnawed at her soul like a pack of ravenous Purtirlin hounds.


    Scarletra paused and looked down into the pit below her, taking a steadying breath to prepare for the jump. She dropped into the large hole, gritting her teeth to brace for impact in the deep snow surrounding the geyser in its center. She stumbled when her heavy frame landed in the shallow snow at the crater''s base, sinking almost to her knees.


    Steadying herself, she looked down at the scalding water contained in the pool just centimeters from her snout; a wave of relief filled her, knowing falling inside very well would have given her severe burns or killed her. Plenty of animals in her territory fell victim to that horrendous fate; the remnants of those unfortunate creatures were visible inside the scalding water.


    Sacrletra picked up her spear and checked to ensure its stone tip had not been damaged; luckily, it was as sharp as ever, and only one of the back-facing barbs had broken off.


    She sighed and looked at the several caverns carved by the geyser''s flow. Any could be used as a hunting ground for the day since she could fit inside them, but the one she chose had the most green moss clinging to its walls. It would undoubtedly house the most life.


    Stepping inside, Scarletra took a deep breath of the cooling air; the cave was far colder than when she was within arm''s reach of the geyser. She was glad because the horrible heat and hot steam made her fur heavy, weighing her down like she was walking through chest-deep snow.


    Scarletra followed the deep greens and light yellows of the mosses and other short reeds that thrived in the relative warmth of the caves. Thick steam rose from the water, making each step filled with hesitance, knowing she was several hundred meters away from the water being safe to touch and that the ground was slick from the plant growth.


    She slowly worked into the deeper chambers one by one, her ears constantly flicking back and forth, keenly attuned to any sounds from the gift she wanted to present to the GU representative. At the same time, she kept her eyes peeled, her vision skirting the lowest portions of the walls, searching for any of the small nooks and crannies the Lirit liked to use for their dens.


    Skarletra had to rely on sight and sound instead of scent because the steamy water filled the air with the rotted egg-like scent of sulfur. She hated it when she lost all sense of smell; it felt like she was walking around nearly blind, causing her to constantly check over her shoulder to try and cover that blind spot.


    Although relying on sight and going this slow was not all bad. She could bask in the glow of the bioluminescent flowers that thrived in the cave, giving the area a wan, yellow light.


    Scarletra made it into one of the deeper sections of the cave complex, and the smallest skitter of movement across the flowing water drew her eye. Her head snapped to it, following her ears.


    A small creature dove into a tight tunnel; it was so fast she only saw the telltale sign of the beast: its long, fluffy tail. She smiled, glad she had found the target she wanted and not some other random animal. Now, all Scarletra had to do was lure it out of the hole and run it through with her spear.


    Scarletra lumbered through the waist-deep water, warmth pushing into her skin, soothing her aching muscles. She thought it was a shame she was here hunting today; otherwise, she would happily strip and lounge in the soothing oasis for hours. Like she did once a month or so to ensure her thick fur was clean and well-groomed.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Once on the other side of the water, Sacrletra leaned close to the hole and pressed her ear into it. After a few moments, the sound of the adorable little fuzzball chirping and moving around became clear. Looking in, she sighed; the creature''s burrow was too deep and had a turn in it. She hoped she could stab the beast from the entrance if it were short enough, but that would not work. Time for a new plan.


    Scarletra kneeled into the squelching moss, reached into one of her pouches, and pulled out tinder and flint. Smoking the little creature out should work well enough; all the wet greenery on the walls would quickly create a large amount of smoke.


    She carefully prepared her materials, made a small tinder nest, and pulled plenty of the grass and moss off the walls, placing it nearby, ready for when she lit the fire. After a few hard strikes and flying sparks, her tinder burned, and she pulled on the rest of the material. The greenery smoldered and gradually caught fire. A thick, heavy smoke flowed and filled the area.


    Scarletra coughed, the acrid odor stinging her throat and nose. She quickly started to waft the smoke into the sett with one hand, holding her spear in a tense grip over her head, waiting for her prey.


    After a few minutes of forcing the heavy smoke into the hole, the little creature inside began to squeal and cry in fright as the oxygen was sucked out of its home.


    Scarletra listened carefully for the creature''s movement toward the exit, the Lirit¡¯s only salvation. After a few moments, tiny claws scraped against the stone. She clenched her spear tightly as it got closer, waiting for the Lirit to come into view.


    The Lirit burst out of the tunnel and barreled through her smoke fire, tossing hot embers and smoke back at Scarletra¡¯s face.


    Scareltra squinted as the burning materials battered her face. She could barely see as her eyes watered, but she could see just enough to spot the Lirit¡¯s movement. She screamed in defiance and thrust the spear down; the creature cried in pain as the barbed points collided with its tender flesh.


    Scarletra dropped the meter and a half-long spear, panicking to wipe the burning feeling from her eyes.


    ¡°Ahh, it burns,¡± she groaned, rubbing the thick fur of her forearms against her eyes.


    As she frantically tried to soothe the searing in her eyes, the small Lirit continued to scream and cry. Guilt grew inside her, spreading like a vile infection with each horrendous cry. She had hoped she got a clean kill, but regrettably, in her panic, she failed to do so.


    Scarletra¡¯s eyes fluttered open, the wan light of the oasis coming into focus. Her heart cracked upon seeing the Lirit. The tiny creature''s beautiful and soft golden fur was matted by its blood as it desperately tried to crawl away with the spear shoved through its mid back, its hind legs limp, dragging through the slick blood.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Scarletra said, quickly rushing to the Lirit.


    She tried to grab the creature, but it growled and nipped, twisting out of her grasp. The pitiful animal fell into the pool of water and thrashed violently, trying to escape the gargantuan predator looming over it.


    Scarletra dipped her furred hand into the water and grabbed the writhing creature by the neck. She put her thumb beneath the Litrits chin and quickly pressed hard. A shiver ran down her spine as the beast''s vertebrae turned to dust under the pressure. All of its fight and life left its body in an instant. Its fluttering round ears stopped moving, and the fear in its vibrant brown eyes vanished. Sarletra felt a weight like a million tons crush her heart like a bug.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, little one; I need something to give them,¡± Scarletra sniffled, setting the limp body on the ground. She stared at the body, blood pouring from the wound, trailing away and dripping into the water.


    She fell into an odd fugue state, hating herself for hurting the adorable little beast. She could not think of the last time she killed anything other than for her to eat, taking little solace in that she would hopefully feed her new friend with it.


    Scarletra sighed after a few minutes and ripped her spear from the creature. She gently took the Lirit in her hands and dunked it in the water, ensuring its body was empty of blood and that the beautiful golden fur was pristine.


    ¡°Great Mother, I hope this was worth it,¡± Sacrletra muttered as she draped the limp corpse off a rope loop on her clothes.


    Scarletra worked her way out of the caves, trying to ignore the feeling of the Lirit¡¯s body rubbing against her thigh. She reached the entrance just as the geyser started to erupt. She tucked in cover and watched the grand display of nature.


    The geyser roared like the largest animal on the small moon, accosting her for taking one of the creatures that called it home. She tried to ignore the baleful roars as incomprehensible amounts of steam and water erupted from the moon''s surface.


    After the geyser had settled, she smiled, seeing a giant rainbow in the steam. Her cracked heart mended slightly, seeing a sign from the Great Mother that she approved of her actions.


    ¡°Thank you, Great Mother,¡± Scarletra said before she walked over to the slope and hoisted herself up to return to the outpost¡ªand the person she hoped could fill the void in her soul.

 Publishing Announcement.

    Hello all. It is Pirate here; long time no read. I hope you all have been doing well. At the start of this story''s Christmas special, I announced that I would be stepping back from writing any new books for a short few months. I did so because I wanted to do what I am announcing today: that Iced Hearts'' main story has been fully cleaned up and published; it is now available on Amazon and Kindle for purchase.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The two version are paperback for 16.99 or digital for 4.00. Over all I enjoyed the experience of writing this story and hope that you all enjoyed it.


    I hope I earned a purchase and a review from you all.


    I will see you soon when I resume posting my next story "Escape from Heavalun"


    Your baker


    -Pirate


    Amazon link


    https://a.co/d/0nv9xJM


    Kofi Link.


    https://ko-fi.com/pirateopotato

 An Iced Hearts Christmas---Section One: Tree Shopping

    The fresh snow crunched under Samuel¡¯s boots as they slowly marched up the hill from the parking lot to Red¡¯s tree farm. Like all other years, Samuels'' custom-modified military HMMV was the only vehicle. He had commissioned it before arriving back on Earth with Scarletra. Go figure, having a vehicle he and his three-meter-tall wife could both be in comfortably and operate took some creative engineering on his and several of his old friend''s hands. But it was built.


    Chirping chickadees filled the air with happy tunes as the little birds flew through the trees overhead, their wing beats muffled by the lazily falling early morning snow. Alongside his comparatively loud footsteps were the near-silent plodding of Scarletra and Sarah. How the massive woman being barefoot made her so quiet was still mind-boggling. Samuel assumed it had something to do with the fur acting as a muffle¡ªbut that was just a guess.


    Sarah, their oldest, black-furred and half a meter tall, giggled and excitedly tracked the horizon through the scrub and tall trees, waiting for the sight of her friend June and her father''s tent to come into view. The little ball of fur wore a simple bright red dress with little candy canes and a faux-furred cowl to cover her ears¡ªnot that she needed the cowl for warmth; she just liked the little stars and Christmas ornaments stitched into it.


    Scarletra wore a similar bright red dress that clung tightly to her squashy buxom frame. Little depictions of reindeer spread around it, along with a near-insulting amount of gingerbread men and shimmering silver stars. Just as Samuel had guessed when he first built a jumpsuit for her¡ªred was her color. It made her grey fur and its darker, near-black stripes really pop.


    She carried little Silfa, their youngest, and the spitting image of her mother on her shoulders. Their fuzz ball gently held Scarletral''s silver hair, giggling and watching the birds overhead. The bells attached to her reindeer antler headband jingled each time her head moved.


    All three of the lovely ladies in Samuel¡¯s life adored Christmas. No, not just the day, the whole season, more than any other time of the year. But Samuel agreed with them about it being his favorite, so their yearly rituals were not a bother; they were an event to look forward to.


    When Scarletra and Samuel first moved to Earth, she took to the holiday like a fish to water. She could not get enough of it; she read, researched, bought gifts, and did everything without prompting. All she needed was to see the lights coming up around town and everyone serving festive drinks, and she was hooked.


    She was such a Chrimasphile that the first year, she had bought Samuel the ugly sweater he had on right now. God, it was the gaudiest Christmas sweater Scareltra could find for him. Although, for his sake, she did at least have a funny sense of humor. Instead of traditional decorations, Samuels had sneakily disguised wrenches and other tools.


    He adjusted his shoulder, the gifts for Red and his family shifting in the backpack. Another one of the traditions they had ingrained in their holiday routine.


    Today was a special day for the Martin clan. They had already decorated the house, wrapped all the presents, gone to see the Green Bay light yesterday, and purchased everything for dinner tonight. The only thing their home was missing at this point was the holiday centerpiece Scarletra could not live without¡ªa tree.


    Despite Samuel''s argument about not waiting until Christmas Eve to get their tree, his lovely mate wanted to wait until today because decorating it as a family right after dinner was how she wanted it all done, and he stopped arguing that after the first year. Instead of putting it up early, they just kept theirs up late. And now that Sarah had grown up with it for seven years, The little teddy bear would be heartbroken if she did not get to put the tree up before dinner or have her one special serving of eggnog.


    Soon, oceans of groomed and man-raised fir trees came into view, snow falling slightly faster around them because they lacked cover from the canopy. The fresh scent of cut trees and the sharp aromatics of the trees filled their lungs as the morning sun made every sow-patted bow glow like fire.


    Before Samuel or Scarletra had realized it, Sarah''s hand burst forward, following another scent and sound carried to them by the wind. Her little feet carried their happy daughter as quickly as they could.


    Neither was concerned about it, knowing exactly where she was going and what she must have caught a whiff of. Red always set up a massive tent in a clearing just around the bend. Inside, he sold the trees from the U-cut and had treats for the little ones in a smorgasbord. But none of that was what Sarah was after; June was up there.


    As the rest of the Martin Clan crested the hill, Sarah, June, and her German shepherd Fisk rushed out of the tent, a joyous mix of giggling and barking filling the air. The two young girls carried cookies in hand, with June holding a frisbee in her other.


    ¡°Be careful, you two,¡± Red yelled from inside the tent.


    ¡°We will, Uncle Red,¡± Sarah yelled back before they rounded the corner of the tent and headed to an open snow-covered field.


    Scarletra and Samuel were not worried about the two little girls, and Red likely wasn''t either. The area around Rhinelander was safe, with few large predators save for a few cougars. But Sarah or Fisk would pick up on any animals nearby well before they were in danger and knew to return to Scarletra if they ran into anything.


    A gentle soul or not, Samuel doubted there was an animal on Earth that could keep between Scarletra and her cubs. An angry Grizzly had nothing on a pissed of Varintol.


    ¡°Hello, Red,¡± Scarletra said, moving Silfa from her shoulders to the ground, so the little girl would not bump her head on the lights hanging from the tent''s roof.


    Red was slumped in a chair, reading a hunting magazine. As usual, a folding table was next to him, and several more were lining the walls. Each was covered in treats, candies, coffee, hot chocolate, and ready-to-drink apple cider. Red had run this U-cut for twenty years and knew how to keep happy customers.


    Red scratched at his long red beard and adjusted his heavily muscled frame. He was in his thirties and had rosy cheeks with bright green eyes similar to Samuel, and like Samuel, he was a Midwest boy through and through. Niceties mattered as much as honesty. Being the most well-groomed, not as much.


    He set the magazine down when little Silfa ran up and hugged his side, burying her face in his tattered and sap-stained flannel jacket. The little furball took a deep whiff of the smell of lumber and coffee that, according to the Scarletra Red, oozed no matter what he wore.


    ¡°Hi, Uncle Red,¡± Silfa purred, her little arms struggling to reach around his waist.


    ¡°Hey there, little reindeer,¡± Red replied, pulling her into his lap and hugging her back. ¡°you are growing like a weed. What are yah twelve now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m almost three,¡± Silfa giggled, holding up three little fingers.


    Their two families were extremely close, namely because their daughters were inseparable. Also, Red and Julia babysat for the Martins, allowing Samuel and Scarletra some much-needed alone time. Scarletra and Samuel did the same for them in return.


    ¡°And hello to you two as well,¡± Red said, looking up from the giggling little Varintol at Samuel and Scarletra, smirking at their over-festive attire. ¡°How has the day been?¡±


    ¡°Not too bad. I hope we aren¡¯t keeping you and June from Julie,¡± Samuel replied, setting the backpack of the presents down. No words were needed about what was inside the bag. They had been exchanging gifts like this for four years; before they left, Red would have something for them, too.


    ¡°Nah, you know she is coming back from Green Bay and won''t be back until six,¡± Red replied, setting Silfa down and standing with a groan. ¡°Want anything to warm up or snack on before I take you to your guy''s tree?¡±


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    ¡°Can I have a cookie?¡± Silfa asked without missing a beat.


    ¡°Of course you can,¡± Red replied, jostling her silver hair, walking to the tray of gingerbread, and handing her a few gingerbread men that lasted maybe a few seconds in the cub''s hands.


    ¡°What do you mean our tree?¡± Scarletra replied, ¡°We haven''t even picked one yet.¡±


    Red turned and chuckled, a bit of dryness in his throat, while pouring Scarletra and Samuel some steaming apple cider and stealthily spiking their drinks with a shot of rum.


    They all knew it was happening, but he did not open his flask in plain view of Silfa whose focus had already shifted to the collections of coloring books Red had on a small kid-sized table.


    They lived in Wisconsin, and it was just the way most things were around here. You rarely meet up with anyone without a beer, a drink, and some small talk. That and only having one would not hurt anyone.


    ¡°Come on, you are the only people who want a tree twelve feet and taller,¡± Red said, handing them the drinks. ¡°So I looked at my older-growth trees and narrowed them down to the most likely one you all want.¡±


    Red was not wrong about that; most houses would not want a tree that large. But their house was built far taller than others, with nearly four-meter ceilings so Scarletra would not have to stoop.


    ¡°I suppose that is true,¡± Scarletra smiled before sipping her drink, slightly shivering from its alcohol.


    Red knew Samuel would be driving and knew Scarletra had a far greater tolerance than any human could dream of, so he had given her a generous pour. At Samuel and Scarletra¡¯s wedding, he had seen the woman put away a Cornelius keg alone, leaving everyone else to sample the other eight kegs and booze. At least Shama and his boys did enjoy the drinking games that ensued then.


    ¡°Hey, if you all wanna shop around, I won¡¯t tell you yah can¡¯t. But I''m certain I have your tree in the back lot,¡± Red shrugged.


    ¡°We will at least take a look around,¡± Samuel said, grabbing a saw from the rack next to the tent entrance.


    ¡°Suit yourselves,¡± Red replied, grabbing his coffee and starting toward the fields.


    ¡°Silfa, come on. We will color back home; let¡¯s go get a tree,¡± Scarletra cooed.


    The extremely fuzzy Varintol looked between her mother and the books, the little cogs in her brain struggling to choose if she wanted to go. After a few seconds, though, she nodded and jogged over her jingle bells happily chiming before Scarletra scooped her up and licked her daughter''s cheek.


    Over the next few hours, they traveled up and down the rows upon rows of trees. Screltra painstakingly inspected each tree as if it was a fine work of art¨Cbecause, for her, it would be the magnum opus for her Christmas decorations.


    She smelled them, looked at them from all angles, and had Samuel, Red, and Silfa stand beside them as she imagined taking pictures next to the tree. Along with her trying to think of what decorations could go on the bows.


    Samuel had tried to precisely understand what Scarletra wanted in a tree for years. At this point, he had a good idea. She did not want a tree that fits what most Humans wished for. She was after a far fuller, more wild-looking tree.


    Likely because it reminded her of the pine and fir-like trees back on Baratin, he was uncertain if that was the reason, but it made her happy, so the exact reason was not unimportant¡ªshe would share if she wanted to anyway.


    As they went along, Samuel and Red chatted about Christmas, New Year''s plans, and the Packer''s last game while the ever-passionate scarletra grumbled more frequently as her frustration grew. With each flawed tree she scrutinized, the grumbling and growling grew louder.


    At some point, she even asked Samuel and Red their opinions, but only for confirmation of her perceived flaws in the current tree. Ultimately they both knew that''s what it was; She would pick the tree she wanted, their opinions be damned.


    Eventually, the sun had passed its zenith, and the snow had slowed to a trickle. At that point, Scarletra acquiesced and asked Red to see the tree he had selected for them. He gestured for them to follow with a gentle nod and a sip of his coffee.


    He led them toward the far back fields where Red had started his tree farm years ago. Long before he knew how to tend to them properly, so much of the growth back here was taller and did not have as much active tending. At least it did not until Scarletra and Samuel had moved back into town.


    Even though Red had started tending them more, he left them tall, whole, and healthy. Only doing enough to Ensure at least a few of them would be to Scarletra¡¯s liking each year.


    As they followed Red, Silfa pointed out small animals scurrying up trees and through the snow-covered thicket, calling the squirrels and raccoons cute. Only she and Scarletra could see the animals, leaving Red and Samuel out of the loop. But neither of the men cared. It was a reality they had been used to since living around the sharp-sensed Varintol.


    Scarletra likely could hear the older girls and the dog right now, even though they were kilometers away.


    A small hillock with lush firs spiraling along it, the path leading through the corkscrew, making the maybe ten-meter tall mound seem larger and coated in piny fur. If this was some idyllic and stereotypical tale from yore, the tree Red was leading them to would be at the hill''s peak¡ªbut it was not.


    Halfway up the path, Red gestured up to a tree off the side. ¡°Here we are. I¡¯m certain you will like this one.¡±


    Scarletra set Silfa down in the snow, the fresh powder nearly reaching her waist. Not that the tundra-adapted Varintol cared. She was not a steppe, mountain, arboreal, or equatorial subspecies, so their little teddy bear was right at home.


    As soon as Silfa¡¯s feet were settled, she plopped down, picked up a stick, and doodled on the ice. Making what looked like a stick-figure family. Unlike her older sister, who tried to take everything apart as Samuel did as a kid, Silfa seemed more like Scarletra and wanted to draw.


    Scartra handed Samuel her drink and reached in, grabbed the tree trunk, and shook free the snow, letting her get a good look at it. Her eyes went wide as she determined its worth. Samuel and Red shared a knowing glance, with Samuel giving his friend a thumbs-up of appreciation. They knew she liked it, but Scarletra still had to finish the motions of picking the tree.


    Once again, she smelled it, ran her hand through the bows, looked at it from all angles, and had Samuel, Red, and Silfa pose beside the tree. Even if Silfa did not understand the little box, her mother was making with her hands.


    After going through her thorough litany nearly six times, an amount typically reserved for her carvings, Scarletra nodded, turned to Samuel, and took back her drink. ¡°This one is perfect.¡±


    ¡°I will get to chopping,¡± Samuel replied.


    After another hour, the tree was cut, wrapped, and atop their truck at the bottom of the hill. Red had been paid, and they were all gathered in the tent, waiting for Sarah, June, and Fisk to return.


    Scarletra roared a few minutes earlier, telling their explorative tomboy daughter it was time to go, a signal the young Varintol returned only a few moments later. But based on how quiet it was, they knew the three were likely near the frozen-over creek at the far end of the property.


    ¡°Here are all of your gifts for the year,¡± Red said, holding out a box filled with all the leftover food from the stand.


    Samuel appreciated the gesture, as it did save them a lot of money. That and buried in the box were several dozen pounds of venison and beef. Lord knew the three women in his home could eat.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Samuel said, grabbing the box.


    ¡°Yeah, it is appreciated,¡± Scarletra said, pulling Red into a massive hug.


    Red returned the gesture with no hesitation. When he and Julia first met Scarletra, they didn''t mind her liking hugging so much. People from the Midwest were usually pretty open about that among friends, but at this point, they knew something was wrong if they did not get at least one from the cinnamon roll of a woman.


    Shortly after, Sarah and June came running back into the clearing, tossing up snow as they ran. Fisk was right at their heels, the ball clasped in a slobbering mouth. Sarah and June''s clothes were covered in mud, snow, and bits of shrubbery. If not for the smiles on their faces, someone might have thought they had been in a fight. But they all knew better.


    ¡°Hi, mommy, dad, Uncle Red,¡± Sarah smiled, brushing her black hair and fur with her claws.


    ¡°Hello, misses Martin, Mr. Martin,¡± June said nearly simultaneously, tying her brown hair back with a hair tie, likely having let it down while playing.


    The adults all nodded to them, glad to see their daughters happy and healthy.


    ¡°Sarah, say goodbye we have to go get dinner ready,¡± Scarletra said softly.


    Without missing a heartbeat, Sarah turned and hugged Sarah, nuzzling against her best friend. Already starting to show some of the claiming actions Varintol did, growling while holding June.


    That shocked no one there, Scarletra having explained that it was just something Varitol did. It was An old instinct from their evolution that was not a cause for concern. June hugged and brushed her friend''s fur before wishing her a Merry Christmas.


    With all their goodbyes and wishes for a merry Christmas over, the Martins returned to their truck and got ready to head home for the rest of their Christmas Eve rituals. Red, June, and Fisk walked down one of the side roads to their humble little home in the woods, ready to wait for Julie to return from Green Bay, vanishing around the sharp corner at the bottom of the road while Samuel turned the HMMV over, and Scarletra buckled the daughters into their car seats.

 An Iced Hearts Christmas---Section Two: Dinner and Decorating

    The Martin family and their relatively obtuse ways were a common sight in Rhinelander, be it their prayers, offerings to gods, expressions, or their general life. Compared to the good old boys and girls of Wisconsin, they were quite a sight, and Scarletra and their daughters were likely the only aliens within several hours.


    Still, they had been welcomed by everyone in the community, save a few zealots who clutched their pearls when they remembered Samuel essentially denounced Jesus in favor of the Great Mother. Or when they saw Samuel and scarletra kiss while going on a date in town.


    Their little family had driven past the church on the way home and were reminded of that as a few so-called loving Christians gave them side eyes and slight scowls. But Scarletra and Samuel understood their resentment and killed them with kindness. So they waved along with Sarah happily, wishing them a merry Christmas through the window, and a few of the churchgoers guilty hung their heads low in response.


    Serves the bastards right. They are free to hate Samuel and Scarletra, but no one could be mad when facing Sarah or Silfa¡¯s cute fuzzy faces, fluttering ears, and earnest bubbly demeanor. Samuel and Scarletra even fell under their puppy dog''s, or in this case bearish-cub''s, eyes now and again.


    But what parents did not want to dote on their cute little girls?


    None of that mattered right now. They were home and happy going through their family routine for the holiday. As soon as the HMMV was parked, Samuel and the girls went inside and grabbed a small wooden bowl filled to the brim with offerings while Scarletra put the tree next to the door.


    The bowl was filled with an ensemble of spices and other herbs that Scarletra had taken great care to fill. Each spice was ground and placed in its own bottle while the herbs were tied in neat little bows.


    It had taken Scarletra a few years to decide what she would use as offerings. With her no longer being on Baratin, she could not burn or offer the mosses and other gifts she used to give to the Gods, so the selection was things she deemed good enough.


    There was sage, acorns, bellwort, monkshood, pepper, beer, and other mixes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and oils. Each one was meant to represent something in the domain of each goddess and god of the Varintol.


    Monkshood was given to Barut, sage to Levaal, pepper to Oros, and so on. Samuel had Sarah explain to him what each god and goddess represented as they waited for Scarletra. Not because he was unaware but because the little Varintol should be aware of the why behind their unique tradition.


    The only universal offering was the beer that Samuel would pour next to each statue. That was, of course, given to them all just because it was Scarletra¡¯s and Samuel¡¯s favorite drink.


    Once Scarletra had joined them next to the statues, they slowly walked down the rows of statues, with Sarah taking the offerings and moving them to bowls in front of each goddess and god, from the great mother to Levaal.


    The only exception was the unique gift to Maruvak because the offering was incredibly toxic and could hurt their little cub.


    As much as Scarletra wanted Sarah to be able to give offerings to them all, Samuel adamantly refused to let their daughter handle water hemlock, religion, or no religion that plant could cause any of their hearts to stop. Even Samuel and Scarletra wore gloves when messing with it. So Scarletra placed it in the goddess¡¯ death bowl, being cautious not to get sap on her hands.


    Once all the offerings were in front of each of the statues, they all kneeled in the snow, although Samuel, in his comparative old age, was far slower than the others. They clasped their hands together once he struggled to the powder, and Scarletra began their vigil.


    ¡°Great Mother, thank you for blessing us for yet another year. You, your daughters, sons, and those born of their lives have done more than we mere mortals can ever know. We strive to achieve a fraction of what you all have done. If it is your will, please guide us to your grace and glory, as you have those we held near and dear to us before they graced your great halls. We also humbly ask you to treat those at your side with honor and care,¡± Scarletra preached in a gentle regality she still held.


    It was shocking when Samuel first heard that tone of voice from Scarletra, but now he understood and enjoyed it. She had first learned to speak with such presence and power from her mother in preparation for her one day leading the Ursana.


    But that is not what Scarletra used it for at all. She was not leading army troops or torturing Ursana slaves. No, she gave a vigil that could move mountains and make even the most diehard preacher jealous.


    There are just some things you can¡¯t fake, and having the presence of a royal is one of those things.


    Samuel loved telling others the story of the first time Scarletra had gone to a school board meeting and voiced her issues with the attire rules at school. She spoke in a way that kept everyone there captivated despite her only complaining that the school tried to make Sarah wear more clothes than was healthy for a furred alien.


    How all the old men and women of the school board stared in awe at her was captivating. Samuel swore one of the older veterans even stood at attention as she left, with the school board having given up on their battle against the Varintol''s relatively revealing attire.


    Through the rest of their vigil, Scarletra prayed and thanked each of the gods and goddesses- even Maruvak- for their roles in the universe and their lives. As she preached for the next hour, she regaled her family with references to tales from them. She closed out by thanking them for Samuel, Sarah, and Silfa.


    ¡°Mommy, I''m hungry,¡± Silfa pouted as soon as Scarletra started to stand, not missing a beat once the service was done.


    To Silfa¡¯s credit, she was far more patient than Samuel was at that age. Despite only being two and hardly being able to hold still most of the time, she made nary a peep during the entire vigil. Just like Samuel, when Scarletra used her more Regal tone, even the cub would not dare to interrupt. Not for fear or anything, but respect.


    ¡°Awww, come here,¡± Scarletra purred, picking Silfa up. ¡°it is almost dinner time, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Sarah, let¡¯s get dinner ready,¡± Samuel said. ¡°Scar, why don¡¯t you and Silfa have some cookies and relax.¡±


    Sarah took Samuel''s hand and hurried into the house, Scarletra and Silfa trailing behind. Although Scarltra was not about to let Samuel and Sarah do all the preparation. Instead, they all flowed into the kitchen and got to work, with the sound of jingle bell rock gently playing on the radio.


    It took Samuel and the family two hours to have the table set and the kids seated. It was not hard to tell the kids were hungry. Their eyes were wide, and Silfa even drooled onto her empty plate.


    Before them was a smorgasbord of food: stacks of meat, mashed potatoes, buns, cakes, cookies, wine, beer, juice, eggnog, and every other Christmas staple a red-blooded American would want on their table.


    For most families, this would be enough to feed a dozen people, but with Scarletra and the girls having appetites that could put any competitive eater to shame, most of this would only be on the table for an hour.


    At least their voracity meant cleanup was easy, with no food to put away or anything.


    The air was heavy with the scent of melted fat, butter, and steaming pumpkin pie. Amidst the usual smells of Christmas was a unique rough odor of a dish Scarletra made every year for them. Kurilturk.


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    Kurilturk was a type of blood sausage meant initially for weddings and other celebrations amidst the Ursana and their nation. It smelled somewhere between haggis and fresh bacon but tasted good despite its somewhat grey color.


    If this was Baratin, the sausages would be made from edible moss, mushrooms, Khatnit meat, and blood, with a few spices to enhance the flavor.


    Because they were on Earth, there was no  Khatnit, so Scarletra opted to use deer. She had used elk in the past, but with the kids, she and Samuel could not head to Montana for a hunt this year¡ªnot that any of them minded the change.


    Scarletra poured Sarah one cup of boozed-up eggnog for the year. It was perfectly legal in the state for people under the legal drinking age to have alcohol, and in the Ursana nation it was customary for Varintol to drink from the age of five¡ªso they gave her a yearly treat.


    ¡°Thank you, Mommy,¡± Sarah said, pulling the mug closer with both hands and sniffing the beverage.


    ¡°You are welcome, teddy bear,¡± Scarletra said, kissing the top of her head and moving to the head of the table opposite Samuel.


    One effect Samuel had not expected of Humans joining the GU was how laws around alcohol would change. Currently, it was up in the air if they would remain at all, but the lawmakers on Earth were looking at adopting the practice of regulating based on species alone, age be damned¡ªsimilar to most of the GU.


    However, the lawmakers'' debates were not relevant to the Martin clan. Because Samuel and Scarletra did not plan on giving Sarah more than one as a small treat, they had both seen enough people go down the road of being alcoholics, and that was not a pretty sight.


    Now that everyone was seated, Samuel looked at his family, his smile growing wider as they waitingly watched him.  He raised his beer, and they copied him in response. While not traditional, they held a bit of Varintol tradition, including waiting for the father to start eating. Samuel found that odd, considering the Varintol were matriarchal, yet starting important meals fell to the eldest male.


    ¡°Dig in, everyone,¡± Samuel smiled, sipping his beer.


    Like a pack of ravenous hounds, the Martins began to dig into the meal. Each member attacked their favorite part of dinner first. Samuel and Scarletra started with some Kurilturk, Sarah the stuffing, and little Silfa asked for mashed potatoes and gravy., Which Samuel happily served for her, along with anything else the little cub wanted.


    If someone could watch their Christmas meal, they would likely think no one here had ever eaten. Mainly because after a matter of minutes, they all had a second serving filling empty plates.


    The rest of dinner was a blur of little chats, laughter, dreams of the new year, and slight reflections on the last. Sarah and Silfa were more concerned about what Santa would give them this year since they were both such good girls.


    Samuel and Scarletra had taken alot of time thinking about that over the last few weeks. But eventually did decide on what the girls would be getting from Santa. Sarah, the tomboy, and mech-head she was, had been asking Samuel about getting her own tools so she could stop begging him to borrow one or another while she tinkered in the garage and he was fixing some new doodad. So that is what she would be getting: her own rolling toolbox with a few essential items to get her started.


    It was nothing extravagant like Samuel''s wall-to-wall boxes but a little one about the size of a dresser. It would be perfect for her.


    Silfa, on the other hand, was far more creative, so Scarletra and Samuel got her a collection of new art books, pads, pencils, and markers. Hopefully, she could let her creativity out on the pages and not on some random wall in the house.


    Once dinner was done and before the food comas had set in, Scarletra gathered the girls and led them to the living room to start decorating the tree; before she sashayed out of stage left, Scarletra left Samuel with a small kiss on the cheek.


    He pinched and stole a glance at her gorgeous full butt while she followed the giggling babes into the other room. That Christmas dress did wonders for her already heavenly figure. Her exaggerating her sensual hip-pop before the girls could see was cute and was another thing Samuel still loved about her. Scarletra knew how to get him going for sure.


    Samuel was excited about their soak in the hot tub later at night. They both knew they would not just be relaxing in the tub, oh no. They acted like a pair of teenagers and could hardly keep their hands off one another once the kids were in bed and they had alone time.


    As he cleaned the dishes, he smirked, hearing, giggling, laughing, and the sound of a movie on the television. The cherubic sounds of Scarltra¡¯s husky chuckle pushed warmth into Samuel''s heart.


    After all the struggles in his life, being nearly sixty and having such a wonderful family was a blessing. And he thanked the great mother every time he woke up with Scarletra cuddling him, brushing her fur in the evenings, or playing with either of their daughters.


    He never thought his life would be so whole at this age. Samuel had expected to be cold and in the ground at this point. But with the GU''s medical abilities, him quitting smoking because of the kids, he has another forty, possibly fifty years.  He just hoped it was enough to see Sarah or Silfa¡¯s clans grow¡ªwhen they were older, at least.


    After cleaning and putting the dishes in the washer, Samuel poured Scarletra and himself ice-cold beers and lumbered to join them in decorating, eager to spend time with the clan on the most joyous day of the year.


    They had decorated the living room far faster than Samuel had expected. Scarletra lifted Silfa and let her hang some of the shimmering decorations higher on the tree. At the same time, Sarah hung their stockings over the fireplace, ensuring she did not touch the cross sword and axe hanging over them.


    Each of the stockings had their names emblazoned on them in golden glitter. Scarletra and Silfa had made them a few weeks ago on one of their mommy-daughter dates. God, the happy look on Silfa¡¯s pudgy face when she presented them to Samuel was adorable, even if she and Scarletra were covered in the horrible plastic at the time¡ª-they still likely had some flecks of it in their fur.


    The rest of the room was almost fully adorned as well. Garlands drooped from wall to wall, and cutouts of bushes and pine trees were plastered to the walls. The girls had even placed wreaths of mistletoe on the back of Samuel and Sarah¡¯s loungers. The only thing they had not touched at this point was the davenport, but that was because it was already overflowing with presents, scarletra having moved them there from under the tree while decorating.


    The tree was already almost done, coated in bulbs, crystals, and wooden carvings of animals. The crackling fire illuminated the room in a warm glow. The flicking flames reflected off the adornments, sending shimmering beams of light all around the room, like a festive disco ball.


    Unlike most families, they did not use lights on the tree. Scarletra preferred not to use them, wanting to appreciate the decorations, not the shimmering lights. Samuel also did not want to deal with long ropes of lights, so they saw eye to eye on that.


    Walking over and joining Scarletra and the girls, Samuel handed her the beer, jostled Sarah¡¯s silver hair, and picked up one of the waiting carvings. The one he grabbed was shaped like a hammer. Scarletra had ensured every decoration on the tree meant something to at least one of them: representations of the family, their friends, or things they held dear.


    Samuel hung the ornament and traced the overflowing bows. The tree was peppered with birds, deer, animals of Baratin, tools, and art brushes. Seeing them all was heartwarming; every year, the collection on the tree grew, just as their family was going to.


    Scarletra had already made it clear enough that she wanted another kid. Thankfully Samuel and her having another was not a simple matter of fucking; they had to go to the clinic and have Scarletra go through the arduous process of artificial insemination with a lab-grown embryo.


    So they planned on waiting until Silfa started school next year. But seven months would go by in a flash, especially around this house.


    After the tree was covered with ornaments, candies, and carvings, little Silfa handed Scarletra the last piece they needed to complete the Martin home centerpiece¡ªthe topper.


    The topper looked like a solar system. It was not an actual solar system in reality.  Instead, it was a colored glass representation of the green planet Baratin orbited, with several moons around it. Each of the moons was colored to match the eyes of each of the family members present. Two were golden, and two were green.


    With gentle grace, Scaletra placed the topper on the tree, and a gentle growl poured out from the three Varintol present, vibrating the entire room. They lightly giggled once they realized they had done that in unison.


    Samuel reached over and put his arm on Scarletra¡¯s back, patting her with her, wrapping hers around Samuel and pulling him close. The girls gently hugged Samuel''s legs and growled their claim ever so softly. Indeed it was the most wonderful time of the year.


    ¡°Who wants to watch a movie?¡± Scarletra asked softly, breaking the calm.


    ¡°Let''s watch Jingle all the way,¡± Sarah said, already moving toward the davenport with her sister''s hand in hers, ready to clear the presents out of the way for now.


    Samuel shrugged and turned to the TV, with Scarletra stopping him. She leaned down, kissed him, and told him to play anything but Die Hard again. And that she would be back in a minute with some fresh drinks for everyone.


    Samuel chuckled and assured her he would not, even though Die Hard was the best Christmas movie ever. So Samuel put on Sarah¡¯s request and joined his daughters in putting the presents under the tree and, waiting for Scarletra for the show, cuddled up for the rest of the night. Or at least until the girls had to go to bed.

 An Iced Hearts Christmas---Section Three: No Silent Night

    About halfway through their third movie, little Silfa and Sarah had fallen asleep. While they were enraptured by jingle all the way and home alone, a Christmas carol had been too dull, or they were just too tired to keep their eyes open. At least neither spilled their hot chocolate on Samuel, Scarletra, or the davenport.


    Silfa was curled up on Samuel''s lap while he ran his fingers through her shiny silver hair, doing his best not to disturb the jingle bells atop her headband and wake her.


    Sarah and Samuel leaned against Scarletra, her massive arms resting over their shoulders, keeping her dear family close. The Martin family was a big ball of comfy at the moment; everything was perfect, from the smells of gingerbread, the light rise and fall of their daughters breathing, Scarletra nuzzling against Samuel while he massaged the back of her hand, reveling in the silken fur covering it. Nothing was out of place.


    There were very few things Samuel could think of that would make this day better.


    ¡°Let¡¯s put the kids to bed,¡± Scarletra whispered in his ear. Her warm breath tickled him, causing an adorable little shudder and a wave of scents to pour off Samuel.


    This time of year, Samuel''s scent was only all the more erotic for Scarletra. His typical smokey pine was complimented greatly by gingerbread, nutmeg, cloves, and the delectable sharpness of chocolate.


    Scarletra buried her nose in his collar, taking in every odor. Without thinking about it, she gently started to lick his neck slowly, enjoying the little shudders coming from him with each stroke. If not for the kids on their laps, she would already have his pants off and be straddling him.


    But there would be time for that in a few minutes, even if that time was agonizingly long for her. By Levaal, Samuel was her present each day, but especially on Christmas. She gently growled as her body flushed, imagining unwrapping and taking her gift for a ride.


    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that,¡± Samuel softly replied, rubbing his fingers on her fluffy ears.


    The two doting parents did their best not to disturb their little ones as they carefully maneuvered themselves off the davenport with their cubs in their arms. As silent as a church mouse, they brought the kids up the stairs and tucked them in bed.


    Sarah and Silfa were adorable, wrapped in their blankets and tightly holding their favorite plushies. Scalretra and Samuel could not help but pause and bask in the presence of their daughters, each softly illuminated by the orange glow of the nightlight.


    But their time appreciating the beauty of their family was short-lived. They still had a few more things to do before they could go outside and relax for the night.


    Once they left their daughters to frolic in dreams of milk and honey, Samuel and Scarletra quickly went downstairs. They did the last of their duties as parents on Christmas Eve, taking a bite from the cookies left out for Santa, putting gifts out, stuffing the stockings, and cleaning up after the movie.


    They worked quickly and in relative silence, the smooth-as-silk voices of Buble and Menzel keeping them company throughout. The song was fitting for the moment because now that the kids were asleep, it was time for the adults to play. Indeed, it was cold outside, and they both were ready to warm up¡ªjust the two of them.


    As Samuel put the mugs in the sink, Scarletra came up behind him and pulled him into a deep hug, nuzzling into him and growling softly. Samuel leaned back against her plush body¡¯ letting him sink in, letting the moment of tenderness stay.


    Just as he closed his eyes, the music switched, and Andy Delos Santos began to play, serenading them in wishes for a warm and welcomed holiday. They stayed like that throughout the song, gently swaying and savoring the scents and cared caresses of the other. Neither was in any hurry to rush the night; both were on the same page about how their next few hours would go.


    Samuel turned around in Scarletra¡¯s arms and draped his over her massive shoulders.  They stared into the other''s eyes, savoring the other''s minutia for soul-deep reasons. Tender, seraphic smiles curled onto their lips.


    ¡°You should head out into the hot tub,¡± Scarletra whispered, ¡°and bring the wine.¡±


    ¡°I will. Are you going to keep me waiting long?¡± Samuel asked.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Scarletra replied, leaning in and bringing her candy lips to his.


    With no hesitation, Samuel held tighter to the massive bearlike woman as Scaretra¡¯s tongue pushed deep into his mouth, making Samuel moan as some focus left his emerald eyes.


    By Levaal, why did he have to be so sexy?


    Scarletra pushed forward, engulfing Samuel in her plush body as his back pressed against the counter. Scarletra let Samuel join her in the carnal kiss, his diminutive tongue lapping at the bottom of her pallet, sliding along her massive appendage like silk.


    Scarletra slipped her hand down and plucked as Samuels belted with a claw, teasing him ever so slightly by lowering his trousers just enough that she could feel them tighten, his cock begging to be released. With him pushing his hips longingly toward her palm.


    But there would be enough time for that in a bit.


    Retracting from the kiss, Scarletra soaked in the blush on Samuel''s face, making his salt and pepper hair all the more prominent. She passionately traced every detail she held so dear.  Once her Human mate regained his composure, she stood and slipped into their bedroom to get out of her dress and grab some towels. Eager for the night''s events.


    ¡ª-


    The hot tub''s warm water soaked into Samuels'' skin, pushing out any fatigue from being as aged as he was. The heat soothed his stiff joints, sore muscles,  bad back, and his gift from the Ursana scouts, his scared calf.


    He sipped out of his wine glass and lazily looked up at the glass ceiling, snowflakes falling and melting against it instantly. Moonlight filtered in through the sporadic cloud cover, offering little in the way of illumination. But candles were all around the room anyway, so seeing the room was no issue.


    The bathhouse was one of the first things Samuel had built once the house''s foundation was down. He had done so because Scarletra needed a place to bathe since the old house did not have a shower at the time. Now that their home was built it was just a place for the family to lounge about.


    The bathhouse was a supped-up greenhouse containing only the custom-built hot tub and chairs around a nearby table. The tub was custom built because, unlike a typical one, it was two meters deep and had benches at various heights so Scarletra and he could soak up to their necks and cuddle together¡ªthat and a way larger-than-needed filter system for the girl''s fur.


    After he closed his eyes and reminisced about those early days with Scarletra, the motion-activated lights on the back porch flickered on, along with the sound of the back door closing. Samuel''s heart skipped a beat as Scarletra opened and entered the bathhouse. The cold wind from outside fluttered the red Christmas robe draped over her, showing off her full figure.


    With the porchlight causing a halo of bright golden presence, Scarletra looked like an angel, a flawless example of womanly grace and elegance.


    ¡°Did I keep you waiting?¡± Scarletra asked with a coy wisp, closing the door and setting the towels on the chair near the door.


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Samuel replied, gesturing to the bottles of wine and Scarletra¡¯s massive glass.


    It was funny her glass was meant to be a novelty joke, but because of her size, the 750-milliliter behemoth fit her perfectly.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± Scarletra purred, losing the sash on her robe and letting the silky garment fall to the ground, leaving her in all her nude glory.


    Even after two kids, ten years, and a more static lifestyle, Scarletra was as captivating as she had been when he first saw her. Her fur glistened brightly in the candlelight, outlining the deep valley between her mountainous breasts and letting him see the stripes running up and down her arms. Between her tree trunk-thick thighs and squashy build, her womanhood was concealed beneath velvet fur.


    Under normal circumstances, Samuel might say Scarletra sashayed toward the stairs to enter the bath. But no, with the intense yearning gaze in her golden eyes and the low rumbling growl of anticipation she was letting out, she was stalking forward.


    She was a true apex predator, and Samuel was the prized piece of game meat she wanted.


    Barely disturbing the glasslike water, Scarletra slipped into the warm pool and settled on her seat next to Samuel, snuggling up with him like they had done many times over the years.


    Samuel snaked his hand down and grabbed hers under the water. The taught grasp quickly returned.


    ¡°So, Santa, how were the cookies the girls made?¡± Scarletra asked, taking a swig from the wine glass.


    ¡°They were delicious, as usual,¡± Samuel replied, snuggling closer, ensuring no space between them.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. You should have seen the cubs. They were so worried Santa would not like the cookies,¡± Scarletra cooed.


    It was a shame that Samuel was out when Scarletra and the girls were baking this year, but he was helping Red at the tree farm then. They were fixing one of the tractors so Red could keep running the business for the year, but some days, stuff like that happens, and he was busy. Scarletra and the girls did not mind¡ªSamuel was bothered by missing those moments.


    Perhaps he was becoming sentimental in old age, or the fact the girls were so innocent, he could not say. But one thing he knew was that he would do better as a Father this time around.


    Unlike Samuel''s first kids, he had with the late Sarah, he was doing everything he could to be with the kids as much as possible. The last thing he wanted would be for Silfa or Sarah to resent him when they were older, like his Human kids did.


    The kids from his first marriage were invited to the house this year like they had been ever since Samuel and Scarletra moved back to earth. At least this year, they told Samuel to pound sand, a notable improvement from previous attempts to invite them to meet Scarletra.


    His three oldest did not even want to come over to meet Silfa, or Sarah. Samuel hoped it was just because they were busy with their lives and not because they detested his new family and way of life.


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    ¡°Next time,¡± Samuel said, leaning over and licking Scarletra¡¯s cheek, a gesture she returned.


    ¡°Good, they will want that,¡± Scarletra replied.


    They rested and lounged in the water for a good time, enjoying their glasses of wine and chatting leisurely about what had been happening. Not that they did not know what was happening with the other but they had fallen into the routine of laying it all out there once or twice a week.


    Being on the same page was necessary to keep the house running smoothly and made it so that neither needed to actively search for answers. Additionally, it made them operate as a cohesive unit, knowing what the other would do before they did it.


    That is why it was not a surprise once the glasses were empty and Scarletra pulled Samuel into her lap. Without missing a beat, Samuel ran his hand through her silver hair and pulled her massive head closer, kissing her deeply as his other hand massaged her supple tit.


    Scarltra mewled and wrapped an arm around his waist, with him sighing the moment her silken palm brushed against his throbbing cock. Feeling him shudder under her touch was better than beer and wine; it was downright addictive to her.


    While Scarletra loved their kids, a small part of her wished they could do this every day like they used to instead of two or three times a week. But such is life when you have two daughters.


    ¡°God, you''re amazing,¡± Scalertra breathed as Samuel pinched her nipple just hard enough for an arch of pleasure to shoot through her.


    ¡°Your one to tal¨C¡± Samuel started but bit his words when her velvet soft hand stroked his aching cock faster.


    Samuel leaned his head against her shoulder, letting the bliss of her embrace take hold fully. Each slow pump of her grip pulled breaths from his lungs. She was, as per usual, guiding the pace of their sex. She let Samuel set the pace on occasion, but that was because she enjoyed Samuel trying to dominate her. She had no qualms with always being in charge of the bedroom.


    Luckily for her precious Human, she wanted that today, and because of where they were, how he would do it was obvious; that and she still led him along a little bit.


    Samuel showed some more of that engineering intelligence years ago and had drummed up fucking her while she floated in the water. It was the only way they were physically on equal footing. The buoyancy of the water let him move and shift her around as he saw fit. Scarletra could recall dozens of times he had topped her in this tub.


    With gentle grace Scarletra leaned away from the side of the tub and floated toward the center, leaving Samuel on the bench. She grabbed hold of the far edge of the pool, arresting her in the middle of the water.


    ¡°Come on Sam don¡¯t keep me waiting,¡± Scarletra growled, the water around her plump body resonating with the growl.


    Samuel gradually got closer, stepping forward and running his fingers through the fur on her legs. He rubbed circles on her calves and thighs, his coarse fingers causing Scarletra to shiver and open her legs, inviting him in.


    By Levaal, this man had better make her scream declarations of love to the moon on high¡ªagain, that is.


    Once Samuel was between her squishy thighs, he grabbed them just as hard as Scarletra liked it, pulling at handfuls of her fur. He knew how to read her like a book and treat her. Yeah, Samuel was softer and gentler than she wanted at first, but over the years, he learned just what to do so she would be roaring his name through the night.


    Today was no different; using her thighs as leverage, Samuel pulled her close and teased her aching pussy with the tip of his thick member. For what felt like an eternity, his cock pushes in and out, only going in millimeters deep.


    When she was one more fainted, thrust from begging him to just make her roar already, Samuel plunged full hilt inside her. A wracking arc of pleasure crashed into her. Her pussy clenched hard, claiming him as hers. She slammed her head back against the tub''s edge and gasped in shock at the sudden depths Samuel had reached.


    Without any pause, Samuel forced his hips to move, fighting against the collapsing walls of her silken tunnel. Her pussy flexed and clenched, pulling Samuel back inside, but like the stubborn and oh-so-passionate man, she knew he was undeterred.


    Grunting like a beast, Samuel found his rhythm, slamming his hips against her pudgy ass, waves rolling through her fat and the sloshing water around them. With each powerful animalistic thrust, Scarletras moaning and roaring grew louder and louder.


    Thank the Great Mother Samuel had made the bathhouse triple panned so it kept sound inside well. If not, the kids would wake up hearing her earth-rattling roars of pleasure.


    ¡°Fuck!! Sam, please don¡¯t stop,¡± Scarletra wailed when Samuel rolled her clit between his fingers. ¡°Don¡¯t ever stop,¡±


    The pleasure, bliss, warmth, and attentiveness all added fuel to the already roaring inferno inside her. If Samuel kept this up, she would be nearing her climax well before he did. And he knew it, only doubling down on his voracity.


    Using the advantage Scarletra floating in the water gave him, he pulled her up slightly to ensure he was hitting her G-spot with each stroke, and the difference was immediate. Her legs wrapped around his waist to keep him close, and her coiling pussy flexed so hard with each sloshing thrust it felt like she was trying to rip his skin off.


    Scarletra was gorgeous; water rolled and clapped between them, running up and down her body in waves. At the same time, she struggled to keep a grip on the wall; Every deep thrust caused her to nearly slip and float fully in his control.


    The damp air around them grew heavy with the scents of wine, wet fur, and Samuel¡¯s sweat. The room reverberated as they lost themselves in the company of the other, giving full passion and effort to the other. Both could only look at each other and beg for more of the other.


    With little warning, Scarlet clenched hard, her powerful muscles gripping samuels throbbing cock like a vice. She pushed him deeper into her with her squishy thighs as she loosed a deafening roar, so loud waves rolled on the water and shook the glass panes.


    Holding onto her thighs, Samuel watched her fatty chest heave for a moment or two until she looked at him with foggy golden eyes and licked her lips, signaling that once was nowhere near enough.


    After Scarletra released Samuel from the prison of her legs, she gently pulled back and popped him out of her. Standing in the water, she licked the hair atop his head, savoring the delicacy of his carnal sweat.


    ¡°Do you want me to finish you off?¡± Scarletra breathed in his ear.


    ¡°If you want?¡± Samuel replied.


    Scarletra gave him a fang-filled, predatory smile as if that were a question. She hoisted Samuel out of the water and into her arms, with him caressing her instantly.


    Scarletra laid Samuel down on the side of the tub and quickly straddled him, water dripping down from sopping fur pooling around them. She smirked, seeing the smile and appreciative look he was giving her. His eyes traced every heavenly detail of her. He knew what she was about to do and was looking forward to it.


    She leaned over, pressing her massive breasts against his stomach, and licked along his collarbone. At the same time, she gently rocked back and forth, feeling his cock twitch while her wet fur draped along it.


    Samuel twisted, squirmed, and moaned as she teased him. His muscles flexed underneath her love and care. That Samuel started letting her ride him was flawless. It took her years to convince him because initially, he was afraid of her five-hundred-kilogram frame slamming into him.


    It was an understandable concern; she could crush him, but she was cautious whenever she was on top and did everything in her power to have him enjoy it.


    She had become so proficient at riding him cowgirl he did not even argue anymore. No, he looked forward to melting while she leisurely brought him to levels of bliss previously unknown to him.


    Licking down to Samuel''s chest and massaging his shoulders, Scarletra brought her soft lips to his nipple and bit down on it just hard enough that he arched his back and his cock pressed against her stomach.


    She swirled her meaty, slick tongue around his nipple and looked up at him, struggling not to sing like a canary for her. It was cute; it had taken her a while to understand why he was like that, but now, having lived with humans for years, she knew he wanted to be masculine and in charge.


    He was generally honest with her, even if he put up a front for others. There was nothing wrong with being honest and letting the pleasures you craved in every once in a while. Levaal knows one of her favorite things is feeling Samuels hot cum pouring into her. And he liked his nipples bitten a bit¡ªeveryone has their kinks.


    She planted small kisses going up his chest and neck, finishing her travels by pressing against his lips and pushing through with her thick, slick tongue, filling his mouth. He meekly groped at her sides, trying to stay composed as the fog set in. He also enjoyed her long, nimble tongue licking at the back of his throat.


    Increasing the intensity, Scarletra rolled her tongue inside his mouth, painting his cheeks with her candy-sweet spit. In an adorable attempt to still be somewhat dominant, Samuel tried to kiss her back, but her girthy, dexterous tongue beat him down into submission.


    She leaned heavily on him, letting her quicksand-like body mold around him, pinning her dear Human to the ground. There was nothing else in the universe for him at that moment¡ªjust her.


    When Sarletra saw his eyes roll back, he moaned as loudly as she was growling. She knew Samuel was ready. Agonizingly slowly for Samuel, she slipped her tongue back out, leaving his mouth cold and vacant.


    Samuel looked at her with puppy dog eyes as she sat up as if he was trying to ask why she stopped, but before he could say anything, she pressed a finger to his lips.


    ¡°Just relax, my warm fire. Let me handle everything from here,¡± Scareltra purred.


    ¡°I will,¡± Samuel nodded.


    With slow, controlled motions, Scarletra spread her legs wider and reached down to guide his cock to her waiting, yearning womanhood. Scarletra bit her lip, feeling his cocks tip, spreading her pussy wide open.


    After so many years of rutting with one another like animals, Samuel''s thick member was no longer a hurdle for her. He was far thicker and longer than any Varintol male, and when they first fucked, Scarletra felt the difference immediately. Oddly, she still looked back on that day and thought of it as him opening her eyes to something unknown. Fuck, she still regularly felt tender the next day.


    Scarletra slowly speared herself on his thick rod, her pussy wall flexing tightly around him. Burning pleasure spread through as he pressed deep inside her. Once her doughy thighs engulfed his waist, he reached up and grabbed hold of them, his fingers sinking in as he got ready for the ride.


    With a powerful motion, Scarletra rose in steady, controlled motions, sheathing Samuel in and out of her at a well-controlled tempo.


    Even with her doing her earnest best to keep in control, each time his cock pressed deep, she dropped atop his hips, wet smacking joining their panting breaths and moans. Scarletra kneaded her breasts, using her claws to tease her perky pink nipples, causing her to look skyward to the moon, trying to stretch the bliss through her more.


    ¡°Go a little faster,¡± Samuel pleaded, gripping her fur tighter.


    Not verbally responding but having received the message, Scarletra sped up, using her muscular thighs to press him further. In awe, Samuel watched as her soft rhythm increased from slow, gentle motions to hammering, oozing with unbridled passion.


    Pain and pleasure drilled into his mind as most of her weight bludgeoned his pelvis and lightly bruised him.


    Scarletra was always so careful not to hurt him when riding him but seeing her doughy tits bouncing, rolling fat shifting, and gyrating atop him was the most intimate thing he had ever known¡ªand he liked her going a little bit wild.


    Par for the course, as Scarletra started to fall into her rhythm, like an elegant dancer, she flexed her tight, wet tunnel in blissful waves, along with tilting her hips forward, backward, and sideways in random intervals; She kept the secrets of the next part of her performance a mystery.


    Samuel quickly sang like a canary, and a fog of bliss took him in. He no longer had any reservations about moaning while she roared like a beast. Doing the only thing he could to help her along, Samuel pushed his hips up slightly, as in maybe a centimeter or two. Anything more than that, and Scarletra would break him like a twig.


    Like the beast in the bedroom with a sixth sense, Samuel did not even have to warn his lovely wife that he was getting close to finishing. She could feel his heart rate increase and hear his breaths deepening, and smell the libidinous desire to fill her with cum fill the air.


    Leaning down and engulfing Samuel in her heavy tits, she braced herself against the ground, took in a mewling breath, and turned up the heat as much as she could without sending him to the hospital.


    Her hips savagely slammed against him time and time again, with him grunting and moaning with each powerful stroke. Her furry body engulfed him as she gradually put more weight on him.


    The next few moments were beyond bliss and cloud nine for each of them. A tethering line between danger, pleasure, and love pulled their minds in all directions, forcing both of them into climax.


    Samuel grabbed Scarletras gargantuan ass and erupted inside her, filling her to the brim with scalding hot cum. The thick white liquid warmed her from the inside out and kicked her over the edge as well; her hot wet pussy collapsed entirely and drank each drop from his throbbing cock, not allowing a drop to be wasted.


    Yes, she knew Samuel could not get her pregnant naturally, but she loved the Human, and instincts demanded she at least try.


    Scarletra continued to move and flex her vice-like tunnel, using all the control she had to keep Samuel moaning louder and louder. While Samuel groped desperately at her stout frame, wanting more and more stimulation.


    After Samuel¡¯s and Scarletra¡¯s orgasms had settled slightly. Scalretra carefully rolled to the side of Samuel, his cock flopping out and trailing cum between them. They looked at one another, panting and covered in each other''s scent.


    ¡°Come here, you adorable man,¡± Scarletra purred, pulling him against her.


    Samuel and Scarletra held each other close as they rode out their bliss entirely. Caressing, kissing, and licking each other throughout their aftercare.


    ¡°I love you, Sam,¡± Scarletra said, slipping her arm under his head like a pillow.


    ¡°I love you too,¡± Samuel smiled, planting the tiniest kiss on her lips to close out their first round of the night, knowing very well after he recovered, Scarletra would be ready for rounds two through four.

 An Iced Hearts Christmas---Section Four: Christmas Morn(end of special)

    ¡°Daddy wake up,¡± Silfa pleaded, tugging Samuel¡¯s beard.


    Grumbling, Samuel rolled away from Scarletra¡¯s warm embrace and looked at Silfa, his dry eyes struggling to focus. Their little girl was wearing her Christmas sweater and clutched Glackie, her favorite doll, in her arms. Cutely enough, the doll had a Christmas dress on as well.


    ¡°What''s up, little cub?¡± Samuel asked, not having been awake during any explanations Silfa might have given before using his beard as a start string.


    ¡°Santa came. Can we open the gifts?¡± Silfa asked, looking toward the door where Sarah stood wrapped in a blanket, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She was likely also dragged out of bed by Silfa; their youngest was usually awake first.


    Samuel glanced out the window, sunlight pouring in past the wooden shudders. He and Scarletra must have been up later than he initially assumed, but hey, that happens when your buxom bombshell of a wife wants to go at it in the hot tub, the kitchen floor, the davenport, and the bedroom all in a row.


    ¡°Yeah, we can. Just give Mommy and me a minute to get dressed and get some coffee, OK?¡± Samuel replied, sitting up and patting her head.


    ¡°Ok, Daddy,¡± Silfa giggled before running over to her sister, excited about the news.


    Ah, that brought back some memories for Samuel. His Human kids were just like that when they were little, and so was he. With how addicted to Christmas the house was, it was not a shock they had woken him up.


    Once the two little ones were out of the room, Samuel brushed the hair out of Scarletra¡¯s face and gently caressed her fluffy ears. ¡°Did you catch that?¡±


    Scaletra grumbled and groaned, clearly wanting more sleep, but she did nod and acknowledge the girls and that they wanted to open their gifts already.


    ¡°Come on Scar, they are being good and waiting for us,¡± Samuel said as he stood.


    Every muscle in his body screamed at him when his feet hit the floor. Giving himself a once over, the true extent of last night was clear; bruises, cuts, bitemarks, and hickies were all over. But that had nothing on his upper thighs, deep purple from Scarletra¡¯s impassioned rides.


    Stumbling over to the cabinet, Samuel yelped and groaned with each step. While the girls coming and going did not wake up Scarletra fully, his sounds of pain did.


    ¡°Are you going to be able to make it downstairs? Or do I need to carry you?¡± Scarletra yawned, tossing the blanket


    ¡°No thanks, I will make it,¡± Samuel assured, hiking up his trousers.


    ¡°Alright then,¡± Scarletra replied, sauntering over to the bathroom.


    Scarletra and Samuel gradually got ready for the day, feeling the fatigue and soreness from their nighttime escapades. They were both getting older and could not keep at it like years ago; Scarletra was nearly thirty while Samuel was almost sixty¨Cbut they tried to still have that passion from when they first moved here.


    Both were so exhausted that they needed coffee before even considering opening the gifts. Silfa did not appreciate the delay until Samuel made everyone pancakes¡ªall was forgiven instantly once Silfa¡¯s plate overflowed with syrupy goodness.


    After a pleasant breakfast, they all settled in the living room, and Samuel lit the fire to make the scene picturesque. With his two girls digging through the mountain of gifts, the fireplace roaring, and the immaculate tree, Samuel could imagine this being on a Christmas card.


    ¡°Here you go, Mommy,¡± Silfa purred and handed Scarletra her stocking while Sarah gave Samuel his.


    ¡°Thank you, sweetie,¡± Scarletra replied.


    Samuel and Scarletra poured out the contents of the stockings, already knowing what to expect. They filled them, after all. Chocolate coffee beans, candy canes, gingerbread bites, and other little snacks landed on their laps¡ªperfect treats to go with their morning coffee.


    Silfa and Sarah looked at the contents of their parent''s stocking with wide eyes and watering mouths.  Not wanting to be left out, they quickly sumped theirs on the floor before them and found similar items. But unlike the adult stockings, theirs had far more significant amounts of candy¡ªand some small toys: cards, little plushies, bouncy balls, and a gift card or two.


    Some people might think Samuel and Scarletra were going overboard, but in their minds, it was Christmas, and the kids could be as spoiled as they wanted today.


    Watching the girls scoop up the chocolates and devour them was perfect for Samuel and Scarletra, and was a great start to the lazy Christmas morning. They had nowhere to be and nothing else that would take their attention today¡ª and neither felt up too much other than watching their little ones enjoy the holiday.


    ¡°Go ahead and grab your gifts,¡± Scarletra said, gesturing to the mountain of gifts under the tree, pulling the girl''s attention from the sugary treats.


    ¡°Sarah, grab Silfa her Santa gift,¡± Samuel said before Sarah pulled her massive Santa gift to the center of the living room. She immediately shifted and found Silfa¡¯s gift. It was easy enough for her to do since the Santa gifts were the only presents wrapped in golden paper.


    After Silfa had her present, the girls quickly opened their gifts from Santa.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Silfa was beside herself when the fresh packs of colored pencils were revealed. She happily bounced up and down on Scarletra¡¯s lap, showing them to both her and Samuel, excitedly telling the two of them what she would draw. Well, not just telling them; she already flipped to the first page and started drawing what Samuel thought was supposed to be a cat, her favorite animal, but it might be a dog, a bear, maybe a cow. Samuel was unsure, but Silfa would tell them when they pin it to the fridge.


    While the littlest one hummed and sketched, Sarah struggled to roll her gift from the pile, the massive toolbox weighing almost as much as she did. But once it was in the center of the room, her claws ran along the wrapping paper, slicing it open.


    With a flabbergasted jaw drop, she paused and looked between Samuel and the red Milwaukee brand rolling toolbox.


    ¡°Daddy¡ªdaddy¡ªSanta¡ªwow,¡± she gasped, unable to fully process that she had her own tools after years of asking Samuel to help her start her collection.


    ¡°Yes, teddy bear,¡± Samuel prissed.


    She bound over to Samuel and wrapped her arms around him. ¡°Santa got me tools, my own tools, Daddy. He knew just what I wanted.¡±


    Samuel nuzzled against the top of her head and hugged his little girl back, overjoyed that she loved the gift. ¡°Yeah, he did, he always does.¡±


    The rest of the morning was sugar plum joy, the girls giggling and playing with toys. Gifts galore from all over the GU; they ripped open parcels from Red, the locals out in the town, and the representative from Baratin even sent the girls some bowls and other curious from the distant moon.


    Samuel had no idea why he did and how he knew when Christmas was. But the girls enjoyed the brightly painted bowls and the extraordinarily detailed paintings on the enameled surface.


    Little was left under the tree once the girls had opened their gifts. Save for a box or two for Scarletra and Samuel, opening the boxes, and neither was surprised by what the locals and their friends had given them: collections of meats, cheese, homebrew beer, and a gift card or two. The perfect gifts for the adults. That was until Sarah dug under the tree and found one last package.


    She looked at it, confused for a moment or two. Its plain brown paper wrapping and the simple twine and rope around it were odd. ¡°Who is Princess and Hero? And who is Shama?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Scarletra said, ¡°Let me see that.¡±


    Handing Scarletra the gift, Sarah sat down and watched Scarletra and Samuel look the box over, slightly confused by the looks on their faces. It wasn¡¯t quite shock, concern, or confusion. No, they looked at the box in a way she could not describe yet. But she could hear both of their hearts racing and saw them almost knowingly glance at one another.


    How and why did Shama, of all people, send them something? And when did they put it under the tree? Neither could remember; it likely ended up arriving with a large swath of gifts.


    The last Either of them had seen the Jurintik Captain was escorting wounded soldiers to ambulances on Erula after he extracted them from the battle at the outpost. And the last they heard from him was six months after returning to Earth when he informed them the war on Baratin had begun and that he and tens of thousands of troops were orbiting the moon in a drop-ship carrier.


    With hesitation, Scarletra peeled away the paper and opened the box. What they found inside initially confused them. A simple piece of polished aluminum and a folded letter.


    They looked at the aluminum first; it was about as large as a novel and had names written on it. Hundreds of them, all in Galactic standard, but based on the spelling and variations, the indicated aliens must have been from hundreds of different species. It took them some effort, but they even saw their names and Shama¡¯s on it.


    ¡°What the fu¡ª,¡± Samuel started but bit his tongue, not waiting to swear in front of the girls. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°No idea,¡± Scarletra replied.


    ¡°Can I see it?¡± Sarah asked, holding out her palms.


    Not seeing any reason not to, Scarletra handed the metal to her and turned her attention to the letter.


    When they opened the letter, a picture fell out. It looked somewhat like a Polaroid, but they both knew it was not likely it was just a rendered picture of a digital photo. On the picture were hundreds of aliens, all in combat fatigues and carrying weapons. Humans, Jurintik, Varintol, and dozens of other species they were not familiar with. It was indeed a motley crew.


    They stood before a sight neither Samuel nor Scarletra expected to see again¡ªthe outpost, or at least what was left of it. The ruins were still demolished, and the heavy snow made it almost impossible to recognize.


    But they did recognize a few of the soldiers, Moi, Vin, and Kellul. None of the others from the group who extracted them were in the group, except for Shama, who was in the photo.


    Now they were confused and only had one way to get an answer: read the letter.


    Hey, princess and hero.


    It has been quite a while, huh?  I doubt you ever expected to hear from me again. Hell, I am likely a ghost to you all at this point. But I¡¯ve been busy on Baratin the last few years. I hope you all are enjoying the life you made back on Earth. I hear you two have a kid. Sorry about not giving them something(I never was good with kids), But I did send something for you two. With this letter is a piece of metal; it was made out of the outpost walls and has the names of everyone from my company who was there at the fall of the Ursana empire. How many of these men are still alive when you get this? I don¡¯t know; I¡¯m sending it out before the assault. Hell, I might kick it. Lord knows we have lost a lot of good men and women in this campaign. But that is not here nor there.


    What I am asking of you all is, no matter the outcome, I hope you two pray for our lives and souls. It has taken a lot of effort, but the war is finally about to end with the Varintol fully integrating into the GU at long last.


    -Shama


    This was unexpected; Shama had some sentimental bones in him; neither had thought much more of him than a true warrior poet; well spoken, honest, and able to be relied on, but sending a gift of remembrance was something they did not expect.


    The present hit Samuel and Scarletra like a brick. Both took a few moments to think back to that horrible day on Baratin and imagine the faces of these soldiers wadding through hell like that for years.


    ¡°Mommy, daddy, are you alright?¡± Sarah asked


    Shaking themselves free of their imaginations, they looked at Sarah and the hunk of metal. Well, it was not a hunk of metal; it was the soldiers'' names, lives, and wills given physical form.


    ¡°Yeah, we are fine,¡± Scarletra said, picking up the memorial item and putting it atop the hearth below Samuel and Scarletra¡¯s sword and ax, the letter underneath it, and the picture to its side. With the rest of their families, violent items from the moon were just where the memorial belonged. Somewhere, they would see it every day.


    Scarletra said a silent prayer for the soldiers who saved her and Samuel that day and turned back to her loving family. Glad that men and women like them existed and ensured monsters like the Mother could not rule.


    The rest of Christmas had no interruptions or hiccups, but that was par for the course to the Martin Clan. It was the perfect time for them all. Another flawless day and the year was closing out for them¡ªwith many more to come.


    Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope you have a wonderful time with your family¡¯s