Athernaz Christmas

My name is Ignus. I'm a fire demon. And christmas, isn't exactly my kind of thing. I like the cheer, and the decorations, and the whole 'give over get' thing, but... I have some history with it.

You might think being a living fire might be great for christmas, and the cold and snow, since I could just melt it away and be fine, unfortunatley, it works the other way. My body 'is' fire, so if I touch water, it gets put out, which causes an immense amount of pain to me, the cold, sucks away at my heat, putting my body in a slight but constant pain. Snow is the same getting hit with a snowball is like getting shot in the chest. So I never want to go outside, or participate in any of the 'fun' outside.

This, like anything, has consequences. Always staying inside has made me, "The Grinch of Athernaz" as they put it. I don't know how, when, or where it started, but it did, and I am honestly fine with it. Sure, about two weeks before christmas people start ignoring me, or avoiding me, and about a week afterwards it ends, but I can live with that.

It was Christmas morning, the dawn cracked over the horizon from my house, just another christmas morning, I'd stay inside all day and people would say things about me behind my back. I'd be making breakfast while the ice and weather mages make it snow. I sigh at the thought of it, what sounds like a crackling fire noise comes with it, "Might as well get an early start..." I force myself outside, heading towards the nearest produce store, always open early. Slipping on my black jacket to protect myself what I could, I walk out.

Only the early birds are up, Krystie, Johnatan, and a few others. I look up to the sky as I walk. That dark blue of the dawn sky, beautiful, to most, but only serving as a reminder to me again of my limeted time, and increasing my pace, the cold quickly taking it's effect.

I arrive shortly thereafter. Taking one last look at the sky before I walk in. A small, bird-like figure in the air catches my eyes, dragging clouds behind it, like it's pulling a blanket along the floor. Senora, a snow owl harpie, with weather magic. The literal early bird. She was probably bringing a small snowstorm with her, as the ground was barren of white, difficult for me to get through no doubt.

I rushed into the store, a face or two disappearing behind the shelves as I walked in. I tried to be quick about it, get out before it really started outside. I brought minimal things to the checkout counter, everything being done without eye contact or a word. At least she didn't insult me like I know some would.

I went to check a window, to see if I could still make it, but it might as well have been a blizzard out there. The ground already coverd in white, and the snow falling fast, some down draft or something. To go out there would be like walking out into needle rain, painful, and impossible to avoid. I'd have to wait it out. Another crackling sigh escaped me, I'll just find a corner to sit in.

I start to turn around, but someone opens the door, a girl, covered in white feathers, with black legs and a black beak, with deep blue eyes, much like a dawn's sky. Senora, the harpie girl who started the storm. And the weirdest part to me, is that she was looking at me, not sadness, fear, anger, but an almost glad look, like she had found what she was looking for. She did a waddleing motion to get over to me. I was confused, why me?

Senora, arguably the most enthusiastic about christmas, approaching the Grinch? The whole store went silent quickly, and it felt like everyone was giving her weird looks, myself included.
She spoke quietly, like she didn't want to be heard, "Uhh, Ignus?" I looked behind me a moment, she couldn't have been talking to me. "No silly, I'm talking to you!" I looked back at her, slightly in disbeleif. "Look," she said, trying to sound comforting, "I know you can't get home in this weather, and I'm not going to stop the snow just for you, but, I uhh, I can take you home by blocking the snow?"

I was stunned, it had come from nowhere, she wanted to help me? The outcast of Christmas? I couldn't get words out of me, I just stood in disbeleif. "Come on," She continued, blushing ever so slightly, "don't tell me I came down here for nothing." "I-I ahh" I fumbled over my words, looking around again at all the prying eyes surrounding us. My flaming face got hotter. "I uhh, appreciate the offer and all b-but..." "But what?"

She sounded so confident in herself, like she was proud to be helping the worst person to be around for christmas. I couldn't say no, who knows when the snow would let up, and she would be so disappointed, but if I said yes, she'd probably earn herself a nickname as well.

"I don't know..." I said, trying to clue her in, "I'm not really the type of person that you should be helping..." She smiled, and responded, "Nonsense! You have no way home, and I'm offering one to you." I looked around again, everyone was still looking at me. "If..." I started, "If I say yes, will you leave me alone afterwards?" She giggles, "No promises~" I look at the window again, it's starting to frost over.
"Ffffffine..." She gets giddy with excitement, making the scene only more awkward. "Hee hee! Come on then!" I grab up my stuff quickly, and quickly follow her.

Outside she is standing in a bubble of air, no snow getting in. I start to second guess myself, she's going to so much trouble to help me? I step into the bubble slowly, only more eyes looking at us when I walk out. "A-are you sure about this?" I ask. She nods,"Mmhmm!" I nod slightly in return, and she begins walking, with me along side her...

From that christmas forward things started getting better for me, I still couldn't go out in the snow or too cold, but people eventually stopped pushing me off, when I was out, people would talk to me, thanks to her. Truly, a small act, can make a huge difference, be it calling someone a name, or helping them out of a slump. So whoever may be reading this, today, just make a small act of appreciation, be someone's reason to smile. I have a reason to smile, and that's because of a small act of a friend.