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_ Stranger in the Storm _

_ By Puma Concolor _

The night was cold and it had been snowing hard for over an hour. I had taken refuge in a small cave I had often used before. It offered good shelter with a small opening as well as cracks and crevasses in the roof that allowed the smoke from my camp fire to dissipate with out filling the cavern with choking smoke.. In short, it made a nice, warm, and comfortable den to wait out the storm.

I had just finished my dinner and was getting ready to settle down for the night when I heard a voice from out side.

"Hello the camp!"

I got up and walked over to the opening wondering just who would be foolhardy enough to be out on this stormy night.

"Who calls on such a night? Come forth and be welcome at my fire!" I called out.

A form appeared from out of the gloom as visibility was down to just a few yards. It had to be a man as he stood upright and stumbled a bit in the deep snow. As I backed away from the entrance it was indeed a man all wrapped up in furs who entered.

He was short and more than a bit pudgy. He came inside dragging a large bag behind. As he came deeper into my keep, he left his bag near the entrance and started to shed his gloves and pushed the hood of his jacket back from his head.

His face was framed by his great white beard and hair. He must have been outside for some time as his nose and cheeks shown red with cold. He looked as a mountain man in his fur coats, but his face showed none of the hardness that comes with that kind of life.

"Come set by the fire. You look like you could use its warmth. So what brings you out on a night so cold my friend?"

"Much the same as you, I recon," he replied, motioning toward my pack stuffed with trade goods.

"I'm a traveler. I guess you might call me a delivery man, sorta," he chuckled warmly.

"Well, this storm has put a stop to your deliveries tonight. You are more than welcome to stay until the storm is over. It's not a good night for man nor beast out there." I grinned back.

"Mmmmm not too sure of that; I don't think it will last all that long." He winked.

I shook my head at the mans optimism as I rummaged in the side pockets of my pack for a small package of spices and loosening a clay jug.

"Be that as it may, you are still welcome. I was just getting ready to warm some spiced apple cider. Would like a cup to warm yourself? I was lucky as one of my customers gave me a jug from their stock this year." I offered as I pored some from my earthen flask into my freshly cleaned coffee pot and placing it near the fire.

"Don't mind if I do. That sounds mighty good," he said as he settled down on a flat rock near the fire.

"It will be warm in just a few moments. I am known as Puma Concolor. I trade goods with the locals. This is a good time of the year as people are a bit leery of venturing out too far in the winter. How did you come across my camp tonight? This cave is hard to find even in the daylight?"

"Smelt your smoke. You know what they say, where there is smoke there's fire. You can call me Nic," he said offering his hand.

Something about smelling my camp fire was a bit hard to believe, coming from a human. But who was I to question his honesty or good fortune as being stuck out in the open on this night would certainly mean death. No matter how he had found me he was a lucky man.

By this time the pot was just starting to boil. I placed a stick of cinnamon in each of our cups before pouring on the cider and handing Nic his cup.

"Mmmmmmm Thank ya, Puma. Good stuff," he said taking a sip. "Tell me, how's your year been?"

"My year? As I said, I am a trader and traveler. I have a very good trade route form the Canadian boarder to the Land of the Yucatan. I do well. Along the way I find plenty of people in need of help. Some as small as to split some fire wood to desperately needing the medicines I trade. That is a bit of a strange question Nic, why do you ask?"

"Well, it doesn't look like you have much in creature comforts. I was just wondering."

"Wondering what?" I ask, looking at Nic.

"Oh, if you're happy. If there would be anything you would like to make your life easer?" He said raising an eye brow.

"Well, I can't say if anyone has ever asked me that question before," I said, sitting back, sipping my cider, loosing myself in its aroma, "I haven't ever given it much thought."

"Well? Are you?"

"Am I what? Happy?" I asked, focusing back on my guest, "I am. I have my trade route, there are many I consider my friends. What's not to be happy about?"

"Well, you have lost a lot of people too, as well as not having much to show for your self."

"Nothing or no one lasts forever, besides personal worth is not measured in the content of ones purse, but in the hearts of others. My memories and friendships richen my life beyond that of gold and personal possessions." I answered. "You seem to know a lot about me, have we met before?"

"Nope, this is the first time. But you would be surprised at what I know," he chuckled before continuing. "You're a hard one to catch up with. Took a storm to pin you down long enough to talk to you. So, how about it, is there anything you really and truly want, your hearts desire?" He continued.

"Well, I can't think of a thing I need. I would like to let my friends know I think of them from time to time."

"Like who?"

"No one you would know, I'm sure."

"I wouldn't say I wouldn't. I know a lot of people, you know."

"You would know Cheska, Nady, Lori, Kivva, and Kimmy? Not to mention Valentine Crow and Silver Frost? There are many others, but you could not possibly know any these people?"

Placing his finger to the side of his nose and thinking hard, "Mmmmmmm, Yep! I do believe I do, and every one else on your list." He smiled, "You know, I'll bet they will be thinking of you tonight too."

"What? How???" I asked in bewilderment.

"It's Christmas! A time of miracles, and it helps when a jolly old elf whispers in their sleeping ears," he chuckled as he stood and brushed off his red furred pants. As he started to don his jacket and gloves, "Well it's stopped snowing and I have lots more stops yet tonight. By the way, there is one more name on your list, you don't know yet but you will."

"Oh? And who might that be?" I asked very puzzled.

"Oh, you'll know. Next time you stop by that special tavern, pay attention to your barmaid's hip. You will know her name even before she even tells you."

As he shouldered his bag, he turned one last time to address me. "You have come a long way, Puma Concolor, and I do believe you will,,,,,, fair well."

As he left the cave, I sat in utter astonishment. How could a complete stranger know me? And know me so well? This could not be. And who is this stranger, and a barmaid, I have yet to meet? All too many questions running about my head. Suddenly a jingling sound of bells reached my ears and yanked my attention back to reality. I jumped up quickly and ran to the entrance and out into the clear moon lit night, No hint of the storm that had been raging less than an hour ago!.

There above the tree tops was a sleigh being pulled by eight flying reindeer. The driver, clad in his red furred jacket, waved and shouted, "Merry Christmas, My friend, Merry Christmas!"