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*More than a Companion I-II

The fire in the hearth lay dormant despite the chill that existed outside. The wind sometimes made a few large trees sway, but it wasn't even noticeable while I sat on the floor with Bianca. Her nine fluffy appendages covered me one way or another that appeared impossible to count if it weren't for their white tips. It made the decorations around the house seem less warm for obvious reasons. The Christmas tree was decorated with a few precious items that I enjoyed having dearly. Ornaments, photos, and a miniature wreath made entirely of orange fur that Bianca collected from a brush over a week. The scene this morning was similar to ones that I had as a kid with one exception. Wrapping paper was scattered around me, but Bianca's tails were all curled around me in one way or another. The kitsune pulled me closely against her warm and welcoming body, and planted a soft kiss to my forehead.

"I like December twenty-fifth a lot Patrick."

"Well, you opened all the presents from my family and friends to me." I said feeling her tails give a quick innocent squeeze.

"I was excited." Her ears went back partially. A tail snaked underneath my shirt and popped out from my collar.

"And curious." I finished looking at the wrapping on the floor compared to all the coils around my limbs. 'Thankfully not curious enough to open the ones I sent out.'

"Did you open the present my parents gave you?" Bianca asked trying to change the subject. A tail reached out to push the gift closer to me.

"That's the only one you haven't opened already." I teased grabbing the gift that rested next to me. It was more of a mini bamboo chest with a metal latch rather than a simple box. Unlatching it with a metal clink, I opened up the chest and pulled out a large navy blue garment. "Woah. This feels... nice." I felt the fabric between my fingers.

"It's a kimono made from silk, and it looks very expensive. They'll probably want you to wear it when we visit again." I looked over the entire thing remembering how different I was dressed compared to Bianca and her family that day. The kitsune peered into the trunk seeing more. "They also gave you a pair of geta, tabi, and an obi." A few tails pulled out the said items from his bamboo chest.

"Translation?" I requested seeing the items presented before me.

"Your footwear." She presented the wooden clogs with two wooden 'teeth' on the bottom. "I'll help you learn how to walk on them. These are socks to wear them with. And the obi is a sash to help tie the kimono." Bianca showed him the long blue silk garment. "You'll wear it like a robe... If my furry tails aren't enough for you." The kitsune added looping one around my neck like a scarf.

"That would be tough to beat." I admitted as she folded the gift up appropriately. "Which reminds me, did your parents get the gifts that I wrapped to give them?"

"Yes! I sent it to them yesterday, and they should have it now." She exclaimed with optimism.

"Thank you. I didn't know how delivery from here to there exactly worked, so I just hoped for the best."

"I'm sure they're opening it right now." Her tails rippled in agreement, weaving around my body. I was unprepared for the magical fox to tackle me to the floor in a happy hug, but I smiled just the same hugging her back. "Merry Christmas." She said contently.

"Merry Christmas Bianca."

A five tailed kitsune peered down at the small package on her doorstep. The bright colors fascinated her as she tightened the obi on her kimono before stooping down. Picking it up, the item inside was revealed to have some weight.

"Our son-in-law sent that present Bianca was talking about!" Yua exclaimed carrying a package inside.

"Package?" Tonichi looked up from his cup of tea in the main room.

"It's that thing they do once a year during winter. We sent a gift for Bianca to give to him remember?"

"Oh the kimono? That's the festival where they exchange gifts." He nodded as his wife quickly approached.

"Ooh! It's really cold!" Yua set it down on the low table where her husband was sitting.

"What's it wrapped in?" The male kitsune arched a brow looking at the red paper with stocking designs. With a few quick slices from her trained claws, the top of the present was completely open for curious eyes.

"Ice?" She questioned a small bag filled with ice cubes on top.

"There must be something under it then." Tonichi craned his neck to see. Setting the bag aside, they both spotted something very familiar.

"Salmon!" Yua noted the three large filets divided by waxy paper.

"Catfish and honey too." He added picking up a small jar of the golden treat. "I knew he was a good son-in-law from the day we met him."

"I clearly remember you choking Patrick in that dream we entered." Yua reminded her husband.

"Oh... Yeah." His ears flicked back. "Don't remind him if he visits soon."

"Of course." She set the ice bag back on the fish. "But I can't wait to prepare this to eat."

"Mhm." Tonichi agreed setting the jar back. Yua noticed a small letter taped to the side as she was about to close it.

"Oh! He left us a note too." They opened the small envelope and looked at the blue inked writing. It definitely wasn't their daughter's handwriting.

"Yua?" Tonichi asked coiling a tail around one of hers

"Yes dear?" She asked holding the paper.

"I can't read English."

"Neither can I." Her brow creased in focus.

*Winter's Worth I-IV (and V)

Johann was sitting next to his mate watching the fire in the hearth burn in silence. Noon was approaching and both were ready for his parents to stay the night when they arrive after dinner. Nothing would stop them from visiting on Christmas Day or the New Year, and both were far more prepared than last year. Johann sighed contently resting his head against his mate's grey furred side. Her fur warmed him far better than the robe he was wearing.

"You're still smiling about the gift I gave you?" Johann plainly saw her black lips curled up happily. Sylvia had already eaten her gift, two well prepared steaks. One cooked, the other raw which were savored with every bite.

"Oh they were amazing!" She licked her lips with fondness. "I wish I could catch something that tasted just like that."

"You catch it. I cook it." He replied making them both chuckle.

"That reminds me," She stood up, "about the gift I got for you."

"You got me something?" Johann was very perplexed seeing the she wolf run to the door. Sylvia ran outside and came back a minute later, now carrying a large set of bones. She set the deer skull and antlers on the floor beside him. "Merry Christmas Johann!" She triumphantly sang.

"How did you hide this from me?" He picked up the white bone set.

"I hid it in the field that's further up along the creek." She pointed with her nose. "I had to wait quite a while for it to be cleaned out."

"I think it will be a perfect decoration." He patted her side.

"Mhm." She hummed.

"Where should I hang it?" He looked at the giant headpiece. "Fireplace?" He wanted Sylvia's opinion.

"That sounds good." She wagged her tail pleasantly. Johann then felt her give him a wolffish kiss on his cheek.

"Good Christmas?" He asked hugging the wolf as she sat beside him.

"Very much so." She grinned placing a foreleg over his shoulder.

"This one is for you." Ulrich handed the present over to Jeanette as the fireplace crackled. She unwrapped the gift revealing a red sweater.

"I knew you remembered me eyeing this sweater in the store back in November."

"How could I ever forget?" His upbeat rhythm made her chuckle while reaching for another gift to unwrap. "There's a large paw print on the From section in this one." Ulrich chuckled handing it to Jeanette.

"Sylvia." She clearly said with less enthusiasm accepting the package. The letter was opened on the front first. "There's probably bones in here with hair." She huffed.

"If there is then don't expect me to play fetch with you." He wittily replied making his wife smile agin as she read the tag attached.

'Sylvia thought of the idea herself, not me. I hope you enjoy it!' - Johann.

"Well, at least we know that Sylvia didn't write that." He teased as she started opening the gift. Wrapping paper now aside, the box's top was lifted.

"Oh!" Her eyebrows raised. There were three bottles of exquisite perfumes wrapped in a pashmina scarf. The scarf though was weaved with the pattern of a wolf bowling at a full moon.

"Well how 'bout that, Sylvia can sew!" He cackled to his own joke as Jeanette looked over the scarf and bottles with care. "I'll have to ask her about it when we visit later in the evening."

"We always save visiting our son for last so we can stay until the new year." She held up the scarf. She knew Sylvia changed up things a little bit, but thankfully not much at all.

"If you don't want the scarf, I'll be happy to wear it instead. It's freezing outside."

"It's a women's scarf Ulrich." She protested setting the fabric in her lap.

"So you're keeping it then?" He asked with broadening a grin.

"Mm... I suppose." She smoothed over the soft fabric. "Don't get any crazy ideas and try taking it from me." Jeanette chuckled folding it back up.

"You know how crazy I am about you sweetheart." He kissed her on the cheek.

"Your are just plain crazy Ulrich." Jeanette grinned returning the sweet gesture. "And I'll always love you for it."

*Operation A-Go

A four year old vixen's white tipped tail excitedly swished back and forth as she looked under the vibrantly decorated Christmas tree. The evergreen smell made her nose tingle excitedly. There were maybe half a dozen presents left wrapped in various colors of paper that matched nearly every ornament hanging on the evergreen. She sat down deep in thought about which ones to choose. Her tail was equally focused as it remained motionless.

'Blue or green?' She wrinkled her nose deep in thought. The little vixen glanced around before reaching out to the blue one, her favorite color. The vulpine had a lot of blue ticked fur around her lower arms and legs that came from her grandmother, which probably had something to do with the choice as well. She stood up with a gleaming smile that showed off a few pearly white teeth. "Daddy open this one!" The young vixen ran with the present back to her dad sitting on the couch still in sleep clothes. The human quickly checked the tag to the square present.

"But this one says it's to you from Santa." His voice spoke as if it would be a bad thing for him to open it instead. She then looked at her mother leaning against him, knowing that she was the only one who could trump her father's decision.

"I don't see any harm in it dear." The adult vixen nuzzled into his cheek with a yawn. He smiled feeling her whiskers teasingly prod his face.

"Alright, let's see what you got, and hopefully your mother won't fall back asleep." He brushed his cheek against a soft black furred ear. The smaller vulpine handed the present over and patiently waited. He carefully unwrapped the blue paper adding to his daughter's anticipation. Her eyes glued to the box as the top was lifted so that her vision of what was inside remained obscured. A small red panda doll in a blue dress greeted her making the kit's eyes widen. James remembered how much she wanted it in the toy store. The smile on her thin black lips was very contagious as she bounced over to a few other presents with the new toy in hand.

"Aww. I'm glad you bought that for her James." She watched their daughter start playing with the doll.

"This is the first Christmas morning that you started falling asleep on us Rebecca." James brought a hand around his wife's side and kissed the top of her head.

"Kayla woke us up before six. I need some energy or something before we leave for my mother's place." Their four year old kit certainly had fun wearing both of them out every other day in the year.

"Energy huh?" He glanced back to Kayla who was focused solely on the remaining gifts. James swiftly positioned his hands and slid Rebecca sideways onto his lap. Rebecca opened her eyes feeling her body being moved. James deftly lowered her with his hand so that the vixen was nearly reclined on the couch in his grasp. She silently gasped seeing him lean down just as quickly to plant an invigorating kiss on her lips. As the suddenness faded away Rebecca returned the loving gesture and wrapped her arms around his back. She hummed happily as their lips gently met for a quick moment. Then with a smooth motion, James brought them both upright undoing the kiss. Her facial fur hid the light blush all too perfectly as their daughter continued playing obliviously. "Awake now?" He grinned slyly just before their daughter could turn around with a other hand picked present.

"Maybe if you didn't scare the fur off my back first." She chuckled as Kayla ran up to them again.

"This one is for you mommy." She gave the rectangular box to her mother before returning to the Christmas tree.

"Thank you Kayla... Oh! This one is from Santa too." She stole a quick grin at her husband sitting up more in his lap. Rebecca tore the wrapping easily with her claws, revealing a box marked with a favorite store logo. As the top was lifted, James noticed a black silk garment and quickly placed his hand over hers.

"Wait-"

"Something wrong James?"

"Let's save that one for later." He gave a coy smile.

"Gotcha." She winked setting it aside. "We need to get ready and head over to my mom's place anyway."

"Kayla." James called over to his daughter. The little vixen had busied herself gathering her opened presents into a small organized pile.

"Yes?" She cutely asked looking up at her parents.

"Run out of gifts to open Kayla?" James chuckled seeing his daughter with the remaining unopened gifts lined up.

"The rest are for other people!" Kayla hopped up from the floor with a few of her gifts on hand.

"You can bring them with you sweetheart. We need to get dressed so we can head over to your grandmother's house soon anyway."

"Ok!" She ran off with thundering little footsteps to her room. Rebecca stood up with a stretch feeling more awake than before. A pair of arms wrapped around her torso as James pressed against her back in a hug.

"Merry Christmas Rebecca." He nuzzled into her shoulder, breathing in the wonderful aroma that was uniquely her.

"Merry Christmas James." She held his hands smiling as they stood together by the lit tree.