Theronil Whitemorn double-checked the crib once more. In truth, it was more than a double-check. It was more like his 100th-check. Isandri was due any day now, and he wanted everything to be perfect for the baby. He knew the crib had been joined perfectly, but checking made him feel like he wasn’t missing a small flaw somewhere.
In preparing for his son or daughter’s arrival, he’d almost forgotten about Winter’s Veil. It wasn’t until he went out to get food to bring back to Isandri and saw the decorations that he remembered. Finding the time to shop for gifts had proved difficult, as he was too busy making sure everything was perfect for the baby’s arrival. He had no idea what to get Isandri this year either. It was while he was putting up a shelf in the baby’s room that he remembered the books he used to have as a child. They came in a set, but were all about different things. One was about a boy who got a tree for his birthday. Another was about twins who always did things different. He couldn’t remember the rest, or even the titles. He checked at the library, and one of the people there was able to tell him the name of the set, but they didn’t have any copies there. He checked in the lower city and found nothing there as well. He then started writing to bookshops in Silvermoon, asking if they had the set there. Slowly, the replies came back. None of them had it. One of them mentioned they hadn’t seen that set for decades. Theronil thought it was possible he wouldn’t find the books. He bought a beautiful shawl with intricately woven designs of leaves and flowers on it for Isandri. She would like that, even though he still hoped to find the books.
Theronil had almost given up when he got a letter from a bookshop in a town in Eversong. They had the set! It was old, but the books were mostly in good condition, with the exception of one that had lost its cover. The shop offered to re-bind it for him. Theronil had quickly wrote back and arranged to pick up the set.
He smiled to himself as he checked the crib over once more. Hopefully she would like both the books and the shawl.
***
Aranae Lightmist sat on the stairs at the Peak of Serenity watching the monks train below. She knew what time of the year it was. The pandaren seemed to pick up on the holiday fast and had erected a tree inside one of the buildings. She could do without the reminders.
Of course she hadn’t heard from -them-. She didn’t want to, and the more she knew they weren’t even trying, the less she wanted to do with them. They could all stay in Silvermoon and pamper their favorites this year without her in the way.
She hadn’t seen Tsi Ku since coming back, and often wondered where she could be. The guy with the cat hadn’t been around either, but there was one person she knew here. Unfortunately, he was the one who couldn’t take a hint. Even when she specified for him to get lost, Cadellus still didn’t get it. He’d better not be planning to get her anything for Winter’s Veil. She wouldn’t accept it if he did. It was tempting to go somewhere else just to get away from him. She smiled to herself. Maybe it would be best to visit one of the towns for the rest of the holidays.
***
Rohau felt the wind lift up under his wings as he circled the valley below. He carried a small burlap sack in his talons, though it was small enough that it did not impede his flight. He watched carefully as he passed over the trees below. He let out a quick caw when he finally saw the smaller white bird hidden in the branches of one of the trees. The other bird looked up, and watched as Rohau landed on the branch next to him. The other bird started preening as Rohau pulled the burlap bag up on the wide branch. This one was always preening. Rohau stuck his head in the bag and pulled out a box with his beak. He placed it on the limb and pushed it towards the white bird. The white bird pushed a different package towards Rohau. Of course he had gotten a gift too. Rohau carefully pulled the wrapping off, letting the colorful paper drop to the earth below, as the other bird did the same with his present. Using both his talons and beak, he opened the box. Inside, was a small jar of perfume. Using one of his talons, he pressed the top and sprayed just a little bit onto the other talon. He smelled it and cawed happily. The other bird also cawed happily as he pulled a beaded necklace out of his gift box. Rohau helped him put it over his head, certain that it would stay in place around the other bird while in flight. They both cawed happily as they took off with their presents in opposite directions.
***
Orledin looked up at the sky. It was still dark. Not even a hint of light at the horizon told him he still had plenty of time before another day of work started. He looked down at the small piece of birch wood in his hands. It was beginning to take shape. It was a hobby he took up a few years ago. It was something to do while the world slept. Most of his projects he had just left wherever he had finished them, none of them meaning that much to him. However, this one he was doing as a gift, as a way to say thank you to one of the few people who had not judged him for being what he was. He was pretty sure the captain would like the gift as he resumed whittling the details into the cat-shaped piece of wood.
All the rest 