The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus

Many centuries ago,

when the earth was a much different place,

long before television, radio, storybooks, bicycles,

or even toys had been invented,

human beings were far from alone on the planet,

surrounded by animals of many varieties, some now extinct.

In addition to the animals,

in the deeper, more secret parts of the forest

lived seldom seen magical creatures of many descriptions.

Some were immortal, overseers of all living things.

Oh, and in case you did not know,

immortal means they are still very much alive,

even though it is quite unlikely you have seen one.

There were the Ryls,

whimsical caretakers of plants and flowers, the colors of every blossom in the land.

The clever Knooks, guardians of animals and ancient trees.

And in the very deepest part of their world,

in a place never seen by humans,

was and remains The Forest of Burzee.

Therein lived the graceful Fairies

and the mysteriously beautiful Wood Nymphs, caretakers of springtime,

and therefore, all things newborn and reborn in nature.

Among these creatures, there was a very special one named Necile.

Every spring, Necile had the honor of preparing the first nectar of the season,

which would reveal many things about the coming year.

Oh, forgive me for not introducing myself.

I am Ak, The Master Woodsman,

overlord of all of the creatures of this hidden world.

There were others, more troublesome,

but we will meet them in a while.

Now, where was I?

Oh, yes, Necile.

Hmm. We have reason to rejoice!

Necile's nectar predicts a year of great significance,

hmm,

which suggests the beginning of a new source of joy.

The most unusual flavor. Thank you, Necile.

Please, Ak, tell us more about your journey among the humans.

I think it is a good thing that only I can go among them.

Of all the creatures of the earth, humans still seem the most miserable lot.

They must work hard to survive,

even their children must work as soon as they can walk.

We must have compassion for these beings

who are less fortunate than any of us.

Are they all in such misery?

Not all, but some are worse.

Some cannot even provide enough food or shelter for their own children.

Just this morning, I found a human infant

left at the edge of our woods.

A baby? Alive?

Yes.

In fact, this child seemed to possess a most unusual life force for a human.

There was something about him, his essence.

Sheigra had noticed it, too!

The lioness?

At first, I feared she was eyeing the infant as her next meal,

but I was wrong.

Sheigra, this child...

Is not merely mortal, sire? Yes.

I want you to nourish it with your milk.

Feed and protect it as if it were your own.

Helping the humans again, master?

Someone must try, and it is forbidden to all of the others.

Perhaps this child

can help us find a way to be of some service to humanity.

I will do as you wish.

Creatures of the woods,

know that this child is protected for all time by Ak,

Master of the Realm.

Treat him as a friend.

Forgive our impertinence, My Lord,

but do you really think it wise to leave a baby

with a lion? With a lion?

Do not worry.

I am certain a more practical solution will be found

before Sheigra's hunger causes her to forget my command.

Show yourself or risk your life!

It is me, Sheigra.

Necile, you have traveled far from the safety of Burzee.

Ak spoke to us vividly of the child you protect.

He is human, Necile.

May I see him, or hold him perhaps,

for just a moment?

Contact between humans and immortals is forbidden.

We shall both be punished.

I have already broken the law by coming here, Sheigra.

Please.

Sheigra, you have mothered many young.

As an immortal, I can never have children.

You must help me.

I do tire of this task.

Human infants are quite loud at times.

But I caution you, you must go to Ak at once.

Good morning. You slept peacefully?

Ah, like a baby, as humans say.

Oh, a sleeping baby is a peaceful sight.

So says you? Well, I mean...

I have heard...

Do you suppose a nymph could, under any circumstance,

raise a human child?

Impossible. It is forbidden.

In any case, where would one find such a bold nymph?

And where would this nymph find such a child?

I believe I am such a nymph.

The child, you provided yourself last evening.

All I did was retrieve him.

A lioness is not a suitable mother for a baby such as this.

Ak, I beseech you, allow me to raise this child as my son.

Necile,

you have defied our highest law. I know.

However, once done, the deed cannot be undone.

So, I shall allow it.

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

The rest of you, however, heed this warning,

further mischief with humans will not be tolerated.

Is that understood?

You have chosen your mother well, child.

And broken every rule in doing so.

See to it you are worth the trouble.

He will. I am sure of it.

The Ryls sent more milk blossoms.

Thank heavens! This baby of mine eats like a unicorn.

What is that?

You call that a catapult? Ha!

I could build a better one blindfolded.

Hey, I am blindfolded.

Whoa!

I'm in heaven.

Are you angels?

He said angel.

No, this is the Forest of Burzee and we're Wood Nymphs.

Close enough. I'm Wisk.

Where did you come from, Wisk?

Uh, uh...

Up there.

Where? Up there?

Awgwa Mountain? Yep.

I got caught in a stupid pixie trap.

So, you are a stupid pixie?

No, no. I'm not stupid. The trap was.

So they let you go? Nope. Escaped.

Stowed away in a catapult.

Ah, don't pixies live on the other side of Awgwa Mountain?

Oops. I guess I picked the wrong catapult.

Now, I'll never get home without going past those Awgwas again.

You have seen an Awgwa?

I heard they were awful, scary things.

What do they look like?

They look something like this!

What is that?

That is my son.

He's human.

Of course, I knew that.

Sure is a big, little... Whoa.

What's his name?

Well, he hasn't got one yet.

But in our ancient language Claus means little one.

So, Necile's little one would be something like Necileoclaus.

Necileoclaus?

Poor kid! Well, good thing for you pixies know a lot about those humans.

Um, let's see.

We'll let Ak name him.

Whoa!

He likes me.

So, Wisk, it would seem you don't have a place to live, right?

Well, no.

Actually, I...

Then, I think you should stay here with us.

You do? You do?

But no more Awgwas, please!

What does a human adult look like?

Wisk!

So, he was named Nicholas,

which I knew to be a human name

and one which suited Necile's wishes.

Little one, however, did not apply for long,

as he grew rapidly, as humans do.

Child of mine

How he shines beyond what he knows

His whole life

Has been opening up like a rose

In the world to come he'll go alone

He'll rise like the moon to greet the unknown

And I know that in the world to come

This being will shine

Like the sun

Child of mine

What he gives he freely receives

He has seen

What the others only believe

In the world to come he'll go alone

He'll rise like the moon to greet the unknown

And I know that in the world to come

This being will shine

Like the sun

May his magic gift grow strong

Keep him safe and carry him along

In the world to come he'll go alone