The Alien Reindeer’s Escape
A Winter Starr Book 10
By Starr Huntress and Eden Ember
©2019 by Eden Ember All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover Design by Perfectly Plotted Books.
Edited by Perfectly Plotted Books.
Cover image by Deposit Photos.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
Chapter 1
The vast expanse of white took her breath away as Piper stepped from the plane onto the tarmac. Crisp cold air filled her lungs energizing her to take the step forward to her new home and her new life. She had already called ahead, and a vehicle awaited, one that could take her down the cold icy roads to the cabin that her father had bought many years earlier. The four-wheel-drive Jeep bumped along the all but abandoned iced highway as she made her way north to the little community called Christmas Town. Fallen snow caused deep drifts along the sides of the highway framed in white shrouded trees.
Christmas Town was a sleepy community with a population of one hundred. Anyone here wanted to get away from life. She had nothing more to live for other than to mourn her father’s passing and try to figure out what she wanted to do. When her father came to her telling her he suffered from stage IV cancer, he asked her to help care for him in his last days. She didn’t realize how many surprises he had in store for her. It had been the hardest thing she’d ever done in her entire life taking care of her dying father. His strength was a great presence in her life. Her mother ran off with some guy and left her behind to finish high school. Her father spent time away as she stayed with her best friend while she finished school. She was in her second year of college when he called her and told her the news that he had been diagnosed with cancer and didn’t have long to live.
She squinted her eyes and made out the sign, Road 276, her new long driveway. Her father told her he had bought the cabin at the end of a long road with no neighbors nearby. The acreage was also his and he presented her with the deed to the property and the little cabin with her name scrawled on it. He was wheezing and coughing and could barely breathe but he smiled at his daughter.
“You didn’t think I’d leave you with nothing, did you?”
Piper wiped the tears from her face as she thought about all her father had done. She thought he just enjoyed hunting and being alone. He had come up here to the northern tip of Alaska and the little community of Christmas Town and bought land. It was more than she could ever dream possible that he also left with her a giant bank account. Her father died in the middle of the summer. She tried going back to school in the fall. Her heart wasn’t in it though. She kept thinking of how her father told her she didn’t have to do anything, that she could find her heart and her bearings at the cabin in Alaska. He encouraged her to go there and to enjoy it and to enjoy the money he left for her.
“The world is yours, Princess,” he said.
Anything she wants to do. Piper shook her head because she didn’t know what that was. Before she found out he had cancer, she was floundering in college trying to figure out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. She had taken on a role as a journalism major. Then she switched it to English. Then she decided she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. They told her that if she got an English degree, she would either teach or write. She wanted to do neither.
Christmas Town, aptly named for the time of year, was devoid of Christmas decor. It was very unlike her former home back in the states where Christmas lights lined the eaves and garland hung from street signs, and the stores played Christmas carols. The sleepy town lacked the hustle and bustle that the holidays brought to other towns. Christmas Town wasn’t a thriving civilization.
The little cabin loomed ahead in the dimming light of dusk; the front door shrouded in shadows on the porch. The caretaker came around once a month to check on things. Wildlife investigated places like this, looking for food. She didn’t doubt that there were wolves and bears this far out. She parked the Jeep in the snow and trekked to the front door. A care package sat on the table with a note. The caretaker had come by and prepared for her arrival. He told her that he wouldn’t be coming back unless she needed him and then left his number. She pulled her cell phone out and doubted that it would work this far away from a city. Two bars showed, surprising her. It didn’t matter, anyway; she didn’t have anyone she wanted to talk to you anymore now that her father was gone. Her mother was too busy playing girlfriend to some old hippie who had taken an RV down to Florida to live in the swamps with the gators. Suit herself. Piper shook her head.
A small woodpile sat beside the little stove and Piper started a fire. It had a window door which gave the room a soft glowing light. Outside was a generator and the barn to her right, her father had left her enough gas to get her through a season. The generator was ready now, and all she needed to do was prime it and flip the switch. Immediately, the little cabin blossomed with lights from within casting a soft glow and giving it such a homey feel. She looked around and caught her breath as she saw the hunter green plaids on rustic furniture in the place her father called his home. A carved spruce table sat with two chairs with quilt cushions. She tried to imagine him shopping for these things. It would have been like him to ask the neighbors to make the furnishings for him. He was always giving odd jobs to people.
The hushed night felt strange. Piper didn’t miss hearing the traffic outside the little duplex in which she lived on the quiet street in Roanoke. There it was a quiet street, however it was not as quiet as this place. The baying of a distant wolf startled her but the rustling of the wind in the tall trees around the cabin soothed her. Her father had loved the place and said he had the best solitude here. She wanted to honor him and honor his memory by making this place her home, at least for now.
The next morning Piper went outside to gather more wood and bring another jug of gas from the barn. The sun was bright as it peeked through the gray clouds that threatened to dump another snowstorm. The stove warmed the roof enough to cause huge icicles off the eaves. She worried about the heavy icicles knowing it wasn’t a good idea to let that build up.
At first, Piper squinted at the trees. She walked along from the wood stack back to the cabin. A giant reindeer stood not too far from her but far enough away that she couldn’t touch it. It was looking at her, but not just looking at her. It met her eyes and her stare. She filled with joy upon seeing it. Reindeer lived in these parts and she’d much rather see a reindeer than a bear or a wolf. The reindeer stood tall with huge antlers; a scary tall because she didn’t think reindeer were so tall. The deer in Virginia were much smaller. She smiled at it and waved. “Hello t
here, you beautiful animal,” she said. For a second, he just looked at her as he tilted his head as if it were listening to what she was saying. Then he took off running, leaving her alone.
Every day when Piper would gather wood, she saw the reindeer. His daily visits brought a smile to her. It felt as if she had a friend in the reindeer and felt as if she should give it a name. He needed a name, so she called him her father’s name, Michael. She thought about her father and wished she could meet a man like him. Piper wouldn’t settle for anything less than what her father was. He was an honest man with large shoes to fill. She sighed again because in Alaska with her only neighbor a reindeer she doubted very much that she would meet the man of her dreams.
Chapter 2
Earth came into view as Elzarr guided the Astra Destiny through the Terran planetary system. He had entered the wormhole that brought him to the edge of the system hoping to arrive undetected. At least he knew he had people on Earth working to protect his identity. He hadn’t gone through the proper steps to become an Earthling as he had run away from his home planet, Azanie. Earth had hidden lands in which others couldn’t come to find him. The beautiful planet loomed ahead, the sun coming up over the horizon as he set course to the northern pole. With the ship in stealth mode, he flew around it once and launched into the burning atmosphere at an angle to keep his entrance a secret. He always enjoyed landing on new places. Elzarr visited the Terran planet as a child with his parents. He often dreamed about coming back, having heard all the details of the stories from his ancestors who’d been there before him. The humans were privy to the legends of his people. He chuckled as he was in his Rodii form and looked more like a man than his animal form. Once he landed and hid the craft, it would be easy for him to shift into his animal form. He’d have free run of enough land that he could exercise as he wanted. And here, with the snow falling in droves, he wouldn’t have to worry about burning out. No one heard of a reindeer in the tropical regions in the islands along the equator. His ancestors in the past had made the mistake of landing in other areas to discover that the environment was too hostile for them in their animal form. They had to remain in their Rodii form so they could blend into the human population until they could get away and find the cooler environments. His elders had told him that the polar caps had plenty of ice and provided the best environment for him to thrive.
Searching the ground for the perfect place to land was easy enough. He smiled as he set the craft down among the trees and extended the landing gear. The snow fell, and it wouldn’t take long for the white flakes to cover the top of the Astra Destiny. He pushed a button to turn the ship white so that it would blend into its environment and pulled the solar covering. He pressed another button to make certain that the air quality was what he needed in order to survive. His people thrived on Earth. A few Rodii had chosen Earth as their home.
For centuries his people had come here able to blend into the environment in both of their forms. One might mistake them for one of the Terran animals or for the more intelligent beings known as humans. Alaska provided him with an environment where he was free from the overcrowded planet of Azanie. Besides, he’d given up hope of finding a mate on Azanie since the females were far too scarce. Alaskan females were scarce as well. He chose Earth to have a little peace and to relax and enjoy life living in this place the humans called Christmas Town.
Elzarr stretched his forelegs as he lifted his head and belted out a call in the wild. His form was rather large, larger than the Terran reindeer. The fallen snow crunched beneath his hoofs as he made his way around the perimeter of the area. Leaping high, he ran fast through the snow-covered trees and shrubs, bounding over giant rocks. In the distance, a wolf bayed looking for food. He’d like to see the carnivore try to take him down. At least, as a Rodii, he had instincts which seemed to scare the larger beasts on this planet.
He committed everything on the land to his memory. A puff of smoke coming from a little cabin stoked his interest as he made his way to see what was going on. He came to the edge of the forest and stopped. A human female looked up at him. His encounters with humans caused alarm because of his great size. Not this human. She smiled. Her light blue eyes gazed at him and she spoke to him. A human had never spoken to him while he was in reindeer form. The woman took his breath away, because she was so interested in him and he was interested in her. He wanted to introduce himself like he would if he were in Rodii form. And then, he’d have to figure out if she was open to meeting an alien. He was an alien and a shifter. Humans didn’t believe in either, at least not the majority, save for those working at Area 51. He could go there if needed. He hoped he wouldn’t have to; he hoped to remain anonymous and out of reach from those on Azanie.
“Oh, look at you. You are a beautiful, majestic animal. Imagine that. Daddy, can you see him?” she asked while glancing at the sky.
Elzarr glanced up trying to figure out who she was talking to. And who is this Daddy? Thinking for a moment he remembered the humans on Earth called the person who gave them life mother and daddy. Then why is she looking up? Perhaps he’s up in a tree, or maybe he’s on the roof? Elzarr doubted that and yet her voice intrigued him.
The lovely lady had curves beneath her layers of clothing that at first caught his eyes. Turning his attention, he tried to figure out if anyone else was around; it didn’t appear that there were. The vehicle parked beside the little cabin seemed too small for an entire family. Only the woman’s footprints trailed to the front door. She smiled and stared at him.
Elzarr wished he was in his human form. At least then, he could talk to her. If he spoke to her as a reindeer, it would more than likely terrify her. But Rodii creatures emanate cheer to all who come near. It’s why the planet of Azanie is such a happy place. So happy that the male population grew and grew, and the female population waned. Still, he couldn’t help but gaze at this beautiful woman standing before him wishing he knew her better.
The human female dug into her pocket for something. Elazar froze remembering the strict warnings he had received from his people before coming to Earth. Sometimes, the humans hunt animals for game or for food. They see a reindeer as a meal. It occurred to him that perhaps she was hungry and was looking upon him as her next meal. He wouldn’t allow that to happen as she dug into her pocket; he turned and ran away.
Chapter 3
“Oh, you’re smiling at me! I swear you are!” Piper’s eyes gazed at the giant reindeer and his huge antlers. Turning, she wanted to grab her phone so that she could snap a picture of the majestic animal. There was no other way that she could prove that she had a reindeer standing nearby and smiling at her without a picture. She reached around inside her pocket and withdrew her phone and turned back around to snap the picture. To her disappointment, the reindeer had disappeared.
“Perhaps he’ll come back and I can snap a picture then.” She turned to gather some wood and brought it back to the cabin, spending the rest of the day cleaning. Piper had brought in enough of her own things to make it her home. Her father had left behind everything he ever used there, including his clothing. He was a rather large man, and she didn’t have the heart to go to his closet and clean it out. His presence stuck with her.
Piper ventured into town gathering whatever she could to make the place homier. The way people were in Alaska was that they offered to trade goods and services, and many didn’t care for money. There was a lady near town who made quilted items. Piper’s Jeep arrived at her homestead perched at the edge of a valley. Wayne and Greta Johnson had a lovely place where he fished and she sewed.
Bright fabrics covered the quilted items and would give her cabin just the right feminine touch. Piper was excited to mix her décor in the place making it a cozy home. The cabin provided an escape from the rat race of civilization, but there were still some things she needed to feel as if she was where she belonged.
The reindeer occasionally spied on her. Piper would look up and smile and wave as she spoke to him, even th
ough she realized how silly that was. Perhaps he’s used to seeing people and the sight of her didn’t scare him away. He was her friend. She smiled when he came around.
Living in Alaska meant a lot of snowfalls. It didn’t surprise Piper when the winter storm hit as she felt well prepared. She stocked the cellar and cupboards with food, had plenty of firewood in the barn, and the generator had plenty of gas. A gentle fire blazed in the stove all night long to keep the cabin warm. It created a cozy and safe home. Piper worried about the reindeer out in the cold snow. Where did the reindeer sleep? She hoped he had good shelter.
The next morning, she found the snow had piled up very high around the cabin. Because she kept the stove going all night, the roof melted around the chimney on top causing water to run down. Before it hit the ground, the cold water formed huge deadly icicles that Piper imagined could impale a person or an animal. She hoped the reindeer would not be harmed by falling icicles in the woods.
The snow had let up with just flurries, but it powdered everything outside with a blanket of white. Piper smiled as she prepared to trek outside. The deep snow surprised her as she trudged through it. She could hear the roof creaking eerily as the icicles weighed heavily on the eaves of the roof. She needed to climb up and take care of it before something broke.
Dressed in her warmest coat and her thick boots, she pulled the ladder up to the roof and clambered up hoping that she didn’t slip. A short shovel pushed the excess snow off the edge as she drew it across it. Piper then chipped away at the huge icicles and they fell to the ground boring holes into the deep snow. Turning around, she felt as if she had eyes on her and in the distance in the trees she saw her friend, the reindeer. Piper lifted her hand and waved and smiled as if the reindeer could understand what she was doing. She wished she could invite him in to have a bit of warmth and enjoy a meal. How silly was that? Loneliness had set in on her. The majestic animal was company enough, and she was glad that he came around checking on her.
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