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It has been a while, but it is the season of giving, and here is my gift to you...

Seasons greetings, my friends, what brings you out on such a cold crisp night? Coming home from Grandma's a bit late and lost on the way? It is lucky you found my fire; come warm yourself, there is hot cider in the pot and the pheasant is still warm. Please, help yourself.

It is a clear night, but the fire will drive back the chill. You will be safe here with me this evening and I will help you home in the morning. My Name you ask? I am Puma, a trader, a traveler, and a bit of a story teller. Here, let me share with you a tale from my younger days, a tale best fitting to this time of year.

It was a night many seasons ago, in these same mountains. A young family tried to settle here. The fields were rich and game plenty during the summers, but the winters here can be harsh and brutal as it was that year.

I happened across a human; a young male just off the trail, lying tattered and soaked in his own blood. Judging by the tracks, smells, and amount of carnage, I was guessing to say he had foolishly walked up on a wounded elk. The animal had taken its full rage out on the man. I feared the poor lad dead by the amount of blood scattered about, but upon a closer look, there was still a spark of life left in his cold breast.

I could sense a great will in this young one, but the fight for life would soon be lost if he was not taken to shelter quickly. The breeze carried the sent of fire, so I fashioned a quick litter from a pair of lodge pole pines and started dragging him, letting the scent of smoke be my guide.

We had traveled scarcely a mile when I found a small cabin, smoke rising from the stone chimney and the windows aglow from the fire within. I shrugged off my first instinct to just leave the man on the door and retreat back into my woods as white man had done little to instill trust in my heart. But at last, something nagging in the back of my head was telling me I was going to be needed and I should push back my fears and take care of this young one. Taking up the man in my arms, I did not wait for an answer to my knock, but pushed my way through the door.

There standing was a pretty young woman with hair as golden as the grasses of summer, and a little girl clinging to her leg. The mother had a pistol pointed at me; the hammer not yet cocked back to fire.

"Please M'Lady! This man is hurt. He needs help," I implored her.

I know she could not see my face as my coat of skins did well to conceal my form from view as well as cold. My paws would look more like gloves than hands, so I was sure she did not recognize me as being a cougar.

It finely dawned on her what the bundle I carried was and recognized him as her mate. Her eyes grew round and she slammed the pistol down on the table and rushed up to see his condition.

"Jacob!" she screamed, pulling the scarf back from his head to reveal the face of a young, white man with sandy hair that could be no older than 23 or 24 years. "Here, put him here, on the bed!" she motioned, but continued to pull at his clothing.

I stepped forward and set him on the bed, then retreated to remove my own heavy coats and skins. The lady was busy removing the coverings and was not paying any attention to me, but I was being watched intently by the small child. Her blue eyes captivated with this new stranger in her home. I removed all but my loincloth and sleeveless shirt as it was warm in the cabin and I was still well insulated in my shaggy winter coat.

With a broad smile and a small pointing finger she exclaimed with a giggly voice, "Look Mommy, Kitty!"

The innocence of the child was not reflected in the mother's eyes as she turned to see what her child was talking about. Terror filled her face as she tried to back defensively over her injured mate. The child darted forward and hugged my leg, burying her face in the soft fur on my hip.

"Kayla! No!" she screamed and started to reach for the child but stopped short, thinking twice about getting too close to what must have seemed a terrible demon in her mind. "Who, what are you?" she stammered, as she looked into my golden eyes.

"I am no one who will harm you. I am only here to help, that is all."

"But, how? Why?" she stammered, taking a quick glance back at her husband.

"He was gored by an elk. I found him on the trail as you see him now. Put aside your fear, M'Lady, as we have much more pressing matters tending to his injuries."

Kneeling down to put myself more at the eye level of the child I grinned, "It is good to meet you, Little one, but right now I need my leg back so I can fix your daddy, perhaps later I will let you play with my tail if you wish."

The child's eyes had become captivated by the tip of my thick tail swishing back and forth in the dust of the floor.

"Ok, Promise?" came her replay.

I nodded in agreement and smiled. Then standing and moving over to the man lying on the bed, his wrappings having been removed for the most part, leaving only his blood soaked shirt, the woman now reluctantly moving aside to allow me access.

"Let's remove this and see what damage has been done."

Gently lifting the shirt at the collar, I extended my claws and made quick work opening the shirt. The woman gasped and jumped back grabbing for the pistol again.

Aiming it at me again, she exclaimed, "Get away from him! You, you..."

"Monster?" I interrupted her tirade, "I assure you madam, I am not. Was it not I who brought your husband back to you? If you insist on shooting me, I do suggest you wait at least until I have bound his wounds and made him as comfortable as possible. Besides, that gun will work much better if you cock the hammer back first." I added, not taking my eyes from the wounds on the young man's chest and stomach.

"Ah, Hell!" she exclaimed, slamming the gun back on the table, "I don't even know how to load the damn thing anyway. What do you need?" She sighed, giving in to the logic I presented.

With a silent sigh of relief, I stated, "I could use some towels, bandages, and I will need some warm water to clean the wounds. In my pack, in the right side lower pocket there is a blue pouch. The powder inside will help fight the infection and deaden the pain." Glancing back over my shoulder, "I will also need some sewing thread and a needle to close the wounds."

"Kayla, get Mommy's sewing basket and take it to... Ah," she said with puzzlement in her voice.

"You may call me Puma, M'Lady."

"Mr. Puma. And get all the towels you can find."

"Ok Mommy," came the young reply.

Nudging her way back over, she set a pot of hot water between us as she sat down on a small stool.

"We don't have much, but hot water we do have. I was going to boil some deer for dinner, but I had to wait for Jacob to bring some home before I could start cooking."

"Then we are most fortunate for the delay," I told her, taking the piece of dampened cloth offered.

"It doesn't look as bad as I had feared, the chest wounds are shallow and no ribs seem broken. The arm is another story. It is broken in at least one place, possibly two. The stomach is of most concern. This wound is deep," I said, pointing at a hole that was still weeping, "the blood is not dark, so it did not get to the liver and it is not bleeding profusely. With luck it didn't get into any other vital organ and all will be ok." I added, dabbing away the blood from around the hole. "Did you find the Powder?" I asked, finally taking my eyes off the wounds and looking into her eyes.

I could still see some fear, but wonderment and concern were rapidly taking its place.

"Yeah, here." she said, handing the bag to me. "How you know so much about doctoring?"

"I am a merchant dealing in medicines. Those I trade with have taught me many things that I have used on in my travels. It is but one of my many talents. Open the bag and sprinkle a pinch or two of the powder into the wounds."

Unsheathing my claws once more, I used them to spread open the wound and make a path for the medicine to penetrate. With apprehension of my claws, she sprinkled in a little powder into each of the wounds. On contact, the blood coagulated and the flow stopped.

"Now, the needle and thread M'Lady."

She dug through her basket and produced a needle with a long piece of thick thread already in place, "Will this do?"

"Quite nicely, M'Lady. As I hold the wound closed, you suture it. I am sure your fingers are much better adapted than my paws," I said, grinning up at her.

She seemed to relax a bit more as she masterfully sewed close each wound as I pinched them together.

After applying bandaging and splinting the arm, the man was breathing much easer and was resting comfortably. I cleaned myself and disposed of the tattered clothing.

The little girl had been tugging at my tail and playing with it for some time before announcing she was hungry.

"I'm sorry baby, daddy didn't bring anything home. I'll try and find something in the morning, OK?"

"M'Lady, in top of the main part of my pack, there is some dried meat and a few wild roots you may cook like potatoes. Please use them to prepare dinner."

" But..."

"Please, M'Lady, no arguments. I prefer my meat cooked and the child needs a meal, besides there is more than enough for us all," I said as I finished cleaning my fur.

"Well, only if you eat too. It's the least I can do for all you have done."

"Agreed, now if you don't mind, I desire to step outside. The cabin is warm and my fur thick. I could use a breath of fresh cool air," I said stepping out the door.

The wind had died and the stars now shown bright in the night sky. I had walked several yards from the cabin and was stretching to loosen my muscles as I had been a couple of hours tending the man's wounds.

As I watched the stars, I heard a voice, one as sweet as a morning dove. It was coming from my right, so I tuned to face this newcomer. There standing was a white Fox with a raven's feather hanging from her right ear.

"You have done well, brother Concolor."

"You know me?" I asked as I looked over this beautiful creature.

"Your name is well known, as well as your actions. The Father wants you to know he is pleased."

"The... Father?" I asked in bewilderment, "Are you a spirit?"

"I am. I have been sent here to you with a message."

"You have?" My face must have been a sight as her grin widened and a small giggle escaped her lips.

"Many eons ago on this very night the Father gave this world a life in the form of his son. Now on this night you have given life back to one you did not know, and do not even fully trust. You have come a long way in your quest of learning forgiveness and selflessness."

"I only did what needed to be done, Sprit. My heart would not allow me to just leave the man laying there in the snow to die. I do not deserve such honor for doing only what was right." I said dropping to my knees and lowering my eyes.

She stepped closer and with her paw lifted my chin so she could meet my eyes with hers.

"It is because your heart is so noble you have been honored, but your work here is not done."

"It will be some time before this family will be able to able to make it on their own. Until that time, you are to take care of them. Game will be made abundant and there will be enough in their food storage for you and the family's needs. Tend to them and in the spring lead them to the lower valleys. In return, they will take you into their family and teach you how to accept and love those unlike yourself."

"For the Father and you, Spirit, this I will do."

"No, do this for yourself and the family that has been entrusted to you." Leaning down, she lightly kissed my nose.

As I watched, wings of brilliant white spread behind her and she ascended back to the heavens.

Her soft voice whispering softly in my ear, "Peace be with you, Puma. Peace be with you."

"And with you, Sprit. I believe man kind calls this night Christmas. I wish you Merry Christmas." I whispered quietly as I rose and turned back to the cabin with new hope and pride swelling in my heart.

Yes, a family will be good, some one to watch over and keep me company this winter. I truly have been blessed this year. I thought to myself and with a smile renewed, I started back to the family, my family, if not but just for a little while.

Yes my friends, it is Christmas and it is a time to find joy within ourselves, and contentment in each others company. Be at peace for this is a time of rejoicing for all God's Creatures.