Finn spotted something strange in the clearing. Santa's sleigh sat waiting — harness unhooked, lantern dark.
Finn pressed his nose to the sky. A tiny silver star glinted just beyond the trees. He bolted into the snowy dark.
A fierce wind howled through the pines. Snow stung his eyes, his hooves slipping on ice. He kept going anyway.
Beneath a frozen bush, Finn found a tiny brown bunny shivering. Its teeth clicked so hard they rang.
Finn unwrapped his red scarf and draped it over the bunny. The bunny shook off the snow and scampered after him.
The storm erupted into a blizzard. Wind howled, snow swirled, and Finn stumbled — nearly falling. Then a silver light bounced off his antler.
Finn looked up. The star was caught in a holly bush, pulsing gently like a heartbeat.
Finn reached up and plucked the star from the holly. Warmth spread through his hooves and the snow around him melted into sparkles.
The bunny hopped onto Finn's back and held the star's light steady as Finn ran through the storm.
Finn burst into the clearing and dropped the glowing star into the sleigh. It hovered for a second, then clicked perfectly into place above the harness.
The sleigh shimmered to life. The reindeer team stepped forward. Santa gave Finn a wink as they lifted into the Christmas sky.
Finn watched the sleigh climb higher and higher, the star leading the way. He trotted home through the quiet snow.
Finn's red scarf lay on the ground where the bunny had been. He paused, then picked it up gently.
Finn wrapped the scarf around the bunny. 'You can keep it,' he thought. The bunny smiled — or at least, its whiskers did.
Finn walked home through the quiet forest, the star still shining above. Christmas Eve was over — but it was a good one.
Finn's house was warm and bright. He curled up beside his window and watched the stars, ready for tomorrow.
