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"Sir, why is it just the three of us?" Wooley asked, looking around at the vast amount of snow surrounding them.
"Because my dear Cody said I had to bring some Ghosts with me," Obi-Wan grinned, "so, I brought the both of you."
Cody sighed, shaking his head, "I am too cold to deal with this osik."
Wooley stared in wonder as the General only grinned over at the Commander. "I thought we're not allowed to swear in front of Generals?"
"Certain situations call for it," Obi-Wan grinned, "and then Cody tends to ignore even that when there are not many people around."
"You're not even meant to swear in front of Marshall Commanders, and none of Ghost ever listen to those rules," Cody shrugged, "it gets pretty relaxed after a while."
"I think a village is just over the ridge here," Obi-Wan stated, looking at his holo-map, "maybe they'll have something warm."
The three continued to walk, dragging themselves through the deep snow. Looking over the ridge, they saw that there was a small village.
Obi-Wan quickly slid down the ice and snow, using The Force to control his descent.
Cody followed after Obi-Wan, running down the ice.
Wooley tried to follow, only slightly slower. He was near the bottom when his foot suddenly slipped beneath him.
Cody quickly turned and caught Wooley before the vod hit the snow. "Easy there," Cody chuckled, "you'd disappear if you fell into the snow."
Wooley quickly righted himself, thankful that he had his helmet on. "Thank you, sir."
Again, they walked, mainly keeping silent as they went. They could see that there was a fire on the village's side that there was a group of people of many different species around. One of them got up and started to approach them.
"Greetings, I'm Josie; why don't you join us around the fire? You all look freezing," Josie spoke, inviting the three to the fire, "you're just in time for our Christmas celebrations."
Wooley frowned, "what's Christmas?"
"You don't know what Christmas is?" Josie gasped, "we must introduce you to it!"
Obi-Wan chuckled, glancing over Cody and noticing that the man was doing the same. They trailed behind where Wooley was quickly being led towards the fire.
-----
Wooley's eyes widened as he was led to the fire; he could see that there was a tree in the middle of the village. It had a star at the top, strings of lighting as well as shiny rope-like things over it. There were even balls hanging from its branches.
"You've never seen a Christmas tree?" Josie asked, seeing where the armoured person was looking.
"A Christmas tree?" Wooley asked.
"A tradition to show life and light can happen even in the cold, dark winter months," Josie stated, "the children hell decided how we decorate it each year. This year they chose white for peace."
"That's nice," Wooley said.
Obi-Wan sat down on the spare log, feeling Cody do the same as Wooley was directly introduced to what must have been nearly thirty different people.
"You can remove your bucket if you want," Cody called, taking off his own. He watched Wooley take it off, holding it awkwardly as he was led around.
Obi-Wan chuckled, removing his hood.
"I'm Hillia," the closest sitting person said, "what were you doing out in the snow this late at night?"
"We're here on a mission to check out an old temple a few klicks north of here," Obi-Wan smiled.
"The Nature Temple?" Hillia asked, "I could help you get there; I used to visit it when I was younger to check out all the animals that would swarm there."
"Why do the animals all go there?" Cody asked.
"The ground never frosts or covers with snow, so there is fresh food and water all year round there," Hillia explained, "and the animals do not seem to attack each other there as well."
"That is interesting. Does anyone know why?" Obi-Wan asked.
"The temple causes this paradise for the animals," Hillia said, "we're not allowed within a certain distance in case we ruin it."
"We'll try and be as careful as possible," Cody reassured, watching as Wooley hurried over to them.
"Enjoy yourself, Wooley?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I know what Christmas is now," Wooley muttered, sitting down.
-----
"This is as far as I can take you," Hillia stated, signalling towards where the temple was, "about ten more minutes on this path, and you'll reach the temple."
"Thank you," Obi-Wan smiled, watching Hillia nod and start to walk back to the village. He turned to face Cody and Wooley, "ready?"
"We're never ready when a temple is involved," Cody pointed out.
"Have faith, Cody; this one is a Nature Temple!" Obi-Wan grinned.
Cody narrowed his eyes behind his bucket, "I still have my doubts."
-----
"See, Cody," Obi-Wan grinned as they managed to get to the centre of the temple without issue, "nothing wrong here."
"Don't jinx it," Cody warned.
"What's the worst that a Nature Temple can do?" Obi-Wan clapped.
Everyones' vision went white.
-----
Wooley felt his leg twitch first, followed by his nose. He tried to frown, not understanding what he could smell.
Obi-Wan suddenly opened his eyes, feeling how Cody was different in The Force. He felt his stomach drop when he saw why. He reached forwards, nudging Cody so that he woke.
"Sir, what the kriff have you caused this time," Cody glared, knowing that the animal in front was Obi-Wan.
"I don't know," Obi-Wan sighed, "except that we've been turned into reindeer."
Cody sighed, looking over at the pale brown and white deer in front of him. The General had large antlers as well.
Obi-Wan watched as Cody got to his feet. He was a pure white colour with little velvety stubs where his antlers would be. He got to his feet before looking for where Wooley was. He noticed that when he stood next to Cody, he was almost dwarfed in size next to the white reindeer.
Cody spotted a shape off to the side and, walking over to it, noticed that it was a tiny reindeer that he just knew was Wooley.
Wooley grunted as he was nudged; opening his eyes, he noticed that two reindeer were looking down at him. But he soon realised that they were the General and Commander when he saw the scar around the white deer's eye and the burn mark across the brown deer's neck.
Cody frowned as Wooley released a squeal-like noise at him. His eyes widened as he realised it meant that they would not be able to talk to Wooley. He looked over at Obi-Wan, seeing that the man had just figured it out and was sharing a look of his own.
Wooley tried to get to his feet, feeling his legs shake.
Obi-Wan watched Wooley try to get to his feet before watching Wooley fall straight back down. The next time the vod attempted to get up again, Cody stepped forwards, assisting him.
Wooley sighed as the Commander helped him stay on his feet. Having four legs was weird, something he was not used to.
Obi-Wan, careful of his antlers, pushed the others towards the temple entrance.
-----
Wooley blinked, stumbling slightly as he stepped onto the softer ground outside the temple.
"Our best chance is to reach the village," Obi-Wan stated, watching as Cody helped steady Wooley on his feet.
"Lead the way," Cody nodded, shifting away from Wooley to see whether the vod was stable on his feet yet.
Obi-Wan nodded, walking forwards and towards the ring of snow in the distance. He felt Wooley file in behind him with Cody bringing up the rear.
Wooley looked down at the snow curiously; it seemed duller and slightly more blurry than it did as a human.
Cody huffed, nudging Wooley along as the vod'ika stopped to stare at the snow. He chuckled, watching as he quickened his pace to try and catch up with Obi-Wan.
Wooley was happy that he could not blush as a reindeer as he was hurried along. He almost jogged over to where the General had managed to get while he was staring at the snow.
Obi-Wan knew that Wooley was embarrassed; he was practically broadcasting it into The Force.
-----
Cody felt like sighing when they finally reached the village. They could have gotten there sooner, but he had to keep helping Wooley stay upright and not distracted by the smells around them.
Obi-Wan chuckled, knowing how Cody must be feeling after all that. He approached where they saw the villages before and noticed that they were instead around the tree. Turning, he started to lead them towards the tree.
Cody nudged Wooley along, trying to get the young reindeer to hurry up from their slow pace. He moved faster, standing next to Obi-Wan as Wooley stood directly behind them.
Hillia frowned as she noticed three reindeer approaching them. She tapped Josie on the shoulder.
Josie frowned, also seeing the reindeer approaching them. They figured that they must be hungry. "You want to direct them towards the Nature Temple?"
Hillia shrugged before pointing behind the reindeer, "that is where they seem to have come from."
Cody watched as Obi-Wan approached the two, looking at them.
"They seem friendly," Josie said, running their hand down the reindeer's neck, "could they be escaped sleigh pullers?"
"I don't think we lost any recently," Hillia frowned, stroking the other reindeer, watching as the smallest hovered behind the other two.
Wooley frowned as the General and Commander allowed the two to stroke their necks.
Josie chuckled as the smaller deer released a bleat of confusion. They watched as they shuffled on their feet before slipping and landing on their front.
Hillia walked forwards, holding the smaller deer steady as they got to their feet, "not very stable, are you?"
Wooley huffed, moving to stand between the General and Commander.
Obi-Wan shared a look with Cody over the top of Wooley. He pealed away from them before using his hoof to start to dig through the snow. He was surprised by how difficult it was to develop the needed letters to spell out what they needed.
Hillia's eyes widened, noticing that Josie's own had done the same as she stared at what the reindeer had written.
"So, that's why we're not allowed in the Nature Temple," Josie chuckled, "hello, Wooley, it's nice to see you again."
Wooley's head shot up when Josie said his name; he moved forwards curiously, nudging against their hand.
"This must be so confusing for you," Josie said, slowly running their hand down the more miniature reindeer's neck.
"Let's see whether the elder knows a way to reverse this," Hillia said, moving towards the town hall, "she might have dealt with such things before."
"Right," Josie nodded, "if you would follow us."
-----
"Well, that was interesting," Cody huffed.
"Certainly unique," Obi-Wan agreed, "never had it where we can not understand each other."
"Wait, this has happened before?" Wooley butted in.
"Why do you think I tried to make sure the General brought more people?" Cody sighed, "because this is the fourth time this has happened."
"What were the other times?"
"Right, you weren't part of the 212th when it happened previously," Cody huffed.
"First time was dragons, the second time was Tookas, then it was wolves," Obi-Wan explained, "now we can add reindeer to the list."
"If this is what happens normally, I want to keep coming on these," Wooley grinned.
Cody chuckled, seeing that Obi-Wan was doing the same.