"But Tara, we aren't allowed to go down there," a young boy's voice echoed about the cavern's huge, open mouth as he peered into a dark, deep hole, his tiny hands gripping the jagged edge. The girl that he had been calling out to popped up out of the tunnel, startling the male beyond instant recovery, then clambered out from the gap with little effort. Her golden hair glistened in the dim lighting while she approached her companion, a smug expression upon her face.

"Oh Thomas, you're such a scaredy cat," she accused, sticking her tongue out playfully. "C'mon, let's get back before nightfall." She punched him on the arm, then darted out past him toward the cave's opening. "Maybe Nori will be there waiting for us!" Her youthful features were exaggerated in the sun's setting aura. Thomas regained his composure, heaving his small frame from the dirt, and approached her with a disapproving frown.

"I'm NOT a scaredy cat-- I just like to do as Mum and Dad say." Thomas's eyebrows furrowed. "'Sides, it's Christmas eve." A ghoulish groan rose from beneath their feet and the sudden noise shocked both Tara and Thomas into dashing from the grotto and sprinting down the mountainside as quickly as their little feet could take them.

Once the duo made it to their village's gate, they stumbled through the cracks in weaker north wall, uttered a quick "Hello," and "We'll be right back," to the friendly iron golem, Nori, then raced home to their mother and father. Tara spoke up first while stepping up the front stairs and skirting around her mom's legs. "Hey Mum," she replied, skipping beneath her mother's outstretched arm while the maternal figure held open the door for her lively offspring. "Merry Christmas!" Thomas was not amused.

He glanced up at his mom, his cheeks flushed a deep red from all the running he had just endured, and offered an apology. "Sorry, Mum-- we got a bit held up by the long mountain trail." His mother beamed, simply thankful that both of her precious children had returned unharmed. "C'mon inside-- it's nearly nighttime." Her voice was gentle, but stern.

Tara froze in place and looked over at both Thomas and her mom. "Wait, d'you mind if we go and give Nori his Christmas present?"

"Can't it wait until morning?" the skeptical matriarch inquired, her arms crossed upon her chest.

"But Mum, it's Nori."

Her mother rolled her eyes and her mouth split into an acquiescing smile. "Alright, alright-- but make it quick!"

***

Thomas and Tara stole down the main, gravel pathway that led to the front gate of the village wall, ultimately coming across their beloved friend, Nori. "Nori!" Tara squeaked, embracing the iron golem in a loving hug. "Merry Christmas!"

Nori stared down at her and her brother with a gaze that expressed the utmost adoration, despite his inability to vocalize his feelings. In place of words, he held out a rose for the two children.

"Thanks, Nori!" Thomas exclaimed, accepting the token of friendship. "We have something for you, too!" He held up a shiny, glittering emerald, pride radiating from his smile. "We found it in the cave up there." Carefully, Nori reached down and grasped the treasure in his enormous hands. Before he could react to their kindness, another spine-tingling moan erupted from just beyond the city's walls. Nori's head swiveled to the right in a flash and he rose to his feet in a surprisingly graceful manner. Thomas and Tara's eyes widened at the sight, unable to move.

A horde of zombies began to scratch and tear at the weakened wall that laid right next to the children's position. Nori glanced back down at the two, apparent fear in his deep eyes, and motioned for them to run for shelter. Thomas managed a nod, whereas Tara was completely immobilized. Although difficult, the youthful male was able to urge her into a light jog and he led her back home as swiftly as he could. "Tara! Snap outta it!" he yelled out, tears streaming down his red cheeks.

Tara responded, much to Thomas's relief, then shook her head out of embarrassment. "Sorry." While scampering forward, she peeked over her shoulder briefly, but long enough to see the wall crumbling from the undead's constant battering. Nori threw a few well-aimed jabs at nearby zombies and tossed them into the night air.

"Thomas, will he be alright?" she asked in a hushed tone, leaping up their home's stairway.

He nodded solemnly. "I'm sure he'll be okay..."

***

After a seemingly endless evening of howling and scraping, Tara and Thomas emerged from their home with their parents at their side, the sun rising over the distant horizon. Broken doors laid scattered about, homes were alight with fire, and bodies were strewn out along the pathways-- both undead and villager alike. Bitter tears cascaded from astonished eyes and dripped heavily from the survivor's jawlines, all unable to believe the scene before them.

"Mum... Dad..." Thomas murmured, then grasped at his father's robes while turning away from the devastating remains.

Tara was unable to speak, merely staring out over at the destroyed north wall. Lying aside a mound of defeated zombies was a huge hulk of metallic material, of which looked incredibly familiar. She stepped out toward the mass, her feet dragging in the gravel, until coming within range of the defeated giant. A hint of glistening green flashed beneath his outstretched hand, now unmoving, and she crouched down to inspect it further.

She held one of her tiny palms up to her open mouth as she nudged Nori's arm in attempt to move it, ultimately uncovering the gift she had offered to him the night before. In a fit of unrestrained despair, Tara crumpled to the earth in a pitiful ball of grief, sobbing vigorously. Cautiously, her mother approached her from behind and she, too, knelt down to her daughter's height while affectionately combing her fingers through Tara's hair.

"Hush, Tara," she cooed. "Nori just gave you the best Christmas gift he was capable of giving. He really loved both you and Thomas."

Tara gazed up at her mother with flooded eyes.

"He'll always love you... All he wanted to do was protect you." Her mother sighed, sheathing her jade irises with her heavy lids. "He got his wish."

The polygonal sun rose higher in the sky as a new dawn broke over the snow-laden land while villagers lamented over the deaths of their neighbors and loved ones-- even Christmas failed to deter the creatures of the night from their relentless hunger.