The Magic of the Wandering Ones 4
placed to avoid any weak spots in the ice, but Kavi’s attention drifted, and soon, he wandered off, lost in his curiosity. As he padded along, he found himself at a strange little opening in the ice—a breathing hole left behind by a seal. Kavi peered down into it, wondering at the strange, dark world beneath. Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught his eye, and he saw something he’d never seen before: a creature from beneath the ice, its sleek, silver form dancing just below the surface, shining faintly in the pale starlight. The creature surfaced, eyes wide and curious, gazing up at him. Kavi felt an odd warmth fill him, a sense of recognition that he couldn’t explain, as though he and this creature shared something very old, something very deep. He lifted his paw to the edge of the breathing hole and, as he did, felt a pulse—a sensation of strength flowing through him and into the ice. With a gentle, careful step, Kavi placed his paw over the hole. The ice responded to his touch, thickening and solidifying, until it was whole again. The creature below stayed, watching him, and as the ice grew strong once more, Kavi felt a spark of joy, something he’d never felt before but instinctively knew was magic. It was faint, but he understood: he had reawakened something ancient. When Kavi looked up, he saw his mother watching him with wide eyes. She had seen what he had done, and her face softened with a rare smile. She padded over to him, nuzzling him gently, and whispered in a voice like the hush of snowfall, “You’ve brought the magic back, little one.” That evening, as the stars glimmered above the icy world, Kavi sat beside his mother, his mind full of wonder. She gazed out at the horizon, her expression soft but thoughtful. Then, her voice came, steady as the wind. “Kavi,” she said, “it is time you learned about the Guardians of the Deep. You need to know this.”
NANUK’S CHRISTMAS STORIES
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