[Loslote]

As the sun finally started to drift behind the mountains, the Christmastowners cast wary glances over their shoulders. The brief confidence they had felt when they realized there had been no kill that Night had faded, and tension was running high.

The Grinch was the first Christmastowner to snap. “I think it was Tiny Tim,” he accused. “Let’s take a look at his cane – is that blood I see on the end there?”

“No,” Tiny Tim said, “it’s wet. Wood gets wet. In the snow.”

“A likely story,” sniffed the Grinch.

Paksu shook her head. “I think it was Rudolph,” she said. “That red nose gives me the willies. Always has.”

“I agree,” Santa said. “Ever since Rudolph hit his teens, his behavior has been simply appalling.”

“It’s not me,” Rudolph said, mysteriously, “but I do know who it is!”

All the Christmastowners gathered around.

“It was….” Rudolph paused and made a drumroll with his front feet. “Santa Claus!”

“Santa Claus,” Jack Frost repeated skeptically. “Really? Of all the people to go with, you pick Santa Claus?”

“He’s a murderer! I know it!” Rudolph insisted.

“I can’t see why she would be lying,” Frosty said.

“I can!” the Grinch protested. “This makes no sense.”

“It does! I promise!” Rudolph said.

“I believe him,” Tiny Tim said. “Santa never gave me what I wanted for Christmas.”

“I don’t know,” Valotukka mumbled. “I’m not taking part in this. This is wrong! How do we know they’ll even kill toNight? How do we know they even tried last Night? Maybe we’re just making a big deal out of nothing! Maybe we killed Olive for nothing!”

“No,” said Little Cindy Lou Who, “I agree with Rudolph. I think Santie Claus is a murderer!”

“But, Cindy,” protested Santa, “I always brought you presents on Christmas! You loved me!”

“I don’t believe in that,” Cindy said, “I know it was always the Grinch!”

“What can I say?” the Grinch said, shrugging and grinning.

“It must have been Santa Claus,” the Ghost of Christmas Present wailed, “his very garb screams his red-stained guilt!”

“It’s festive,” Santa protested.

“I don’t think so,” the Sugar Plum Fairy said sadly. “I can hardly believe it of you, Santa. But believe, I suppose I must.

Rudolph untied his be-belled harness and quickly tied it around Santa’s wrists. “You’ll get what you deserve, old man,” the reindeer said.

“What’ll we do with him?” Frosty asked.

“Stuff him down a chimney,” Tiny Tim suggested. “With a lit fire.”

“Poetic justice!” Little Cindy Lou Who cheered.

“And rid us once and for all of this wicked old elf,” the Ghost moaned.

The Grinch and Paksu roughly man-handled Santa over to the Cindy and Sugar Plum’s card shop. Little Cindy ran inside to light the fire. As the Christmastowners hoisted Santa onto the roof, Santa started to struggle.

“You fools!” he rasped. “All in defense of the Christmas spirit, I’d wager. Well, your Christmas cheer will be the death of you all! The time of Christmas is over! ‘Stuff Day’ will never happen again without me! The holidays are doomed! Doomed!”

With that, Frosty gave a great push, and Santa tumbled down his last chimney.

Living

Sally - Little Cindy Lou Who
Shasta - Jack Frost
G55 - Rudolph
Coppermirror - The Ghost of Christmas Present
Steve - Valkotukka
Morsul - The Grinch
Nerwen - The Sugar Plum Fairy
Zil - Frosty
McCaber - Tiny Tim
Lommy - Paksu

Dead

Lottie - Suzy the Snowflake - Moddess
Boro - Olive the Other Reindeer - Ordo
Legate - Santa Claus - Wolf