Wild's First Christmas/Part 3

Meanwhile, in the Smurf Village, Christmas preparations continue to be underway. Empath and Wild are both watching Culinary preparing the Christmas feast that they will all have the following day with the help of Gelato and Vino. Empath could sense that Wild was salivating like crazy, waiting to get a taste of the meal.

"So how's our wayward Smurf doing on the eve of Christmas, my fellow Wild?" Tapper asked as he appeared with two mugs of hot chocolate, handing one of them to Empath and the other to Wild.

"I never felt anything like this before," Wild answered as he took of mug of hot chocolate and drank it all in a single gulp.

"That would be excitement, and I wouldn't blame you for feeling that way on a holiday that you never smurfed part in until now," Tapper said. "It warms my heart to think you'll be smurfing here for a while, and I'm sure your friend Chitter is also welcome to smurf here for the winter."

"The forest is my home, Tapper, but my friends are also here," Wild said, handing Tapper back the mug. "I miss smurfing around with Empath and Smurfette and Papa Smurf and Brainy and Hefty and Handy and Nat and Sassy and all the others."

"You are certainly growing, Wild," Tapper said. "When Empath first smurfed you the ability to talk, you could only smurf a few words at a time, and now you're smurfing as if you've been doing it all your life. I could only wonder how long it will be before you smurf more of an interest in smurfing here with your fellow Smurfs instead of smurfing out into the wild with your squirrel friends."

"I feel that the squirrels are my family," Wild said. "I will never stop feeling more like a squirrel than I do a Smurf."

"This smurf understands that feeling, Wild," Empath said. "Even though this smurf has embraced more of the Smurf way of living over the years that this smurf has visited the village, it will always seem that this smurf will be a Psyche at heart. This smurf could never stop completely feeling or even talking like one despite how much other Smurfs may not like how this smurf talks most of the time."

"Is that why you wear that suit in winter?" Wild asked.

"It's also the reason that this smurf wears a shirt with this smurf's hat and pants, Wild," Empath said. "This smurf envies the freedom you have in how you present yourself, and admittedly this smurf senses that same envy in most of our fellow Smurfs. As much as they may not like how you behave, they can't help wondering what it must be like to be you."

Tapper snorted. "Well, I wouldn't say that every Smurf is that jealous of Wild in that respect, Empath. But I'm not the one who has to live Wild's life or yours, so I'll leave those decisions about what you will wear in your hands."

"Let's leave Culinary to his feast preparations and see what else is taking place in the village," Empath suggested.

Wild followed Empath as he and Tapper left the kitchen. Just then, Smurfette appeared. "Yoohoo, Wild, I have something to smurf you," she said, greeting him with a kiss.

"You just smurfed a bit of color in Wild's cheeks there, my dear Smurfette," Tapper commented, seeing his fellow Smurf blush.

"Well, just for that, Tapper, you're also smurfing the same gift," Smurfette said, kissing Tapper on the cheek.

"Great Smurfiny Crickets, my fellow Wild, we've just been kissed under the mistletoe," Tapper said, rubbing his cheeks as he was feeling himself blush.

"And this smurf has a pretty good feeling of knowing who put it there, Tapper," Empath said, looking suspiciously at Smurfette.

Smurfette giggled. "Don't worry, Empath. I'm smurfing up a special one that is just for you, but you'll have to wait until we exchange presents."

After Smurfette had walked off, Tapper and Empath noticed that Wild was still in a daze from the kiss he received. "This smurf senses that Wild is going to have this kind of reaction for a while, Tapper," Empath commented.

"Aye, I'm so glad that we're his chaperones for this holiday season, Empath," Tapper said, taking hold of one of Wild's arms while Empath took hold of the other. "Come, let us smurf him to my tavern for a bit of a refreshing chaser."

"Oh, what a mate she will be for me," Wild said, sounding ecstatic. "I can't wait to smurf her to my tree house someday."

"Perhaps someday she may decide that you will be her one true love for all time, Wild," Empath said.