Page 58 of Chasing Cheer
“She’s here,” Clementine said.
Lumi’s face filled the watch, her golden eyes still striking through the tiny screen.
“Holly, what’s going on? Clementine was too upset to explain.”
“Lumi, how have you been getting to Finland? The reindeer can’t fly. If there’s another way for me to get to the North Pole, I need to know about it.”
“The reindeer can’t fly? What happened? Oh, candy canes,” Lumi murmured, lines forming in her forehead.
“I don’t know! Is there another way?” They were running out of time. She had to get to the North Pole then figure out what was wrong with her Cheer meter. “It’s urgent!”
Lumi nodded. She hesitated then seemed resigned to speak. “It’s called snow tunneling. Very few of us elves know how to do it. Only a few of the elder Kringles. It requires a lot of magic. But as a Claus, you should have the ability naturally.”
Holly gasped. “Snow tunneling? I’ve never heard of it.”
“Many years ago, the elder elves decided to keep it secret. We didn’t need young elves running around the Earth, wreaking havoc and neglecting their duties at the North Pole.”
“So how does it work?” Holly asked, shelving the rest of her questions. She wanted to know more about these elfcapades, but that would have to wait.
“You just need to have snow on both ends. Ideally a good bit of it. The more snow you have to tunnel in and out of, the less magic you need. Is there snow where you are?”
Holly glanced around, her heart sinking. Everyone had been saying it was strange that Emerald Hollow hadn’t received any snow yet that year. She looked through the forest, up toward the steep mountains. There was snow at the higher elevations. She clamped on to the glimmer of hope. She could get there.
“I’ve got snow. What about the reindeer? Will I be able to snow tunnel with them?” Holly would never leave them behind, even in Emerald Hollow.
Lumi nodded. “I think you should have enough innate magic to do that. But, Holly…” She dropped her voice so that Holly had to lean in closer to hear her. “Please hurry. Things are… Well, they’re starting to change here too. There’s still snow, but it’s melting quickly. I saw it starting to happen when Clementine came to get me. I don’t know how much time you have to open a tunnel on this side.”
Holly gasped.What is going on? This is catastrophic.She jumped to her feet. “We’re on our way. How do I make the tunnel?”
Holly signaled to the reindeer to gather near her. Still attached to the sleigh, they jumped to attention. She listened closely as Lumi explained how to create the tunnel, trying to memorize her instructions.
“All right.” She nodded. “I’ll see you soon.” Holly pressed her mouth into a line, trying to concentrate.
“One more thing, Holly,” Lumi said, her voice serious. “Snow tunneling can have unexpected consequences. It can leave traces of magic, and we can’t always control what happens. It’s very important that no humans get near your tunnel. Do you understand?”
Holly was startled, but she nodded. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll be deep in the forest.” Holly was already walking rapidly, ready to hike, her reindeer at her heels.
“Then good luck. We’ll see you soon.”
ChapterForty-Five
Once Holly had gone high enough into the mountains to reach snow, she stood still, gathering the reindeer close beside her. As Lumi had instructed, she held out her right hand, her palm facing forward, and began to make a circling motion.
She closed her eyes and concentrated fully on the North Pole, picturing an area between the elves’ forest and the Mountains of the Whispering Winds, where the highest levels of snow gathered. She quickly prayed there was still enough snow on the other end to form the tunnel.
Holly opened her eyes to the sound of a soft whooshing, and snow was beginning to swirl in front of her. It became faster and faster, the whooshing louder, until a circle formed.
Snowflakes whipped her face as the vortex compelled her forward. Holly took a step toward it and felt as if gravity were urging her through the tunnel instead of planting her onto the earth. Her hair blew around her face.
“Let’s go!” she called to her reindeer over the loud blizzard.
Together, they disappeared through the tunnel, and the forest in the mountains outside Emerald Hollow was silent once more.
* * *
Hollyand the reindeer emerged in the place she had imagined, near the base of the elves’ ski park. They all stood slowly, their legs wobbly. The trip through the snow tunnel had only taken moments, but it been like falling through a running washing machine. Her legs finally stabilized, and when she saw that the reindeer looked okay, she set off at a run.
When she made it to Merriment Square, Clementine was not the only elf to greet her. Hundreds of elves were there, awaiting her arrival and answers to what was going on.
