Snow settled on the roof of the skylight and I snuggled deeper into the covers. The flannel pajamas were fuzzy, and the blanket added a nice extra layer. Today had been a perfect day in the coffee shop.

A soft chirp came from near my head, and I turned to look at Indigo.

“It’s called snow,” I explained. “It’s like rain, but cold, and melts when it touches things warm.”

‘Pretty…’ she chirped softly.

Light barely crept into the room from above, but what did come in made the snow seem even more magical. Yet, the flakes slowly piled up on the window, making it hard to see.

“Let’s go watch it on the roof,” I whispered as I sat up in bed.

Indigo jumped into the air, flying toward the door as I hurried to catch up. I opened it just in time as she headed into the hallway. Out in the shop, more snow piled up on the skylights in the main area, and across the way I could see it on the roof.

Indigo flew across the open space while I crept along the walkway. I didn’t know if the Cat was awake, but if not, I hoped we wouldn’t wake him. It could be midnight or close to dawn, and I didn’t have a clue.

The comfortable chair next to the plants faced the wall of windows that observed the roof. I sat down in the chair, pulling my feet up and tucking them under me before Indigo landed in my lap.

The snow gathered on top of the wooden hot tub cover and the deck chairs placed around the roof. The wall surrounding the rooftop deck provided a dark background to see each bright white flake as it fell. Moonlight streamed down from above, making the snow magically glow.

“Maybe later today you can go play out in the snow,” I said. “Though, you need to remember it will be cold.”

Indigo shivered. ‘Maybe play in hot tub.’

I chuckled. “Sitting in the hot tub as it snows could be fun as well, though we’ll want to be careful about getting in and out. To make sure we don’t get too cold.”

The wind picked up, and snowflakes blew across the area.

I hummed in pleasure, almost wishing I had some hot chocolate to sip on, but I didn’t want to get up from the chair.

“The winter season is here,” whispered the Cat, as he slowly padded into view near the edge of the window. He stared out at the snow, before turning toward us in the chair and pouncing onto the armrest. “I always loved the solstice snow.”

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“Do you celebrate any winter holidays?” I asked.

“My people celebrate the solstice with food and songs.” He let his voice trail off and I didn’t push for more information.

Indigo nudged me.

“My family also celebrates the solstice with lots of food. We also burn a huge fire, and hang stockings up for small gifts from Saint Nick.”

‘Saint Nick?’ asked Indigo. ‘Who’s he?’

Even the Cat stared at me in the darkness, waiting for an answer.

“As my father would say, Saint Nicholas is an old god that rewards those who keep the old traditions alive. He visits all the houses on the night of the solstice, and places gifts in the stockings of children. The adults sneak small gifts into each other's stockings, to show love and friendship.

“My mother makes sure we burn a yule log each year and read of the battle of the Oak King and the Holly King.”

“Oak King?” asked the Cat.

“Yes, the Oak King rules over the spring and summer, while the Holly King rules over the fall and winter. They fight every year at the equinox times, and each then rests while the other rules. The secret is that one cannot exist without the other, creating a balance through the seasons.”

‘Have you seen one of these Kings?’ asked Indigo, her eyes wide.

I shook my head lightly. “No, I haven’t seen the Kings, but they are out there somewhere, in the circle of birth, life and death.”

‘Can we have stockings?’

“Of course we can have stockings to celebrate the solstice. Maybe I can even see if I can get the recipe for the cookies my brother makes each year. They are like a snickerdoodle, but better. Do the Clan of Knowledge have winter traditions?”

Indigo shook her head with a sad chirp. ‘Dragon celebrations are about learning and growing.’ She snuggled closer to me. ‘Not like cake and presents.’

It took me a moment to remember my birthday. The date that Indigo showed up was listed on my calendar, maybe I’d throw her a cute little dragon party for it. However, for now I needed to figure out what to do about the solstice. “What about you, Cat? Anything to add?”

The Cat’s tail flickered in the air. “Nothing for me.”

I snorted. That’s what he thought. If we were doing stockings, he was getting a stocking. Maybe even one with paw prints on it and an oak leaf. I’d need to see what I could find online, or maybe order from that lady that knitted things.

The snow continued to fall as my thoughts wandered about what to get for the Cat and for Indigo. They already had cat trees. Plus, whatever it was I got needed to fit in the stockings, that was part of the challenge. You had to follow the rules with whatever you chose to give.

Either way, this was going to be fun. We had plenty of time until the solstice for me to figure this out. A soft snore came from my chest and I realized Indigo had drifted off to sleep. The Cat moved from a sitting position to lying down next to me on the chair. His head rested on his paws, as he continued to watch the snowfall.

The moonlight drifted over everything, and I let my head rest on the other side of the chair. While this wasn’t as comfortable as my bed, the magical night with my chosen family was worth it.