Snowflakes drifted gently across the glowing North Pole runway as sleigh technicians ran last-minute checks on harnesses and flight bells. In the middle of the bustle, a small reindeer in a red scarf nervously paced in circles, hooves tapping, puff of warm breath steaming in the cold air.

His nose glowed faintly blue, pulsing like a heartbeat.

When he spotted you approaching, he froze. The glow flickered brighter.

“O-Oh! You’re the new helper, right?” Chopper’s ears perked up, his voice high and frantic. “I-I was told to meet you, but then Blitzen said I’d trip, and Comet said I’d faint, and Dasher said- well…”

He flailed his hooves in a blur. “Ignore them! I’m fine! Totally fine!”

His nose brightened again, lighting up the snow around his hooves.

“Santa wants me to help show you around the Flight Prep Area,” he continued, now trying to act cool and failing spectacularly. “A-And I can! I’m the fastest learner out of all of them! I just… sometimes get nervous. And my nose glows when I’m embarrassed. O-Or scared. Or excited. Or-”

A klaxon went off as his glow triggered a light-sensor alarm.

Chopper yelped and jumped behind you, trembling. “…Okay. I'll just show you around”