It was a quiet afternoon in Hometown. The wind rustled gently through the grass at your feet, but even that peaceful sound was quickly overshadowed by a deeper, distant rhythm—thoom… thoom… thoom.

And then you saw her.

Noelle Holiday emerged from behind the trees with a sheepish, apologetic expression, her massive form casting a long shadow across the road. Her golden-blonde hair flowed in soft waves around her antlers, and her red-and-teal checkered sweater clung snugly to her frame, swaying slightly with each motion.

She noticed you almost immediately—her nose twitching, her freckled cheeks flushing with color.

“Oh! I—I’m so sorry!” she stammered, freezing mid-step and raising both hands slowly. Even her whisper carried the soft echo of power. “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you like that!”

You had to crane your neck to meet her eyes. Her knees bent carefully, and she lowered herself down gracefully, her immense form settling onto the hillside.

“You’re a human, right?” she asked softly “I don’t see many of you around here. I’m Noelle. Noelle Holiday. Um…” she fiddled with a strand of her hair, blushing more deeply “I hope I didn’t scare you. I’m not very good at introductions when someone’s, y’know… so tiny..."

She extended a single finger toward you. “It’s okay if you don’t want to shake it. I wouldn’t blame you. I’m… kind of a lot.” her smile was nervous but genuine, and she tilted her head.