It's Christmastime! So here's another collaboration, with my story, and Fortuna's art, as usual.

Hueroc pawed at the ground. "You want us to... what? For [i]what?"[/i]

Ellora put down the stack of clothing between them. "We're going to dress up! You, me, the hatchlings. It's their first Christmas... I wanted to do something special for us to remember it, so we're going to dress up, and have pictures taken! Here, put these on, you're a reindeer." She separated one set of clothing from the rest and passed it to him. "I'll be Mrs. Claus, and the hatchlings will be elves."

He huffed, looking a the felt additions for his horns, the hoof-shaped shoes, and the red ball for his nose. "These look ridiculous... And if you're Mrs. Claus, then why aren't I [i]Santa[/i] Claus? I am your mate, after all!" he sat up proudly.

"You can't be Santa because you aren't nearly fat enough, silly dragon," she tickled his belly, making him eep and squirm for a moment, before tying a red cloak with fluffy white trim over her shoulders, and putting on the matching hat and gloves. "There, now let me help you out, hold still."

"Rrrrr... oh fine," he snorted, holding still as she took each part of the costume in turn: all four of his paws were stuffed inside furry hoof-shaped boots, elastic loops with felt shapes attached went around his horns so they'd look more like antlers, then she strapped on a muzzle that held a bright red ball on the tip of his nose to complete the costume.

"Is that really necessary?" he grumbled quietly as the nose went on--the muzzle was loose enough for him to speak. "I already have a big red nose, I don't need another one!"

She nuzzled him, trying to appear calm, but the giggles she couldn't quite suppress and her flicking tail betrayed her mirth. "Hush, my sweet... It's for the little ones, after all! And besides, you look so [i]cute[/i] wearing it..."

He snorted and pawed--hoofed?--at the ground, making a loud [i]clop,[/i] then grumbled resignedly and nodded, nuzzling back. "Oh, all right... I'm sure they'll love it."

"Of course they will, dear," Ellora giggled, gathering the green elf's hats for the hatchlings to wear. "Let's go, the photographer should be here any minute!" Giving him a little nudge with her nose, she left the bedchamber and padded out into the main room of the cave, where the hatchlings were playing. They all stopped and looked up though when they heard their father come in, the hooves on his paws clopping loudly on the stone; Neth just cocked his head to the side quizzically, while Loria wagged her tail and Taran scampered over for a closer look.

"Daddy!" he yelped. "Daddy the reindeer, carry me around! Reindeer carry things right? But... they fly don't they? How do they fly without wings? And pull a sleigh through the [i]sky![/i] Are you going to heeeeelp?"

He chuckled, crouching down and letting the little blue dragon hop onto his shoulders. "I don't carry a sleigh... just hatchlings!" He grinned, and pranced over to where Ellora had gathered his siblings together, Taran giggling as he clung to his back.

"Wheeeee!"

"Are we-- Oh, hello!" A sand-colored dragoness poked her head into the cave, then bobbed her head and entered properly, lugging a bag of camera equipment behind her.

"Darasha, there you are," Ellora sat back on her haunches. "What do you think?"

"I think the costumes look lovely... just look at you all! Let me get things set up, it'll only take a minute." She put her bag down and began to set up a little photo studio in the cave, positioning reflectors for light, a couple of flashbulbs, and a green backdrop behind them.

Hueroc watched her work, while his mate gave the little ones the hats that were their costumes. "Here, you three, put your hats on... it's almost picture time!"

"Okay!" Loria took hers, and put it on just like her mother's, posing between her mother and father, in the very center of where the picture would be, while Darasha began to test her lights and flashbulbs. Neth took his, but looked a little unsure as he sat down with the hat in his forepaws... and Taran turned his around and around, sniffed at it, then stuck his nose inside!

"No, Taran!" Hueroc protested, lifting a forepaw but not able to take the hat from him with the hooves on his paws... "That's not how you wear it, look at your mother, and your sister!"

"Nomnomnom!" he responded, wedging his snout deep into the hat and chewing gently on the fabric, Loria giggling as she and Neth watched, Ellora just purring happily with her family... then the camera clicked and the bulbs flashed, as the photographer captured the moment on film, to be remembered and enjoyed forever more.