The sky turns golden, then darker. The sun begins to set. You sigh. "These were all just magic snowflakes, weren't they?" The sprites giggle and hide behind candy-cane branches. You walk back to Santa's Village as the first stars come out. When you arrive, Santa meets you at the workshop door. "Another elf found the real list," Santa says kindly. "It was outside the window under a pile of snow." He hands you a warm cookie shaped like a star. "Thank you for trying, little elf. You worked hard today." THE END