[Shenandoah]

They stood with baited breath as it became clear that it was not footsteps they heard... but rather hoofs impacting with the cold ground. The figure emerged from the wood, an umbrella over his head and an armful of parcels in his grip.

Then he looked up and all heck broke loose in a moment. The figure, half human half what appeared to be goat or some such, yelped in shock and dropped all his packages and his umbrella as he scrambled backwards behind a tree, his bright red scarf fluttering behind the tree moments later.

Fay was startled. Her skepticism held her still for a moment, and Zach was much the same, but her manners overrode her shock and she stepped forward to grab the packages from the snow. As her fingers brushed the first one, a partially inhuman head poked out slightly from behind the tree before scared eyes widened further and he ducked back with a soft exclamation.

"You don't have to hide," she said, her voice braver than she was really feeling. "We won't hurt you."