She stirred from her fortress of pillows and blankets, a forest fortress of fluff. It was so cozy and the outside was so cold. She grumbled and sat up, pulling a nice hot cup of cocoa from her inventory. She sipped and then added a glob of coconut cream into it.

  She messaged her fiancée.

  Noobkitty: Good morning beautiful. How did you sleep?

  ExpertBunny: It's mid-day, and I would have slept better with a cat in my bed.

  Noobkitty: I should find the ingredients I'm looking for today, then I'll start heading back home.

  ExpertBunny: You better!

  Noobkitty: I got my secret crafting done too.

  ExpertBunny: Busy kitty. I see why you slept to mid-day. Be safe, don't respawn. I only patched respawns for consent kills, not monster or actual PK.

  Noobkitty: I have my repellent.

  Her fiancée had changed the rules so that if someone intentionally got killed they didn't lose items. It created a consent-kill system that people used to fast travel back to Starter at a cost of 10 percent of their current level’s XP. It was odd but made some fun videos.

  Noobkitty took out her repellent.

  Stinky Steam Bun:

  A steam bun filled with cabbage and fermented bean paste. When consumed the player emits a smell that repels monsters and animals at a similar or lower level to the player's for six hours.

  She sighed. It did make players smell unfortunate, but it thankfully kept her from combat. Unless Coro?en did something it found as "good content," the highest-level monster in this area was level 17 so she would be fine.

  She checked her map and looked for greenery. She had a decent level in gathering, which luckily didn't get nerfed like most of her other skills. She searched and found [Extra Cold Winter Mint], the ingredient needed for the mint candies she wanted to send her sisters and make for the party. She didn't know what she wanted to call the party.

  In the physical world she liked to go to solstice parties, Fizzypop celebrated Hanukkah but it wasn't the high holiday, still an excuse for a party. SisterQuery and Grimmblade had Christmas. She never thought to ask Skidmark what his family celebrated, she'd guess Yule or Christmas.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "What was the winter celebration called here?" Noobkitty asked the world.

  "Gift Tree Ceremony," said Coro?en. "I'm taking suggestions on the new name."

  "Tell ExpertBunny to make it a poll," said Noobkitty. "It’ll be engagement."

  "The players will come up with something like Snow Goblin Enema Fest or something."

  Noobkitty laughed. "Don't give them ideas, but roll with it."

  "May it be on your head if they vote for something stupid."

  "Oh they will," she teased.

  There was a pause then the world said, "Dire Tapir."

  "What?"

  A giant bone-armored tapir erupted from the forest with a snuffling grunt.

  Dire Tapir Lv. 24

  Her hair raised and she instinctively hissed. "You bastard!"

  "Content," said the world plainly, then became silent.

  She ran and from her inventory pulled out an apple pie and tried to eat it. The giant tapir charged. She just barely dodged it and running past it she tried to swallow more pie.

  +80% charisma for six hours.

  She turned toward the tapir, planted her feet to stand her ground, then she meowed angrily at the charging beast. It stopped in its tracks, saw the growling kitty, and ran off.

  Charisma was her second highest stat. First was dexterity, third was intelligence.

  She might be squishy, and she might not be able to open a jar that Grizzlebeard had tightened, but she could outrun and scare off most threats.

  The tapir disappeared into the distance and she stuck her tongue out to the clouds.

  She returned to the patch of mint and collected what she could. Then she collected a bunch of fresh snow into her inventory, happy there was no decay or time in storage so it would stay nicely frozen until she got home.

  Then began her long walk home. She couldn't risk killing herself to respawn because she might drop her precious crafted and gathered items.

  To her surprise though, she got met partway down the hills.

  "Kitty," said Fizzypop, floating in the air above the snow. "Your girl says you'll take too long to walk. She wants you in bed tonight."

  Noobkitty smiled. "So you're willing to give me a lift?"

  "What's that smell?"

  Noobkitty blushed. "Um… me. I still have half an hour on my stink buns."

  "Ugh, I have to carry a smelly cat?"

  "Or I could walk and you'll have to tell ExpertBunny why you left me."

  The mage dropped to the ground and bent down. "Fine. Hop on."

  Noobkitty wrapped her arms around their neck. She chose not to mention he could just consent kills her, but flying on the back of a magic user was a fun prospect.

  "I'm going to regret this," said Fizzypop.

  "The memes are going to be great," teased Noobkitty.

  Fizzypop levitated into the air and began to rise.

  "Coro?en you better not be streaming this," the mage demanded.

  "Of course I am. Everything is content."

  The mage grumbled as they flew through the sky.

  "Hey Fizzypop, I just made you one present, not eight."

  "As long as it's not a candle or a pen set I'll be happy. Mind making latkes?"

  "I use applesauce instead of egg in my latke recipe."

  "Mmm… okay, I can deal with the applesauce being inside it instead of on it."

  "Pfft… applesauce inside and out, and extra crispy."

  "You smooth-talking cat. It's a deal, I'll be at your party with bells on."

  They flew on debating a few other dishes, and Noobkitty got Fizzypop to agree to deliver her gifts to her sisters to GobMouse and CheshyBot. Noobkitty was happy her first holiday in her new life was going to be something special.

  They got to Starter before nightfall and landed in front of Noob Noms and the waiting ExpertBunny. They hugged and kissed.

  "How was camping?" asked ExpertBunny.

  "Cold. I've grown accustomed to a bunny in my bed."

  "Well I'll be sure to warm you up. Fizzypop, would you like some hot chocolate before you log out for the night?"

  "I have special mint I can add to it," offered Noobkitty.

  "Let Noobkitty make it, her skill level is higher. But yes, I'll have a cup before bed."

  The three chatted and drank and discussed the menu for the holiday party. Then as promised Noobkitty enjoyed the familiarity of her warm bed.