The Lost Star Ornament

Winter had settled deep into the mountains, laying a thick quilt of snow over the homestead. Inside the warm glow of the barn, Badger and Yote stood surrounded by fragrant evergreen boughs, wooden crates of ornaments, and twinkling lights. The barn was alive with Christmas cheer as they prepared to decorate the towering Christmas tree for the upcoming holiday gathering.

Yote hummed "Silent Night" as he held a string of lights in his paws, weaving them carefully through the pine branches. Badger, on the other paw, was perched on a stepladder, inspecting the ornaments with his meticulous eye. "Yote, have you seen the star ornament for the top of the tree?" Badger asked, furrowing his brow.

Yote paused, tilting his head. "The star? Isn’t it in the ornament crate?"

Badger hopped down, rummaging through the crate. His claws clicked against delicate glass balls and jingling bells, but there was no sign of the star. "It's not here," he muttered, concern creeping into his voice. "Without the star, the tree just won’t feel complete."

Yote’s tail swished as he thought. "Let’s retrace our steps. That star has been part of every Christmas here for over 45 years. If it’s not in the crate, it must be somewhere on the homestead."

The two friends grabbed their coats and ventured out into the snowy night, lanterns in hand. Their first stop was the woodshed. Yote poked through the neatly stacked logs while Badger swept his lantern over the shelves. "Nothing here," Badger said with a sigh, his breath curling in the frosty air.

Next, they made their way to the attic of the main cabin. The floor creaked under their paws as they searched through old boxes and dusty trunks filled with forgotten treasures. Yote pulled out a box of Christmas cards from decades past, laughing at the nostalgic designs, but the star was nowhere to be found.

Finally, they headed to the frozen pond. The moonlight reflected off the smooth, icy surface as the friends scanned the area. Badger crouched near the edge, brushing away snow, when his eyes lit up. "Yote! Look at this!"

In the snow, just under the frozen branches of a fallen tree, was a trail of paw prints leading to an old birch stump. Yote knelt beside Badger, the two peering at the faint indentation in the snow. "What’s this?" Yote asked, brushing the frost aside to reveal the glimmer of something metallic.

Together, they lifted the birch stump’s lid to reveal the star ornament, nestled safely inside. Its golden surface shimmered in the moonlight. "Looks like someone thought this would make the perfect hiding spot," Yote chuckled.

Badger grinned, carefully tucking the ornament into his coat. "Darn chipmunks. Let’s get this back to the barn where it belongs."

Back inside, with the barn now fully decorated, Yote climbed the ladder and placed the star on top of the Christmas tree. The warm glow of the lights reflected off its surface, filling the room with a golden hue. Badger stood back and admired their work. "Now it’s perfect," he said with a satisfied smile.

The two friends spent the rest of the evening sipping spiced cider by the fire, reflecting on their adventure and the joy of the season.

Later that night, as they sat by the fire, Badger pulled out a scrap of paper with a riddle his father had given him.

“My father gave me a brain teaser with two groups of words missing. The four words in each group are anagrams of each other. I've solved the first group, but I’m stuck on the second group. Can you help?” Badger read aloud.

“Time to decorate the Christmas tree! Putting up the lights was my job, but after that it was time to ENLIST some help. While the kids were busy adding TINSEL, I put on some music to LISTEN to; my favourite song is ‘SILENT Night.’

After we finished decorating the Christmas tree, I hung the stockings on the 1.______ Feeling a chill, I looked down and had to 2.______ my 3._______ lapse; the fire was out. I threw on my 4._______ and stepped out into the cold night to gather some firewood. Upon my return, we were soon roasting chestnuts and sipping eggnog to complete a wonderful evening.”

🧠 In a world often driven by the immediate and the practical, puzzles like these serve as a reminder of the joy in unraveling challenges and appreciating the beauty of language. They bring together logic, creativity, and memory, bridging the gap between problem-solving and storytelling. For Badger and Yote, even the simplest winter evening transforms into an opportunity for reflection, discovery, and camaraderie.

This particular riddle invites us to think about the duality of words—how the same letters can tell different stories when rearranged. It’s a metaphor for perspective and possibility, both key to solving life’s puzzles. In the context of the holiday season, it’s a gentle nudge to savor the little things—gathering firewood, enjoying the glow of a fire, or sharing moments with loved ones. Just as Badger and Yote work together to solve the puzzle, we, too, are reminded of the warmth that comes from shared effort and mutual support.

Ultimately, these quiet, contemplative challenges are as much about the process as the solution. They encourage us to pause, think deeply, and connect with those around us, creating moments that linger far beyond the solving of the puzzle itself.