Chapter 1 Claude was no ordinary tabby cat. For one thing, his fur was a very unusual shade of emerald green. But what made Claude extraordinary was the special ability he had to see things others could not, especially things related to Christmas. Each December, Claude detected hints of Santa's magic stirring as Christmas approached. By the night before Christmas Eve, sparkling red and green auras filled the air as Saint Nick prepared for his big flight. And every Christmas morning, only Claude could see shimmering gift magic swirl around the decorated tree before he curled up under twinkling lights for a holiday catnap. This year, Claude had a special reason to anticipate his favorite season. His generous owner Mrs. Merriweather ran a Christmas charity toy drive and adoption event for families in their small town. So their house stayed busy hosting donation drop-offs, gift inventory tallying, and even families picking out rescue pets. Mrs. Merriweather called Claude her "Chief Christmas Cat" due to his knack for greeting guests so cheerfully during holiday prep. But secretly, Claude guarded Mrs. Merriweather each December from more than just stress... Chapter 2 Late one night, Claude's green ears perked up detecting a strange clattering from the hallway. Slinking to investigate, he spotted a ski-masked figure stuffing toy donations into a large sack! "A thief! Stealing our gifts on Christmas no less..." Claude hissed realizing what was happening. Being a cat, he knew how to handle sneaky nuisances trying to ruin everything before Santa's arrival. As the shady burglar hauled a stuffed bulging sack towards the open window, Claude emerged from the shadows making himself look twice his size thanks to full arched hair. His paws crackled with static causing fur tips to glow threateningly as Claude unleashed an electrifying hissing fit! The noise made the thief jump before Claude chased him out the door into heavy snowfall. "And don't come back without milk and tuna, Scrooge!" Claude caterwauled. But as the angry tabby watched burglar stumble over trashcans fleeing, he spotted sparkly gift auras trailing behind the sack...calling to be rescued! "Drat! Some of those were signed into Santa's Paws Permanent Delivery List... guaranteed arrival tonight!" Claude fretted. This required a special Christmas magic intervention! Chapter 3 Following a glittering aura like a holly-scented beacon, Claude tracked the thief's footprints to a rundown shack near the frozen pond. Glow signaled stashed presents lay inside guarded by two gruff mutts. Pack toughs were no match for a quick-witted cat equipped with magic mistletoe! Dodging snapping jaws, Claude ricocheted off walls Matrix-style to dump itching powder onto startled hounds. His agile theatrics left brutish burglars helplessly scratching flea fits before Claude snatched the sack making a gingerbread getaway! "Naughty thieves taste holiday cat power!" Claude proudly thought carrying precious cargo gently towards home using their mouth and back. Exhausted but satisfied rescuing gifts, Claude was about to enjoy victory tuna when loud splashing drew him back outside. Two wee young carolers flailed shouting near cracking ice! In his rush to outwit canine goons, Claude had neglected to check ice safety around the dangerous pond. Guilt filled his green fur seeing scared children about to celebrate Christmas in sinking chill. If they lost hope here, Santa's sleigh might reroute missing an entire neighborhood! Thinking fast, Claude tossed brightly-tied packages onto solid banks keeping auras safe as he fetched tree branches pulling kids safely ashore just before ice submerged. "You saved us Mr. Magic Talking Kitty!" cheered girls whose Christmas spirit shone brightest summoning Claude to this rescue in nick of time. Chapter 4 After children fled safely home and uninsured magic gifts found their way back into Santa's delivery manifesto, Claude spent the evening reassuring all shelter pets they would soon find warm homes on Christmas too before snacking heroically on reindeer chow. As Mrs. Merriweather returned from holiday errands to see muddy paw prints leading inside, however, her startled scolding informed Claude that more trouble somehow brewed as Santa's flyover hour approached: Several families coming tonight to adopt special needs pets had called anxiously canceling due to freak blizzard stranding them miles away! "If those pups and kitties miss getting new families today, the shelter might lose funding..." worried Mrs. Merriweather. "Without our foster program, hundreds of orphan pets will have no place going into the New Year!" Then glancing under the tree with a bittersweet smile at one unclaimed runt puppy she had planned to adopt herself added softly: "...And little Cindy Lou might get put down if she's not placed by midnight in this overcrowded region." Claude knew this emergency jeopardized the entire shelter, crushing countless pets’ only Christmas wishes and ...
