Clove & Moose Bonus Chapter 12.5: The New Year

Clove and Moose is a serial fiction story. While there is an overarching plot, each episode can be enjoyed on its own without reading what came before. However, if you want to get caught up, click one of the buttons below.

Previously, on Clove & Moose: After the mysterious Cataclysm dried up the earth and its magic, Clove and her cat Moose travelled to find and repair pools of corrupted magic left behind in the Cataclysm’s wake. Along the way, she has picked up three travelling companions: Marissa, Jasper, and his trusty horse Miss Delilah.

“Those biscuits smell amazing.” Clove stepped into the kitchen of the abandoned house where they’d holed up for the night. Jasper had been humming and rattling around in there for the past hour, and it seemed that his efforts had paid off.

“We’ve got butter and biscuits, some nuts, and a little cheese. Should make a meal.”

It was the first night in a week they’d managed to spend inside, and it was nice to be out of the cold for a change. Clove was excited for some fresh-baked food, rather than the usual canned soup they had on the road.

“Got any jam?” Marissa asked, following Clove into the room, Moose in her arms.

“Think there’s a couple jars in the cart. I’ll check.” Jasper slipped out the door.

Moose hopped onto the table. Clove took a seat and petted his head while Marissa started arranging cheese and nuts on a serving dish.

Jasper returned with both the jam and a tiny bottle of wine. 

“You’ve been holding out on us?” Marissa asked with raised brows.

“Saving it for a special occasion,” he replied, setting it on the table as he took the jam to finish with the biscuits.

Clove looked behind his back at Marissa, who shrugged. Jasper continued to be a man of mystery to them both. “What’s the occasion?”

“New Year’s,” he answered. “It’s not the bubbly stuff, but it should do for a toast.”

Moose jumped on the table and sniffed at the wine. Clove grabbed it away from him and moved it to the counter before he could bump it onto the floor. “Is it New Year’s already?”

“We missed Christmas?” Marissa wailed.

“Didn’t have a Christmas tree,” Jasper said. “Do have wine. And biscuits.”

He took the biscuits to the table while Clove rummaged through the drawers for a corkscrew.

“I can’t imagine it’s midnight yet,” she said, “but I also can’t imagine us being awake when it is.”

“Might as well open it,” Jasper agreed.

There was only one wine glass in the cupboards, so Clove grabbed a whisky tumbler and a coffee mug. Marissa opened the wine and poured them each a glass.

“To friends,” Marissa said, raising the wine glass.

Jasper lifted the mug. “To a happy and healthy new year for us all.”

Clove picked up the tumbler. “To Moose,” she said, booping his head with her free hand. “And Miss Delilah.”

“We can all drink to that,” Marissa said. “Happy New Year.’

“Happy New Year!”

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Katie Conrad is a speculative fiction writer living in Halifax, Nova Scotia. You can find her on bluesky, instagram, and tumblr.