*Hi*! It's Cupid again!

I HAVE GREAT NEWS!!!

As you guys know, I was *so* panicked about what to do about Rudolph's nose-cozy that I went for a walk by myself in the the Pole Forest. (The Forest is where we practice Flight Training -- and Run Training, too, sometimes. It's a big, magical stand of ancient Douglas Fir and Birch trees that's not far from the Village Square and the Barn. The Forest is also invisible to anyone who doesn't live in Santa's Village!)

I usually think really well when I go for a walk by myself. And tonight, the Forest was quiet, and there was a waxing moon in the sky. (The moon and the stars were SO pretty! They were making the snow all sparkly.) But even though I was out for a walk, and even though it was so beautiful, I STILL couldn't come up with a solution! I thought and thought about the problem from every angle and I just kept coming up blank.

I finally got so exhausted from worry and from thinking so hard that I sat down in the snow, under my favorite old fir tree. I was almost ready to cry because I was feeling so panicked and alone. But it was at that exact moment that the COOLEST thing happened!

First, I heard a small "hop" from somewhere close by. (I have pretty excellent hearing.) So I looked toward the sound, and soon, I saw a small, furry nose poke out from behind a beautiful Birch tree. The nose was white, and it was sniffing! In a flash, the nose disappeared ... and I heard a few more snow-hopping sounds. And they were getting closer! ... Then, all of a sudden, from behind the tree right next to me, I saw the cutest, furry white face! It was small, and had large, tall ears, and little brown eyes, ...

... And suddenly I realized who it was!

It was Kidu!!!

Kidu is an Arctic Hare who lives with her family and friends in the tundra outside of Santa's Village. She's small, and white, and very furry. She's also smart, and she has quietly helped many, many people over the years. ("Kidu" means "help" in Aleut, which is the language of the Eskimo people.)

As soon as I realized it was Kidu, I leapt up and frolicked around with joy! (Kidu just laughed. She was happy to see me, too.) Kidu has an incredible sense of smell, and she told me that she could smell me walking in the woods. Most important, though, she said she could also smell that I was in need of some help, so she came to find me!

I told her all about the lost nose-cozy, and the sleepless Team. Kidu listened. And as I told her more and more, she began to smile. I asked her why she was smiling, and she said it was because she knew the solution to my problem!

Mipps -- the mysterious Polar house-mouse -- has Rudolph's nose-cozy!!! (FOR! REAL!)

Kidu saw Mipps scurrying through the Village Square a few nights ago ... wearing the nose-cozy as a tiny touque!!! (A touque is a beanie-hat, like a ski-cap.)

Then Kidu told me something even more amazing! ... Mipps is the keeper of a secret place called The Library of Lost Items. (Nobody really knows for sure where the Library is, she said, but Mipps is definitely the Librarian! He's the Keeper of Lost Items!) Kidu said that if anything goes missing, all you need to do is formally, respectfully explain to Mipps what you've lost, and ask him if he can return it. (!!!)

So I thanked Kidu profusely, and raced back to the Barn! (I was so excited I almost accidentally crashed into an elf who was carrying a teetering pile of wrapped presents!) I'm totally going to take matters into my own hooves!

I'm going to write Mipps a nice letter -- TONIGHT! And I'm going to leave it exactly where Kidu told me to -- which is near a special, tiny, hidden panel in the back corner of the Barn (I guess it's one of the small doors that leads to Mipps's secret passageways!). Kidu said I should go back and check this same location really often, 'cuz Mipps will leave the nose-cozy where I left him the note.

With any luck, we might even get the cozy back before we leave for Finland!!!

KEEP YOUR HOOVES CROSSED!!!

I'll write again as soon as I can!

Love, Cupid