So you guys liked the first chapter? Idk why, ya'll are weird, so I'm gonna start continuing it but that either means this is taking priority or it'll be rarely updated... also I forget to mention his gloves but I'll mention them here


North was busy giving his monthly report, and I found myself casually strewn on one of the armchairs. My body felt taxed and sore, but the comfort of non-movement was well-received.

Bunny, although disinterested, paid attention, since North had paid attention to him. I studied his mark, mentally taking in the details and shape. Do I have any markings? I don't remember. It's been so long since I looked at myself. He seemed healthy, too; healthier than I was. My skin was pale as death and my fur was matted and greasy; nowadays I only took anything it off when the soreness turned to an almost unbearable pain.

Having lost interest in Bunny, I turned my attention to idly picking at the stray thread. I wanted to take off the gloves; my hands were warm, borderline uncomfortably so, and they were constricting almost to the point where they were hard to keep fully on. The heat was largely avoidable; my wintery touch seeped through my gloves and back from my conduit, but it could get to be too much every now and then. I wanted terribly to take them off and let my digits cool off, but it could wait until the end of the meeting.

The last to give her report was Toothiana, and as everyone else, they all had good news. There was no need for much alarm and everyone would simply continue going about their business, as I would mine. I got up as the meeting was adjourned, padding over to the window. There was winter to be spread.

I couldn't help but feel as if I was being watched as I popped the window hatch and hopped out, letting the wind catch me.


I watched the dang drongo hop out the window as if it was natural. Even now that we're... co-workers of sorts, something is still... off... about 'im. Be it his strangely familiar smell, as though reminiscent of a dream, or his innate need to cover himself from head to toe that the most anyone may ever see is part of his face, but it's weird...

And that slight gait of his, it's almost as if his boots hurt him. 'E's trying to walk normally but it was.. just weird! Unnatural! What does he have to hide that he's dressed from head to toe in some heavy garb that must interfere with his flight, and given he's a winter spirit, he doesn't need to keep warm! Something is up with that li'l devil, and I intend to find out what exactly that was.

With a quick farewell to the others, I popped down into one of my tunnels and tracked Jack quietly, popping out every few moments to make sure I was on his trail. while it was easy to follow his distinctive scent, I wanted to be sure I wouldn't lose the boy.

Soon enough, he paused, stopping at a small cave at the base of a short hill, lightly snowy at the top but a bit more chilly than that signified. The boy slipped inside the cavern. At only the foot of the cave, he landed and moved inside a bit slowly. I was worried I'd be spotted if I went in after him, but I found myself heading in regardless. He had stopped at the end of the cave and sat down on the floor without a word.


I started picking at my gloves when I sat down, eager to get them off. Without a hesitation, I pulled them off. The cooling effect was instantaneous, and I stretched my fingers. A familiar cracking sounded out from my knuckles, which was satisfying enough as it was. Still, I found myself mildly bothered by the sight of greasy, matted fur, and quickly put them back. Heat immediately began to build up slowly, but that was done. Part of me wanted badly to remove my boots, if only for a minute... just to stretch my legs...

Despite myself, I found my hands (paws?) going to my left boot, and I began to pull it off slowly. The fur was just as matted as my hands had been, and the skin around my joint was raw, and irritated, some fur there having been rubbed away. My toes cracked loudly, and I went to do the same with the other foot, when I heard a noise.

I should have recognized the smell of spring.