Hello :D

I don't really have anything to say, apart from 'I don't own RotG.'

"Ow."

Jack rubbed the back of his head and looked around. The autumn forest was silent around him, but the acorn at his feet was proof that someone was there. A wry grin stretched across his face.

"Okay, who threw that?" His only answer was another acorn, this one aimed straight between his eyes. He ducked it this time, and grabbed his staff, walking towards the thicket of trees that the acorn had come from. Pushing back the bushes, he peered in, and caught sight of something burnt onto one of the trees:

Catch me if you can

A third acorn whizzed towards him, and Jack avoided it with a chuckle. His icy blue eyes twinkled as he looked around, pretending to be confused.

"So it's a game you want?" he called, wandering in a slow circle around the clearing. "I don't know if I should; I don't even know who you are, after all, and now you want me to... catch you!" He leapt at one of the bushes, but the figure within darted out before he could grab it. "Hey!" he called, jumping into the air after the dark blur.

The two raced through the forest, Jack's laughs and shouts echoing through the trees. The figure he was chasing was fast, Jack would give them that, and it seemed to have its own wind, but Jack was faster. Finally, after a good two hours of Jack steadily gaining, the figure had to swerve to avoid a branch, giving the winter spirit the opportunity to tackle whoever it was. They were both sent sprawling to the ground and Jack sat up with a hiss of pain, rubbing his arms. Where he had touched the mysterious stranger, angry red welts were appearing, and blisters were beginning to form. Glancing at the figure, he saw the same was happening to their legs.

It was a man, perhaps 23 or 24 years old. His skin was dark mahogany, with curly black hair cropped close to his head and eyes like two bottomless pools of warmth, the irises almost as dark as the pupils they surrounded. He was bulkier than Jack, and at least a foot taller, with wine red shorts, a tan brown t-shirt and no shoes. When he grinned his teeth were a blinding white in contrast to his dark skin. Jack grinned back.

"Who are you?" he asked, feeling almost shy. The last time he had spoken to anyone had been an argument with one of the forest nymphs, almost a year before.

"My name is Pierre Soleil," replied the man, "and I am the spirit of summer. Am I right in thinking you are Jack Frost?" Pierre's voice was deep and rich, touched with a slight accent that Jack couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Yeah, that's me," smiled Jack. "I'm the spirit of winter. How do you know who I am?"

"I have heard tell of you from spring and autumn; it would do you well not to antagonize the other elementals, by the way. Messing with the natural order, as Gaia calls it, can and will have serious repercussions." Jack's smile fell as he studied the summer spirit carefully.

"Am I in trouble?" The smile returned as Pierre laughed cheerfully.

"Perhaps with them, but I just wanted to meet you. It's so rare to get new immortals, and I've already waited too long. You've been around, what? Fifty years now?"

"Seventy," Jack corrected. Pierre shook his head.

"Seventy years; wow. You're pretty young still."

"How old are you?"

"I, my dear child, had my 150th birthday just last month."

"Oh." Pierre laughed again, and Jack sort of shrugged, unsure of what else to say. There was a pregnant pause as both spirits just took the time to look at each other. "Your name is French, isn't it?" asked Jack finally. Pierre nodded.

"It means Peter Sun. Gaia is amazing in many respects, but her choice of names is a little... unimaginative."

"Did Gaia name you, then?"

"She didn't name you?" Jack shook his head.

"The moon named me. Right after he pulled me out of the ice. It was the only thing he ever said to me, actually." Pierre paused, confusion furrowing his brow.

"Wait... the moon made you?"

"Yep."

"Odd. I thought Gaia was in charge of all the elementals... That is very strange. He pulled you out of ice?"

"Yep. From a lake right near here. I could show it to you if you want."

"I would love to, but I have remained here long enough." Pierre climbed to his feet, Jack quickly scrambling up after him.

"You're going? Already?"

"I'm afraid so. We spent many hours flying, remember? Besides, there is to be a volcanic explosion soon, and the lava sprites have asked me to help channel the heat."

"When will I see you again?" The summer spirit paused, and took a good long look at his wintry counterpart. Nothing more than a child, really he thought to himself. Jack's eyes were hopeful, scared and upset all at the same time, and Pierre didn't miss the way he was biting his lip.

"I don't know, Jack," he said as gently as possible. "I am summer and you are winter, and our natures dictate we stay away from each other."

"Oh," came the murmured response. The elder hesitated, knowing he should be going, but not wanting to leave the winter child like this.

"However, in times of spring and fall, when neither one of us are really needed, keep an eye out. I may just happen to pass through the same bit of woods that you're playing in." As he hoped, Jack's face brightened, and Pierre breathed a quick sigh of relief.

"One last question, before you leave?"

"Yes?"

"The summer sprites... do they work for you?" If Pierre wondered at the strange question, his face did not show it.

"No, they do not. We all work for Gaia, and when she is not present, we collaborate. I am more powerful than them, but we all work as equals. Does that answer your question?"

"Yeah," smiled Jack. "It does."

"In that case, I must be off. Goodbye, Jack Frost."

"Goodbye."

"Oh, and one more thing: if it comforts you, the moon has never spoken to me." With that, he raised his arms and allowed the South wind to lift him into the sky and carry him off.

As the warm summer current blew through his hair, Jack watched his new... friend? Companion? The winter spirit didn't know what Pierre was to him, but he liked it. He watched the summer spirit disappearing into the distance, one hand absently straying to the old wound on his back.

The summer sprites were awful, but Pierre wasn't like them, and in all likeliness didn't know what they did to Jack. The winter spirit could only hope that he saw Pierre soon. It was nice to have people talking to him when not mad at him.

Okay, so a lot of dialogue in this chapter, and my own original character, which I know is enough to make some people froth at the mouth. But hear me out! I just think the fact that Pierre wanted to help Jack and relieve his isolation but couldn't because of their jobs and natures so tragic. You may not agree, it's fine if you don't, but I'm going with it.