I yet live, no matter what school may try to do to me...

Is everyone else doing well? I hope so! I'm glad to be back in the groove of writing!

"All of you should visit more often!" Cupid cheered. "I'm sure I have some fits that would look gorgeous on you~"

"You don't have to find any, seriously!" Clover ducked further behind Tenshi. "You really do not!"

The group of spirits had enjoyed an unusually lax teatime with Cupid. After her explanation of her role, she had eagerly launched into stories from years past. She recounted a time when records got mismatched and made a woman fall for the man meant for her best friend, another when some cherubs spent a week finding dropped arrows and fixing the damage they caused, and yet another time when she met the followers of Tu'er Shen, among other love deities. Now they were on their way out, since the perfume of the flowers and the softness of Chaima's harp was enough to make someone want to lay around forever. Cupid was lamenting how long it had been since she'd been able to see Clover in a pretty and delicate dress.

"I dunno, Clover….your adorable factor would break the charts." Jack flicked Clover's hair from behind her. She jumped, yanking on Tenshi's arm.

"Shut up, Jack," said the grim reaper. He didn't look completely annoyed, most likely because Cupid was now pushing a wrapped bag of sweets into his hands.

"At least take these!" Cupid said as she handed more bags out. "I'll be sure to let you know when I make some more, too."

"And we will train together soon, da?" North gave her a smile. Cupid nodded and went to hug him, which caused him to scoop her up in an even bigger embrace.

"Count on it!"

With a few goodbye pats and kisses from the cherubs, they roused the reindeer - who had never been more relaxed in their lives than in the expansive garden - and started on their way.

"Shame we can't go over to see Adrian," Clover said, peering over the edge of the sleigh.

"He always goes to visit….the west coast...this time of year." Tenshi spoke slowly from beside her. He wasn't as sick as he was on the trip to the chateau, but Jack scooted away just in case.

"Adrian?" Tooth asked.

"Usually...he stays in Spain."

"He's a descendant of the Muses," Clover explained. "We've been friends for a while."

"Maybe next time. For now…" Jack looked down at the clouds below. "...we should figure out how we're going to land."

"It'll probably be safe just to dip down and make sure we're close enough," Clover said. "It's evening and we're over farmland. We probably won't be seen by any stray kids."

The plan was put into practice. North steered the sleigh with expert stealth despite his usual boisterous demeanor, and it certainly helped that the deer were still rested from their romp in the garden. They flew over stretches of crops dotted with scarecrows and farmhouses, over pastures and churches.

"Keep going this way….and see that forest there? We should stop in that first clearing." Clover pointed ahead.

Her voice held no tension, perhaps deliberately. Jack knew that the Guardians were feeling less than enthusiastic about the spirit they were about to visit. It would make sense if Clover was trying her best to play down Hallow's role.

Hallow wasn't a villain. He wasn't a hero, mind. Jack wasn't sure what he was. Hallow was a newer spirit, overseeing a popular holiday that some people found morally dubious. He hadn't spoken to Hallow in a long while.

North landed in the clearing as instructed. It was almost silent, with birds chirping softly and a lazy breeze swaying the tree branches around them. Even in the calm, Jack could tell they were unsettled.

'Hallow's not that bad, you guys," Jack said. Everyone's gaze shifted to him. "A little weird, yeah, but not bad."

"Where...is his dwelling?" North asked, surveying the clearing's treeline.

"Well, it's hidden for protection." Clover climbed out of the sleigh and reached out to help Tenshi.

"What's someone like him need protection from?" Bunny raised a bushy eyebrow.

"You don't know what he's like. And...it's to protect him from humans."

"Can humans see Hallow?" Tooth asked. Sandy floated drowsily next to her.

"Kind of…."

"Oh?"

Tenshi had regained his normal color and composure. He walked to the edge of the clearing and crouched down.

"Looks like our guide is here."

"Oscuro!" Clover rushed over and took the same position as Tenshi. Absently tapping his staff against the ground, Jack walked toward them with Julius by his side. Sitting at the edge of the forest was a black cat. Its fur was sleek and short, and it had bright yellow eyes.

"A black cat is gonna lead us to the Halloween spirit. Dunno what I expected…" Bunny muttered.

"How have you been…?" Clover held out her hand and let Oscuro brush up against her. "We brought friends to meet Hallow. Can you take us to him, pretty lady?"

Oscuro fixed her eyes on the Guardians standing near the slay. Jack thought he saw those eyes narrow a bit. But after a moment, Oscuro turned and leapt through the treeline. She took a few steps before turning around and looking at the group.

"We have to follow. Oh...Should someone watch the sleigh?" Tenshi looked over at the reindeer beginning to graze and stamp.

"Good point…" North started. Before he could suggest anything, Julius sighed.

"I can sit this one out. Get me some candy though, please?"

Julius walked back to the sleigh and took out his camera. He took a couple pictures of the trees and was about to focus in on Sandy, who was slowly bobbing back to the sleigh with his head nodding.

"You don't wanna come, Sandy?" Jack asked. All he was met with was a drooping golden frame. "...I guess not. This is okay, though."

"Alright, quick, before we lose her!"

Clover's yell alerted everyone to the black cat trotting through the brush. They started moving, observing every inch of the forest carefully. The trees here looked so nearly ancient, and so similar, that Jack felt dizzy looking up.

The evening sunlight dimmed the further they trekked into the woods. A stream babbled somewhere further off. Jack noticed how Bunny and North kept their hands close to their weapons. He just spun his staff between his palms and continued walking behind Clover and Tenshi.

After a couple minutes of walking, Clover and Tenshi stopped the procession. They watched as Oscuro jumped onto an old tree stump, then further up onto a ledge jutting out of a post. It was old, splintered and wooden, with a clouded iron lantern hanging from the top. Oscuro blinked slowly. The lamp flickered, and then burst into soft orange light.

"Oy!" Bunny dropped into a stance, but nothing else happened. Oscuro flicked her tail from side to side.

A little ways further up, another light flickered in. Now they could all see that a path was leading up a small incline, lined with similar lights. Oscuro turned and began to walk; as the spirits hesitantly followed, they realized that she was balancing on a wooden fence.

The path led up to a structure that wasn't as imposing as Jack had once thought it might be. Perhaps it was the decorations, with banners under the windows and jack-o'-lanterns on the porch. There was an enormous spider web in the top right corner, above a rocking chair. A worn, crooked broom rested against the frame of the front door. Oscuro stepped her way in front of the group again. She came to sit next to the door, looking up, waiting for someone to knock and be let in.

That's it for this chapter! Please stay warm, everyone! I don't have it as bad as other people right now, but I hear it's a bit downhill in the cold front from here. :P