I LIIIIIVE! My exams are officially (as of about 10am this morning) OVER! (In case you couldn't tell I am very excited at the prospect of some time off)

So, here you are my dears, a celebratory chapter, as requested by the lovely Mysteryfan17 and Fantasy Forger. I do hope you enjoy :3

Disclaimed

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Spring Thaw

...

A remote village on a mountainside somewhere in Asia was probably the last place Jack had expected to find some of his believers, but it was certainly a nice surprise. The kids all cheered and beamed in excitement as he dropped by, and all at once his intention to spread a light dusting of snow (they were having an early spring thaw this year, or at least they would be if he didn't have a say in it) was gone in the wind that deposited him down gently before them.

The kids were grabbing at him, bouncing in excitement, and babbling all at once. Unfortunately, he had no idea what they were saying.

"Sorry, kiddos, I only speak English," he apologised. Well, fluently anyway. Like most people he knew a few bits and pieces of other languages, but not enough to hold up his end of a conversation for very long.

The kids, whether they'd understood or not, didn't seem at all bothered by the language barrier, and started making wild gestures in an attempt to get him to understand.

"You… want me to make it snow?" he guessed, forming a single snowflake in his hand for emphasis.

They nodded, one of them reaching down to a pile of dirty slush (all that remained of the snow, alas) and trying to make it into a snowball.

"Oh, I get it," he grinned. "You can't have a good snowball fight without proper snowballs, right?" It took only a wave of his staff to get the grey clouds above to start releasing the little frozen particles and barely a thought to make them settle without melting first. It would take a while if he didn't want to start up a full-blown blizzard (which he didn't) but in the meantime, making a few snowballs was definitely something he could do.

In less than ten minutes he'd renewed much of the snow around the square they were in, and already the kids were diving in, forming snowballs and pelting them at each other. Jack was quick to retaliate, his perfect aim serving him well.

Any adult who happened to glance in their direction would not be able to explain the sudden fresh snow that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, nor the way some of the snowballs had no point of origin.

As the game got more intense, the kids started slowly edging closer to the surrounding forest, using the trees for cover and stealth. Jack helpfully provided them with more ammo when their reserves started depleting, and soon enough the little village was lost by a thick surrounding of forest.

"Wait, I think we've gone too far," Jack announced, gathering the group's attention.

One of the older girls apparently understood what he was concerned about and pointed through the trees, shaking her head. Another joined her, smiling as he spoke in the same foreign language.

"Not lost?" he deduced. "Well, as long as we, and by 'we' I mean you, don't get into any trouble…"

A snowball to the back of his head knocked away any thoughts of responsibility. It would be fine. If need be, he could always fly up, spot the village, and take them back later. They would just have to be careful not to stay out so late that they lost the sunlight.

Apparently 'it would be fine' was the universal signal to let life know it was time to prove you wrong, because it was right at that moment that things suddenly became very, very not fine.

It started with the sound of a rock or a log breaking free from its position on the slope above them, and that was all the sign Jack needed to know it was time to head home.

"Okay, come on, guys," he said, making large hand movements as he tried to usher them back towards the village. He looked up the mountainside, trying to pick where the danger was coming from. "Sounds like trouble's on the way and we definitely do not want to be caught up in that."

They seemed to grasp something of the urgency in his voice and complied with only a few grumbles. The oldest child's eyes darted from face to face, and Jack recognised she was counting the group, much like he'd seen adults do in the past. Her eyes suddenly widened and shot to Jack, her body language one of fear as she desperately tried to tell him something. Whatever she had said caused a stir amongst the others and they quickly matched her expression, scanning the surrounding forest as though in search for something.

"What is it? What's– Oh no. We're missing someone, aren't we?"

One of the younger boys shouted, catching everyone's attention, and pointed frantically back the way they had come. Jack spun on his heel, following the boy's line of sight, and heaved a huge sigh of relief when he spotted their missing member – a boy around six or seven years old – hurrying towards them.

A loud crack from above made them all jump. Jack quickly located the source of the noise. Up above them on the slope was practically a wall of mud and slush, held in place only by a fallen log that was struggling to hold under the weight.

"Go! Go!" Jack cried, making shooing motions at the kids behind him. "I'll get him, you guys hurry up and go!"

The kids hesitated for only a second before doing what he'd asked and Jack let himself pull his attention away from them to focus on the straggler. A blast of wind right then would probably be a terrible idea, so instead he settled for running over, pushing his legs to move as fast as possible. The log creaked ominously.

"Come on, come here, just a little farther," he encouraged, holding out his arms for the boy with full intention to shoot upwards the second he had him.

The snapping of wood was so loud he was sure they would have heard it all the way back in the village. With its barrier gone, the mud wasted no time in plunging down the incline towards them. Jack barely spared it a glance as he pushed himself, willed himself to make it in time. Pale fingers clasped around a thin arm just as the wave struck them.

It was like being swept up in a river. If that river had been made of custard and brambles instead of water. Twigs and loose rocks scraped at any exposed skin they could find as Jack and the boy were tossed along like baggage. He'd lost his grip on his staff when the wave had struck, and instead had focussed on maintaining his grip on the boy and shielding his face from the worst of it.

When the torrent finally, finally slowed and then stopped completely, neither of them moved for a good minute or two.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked quietly, opening his eyes only just enough to see the mud-caked child still held firmly in his arms. No doubt he was in no better state.

He considered it a miracle when the kid slowly tilted his head so that he could look Jack in the face and muttered something the winter spirit had no chance of understanding.

"It's okay, we're okay," he tried to reassure them both. "Now let's see where we are."

Jack shifted his shoulders, trying to dislodge them from the layer of mud that was half smothering them. The small movement destabilised the whole foundation and sent them sliding again. He quickly tucked his head in and tightened his death grip on the kid as they fell further down the slope. The boy whimpered in his arms.

"We're fine, we're fine," he said as soothingly as possible. "We just have to make sure we don't move… at all. And we should probably keep our voices low." So, basically we're just going to sit here, the mutinous voice in his head provided. For how long, exactly?

It was a bad plan, even if he didn't want to admit it. Sure it would keep them from being buried alive, or thrown off the mountain entirely, but like the pessimistic side of him said, it wasn't going to get them out of there, and while he probably could stay there for years if he had to, the kid he was trying to protect was a different matter.

With this in mind, Jack decided to try and get a better idea of their situation. Without sending them spiralling down the hillside this time. As slowly and carefully as he could, he turned his head to the side. Some of the mud that had caked onto his hair and face slipped down his neck and he froze, but thankfully that was all. From his new position, he could see a little of their surroundings.

The mountainside stretched out before him, almost unrecognisable. The area he had been playing with the kids in not ten minutes ago was gone, completely drowned in mud and debris. They wouldn't be getting out that way unless they flew, and Jack could see no sign of his staff.

"Okay, so it doesn't look like we can go up…" How about down?

Again he successfully managed to turn without much more than a face-full of mud for his efforts. Flicking as much of the muck out of his eyes as he could, Jack took stock of the lower area.

"…Oh."

The lower area was exactly that. Low. As in down. As in move-a-muscle-and-you're-falling-to-your-death down. It was steep enough that he was certain not even he would be able to walk away from it. Not for a long time at least. And oh, was that his staff he spied down there caught on a tree branch? Just perfect. Simply peachy.

There had to be a way out. Maybe he could lower his body temperature to harden the mud and reduce the risk of them falling to at least one of their deaths. Except that that would mean that the kid in his arms was in for a nasty dose of frostbite.

"Okay not an option," he bit out. "You got any ideas, kid?"

As expected, the boy didn't reply.

"Why am I not surprised?"

The familiar voice was both a blessing and a curse. And also the source of a great deal of confusion.

"Ceres?"

"I see your brain is still functioning, then."

Jack resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her snark and tried to tilt his head in her direction in hopes that he could spot her. No such luck. Wherever she was it was out of his line of sight.

"Ceres, please, he's already half-buried in mud, he doesn't need you to make the situation worse."

"May?"

"Hello, Jack. Are you alright?"

"Marvellous, thank you," he replied sarcastically. "I'd been meaning to take a mud bath."

"I thought you needed help, but seeing as you're clearly enjoying yourself, perhaps we should go back to our discussion," Ceres drawled. Her comment was quickly followed by a muffled protest, leading Jack to conclude that May had hit her.

"I wouldn't be opposed to a little help," Jack replied as casually as he could muster. "Also I think my friend here would appreciate it."

"Is he alright?" May asked.

"I think so," Jack let his gaze dart down to the boy who was clutching him tightly and shaking like a leaf. It was glaringly obvious that he was oblivious to the two women's presence. "A little shaken up but nothing permanent." At least I hope.

"Shall we get you both out of there, then, and check?"

"And how do you propose we do that?" Ceres asked pointedly. "We take one step on that mud and we'll end up in the same position as them."

"Well maybe we could pull them out."

"If we get anywhere close our wind will start another mudslide."

"Then we need to remove the threat," May said simply.

"Any day now please," Jack interrupted.

"Sorry, Jack, you're going to have to sit tight for a little longer. I'll be right back." There was a slight warm breeze, alerting the winter spirit that his spring counterpart had departed.

Several minutes of silence passed.

"So…" Jack rolled the word.

"So?" Ceres repeated.

"You and May just happened to be in the area?"

"We were."

"Together. At the start of your seasons."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, no, I was just curious. It's not really something I would have expected… from either of you."

"What, we're not allowed to be social? We can't discuss work before the season?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Can't we leave you kids alone for five minutes?" Lleu's voice called from overhead.

"I'm older than all of you," Ceres snapped.

"Yes, we know. You act your age."

Jack stifled a laugh.

"So, Snow Cone, you look cosy," the summer seasonal smirked, landing lightly in Jack's direct line of sight. The mud instantly went hard under the exposure from his natural heat.

"Let me guess, you're about to make it cosier," Jack raised a brow.

"Well, you know me; I'm just that kind of guy." He turned to the girls. "So you just need me to set the mud, right? Then we can just smash him out?"

"Yes, that should be it," May replied from somewhere behind Jack.

"Let's get to work then."

"Did Lleu just willingly announce he's going to work?" Jack stage whispered.

"Quiet, you, or I'll leave you stuck down there."

"Rude."

With the harnessed powers of summer, Lleu made short work of the mud that had been such a threat not moments before, effectively trapping Jack and the boy, who had finally started paying attention and was looking rather confused and fearful, in a hard cocoon. May and Ceres were finally able to land safely.

"I think that's baked enough," Lleu remarked, hands on his hips as he surveyed his handy work. "You ready to cut the cake?"

"Cake?" May enquired.

"Shouldn't we ice it first?" Ceres suggested at nearly the same time.

"If I could move I would hit you," Jack grumbled. "C'mon guys, this kid's starting to panic and I'll bet his parents are worried sick."

"Here, Jack," May knelt down beside him and started prying away the solid mud, being careful not to get close enough to the boy that he could accidentally pass through her. She may not have cared much about being seen, but having someone go right through you like you were made of air was never a pleasant feeling.

Lleu promptly joined her and, after a stern look from both him and May, Ceres added her own assistance. Jack rose out of the ground like a zombie the second he was able, being sure to keep a firm grip on his charge.

"You okay, kiddo?" he asked the shaking boy.

The boy, although he didn't understand the words, grasped the sentiment and nodded, clinging tightly to the winter spirit.

"See? I told you we'd be okay," he smiled, hugging the boy to him. "Now let's get you home." He stood, "But first, if one of you would be willing to grab my staff for me…"

"Where is it?" Lleu frowned.

"Down there," he pointed down the incline to where his staff still hung, coated in mud.

"Consider it done, your chilliness," Lleu saluted, shooting over the edge.

"You need a shower," Ceres told him snidely.

"That's a shame seeing as how the water would just freeze," Jack shrugged.

"A bath, then."

"I dunno," Lleu inputted, bonking Jack on the head with the staff. "It's kind of a good look for you."

"Gee thanks," Jack snatched back his staff, relishing in the feeling of security it gave him. The wind happily lifted him into the air as soon as hand and wood made contact.

"Jack," May regained his attention. "The boy?"

"Ah, right. I'd better get him home. Thanks for the save, you guys."

"You're welcome," May and Lleu smiled, both ignoring Ceres' "You'd better be."

"You can pay us back, of course," Lleu smirked. "I have a nice long list of options if you're interested."

"Why does that sound unnecessarily sinister?"

Guest Review Responses:

Fandomcrazy: Hehe thanks! :3

dolphin: Thank you so much for your support ^w^ I did survive, as you can see; you were right XD