Snow covered the Valley as winter settled into the region. The Feast of the Winter Star was approaching quick and the residents of Pelican town were preparing for the festival. To the west of the town however, was the overgrown farm where Frank now called home. He had no intention to attend. It wasn't because he didn't want to. It was because even though he'd been invited by Lewis himself, he still didn't feel like he'd be welcome. He wasn't even sure what the festival was about. It seemed somewhat similar to Yamween which was what he was used to, but also seemed completely different at the same time. Thinking about it too much would upset him. Yamween was a holiday about friendship. The thing is, Frank didn't think he had friends anymore. This thought only amplified his loneliness. Going to the Feast would probably not be the best move for his mental health, not that it was any good at this point anyway. However Lewis did continue to try to push him into attending. Frank was running out of excuses. Maybe it would be good to get out and meet new people. Maybe they won't see him to be as much of a monster as he thought they did. Maybe he was just overthinking things. After Lewis had asked him if he was attending the feast a week before the festival he'd finally relented and said he'd join. Lewis seemed happy about this which eased the doubt clawing at the back of Frank's mind. He'd been added to the secret Santa activity as Lewis attempted to really get him to interact with the town's residents. Frank was less enthusiastic about this little detail. He didn't exactly have much to give so when he'd been assigned as Marnie, the owner of the ranch just south of the farm, he grew anxious. Marnie was one of the few people who visited him in the hospital and she seemed nice enough. Frank couldn't help but stress about it anyway though. It was just his nature. He looked to the little bookshelf Robin had built and very generously stocked with books and little trinkets. He hadn't really looked at it yet but a little ceramic cow perched on the middle shelf had caught his eye. Marnie runs a ranch so she'd probably enjoy that. It would do. It's not like he was particularly good at giving gifts in the first place, but it's the thought that counts right?

Come the morning of the feast Frank was extremely nervous. He hadn't left the farm since he'd got there, which was several weeks ago. He'd considered just not going but then that wouldn't be fair to Marnie would it. Present in hand he made his way to town. Town square was beautifully decorated for the occasion. Plenty of food and drink at the tables. Family and friends gathered together just having a great time. Even then the feeling of disconnection ate away at Frank's confidence. He just couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't belong there, invited or not.

"Frank! I'm so happy you decided to join us." Lewis smiled, patting his back. "Come sit at the table, I saved you a seat." He began pushing Frank to the large table where everyone else sat. Frank was too startled to protest from the sudden attention. Now nearly everyone was looking at him. "Everyone! This is our new resident, Frank!" At first a few people very sweetly said their welcomes. This eased Frank a little bit, that was until,

"Ew, why is he blue like that?" A blonde girl piped up. "Kinda freaky if you ask me. He's kinda like a zombie."

"A zombie!?" A smaller voice squeaked.

"No no Vincent he's not a zombie." Jodi, another, more familiar face assured.

"Look at it! It's gonna eat us!" Vincent cried as his mother tried to calm him as he wailed. Frank felt awful. He felt a few pairs of eyes now glaring at him. He'd had enough.

"I'm sorry, this was a mistake. I shouldn't have come here." He said placing the present he'd brought on the table and backing away.

"No Frank, don't go." Lewis pleaded but Frank was having none of it. He made his exit, and just as he was out of sight from town square he booked it back home. After locking the door he fell back onto it trying desperately to recollect himself but he was too far gone at this point. It was probably the hardest he'd cried in a long long time. When he'd have breakdowns like this at home Ruby would usually sit him down in a private room and make him some tea or something and that would help but that wasn't a possibility anymore. This upset him even worse. He once again slid down the back of the door until he was seated on the floor. He stayed like that until he heard a knock on his door. He didn't want to answer. He wasn't going to answer it. It wasn't until the knocking continued that he picked himself up off the floor and did his best to hide the fact he was crying. He took a breath and cracked the door just enough to peak out. It was Marnie.

"Hello dear, I thought I'd come and check on you after what happened at the ceremony." She gave him a warm smile. "I also wanted to thank you for the lovely gift you left me."

Frank took notice of the little girl clasping Marnie free hand who was looking up at him.

"This is my niece, Jas. She wanted to come by as well to give you her present." Marnie said, pulling her forward. She held the little box up to him with a shy smile.

Frank took the box and inside was a little seashell.

"She found that and said it was blue like you, so when she got your name she was excited to give it to you." Marnie smiled and Jas nodded.

"That's very nice." Was all Frank could squeak out. It was just a silly little blue seashell but it had moved him so profoundly he was struggling not to start crying again.

"I'm sorry about Vincent." The little one finally spoke. "His brother fills his head with stories of monsters. I tell him it's silly to be afraid of them."

"That's alright, really." Frank sighed.

"Dear, would you like to come to the ranch and have dinner with us tonight? It breaks my heart to think you'll be all alone out here." Marnie spoke up.

At first Frank wanted to turn down the offer, but didn't want to seem rude.

"As long as I'm not intruding."

"Not at all honey, It's a holiday about caring about people. We would be happy to have you."

That night Frank made his way to the ranch Marnie ran and paused for a moment before knocking on the door. Marnie very warmly welcomed him in, which put him at ease for now.

The meal was delicious, the best one he'd had in a while. They were all chatting and Jas was telling Frank all about her schooling she did with Vincent in great detail. Suddenly the front door opened and shut.

"Oh that must be my nephew, let me go talk to him." Marnie said, getting out of her seat and darting off in the direction of the front entrance.

"My uncle Shane can be a bit mean. Not to me or aunt Marnie, but to everyone else. Aunt Marnie says it's because he's sad." Jas told rather innocently. Frank hadn't really been warned about that beforehand so he gets a bit nervous. He could hear Marnie talking to someone he assumed was Shane. He couldn't make out what exactly was being said though. Marnie returned with Shane. Frank immediately recognized him as one of the people who had shot him a glare this morning at the festival. He felt his stomach drop. They made eye contact, Shane glaring just as he did earlier. Quickly Frank thought up an excuse to leave.

"I should probably get back home before it gets too dark. It's hard to navigate the farm with how overgrown it is. Thank you very much for having me, it means a lot." He said getting up from his seat.

"Oh well, if you're certain. Can I pack you any leftovers before you go?"

"No no, that's alright I should really hurry." He said, grabbing his coat. "Thank you again." He said one last time before darting off. Before he'd left he faintly heard Shane whisper to Marnie.

"You let that thing in here?"