Prompt: Herogis, 2~
The air was cool, but not quite cool enough that it didn't chill further in his presence. By the emerging buds dotting the trees and patches of grass escaping the snowy ground, Aegis guessed the time of year to be around early spring. Just finally staring to warm up from the previous winter, but not quite warm enough that one could really do anything outside except for maybe make one last snow angel. Aegis smiled. After so long away from the mortal plane, he was glad to have arrived at such a pleasant time of year.
The spirit glanced around at his surroundings. Copses of trees as far as he could see in all directions; aspens by the look of them. Wherever he'd appeared, clearly the air wasn't just chilly in the spring; aspens only grow in places that are cool for most of the year. Which, now that he thought about it, made placing the time of year he was in just a little bit harder.
Ah well. Most of the world was forestland, so it wouldn't be unlikely for him to run into someone at some point. Aegis could ask his questions later. For now, the spirit was content to explore. He picked a direction at random and began gliding along the snow speckled earth.
He'd arrived in a village. Colorfully dressed people ambled about, children darting through their legs and all around the streets. Aegis had asked a woman sweeping her porch what the date was and found it to be April 2nd. The woman looked at him curiously and asked if he were a winter sprite. He told her she wasn't very far off.
Occasionally people would stop and stare or ask him questions as he glided through the streets of the village. They were curious about his appearance, both looks and visitation. Was he the northern wind, a being from another plane, a messenger from one of the lords? And why had he decided to grace their little town? Aegis answered their questions as politely as he could, and the people's expressions changed from confused to jubilant. A visitor? Why they loved visitors! And especially one from so far away!
A few excited townsfolk took the spirit by the hand and lead him around town, or otherwise ran off to fetch something to offer the spirit; cakes, pies, souvenirs… Aegis had started off politely refusing these gifts, but their enthusiasm was infectious and he found himself sampling what was given to him and sending compliment after compliment to the various chefs. He never knew there were so many ways one could bake a cherry pie.
By mid-evening Aegis knew the names of about half the people that had approached him in the street, and all the names of their children, though he wasn't so lucky to know which name matched which face. Some of the menfolk were organizing a celebration—brought on, no doubt, by the revelation that their visitor was a spirit of bravery and protection, and would surely provide them with good luck in the coming seasons—while the women headed home to cook and the children followed him around like so many goslings.
Aegis led a few of the children through the streets in a mishmash game of dodgeball and tag. He would glide around throwing snowballs at the children as they darted past, any he landed hits on joining his team and throwing snowballs at their fellows until they were hit with another snowball from the children's team. No rules had been said, but somehow they all knew that whichever team managed to acquire all of the players would be the winner.
Aegis's team had won by the end of it. None of the children could hit him.
One by one their mothers called for them, and the children dispersed. The spirit waved them goodbye until the celebration some hours later, and floated aimlessly through the village, soaking up the joyous atmosphere like a sponge. A lone child still tottered after him, a bright little blue soul that couldn't have been older than maybe three or four. They seemed enamored with his pendant, white and glowing along as he glided, and since no parent had come rushing out to claim them he was content to let the child be.
They chirped a few questions to him every now and then. Are you a ghost? Yes, but a very friendly one. How'd you die? I'd rather not say. Was it scary? It was very scary. How old are you? Older than the trees around this village. Do you like macaroni? Not very much, no. Why? I've never found a cheese sauce that I like with it. My mom makes the best macaroni! I'll bet she does; will she be making some for the party?
The child's eyes widened, and they scampered off to wherever their home was. Aegis chuckled despite himself and looked around the village. For the first time since he'd entered the village that day, the spirit found himself alone. He didn't mind the solitude so much. The day had been very eventful, much more so than he'd expected. The silence was welcome for however long it lasted until the celebration began.
That night would be one of the fondest he would recall for many years—but even still, his recollection would fade in time.
The air was cool, but not quite cool enough that it didn't chill further in his presence. His soulally was prancing about in newly emerging grass, relishing the flowers and trying their best to join in the birdsong. Aegis watched them fondly, their bright little blue soul shining amidst the chilly spring countryside. A snowball came hurtling towards him out of nowhere and Aegis scarcely had time to duck before it impacted. A glance back at his soulally revealed a knowing grin, and a smile set itself into Aegis's face. He magicked up snowballs of his own and set forth firing them away at his partner.
For a brief moment, the memory came to Aegis of a small town and a little child that joined him in a snowball fight. The memory was soon forgotten amidst the game, and was never brought up.
NOTE: I don't like this one so much.