A shorter chapter this time! I don't know that I'll be able to keep posting two a day, but reviews motivates me greatly.


Jack had not expected how weak the warmth of summer would make him. He spent several days just curled up in a tree near his lake before finally asking the wind to take him somewhere colder. He spent the remainder of the summer flying over a frozen sea and lounging on the floating ice. No one lived there that he could see, so it was even more lonely than usual. Only when it got cooler again had the wind pushed him back south.

As soon as he got back to populated areas, he took up his current favorite activity again: chasing the floating golden sand. He let the wind carry him at speeds he had not previously thought possible, running a hand through the golden stream and glimpsing the happy dreams of children as he did so.

For the first few days, he did not really bother trying to find the source of the sand, content to merely laugh as he flew from stream to stream, running his hand along them and letting the images of ponies and princesses wash over him. He would follow some streams to their destinations, smiling softly as he glanced at the sleeping children lost in the dream world.

After a week of this, however, he returned to the task that had kept him occupied in the spring. As soon as the golden sand appeared, he flew as fast as he could in the direction it came from. His time spent flying over the ice sea had paid off and he quickly saw a golden figure in the distance, floating on a cloud of the golden sand. Catching up to it proved a challenge, but eventually the small golden man on the cloud noticed him and slowed down.

Jack's heart skipped a beat when he realized the small man could see him. No one since the grumpy bunny man had ever seen him. His face splitting in a large smile, he hurried to join the one who sent golden dreams to the children every night. The man smiled gently and waved.

"Hello! How are you? I'm Jack Frost! Who are you?" he said in an exited voice, the words tumbling out of his mouth in a rush.

Communication was still a novelty to him so he just repeated what he heard people say when they met someone. He hoped he was not making too bad an impression, like he had with Bunnymund. The golden man tilted his head and held up a handful of sand in answer. Jack looked at it, puzzled for a moment before understanding.

"You're... the Sandman, right?"

He had heard the kids whisper about the legendary man who sprinkled sand into the eyes of children to make them fall asleep. The Sandman nodded, sending some more streams of golden sand into the surrounding areas. Jack flew along his cloud for a good part of the night night, watching him work with interest. The man never said a word, but the silence was a companionable one.

Finally, the golden man lowered his cloud, waiting for him to join. Jack landed in front of the cloud, looking at the Sandman expectantly. The man gave him one more smile and a small wave. Jack's smile faded.

"You're leaving, aren't you?"

He should not be surprised, really, but he was still disappointed. He looked down at the frosting ground until a small hand patted his head, making him look up again. The Sandman smiled once more before raising a handful of sand up to his face and gently blowing on it. Jack blinked as the golden sand was blown into his eyes. He felt drowsy. He was dimly aware of the Sandman's hands on his arms, lowering him gently to the ground as reality faded around him.

That night, he dreamed of playing and laughing with friends and being held tightly in loving arms.