• The sun broke through the treetops, shining down on the clearing, renewing and warming the ground. There were still icicles hanging from some of the branches, but most had been melted away by the sunlight. In the center of the clearing four fairy rings had sprouted out of the earth, each one glistening with morning dew.
    Out of a corner of the wood, a figure walked towards the clearing. His clothes were a pale blue, while his skin looked as if it had never tasted sunlight. As he walked, the ground beneath his feet turned cold and lifeless, the grass turned brittle and frozen. When he stepped into the nearest fairy ring, his eyes glowed blue as a beam of sunlight shone on him.
    From other spots in the wood appeared three other figures. One was a plump, round figure dressed in bright colors of orange and red, with a proud beard and a hearty face. His eyes gleamed orange when he entered his fairy ring. The next figure was a tall man with yellow clothes and a large hat. His skin shone as if it had walked miles to get to this clearing, but he showed no sign of fatigue. His eyes shone with a gold tinge as he came to his ring.
    The last fairy ring was occupied by a women clothed in green. Everything about her seemed to radiate life. Her eyes flashed pure green; under her feet the grass sprouted and grew, daring to exceed the boundaries of the ring. The woman stood across from the pale gentleman in blue. She smiled at him, but all he did was reply with an icy gaze. She sighed. “I suppose it's that time again. Seasons change, and so do we.”
    The man in yellow replied. “I don't see why we all have to be here for the change if it's just between you and Jack. Some of us have work that needs to be done.”
    “Yes! And feasting and celebrations to attend to,” the hearty gentleman shouted. He produced a mug, and was about to drink it, when the woman cut him off.
    “You know exactly why you have to be here. Everyone must be present for the shift, even if you're not involved. It's been like this for ages.” She glanced at his mug. “Can't your drink wait?”
    The bearded man looked at his mug, and then back at her. “I suppose.” He reluctantly put away his mug from wherever he had got it from.”
    The pale gentleman spoke up. “Let's get this over with. I don't like it here, it's too...lively.” His tone was icy and ancient.
    The woman smiled at him. “Of course, Jack. You've done a nice job keeping everything cold and preserved. Now it's time for life to return, and start everything over.”
    A new fairy ring had sprouted in the center of the four others. Both the pale gentleman and the green woman walked towards it, till they both were standing inside of it. A beam of sunlight broke through the trees, shining on the center ring. The pale gentleman reached into the folds of his cloak, and brought a blue and green orb. The orb was encased in a layer of ice. As he handed it over, the ice began to melt in the sunlight. When the green woman took it, the orb flashed green, and started to glow from within. The orb looked bright and fresh.
    Staring at it, she smiled. She looked up at her pale companion. “Thank you, Jack.” She exited the ring and returned to her own.
    “Hmph,” Jack grunted, and did the same. He looked a little more rejuvenated than he had when he first arrived; his skin looked to have some life in it, and had a more natural color to it.
    It was silent for a few minutes. Finally, the bearded gentleman spoke. “So, same time next season, huh?”
    The yellow gentleman replied. “Yes, it's done.” He stepped out of his fairy ring into the sunlight that was shining between the tree trunks. The bearded gentleman followed, leaving a pile of leaves in his wake.
    The icy gentleman and the woman were left. She stared at his clothes. “You know, you look better younger. Maybe you would be better off if you didn't make your time so old and lifeless.” He glanced at her globe. “Don't worry, I'll take good care of it.”
    “You better. Old things are fragile.” With this, he walked away.
    She smiled. After a few minutes, she too disappeared, leaving a single tree sprout in her wake.