The crisp fall breeze blew around her as she snuggled into her warm scarf. She shifted her grip on the bag she carried, gazing about the calm path. The call of change was upon her as she breathed in deeply, committing the scent of the fall forest to memory. 

The colors of the everlasting falling leaves ranged from reds and oranges to browns. Crunching under her boots as she made her way to the border along the old brick roadway. Falicor had been lovely, but she knew she couldn't stay. Such was the life of a nomad like herself.

Saraphina sighed, pulling her hood back and letting her hair soak up the last of this season. It fell in long, chestnut brown ringlets down her back, with strong hints of red that often-deceived others in different light. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail at the top of her head, loving the way her hair bounced around her shoulders when pulled up. 

She paused to look behind her at the tall oak tree decorated in lights at the center of the city. She smiled at the sight, before turning her back on it.

Every time it was the same. She would settle in and be happy for a while. At most a few months, before she felt the call. Unlike the others she met in her journey, she could never truly belong to one place or another. 

Her parents had always taken her between the four kingdoms even as a child, but she knew they had nothing to do with the yearning in her heart. Knowing that they settled down happily in Spritaria. She would visit them again soon once she was through with Winsticlorum.

She slowed as she eyed the tall grey stone wall that separated the kingdoms, peeking through the trees. Two guards sat on either side of the iron gate, looking bored as hell. Saraphina nodded at the tall stick like creature on the left she recognized from previous trips across the border. 

 He stood over eight feet tall, with a long flexible neck that bent down to her level as she approached. His eyes were bigger than the average dinner plate as he blinked at her slowly, before his flat like face peeled away to reveal a crooked smile of sorts.

"Madame, is it that time again?" He asked her in a hollow voice. It reminded her of speaking through a hollow branch as the bark absorbed the sound. His joints creaked as he shifted his hold on the long staff he held, side stepping back from the door.

"I am afraid that it is. I can never get over the woods in the land here." Saraphina sighed glancing back down the path she had traveled. The kingdom long gone from sight. She turned back to her company, switching her heavy bag to the other hand. The old guard wheezed, nodding his head in agreement at her assessment.

"What is your business here?!" The other soldier squeaked, thrusting his spear out towards her. He was much shorter than his companion, with legs like that of a toad. Their face was all scrunched up in a scowl as their eyes darted about in all directions.

"He is new here. First 'real' post after joining the guard. Pay him no mind Madame, it will give us something to talk about after you are gone." The old soldier hummed pointing his staff towards the gate that sat open enough to expose the tunnel just beyond.

"You are just letting it through?! Wait, she is leaving? Nobody ever leaves the kingdom. Or comes to the kingdom. Nobody travels! That is unnatural!" The man squeaked as his face swelled in a confused rage.

"I do. Be well my friends. Congratulations on your new position. Perhaps I will see you the next time I come around." Saraphina said simply, pulling her hood into place as she passed on by the two and into the tunnel. The first guard simply snorted at her in respect as the second watched her pass, flabbergasted.

"Is she allowed to pass? No one has ever wanted to before, but is she even allowed to?" The young one asked as Saraphina sighed as their hushed voices continued to gossip about her, even as they faded into silence. She dragged her fingers along the wall of the dark tunnel following it out into the kingdom of Winsticlorum. The new guard wasn't exactly wrong. People didn't travel between kingdoms.

The world had been crafted once upon a time to be shared with everyone and every creature. The seasons rotated to bring new joy and sense of the passing of time. However, something in the balance changed causing a rift between the seasons. 

Each will tell you their own tale, but Saraphina knew from experience that the stories were catered to make the writer appear the saint and victor. Only problem was, if nobody was at fault for the war, then why was there a war in the first place?

With the seasons restless to give up any time for their turn to rule the land, they eventually just divided into four separate kingdoms where their season could remain unchanged, forever. 

Spritaria, the land of everlasting spring, ruled by a very lovely couple who preferred to show off their skills through grand gardens. 

On the east border, a land of eternal summer ruled, known as Sumuira. The pristine lakes filled with fish and laughter. The rolling green landscapes brought a smile to Saraphina's lips as she remembered the land. Though the warmth of the sun a distant memory as the cold started to invade her thoughts.

Falicor was one of her favorites with all the reds and oranges dotting the landscape. Fall was mostly a forest like kingdom with lots of farmland to the south. However, not even the cozy atmosphere of the land she loved, could hold her back from winter.

Saraphina smiled as her breath fogged on the air. Tucking her nose into her scarf. Winsticlorum was different for many reasons. 

She paused at the exit glancing around the abandoned gate. Nobody guarded the entrance anymore as the metal bars sat rusting and forgotten. The deep grey grass went on for miles through the white barren trees. The other three seasons had a bit of a similarity to them, just in different stages. Winter always felt like a completely different world to her.

She pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders as she slowly moved forward. Winter was different for many reasons, and not just the weather. 

Unlike the other seasons, who built grand castles to display their power. Winter had no such structure, its royalty living among the people. They also had multiple smaller towns covering the kingdom instead of one massive city with tiny farming villages. Saraphina sighed, navigating the un kept roads to the nearest town. She would end up staying in a tavern for the night before making her way to her own place.

++

The tavern was packed more than usual as Saraphina made her way to the bar. The ice orc behind the bar was an old friend of her fathers and in turn, an old friend of hers. 

She smiled when she caught sight of his large bulk, still towering over the crowd. His greyish skin blended with the landscape as his large spiraling tusks glistened in the lamp light as his beady eyes watched the drunks at their tables.

"Winston!" She called out, causing the bulk to turn her way. There was a pause in his tight muscles before the tension simply melted like snow in the sun.

"Ha, ha! Little lass, you have finally come home!" He boomed causing the crowd to shift away from the bar and retreat to the tables, leaving room for Seraphina to crash at the suddenly empty counter.

"Aye, and if you are nice, I will give you a souvenir." She teased with a wink as he laughed. 

Orcs were large and intimidating by nature, their loud menacing voices only fueled the big bad guy image. However, Seraphina knew, most of them were like kitten's and loved the attention. At some point, one of them had the brainy idea that human names would make them appear more friendly, however, naming a towering giant with sheer bulk something like Wendy, didn't have the effect they were hoping for. 

Winston whistled for his underlings to fetch her some food. He quickly dropped of his orders for ale as Saraphina settled in. She noticed the stranger sitting at the counter a few chairs down but decided to ignore him as he focused on his own food and ale.

She slid out of her cloak, hanging it on the back of her stool, ignoring the eyes on her back. It was obvious she was from out of town. But no one would bother her as long as the orc in charge of the establishment held her in such high favor. Her warm brown hair was set loose down her back as she grinned at the giant mug placed in front of her.

"Thank you. I see business is still doing well. How is Molly?" Saraphina asked as Winston pulled up a chair to chat with her.

"Beautiful as ever. We are expecting our sixth child now. Any suggestions for a name?" Winston asked with a grin watching as she struggled with the cup almost as big as her tiny head. Well, her head was probably normal for a human, but it was tiny for an Orc.

"Oh, I think I have a few ideas you might like. Though now I feel bad. I didn't bring anything for the baby." Saraphina sighed sadly, lifting her bag off the floor and pulling some items out, setting them on the counter. The Orc beamed happily, shifting in his seat in anticipation. His excitement was dwindling as he watched her pull the last item out of the bag. 

"Oh, those are just for your kids. This is for you and Molly." Saraphina giggled, picking up a second bag and setting it in front of the giant creature. He practically wept as he lifted the giant sack off the counter.

"You remembered! You always remember. It feels like you even got more than last time." Winston muttered, wiping a tear from his cheeks. Saraphina chuckled at the over emotional giant, as he thanked her for the gift.

"Geeze, what did you get him? A sheep or something?" The stranger down the bar asked annoyed. 

Saraphina huffed, deciding to ignore him. Winston of course was just so thrilled with the heart felt gift he had to share. Exposing the contents to the stranger. Saraphina kept to herself, noticing the visible confusion in the stranger's face as he glanced her way. 

"Sunflower seeds? How the hell did you get those?!" He asked her in an accusing tone. She was surprised he was educated enough to even know what they were.

"I harvested them myself in Falicor. They are better from Sumuira, however, they don't last for months so I couldn't bring those ones with me." Saraphina said sadly. She would love for Winston to try the sunflower seeds from Sumuira. But finding out the best way to persevere them had been a tricky process. Then there was also the debate of just skipping over Falicor and coming straight into Winsticlorum. But skipping past Fall just felt so wrong. 

Sorry if this seems unfinished, it totally is. I had plans for this one. Big, glorious plans involving romance, kidnapping, war and vengeance.... however, priorities shifted and now it sits unfinished. Sorry Saraphina. I'll be back... maybe.