"-But it was my grandmother's ring, and I inherited my father's fat fingers, so it didn't even fit on my pinkie," Margo was saying with a giggle as they huddled around the hot chocolate stand, using the warm drinks to fend off the growing chill of the evening.

"So I told her she should just wear it as a toe ring instead," Holly said cheekily to Robin.

Margo burst out laughing, her laugh turning into a fit of giggles, causing Bert to chuckle.

"Can you imagine?" Margo lifted her boot playfully. "I said yes! Look at the ring!"

Margo and Holly dissolved into giggles.

Robin caught himself smiling, entertained by their infectious joy, even if the moment's humor was lost on him due to his absence in witnessing the exchange.

"This was before Holly knew her jewelry magic," Bert added, "so I spent a fortune resizing it. But I couldn't bear the thought of it scratching against the stone with every step she took as she walked around the house."

Margo and Holly burst out laughing again. Holly had tears in her eyes, spurred by both the cold and her laughter.

"Can you imagine," Holly said between giggles, "Margo gets mad and storms off, and all you hear is the 'clink, clink, clink' of her toe ring down the hall."

Margo's laughter caused her to double over, and Bert's merry laugh joined in. They watched while Holly mimicked a frustrated walk, adding clinking noises as she pretended to stomp away.

Margo and Bert's laugh intensified. Robin started to laugh at Holly's show as well.

"You'd have to get custom shoes so everyone would know you were taken, too," Bert smirked at Margo.

"All excellent reasons not to get engaged with a toe ring," Margo quipped sarcastically between giggles. "Such a tragedy you resized it, Bert."

"I know. I gave in to society's pressures," Bert lamented, shaking his head. "Maybe I'll commission a toe ring from you next anniversary, Holly."

"With a bigger diamond than the engagement ring to compensate for the lost time," Holly joked.

Margo laughed as Bert shook his head.

"Well, if the diamond is too big, I might just give it to Harold to wear. He doesn't have to struggle with shoes like the rest of us. And I must say, he needs more jewelry. I can tell he's insecure about it."

"I'll make a matching pair so he doesn't feel left out," Holly offered playfully.

"Then I'll be the one left out," Bert pouted.

"Fine, I'll make you all matching toe rings. How's that?" Holly laughed.

"Perfect, thanks, Holly," Margo laughed.

In an instant, Margo's face changed, and she looked like she had just witnessed a lightning bolt.

"But speaking of Harold, I forgot to feed him before we left." She turned to Bert. "We should probably head home soon."

"Ah, right," Bert said, disappointed. "Hopefully, he hasn't caused any trouble in retaliation for a late dinner," Bert added. "This was fun. I'll look into other festivals; maybe we can go to a few more before winter's over."

"There should be hundreds to choose from," Robin quipped.

Bert rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay, you can drop it, Robin."

Holly and Margo exchanged confused glances from the corners of their eyes.

"He's referencing our earlier conversation. You two were too busy girl-talking to be there for it," Bert remarked snidely.

"Bitterness looks bad on you, babe." Margo patted him on the chest. "I'm glad you and Robin had fun."

"Yeah, me too," Holly said, looking up at Robin with a bright smile.

"Let me know when you can get me into the card game club, Robin," Bert said, saluting Robin.

"Will do, but feel free to join us next week if you want. I'm sure the lads would love to have you," Robin replied with a smile.

"I'll try to make it," Bert nodded as they headed down the street, Margo snuggling closer to his side to keep warm.

"They're the best," Holly mumbled, watching them walk away. "How was it, talking with Bert?"

"It was good." Robin shrugged. Though it started off rocky, he had to admit he'd enjoyed their time once they cleared up the misunderstanding and had their fill of festival food.

"That's great!" Holly beamed. "I was worried about you two. I'll admit, I didn't like him much at first. I thought he was pompous and Margo deserved better. But he's actually a good guy, and he deeply cares about Margo, so he won me over."

Robin hummed in agreement, drinking the last of his slightly chilled hot cocoa.

"It's getting too chilly. Should we head back to Sunshine Acres?" Holly asked, rubbing her hands together and pressing them to her cheeks for warmth.

"Yes, I don't want to stay in this cold much longer." Robin laughed. He and Holly were bundled in fur-trimmed coats and thick woolen gloves, but the temperature had dropped noticeably, and the darkening clouds lurking overhead suggested it would only get worse.

"Are you feeling too cold, Robin?" Holly asked, eyebrows furrowing in concern before a small smile crept onto her face."Here, watch this."

She removed her gloves and rubbed her hands together as one might wash their hands, and as she did so, they began to emit a soft yellow glow. She took one of his gloved hands, and Robin felt his wool glove begin warming where she held it as if it were near a cozy fire.

"That's handy," Robin mused at her magic.

"Ha ha," Holly said, mock-laughing at his unintended pun. "Good one." She took his other hand to warm it as well.

"Actually, I didn't—" Robin began before laughing and shaking his head. "That was a good one."

Holly looked up at him, still beaming, and Robin noticed that even her eyes seemed to be smiling. She lifted her hands to warm his face next, and Robin instinctively followed her movements, keeping his hands in place over hers.

Robin didn't know what came over him, but he started leaned into her touch, closing his eyes. He savored the heat of her hands on his cheeks and the texture of her slightly calloused skin against the numbness of his own.

Robin mused to himself that her hands were a mix of soft and rough, just like her.

When he opened his eyes, he found her watching him. Something in her eyes had changed. Her face had softened, but she watched him as if she were holding her breath, anxiously waiting to see what he would do next.

Robin shifted her hands on his face, moving her grasp so that her hands were further back on his face. Her lower fingers were under his ear and advancing into his hair, and her forefinger and thumb cradled his jaw.

Inviting her to kiss him...

and maybe not stop kissing him if she liked.

Her thumb trembled against his jaw, moving ever so slightly as if in consideration.

Something in her eyes and the way she leaned closer to him told Robin she wanted to do just that, but in an instant, something in her mind must have snapped, and she dropped her hands in an awkward laugh, turning on her heels.

"I should go find where we left Cookie tied up," she said, not looking back. She brought her hands up to her face, her hands now glowing a light blue.

Robin let out a deep breath, watching her retreat around the corner. He wasn't sure if he felt disappointed or relieved that she had walked away. As he looked around, he noticed a few townspeople casting curious glances, intrigued by the moment they'd just witnessed.

Robin cleared his throat and shook the few snowflakes that had started to accumulate on his coat off. In the last few moments, the sky had turned a more threatening gray, and snowflakes began to fall more heavily, quickly nestling into the fur of his cuffs.

"Robin!" Holly called, reappearing from around the corner in a jog. "I ran into Kalavee, and he said there's a storm coming. The trolley won't be running for the rest of the day."

"Ah," Robin said, shifting his weight. "You'll transport us back, then?"

"Well," Holly hesitated, looking down at her feet. "These days, my limit is only two beings when using my transportation magic, and there are three of us."

Ah," Robin nodded slowly, understanding. "Where's Cookie?"

Here," Holly said, opening a pocket to reveal a shivering white mouse with brown and black ears inside. "She's warming up, but we can probably ride on her—if the storm doesn't get too bad," she muttered, glancing up at the darkening sky, the snow now falling in a constant barrage around them.

"Sounds good. Let's try to beat the storm then," Robin said, pulling up his hood against the snow.

They made their way to the main road, joining the carts and buggies of vendors rushing home before the storm. Holly dropped Cookie into the snow-covered grass to run ahead of them and wait as a horse, avoiding the unnecessary attention of the transforming Nanahound in the large crowd.

When they reached Cookie and left the mass exodus behind, the wind had grown fierce, pelting them with snow and obscuring their surroundings. Robin's fur-lined hood offered little protection against the biting cold, and he struggled to keep his eyes open against the relentless snow.

Holly grabbed his hand and helped him onto Cookie's back, shouting for him to hold on as she wrapped his arms around her waist.

Robin ducked his head behind Holly's back, blinking away the melted snow that stung his eyes as if trickled down his face, and tightened his grip around her waist. The roar of the wind drowned out everything else, vibrating through his thick coat as the Nanahound plowed forward in a rage against it.

After a few minutes of the war between the wind and Nanahound, Robin could feel Cookie begin to shiver and slow while Holly's shouts of encouragement grew louder and more frantic.

"Please, Cookie! Just a little further! I'll give you all the treats you want! Please!"

Suddenly, there was nothing below them, and the two of them fell into the snow below, the wind and snow surrounding them in a cocoon of white. Robin blinked past the snow in his eyes and around at their blinding white surroundings.

Holly was still in his arms, but she quickly sat up, frantically calling for Cookie.

"It's okay, Cookie, you did your best," Holly called over the wind as a small mouse-looking creature crawled back into Holly's pocket.

"Are you okay, Robin?" She turned to Robin, gripping his arm still around her waist. He sat up and held her more tightly in response. He could barely see her through the snow but held on, not wanting to lose her in the blizzard.

"I'm fine," Robin called back, though he could feel Holly shivering against his arms, the chill settling into them both. He knew they couldn't afford to stay in the snow much longer.

"I'm going to try some magic to get us out of here," she shouted, her voice nearly lost in the wind. I don't know if I'll be able to do it, and I don't know what it might do to me, but it will be better than the two of us freezing to death."

Holly reached into her pocket, pulling out the shivering mouse and tucking it into Robin's coat.

"Keep her warm for me."

She started to stand, pulling herself free from his grasp. Robin instinctively tightened his hold before realizing he had to trust her plan, whatever it might be.

He had just started loosening his grip to let her go when she suddenly sat back down beside him in the snow.

Before he could react, her cold lips pressed against his in a swift, unexpected kiss. It was so brief, and his lips were so numb that he barely registered the sensation.

Instantly, she was up again, running into the blinding white of the storm.

"Holly! Wait—" Robin yelled, scrambling to his feet. As snow stung his face, he squinted against the wind, trying to spot her among the swirling flurries.

Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind knocked him back, forcing him to duck and shield his face. He tried to call out to her once more but was abruptly silenced when something like talons clamped onto his shoulders, ripping him from the ground and into the air.

Robin screamed, struggling against the powerful grip of whatever had him.

Now that the wind was coming from behind him, he opened his eyes to see the giant red tail feathers of what seemed to be an enormous red bird, stark against the white ground below.

"Holly!" he shouted again, pounding his numb fists against the creature's talons.

In response, the bird brought him closer to its chest, two more wings appearing to wrap around him tightly. The talons released him, and he found himself cradled within the bird's grasp, his breath quickening as adrenaline surged through his veins.

What kind of beast was this? Another Nanahound?

He glanced down at Cookie, who was still shaking in his pocket, seemingly unbothered or too weak to care about their sudden predicament.

Robin fumbled for his necklace, yanking it from under his winter layers and blowing the whistle with all his strength.

The bird faltered, the wings surrounding him parting just enough for the beast to peak one sharp eye before snapping shut again. Its pace quickened, and it soared higher and faster into the sky.

Robin waited, heart racing, hoping for a sign of Holly. With a jolt of panic, he noticed that the bird had come from the direction Holly had run in. Had it... killed her? His stomach twisted with the thought.

He brought the whistle to his lips again, pleading with every fiber of his being that he was wrong, when suddenly, the wings around him vanished, and he tumbled into the snow. A loud crash echoed nearby as though something had collided with a tree.

Robin scrambled upright, blinking against the wind at his surroundings before letting out a breath of relief when he could finally make out a familiar shape in the distance.

Sunshine Acres.

Relief surged through him, and he scanned the area again, looking for the giant bird that sounded like it had hit a tree.

Robin spotted a tree not too far from him that seemed to have a dark pile in front of it, quickly becoming overtaken by the blizzard around it,

Robin clambered over the fresh snowdrifts as fast as he could, slipping and stumbling as the loose snow gave way beneath his feet.

When he reached the tree, he found Holly sprawled in the snow, a deep scratch across her face that started to turn the snow around her head red. Fresh bruises had already formed from the impact of the hit.

"Holly!" Robin shouted, gently shaking her in desperation, careful not to avoid worsening any sort of concussion. When she didn't respond, he ripped off his glove, cursing under his breath as he fumbled to find a pulse with his numb fingers. His heart pounded as he laid his hand over her injury, channeling his magic to heal her face.

As the bruising faded and the cut knitted itself closed, Holly's eyelashes fluttered, moving ever so slightly under the accumulating snow.

"Robin..." she mumbled, her voice weak.

"You're alive." Robin breathed as relief flooded his veins. He gathered her in his arms, trying his best to supply any warmth he could.

"Holly, can you teleport yourself to Sunshine Acres? I'll walk with Cookie, but you must get somewhere warm immediately."

Holly groaned again, the chills raking her body uncontrollably.

"Please, Holly," Robin pleaded over the howling wind. He knew he couldn't carry her through the storm, and she needed warmth and shelter as soon as possible to recover.

"Here, I'll help," Robin begged, lifting one of her trembling arms and positioning her hand to touch her foot, completing the familiar gesture of her teleportation spell before giving her a gentle push forward.

To Robin's luck, it worked.

Or at least he hoped it did, as she had vanished from the snow beside him.

Robin struggled to his feet, bracing against the wind as he approached Sunshine Acres. Each step felt like a battle, his breath burning in his throat as he pushed forward through the relentless storm. The house's dark shadow is growing closer against the blurred white surroundings.

What would normally have been a quick run down a dusty path felt like an eternity as Robin pushed against the elements. Finally, Robin stumbled onto the porch, using the last of his strength to heave the heavy door open and collapse inside. He leaned against the old wooden door, forcing it shut behind him.

His breath was heavy as he fell against the closed door, finally protected from the weather outside. Breathing heavily in an attempt to get warmer air into his lungs

"Holly!" he called out, shedding his coat and mittens onto the floor, causing Cookie to scurry free from the safety of her pocket with annoyed squeaks.

Robin rushed through the first floor, checking the kitchen and parlor before sprinting up the stairs. He headed straight for Holly's bedroom, hesitating at the doorknob. She usually kept it locked, a clear sign she didn't want him inside.

He jiggled the knob. Locked.

"Holly, are you in there?" he called, pressing his ear to the door.

There was no response.

Robin turned to hurry to the study when he heard a noise behind the door.

"Robin..." came a faint voice from inside.

"Oh, thank everything," Robin muttered in relief. "Holly, do you have enough strength to unlock the door? I need to check your injuries. They looked serious."

There was a brief commotion inside before the door cracked open, and Holly collapsed into his arms, unmoving.