The papers waited for him on the table, filled with formalities and nomenclature that he understood but did not want to. Not that he was surprised by it all, or that he had not agreed with the decision. It was just a straightforward thing to admit in a heart to heart talk but far harder when he had to formalize the end of a six hundred year partnership.

He frowned and glanced at Anwyn, who sat beside him, her typical gentle and loving expression on her face.

Kris looked back down at the paper and lifted the pen once more, signing on the line that was just above his complete name.

The paper shimmered magically, then disappeared, taking the ring off of his finger, and the one from Anwyn's as well.

"Six hundred years is a great deal of time. And you two were one of our best teams for that entire time." The morrigan sitting across from them smiled just as sympathetically, her hair a shifting mass of vines and flowers.

"And with the new protocols, we no longer have to pursue our life paths based on our species." Kris nodded and slid the pen back toward the woman before looking at Anwyn. "Are you heading out soon, then?"

Anwyn smiled brilliantly at him and nodded. "Yes. This afternoon. I will be in the south with the nymphs by tomorrow, I suspect. It'll be a grand adventure."

They had travelled the world together. Fought battles side by side. Maintained the protection of their territories for so long. But Anwyn wanted to grow, and Kris was happy where he was. The travel she was doing wasn't restricted to tasks and celebrations of seasonal changes, but her own heart. The last difference that had finally made them realize they had grown in opposite directions.

He stood then, nodding to the two women before letting his face fill with an easygoing smile. "I wish you all the happiness and adventure, Anwyn. You were always the braver of the two of us."

Anwyn stood and offered him a wink before disappearing in a flash of brilliant sparkles that brought a grin to Kris' face. She would be fine. She was a strong Fae with centuries of experience in taking care of herself and others. He would miss her, but he recognized they had fallen out of love a long time ago.

"Are you going to keep up with things this year? Or will you need assistance?" The morrigan offered, not unkindly.

Kris shook his head. "Nah. Though I noticed my territory list got bigger."

"You are old enough that we don't think its necessary to reassign you to the joint realms in a partnership, but the changes in how we do things has meant that the neutral realm and our territories have lost a few Fae." The morrigan chuckled and shook his head. "Though I wish I could reassign you. I just had one of the younger ones return in tears, because his assigned partner was 'too dark and mean'. Granted, her assignment had been one of their older agents, one either of us possibly had to battle with at some point in years past."

It sparked a brief temptation, and he pondered those words for a moment before nodding. "If you need someone stronger out there, I can change assignments this year."

Not that he wanted to give up his territories. He enjoyed them, and the town in which he operated out of was a serene and festive place that was remote enough that he had space and freedom. The people loved him and the season, and even when the darker months were past and the weather warmed up, he was happy and content to live amongst the humans.

"Nah. They removed him from active assignment. Said he's one of the old guard they've been trying to find a new place for, anyway." The morrigan winked to him before reaching out for the pen he had used to end his marriage. "We'll be in touch."

"Don't worry about my quotas. I have my list well in order and prepared." Kris chuckled and let his magic take him out of her office and back home.

***

The alpine forest surrounding his yard was filled with the song of winter birds, and a soft breeze that danced through the fir trees brought the scent of their needles, the cold of the snow, and the faintest hint of magic as it stirred up the cold granules of snow to dance in twirling funnels that sparkled a riot of colours in the afternoon sunshine. The mountains that towered above the treetops were already growing dark as the sun descended quickly toward night, and there was a low hum of music from the town, which Kris could hear was already in full holiday swing.

Despite the frigid temperatures, he was sweating and had taken off his shirt as he split wood that he would later deliver to the townsfolk, to ensure everyone had warm fires to carry them through the next few winter nights. The rest of his duties would wait until the few nights that marked Winter Solstice and Christmas, but in winter, he took care of his people in much the same fashion.

Ensuring there was light in the dark and warmth in the cold.

Kris had just begun humming a holiday tune under his breath and picked up a new log to split when Serene ran down the laneway.

The young girl was a messenger of sorts, carrying packages and news around town when she wasn't in school, always running, never stopping. And usually she was smiling, though now her eyes were wide and her breath was coming out quickly, as if she had sped toward him as quickly as her feet could carry her.

"Kris! Come quick! It's back! And the council is afraid something bad is going to happen." Serene nodded in the town's direction.

He buried the axe head into the chopping block and nodded, reaching over to grab his thick flannel shirt even as he used his power to transport the two of them into the town square.

Kris paused to take in the scene, noting the rows of holiday booths that made neat brief lines back and forth, surrounding the giant fir tree that grew in the middle of the cobblestones year-round but was now decorated with lights and colourful ornaments. There was a small open area usually used for concerts at night, though right now there was a cluster of people gathered, facing down a tall, dark-skinned woman who towered over the tallest human there.

She was furious as she squared off against Miriam, the head of the town council and the resident spokeswoman for visitors. A few people glanced his way, and the murmurs quietened whatever argument the two women were having as the crowd parted to make way for him.

Kris hastily began buttoning up his shirt as he strode forward, keeping his expression relaxed as he approached the human form of the resident Yeti they'd been having issues with for a few years with now. "Miriam, Desrona. I see that there're some concerns?"

The woman only ever came down into the village to growl over the noise and lights of the holidays. She refused to join any of their repasts or celebrations, but would fume over the sound of celebration in the town, that was kilometres away from wherever her isolated cave had to be. They had tried to appease her, had cut back their lights and music considerably, but she was never happy.

Desrona was in human form still, which was good.

The woman was a few feet taller than him as she was; he didn't want to see her angry enough to shift into a form that would dwarf a polar bear.

She regarded him for a moment, her brows arching. "I've told you time and again, Fae, this time is for the mountains to sleep. And this little monstrosity you've built around you is getting more obnoxious by the year."

The surrounding murmurs were displeased, even offended, and Kris could feel the normal good cheer of the villagers turning more sour, darker. He forced an easygoing smile and shook his head. "We've made the changes I promised. The music is quieter. But if you would tell me where you live, I could even deflect the sound away from it further. As with the lights. And this town is more that welcoming to visitors. You should join us for warmth and companionship during these long, wintry nights."

Desrona snorted softly and glanced around at the crowd of villagers, drawing Kris to do the same. It was then that Kris noted the tall, dark-skinned and dark-eyed stranger that was standing apart from everyone else, wearing a... suit... of all things. The man looked out of place, and yet completely in his element, as if anywhere was his element, and was possibly one of the more attractive people Kris had ever laid eyes on, despite the man's obvious darkness.

It was only the Yeti's voice that pulled Kris' attention back to the moment. "No. I don't celebrate this nonsense. And the noise is bothering the mountains."

"How about some hot cocoa, some nice treats? And we can give you some wood to warm up your home. We don't want any trouble, but we have been nothing but accommodating for you." Miriam spoke up, her voice straining to remain good natured and friendly.

Desrona looked at the woman darkly, and her eyes began to shift away from the dark human colours to a pure black. "I don't need to warm up my home with the life force of this valley. And I'm telling you that you need to restrict the noise of your celebrations. If you aren't careful, this stupid little town will be buried under a mountain's worth of snow."

The crowd gasped and stepped back away from the Yeti, even as Kris tensed, seeing the woman dangerously close to shifting into her far more intimidating form. It had been decades since there had been an incident between the Fae and the night's children, but he prepared himself for the worse as he motioned Miriam to back up further.

"Are you threatening us?" Kris offered carefully, though no longer attempting to play the role of benevolent peace keeper.

"You..." There was a snapping sound and the man in the suit stepped up, his attention on Miriam as he snapped his fingers a couple of times. "Do you have any of that stew you gave me the other night?"

Miriam looked stunned, her mouth dropping open even as the man turned toward Desrona and stepped intimately close. Desrona frowned, but ducked her head toward the man, who murmured too low for Kris to hear.

Kris glanced between the two of them and Miriam, giving her a curious look, which finally prompted the woman to nod carefully. "I do. My welcome stew. I have plenty."

"It really is delicious. Prime cuts of meat, perfectly season." The man took a slight step back from Desrona, though he was still talking to the Yeti. "I think that would be a suitable alternative to Fae delicacies, and well worth your trip down here to warn them of the dangers."

"Serene, go get a large container from my kitchen." Miriam had regained herself, sending the girl running.

The Yeti stared hard at the unknown man, though finally nodded once more. "Thank you."

The two of them stepped close again and continued talking, though Kris turned to look at Miriam and give her another searching look. The woman gave him a half amused look that told him that she had informed him of a visitor to the village at some point, and he had promptly forgotten.

And as soon as Serene was back with the stew, Desrona turned and stalked out of the village. The townspeople milled around, watching the stranger curiously until Miriam murmured. "Thank you, Percy."

So the stranger's name was Percy.

Percy turned to look at the woman, arching a brow, before shaking his head. "The peaks are unstable this early in the year. Sound echoes through them. She's warning you of the fact that if the noise gets to be too much, or those damned fire works you keep setting off in the evening, you'll cause an avalanche. And Yetis are allergic to sweets. So offering her cookies and cocoa is little offering her poison."

Then the man turned and started down the road, even as the crowd of townspeople murmured in surprise. Kris could feel shock, guilt, and regret from them, though he flashed them all a reassuring smile. "Miriam, how about you send our visitor there another pot of stew?"

When the woman nodded, he turned and jogged after Percy, who was outdistancing him quickly. "Wait!"

Percy paused and turned to look at him, and after a moment, gave him an expression of barely concealed dislike. "What?"

"Thank you. For stepping in. For translating. It's been an ongoing issue between us for years." Kris slowed down and then stopped, giving the man a charming grin.

"I didn't do it for you, or any of them." Percy glanced around, scowling at the brightly decorated houses and the lights that were twinkling as darkness grew. "You need to realize that just because you celebrate in some way, that you have values and beliefs about something, doesn't mean you can push them into other people's lives without their existence. This time of year has different meanings for everyone, and you people cannot respect that. You don't offer to understand or help, you just try to force your own values and traditions on them. The Yeti are sacred to these mountains, the commune with the spirits of the giants within the rock. And you are endangering more than just this little eyesore."

The man gave him a hard look of disgust, and Kris felt it then.

The thing that was itching at the back of his mind since he had laid eyes on the stranger. He felt the magic of the night's children. But more importantly, he recognized a Krampus when he saw one.

Kris frowned. "What are you doing here?"

"Sabbatical." Percy smirked, rolling his shoulders in a shrug. "I can survive an avalanche, so I will not be helping you again, Fae."

Then the damned Krampus turned and walked into the growing darkness toward the edge of town. Kris tried to drum up enough dislike for the man to erase his initial impression over just how attractive the man was.

But for some reason, he did not win that battle.