Vetur, Sumar, Samanrenna

fjórir

Winter let out a small groan as his eyes fluttered open.

A sharp pain stabbed his skull, making him wince and grit his teeth.

"Easy, Winter, easy," Spring soothed, grabbing a cloth and soaking it in cool water before laying it on Winter's forehead.

Winter sighed in relief as the cloth was laid on his forehead, the cool droplets dripping down his face and into his hair.

"What happened?" Winter asked weakly, his voice hoarse.

"You hit your head," Spring explained. "You've been unconscious for the past three days. Summer and Autumn will be happy to know that you're awake now."

Winter nodded. "Can I see them?"

"Summer is on the Throne, remember?" Spring replied. "But I can go get Autumn if you want to see him."

"Yes, please,"

"I'll go get him. I'll be right back."

As Spring left, Winter tried to remember what happened to cause him to hit his head, but everything was fuzzy.

There was a memory there, but it wasn't clear, and he couldn't buffer it to where it was clear.

Winter heard the door open, and running footsteps approaching his bed.

"Winter, you're awake!" Autumn grinned, sighing in relief. "I thought you never would."

Autumn got on his knees at Winter's bedside, resting his arms on the side rail.

"Oh, yeah," Autumn said, pulling something out of his pocket. "I found this after the ice on it melted. I think it's yours, but it's practically ruined."

He handed a leather-bound notebook to Winter, the object clearing up the memory of when he hit his head.

"No..." Winter choked out, flipping through the tattered, ink-stained notebook.

The writing on every page was unintelligible; a canvas painted mostly black.

The pages were wrinkled, most stuck to other pages.

Autumn was right. It was ruined. All of his writings, lost to his own powers.

His own powers. What happened to his room while he was unconscious? It stays the same when he's asleep, but what about when he's lost consciousness?

He hung his head in complete surrender and despair.

His own powers have taken everything from him. They've ruined his notebook, caused him severe head trauma, had his friends worried sick about him; the list was endless.

Was it possible to take away my own powers? He thought. No, I can't. I'm a season. I can't just take away my powers. The people of earth need my powers.

"Winter, are you okay?" Autumn asked, his eyebrows knit and his voice laced with concern.

"M-my notebook," Winter stammered, tears brimming his eyes. "I-it's ruined."

Autumn blinked, struggling to find words to comfort his friend. He never knew Winter even had a notebook.

Then, Autumn began to wonder, what did Winter write in his notebook? It must've been really important to him since he was so upset.

"How's my room?" Winter asked, rubbing at his eye.

Autumn shrugged. "After what happened, we dared not look."

Winter nodded, sniffling. "It's okay. I understand."

"Is there anything I can do?" Autumn asked softly.