It was a nice, unusual warm October night and Autumn was walking through the park, the city lights twinkling like stars around her.
It was her favorite thing to do, although she knew of the dangers lurking in dark corners. This night was no exception. On the contrary, as Halloween was approaching, the shadows in the dark only grew darker and more gruesome. Unbeknownst to many, those dark shadows and creatures were the most powerful on Halloween evening. That's why people originally started wearing costumes. To scare the shadows away, to make them believe they were on of them, one of the hunters and not the prey. But this truth was forgotten long ago.
Only Autumn could remember, lividly, how it was.
Long ago, back when the shadows weren't hiding, but hunting every evening as soon as it grew dark outside. They were feared everywhere. No one dared to go outside in the dark. They only ones unlucky enough to stay outside never survived. Only their corpses were found. Even death they seemed to be in pain. Halloween was dreaded by everyone. No one dared to go outside alone and without costume. Even so they rarely left their houses.
It always pained Autumn that she couldn't do anything to help. It was her duty to help and nutrition everyone during September til November, and she loved it. However, she was not strong enough to stop the shadows. No one was.
Except for Winter. Winter was the most powerful of the four seasons and Autumn's love of her live. Winter was caring and loving. Not like Spring or Summer who were arrogant and selfish, traits nourished by the peoples idolization. Only seeing Spring's and Summer's positive and Autumn's and Winter's negative sides, they clearly had favorites. But Autumn didn't care as long as Winter was with her. He was the only one who could make her smile. He did everything for her and she everything for him. Autumn couldn't imagine life without him. But suddenly, this one Halloween years ago, she had to let him go. The shadows were extremely aggressive the whole year, and it was worse on Halloween. They haunted everyone they saw and didn't even fear fire, which was their mortal enemy. Not longer able to just sit and watch, Winter faced the shadows. He fought and conquered them, but never lived to see the danger gone.
Since this day Autumn had to go on her nightly strolls alone. The first few years without Winter were horrible. Autumn had to take over his duties too, but wasn't even able to do her own. One year, after many natural disasters and deaths, Spring and Summer intervened. From there one, Autumn slowly healed.
But she never was the same again.
Autumn thought she never could love again and never did, until this very October night when she met a handsome stranger. The moment he smiled at her changed everything. It was the first time she was able to smile back.
