In a sudden flash of lightning and a flurry of snow, the other seasons were in front of us. "WHAT HAVE YOU IMBECILES DONE THIS TIME?!?!" Winter screams. "I thought you were in need of a break..?" Winter gave Irozi an exasperated sigh and dragged her hand down her face. "What, in the world, would give you that impression?" Irozi started to realise then that he'd made a mistake. "This mortal told me so. And then I made the newest member of your council. Council of Seasons, meet Summer."
For the first time, the other seasons realised that I was standing there. "Oh. You." Spring looked disgusted at my presence. I wonder why. "Yes. Me. How dare I exist, right?" Spring just rolled her eyes and looked at Fall, who seemed to agree with whatever her eyes told him. "I see now that I've been tricked. Since I can't take away your god-dom, I guess I'll just have to punish you. Any suggestions?" Winter smiled wickedly. "You know what would really make me fall for you, Irozi darling? If you.." She leaned in and whispered something in Irozi's ear, and he grinned. "Would you really do that, or are you tricking me as well?" Winter put her arm around his shoulder. "Of course I would! A goddess can't go back on her word, remember? But I'll only reward you if you do exactly as I say in Summer's punishment. Do we have a deal?"
Irozi smiled like a schoolboy and nodded. "Summer, as your punishment, you will give your life force to create any and every summer, but as a god, that means you will live for thousands of years. Once you die, there won't be any more summers until my lovely fiancé here says that there will be. You will be allowed to see your family, as you are exiled from the realm of the gods. Is that clear?" I bowed gratefully. "Thank you, your highnesses. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go settle some family matters." Asmara chuckled. "Now, Summer, you are also still a god. No more of this 'your highness' stuff. Get used to being royalty, it comes with a lot of perks." she said, winking. I laughed and told her I would remember, and trotted back to the house, hoping it was still standing.
I was greeted with two very angry sisters, except now their rage was pointed at me. "Where did you go?" Morana inquired, quite similarly in tone to a mother asking her child why he's home past curfew. "I see you two have worked things out. Wonderful!" I said cheerfully. "Don't think you're off the hook. This is your fault too. Now our daughter's sibling will also be her cousin. Did you ever think about that?" Amira stated with more hostility than I'd ever heard in my life. "I did not, mainly because I didn't even know that either of you had a sister, much less that you two would end up being related." The two looked at each other, and they seemed to have an entire conversation with their eyes. To this day, I cannot explain how they did that. "Alright, you're forgiven."
"Just like that?" They both nodded. "Just like that." Amira said. "We've decided to go live in your old house, since I'm sure you and Amira would like your own room, and this house is much too small for two people, let alone five."
The next day, we packed up Morona's meager belongings and made our way home, giving Tayla and Morana turns on the horse.
