Chapter Text
March sat on the summit, feet dangling over the edge. A cool breeze rustled his freshly touched-up hair, so fresh it was still drying. He'd had Vera touch it up for him earlier, perhaps a bit too eagerly.
Red freckles covered his cheeks, the tiniest proof of his earlier forgetfulness. He usually didn't get it touched up on days he worked, but today was different.
It was the first day this year that the temperature had dropped so low; autumn was a stone's throw away. Perfect weather for the festival.
The sun was edging closer to the horizon.
He grit his teeth, fists bearing down into the soft earth beneath him. His stomach churned.
Just who did this jackass think he was, anyway? Coming in here and “fixing” everything? Befriending everyone?
Idiots.
He slammed his fist. He exhaled slowly, its sound robbed from his ears by the whisper of the wind.
How could they trust this outsider anyway? Didn’t they remember the last time?
Flashes of blonde locks swaying in the breeze entered his memories unbidden. Like so many attractive tourists on holiday before her, townsfolk were swayed by her, blissfully unaware of what the future held. Green eyes bore into his soul.
March forced the memories away. He wouldn’t go there. He refused.
His hand, rough and calloused from working the forge, raised to wipe away the scarlet streaking down his face, replacing it with mud. That made twice today, at least, that he'd forgotten where his hands had been. More fitting anyway, if he said so himself.
He would make sure everyone knew Cal for what he really was. He swore it.
The smell of rain was in the air.
A cool autumn rain brought change.