"January!" snapped Aspen. I looked up and gave my father, Papa, a small, apologetic smile. He wiped his hand over his face and brushed the snow off his smart-looking, but warm, coat. The vast garden stretched out in front of us was covered in snow. The fountain had stopped running and was covered in glistening snow. Birds perched on it, sining merrily. The walls around the garden were not very tall and covered in green ivy which crawled around the walls, hooking itself stubbornly onto every-space it could find. Papa had ordered the gardeners to clear the vines and ivy and they had tried, but in vain. In the end, the ivy had stayed and it added more comfort to our home. We sat on the balcony chairs, eating our breakfast on the beautifully carved table. The chairs were made of oak wood and covered in soft, warm rugs for us to sit on. A few steps led down to the snow-covered grass, and garden, below. Some of the snow had not been cleared properly from the balcony. I hadn't seen snow for three months now! It was finally winter, so I had kicked up some of the snow, in excitement, onto my father. He shook his head at me and continued, sipping the warm soup from out of a small, porcelain bowl. In front of us, stretched out on a white tablecloth, were beautiful bowls, teacups, teapots, jugs and cutlery. They were filled with all kinds of delicious, warm soup. 

     "Finish your broth before it gets cold," Papa said, giving me a look. I sigh. 

     "I finished my breakfast hours ago. Can't I go play in the garden now? Why must I wait for you?" I exclaimed annoyed. I had been aching to play with snow for the past months, almost a year,  when the last snow had melted away and Spring had taken over. My father raised his eyebrows, he tried not to get mad and took a deep breath. i watched him twirl his fingers around the spoon he held and waited for his reply. 

     "I know you are excited," my father said slowly and calmly. 

     "Understatement fo the year," I muttered under my breath but Papa caught me. 

     "What was that?" he questioned. I shook my head, urging him to continue. 

     "As I was saying, I know you are excited. You should be. I am too. The first snowfall of Winter has come but it should not change the way you act. You must still be respectful, respected and polite," Papa declared with a dark look. I sighed and nodded. I took a piece of toast and plopped it onto my bread. I slowly, splattered some butter onto the toast and then took a small bite. My father raised his eyebrows but said nothing. From my left, the opposite side fo the garden, the large door screens were pulled open. Footsteps rang out onto the hard rock, balcony floor. A servant, dressed in a white shirt and a blue vest with blue pants and shiny black shoes, hustled out onto the balcony. He breathed heavily and his breath fogged at every breath he exhaled. My father turned to him and watched him silently. I wondered how he was coping with the cold. He must have been freezing. I had my red winter coat on and my fluffy long boots. 

     "Sir Bernardo has arrived and requested your assistance, Sire," the servant rattled. Papa turned back to me, and gave me a tight lipped smile. 

     "I'm sorry, Jan. Bernardo and his requests," Papa sighed and folded his napkin neatly before placing it on the table. He then stood up carefully and marched through the screen doors. I watched him leave before taking my turn to stand up. I wanted to rush down to the garden and play but first, I needed to find somebody. I looked at the servant who seemed to be shaking on the spot, waiting for me to leave. 

     "Aren't you cold?" I asked. The servant gave me a questioning look. 

     "No, miss," replied the servant, looking straight ahead, his teeth started to clatter and he started to shake violently. 

     "Really? Cos it looks like you're freezing to death. Maybe you have gotten a coat before coming outside," I suggested, knowing it was his winter attire and he was not allowed to wear a coat. I didn't agree with the rule. It didn't make sense. Why make the servants freeze to death? I walked away and into the house. The warmth hit me and I smiled. I took my coat off and hung it on the armchair made of silk on the side. A fire was burning on a magnificent fireplace and grand paintings hung on the wall. The most expensive and elegant rugs covered the floor. This room was one of the many rooms in the Mansion. The yellowish couch and armchairs which faced the fireplace were made of the finest materials in Evebridge. Evebridge. My village. Located at the edge of Lantern forest, next to the Modern lake and not far from Starling village and Bluejay village. Aspen Robin Wylder, my father (Papa), was also the leader of Evebridge. My mother, Marybelle Aurora Labyrinth (My mother never liked the thought of changing her last name) was well, I guess, the second leader of the village. I almost forgot my brother, Alaska Grey Wylder, annoying but the best brother I've ever had...., and the only. He hated it when people called him Alaska. Everybody called him "Sir Grey." Or just "Grey", for me, my mother and father. Evebridge was a very independent village and unusually large. There were a range of people who lived there and many traders travelled far to get to Evebridge just for a taste of our mysterious Myth Tea.  

I walked out into the hallway where some workers bustled around. I jogged to my room, pulled on one of my winter cloaks, lined with thick, warm fur. I then rushed out of the back doors and into the courtyard, past a few guards and out into the village. The villagers greeted me with a smile and respect as I rushed past them. The markets were open and on full swing. Fishermen sold fresh fish, farmer sold their last few stocks of fresh food, tailors sold all kinds of nice things to wear. I rushed past all of them. My boots hit the hard rock floor and I tried not to slip. I ran past houses and houses of people preparing for winter. I knew Papa and people like Sir Bernardo, Sir Francis and Miss Skye would give out rough but the warmest blankets out to people who needed it. They would also give out some food such as carrots, apples, potatoes and onions. Papa also insisted on giving out cloaks out too, to the disapproval of Sir Bernardo, Miss Skye, Sir Francis, Miss Jane and Sir North but Papa wanted it and so it was done. The villagers loved him after that. Papa, the leader of the village was highest ranking. Mama second, though she didn't really want to have anything to do with leading Evebridge. It was like an unspoken rule in the village, whoever was married to the leader of the village was second in power (My grandmother used to by leader so my Grandfather was second in charge). Nobody said it, as Nobles (The leaders of a designated part the village who made sure people followed the rules, solved problems and complaints and organised parties or celebrations. They also were advisors to the leader of the village, Papa) were supposed to be second in charge after the leader but they seemed to always have deep respect for the wife or husband of the leader, never going against them. So Mama was second most important in the village, followed by the Nobles then my brother, me and the Warriors. In Evebridge and the villages around, Warriors were like our soldiers. They trained to fight in case another village attacked or anything dangerous happened. They were the fighters of the Army. Warriors sometimes lined the streets on large festivals, when people tend to break up into fights. They are mostly around to protect the village and I deeply respected that. Of course, the leader of the Warriors was the Commander, at the moment it was Lyric Jarling, an awesome fighter. Her voice could be carried all over the village if she wished. After the Commander, there is Lieutenant or Deputy, at the moment it was Carl Sandburg. Then after it is the Royal Warriors, who are the best fighters, posted outside the village for patrol and guard and in the mansion as protection too. Then it is the Force Warriors who are all the people who are good enough to be qualified to be Warriors and then lastly, Junior Warriors. People who have worked hard and are training to be fully fledged Force Warriors. After the Warriors come the Dukes and Duchesses. They are just very rich people with a few privileges or people who work for the law and have and important role in it, doctors have also quite a high rank. Without going into too much detail, after there are the "normal" people. I don't think they're normal though. Everybody has a life, a story that nobody knows. A person is not just a person. So I don't agree with calling people "normal" citizens. But anyways, then it is the citizens, farmers, fishers, blacksmiths etc. Then come the servants and then lastly, prisoners, thieves, thugs and lastly murderers. 

I finally reached a small house, tucked between some trees. I scaled the wall and landed with a thud on some hard ice. The house was made of wood, unlike most of the houses which were made of stone. I went to the door and knocked a few times. 

     "Miss January," exclaimed a red cheeked woman with a dirty apron. Her hair was wrapped in a shawl and she wore long boots. 

     "Hello Sarah," I said. I usually never came to the front of the house, preferring when nobody saw me. I didn't like the attention they gave me and the surprise that someone like me would come to people like them. 

     "Please come in, Miss," ushered Sarah, she was the maid and worked for free as it was her sister's house. 

     "No thank you Sarah. I came here for December. Where is he?" I inquired. 

     "Oh, of course. He went off to Diggory's place this morning. I don't know if he is still there though," Sarah said. I nodded and thanked her before rushing off towards Diggory's. Diggory was one of the local blacksmiths in the North. Oh yes, I forgot, the village is separated into four big sections, the North, South, East and West. The leaders of these sections are the Nobles. I finally found Diggory's. A long line ran from the entrance of the blacksmith's house. Of course, I could have skipped the line easily but it didn't feel right. 

     "Oh! Miss January, is it you?" cried the man in front of me. He was a middle aged farmer. 

     "Yes but there is no need for you to make such a commotion," I whispered back. The people looked around to me and murmuring broke out. 

     "But if it is you then you may pass in front of me Miss," the farmer said, moving aside. I shook my head. 

     "No thank you," I said before turning away. Other people started making way for me to cut through but I ran off. As I turned the corner, I bumped into someone. I fell to the ground with a thud and the other person skidded a bit before clumsily crashing into a passing cart. The apples in the cart tumbled out and the man driving it started yelling angrily. 

    "Hey you! Have you no respect?" growled the man haughtily. He then clambered off his cart, shook the boy and started picking up the apples. The boy helped frantically. I pulled myself up and went over to the cart. The boy turned to me and he met my eyes. 

     "December!" I exclaimed. 

     "January!" cried December. His sparkling blue eyes shone in amusement. His dark hair was matted and there was a little cut from where he had hit the cart. 

     "Help out, you!" snapped the man. I looked up at him and my hood slipped off. The man stared in amazement. 

     "Oh my......., I am so sorry, I did not know. It is fine, I will clear up, you may go. I did not mean it. Pleas pardon me," stuttered the man. December continued to hurriedly pick up the apples. The man shoved him and whispered in his ear, "hurry up! Can't you see one of the most important people is here?". 

     "It is alright. This is my friend. December. We would be glad to help," I pointed out. The man smiled nervously and apologised to December. After helping the man to load the cart, he rumbled off with many thanks. December was rapped in an old cloak his mother, Avery had sewn. We walked along the rock paths of the village which was covered in ice.

     "What are you doing here?" asked December. 

     "I thought I'd come back to see you," I said. 

     "Why?" inquired December. 

     "Why not? We are friends," I pointed out. 

     "We met last Spring. I ran into the Mansion garden by mistake," December said. He had run into the Mansion garden by mistake last Spring. I had met him there and we'd talked for a bit. Sometimes, at the market, we'd see each other and wave. Once, I went to their house for dinner. My parents did not approve and his parents had been sceptical. That was when I had learnt the most about December. After that, we never really talked anymore. 

     "I know. I remember. I thought I'd come to see you again," I said, hoping it had not been a mistake. I wanted to spend the first day of Winter with somebody different. I could have spent it with my girlfriends but I had chosen December. 

     "Why me though? You have other friends. I don't think we can still be friends...., Sir Francis came to our house last Spring. He warned me that I should stay away from you. He said it needed to stay between him and me. He said I was not "good enough" for you. I'm sorry but we shouldn't even be talking. Look, I need to go ok?" December suddenly turned around, making a move to leave. 

     "But we can still be friends! I can talk to Sir Francis! He would listen to me! He would listen to Papa," I cried. 

     "No, I can't he would do mean things to my family. Please leave me. It was last Spring. It's over," December fled. I watched him disappear behind a brick house and turned heel. Whatever, I thought to myself, it's his loss. But deep down, I felt a lost myself as I walked with fake confidence back towards my home.