The Holiday Warriors

"This tree right here likes heat!" Arby asked, smiling. "Think you could do something about it?"

"Little bit...little bit..." The Spirit said, his eyes closed as he rocked gently to the music. "All I remember is...the guy had really pale skin. And his eyes were really, really dark. Something wrong with them." He shook his head. "Just one look and...I guess I...d-died..." He stammered.

"A shame?" Mused the tree. "Human...bigger than most humans I've seen. "A voice?" It paused. "It had no voice...it just kinda made noises...like a new born..."

"Fantastic!" Fourth said with a grin. "Let's get a head start. Bastard can't have gotten far." He said. "Let's go, Patty!"

"Heat? Oh, I can do that!"

Summer rubs her hands together, then holds them out to the tree. The whole area begins to warm up noticeably; perhaps not quite comparable to a summer's day, but only just.

"Thanks, Summer!" Arby said, giving the other holiday a thumbs up before returning to her tree friend.

"See? It's getting warmer. Hopefully, this'll make you happier." She said, patting the tree's trunk. "If anything bad happens, call me, alright? You know I'm here for all of you. Like... like a mother." And with a smile, she jumped down from the tree, walking over to Summer and giving her a big hug as a way of saying thanks.

"The trees said that the darkness is bigger than most humans," Arby told the other Holidays, especially Fourth. "And it makes noises like a newborn."

Bone Jangles could tell that was all he would get out of it. It was time to send him on to better things. "Very well. Thank you, I hope you find what you want on the other side. Now child, let yourself go."

As he said that, and the music continued to play, the spirit of the boy smiled and faded away. Bone Jangles quietly got to his feet and made his way back to the group. "Whatever we are facing, it is not mortal. The child said it was pale, with dark eyes and looked like a man. One look killed him."

Bone Jangles sighed and tapped his cane lightly on the ground. "Such a waste of life for one so young."

"Wait... this being we're following... he killed someone?" Arby then made her best "angry expression". "That's it! First he makes this entire area seem so lifeless, and then he goes and kills someone? I won't take it! We're going after him, Bone! Summer!" She said, holding onto the other two holidays' arms. "Come on, let's go find him!"

Paddy shrugged and followed after Four, though at a slower pace, he didn't even seem to fall further behind than he was before, maintaining a steady distance.

Summer jumps, then nods. "Yeah! We gotta go after him before he makes other places like this!"

Then she frowns and looks around. "Where'd he go, anyway?"

Arby grabbed Summer by the hand and ran after Paddy, shaking her hand up in the air. "Hey, guys! Guys! We're coming with all of you! Wait for us!"

"That's the tricky part. If we can find out what the hell this thing is, the better."

What this thing is.

"...Anyone else hear that?" He snapped his fingers, his thumb lighting up like a Sparkler firework. He held it up in the direction he heard it.

A figure shifted in the darkness, letting out an animalistic hiss as the light danced off its form. It was on all four legs and arms, but it's shape was that of a regular human. It was naked, with ashen grey skin and greasy black hair. Its eyes were dark, and deep, panting heavily, its back rising with each breath. It didn't look so much like an animal, but a human doing a poor imitation of a dog.

It gave another low snarl and backed away further. What this thing is. What this thing is. Whatthisthingiswhatthisthingis.

"...Oh that's unsettling." Fourth said, grimacing.

Summer gasps and clutches at Arby's hand at the sight of the... thing.

"Oh, my..." she bites her lip, then holds up her free hand. "D'you think it's... cold? Would it like some warmth?"

And why does it keep repeating itself?

HEY! YOU! Who are you?

Bone Jangles stared intently at the creature. It's essence was all wrong. Unnatural. There was a distinct taste of fear in the air. Not the same as the fear that came from the boogeyman, Pitch, but similar. Jangles approached it carefully.