Spring had always been Samantha's favorite time of the year.

She supposed it had something to do with the way the world seemed to thaw out around her. Gone were the grey skies of February. The sky above them erupted with a vibrant blue color, with fluffy white clouds to accompany the sunshine. Cherry blossom trees bloomed their beautiful pink and the grass turned green once more. The world seemed brighter somehow. Even the people seemed happier in the sunshine rather than the wintery slush of just a few weeks ago.

Springtime particularly reminded Samantha of her childhood. She could so easily remember the way that Spring transformed Central Park. She'd thought it was a magical kingdom then, back when she had been young and human and believed that fairies lived in the flowers. It had been before she'd seen true magic, and long before she could do it herself. There were so many fond memories that existed within the springtime in Central Park. She remembered her father taking her for walks and to watch the ducks. She remembered the first time she had kissed a boy in that famous park. Playing on swings and going to the zoo. She was incredibly nostalgic for those very human memories. In the Spring two years ago, when she'd first left Sacrosanct, she'd returned to Central Park. And while it was still as beautiful as it had always been, it was not the same as her fond childhood memories.

But that was the magic of childhood, was it not? That those memories would be forever cherished, but never replicated.

Sacrosanct's own Hyde Park held none of the magic of Central Park, and yet as the fae woman made her home in Sacrosanct once more, she found herself desiring the winding trails and the canopy of trees. Samantha was not alone in the park today as she wandered down those worn paths. With the first truly warm day they'd had in the city, families were pouring out to get their children outside. The playgrounds of Hyde Park were swarming with children and their giggles.

Samantha settled on a bench near the edge of one of those playgrounds. She was content to spend her day soaking up the sun and watching the giggles of the children as they darted around on the slides and swings. Samantha had always adored children, and since becoming fae and gaining her empathic abilities, they were some of her favorite sort. Their emotions were never too overwhelming, no matter the number of them. There was a special sort of joy that existed only in children that was almost... intoxicating to the fae.

Samantha's attention was jerked from her peaceful thoughts by a set of particularly sharp emotions. Fae. She could identify her own species so easily now. The emotions of other fae always seemed to shine brighter somehow, as though they were sparkly. Her eyes scanned the park, looking for the source. Samantha was surprised to lay eyes on a faerie child. She knew they existed (after all, some people were born fae rather than turned), though it was hard to imagine faerie children. Samantha almost expected them to exist solely as the youthful, beautiful creatures that she'd come across. But children seemed so fragile even as humans, it was hard to think of fae children as any less fragile, especially with Dark Hunters lurking about to destroy them.

This child in particular seemed so delicate. So tiny and young, and instantly Samantha felt protective over the tiny thing. Glancing around, there were no other fae in the vicinity, though she supposed it was possible they just weren't nearby. She kept her eyes on the little girl as she entered the park, the anxiety rising in the older fae as she thought about all the iron that existed on the old playground. Surely the child knew what to avoid, and yet Samantha had burnt herself on those very monkey bars when she'd first came to Sacrosanct. She hadn't known fully what she was then, nor that she should avoid the cursed metal.

Though Samantha was entirely concerned with the tiny fae child, she didn't get up, not yet. If there was trouble or the little girl was in any sort of danger, she would intervene. Until then, Samantha merely brushed her hair behind her ear (revealing that pointed ear as she did so) and kept her eyes trained on the child. Even if she was a silent participant in keeping this girl safe today, she was assured no harm would come to her with Samantha near.