Slowly the colour faded, changing from a past vibrancy to the present's shades of black and grey. Sarah MacAllister realised that she was no longer dreaming and was lying awake in bed. Disappointment replaced the happy feeling sleep had lent her and a small soft sigh escaped her lips.

"Time to get up."

It was always slightly difficult getting ready in the morning.

One thing at a time, she decided as she sat on the edge of her bed. She pulled a stubbly brush through her hair, wondering what she was going to wear. And also if she could find it in the disorganised wardrobe and drawers.

Sarah wasn't the neatest of people really; this made finding things difficult. Reluctantly she started to feel through her clothes hoping she could identify them. It did mean seeing her oddly glowing hands, which she was coming to loathe.

Moving her fingers over some thick material she felt something metallic. That must be her black jeans with the belt and buckle. They'd do, but she decided just to pull on the first top she could find. Ruefully, Sarah made a mental note to ask Melita to help her organise her clothes better.

Luckily underwear was much easier to identify. And there wasn't much trouble putting the clothes on. Sarah wished doing her hair was as easy, and makeup was out of the question. She must look a sight to behold, enough to frighten small children and the unwary.

Deciding that this train of thought was unhelpful Sarah shook her head. With arms outstretched she headed for the hallway. A wash and breakfast would help shake out her negative thoughts. She vaguely wondered what would happen today, and if she could stand any more excitement.

As she opened the door, her bathrobe fell off the hook and jammed underneath. It was as she was trying to untangle the errant robe from the door and then her feet, that she first noticed the smell. It had hints of vegetation and woodland animals. Sarah frowned as she tried to place it.

"So familiar…" She muttered to herself.

A fresh breeze, a spring day after the rain, a forest smell but not earthy; there was also something masculine about it, she decided. And it wasn't just that, it reminded her of something. Was it a place, a meeting, a person?

She shook her head slightly as she straightened and walked into the hallway, hands held out slightly in front of her.

And there he was.

A huge green man was standing there in front of her. Sarah's mouth dropped open and her eyes grew wide.

In that instant of shock, Sarah's mind recorded every detail. He had antlers, actual antlers on his head, with ivy round them and a little bird sitting there cleaning its beak on his antler perch. And he was green - there was a strong greenish tint to everything, from his antlers to his tattered robe. His eyes were the only things that weren't green hued, being huge and brown.

He had a big grin on his face and little flowers in his hair and a beard of ivy. He cleared his throat.

"Hi!" And then because that didn't seem to be enough, "It's been a while."

Sarah's brain came to a decision.

"Ahhhhhhhh!"

Her sudden unexpected scream startled the strange man and he screamed back.

"AHHHHHHHH!"