Hey, guys! new story! Thanks for all the support on my previous story in ROTG as well. I've been wanting to do a story like this for a while now, so I'm very excited to see where this goes and how people react to it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the guardians (Though I wish I did)
The night was crisp and clear. The moon shone down on the frozen lake in the woods, the snow seeming to glow, pure and white. The breeze gently blew across the surface and the light snow was softly thrown into the air and gently floated back down, shimmering all the while. In one of the surrounding trees, a mop of white hair looked like snow on a branch, but if you looked again you would see the winter spirit asleep on the branch, the wind gently blowing his hair. Nothing else moved.
The night continued on until soft footsteps could be heard in the snow. At that slight sound, the boy's eyes flew open. He didn't move yet, but he was instantly alert, gaze traveling in a never ending search of the lake. The search was rewarded as a dark figure seemed to flit between the trees. It approached stealthily but it was not enough. Jack had seen it, now it could not hide. The figure approached his tree and the air around him stilled. He finally felt doubt begin to form, he could not sense the wind, like something was blocking it.
The figure seemed to melt into the shadows and his doubt turned to nervousness. He jumped when the figure appeared again right in front of him. It crouched on his branch and still loomed over him. He backed away until he felt the bark against his back and pushed himself to his feet. He wanted to question the figure, but something had stolen his voice. when he finally found it, it was raspy and wavered slightly.
"Who are you?"
The figure rose to stand on the branch and its silhouette did not make its identity clearer.
"Don't you remember me boy, or was what you did to me so insignificant to you that you forgot?"
It was the voice of an old woman, like nails on a chalkboard it sent shivers down his spine and made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He remembered that voice. He would ALWAYS remember that voice.
"No. I swear it was an accident!" He said, his eyes wide and pressed up against the trunk of the tree. She cackled and in a flash, her wrinkled dead-looking hand was wrapped around his throat.
"It may have been, but I don't need any more accidents in the future." She hissed, lifting him off his feet and tightening her hold. He gasped and clawed at her hands but she refused to let go. suddenly her hands seemed to burn him. the heat was overwhelming and he cried out, but it only ended in him losing, even more, breath.
The heat radiated through his body and he felt like he was melting. The last thing he remembered was her bone-chilling cackle as his struggles faded to stillness.
Jamie looked out the window to see the town covered in a deep layer of snow, and that meant only one thing. He got dressed quickly and flew down the stairs, shoving his arm through his jacket sleeve. His mother looked up at the sudden flurry of movement and smiled as he ran past her towards the front door.
"I'm going out!" He shouted as he put his boots on and ran outside, Sophie not far behind him. It had been 2 years since the fight with Pitch, and Jamie hadn't gotten to see Jack since late spring last year. The two siblings ran through the snow and towards the forest. The town was quiet except for the sound of children playing in the snow. Snowballs were flying and snowmen were being built, but none of it mattered to the two siblings as they neared the edge of the woods.
Pushing their way through the last of the snow, they finally reached the lake, but there was no winter spirit in sight. They looked around in confusion, Jack was usually here waiting for them if he hadn't met them on the way. A hole in the snow below a tree drew their attention, and they approached wearily.
A boy, about 17, lay sprawled in the snow. He had Dark brown hair and slightly tanned skin, but other than that he looked exactly like a certain winter spirit. Jamie was confused, to say the least. He even wore Jacks hoodie and pants. Sophie had started wandering around the strange teen, but she suddenly stopped and gasped. Jamie walked up to her and froze as well. Jacks staff was laying half buried in the snow by the teen's right hand.
"oh my god, Soph. I think this is Jack." Jamie breathed, looking at the boy's face. As he said that the boy's eyes snapped open and he gasped. His eyes were the same brown as his hair. He sat up slowly and groaned as his pressed his hands to his temples. He looked up and locked eyes with Jamie.
"Jack?"
Confusion flashed across his face, then realization took its place. He looked at his hands and groaned.
"nononononono." He muttered and started looking around in the snow frantically. Jamie grabbed the staff and held it out to him. He visibly relaxed when he saw it.
"Thanks, Jamie." He said, taking the staff and using it to push himself to his feet. as he tried to take a step forward, he collapsed again. Jamie rushed forward and tried to help support the teen, Sophie quickly moving to help. Any thought of asking what happened flew from Jamie's mind when Jack completely passed out.
"Come on Soph, Mom will know what to do."
Sophie nodded and together they half-carried, half-dragged, Jack back to their house. When they approached the door, Sophie ran inside to get their mom.
"Jamie! what happened! Who's this?"
His mom came rushing out the door and helped get Jack inside.
"Sophie! clear off the couch so we can lay him down. Jamie, go find so blankets, he's freezing."
The children ran to do her bidding as she got Jack settled. When she was done, she turned to them.
"Who is this?" She finally asked, gesturing at Jack.
"We saw him unconscious in the snow, and when we got closer he woke up and asked for help, so we thought you would know what to do." Jamie lied easily. He must have been spending too much time with Jack.
"Well, let's wait for him to wake up again and ask him." Jamie and Sophie nodded as she left the room again.