So this is my first fic.

Since I'm clearly new to this, please don't be too harsh. But helpful criticism would be greatly appreciated.

I think this might be a little short, so I'll try to do the other chapters a little longer. But this seems fine for my first try?

So, um, I don't own Rise of the Guardians, obviously.

And enjoy!

Jack stood bare foot in the snow before the entrance of a cave. He stared into the seemingly eternal darkness nervously. He knew that once he entered, he would never come back out. But he couldn't run away. Even if he did, the village would reject him and drive him out. The only option he had was to continue forward.

So Jack approached the cave slowly. Peering inside, he called out. "Hello?"

When no reply came, he stepped inside. As soon as he did, the ground seemed to open and he fell through darkness. He stretched his arms out to try to catch onto something to stop the fall but there was nothing around him.

With a panicked streak, he felt the ground once more beneath his feet. There was no painful impact. In fact, it was more like a parent setting a child down gently.

It only took a moment for Jack to calm down and let his eyes explore. He was certainly not in the same cave as before. Surrounding him was a dark labyrinth with rock mazes and stairs twisting in every direction. The only light source in the entire space came from golden crystals embedded into the rocks all around.

"Surely your pathetic village had someone younger to send," a smooth voice hissed. It was only then that Jack turned to see the figure standing behind him. The tall man stood gracefully with his hands behind his back. His grey skin reminded Jack of ash and his golden eyes of fire. If his looks weren't intimating enough, his aura was nothing but emptiness and darkness. "How old are you, boy?"

"My name's Jack," he snapped without thinking. Thankfully the man looked more amused than angry. "I'm seventeen."

"You're hardly a child," the man said. He looked over Jack with attentive eyes. "Besides, wasn't the sacrifice for this year a female?"

"Originally," Jack told him. His voice lacked the confidence from before. "But I volunteered to take her place."

The man looked baffled for a moment before regaining composure. "Did someone force you to take her place or did you really volunteer?"

Jack didn't answer so the dark man assumed it was forced. He couldn't be shocked. From the way Jack looked, he could only imagine what the village thought of him. Pale skin and snow white hair? The boy must've been seen as an omen.

"Do you understand what 'sacrifice' means?" he asked Jack.

"I assume it means you'll kill me?" Jack said nonchalantly.

"Eventually," he said with a smile, showing off sharp teeth. "But not just yet."

Jack simply stretched, feeling unthreatened. "Didn't your mother tell you not to play with your food, Pitch?"

"I don't have a moth… What did you call me?"

Jack coughed and glanced at the man's face. Again there was no anger. But this time he did seem annoyed. "It's what the kids in the village call you. Sorry. I haven't outgrown it yet."

"None of the other ever called me by that name," he said. Of course, they were normally busy pleading for their lives. "Why am I called that?"

Jack shrugged. "You know 'pitch black'? It means darker than darkness or something. And you being the god of fear and all—"

"So your people see me as a god now?" he huffed. "Since when? I've always been the monster in the shadows to them."

"You still are," Jack said honestly. "But they fear you enough to try and please you."

"Humans!" Pitch growled in disgust. "You are all so weak willed. I mean, I'd enough being worshiped but this is…"

Pitch trailed off as he looked at Jack. The boy stood in the same spot. He hadn't tried to run or even step back in all the time they'd been speaking. Jack stood as Pitch's equal the entire time. There hadn't been a bit of fear in him since the shadows had brought him into Pitch's lair.

"What?" Jack asked when he noticed Pitch staring.

"You," Pitch said pointing a finger at Jack. "Do you not fear me?"

Jack tilted his head as if he were confused by the question. "No?"

"But you're going to die!" Pitch shouted. "Do you not want to live?"

"Of course I want to live!" he responded. "But I'm not dead. So why torment myself waiting for it to come?"

Pitch stared at him in shock. Jack smiled and took delight in the fact he had stumped a god. The grin on his face was purely mischievous. He decided to take this moment to move closer. Pitch only noticed when the white haired boy was in his face. He flinched back on instinct and cursed himself at being startled.

Luckily, Jack didn't press on. He stepped back with a look of concern now drawn across his face. "You okay?"

Pitch straightened himself. "As if a brat with no awareness for personal space can unease me."

"Personal space?" Jack questioned. "What's that?"

"Ha, ha. Very…." Pitch stopped speaking when he realized the genuine confusion in Jack's eyes. "You're joking, right?"

"I'm sorry?" Jack offered.

Pitch sighed, feeling guilty for some unknown reason. "What on earth kind of home did you live in?"

Jack didn't answer once again. Instead he went to sit down on a nearby rock and waited for Pitch to move on. But the god wasn't letting it go. He approached Jack slowly as though he were afraid to get close. When he was finally in front of him, he put a hand on Jack's shoulder hesitantly.

"It looks like I have much to teach you," he said softly.

"Playing with your food is really a bad—"

"Hush, boy," Pitch warned. "I can do as I please."

"Jack," the teen reminded him. He held out his hand to Pitch. When the grey god simply stared at it, Jack chuckled. "It's a handshake. It's how we introduce ourselves."

Pitch took the outstretched hand as if it were going to hurt him. "Kozmotis."

Jack grinned a wide smile. "Nice to meet you, Kozmotis."

So? How was it?

Good? Bad?

What do I need to improve on?

Thanks for reading!