Jack hadn't shown up for over three months now.

North was having hysterics and Tooth was hyperventilating into a paper bag provided by one of the yetis.

Bunny was snapping at everyone, carrying on about how, if this was one of Jack's many pranks, he was going to tear the winter spirit limb from limb.

Sandy, alone among the guardians, was unworried by the absence of their newest recruit.

About a week into the fourth month, Bunny was beginning to show signs of genuine worry, and Sandy decided that enough was enough.

Tugging gently at North's jacket, the tiny golden guardian began to explain that he thought he knew where they could find Jack.

He had been putting off telling them, in the hope that Jack would not take as long as he had. He had promised the younger guardian that he wouldn't after all. But things were getting ridiculous, Tooth hadn't been able to co-ordinate her fairies for over a week, and while the pint sized Baby Teeth were doing their best to compensate for their mothers distraction, they were struggling with the overpowering workload.

So now he was trying to explain to North, with his ever present dream-sand images, that the Guardian of Fun was most likely to be found at the Winter Court. (After having read extensively the works of George R.R. Martin, Jack had confided to Sandy that the Court was now going by the name Winterfall Castle*, though that had been the only thing that Jack had approved of the "A Song of Fire and Ice" series. He had thought that with such a title it would be kind on Winter, he had not approved of the Whitewalkers (though they had an unnerving resemblance to some of the more powerful winter spirits), "and what happened to the snowball fights" Jack had said in an irrate and exasperated tone)

Having successfully conveyed his pictographic message, Sandy watched as Bunny and North both became terrified at the thought.

"What could the court want with Jack" Bunny had practically been tearing his own ears off at this point. Terrified that jack had possibly gone too far with one of his many practical jokes.

The Court of Winter was not famous for being kind to those that got in their way. Or irritated them. Or looked at them in the wrong way. Or breathed too loudly in their presence.

"I hope they haven't hurt him." Tooth, taking a break from the paper bag was almost shaking her own feathers off with either worry or anger. Sandy wasn't entirely sure which.

North was pacing in front of the great hearth, growling slightly. "We go get him back." He said simply. "We show them frosty spirits why it is bad to pick on Guardian."

"I'm with ya' mate." Bunny was ready to let his worry and frustration out at someone, and it may as well be the winter court.

"I'll get my fairies together, we'll shred them to pieces if they have hurt his teeth." Tooth said, venom spitting from the usually friendly fairies eyes. Ok, it was anger then, sandy thought belatedly.

None of them had noticed him waving flags and arms in every direction to gain their attention. Too busy planning a full frontal assault on the Winter Court.

As the others marched off in the direction of the sleigh stables, Sandy finally put his arms down and with dream sand gushing from his ears in the imitation of flames, followed them.

* Yes I am very aware that this may look like a typo, BUT IT IS NOT, it is intended to be a pun. Considering that Jack is technically in charge of Autumn and Winter I thought that WinterFALL was far cleverer than WinterFELL. Since Autumn is also called fall.