North paced his small study with eyes of blue following his every step. Jack was never really one to open up but he had found a father figure in the Spirit of Wonder. With all they had been through, Jack knew that this man could help him with whatever it was that was troubling his heart.
But now it seemed as though the big man was at a loss of words. Jack sat perched atop his frosted staff, growing impatient. Nicholas St. North would stop every few seconds, look at the young man as if he were about to say something, and then changed his mind and paced some more. Jack groaned internally and was beginning to wonder if this was the best idea. Thankfully North seemed to sense the white haired boys distress as he stopped and cleared his throat.
"You know I've been a Guardian for many centuries." He stated, his dark blue eyes shining with hidden secrets. This confused Jack even more. It was unlike North to hide things from his fellow Guardians.
"Yea, I know. But what's that got to do-" Jack started and was effectively interrupted by the large man in red.
"It's good. I can't say much, but I will tell you that all will be well. There's magic even now working." He smiled brightly as if he had made perfect sense. But to Jack, nothing the other man said did anything to help his situation. He needed advice, not cryptic messages about magic.
"Well, this was…great. I'm just going to go for a fly." The winter spirit said dejectedly. North was looking at him with pity, but Jack saw some strange knowledge in his eyes. He knew something and he wasn't telling Jack.
He was done with it all, more frustrated than ever. He nodded, snow-white hair a spikey mess about his head. He ran his long fingers through it and lifted off the ground. Waving morosely to his friend, Jack left the North without a single word. He did not control this wind. He simply let it take him away slowly, lifting him up and over gentle rises in the land and soon over the wide expanse of the sea. To him it was all a blur, as he stared up to the moon; or more accurately, the Man on the Moon. He sighed, knowing he would speak to the benevolent being only to get no response. But it helped him in a way, gave him a small amount of comfort.
"I don't understand. I've never wanted these things before. It's just.." He paused, wondering why he felt the loss of affection when it was these few years he had been loved and known. "I guess I can't complain. After all, the kids believe in me. They see me. But.."
The moon shined happily, always so vivid when Jack needed to speak. Jack knew he was listening and it gave him strength.
"I never got to live much as a human. I don't know what it is to love someone other than my mom and sister. I can feel… something ache in my heart." He pleaded, though not sure what he was pleading for. He wasn't looking for love. He didn't need a woman, as if he could if he wanted to. Those over the age of ten didn't believe in Jack Frost. But still, it was something more than that. He didn't even know, and maybe that was what was bothering him so much.
"I just wish I had a chance." He whispered. Jack had let the gusts take him far away from his home. The land around him was tall with cliffs and hills spread wide over stretches of tall forests and then long fields of grass and heather. Scotland?
He was wondering why he had been stopped when he felt Tsar Lunar reach out to him with his silver rays of moonshine. Jack looked up, shocked. And then he felt the earth tilt.
The night was silent, even the beasties held their sound. Merida would have thought nothing of it before now, but it was her first night as a free woman and the stories of monsters and evil men came creeping into her mind. The red-head sat up in her dark fur blanket. The fire glowed softly with a single flame, casting shadows on the earth. Sighing, she looked to the moon as it played hide and seek behind fat night clouds. She used to be able to stare at the moon and stars all night but the eerie silence had chilled her. She felt the urge to move, to pace around and make sure her lines held right.
Removing the thick furs, Merida moved to stand, but she stilled, her grip resting readily on the ornately carved bow. Her head tilted, curls of crimson falling loosely on her freckled cheeks. The lass closed her eyes and concentrated. She had heard something. A soft sound, like sheaths of parchment being brushed together. It was a unique noise that made her heart begin to thump. She tried to ignore it as she held her breath.
Moments later she heard it again, unmistakable now. It was a sound that she remembered well. Will o' the wisps. Turquoise eyes under arched brows darted around the cropping, desperately seeking the wee things.
There, hovering just beyond the largest tree she caught the sight of blue mist. Merida had learned long ago to follow the wisps as the always led her to her fate, whether it be a witch or a bear.
With red and orange curls tied by a simple leather string, though still bouncing in untamable locks, Merida fled on light feet, her bow quiver already in hand. She left Angus behind, feeling the need to run. The chill air caused her breath to come out in great gusts of mist. Her booted feet were sure and strong as she leapt over fallen trees and jagged rocks. She was climbing higher, always on the trail of the wee little blue creatures. The magical sprite was taking her farther from the known path and deeper into the unknown. But she knew that all would be well.
Jack thought he was dreaming. He was floating on clouds of memories, whizzing past centuries. He wanted to reach out and touch them, but he was too heavy, his arms, his legs, and his eyes. He let himself go limp and fall into a sleep he's not had since he was human. His last thought before he lost consciousness was of the moon, as it smiled down at him.
Her legs were burning. She had to climb and run, and press herself against steep walls, as she tried to follow the sprites. Her lungs were screaming at her, and her body having already been tired before the trek, was beginning to shake. The wisps had taken her miles and miles away from her camp. Merida had spent hours with only the light of the full moon, no longer hiding behind clouds.
Just as she was about to give up and keel over, when she saw the tiny blue spark. It seemed to be waiting. She grunted a curse and trudged along the mountain terrain.
It was a small cave, though one could easily say it was a shallow hole in the side of the cliff face. But as she got closer, she saw it was not the dwelling that had drawn her here, but the strange writings and pictures painted on its walls. She knew this is what the Will O' the wisps wanted her to see.
She sat with a pained huff, removing her boots, though the air was much colder this high. Comfortable enough now to run her sun kissed hands tenderly along the figures. A woman and a man, though drawn crudely, were clearly in an intimate embrace. Her gaze traveled to the other images, all of a couple, holding hands, some hunting, others doing things only lovers did. She felt her face flush.
She was a woman now, no longer youthful in body and mind. Many times she had imagined herself kissing a man, though in her musings he had always remained faceless. She wanted these things. All of the images that were stretched out before her. It was strange that she had fought so hard against marrying, those few years ago, when now the idea did not bother her so much.
After a time, Merida turned her bright eyes to the moon. She sensed it listened as she spoke softly.
"I've been living my whole life in search of freedom to be alone, but I don't ken what it is I want anymore." She began to rub her sore feet, knowing that she'd had to stay here and sleep for a few hours before heading back. "Still, I wouldn't mind finding me a boy. No' to say I'd marry him. I'd like to know what it is to be a woman, to be with a man who would treat me as an equal. It's no' much to ask, really. I just wish I had a chance." She whispered, her arms stretching above her. She yawned loudly, leaning back, resting her head on her quiver. Her eyes were weary as was her body.
She fell slowly to sleep under the moons smiling face.
I know, I know, its only the second chapter, but WHAT DO YOU THINK!? I live off the reviews. The four I got yesterday, I've probably read a dozen times.
P.s. Im on tumblr. Find me. I post a ton of stuff, and I love messages there too.
-MoonandWinter
