Chapter 2

Someone Unknown

Jack's next immediate stop was the North Pole. He flew as quick as the cold winds would carry him; which to his relief, was very fast. Jack dropped in through a skylight that the yetis often left open for the young boy's visits and stumbled to a standing stop in the North Pole's main area. His arrival startled a few of the yetis; one grumbling he'd have to restart the toys he had been working on. Jack half heard the yetis words as he rushed to find the others; he would apologise later.

They had planned a guardians meeting for that afternoon, and Jack was thankful for once. Tooth, North and Sandy were all in the middle of the large room they used for meetings. Bunny was sitting in a chair to the side, looking at paint swatches. Jack shook his head at the Pooka, and made a note to ask later. He didn't need to.

'Frost! Why didn't you mention these bloomin' things earlier! I won't have to rely on my eggs to remember dye batches anymore!' The rabbit like creature shouted at Frost. It was a tone of voice Jack knew was a mix of marvel, and annoyance Bunnymund hadn't thought of it himself.

'I- no, not now.' Jack started, before shaking his head at the Pooka. 'Okay so meeting start, I would like to raise a topic!' Jack shouted, catching everyone's attention. Jack was normally late, or tried to not have to attend the meetings at all. For him to be raising something for discussion, the others realised that it must be important.

'Err- go ahead mate. Floor's all yours.' Bunnymund said.

'Floor is not his! Is my workshop!' North started, but Tooth flew from her seat and shot him a look of not now. North kept his eyes on Bunny for a moment, before turning to Jack with a smile.

'Okay great, one point of discussion. First and only point; who was the person shooting arrows at me just before, in the woods?' Jack's question stunned the guardians. Suggestions of cupid rose, but were shot down by Tooth. 'He spends months making his arrows, he plans who to shoot and when to shoot them down to the minute, he wouldn't use them up on Jack! They won't even work on him.'

"They won't? Not important!' Jack flustered. ' They were golden and shooting at me and exploding!'

'Exploding?' Asked North.

'Well, whatever it is sand does when it hits something hard like my staff!' Jack held out his staff for the others to see the small bits of sand that had managed to cling on despite the ride in the wind. The sand shook, then floated off of the staff and made it's way to Sandy, where it joined the rest of the cloud that made up the short man. Sandy looked at the sand with a puzzled looked. A question mark formed over his head, then a bow and arrow, then a non descript figure of a person.

'It was near Pitch's bed! I was…checking on it.'
"Again?" Tooth asked, concern growing in her voice. "Jack…" but she was waved off by Jack.

"No, no it's fine. I just like being able to tell Jamie it's still under control. I'm not sure if it helps him but, short of losing his memory I don't think he'll forget Pitch any time soon.' Jack knew it was true; the young boy may not fear Pitch, but he certainly knew he existed. Sandy was moving now, floating around the room slowly, while his thumb and finger rubbed his chin. Suddenly the man stopped, and an exclamation mark sprung from the sand above his head. Then he shook his head, and the sand floated back to normal. Jack's shoulders hung, and he slumped into a chair. He wasn't tired, he rarely was, but he felt off. The dream sand aided the Guardians, and it was a strange feeling to think of it being used against them. Pitch had tried and succeeded in doing so after twisting the sand but this was the sand in it's proper form.

'I thought it must've been some hunter practicing but….she could see me, and hear me. God I didn't even ask her name or anything. Jamie followed me and I…was worried she was going to shoot him. Thinking back now it would've just knocked himout but…' Jack's voicetrailed off until he stopped, and stared at the floor. The whole thing bothered him. He wanted answers but no one had any.

'How old were they?' Tooth asked, finally breaking the silence.

'Huh? Oh…my age I guess? Maybe a little older.'

'A teenager then. She must be a spirit of some kind, teenagers don't see us.'

'Really?" The word tumbled from jack's mouth.

Tooth let out a soft laugh. 'Yes but, it's alright. They always pretend for their younger siblings, they're a big part of what keeps holidays alive."

Jack nodded, thinking back of his own sister.

The group fell into silence as they all thought over what had happened with Jack. Sandy was the most confused. How had someone taken his sand, and managed to use it? Pitch had managed it but Pitch was incredibly powerful, and had twisted the sand so that it would follow his orders.

Sometime later, Jack looked at the clock that hung on the wall in the room, and sighed. It was early the next morning. Tooth and Bunny had already gone for the day, and Sandy had left the evening before in order to do his dream routine. The white haired spirit shook his head, and gave a gentle wave goodbye to North before he flew his way back out of the open skylight and began his trip to Burgess.