Chapter 2: Journey Through SugarCane
Clara felt herself stir but also shiver as a gentle hand shook her shoulder in a gentle manner,
"Clara?... Clara you need to wake up" a voice said with a concerned tone and she slowly opened her eyes to find the nutcracker standing over her,
"Wh... What happened?" she mumbled, taking hold of the nutcracker's hand and hook as he helped her to stand,
"I believe the fright of the fall caused you to fall unconscious. Are you alright?" he asked and watched her nod, not looking at him as she hugged herself due to the cold,
"You... try and stay warm and I'll try and find us a way out of this ice cave" he told her before moving towards one of the walls that made up the cave and attempted to use his sword to break through but it was no use,
"Solid ice. There's no way for us to break through but perhaps we could dig our way our from under it" he suggested, turning back to see Clara sitting down weakly and he rushed towards her,
"No Clara. We can't stay her" Killian told her as he tried to make her stand back up but Clara didn't have the strength,
"I... I just need to rest for a moment" she murmured as her eyelids became heavy and she lied her head down upon the snowy floor and Killian's concern grew as he saw her skin turning blue due to the cold,
"Clara I need you to stay away. You can't sleep, Clara. If you sleep then you won't wake up" he told her desperately, falling to his knees and pulled her body up and let her rest against his wooden chest,
"Stay warm, Clara. Stay warm" he instructed gently but looked up curiously as a glowing snowflake fell from one of the roof icicles,
"Clara... Look" he encouraged gentle and she managed to open her eyes weakly,
"Wh... What is that?... A firefly?" she asked tiredly and Killian helped her to stand with him and shook his head,
"No. A snow fairy" he corrected and the light flew closer to Clara allowing her to see her true form,
"I... I've never seen a fairy before" she said and the fairy flew to Clara's hand and began trying to pull her somewhere by her finger and Clara couldn't help but giggle,
"What?" she asked and Killian chuckled,
"I think she likes you" the nutcracker told her,
"I'm afraid she can't dance with you right now. This space is far too cold for her" Killian told the fairy who pouted before looking at the ceiling and gave a whistle that came out like the tingling of bells and more glowing snowflakes fell from the ceiling, beginning to dance around as both Killian and Clara could watch in amazement.
As the fairy's dance concluded, the fairy's allowed the ice wall to melt completely and the warm sun fell upon Killian and Clara's faces and they made their way outside; Killian had to assist Clara and hesistantly let her go once some of the color returned to her cheeks,
"Can you walk by yourself from here?" he asked and Clara nodded,
"Yes... Thank you" Clara told him before looking at the magnificent view, seeing a castle in the far distance,
"Is that where the princess lives?" she asked and Killian nodded,
"Yes. Milah is sure to help us once we reach the castle. It should take us three days to get there by foot" he told her and Clara smiled at him knowingly,
"So... You and the sugarplum princess are... Close?" she asked and if Killian wasn't made of wood, Clara was certain that she would have seen his cheeks turn red,
"Yes... There was a time that she and the dark one were... together" Killian mumbled,
"Together in what way?" she pressed with an accusing tone,
"I guess you could say that they were... Married at some point" he grumbled and Clara could only shake her head in amusement,
"I see so the dark one's turning you into a nutcracker was justified" she concluded as they began walking down the trail,
"Oh believe me it was not justified. Him and Milah had grown apart and Milah fell in love with me and I with her. Is that so wrong?" he asked in defense,
"I guess not but you still should have kept your distance from her when you realized that there was something between you both already knowing that she was a married woman" Clara reasoned,
"Forgive me if I don't take advice from a woman whom is obviously not attached in any way" Killian grumbled, gesturing to her hand that wore no ring,
"Oh go crack a nut" Clara said firmly with a glare aimed at him before walking off ahead and Killian rolled his glass eyes,
"Women" he grumbled as he continued after her.
Clara and the nutcracker traveled all day before making camp for the night and Clara couldn't help but notice the nutcracker twisting his wooden hooked wrist,
"Does it hurt?" she asked gently,
"Oh so you're talking to me now?" he asked with a mocking tone causing her to roll her eyes,
"Forgive me for being concerned" she replied sarcastically,
"You need not concern yourself, lass. Being made of wood has its perks. One being the fact that I can't feel pain" Killian grumbled as he removed the bauble hook from his wrist before continuing to twist his wooden wrist,
"Just because you can't feel physical pain doesn't mean that you are immune to phantom pain" Clara told him before standing and sat next to him, holding out her hand,
"Let me see" she insisted and Killian grumbled, reluctantly placing his wooden wrist in her hand and she began inspecting the damage,
"Well, it's a clean break and none of the paint is damaged so if your princess can transport us back to my home before she turns us back to normal then she can retrieve your hand from my sewing kit and reattach your hand before turning you back into a human and return me to my normal size" she said and Killian nodded but was silent for a moment,
"I guess... I do find it a bit uncomfortable even though I can't feel it" he admitted and Clara could only smile,
"Don't worry. It won't bother you once Milah restores it" she assured him,
"You're not going to tease me about the fact that you're right?" he asked and she shook her head,
"What would be the point in doing that?" she asked causing Hook to frown in confusion,
"You get some sleep... I'll take first watch" Killian told her standing but Clara noticed his confusion,
"Is something wrong?" she asked concerned but Killian shook his head,
"No everything is fine" he assured before moving off to patrol the area, leaving Clara to get some sleep.
What is bothering Killian? We'll find out as the story continues! Please review in order to unlock chapter 3!
Kind Regards,
TheAuthor1996