Okay, Okay, I didn't update this story in, like, forever, so I will now.

Chapter Two: A Sickness?

"OMBRIC!" Katherine's call came out loud and clear as she and North rode back into Santoff Claussen, stomping the very crack Pitch had disappeared through that day when North first rescued the children.

The children of Santoff Claussen- Tall William, his brothers, William the Almost Youngest and William the Absolute Youngest, Fog, his sister Sascha, and Petter- dashed to meet them, William the Absolute Youngest being the first to hug onto North when he climbed off of Petrov. "North! North! What did you do? Did you do anything great? Huh? Huh?" As we can tell, the youngest William loved North dearly.

"Now, now, youngest William," Ombric came over to calm down the little boy, "I know they did have quite an adventure," he said, motioning towards a tear in North's coat.

Katherine smiled. "I cannot wait to tell you all about it! There was someone, a young woman, being attacked- by Fearlings!"

The children gasped. North felt a small lump form in his throat, and his face turn a little too warm for the crisp winter air. Bunnymund strode over then and there. "Well, I see you have returned?" he questioned. But he didn't wait for a response.

Ombric smiled at North and placed an arm around Katherine. "Come," he said, striding towards Big Root. "You both must be hungry after that adventure."

A nice, warm stew with potatoes, meat, and a few carrots always does a tired soul some good.

It did Katherine good- she was so tired, and the stew refreshed her head. North, however, was another story. He was staring into his stew, stirring it around absentmindedly. Ombric suddenly felt worried for his friend. "North, are you alright?" North didn't respond. "North?" Finally, Bunnymund snapped his fingers in North's ear.

North reacted with a wince as he rubbed his ear. "Ah! What was that for, Rabbit- Man?"

Bunnymund's whiskers twitched. "The name is Bunnymund, North. And I snapped my fingers close to your ear because, my friend, you are acting like a hard- boiled egg- distant and hot- headed."

That clearly didn't make any sense to Ombric or North or Katherine. None of the less, Ombric asked once again, "Is there anything wrong, North?"

North shook his head. "Nyet," he answered, but his cheeks were almost pink.

Ombric cocked an eyebrow. Maybe he's tired, he thought. "North, try to get a little sleep, alright?"

North nodded and stood up. He- without a word, left the room.

There was a long pause at the table shortly after North left the room. Ombric cleared his throat, hoping to break the silence. "Well, Katherine, how was your adventure?"

"Oh, it was actually quite exhausting!" She took a bite of her stew. "And we made a new friend. She's quite pretty and she's so polite."

"Hmmm, was she like a good egg? Or does she like eggs?" Bunnymund asked.

"I don't know," Katherine said, shrugging. "I suppose I could ask her later. If I see her again, at least."

"Oh?" Ombric's eyebrows raised. "Where does she live?"

Katherine looked up. "She lives in a town called…. Saint Clarkson? No…"

Ombric's eyes filled with urgency. "Clarksion?"

Katherine nodded. "Yes. Why?"

Ombric sat there, stroking his beard. He felt shocked and alarmed.

The leader of Saint Clarksion was his rival- another lost survivor of Atlantis!

Nightlight had been watching the whole dinner affair, as well as the small adventure that day. He liked Lucinda- she was so polite and gentle. And he felt North somehow liked her, too- but not the way he did.

Katherine spotted her glowing friend near the window. She saw Ombric and Bunnymund, going off to see how North was. She dashed over to the window, opened it, and waved. Nightlight waved back. "You can fly back to Saint Clarksion and check on Miss Lucinda. Please?"

Nightlight nodded, and he flew off.

Well, that was quite fun. I hope you've liked this chapter! Stay tuned! ; )