Oh snap! Chapter four! It seems Fei has grown on Phil! Anyway, as always, enjoy!
"Merry Christmas!" Boomed North's voice the next morning, waking Fei and Jack from Sandy's sweet dreams.
"Come on! It's present time!" Tooth said excitedly. Sandy nodded and made symbols of presents above his head with a big smile on his round face.
"Aww, you guys didn't have to get me anything." Fei said.
"Saving me from Pitch was enough."
"Nonsense! Christmas is time for joy, and everyone can always have extras!" North said as Fei got out of bed. Jack had fallen back asleep and was snoring lightly. Fei pried his staff from his hand, and watched as he reached around for it.
"Not funny, give it back." He grumbled, opening one eye to look at the Guardians.
"You'll get it back when you join us in North's office." Tooth chirped as everyone walked off.
"Fine!" He grumbled, standing up and stretching. Fei tossed it to him and the group headed to North's office. The tree was heaped with presents in brightly colored wrapping paper, and gift bags of all sizes.
"Thank you all so much!" Fei said happily hugging each Guardian in turn. Tooth got her a new toothbrush and toothpaste, for hers were at home, Sandy got her a plush pillow with dream sand inside for nights she had a hard time sleeping, Bunnymund got her some watercolor paints, a couple sketch pads, and really nice paint brushes, and North got her a carving knife and a book that changed into whatever novel she wanted to read with just a thought.
"And here's my gift." Jack said, kissing her passionately, making her blush brightly. When they pulled apart, everyone cheered.
"So, care to show us the inner artist?" Bunny asked, grabbing a pencil off of North's desk, and tossing it to the girl. She caught it and grinned a bit.
"I guess." She said a bit nervously. She sat cross legged on the floor and opened a sketch pad, drawing very light circles and lines. She began adding darker lines and details inside the simple sketch, and the drawing slowly started to become a mountain lion, lips curled back in a snarl, fangs out and eyes glinting. Fei added muscle definition, claws, whiskers, shaded it, then signed it along the cat's tail, so small it was almost indistinguishable from the art itself. She handed the sketchbook to Bunny, who stared at the drawing in awe.
"It's just like the one from yesterday!" He said handing it to Jack, who agreed. The other Guardians were given the pad to look at, and each were as amazed as they saw the girl's skill.
"Look at its teeth! I'd hate to have to collect those!" Tooth said as she gazed at the drawing.
"Yeah! They're even worse in real life!" Bunny said, a shiver going down his body.
"You mean to tell be you three were face to face with an angry puma?" North asked incredulously.
"Not angry, just a bit crabby. She was hungry and I know I get crabby when I'm hungry!" Fei said shrugging. Jack nudged her and whispered.
"Tell them!"
She looked proud of herself, and stood up with a smile.
"My powers are to speak with animals! I had a short conversation with a curious fox and saved Bunnymund's fluffy behind from the mountain lion." She said, nudging the pooka at the last bit.
"That must be so exciting! Oh, I would love to talk to the owls and bats I fly with at night!" Tooth squealed excitedly, and North nodded his head, thinking over what he had just heard. Suddenly Phil burst through the door, shouting with his arms in the air.
"Merry Christmas to you too!" North and Fei said back at the same time. Phil have Fei a neatly wrapped package and had her open it. She gasped as she pulled out a gorgeous sage green peacoat made from the softest wool she had ever felt. Under it was a pair of fuzzy deep green boots, perfect for winter days.
"I-I don't know what to say! These are beautiful Phil!" She gasped. The stitching was perfect, the size was perfect, it was, well, perfect! Fei burst into a huge smile and hugged the yeti, earning a nervous hug back.
"Thank you." She said as she pulled away.
"Oh, and for Jack from Phil..." She said, a small smirk on her lips.
"Ta-da!" She said, smacking the bow from the present on the boy's forehead. He stepped back for a second, then glared as everyone started laughing.
"Well, we had good Christmas, but I still want to see Fei talk with an animal." North said
"We can pick up later. Lets go see the team!" He said as he walked off, leaving everyone to follow. Fei slipped her coat and boots before following, knowing it was quite chilly in the stables. The group walked to an elevator, and rode down to the bottom floor if the workshop, turning down a wide corridor to the stables. Fei was taken aback at the sight of the reindeer, they were huge! The second North walked in they all began to get worked up, jumping around in their stables, ready for another flight.
"You take over from here. They usually only listen to me, but I want to see you try!" He said to Fei. She nodded and walked farther in, the reindeer looking at her curiously.
"Enough! There will be no flying today!" Fei shouted over the noise, and all the animals stopped, looking a bit sad, but one reindeer put his ears back in a challenging manner and snorted at her. The stall door was labeled 'Donner'.
"You're not North! Who says we won't fly?"
"I do, because North told me." Fei said back, challenge clear in her tone. The reindeer all lifted their heads in surprise because one, no one talked back to Donner, and two, she understood him.
"Oh yeah? How do I know you're not lying?" The large stag asked.
"I don't know, how do you know I'm not making this conversation up as I go along?" She shot back, making the rest of the team put their ears back in fear for the girl. One kick from Donner's powerful legs could be her end, but to everyone's surprise, the reindeer straightened up and nodded at the girl in front of him.
"You are something." The animal said with a snort, a sort of smirk on his face.
"I like you!" He concluded.
"I'm glad, because I'll be around for a while." She said before bidding the whole team goodbye, and leaving with the rest of the Guardians.
"That was something." North said scratching his bearded chin.
"He never takes no for an answer, but you seemed to change his mind. Even I could feel! Your aura around animals changes, it seems to say 'I am friend not foe, but do not underestimate me.' Interesting." He said gazing at Fei with inquisitive blue eyes.
"I thought it was fantastic!" Tooth said, and Sandy nodded his head, pictures of her as a little girl and a dog appeared above his head with a question mark.
"No, it wasn't until North said my destiny was with you guys did I begin to understand other things." She answered.
"And yesterday with the mountain lion, your aura reminded me more of a warrior." Jack said as he stood by her.
"Well, my emotions do change around different animals, almost as if I share their emotions as well." Fei said.
"We need to discuss more, but for now, let us celebrate new Guardian, and Christmas!" North said, heading for the elevator with Bunny, Sandy, and Tooth. Jack picked Fei up bridal style and took off into the air, calling down to everyone else.
"See ya at the top!"
Fei giggled and held in tight as they flew through the workshop to the globe room.
Jack and Fei waited for the other Guardians, talking about her newfound abilities.
"I have been thinking, and I know how to help fight Pitch." Fei said a bit nervously. The flutter of Tooth's wings stopped Jack from replying, as she zipped in between them.
"Ooh, how?" She asked.
"How what?" North asked curious about the interaction. Bunny and Sandy came in behind him and looked at Fei curiously.
"Well, I think I know of a way to help beat Pitch." She explained. The Guardians all nodded, urging her on.
"I was thinking that maybe I could recruit some animals."
Silence.
"Yeah, I know it's stupid, but-"
"No, not stupid, risky." North cut in.
"We would need to talk to big animals, ones who won't scare easily." He mused aloud. Sandy made an elephant above his head, but Fei shook her head.
"They are actually quite peaceful creatures who try to avoid violence." She explained and he shrugged.
"You know, Pitch's nightmares are made from his sand, maybe, instead of putting real animals in danger, Sandy could make a group of his own sand helpers!" Tooth said, looking excited. Fei nodded and smiled at the fairy.
"Good idea! Sandy, do you think you could make either wolves or lions?" Fei asked. The little man nodded enthusiastically and formed a large golden wolf from his dream sand, wisps of gold flowing off of its pelt as it moved, its bright blue eyes glowing as it looked around.
"Wow, it's amazing!" Jack said, getting a smile from Sandy.
"Yes, it's perfect! We will need a lot more though." Bunny said, and the look on the Sand Man's face seemed to say 'No problem.'
"You are the best!" Fei said picking Sandy up and hugging him tight. If he could've blushed, he would've, and if Jack could've gotten more jealous, he would've.
I will post pride awing of Sandy's wolf on my DeviantART as soon as I have time!