Disclaimer! I don't own you or the ROTG peeps. That would be too awesome, ya know? Anywho, PART 4! YAAAAY! Enjoy, snowflake!

Previously in the Guardians' Guardian

Fine, you can have it," he says, "But on one condition." You tilt your head to the side, wondering what the heck he's trying to pull here. "You have to stay with me until we find (f/n)." Thinking about, you find it reasonable enough. It'll be easier to watch over the annoying dude this way, anyway. It's not like he'll actually find me.

Moving closer, you sit in front of him, showing you consent. Smiling happily, he reaches for the necklace. You growl, telling that you have no intention of losing it. His hand stops. "It's okay," he cooes softly, " I'm just gonna put it around your neck. Can't carry it around like that all the time anyway, right?" It seemed okay, so you let him gently remove it from your mouth. He loops it carefully around your neck, it fitting nicely over your head. Moving away quickly, you stare at him. "Well then," he chortles, "let's go."

~Part 4~

It had been mid to late November when you'd become the Guardians' Guardian, and you had been with Jack for around one month now. You had travelled with him across the world, bringing on the cold white stuff and playing the part of his furry companion. But, like all wonderful things in my life, it seemed it was too good to last. Jack wasn't the only Guardian for you to watch, and Christmas was coming up soon.

You had been working on your other powers in secret, so you were able to leave a piece of yourself to watch over Jack, but you knew you had to go soon. The only problem was the process of leaving itself. Jack was with you just about everywhere, apparently not needing much sleep. Does this kid ever get tired? I mean fuck, how am I supposed to go?

"Hey, Frostbite!" Aaand there's the adorable asshat now. What's with the nickname anyway? Do I look like I'm dying of cold or something? You acknowledged him anyway, looking up from your position under his flying form to see his bright mischievous smirk directed right down at you. This isn't gonna be pretty. "Bet you I'll get to the mountain first!" He gestured to the large shape in the distance. You growled at the challenge, raring and ready to go. Bring it on, Frosty. Laughing in response, he jets off, leaving you to your lone wolf gait.

Making sure he didn't see you, you poured on your super-awesome-über-guardian-kick-ass speed. Out pacing Jack easily, you watch as the wintry forest around you dwindles to sparse patches the closer you get to the mountain. Knowing he won't consider actual defeat unless you get to the top, you continue. While the trees zip by, you contemplate how you'd give Mr. Snowflake the slip.

He hadn't slept for around five days, so that means he'd probably allow a quick nap tonight. That didn't give you much time, considering it was already late in the evening. But, you'd gotten pretty fast with your 'soul-splitting', as you called it, and then you could just slip off silently to change form and go. Yeah, that'll work! Except... I don't really wanna leave though... Damn it...

Jack had grown on you this past month, his happy laughter and mischievous personality making you smile every time. Not to mention the crush you'd acquired. Shiiit... How do I stop that? Putting aside your emotions, you had a job to do. Now wasn't the time to be an emotional teenager. I can't stay... I'm just here to guard him-them! Crap. They're just a job. Can't get attached... No matter how hot they are- Damnit! There go the emotions...

Without realizing it, you'd reached the top of the mountain, too secluded in your own thoughts to even notice. Sliding to a stop, you look back to see Jack still a couple hundred yards away. That's what he gets for being cocky. You lay down, resting your head on your paws and watching him grow closer. You really were gonna miss him.

"Oi, Frostbite! Seems like you win again huh?" Jack glides to a stop in front of you, grinning despite his loss. He lays down next to you, his head resting on your side. If wolves could blush, you would've been a tomato. You nip his ear gently, succumbing to the urge for physical contact. He chuckles softly, reaching out to bury his hand in your ruff. "Love you too, Frostbite," he says, barely covering a yawn. Awwwww, shit. Now I'm blushing AND guilty. He plays with your key necklace, fingering the old ornament hanging from the leather rope. "Do you think we'll find her, Frostbite?" He asks you, barely over a whisper. "We haven't seen her since that night. I-I know I only met her for, like, ten minutes, but... but she's engraved in my brain. She was so pretty, and...and..."

You wait anxiously for him to continue, wanting hear more. Oh my GOD! He thinks about me! *squeal*! Pricking up your ears, you turn towards him. He was fast asleep, the bastard. Sighing internally you gently ruffle his hair with your nose, thanking the Powers that Be that the moon was obscured by the clouds. Oh, Jack... What am I going to do with you?

Carefully extricating yourself from his grip on your fur, you step back. Concentrating, you break off a piece of yourself, giving it the shape of a key. Laying it gently in his palm, you gaze at him for a few minutes, sad (e/c) orbs dusting over his sleeping face.

Finally gathering the will to look away, you turn and run to the trees. Once safe in the cover of their branches, you try to think of an animal that would get you to the North Pole fastest, yet be inconspicuous when you get there. Bam! A Snowy Owl! DUH dipshit... Over the course of the past few weeks of random lonely nights, you'd been working your flying. Now, the little practice you'd had would have to pay off.

Letting the tingles run over your body, you waited. Once they subside, you raise your now snow white wings and push off from the ground. After a moment's hesitation and a quick scare with a nettle bush, you manage to stay upright and sky-bound. Soaring back over the place where Jack was curled on the ground, you see the key-shaped part of you clenched tightly in his hand, held closely to his chest. Fighting the pain in your chest and the urge to go back and take the soul-piece, you turn and head north. The next time I see him, I really hope he has that. If he loses it I'm ripping his fucking staff to tinder.

~TIME SKIP~

Plummeting into the snow of the Pole, you pant and strain the urge to go back. Being this far from your a piece of yourself hurt like hell, and your wing was sorely injured upon your fall. Well, at least I made it. Your eyes flutter, exhaustion filling your little avian body with lead. The snow was really starting to pile up. Just before you were almost completely covered, and with the last strain of consciousness, you feel rather large, calloused hands gently lift you from the ground.

"Oi, What you doing out here, Malinki Iskra?" What the fuck? is that Russian? A gentle yet gruff voice rumbles through your dark mind, then all goes dark.