Chapter Seven: Problems Here and There
"Duck!" the spirit yelled
Jumping through the bramble was an especially large nightmare leaping from the bramble, losing focus for one moment the spirit was pinned to the ground by the fierce creature. The animal slowly putting more weight on his wrists waiting until it heard a crack.
Squirming in discomfort the spirit tried to over throw the beast yet fifteen hundred pounds against one sixty was in no way fair, nearly giving up he watched the deranged look in the horses eyes as if she enjoyed this torment.
A gentle pound arose on her side she stared up only to have another group of rocks smashed against her face. Taken up by annoyance she removed herself staring at the auburn in disgust
"HEY NIGHTMARE!" Hiccup yelled obnoxiously
The mare took a step towards the child trying to identify him as a threat or useless space, turning her head more rocks crashed against her skull. Now fully agitated she scraped her hoof against the floor wearing it thin.
The mare smashed her hooves against the floor in annoyance, circling the auburn the two never ceased eye contact. Awaiting the next move, holding breath between the mare's steps. The whole world grinded to a halt, heart beat slowing, awaiting the next hit.
Growing impatient the mare pounced, crashing to the ground again she was alarmed that the auburn was out of sight.
"Over here" he said calmly
The mare peering around in distaste located the petite auburn again, this time she would not miss! Carefully dodging each blow they became closer and closer, until he could feel the rustling wind caused by the mare's hooves.
A few metres over the frost spirit kneeled before his staff, battered cracked wrists pain jolting through from his hands base to finger tips. Reaching out for the staff his hand trembled, spazzaming not fully responding, unable to do the simplest task of picking up his hook.
The nerves and bones not connecting as his reactions delayed again, finally grasping his staff the throbbing pain engulfed his hand. The feeling of an invisible dagger slicing into his skin, splitting it in two. His wrist felt ready to shatter into fragments at any moment.
The skin turning puffy and enflamed as it purpled, unable to hold his hands straight as his fingers moved stiffly.
The thrashing affront him carried him from his thoughts, the auburn was still fending off the nightmare. The mare had become enraged chasing the auburn at a record speed, noting his moves and using his weaknesses including how unsteady he was on his left leg, against him.
The mare jumped and pranced, grinding her hooves against the ground fracturing the sculpted hooves. A smile crept over her face as she cornered the child, against a tree and rock wall he was unable to go either way.
Terror crept over the child's face, after watching the destruction she caused against the spirit he feared for his life (or could it even be called that?). Only this time she wouldn't back down this time, she had him within her grasp and hell she was going to cause some fury.
Taking from her deranged fantasies some petite ice pellets crashed against her side, finding it more annoying than anything else she turned back to her captive, imagining what to do with him.
Wild crashing emerged as the bottom of the shepards hook was sent right through her side where her heart would be located. Crumpling to the floor, she lay deceased her smirk still layered over her face until she turned to dust.
Scuffling over the frost spirit painfully grasped his staff, unable to fully grasp it just lingered at his side.
"You okay?" the spirit asked the auburn
"A-am I okay? You're asking if I'm okay?! Look at your hands!" he exclaimed
"Oh uhh yeah, they're kinda broken….I guess"
"Okay I-I think I know how to fix this"
"Nah don't worry about me I'll be fine" he said mondaying
"You get no choice in this, Jack. So I need two sticks and some cloth of bandages, the sticks is covered, where can we get cloth"
"There is a village just a little over yander"
The village was lined with stores and stand which none of which were open, and Hiccup had already dismissed Jack's idea of just breaking into one.
"Just stay here, I'm gonna look around" the auburn stated
"Oh c'mon can't I even move?" the spirit protest
"No"
The auburn could hear the muffle sigh of the floating spirit behind him, peering around he had no idea where he would be able to find cloth. He first noticed the large dress shop, creepy manikins stood in the window adorn with colourful and fruity dresses, but just beyond was a rack lined with folded fabric. One piece stood out, royal blue fabric shining like the moon lay atop the other green and red fabrics, quite the sight for sore eyes.
'I bet he'd like that' Hiccup thought to himself
Removing his pressed hands from the glass he shook his head, he had to stay on task fabric had to be around here somewhere, even cheese cloth would work. Yet there was no apparent way to get a good amount of cloth, but as if Thor almighty had given him a sign the moon shone down on an old horse blanket. Grey and some dirt it appeared to be perfect for Hiccups intentions/
Turning around to where the spirit had previously been standing to his amazement the spirit had only moved a foot or two. Holding up the blanket like a miraculous object a slight smile spread across his face.
"Alright now can you just give me one of your arms?" the auburn sheepishly asked
Holding out the arm he was not carrying his staff in the auburn examined it, carefully turning it over not wanting to hit a particularly painful area. Brownish purple bruises covered the pale skin, it appeared to be a clean break with no bones poking out which was a relief. Hiccup did not know what he would have done then. Yet under closer examination the shape of the horses hooves were outlined with blackening bruises and small openings in the skin.
The cuts were releasing a small amount of blood which was speckling the spirits off white shirt, it would be a stupid idea to just cover the wounds.
"Fallow me" the auburn said releasing his companions arm
"Why?" the spirit asked
"Do you remember that pond from the other day?"
After what seemed like endless cycle of wandering duo came across the frozen pond, lined with snow frozen cat tails poked from the icy sheets.
"Just sit down" he tried to command the spirit yet it ended up sounding more like a muffled question
"Fine…" the spirit said uninterested
Icy sheets fracturing into fractals with the mere prod of the childs hand, tearing a short strip from the blanket he allowed the water to absorb ringing it out shortly after before turning back to the frost spirit who was shifting his weight.
"Give me an arm" he said again kneeling
"What exactly do you plan on doing?" the spirit asked reluctant
"Give me an arm and I'll show you"
The second the spirit obliged the auburn grabbed his forearm quick to gently press the dampened fabric against the spirits bruising wounds, feeling the spirit instantly try to retort he use all of his weight and strength to try to keep the spirits arm stationary which was proving to be a real task.
Every time the cloth met the spirits skin he tried to pull back, constantly fidgeting he was beginning to annoy the auburn.
"Can you please stay still!?" the auburn said annoyed
"Not my fault, the waters bloody cold" the spirit said pouting
"Really? The great Jackol Frosti bringer of winter, one who adores freezing rain is put off by a little cold water?" Hiccup teased
"Sorry didn't realize you were the expert on my mythology, and besides you get a cut covered in freezing water?"
"Yeah actually….last year me and my dragon, Toothless, got lost into a bad snow storm and crashed. My prosthetic broke and part of the wood from it embedded itself in my leg, have to keep it in a bucket of snow and icy water for two hours twice a day just to make the swelling go down" he said not taking his eyes off his work yet his eyes felt heavier
The auburn was brought back from his memories by the spirit carefully patting his shoulder offering a slight smile.
"What's that for?" the auburn asked
"No reason"
The auburn peered down again, the spirits wrists were still a blood stained mess but they were less of mess then they had been twenty minutes ago. Picking up the blanket he tore a long strip before wrapping it around the spirits wrist, then picking up a stick which stretched from the spirits palm to halfway down his forearm he wrapped his arm again. Wrapping the spirits other arm he stood back pleased with his work.
The spirit instantly stood up sending the auburn backwards on his elbows, maintaining a straight and stiff figure the pain in his wrists had seemed to subside. Holding onto the staff was still a chore it at least brought hope they may go back to how they were before.
His mind instantly jumped from the healing process to magic with his wrists bound in a stationary position would he still be able to use magic? Raising his free left hand he stared intently, mentally preparing to create a snow storm.
"Don't even think about it!" the auburn proclaimed dragging him out of his moment
"Why not?"
"You're going to hurt yourself even more"
"I'll be fine!"
"Jack I said no"
"But…"
"At least give it a few days"
"Fine, you're no fun" he pouted
"Haven't heard that before" the auburn said sarcastically
"You worry too much, not like I can die or anything"
"Okay, so if we're going to continue whatever in Thor's name we're doing you need to explain to me what's going on"
"What do you want to know?" the spirit asked sitting cross legged a few feet above the ground
"What was with the nightmare horses, the seen foot rabbit, and you w-what's up with you?" he said talking a mile a minute
"Well to go in chronological order, the nightmare horses belong to Pitch, the kangaroo you saw earlier is named Bunnymund….I think. He, North, Toothina, and Sandy are all guardians which mean they are granted powers by the moon to do assorted jobs, like collect teeth, produce dream sands, and give out presents come Christmas. I'm not a guardian, there are lesser versions our there somewhere who aren't quite as important which I kinda fall into"
Gazing over at the auburn all he got was a confused expression, complete and utter confusion not one lick of what the spirit said seemed to make sense. All the facts floated around his brain like north magnets should be able to work together and form one shape yet when they even got near they would retract forcing the other to jump away.
"T-th-that makes no sense" the auburn began
"Who's Pitch and everyone else, whats dream sand, and whats Christmas?" he continued
"Oh right you Vikings pretty much live under rocks" the spirit remarked
The comment only earned him a less than impressed glare from the Viking, they didn't live under rocks they just weren't able to see many other tribes before the dragons came along
"Anyways Pitch goes by many names 'Nightmare King' and 'The Boogey Man' are two of them he brings bad dreams I believe something along those lines. North is also known as Santa Claus and brings toys to children on December 24th also known as Christmas, a lot like Snozzeltauff" he said trying to relate to something Hiccup knew
The auburn awkwardly nodded shifting his weight from one leg to the other, listening intently
"Toothina who is also known as the Tooth Fairy in some parts of the world exchanges lost baby teeth for coins, but only reveals herself to people who believe in her. Sandy also known as the Sand Man corrects children's dreams, ensuring they don't have nightmares. And finally the Easter kangaroo delivers eggs to cities, towns, and villages for children to find, it's kinda like a game" he explained
"Kinda but you've mentioned the moon a few times, what role does it play?"
"I'm not really sure, I know it creates guardians and such but he only ever spoke to me once. No matter how many times I ask he remains silent simply staring" he said gazing up at the night sky
"What did he say?"
"He just told me my name was Jackul Frosti, nothing more nothing less"
Hey everyone,
Sorry I took so long my computer managed to crash and I lost everything, so yeah enjoy what I was able to find
Love Luna
