AN: Hello everyone, are you enjoying the updates? How are you all?
Warnings: as per usual, people are eaten.
-and again for legal reasons, I am compelled to say that I do not own ROTG.


Chapter 9

There comes a time when every boy learns to hunt. Twas Jack's time now, and armed in only his staff, did Jack get the chance to feel the thrill of the hunt. When next dusk came, he had been led out to the forest. To the deepest and thickest portion of the forest did they go. "We will begin with the subtle approach," Pitch had said upon arrival, as he gave Jack a roll of twine and a few sticks. "Patience is the first virtue of hunting, Jack, and there is little more patient than waiting for a snare to spring." It was not days until they emerged from the forest again, and upon their victorious return they brought back both the skin and meat of the forest fauna. That had been a week ago, and Jack had since learned to hunt with spears, daggers and bows. He had found long distance weapons to be of his liking. And with triumph, they had feasted like kings. On the cusp of the next dawn, Pitch had only given Jack adulation, and here Jack felt complete. There existed only one last test.

He and Pitch had left before dusk; they traveled silently on nightmares under a rapidly darkening sky. They had plans for Jack's final test. And though rushed as they were, Jack and Pitch still spared time to scatter the will-o-wisps on the outskirts of the forest. When Jack and Pitch at last arrived in town, they dismounted quickly and their nightmares scattered, they would serve as sentries for tonight's hunt. They waited carefully in the shadows of the buildings whilst Pitch led Jack to their target. Jack questioned why Pitch had led them into town but did not voice his confusion. This was not Burgess at least, so there was no need to worry.
"Jack." Pitch snapped his fingers at the dazed spirit, "Pay attention, our prey is among us."
Jack nodded and crouched beside Pitch, he looked in the direction that Pitch looked and grew confused.
"Pitch, those are peo-"
Pitch clamped a hand over Jack's mouth and shushed him. He glanced down at Jack, a feral look having settled on his features.
"Observe, then do as I do."

Then the spirit was gone. He slunk from the shadows at last, and stood behind the smoking man. Who, oblivious in his maturity missed the world changing around him. Pitch grinned widely, as he materialized his scythe. The nightmare King felt it's heaviness in his hands and raised it high before bringing it down, swiftly, silently and dealing the killing blow. Though he took a moment to come down from his euphoric adrenaline rush, Pitch eventually hefted part of the body over his scrawny shoulders, the other he held loosely in one hand. He returned to Jack, looking triumphant in a speckled layer of "war paint". He glanced down, at the fearful thing that Jack had shriveled into.
"Come, I have taught you what you need to know, their anatomy is very similar to that of the other animals- there is no need for apprehension." Pitch nudged Jack forward, toward another oblivious person. Jack flinched as he was moved.
"What have you done-" he turned, slowly at first as he gained the courage. A frown had grown on Pitch's face, and Jack struggled to move past the debilitating feeling of disappointment.
"What is the problem?" Pitch asked as he called over a nightmare.
"What is the problem?! You just killed a person! They are not food!" Jack yelled. The confusion on Pitch's face cleared only to be replaced with a cold look.
"Your guardian morals still blind you, and your human obligation deafens you. There is nothing to say what a human is or is not. Save your morality and other foolish garbage for someone else, they are nonexistent and unwanted here."
The disappointment was back, and Jack opened his mouth to respond however Pitch opted to ignore him in favor of sending a nightmare off with his kill. Pitch lapped at the spatter on his face, and moved on, the night was not yet over, and he would not let Jack's apprehension stop him from collecting the food he needed to regain his strength.

"Why are you eating people, Pitch?" Jack finally managed as he was led back toward home. The tense and callous atmosphere had not yet dissipated. Pitch held another of his kills tightly as he moved in synch with his nightmares. It was a while before he responded, as he was more interested in scanning the sky
"Hunger is a prominent motivation…" He trailed off, listening to the conveniently timed growl of his stomach.
"The taste as well as the relative convenience of hunting them make humans a wonderful target." Pitch eventually drawled.

"What does it taste like?"

"You should know as it is all that I have been feeding you."
Pitch and Jack returned home. Jack, though unsuccessful in his test today, would not fail again. Of this he was sure.

And Jack was fine with that. Besides, there were many meals to be had with Pitch, and he hoped not to miss a single one.


AN: Hehee, sorry Chibissima, I offer no clarification in this chapter...however answers are not too far away. As usual, reviews are appreciated and I hope you all enjoyed.