The presence of destruction was near, you were so close, but you couldn't pinpoint it, too panicked. Then you heard it, a voice, smooth as honey, usually used for joy and laughter, twisted into a scream of pain. Your heart clenched as you dove into the earth, racing to the origin of the scream. Your vision blurring, you couldn't think straight. Words kept running through your head: Not Jack. No. No. Don't let it be Jack. You felt the large serpent's body above you and you propelled yourself upward, your body smashing him square in the jaw. The beast roared and snapped at you, dodging you summoned something you hadn't used in a long time.
You outstretched on hand over the earth where a sprout suddenly shot up into your hand, growing, the wood twining into a single branch. It shone with a bright white light. The dragon cringed and hissed, narrowing its eyes at it, even you had to squint. A sharp emerald spearhead materialised at the end and the light ceased. You materialised a similar weapon in the other hand in the form of a dagger. Not once did you take your eyes off the beast, nor did it take its eyes off you.
You made the first move, flinging the dagger at it. The dagger buried its blade into its cheek. The Dragon bared its jagged teeth in a sneer, unfazed. Just as it was about to open its mouth thick vines grew from the dagger impaled in its cheek and wrapped around its snout, snapping its mouth shut. He tried to burn it through his thick skin but the vines continued to multiply, replacing whatever he burnt. Distracted, he had loosened his grip on Jack who had managed to free his arms. You noticed his staff on the ground and ran to it.
"Jack!" you called to him, throwing up his staff where he was suspended by the dragon's tail. He just caught it, and you could see he was weak, his arms scorched and burnt. Jack jammed the end of his staff against the dragon's tail and it froze over. Letting out a muffled roar it recoiled its tail and Jack fell limp to the ground, burn marks on his now exposed body. The sight of him fuelled your power and you banged your spear down against the earth.
Vines grew from the ground, from the trees and tied themselves around the serpent-like body. A fissure opened up in the earth and vines snapped, letting the beast fall down into the nether regions of the world. You tapped your spear again the earth again and the earth shifted, closing the fissure.
You ran to Jack on shaky legs and knelt by his side. You lifted his torso delicately and lay his head in your lap, brushing his hair back lightly with your hand. His breathing was weak and he looked like he was struggling to focus his eyes. He smiled at you "I missed you" he said softly, he tried to laugh but it came out a series of violent coughs. You shushed him, "you need rest, help will be here soon" your spear should've summoned the Guardians; it wouldn't be long until they arrived. Jack drifted off into a deep sleep and you rested your forehead on his own. "I'm so sorry" you whispered.
Jack woke up in a bed. He realised he had woken up. He hadn't slept in years. He suddenly remembered why he went to lift the sheets to see the damage but pain shot through the burns. He hadn't noticed Tooth who hovered over to him when he moved "Oh Jack you're awake! We were all so worried about you! How are you? Still in pain?" Jack just nodded, staring at the room he was in, small but cosy with hardwood floors, a fireplace, and a red rug with jolly patterns. "Where am I?" Jack asked, though he had a feeling he already knew. "The North Pole" Tooth paused, tilting her head in concern "you alright Jack, you look worried?" Jack didn't reply, just asked another question "have I been out long?" "Oh no! only a day or two, Terra asked me to check on you when I could and let her know you were going". Jack frowned, "why wouldn't she come and see me herself?" Tooth looked at him with pity, placing her delicate hand on his arm. "Jack, ever since the attack shes been avoiding visiting, I think she feels guilty about it" Jack protested; "but it wasn't her fault!" Tooth squeezed his arm "Jack, just rest for now" she smiled, "I'm sure she'll come and visit you soon." With that she left.
Jack spent days in recovery, healing fast; he had never thought he could be hurt so badly. He saw now that there were loop holes to immortality. Not once did he see Terra walk through that door. Once he felt well enough to walk he left, looking for North. Jack found him tinkering with a toy in his own little space. North looked up when he came in and he spread his arms in welcome "Ah Jack! How are we feeling today?" "Better" Jack replied. Jack noticed how empty his hands felt, clenching and unclenching them. "Where's my staff?" he asked. North hesitated "is...being kept safe"
Jack narrowed his eyes "I need it". North sighed "I cannot let you have it Jack, you are not completely healed yet". "But I need to be out there! I can move now, I'll be fine, I just need to be out there fighting the cause rather than sitting in bed and doing nothing". North walked up to him and placed his big hands on Jack's shoulders "Is for your own good, Terra asked that you heal properly here and be kept safe"
"she hasn't even visited me" Jack said, hanging his head. North shook with laughter, shaking Jack a bit "Not to worry! She will come visit in her own time!" He patter Jacks head and returned to his tinkering, Jack went back to the room he'd been in, knowing there wasn't any use in trying to push North. Days were spent in bed doing nothing, the occasional elf would bring in milk and cookies, but other than that Jack was alone. He had healed completely a few days in but North refused to let him go, saying he still needed protecting. Days were no longer spent healing; rather he spent them trying to get comfortable, shifting this way and that and sighing in frustration. Jack gave up planting his face into the pillow and yelling into it in frustration.
A tinkling laughter came from behind him "being a bit of a teenager, are we?" Jack turned and sat up, finding Terra leaning against the doorway. She came and sat at the end of his bed, "how are you feeling?" "Annoyed" Jack answered, "I've healed already, I'm fine". "But you're still in danger, which is why you're here, I can't let you get hurt again". Jack sighed "that was Exscidium wasn't it?" Terra nodded gravely. "What if he gets to you, Terra?" she smiled, "I'll be prepared"