Thanks to all of you guys for your support. I am glad to know that you have enjoyed my description and that I am doing fine. Thanks dovelies!

Pitch got a little to sweet for my tastes in these last two chapters... Do forgive.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians.

Awakening, I found myself alone on the bed; not even an indention in the fabric to prove that anyone had, in fact, been beside me. A deep chill had settled in my bones as I pushed away the covers and climbed out of the bed. As I tried to get out of the bed, the sheet wrapped around my ankle and tripped me. Cursing, I fell forward and smashed my head against one of the obsidian walls. Collapsing to the ground, I saw stars. And...snowflakes?

"Artie."

"Artemis?"

"Artie wake up."

"Come on!"

"I'm not going to carry you."

"Get up!" a sharp smack across the face pulled me back into reality, my eyes snapping open to see the culprit. Snow white hair shocked me out of whatever drowsy state I had come to in, the bright color seeming so foreign now. Pale skin, shockingly familiar to me, came into view as I was helped into a sitting position. I could see the vibrant blue of his sweater frosted over with thin, white trails of ice. His iridescent appearance seemed out of place in this land of muted shades and gold.

"Jack? Am I dreaming?" I muttered, one hand going to my neck and massaging out the cramped muscles. It felt like waking up after sleeping on the couch. Jack dragged me most of the way off of the bed. The winter spirit began trying to get me to stand, obviously in a hurry. Looking around the room, I saw that I was still in Pitch's bedroom.

"No. Now come on. We need to get you out of here," Jack got me to my feet, wrapping an arm around my waist to support me. Only then did I realize how weak I felt. My stomach clenched, begging me for food in its silent, painful way. "Hold onto me as tight as you can."

"Where's Pitch?" I asked, trying not to fall back into unconsciousness as I wrapped one arm around him to clutch the hood on his blue hoodie. The fabric was surprisingly rough Not replying to me, Jack took off into the air and we began speeding down the winding halls of Pitch's home. The wind whipped my hair back and out of my face. My feet hovered above the ground, occasionally brushing against it whenever Jack dipped too low. I struggled against the white haired boy's grasp. "Jack! Tell me where Pitch is!"

"Right here," the familiar voice sounded as the shadows melted away at the end of the hall to reveal Pitch. Two of the large horse Nightmares joined him, one on each side of the Nightmare King. Before Jack could even stop, one of the Nightmares lurched forward and towards us. Jack let out a battle cry, shooting a blast of ice at the Nightmare. Just as that one fell, the second one surprised him as it charged into him. Crying out in shock, I slipped out of Jack's grip and tumbled to the floor. Rolling onto my back, I barely had time to move out of the way of Jack's staff as it landed by my side.

"Artemis!" Jack yelled and I looked up to see him pinned to the floor by one of the larger Nightmares about ten feet away. His eyes were on the staff, hand outstretched in its direction. Without thinking, I turned and lifted the staff in my right hand with the intentions to give it to him. The freezing chill that crept down my hand and through my arm took my breath away, my breath turning to mist as it left my mouth. It was as if I thrust myself arm first into a brutal Alaskan winter.

"No!" Pitch roared and I felt the staff leave my hand as he knocked it away. My hand was covered in frost, the underneath part having turned blue as if frozen. I couldn't feel it, and that terrified me. The ice began to melt away as I brought my hand to my chest and it warmed gradually. The bones ached beneath the skin. Gasping, I looked to where the staff had now landed. Pitch was between the staff and me, his back ramrod straight. His head turned to face Jack and I saw the anger glittering in his dark, golden eyes. "Kill him."

"Wha- No!" I went into action, scrambling to my feet and throwing myself at the Nightmare that had Jack pinned. I was afraid. Scratch that. I was terrified as I wrapped my arms around its neck and pulled with what remained of my strength. My heart pounded in my ears and before I could react I was thrown off by the creature, my back hitting a wall with a loud 'crack'.

"Artemis!" two voices shouted at the same time, one young and concerned, the other angry and betrayed. My eyes went to Pitch as he glared at me. Turning away from me, the Nightmare King walked into the shadows as if the previous fight had never taken place, kicking the staff over to Jack as he went. I didn't understand the sudden mood change in the Boogeyman, but I had no time for contemplation as Jack gripped my hand and pulled me back onto my feet.

"Let's go before he changes his mind," Jack grunted, lifting us up into the wind with apparent ease even though he had a shiny bruise forming on his cheek. Looking back at the spot where Pitch had disappeared, I felt a pang in my chest that I couldn't identify the reasoning for. Exhausted, I returned my grip to his hood and let the wind take me away with Jack.

We ended up passing the cages at one point, my cage swinging slightly. For some reason, I wanted to reach out, touch the cool metal one last time. Shaking that thought off, I tried to remain awake as we traveled. Soon, we broke surface through some hole under a rickety old bed frame, the fresh air almost burning my throat. Sunlight, a stranger to me for far too long, greeted me with its warmth.

Pitch (shortly after the cuddle scene)

I looked down at her, eyes trailing down her form as I stood from the bed. Artemis's small stature always surprised me. She looked dreadful at the moment, clothes tattered and dirt smudged and body growing thin and pale. It wouldn't be long, I knew that much. If I didn't feed her again soon, the inevitable would happen. Moving across the room, I dismissed that train of thought and exited my chambers. I roamed my halls, searching for the ancient and rarely used kitchen. I would need to cook something for her in order to prolong her fate. Locating it, I began rummaging for something edible. Finding nothing, I muttered a curse before leaving to go get more of that fast food she seemed to have been fine with last time.

When I returned to my chambers, Artemis was nowhere to be seen and I could feel the unnatural chill in the air. Jack Frost was here. Melting into the shadows, I set the food on one of the nightstands next to my bed. Growling, I wound through the shadows as quickly as possible, consulting with them as to where the winter spirit was. The daft fool didn't know what he was doing by taking Artemis now.

Artemis

At some point in the flight, I fell asleep. I awoke in a soft bed, one with plush red covers and feather stuffed dark green pillows. The wide array of colors was surprising and strange in contrast to my previous bleak surroundings. Even after the much needed nap, I still felt exhausted. If it was possible, I felt even worse. Something warm, soft, and wet was pressed to my forehead. There was a slight scuffle outside an oak door and I turned my silver eyes to it. The crystal knob, beautifully designed with what looked to be snowflakes falling endlessly in its interior, turned and opened to reveal a very colorful woman that resembled a hummingbird crossed with a fairy and a rainbow holding a bowl of soup.

"Oh! You're awake! I knew you would wake up soon. Here I brought you soup!" she fluttered around excitedly, causing me to scrunch my eyebrows in confusion as she set the tray that held the over-sized bowl of soup on my lap after I had shifted into a sitting position. Watching her warily, I picked up a spoon and began eating the soup. My throat hurt as the burning liquid ran down it.

"Tooth? North is calling a meeting," Jack poked his snowy white head in the door, giving me a slightly concerned look before leaving.

"You're the Tooth Fairy?" I looked back to the fluttering creature. She looked to me and nodded, grinning.

"I'll be right back!" she zipped out of the room and left me alone. I shifted a bit on the bed, not liking the sudden abandonment without explanation. I moved to rise from the bed and felt my muscles protest. A wave of heat washed over me and my vision blurred. I blinked the splotches out of my vision and settled back into my spot. Gingerly, I attempted to eat the soup.

The Guardians' Meeting

North looked grim, almost as grim as he had when Pitch had resurfaced, when Jack and Tooth arrived. Bunnymund was looking down at his boomerang, his expression just as grim as North's. Even the elves and yeti could tell that something was wrong. Whatever it was, was obviously troubling the two Guardians.

"So what's going on?" Jack asked, freezing a random elf as he passed it. North looked at the elf, than at Frost.

"Your friend. She is not well," North told him, Russian accent making the sentence all the more stilted.

"I know that, but she'll get be-"

"No," Bunnymund turned his gaze to the two winter spirits, that one word dropping on Jack and silencing him mid-sentence. "She's dying, mate."

Bomb dropped... I apologize. I intended this to be longer... It is kind of long, in a way. Do forgive. I do have a plan! One that involves much longer chapters!