Author´s Note: Kept on you over the embers, haven´t I? How naughty of me, XD. Well, is like when the movie goes interesting and the screen goes black to keep you eating your nails! But fear not, cuz here we come to unveil what comes next! Oh, and as a little tip, that famous asteroid called Apophis would be Nazo´s lair (Apophis was the darkness and chaos snake for the Egyptians).
I want to read Sandman´s book!
10. Dark Star
Jack and the others look around trying to see where Sandy has gone but there isn´t a single clue. A loud meow is heard and the youngster spots again the cat that was near Haku but he´s not alone. There´s a large creature beside him. It is nothing like they have seem before.
It is as big as a yeti and it walks on his four paws, although his arms are as big as a tree´s trunk. The feline meows and they walk towards the group, it is then when Jack sees how really tall the creature is. Real furry in white and gray with black stripes, and five three taller than him, has a round rag face, two long ears, black markings around the eyes and a bushy cat tail. The hands are covered by long white fur sleeves, as big as the boy´s head and with four clawed fingers.
"So, it is you guys making all that noise. I should have known" his voice is calm, soothing but strong.
"Neko" the older guardians do know him. "Cait" they glance at the cat.
"What brings you guys here? I don´t recall summoning you"
"Nazo. He´s around this area and just now Sandy has went missing" Tooth smiles.
"Hold that word, Nazo´s here? Well, that would explain why so many black thoughts are lurking around this area" mumbles the giant.
"Eh, excuse me but who or what are you exactly?" interrupts Jack and the hairy hand picks him up into the air.
"Jack Frost. Now, I was starting to wonder where were you. Your antics often give me trouble"
"Uh"
"I´m Neko, a giant. I watch the rooftops at night with my cats so that children sleep well. More questions" he sits down.
"And him?"
"I think you can introduce yourself, mate"
"Obviously. Thanks, Big Guy. Name´s Cait Sith. King of Cats, Spirits and a long etcetera that is with the honourable title of Leader of the Invisibles among many others. And you are Jack Frost, winter spirit and golly good prankster" says the feline. His voice is a more tough, but gentle and smart. Jack notices at least two accents in his talking: Spanish and Scottish.
"You are that big honcho North said? You are pretty small"
"Do I hit him? Or do I let you splash him?" Cait and Neko grin at each other.
"Never mind that. Uh..." Jack glances at Haku who is looking at some dark streets. "Guys" the youngster points at the same place.
"What?"
"I think the little guy has a clue" they all look at the same place and some strange dark clouds strike at them.
"Bloody crikey! I hate thes´mates!" Bunny starts the attack.
"If they are here, then we must be near Sandy!" says Jack.
"Quick thinking, cujo! C´mon" Cait uses his sense of smell and the two make their way through the shadows while the others stay behind. Neko uses his great strength and Haku stabs them with his sword or paints them away with his water brush. Seeing that it is quite hard to move around, Cait whistles and a shadows steps out from the wall. Jack´s first thought is that the cat has deals with Pitch seeing a large black horse but unlike the Boogey Man´s minions, this one has a fiery burning mane and snorts like the devil. "Introducing Mare, my loyal steed and yes, it´s a nightmare but unlike Pitch´s, his work is to scare evil people and wake you up from time to time as well as help you summon your courage" he smiles and whistles again. The giant steed charges against the dark thoughts and they disappear consumed by the fires of the hooves. Cait jumps to his rump and carries Jack with him. The boy fears that the heat might hurt him but much to his surprise, the coal black skin is as cold as him.
"What are they?"
"Black thoughts also known as obscurities are things people don´t know and thus are later turned into fear. Nazo´s followers although not exactly his minions" answers Cait and Nari catches them up. "Anything in that thing on your face called nose?"
"Yes, right there" the fox points at a dark alley and Cait directs Mare towards it. When they reach it, Jack gets his first vision of Nazo and is one that gives him the creeps. Is a large feathered snake as black as night with lemon yellow eyes. Sandy is between his coils, a bit pale but seems all right. "I hate this guy"
"We´re two. Evening, Naz. How´s the asteroid?"
"Why, Cait... I was starting to wonder when will you come this way. After our last conversation, you surely take your time for the next move" he sounds smooth, empathic.
"Is what chess is about, dear one" Cait speaks polite but he´s clearly pissed off. "You ok, Dream One?" they all feel relief seeing he nods.
"He has just declined my offer but let me tell you that this is far from over. Ta!" and without any other word, the snake becomes smoke and disappears. Sandy seems strangely tired.
"Sandy! You ok?" Jack jumps to his friend´s side. The little man nods and Mare softly rubs its muzzle against the dream creator´s cheek. He smiles and strokes it back. Jack is amazed, why isn´t scared of the steed?
"We should get to the Pole and fast" comments Nari and Jack nods. Sandman tries to complain but he finds no strength to do so. The rest arrive shortly after and they all head for Santoff Claussen with a question burning inside: Of what offer what Nazo talking about and why is Sandy looking so weak?
XXXX
Once there, North and Bunny take Sandman to the infirmary while Jack stays behind with Tooth, Haku, Neko, Cait and Nari.
"He´ll be all right, Jack. Don´t worry" smiles the fairy.
"What about your work, big guy?" the boy looks at the giant.
"Is OK. I told the boys to watch, they can be without me for a while"
"Do you think he...?" another glance towards the infirmary.
"He´s in good hands, Jackie. Bunnymund is a good doctor" smiles Cait.
"Say, uh. What is the centre of you guys?" asks Frost.
"Well..." before he can answer, Cait moves his ears. He has heard a sound coming from behind the door and does not like it one bit.
"The King of Men did not come today.
Waits in the silence of thunder. Perhaps was.
Sleeps on the cliffs and skyscrapers,
who do not let his rain fall.
Breathes agitated, sleepless,
forgetting to relieve the dry land.
Lies on his throne and cries.
The storm broke.
People with umbrellas and mumbling,
as king´s tears wash windows.
The Rainman can only sigh,
sink into your dreams
and imagine that still dawn."
Oh, dear!
What has Cait heard?
Neko, Cait, Mare and Nazo along with Haku belong to me. Neko is from a story book I´m writing, he´s based on the Cat Shepherd of Nocturna (among other things) and the Beast of Lady Ice (Find it in youtube, is so gorgeous!).
More to come.
Next Stop: Dark Side of the Moon