Starting to catch up! I do not own RoTG or GoC
Jack cannot remember not having his staff, not hearing its voice as it teaches him to sing to the wind. Twinetender has been his constant companion, ever since he woke up that night, so long ago.
Like him, Twinetender doesn't remember who he was, or what his original name was. The only thing that he remembers is waking up to the sound of a thousand voices, coursing through the branches beside him.
Jack knows better than to touch on lives before. His own empty past nags at him too much to hurt his friend that way. But sometimes, Jack is jealous. At least Twinetender has an idea of what he was.
The staff has told him many times about the ceremonies and funeral that he witnessed prior to his cutting. About brave Mohican warriors cutting stout staves for shaping into bows, and about weeping crowds clustered around the roots, lowering bodies into the ground, and of new voices joining the song.
But Jack cannot remain jealous for long. Jack can move about, or act in his defense. If they are ever separated, Twinetender cannot stop anyone from using him for firewood.
His friend's helplessness is something that he always bears in mind. And when Pitch demands his staff, in exchange for a tooth fairy life, Jack is torn.
Baby Tooth says no, to never give in to Pitch, not to give it to him. Twinetender says yes. The life of a staff is nothing compared to hers.
So Jack reluctantly surrenders Twinetender. He does not expect Pitch to break him.
The staff cries out in pain and shock, and Jack does the same. It is like a physical blow, hurting both of them in ways they didn't know that they could be. Overwhelmed by the sudden silence of his friend, Jack does not notice Pitch's attack. Nor does he care.
And alone at the bottom of the crevasse, Jack cannot help but feel to blame. He destroyed the faith of children, hurt those who would protect them. And now Baby Tooth cannot fly, and Twinetender lies broken.
Later, when he recovers his memories, and manages to mend the staff with the echo of a spell, when he hears Twinetender's voice singing to the wind once more…
Jack cannot help but sing along.
Knowing that Jack's staff has a name, and is alive? Completely changes the scene where he surrenders it. Because he's not just giving up his weapon. He's exchanging one friend for another. And when Pitch breaks it? Ouch.