Sorry for the delay, guys! This is a bit longer than usual, so hope it makes up for that. I will say that I have some pretty exciting things planned and I can't wait to get to writing! Please review and as always, let me know how I can improve. Love you guys! Every review, no matter how small, makes me feel like a million bucks!
Upon seeing the lush mountains surrounding the Tooth Palace, I noticed similarities between the color of the fairies' feathers and the plants that overtook the great peaks like weeds. Though there were no flowers peppering the terrain like in the Warren, it didn't make the landscape any less beautiful. The setting sun lit it all in pastel colors that felt warm and comfortable to behold. It was towards one of the tallest of the peaks that we flew. With the clouds dispersed now, I could see into the canyons below. The distance looked impossibly far: my stomach gave a bit of a lurch in response.
Below, I noticed a quickly moving steak of silver. Wolf, I realized with elation. Boy, was he fast! Taking on the slopes like a sure-footed mountain goat, my horse-sized canine bounded from ledge to ledge like a champ. I was going to point out his skill to Jack when I saw he still looked rather somber. Baby Tooth saw me looking and could only offer a small shrug.
"You okay, Jack?" I asked hesitantly.
Those blue eyes of his looked…tortured. He opened his mouth as if to answer, but could find no words. I squeezed his hand in reassurance. "I know," I told him. I knew how he felt and what he was thinking about. That look had been confirmation. The fairies. Neither of us had really given much thought to where they came from. To know now seemed almost disheartening. There were so many! Did he see them as a failure on our part? That the Guardians couldn't protect them? I had thought it only for a moment, but that would have placed blame upon the shoulders of those I loved and adored, and so was easily able to dismiss it. But did he blame himself? I hoped not.
He seemed to perk up when Baby Tooth chattered in his ear and flew ahead, greeting other fairies with high-pitched chirps. I found myself mesmerized as Tooth led us into a gaping cavern in the great peak. Inside, carved golden stalactites clung to the roof of the cavern, spiraling down before stopping at a sharp point. Brightly colored tiles decorated each in beautiful patterns even on the various platforms. There were seven of these great monoliths – one for each continent. Fairies zoomed in and out of the yawning cavern ferrying teeth to small, golden containers that contained the memories of each child they were harvested from.
Rather than land on any of the available platforms, Tooth zoomed down to a crystalline pool surrounded by flowering purple trees where a group of fifteen or so fairies hovered excitedly. Jack and I followed, landing on the cool rock with our bare feet. As soon as we were on the ground, Jack retreated, hopping up onto one of the stones and bracing his head against his staff. Wolf landed beside me with a solid thump, his tongue lolling from his mouth from his run. He paused, shooting a look at Jack. Rather than picking the farthest place possible from the white-haired boy to lie, Wolf sat fairly close. It was a first for him to voluntarily do so and I wondered if Wolf sensed Jack was upset.
I wasn't going to let Jack be not-Jack! He was supposed to be the personification of fun! I knew I had best remind him. I knelt next to the vibrantly blue pool before cupping my hand into the waters and splashing in the Guardian's direction. He blinked with surprise before I saw that full-smile come back. "Hey!" he complained even as I grinned.
"Is this everyone? Is this everyone?" Tooth asked, darting around to count the fairies just to be certain. Despite now knowing their origins, just seeing the fairies flitting about with such bright smiles helped me not to pity them. What was done was done. The best thing to do was help them feel welcome to their new home and teach them the ropes. "Okay, I think we have everyone." Tooth smiled, relieved to have something going well. Was she always so pressed for time and strained? I made a mental note to get her out more often.
"Everyone, this is Jack, Alice, and Wolf. They've kindly offered to help with your training!" At that, the fairies gave a chorus of trills and squeals of delight. I smiled, Wolf huffed at the high-pitched noises he heard too well, and Jack looked almost back to normal! At the very least, that sadness was eradicated from his eyes.
"Happy to help," Jack told them.
And there went all their attention spans. The fairies saw his sparkling white teeth and immediately hovered around his face like a wreath, each trying to get the best view while trying to maintain altitude. "Ladies, ladies!" Tooth called, clapping her hands gently. The action made me think of my kindergarten teacher who'd often had to catch our attentions whenever our mouths ran away from us when she was trying to talk. The fairies calmed, but I caught a few looking back at Jack, completely star struck. I chewed on my bottom lip to battle back the smile – a bad habit, I knew.
While Tooth began explaining a few of the basics to her fairies, I found myself looking across the pool to a beautiful mural on the stone wall. The colors were truly brilliant, depicting red and pink robed children offering comically large teeth to Tooth. Maps were also painted in circles angled like the points of a triangle. The mini fairies were also depicted of the same vibrant colors. Did Tooth paint this? I found myself wondering.
I was so wrapped up in thoughts that I nearly jumped out of my skin when a silky purple petal landed on my nose. I heard a snicker from behind me and turned in time to see Jack pulling his staff closer to himself and away from the flowering tree above, his face the picture of innocence. On Jack, that expression just screamed guilty! Rather than acknowledge my own guiltiness of not paying attention, I idly scratched Wolf behind the ears while tuning in to what Tooth was saying. She was currently detailing where it was they were to go and I lit up at the mention of a town. Melena lived there!
Again, my attention span plummeted and I thought on the little girl. Was she doing any better after Sandy had given her dreams again? Was she still being bullied? More than anything, I hoped not. She deserved some kindness from life after the hard knocks she'd been given. I felt for her: truly. With what I had been through with Pitch myself, I could very easily imagine her situation and empathize. It didn't seem any better than what I'd dealt with.
"Alice." I jolted at my name, looking up at the hovering Tooth with embarrassment. If she hadn't noticed my lack of attention before, she certainly had now. But rather than call me out on it, she passed me a small leather satchel. It was heavier than I'd been expecting for such a small thing! Giving a jingle, I realized it was filled with quarters. "Would you and Wolf mind leading them there? I believe you're familiar with the place." She gave a wink as if to show there were no hard feelings for not listening closely before.
"Of course!" I replied. Wolf stood even as I made to vault onto his back. It was a flawless, well-practiced movement though we'd only been together a few days compared to the years that it felt like. He was as in tune with me as I was with my imagination!
"Baby Tooth and I will help, too," Jack offered, using his staff to help him stand. "Right?" The fairy nodded her head helpfully.
"That's great and – oh!" Tooth stopped mid-sentence as if she suddenly remembered something neglected before dashing off without so much as a farewell. I giggled, not in the least offended. I knew she and Sandy were the busiest of the Guardians considering they had things to do all the time. Of course, it didn't diminish the importance of the others, but I wasn't going to be hurt by something as silly as not getting a goodbye.
"Alright, guys! Stick close," I told them, leaning over Wolf's back. I didn't even have to tell him to go before he was leaping up the stones towards the exit. When he wavered for a moment to plan his descent down the mountain side, I had a moment of dizziness. The distance was enough to have my stomach rolling uncomfortably, but I merely clung tighter to Wolf's fur and trusted in his abilities while gripping the satchel of coins in one hand. Once back on open terrain, he moved with such agility that even Jack had a bit of trouble keeping up! I laughed, urging him faster as I was eager to see Melena again.
Alright, I had to give Wolf his credit. Flying was awesome, but even restricted here on the ground as he was, he knew how to fly in his own right. The speeds at which he could move would have been frightening had I not trusted in him completely. Looking at the ground as he ran, the grass was little more than a blur of green. Racing through forests, leaping over streams, we made good time. When familiar homes came into view, Wolf finally slowed and I looked back to let out a laugh when I caught sight of the fairies. Their eyes were wide, the cheeks puffing out with the effort of keeping up with us. For the most part, they were no worse for the wear.
With night fallen already, it was now or never. Still on Wolf, I angled him to curl back towards the fairies to address them. "Okay, does everyone know their assignment?" I asked. Affirmative squeaks sounded from all, relieving me since I hadn't paid enough attention to remember for them. I looked uncertainly to Jack. "Should we split up then?" I asked him.
"Sure! I'd wager a race, but probably not the best idea for their first outing," he said, leaning his head against his staff while looking up at me.
"Probably not," I teased before remembering myself. "Oh, here!" I lifted the satchel for the fairies to see before opening it for them. "Don't forget to leave one for each tooth you find, okay?" They nodded, their expressions excited and ready to go.
Baby Tooth flitted from Jack's shoulder to pip at the other fairies, grabbing their attention. After a moment, she turned to Jack and I, using extravagant hand signals to communicate that she would take some and meet us back here. Ten of the fifteen flew off with her, trusting the seasoned tooth collector over Jack and I.
The five left looked somewhat nervous. "Hey, it's okay!" I assured them. "It's going to be just fine. Split yourselves up. A few with me, a few with Jack." They did so rather quickly. Three hovered near him – and his snow-white teeth – while the remaining two landed on each of Wolf's ears.
"Good luck!" Jack wished me. He waved is staff in lieu of his hand before flying up and letting his fairies lead him to their assignments while mine trembled uneasily on their perches.
"Are you afraid?" I asked them gently. Receiving muted nods, I leaned closer to nuzzle each with my nose before pressing a soft kiss to both of their heads. "It's okay to be afraid. You need only be brave and face that fear." While my words could only offer so much comfort, the pair seemed to take strength from them and each little face was fixed with such determination that I found myself moved.
They lifted their little bodies into the air, those pretty wings humming with the speed at which they flapped. The pair zoomed towards a house and I found my heart lifting upon recognition. Of all the luck! "Wolf," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "Do you see where we're going?" I asked. His grunt of reply was hardly excitable, but I was pleased enough for the both of us. The night was only just beginning.
