The opposing raiding party had no clue what to expect. All that they knew was that they were on a hot trail to a new village to raid and conquer. They did not expect the sudden fog that came around them out of nowhere. When a man found one of the pillars, he didn't even have a chance to shout a warning when a rival raider ran in and jammed his head through a vicious spike.

A primal scream erupted from the opposing raiding party's leader as a cry for vengeance. The rival leader gave a cold smile, as he charged into the fray with his men. With the ice crystals used for their advantage, it was easy to make short work of them. Jack watched everything with a cold form of satisfaction. Then he glanced to the outer ring of his trap to find a man running off. It was not a man I allied with. At the childish grin that he got to play, he swooped in for the kill.

"I don't think so," he snarled and knocked him down with a chilling blast of cold. "Why are you here? I'm sure I'll find out myself, but I want to know from your words."

"S-s-scouting…" the man shivered.

"For what?" Jack smirked.

"F-f-f-food…"

"And you couldn't simply ask for help?" he grimaced. At the pasty color the man started to turn, Jack then asked with soft, cruel hiss, "Are you cold?"

When the man stopped moving, Jack twitched a grin and smashed the frozen body to pieces. Stretching himself out, he now studied what the man wore. On noting the furs, he did pluck one small amulet from the frozen and shattered corpse. McGreggor may be able to tell where it came from. At the sudden shout that the fight was done, Jack lifted the fog. He walked over to where the opposing leader was pinned to the ground. His shoulder was pierced all the way through from an icy spike.

"Heathens!" the man hissed. Then he screamed when Jack reached down and dug his thumb into the bleeding wound to squeeze it.

"Why are you here?" Jack asked with a sadistic giggle.

"You're Satan!" the man grunted.

"No. You can call me Jack," he grinned. "Jack Frost, that is. Father Winter. The same one that set up this little party for you. I didn't like how you were intruding into an area that I protected. I want to know…why? If you're truthful, maybe…just maybe! I'll let you live."

"Frost…" the man gaped. "You are…the devil…!"

"No. That's a complete different story you're weaving. If I was a devil, then where's my pitchfork? Where's my tail or horns? And I thought devils need heat. Not cold," Jack mused. "Anyways, stop changing the subject. Why did you bring your disgusting ilk here?"

"Where else was I to go?" the man winced. "Food was scarce. Trade is scarce. We needed to survive! What more is there for me to say?!"

"So…you don't have a village you belong to?" he asked.

"Why should I?!" the man scowled. Jack removed his hand from the now frozen limb. The man looked at what was his arm and gaped with complete fear.

"Take your men back to your village. I'll take care of this one," Jack muttered.

"My kill!" the raider leader spat. "I'll loot what I need to, too!"

"Done. Kill him now," Jack said and stepped back. The raider grinned wickedly and made short work. Then the body was looted. Jack was only too happy to have gotten the amulet from the man that tried to run. When they nodded that the work was done, the ice diamonds the men possessed vanished. Then the nasty pillars of ice crumbled to nothing. At the mild glare to the men, they knew it was time for them to leave. Nodding their thanks at letting them live, Jack snorted and let the wind carry him off.

He went straight to the smithy and walked in. Clifton was roasting a haunch of meat over the excess heat that the forge gave out. McGreggor looked over at the amulet that was dropped on the counter and walked over to it.

"What's that?" Clifton frowned.

"A trinket I found off of one of the opposing party before I smashed in the body," Jack smirked. "Do you know exactly where it came from and who made it?"

"Hmm," the Master Smith thought, as he picked up the small golden amulet. On studying it with a critical eye, he sighed. "I know who made this, but it wasn't me. A fellow colleague of mine in the eastern lands did this. He's as skilled as I am, but I haven't seen him in a few years. He crafts gems as well as I work with steel. I think his name was Master Dulfilo."

"Really?" Jack thought. "Maybe I should have him come here, too."

"If you can find him! He doesn't tend to the populace anymore," McGreggor grumbled.

"I found you. Didn't I?" Jack grinned. That had the Master Smith thinking.

"If you can find him, I can help him make a shop. With all the raids happening, maybe it's time he came out of hiding. Oh. Take this with you, if you choose to search," the man said and pulled out his small trademark symbol of a cast iron anvil made from steel. "He'll recognize that."

"That I will," Jack nodded and pocketed both amulets. "Who normally owns the amulets?"

"Apprentices. Wait. You mean to tell me that the man you killed had this on him?! Either it was stolen, or the man went bad!" McGreggor winced. "It had to have been stolen. Only way."

"I wouldn't doubt it," Jack agreed. "The man looked hardened before he froze over, but he looked nothing like a craftsman should. Anyways, I'll start my search for your possible counterpart."

"You do that," he nodded. Clifton was still tending to the meat when Jack left. Jenna's house was the next stop. He didn't even have to knock on the door when she opened it for him. He walked in with a small smile, and she hugged him tight.

"The kids are napping," she sighed.

"Good. I have to travel for a bit. The attackers are done. The other raiders have left. If anything happens, you call on me. I mean it," he said. She nodded, and he kissed her hard. He took in a deep breath and released it slowly, as he held her. A kiss was pressed to her temple, and he backed away. I need to try and find this person. The faster I do, the faster I can get back to her.

"I miss you, Jack," she winced. He smiled and gazed into her blue-tinged brown eyes.

"I know. I miss you, too," he admitted. He swallowed hard and refocused. "I'll see about bringing you back a gift of chocolate. Okay?"

"I would like that," she blushed.

"Eat some more elk. You need the meat," he said.

"It's…too cold for me to go out now…" she trembled with a frown. He looked at her with another hard swallow. Oh, how I hate that how she lost her immunity to feel such a thing! He quickly bolted out the door to grab a decent sized chunk of meat for her to bring back in. Setting it on a fur to thaw a bit, she nodded. Then he thought and had her bring him the spit. He skewered it neatly for her to keep her from having to touch a cold roast. Only after he saw she had it over the fire did he nod.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," he promised. He let her pull him close to kiss with a wild form of passion that he clearly missed. Pushing her away, he was out the door. When she touched his tunic just before he vanished, he stiffened. This was his weakness with her. If she touched any part of him before he had to leave, he simply couldn't go. "Jenna. I have to go."

"Please, Jack…" she whimpered.

"You are not immune to me anymore!"

"I don't care!" she gasped through her tears.

"It would be risky!" he argued.

"I just…please…" she begged. He turned to face her and kissed her hard as though to calm her down. Making sure the furs were in place, he lifted her up to carry her to the bed. Only then did he stop himself with a gasp for control. Her hands were gripping onto his tunic to keep him close.

"Jenna," he said with a hard tremble. "I'll make a deal with you."

"No. No deals," she muttered and pulled him down to kiss with a wild abandon. He wanted to give in. He almost gave in. He fought for control and won.

"When I get back, Jenna," he whispered a chill breath in her ear. "We can…try when I get back."

"No," she growled and kissed him again. A low groan escaped him, but, once again, he was saved by the cry of a child in the other room. "No! Please!"

"When I get back," he vowed. "I…promise you…"

"You promise?" she swallowed. He nodded with a solemn look. Only then was she able to let go of his tunic. And only then did he press a desperate kiss on her mouth before bolting from the house. Now that he was safe in the folds of the wind, a part of him felt denied. Another part of him felt afraid. He didn't know what would happen if he was with her. It was possible that I might not be compatible, but would I hurt her? He simply didn't know. Even now, as he traveled the eastern winds, he was still quite worried. In the end, he pushed it aside. Such a thing will be something I'll work on in time. Right now, I have someone to find and recruit. The village needs my help.