The whirling sand quickly dropped Jamie on Bunnymund, who muttered under his breath at her sudden appearance. He set her down and asked what happened.
"Shadows! Shadows attacked us!"
His eyes shot wide, and he removed his parka. "Pitch. Hold tight, Jamie."
He grasped her hand, pulled her onto his back, and shot into the night. In no time, he gathered Jack and North and led them to Sandman. Several of the shades held down one of his whips as he lashed out with the other, driving them back some. Bunnymund's hands shot to his hips, withdrew a pair of boomerangs, and launched one at the inky minions, mowing a good dozen down before returning to his hand. Shrill screams erupted from them as they vanished. Jamie slipped from his back and clutched her head. Something about the sound made her shiver. Sandman backed closer to the other guardians as an ominous pause settled over the fearlings.
"Dibs on the big one," Jack called as he readied his staff.
North grabbed his shoulder. "You protect Jamie. We will handle the fearlings."
"What? No! I'm here," Jack said, "and I'm helping take these freaks down."
A dark chuckle echoed in the street. Jamie's blood turned cold. A dark man with brilliant eyes stood on a tall shade's shoulder.
"Well, well," he said, "isn't this a lovely sight? All the guardians right here. How pleasantly surprising."
"Pitch," Bunnymund muttered as he caught his boomerangs.
"In the flesh." Pitch smiled wide. "And you brought Jamie with you. Wonderful!"
"How do you know my name?" she half-screamed at the man.
"A shame," he said as his smile vanished. "I was hoping you'd remember me."
"Jack, take Jamie and get," Bunnymund said lowly. "We'll take care of him."
Jack growled, tightening his grip on Twinetender. Jamie grabbed his jacket. He spun around and lept skyward with her in one arm. Jamie watched Pitch over his shoulder. The Nightmare King snarled at them, then returned his attention to the others.
North drew one sword and palmed a snowglobe as he stared down Pitch. A crooked smile suddenly crossed the shadowy face.
"Oh, but where is our sweet Tooth Fairy?" Pitch asked. "Lying down on her job?"
A hiss met his words as all three guardians drew a sharp breath. North slammed the globe on the asphalt. Sandman lashed out with both whips. Bunnymund flung his boomerangs at the army.
Pitch laughed gently, truly amused by the trio.
"I'd love to stay and chat," he told the creature he stood on, "but I have a different matter to attend to. Do take care of these 'goody-goodies' for me?"
The nightmare man nodded. Pitch smiled, effortlessly dodging one of Bunnymund's boomerangs and stepping back. As he fell, his fingers reached up to stroke a thin gold chain around his neck before he slipped silently into the shadows.