I apologize for being gone so long. I really am sorry, but I put the story on hold due to some issues with my editor. Mainly he's left my company to join that of Okenshield (Curse you Bilbo and your adorable Hobbit-ness!). T.T And though I hate him with a passion for waiting so long to tell me I understand. I apologize ahead of time if there are more errors than usual, but I thank you for continuing to read. But I'm sure if you're reading this you really don't care, assuming you haven't already skipped ahead, so here's the next chapter. I'll try to post week to biweekly from now on along with my other stories.

Peace, love and what not

- S. Nightly

The hunt had begun an hour ago and Fox had left her companion armed with only his spear and the small fraction of the forceful wind his ever benevolent queen had bestowed upon him. In the back of his mind he did not want to be here. He did not want to hunt through the woods for Jack Frost and in his heart he hoped the spirit would not find him. If not for both their sakes, but his own need to survival. Wolf knew that Fox wanted Jack to get angry and she would make him do anything by extension to see that single goal come to pass. Wolf was but a bystander now; merely a pawn forced to watch behind his own eyes. All he could do was watch and wait. It was unnerving.

Wolf could feel the cold chill of Jack's icy wind around him. He could see the frosted markers he's left on the trees. It was no more difficult than tracking a deer, a wounded one a that, but the worst part of it was why. Why was he making it so easy? Did Fox have the impatience to send him a bloody plume as well? Or was this some elaborate trap? Wolf could feel fear beginning to mount in his heart like never before. Though his body showed no sign of it Wolf was afraid. Not only of what Jack Frost would do to him, but what Fox would make him do in return and what they would do to the world. If he could only speak he would scream out to the woods and beg the spirit forgiveness. Even now Wolf could feel the shadows themselves mocking him. Somewhere within Jack was hiding, biding his time like a true hunter. Any moment now their fight would begin.

"Come out Frost! I know you are here!" His body screamed. "Fight me now!"

No! Be silent! Wolf screamed inside.

Are you asking a question? A strange new voice asked. Or are you attempting the world's softest whisper?

"I will not wait Frost!" The puppet yelled in a sing-song voice. "Come out or I will go find your friends!"

No!

Pump up the volume Wolf. This is your body. The voice commanded.

"Aw… Am I not a good play mate?" A cheerful voice asked from the shadows. "I'll have to fix that."

Wolf felt a cold chill run beneath his feet before something slammed into his shoulder. He was sent barreling down a path of ice. He struggled only to spin himself and make him dizzy. Wolf supposed this was good as Jack didn't seem too upset, though he batted his opponent with his staff as if he were a giant hockey puck. On the other hand, though powerless he still felt as if he was going to be sick to his stomach. When the ice path looped only to stop half way Wolf was slammed on to the frozen ground. Both he and the false consciousness groaned in pain.

"Give up now Wolf." Jack said leaning on his staff. "And we can play a nice game of checkers instead."

The fake growled and jumped to his feet. Waving his spear three wolves appeared and lunged at Jack. The spirit smiled and took up his staff. A thick layer of ice materialized over it turning into a club like baseball bat. In one strike he sent a pile of leaves flying back at their master.

"What else ya got?"

"Aren't you a little old for toys?" The fall spirit chuckled.

"Excuse me." He growled back.

"Oh I forgot. You are eternally a child. One that has to be taken care by your precious Guardians."

The fake Wolf laughed and began to circle Jack. All the while he chewed upon his beliefs. The true Wolf could see Jack was trying not to let it upset him, but his focus was slowly slipping away to anger.

"I suppose it is fitting, they are just as sad. Two fat, old men and a plump rabbit, they should have asked you to join their circus act a long time ago, but you still need more meat on your bones to fit in properly."

Jack furrowed his brow in anger.

Be quiet! Wolf snapped.

That's not going to stop him. The voice sang. Honestly I'm surprised Frost isn't catching on. Even I know a stiff like you doesn't talk so loosely.

"You're forgetting one colorful bird who's going to be picking your teeth out of the forest floor once I'm done with you."

Stop this…Stop it! Wolf cried as the false picked at one of his braids. He was practically waving it at the boy.

Louder, no one can hear you.

"No I remember her. She was the weakest of all." A large tooth smile grew on his face like a weed. "But I will admit, her feathers are colorful."

His hand brushed the turquoise feather in his hair. The blood that stained it had turned a disgusting black color like and ink stain and a pungent scent wafted through the air. Jack's eyes grew wide seeing it. His grip on his staff tightened in response. Jack spoke through his teeth angrily.

"What did you do… WHAT DID YOU DO?!" The winter spirit scream.

The fake only smiled. The real Wolf curled in on himself. He could feel Fox taking her sweet time. She wanted Jack to be as angry as possible before she realized the wind. As she teased he tensed, this was going to hurt more than Wolf could possibly imagine.

"Oh I have touched a nerve." It laughed. "But do not worry…There might be a little piece that you can use for a funeral. If you dig it out of my pet's teeth."

A blast of ice struck Wolf in the chest sending him flying through the woods. It felt as if a blizzard had struck him dead on. In his flight he struck numerous trees and bounced off the ground taking large chunks of land and rocks with him. Wolf swore he hear his bones crack and felt blood pool as it froze in his chest as his broken body finally settled. Wolf consciousness began to fade out, but he could see Jack flying towards him as the fake staggered to his feet. The spirit of winter was glowing with a fearsome white light that burned his eyes. Still he heard the fake speak before darkness took him deep within his thoughts.

"Is that all you have? The dying bird hit harder."

Another strike and the true Wolf was lost to pain. The seeds of war had been sewn and as he was consumed by the darkness Wolf heard Fox's laughter in the back of his mind. A warm sensation surround him, fighting back the cold that dug its fangs deep into his flesh. It was at that moment Wolf knew he had lost. They all had lost.