"The Dawson Branch are sending their Descendant of Bunnymund to just outside the Workshop. Jackie, I suggest you go and wait for them." Said Claire, half focused on us, half focused on tapping at the laptop.

"Gotcha."

Samson followed me to the main door and I went outside into the Arctic.
Without my armour, I quickly noticed the cold. I could handle it, but it was uncomfortable.

I shoved my hands deep into my hoodie pocket and hunched my shoulders to protect my ears, waiting for the earth to collapse nearby. Only when I was this far north could I appreciate why people complained about the cold. I could really use a coat out here.

There was a little snow falling from the sky, but not nearly enough to be a storm. While I waited I manipulated the snowflakes, feeling my temperature drop and making the surrounding temperature not feel as bad.

After what felt like an age the earth collapsed, but no one popped out. I leaned over the hole to see a large figure waiting in the Tunnel.

"What are you waiting for?" They called up with the usual Australian accent. "It's bloody freezing!"

I looked over my shoulder and beckoned a very bundled up Samson outside. He used his sand to get across the ice and dropped down into the Tunnel, with me not too far behind.

"North of Yukon, right Mr Tramarco, Miss Davies?"

I shook off the uneasiness at the formality with the snow that had settled on me.

"That's the place. Supposedly a large of group of Descendants there. Reckon you can find them?"

"Of course I can!" Said the Descendant of Bunnymund, whose face was becoming clearer as my eyes adjusted for the low light. I knew I recognised him, but I honestly couldn't work out where from. He had dark hair that hung down a little shaggily and built like a brick outhouse. I still didn't doubt that he could still beat me in a foot race.

He was wearing a thick grey jumper, but I could see black tribal like tattoos poking out of his sleeves.

"Good to hear, let's get going."

We set off in our own different way, and as we did the Descendant of Bunnymund said to me.

"You know, you've got a habit of sending me to find unspecific places. At least this is better than last time."

It now clicked how I knew this guy.

"Phil?"

"You do remember me!"

I looked him up and down. "You've bulked out since I last saw you."

"And you've grown. About four inches."

"Just because you Descendants of Bunnymund seem to get stretched to stupid proportions."
Phil chuckled and I could hear Samson join in.

"At least you don't get asked what the weather's like up here!" Phil said in protest, but was still laughing.

Our conversation was cut short as the Tunnel tilted upwards, indicating that we were nearly out.

"I'll just wait for you down here while you two go up top, yeah? All those wolves give me the willies."

"Fine by me." The idea of wolves scared me as well, but I trusted Tracey, to an extent.

The two of us burst out of the ground, in what looked like a park. Not quite what I was expecting.

However, no one here was what you'd call normal.

There were almost a hundred people milling around, with a few in wolf form with a variety of fur colours. The sight of the wolves sent shivers up my spine and my leg to ache. I really didn't want to be reminded of that.

What really shocked me though, was the number of people using black sand.

"Descendants of Pitch?" said Samson softly, not able to believe his eyes either.

"You can thank your friend Penelope for that one."

Tracey appeared out of the shadows and stepped towards us, the nearby pack members moving out of the way.

"The fact that she defected gave others the incentive to do the same. The pack's become a safe haven for them, if you will. And we're not the only ones, there are several neutral packs with Descendants of Pitch, my lot just happen to want to stop Pitch."

My eyes flicked over to those using black sand. They looked more relaxed than I'd ever seen a Descendant of Pitch, even Penelope had seemed to be constantly looking over her shoulder. They were acting in the same way I acted with my Branch.

Further off I could other powers being used, I could have sworn I saw someone levitating some metal in the background. However I was mainly focused on those using black sand.

I looked over at Samson to see how he was taking it. His face had paled slightly at the amount of black sand, but overall appeared to be calm.

"This is not going to go down well." I said and Tracey shrugged.

"I know, but we honestly want to help."

"And I believe you, but it took Penelope almost getting killed for her to be accepted. It's going to be difficult to get everyone on board with this."

"I'm not saying we want to join HOG." Countered Tracey. "I'm saying that I want to help you stop something that we can all agree is wrong on many levels."

Samson stepped up beside me. "I think an agreement can be worked out, but we may not have time to go over the details now. Pitch and Lupine may strike at any time."

He stuck his hand towards Tracey. "While I am apprehensive to be possibly working with Descendants of Pitch, I think we can convince our fellow Heads to come to an agreement."

Tracey looked a little surprised, but nodded and took Samson's hand, shaking it. She held her hand out towards me and I also shook.

"Thank you. We'll keep our ears to the ground, and once this is over we'll see how things go."

"We'll see what we can do." I said, trying to sound as professional as possible.

Samson held out something to Tracey, but I couldn't see properly at this angle, so I couldn't tell what it was.

"Use this to contact us."

Tracey took it and examined it in the palm of her hand, satisfied she pocketed it.

"Thank you."

"So, is that it?" Asked Phil from down in the Tunnel. "Are you heading back to the frozen north?"

Samson and I looked at Tracey, then at each other.

"I think that's all we can discuss for now." Said Tracey. "We're both busy right now, more detailed talks will have to wait."

"Agreed." Said Samson, calmly nodding.

"Shall I send you back by the shadows?" Asked Tracey generously, "It's quicker than Tunnels."

My stomach turned over at the idea. I may not have used it eleven years, but my insides still remembered that it was a very bad idea.

Before Samson could say anything I piped up.

"Er! N-no thanks. We'll be fine. Thanks for the offer."

Tracey raised a curious eyebrow at my quick dismissal at the idea, but otherwise didn't react.

"Suit yourself."

Seeing that we were done I gave a near silent sigh of relief and looked down the Tunnel at Phil.

"Ready for some freezing temperatures?" I called down.

"Oh God, a Descendant of Frost admits when something's cold. It must be bad."

"Ha ha." I responded, rolling my eyes good naturedly.

Phil grinned in return and Samson and I jumped back into the hole, heading back to the Workshop.

Alexander was about as happy as we expected him to be.

He wasn't doing what he did with Jason, in fact he was acting surprisingly calm. However it was very obvious that he wasn't happy with the situation.

Jack, who'd been watching us from the beams of the Workshop out of pure boredom, jumped down once we were done and dragged me outside for a snowball fight. He proclaimed loudly that we'd been cooped up inside for ages needed to get outside.

I was surprised but happy at the turn of events. It seemed that Jack wasn't all that upset about me and Jamie.

It was me and Taboo versus the self proclaimed King of snowball fights, and all three of us got covered in snow. Me and Taboo from constantly getting hit and Jack from diving into the snow to avoid our snowballs. I guess three hundred years does do wonders for the reflexes.

There was a lull in the fight and Jack asked something.

"So, why are you afraid of fire?"

I froze in place and looked at Jack with an almost blank expression from disbelief.

"I...I... What?"

Jack looked sheepish now, as if he regretted asking the question, but there wasn't any going back now.

"Well, it makes sense for to wary of it, I know I am. But I've heard that you're actually afraid."

"And where did you get that little titbit?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Um... Last night, you were talking with Alexander." At least he was being honest.

"Did no one tell you that it was rude to eavesdrop?" I asked, no longer gritting my teeth, but still annoyed.

"I was bored!" Cried Jack in protest, but I think even he saw it as a weak excuse.

I let out an annoyed sigh and wiggled my fingers, snowflakes dancing through them as I talked.

"Alright, alright. Yes, I'm scared of fire."

"When did that happen?"

"Doesn't matter."

"Yes it does, remember what happened last time you held in something for seven years."

I stared at him on the other side of the snow fort, my mouth hanging open and snowflakes floating away.

"...You are a jackass."

Jack continued looking at me neutrally as I glared at him. He had a good point and he knew that I knew that.

I folded my arms in annoyance and looked at my feet as I spat it out.

"Fine, I got attacked by Descendants of Pitch that had flamethrowers. Are you happy?"

Jack spluttered in shock. "Wha-? When did that happen?"

"On my way to the Pole seven years ago, I was somewhere in Canada."

I shook my head and looked up to see that Jack had gone paler than I thought would be possible, he was almost translucent.

"That's sick." He almost looked like he was going to be sick.

"I know. Why do you think I'm scared?" I said, shuddering from the memory.

"What about you?" I asked. "Have you had any issues with fire?"

Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "I've had three hundred years to get used to it. I don't like to get close, but I'm not afraid."

During the conversation Taboo hadn't chipped in once, and before either of us could say anything else a snowball slammed into Jack, catching him by surprise.

"Wha-?" He stopped and burst out laughing as a snowball hit me as well.

I sighed and looked over at Taboo, who looked very pleased with herself.

"All on the tiger?" I asked Jack as Taboo raised her tail, snowball at the ready.

"All on the tiger." Agreed Jack with a grin.

A couple of things to say, first, this is the halfway point in this arc, we're halfway through!

Second, the metal wielding Descendant. We know that Leprechaun exists in this universe, it's been confirmed by the film, however, that's all we know. My headcannon is that the Leprechaun's abilities involve Ferrokinesis-the control of (precious?) metal, which could extend to all metal. I imagine the technique would be similar to metal bending from Avatar, except because it isn't derived from earth bending, they'd be able to control pure metal such as platinum.

Again, a headcannon, other Leprechaun abilities could involve the rainbow somehow, but I digress. I won't be making an immortal or Descendant profile for these guys because I like to keep this world as open as possible to other OC characters. The idea has always been that HOG could slip into the background of almost any ROTG story, even some Aus, so I don't actually like making OC immortals for this reason. This is a bit conflicting I know, but until we actually get an cannon information on the Leprechaun (and by extension, the Groundhog) I leave my headcannons in my head.