Several months flew by like nothing. She was heavy with his child now, and he had to remain at her side constantly to keep her body chilled down. She was also getting drained much faster from this particular pregnancy. He was sure it was from the magical impact the child had within her. He also noticed another problem. The fire flower was starting to interfere with her.

"McGreggor," Jack said when he walked into the smithy. "Remember that flower that's growing near Jenna's place? In the outside heater?"

"I do," the man nodded and set aside a dagger he just forged.

"It's starting to hurt Jenna. We need to move it," he said.

"It is?! Hmm. Let me see it. Jarlin! Watch the shop!" McGreggor said. The youth nodded and moved to start sharpening weapons. The burly master smith followed Jack quickly, and he now stood in front of the small outdoor fire place to study the thriving flower. "This thing's hotter than the one in the volcano! And I see the problem. It's budding new flowers."

"Ahh. That would do it. What can we do?" Jack asked.

"Let's carefully snip the buds and see if they will grow in other places. Such as with Kaitlin's new home," McGreggor said. "I'll have to get back to my forge to see what I can use. I do wonder, though. You have those papers on different plants. Was this flower mentioned in any of them?"

"That's a good question," Jack mused. "Did you want to look it over with me?"

"I would probably ask Dulfilo about that. He tends to study flowers for jewelry designs. I may end up tossing the papers into the fire out of frustration," the smithy chuckled. Jack could only laugh at that and agree. He went to check on the pig stalls and smiled. "The pigs are breeding nicely, eh?"

"A good twelve piglets in the litter," Jack said. "We'll butcher a couple small ones for delicacy dishes. Likely let another breeding pair grow. The rest can be dispersed carefully."

"The butcher already has a few tagged," he noticed branded marks on the rumps of several piglets. "I hope he plans to let them grow more?"

"He wants them as big as they can get!" Jack laughed softly. "I was able to supply him with a few pig roasts to sample. He's already got a new place set up for them."

"I will make sure to be his first, and most frequent, customer," the master smith vowed. Jack laughed hard and shook his head. "I do worry a bit about Clifton, though."

"Why's that?" Jack asked when they walked back to the smithy.

"I sent him off to get more ores from a neighboring town. Don't go looking at me like that!" McGreggor scowled. "You have a child to tend to."

"I know. How long was he gone for?" he asked.

"The better part of the day. He did take a horse, but he's usually back by now," the smithy said.

"I'll find him," Jack said and was quick to take to the wind. He found the man tending the horse's leg, and Clifton looked over with a sigh of relief.

"Jasper's shoe came undone. I was able to re-shoe him, but it will be a light walk for him. He stumbled," Clifton said and pat the horse's neck.

"It came undone?" Jack frowned.

"Yeah. There was a small rock slide that we passed. One of loose rocks got stuck. I'll have Master McGreggor look him over when we get back. I have another hour's ride. What's that look for?" he asked. "Oh, no! You are not going to bring us back with that wind of yours!"

"McGreggor's worried over you enough, as it is. And I still have to talk to Dulfilo about that flower growing outside. It's starting to complicate things with Jenna. McGreggor noticed it was budding. It's adding too much heat for her to take," Jack explained. That had Clifton a touch surprised.

"Complications?" he asked.

"She's overheating when she walks outside," Jack said with a soft sigh. Jasper perked his ears forward and gave Jack a small nudge. A rewarding chin scratch was given back with a protective fur covering his hand. "Yes, let's get you back now."

"Best hurry before I change my mind," Clifton grunted. A haphazard three minutes later soon had both man and horse mildly shivering in front of the smithy. McGreggor had them both walk in to warm up, and Jack moved to the jeweler's shop next.

"And to what honor do I have from your visit?" Dulfilo asked.

"Have I told you about a certain flower that Jenna has growing in a fiery pit outside her cottage?" Jack asked. At the small look of amusement he was given, Jack grinned. "McGreggor knows. He helped me obtain it. And he has one growing in his forge. It's thriving rather well, but the heat it's giving off is starting to harm Jenna. McGreggor thought that you may have some ideas on what we can do."

"I must see this for my own eyes," the old jeweler said. "Ah! Marla, I need to step out with Jack for a bit. Shall I have Timothy sent for?"

"If you could," she smiled and walked out of the back room.

"Why does he need to be here?" Jack frowned.

"She has been accosted a bit more than normal lately. I'm sure you've noticed," Dulfilo sighed.

"True. I've scared off quite a few of them," Jack muttered. "I think your shop needs a pet."

"A pet?" Dulfilo asked.

"A guardian pet. Like another wolf. I can't sacrifice the ones for Jenna, but I may be able to find one to give to her as a gift. One of the grown wolves can idle here with her until a new pup is grown and trained properly. The other two wolves will easily show it the way," Jack said.

"That would be perfect! We should invest in that. Timothy! Please remain with Marla while I go check out something with Jack," the old man said.

"No problem," Timothy nodded and moved to sit down in the back. He'd charge right out the moment his fiancée was accosted. The very mere sight of his smithy-built body made any man cringe and quickly back down. It also gave him a small break from the forge.

"If you haven't eaten yet, there's lunch back there, too," she smiled. He waved at her to show he heard her. Jack gave a small nod and led Dulfilo out to the main street.

"You want to see the one in the forge?" Jack asked.

"No. I need to see the one causing the problem," the jeweler said. Jack led him straight to Jenna's yard and gestured for the older man to look into the sweltering heat of the outdoor heater. "This is far too hot! Even for me!"

"You have to work past that. Look in the back of it," Jack said and kept his cold presence as close as he could muster. Now the jeweler saw the flower blooming in the back of the small inferno. His jaw clearly dropped. He muttered some unknown name and fell to his knees in silent prayer. "I am guessing you know this flower?"

"Yes! Oh, yes! This flower…I thought it was extinct! I must have one in my shop!" he pleaded. "It was supposedly left behind by a goddess of flame! I…a solid part of my culture revolved around her!"

"If you know how to harvest one of the buds, then you can have one. Their intense heat is disturbing Jenna. We need to safely remove the buds," Jack said calmly.

"I know what to do. We will need urns of coal. We can use some of what this flower is in now. We cannot remove the parent plant. It's too well rooted in now. How did you find it?"

"A volcano had it. Remember that map we found in that chest?"

"Oh! Hmm. It may have been a small chest handed down by worshipers. Ah, yes! I did notice some of the artwork on the jewelry box, but I had my doubts. It's why I didn't say anything, and I'm glad I didn't. At least you saved the treasure map from those that would have harmed it. But…the flower? How did one get here?"

"The original gave out seeds."

"Seeds! Are there any others?"

"Not that I know of. I could take you to where I found the original flower. The mother plant, so to speak. I did protect the place very well. Did you want that?"

"Yes. I do hope I can survive the heat!" the old man sighed. "Let me go back to my shop and get a few tools. Ah…that's right. I don't have them."

"Tell me what you need and where to find them," Jack said.

"There is a temple that houses the items. You should be able to access it. But, if there is only one of each item I need…" he frowned.

"I can have McGreggor replicate what we need and return the originals," Jack suggested.

"That can work! I can provide the needed services to make them ready for harvesting the flower. Or, depending on where you get them, someone may wish to help. Just tell them that you found a fire flower in full bloom and now budding," Dulfilo said with a rare form of excitement. Jack nodded and escorted the old man back to the shop. At the sight of a young man running out scared, Jack cracked a grin. Timothy clearly did his job.

"I'll find a way back in there and-!" the man started.

"You won't do a thing. I'll find you. And you don't want me to find you," Jack hissed out in his icy way to show the threat was meant. The man turned ashen white. "You need to leave. Now."

"Yessir!" the man swallowed and ran off. Dulfilo just shook his head and moved into the shop to assess any damages. When the young man tried to get rough with Marla, Timothy had already started to charge out of the back room to glare with a form of murderous rage.

"He demanded for her to give him over some of the gems here. She said no. He started to try and strike fear into her. Then I came out and punched him in the face," Timothy said with a shrug.

"So…you did hit him? Interesting. Are you sure?" Jack frowned.

"He did," Marla nodded. The man looked uninjured. Jack had to investigate. First he made a quick stop to check on Jenna. At the sound of his muttering, she frowned at him.

"Someone tried to accost Marla again. Timothy punched the man, but, when I saw him…he looked uninjured. And that guy packs a bit of a punch behind that arm, too. I need to find out why," Jack explained. Jenna thought a bit and moved to grab her pouch of coins.

"Have Marla pick me up some bread for dinner," she said. "Have Timothy stay back, but you watch from a distance. I want to see if that man will try anything with her again. If he does, then approach him. I think this will be best."

"To give me a reason to…I love you," he grinned and kissed her deeply. She laughed softly with him and let him hug her tightly to get more of his chilling touch. After that he looked at the wolves. "One of you needs to protect Marla. I hope to find another brother or sister for you to help with. The new one will help Marla."

The black wolf stood up and huffed. The white one looked at Jack oddly. Both brothers looked at each other with uncertainty. They heard the phrases, and they were a bit skeptical. They wouldn't argue, though. They only wanted to protect Jenna. She bent down to scratch their ears and said, "Do a good job for me. I'll have some treats for you."

"You just need to protect Marla while she is in the shop. If you feel she needs help, then you run to her side. Either of you can do this," Jack said with a small nod. A tail wag was given in response, and the black wolf bounded out to help. The white wolf looked at Jenna with a hopeful look for treats, and she laughed to oblige him with some pork skin rinds.

"Marla was supposed to walk around alone," Jenna chuckled.

"The wolf will ensure she always does. If that man reappears, I'll know. After this is seen to, I need to pick up some supplies for Dulfilo. He can help with the flower," he said.

"Can he? Please?!" she seemed to ask with relief. He laughed softly and kissed her forehead.

"He said he can. So, I'll ensure it," he said in a soothing way. "Clifton will be late coming back. Jasper got a wounded foot from a loose shoe. He's at the smithy now, but he's tending to that to make sure it doesn't happen again."

"Oh, the poor dear," she frowned.

"Clifton will be by later. Hmm. Let me get you a new ham while I'm out. I'll check on Marla now," he said and gave her a loving kiss to recharge her before leaving. He had a lot to do, so he wanted to get it all done swiftly. He found Marla leaving the shop, and the black wolf was with her. "Marla. Your mother wants you to pick up some rolls. Remember how we played out with you as bait?"

"Okay!" she beamed and took the coins. At the sight of Timothy, Jack motioned to him.

"I'm watching her now. You go back to the smithy," he said.

"If you say so," Timothy frowned.

"And the wolf is with her," Jack smirked.

"I'm sure she'll be safe now," he grinned and walked off. Jack only nodded and moved to watch over Marla and the wolf from a rooftop. When he spotted the odd man slowly trying to trail her, he grinned savagely to himself. Jenna always had the best ideas.

"Oh!" Marla blinked when she turned at the sound of someone walking behind her.

"We had an unfinished conversation…" the man started. Then he paused at the sight of the large, black wolf baring his teeth with a savage snarl. She was walking through some darker paths between various buildings on purpose, and it was a small shortcut to the bakery.

"So did I," Jack said darkly when he appeared from a wall of mist he formed for the proper effect. "Marla, continue on. And you stay with me."

The wolf snorted at him and looked at Marla. Jack rose a brow. The wolf wanted to follow her. When he nodded, the wolf trotted off with her, and Jack returned his attention to the man before him. The mist neatly obscured where she went, and that was the other purpose for it. When the man turned to leave, he found his feet stuck to the ground from the ice that had neatly formed around them. Jack grinned and said, "You got punched in the face."

"No I didn't!" the man scowled, managed to free his feet, and turned to face Jack. He knew if he tried to run now he'd likely get killed.

"You did. Timothy doesn't lie to me. Marla saw him punch you. So, you got punched in the face. You look like you never got hit. How is that possible?"

"I have fast dodging reflexes," the man finally said. "I let it look like I got hit."

"I see. And why were you following my niece?" Jack drawled out.

"I don't know. Maybe it was to find you," he shrugged. Now Jack narrowed his eyes. The air began to get colder, and the man grimaced at the sight of his breath misting before him.

"And why would you find me?" Jack asked dangerously.

"Because it's said you're guarding a treasure," the man started. Jack started laughing and shook his head. "What?"

"I guard over no treasure. I protect this village. Amazing how humans think that I'm always guarding some form of treasure! Hah! But, no. I guard no treasure," Jack smirked.

"Your staff has to be the treasure then!" he said.

"My staff? No. My staff will only ensure your death," Jack said and set it in front of the man to let it stand on its own. "Go ahead. Take it."

"I…" he hesitated. The ice man was telling the truth. There was no way a being like him would just give over the staff willingly! "I'll decline…"

"Good boy," Jack nodded and took up the staff again. "It would have frozen you from the inside out. Then I would have smashed your body to pieces. Can't be helped. Anyways, you should leave my village. Hmm?"

"Jack, are we having some problems?" Clifton asked. "Timothy told me what was going on."

"This man was trailing Marla. Then he thought I was guarding treasure," Jack grinned. Clifton started laughing and shaking his head.

"The only treasure here is good living and better trade. Jack makes that possible. However," Clifton said and narrowed his eyes now. It was time to play out as the protective father. "if you go after my daughter again, it won't only be her fiancée that skins you alive!"

"Oh!" the man paled.

"I work in the smithy, and I know how to easily hide a body," he threatened calmly. "The forge is known to melt not only metal, you know."

"I get it! I'll leave now!" the man said quickly and bolted.

"You'll watch him?" Clifton asked.

"Doing so as we speak. I need to help Dulfilo get some tools for the flower. I also told Jenna I'd pick up another ham for her," Jack nodded. Clifton couldn't help the grin that came forth now. Jack was waved off, and he was quick to oblige. He had his wind scour out, and he quickly found the small temple the old jeweler spoke of. He landed in the branches of an old tree and glanced about.

At the sight of an old man in robes walking out of the small hut-like place of worship, Jack jumped down from the tree and walked over. The man looked Oriental, bald, and wore a faded orange robe. He could have been a Buddhist from what Jack saw at a mere glance.

"And to what honor do I have a visitor this day?" the man asked. Jack nodded and spoke his language rather easily. It was simply natural for him.

"A fire flower was found and needs to be saved. It is budding," Jack said. Now the man paused with complete shock. "I was told I could find the tools here. Dulfilo is willing to assist. He told me to come here to find you for assistance."

"A budding…oh…!" the man whispered and bent his hands in prayer. "Can you…?"

"Bring you a bud? Sure! I can give you one of the seeds the main plant dropped on me, too," Jack chuckled. The man moved quickly into the small hut and brought out some very simple tools that were rusted with age from misuse. "I can get these repaired."

"Bring me the new tools. I will bless them for you and make them safe for the flower," the holy man smiled softly. Jack nodded and quickly left in his wind. He walked into the smithy and waived McGreggor over to show off the delicate tools.

"We need to make new ones. The man I got them from will bless the replacements for the flower. Think you're up to it?" Jack grinned.

"Interesting enchantments! They're almost fireproof! Not rust proof, obviously. Very interesting, indeed! Give me a bit," the burly man nodded and was quick to get to work. An hour later, Jack was showing off the new tools to the holy man. They were quickly blessed, and he was given several small pots with some rough lava soil.

"Please…place them in this. Keep one. I will take the rest with the tools," the man said.

"Of course," Jack agreed and now he found himself standing outside Dulfilo's shop. He presented the finished tools and pots to the old jeweler. The old man gathered them up carefully and let Jack close up his shop. Then they moved swiftly to Jenna's hut. "I need to check on her."

"That is fine. I shall work on the flower," he nodded. Jack now stormed into Jenna's home and looked for her. When she wasn't there, he moved into the cold shed next to find her trying to chill herself. She had to get muffled at her sudden shout of relief at the feel of his hands on her arms.

"Easy…" he soothed and turned her to cradle. "I'm sorry it took so long."

"I know. It's okay. I'm glad we have this place for me," she sighed with intense relief. He shared a kiss with her and continued to hold her. "How is Marla?"

"Protected by the wolf. Once again, it is thought I guard treasure," he snorted.

"You guard me," she murmured, and he kissed her passionately.

"That I do," he muttered and kissed her again. "He even thought my staff was the treasure! So, I offered it to him. And he declined."

"I don't want you to do that anymore," she frowned. "I don't like it."

"Okay. I won't. Not unless I'm fully challenged," he said. She nodded at that. "I still need to get you a ham. Will you be fine now?"

"Yeah," she smiled and let him escort her out. At the sight of the fiery buds being carefully extracted from the small heater, she gasped with a form of pain. Jack's eyes widened at this, and he moved her back into the chilled shed. "What…happened…?!"

"The small flower buds seem to be affecting you. Just stay in here until they are gone. It may be from my pregnancy with you. Just relax. It will be taken care of shortly," he said, and she nodded. He kissed her forehead to let his chilling magic flood her senses with a soothing sensation. Then he moved to stand just outside the door as though to ward off the flower.

"I have the last one," Dulfilo said, as he gently harvested the fifth budding blossom carefully. Each one was placed in one of the pots, and four were given to Jack.

"I need to take the tools back. I'm sure we can make an extra set for you," Jack chuckled.

"I shall request it," the older man nodded and made off with his small treasure. Jack was quick to deliver the tools and the small plants to the waiting holy man. He'd be sure to check in on him later. Right now, he had to get Jenna a rather large ham and assure her that she could rest easy once again. He was very concerned over how the flowers affected her. He had to study everything to find out how to keep such a thing from happening again.