Lily's eyes looked over the winter sprite whose clothes were singed and covered in soot. He was laying on the floor as if he had fallen.
But the winter sprite she was familiar with… this wasn't him.
His hair was an ashy black with a single tassel of white sprouting from the top of his head – a wispy memory of what it once used to be.
His cheeks were red with the warmth of his blush as he looked at the floor in embarrassment.
He lifted his head to meet her gaze and as their eyes met, Lily felt as if she was staring at a stranger.
The Jack she knew had eyes that were a glacier blue… eyes that sparkled like sunlight streaming through ice on a clear winter day.
The person in front of her was wearing the same blue hoodie, but his eyes… his eyes were a golden orange – the kind of orange that sets the sky ablaze as the sun sinks below the horizon.
They seemed to glow and flash blazes of yellow and red as if a fire was burning behind them.
Lily staggered back, unable to break eye contact. Jack's expression shifted from embarrassment to concern.
Why does she look so scared? Why does everyone look so scared?
"Lily, I-" He reached out for her with a soot-covered hand.
Lily inhaled sharply and took another step back. Jack withdrew his hand quickly, confused and hurt.
The other guardians were looking at Lily, still unsure of what to do. Lily tore her eyes from Jack's and focused them on the ground.
"I- I just… I'm sorry," she whispered as she turned and ran from the room.
The atmosphere changed from shock to tension as Jack watched her fleeing from what he could only suppose was him.
Tooth cleared her throat, "Well, um… Jack? It's good to see that you're awake. Are you feeling… alright?"
Jack looked at Tooth. "I'm fine," he replied gruffly. "You don't feel… different?" Jack looked at his staff and then back at Tooth. "I do."
Tooth decided to leave it at that. "Well, okay everyone. Let's leave Jack for a bit. Come on, now."
Tooth began to usher everyone out of the room. "If you need us, we'll be right down the hall."
As she closed the door to leave, Baby Tooth zoomed into the room before it was completely shut.
Cautiously, she approached Jack who had moved to sit against the wall. Flittering nervously closer, Baby Tooth chirped as if to ask if he was okay.
She flitted about his hair and then landed on his knee. "Hey, Baby Tooth."
As his eyes came into her view she flew up to his face, placing a tiny hand on his cheek. "Are you scared, too?" Jack asked.
She shook her head. Jack sighed. "I don't know why she ran away. Why did she run away?" Baby Tooth was taken aback by his oblivion.
She quickly flitted to the window, pushing down on the pane in an effort to close it.
Jack stood up, steadying himself with his staff. He walked to the window and shut it. "Is it too cold in here?"
Baby Tooth chirped and pointed at the closed window. Jack looked at the window, confused, and stumbled back in surprise. What the?!
The reflection in the window… was that him?! Is that me?
He absently took a step back toward the glass, turning his head as if he would catch his reflection falter.
Baby Tooth flew back toward Jack and tugged at the tuft of white hair laying against his forehead.
Jack closed one eye in discomfort. "Hey-" Baby Tooth let go as he reached up to grab it.
This single stripe of white… was this all that was left of the old winter sprite?