Even a week later my wounds hadn't healed to the point where I could walk without a cane, according to Alec I would be able to, but when exactly was unknown. I'd heard worrying news from the war base, the leader of the Descendants of Lupine, Pete, had disappeared.

They had been discussing release concerning the held Descendants of Lupine, but the fact that Pete flat out disappeared had not sped these matters along.

Lupine hadn't been seen either, and there had been no other activity from the Descendants of Pitch, this all added up to what should be a good thing. However, there was still a nervous atmosphere with HOG in general. We were worried that this might be the calm before the storm.

It might not, but we weren't psychic.

Taboo, who didn't need sleep, started standing guard during the night. However, since I
try to keep her hidden most of the time, she would wander off to explore.

I also got an opportunity to confront Nigel about the Descendants of Frost's reputation.
It was the next meeting, and I'd left earlier than usual to make it on time, since I was walking a lot slower.

I had overestimated how long I needed, so got there early, while Nigel was still setting up. The projectile targets were in place at the back of the hall, the sandbags were out and so were the various practice weapons. Swords, staffs, throwing knives, boomerangs and I think a nunchuck. That was there for a laugh, no one actually used it.

He didn't seem to notice me as he set out the chairs for the meeting. Meanwhile I stood in the doorway, working up the courage to ask him about it.

Come on! You took on Lupine, this is nothing in comparison!

"...Nigel?"

He spun on the spot and smiled when he saw me standing there.

"Jackie! Good to see you out and about."

He saw my probably guarded expression and his smile faltered. "What's wrong?"

"Why didn't you tell me?" I was still putting this off.

"Tell you what?"

"About how HOG saw the Descendants of Jack Frost." I said with restraint. "How everyone sees the Descendants of Jack Frost!"

Nigel's jaw dropped in surprise. "How did you-?"

"Descendants of Lupine. Confirmed by a Descendant of Bunnymund."

Nigel looked unsure of himself for a second, before taking two chairs and placing them opposite each other.

"Sit."

For a moment I wanted to disobey and remain standing, but my leg was still in pain. A sit down would be a relief.

I hobbled over and sat in the nearest chair, leaning the walking stick against the chair.
Nigel took the opposite chair and sat down heavily.

"The original reason we didn't tell was that we thought you knew. When you clearly didn't know, we didn't want to burden you with that knowledge. All of you were under stress of being introduced to this new world, we didn't want to make it even worse."

"It's been four years." I said, trying to keep my voice level, and failing as it cracked.

"We didn't tell you because we didn't want you to get upset, since the reputation you have is unfounded anyway."

"Really? Because the Descendants of Lupine seemed pretty convinced!"

"Jackie, please. The reputation that surrounds Descendants tends to be dependant on their ancestor. For example, Bunnymund is an excellent painter, therefore it is expected that all his Descendants can paint well. I don't know if you've seen Billy painting, but it isn't a pretty sight."

"What about us then?"

Nigel sighed, rubbing the space between his eyes.

"Jack doesn't have the best of reputations. Rebellious loner and a trouble maker to boot. That's what everyone thought. So it was assumed..."

"It was assumed that's what we were like." I said, my voice shaking with anger and my fists clenching.

"There's a little more to it." Nigel seemed nervous, but a part of me was glad that he was being completely honest now.

"The phrase 'cold and dark'. Well, you have ice powers, and dark is usually associated with the Descendants of Pitch. So... at first..."

"You thought we'd go down that route." If possible I was even more angry now, insulted that anyone would think we'd go that way.

"You can see why we didn't tell you."

"Doesn't excuse it. I thought we trusted each other. I thought you trusted me!" I felt the cold anger in my stomach shatter, releasing the stored anger. I just let my anger go.

"We do! It's just-."

"Just what?! You know me! If you'd told me then, yeah I wouldn't have been happy, but I'd have been glad that you told me, because you were being honest with me!"

I'd stood up now, glaring at Nigel as I felt the familiar crackle of ice around my feet.

"But you didn't, for four years."

"Jackie, I-."

"Don't bother."

I grabbed my walking stick and started to walk away, with Nigel standing up to try and stop me.

"Jackie-."

"No!" I cried, and from my standing position I slammed the walking stick down in frustration. A wave of ice burst out of the bottom and spread underneath both chairs.

Nigel slipped on the ice and fell back into his chair, his face almost slack with shock.

I hadn't intended to do that, but I was too angry to care.

I turn and left. Nigel did nothing to stop me.

I leaned on the walking stick for a moment on the side of the street, waiting for the lights to change and blinking back tears. That could have gone better, and while Nigel did have good points, I wasn't sure if I forgave him.

I think I did, I was just angry that it had been hidden from me like this, from all of us. We should have been told, no matter what the cost.

I felt my fist grip the top of the walking stick in frustration. I'd lost control of my emotions. I'd been doing that more often in recent years, what with Jack's teaching, but old habits die hard, and losing control still unsettled me.

Maybe I should turn around and apologise, although I couldn't say that my anger was completely unjustified, I just needed to calm down.

I was glad Taboo hadn't been there, she'd have sensed my anger and probably mauled Nigel, which he didn't deserve. Thankfully Taboo had disappeared to explore the town. I could still contact her with my mind, but it was only so she didn't massacre the wildlife, and anything else.

She was born to fight, so I guess I couldn't blame her, but it was still worrying every time she disappeared.

The light went green and beeped, so I hobbled across the road as quickly as possible.

This was getting really annoying, I couldn't wait for the damn leg to heal so I could walk at least partially normally! I focused on my annoyance with my leg, not wanting to remember what just happened.

It was fairly busy, despite it being dark, so once on the pavement I did get overtaken multiple times by impatient people, but one person decided to take it a step further.

A girl, a little younger than me and a little shorter, but not much, stepped out in front of me. She wore baggy dark trousers with trainers, a black t-shirt and leather jacket with dark red hair tied back in a ponytail. Her arms were folded and her grey eyes seemed to be trying to remain stoic.

A tough girl basically.

I sighed to myself and started to move around her, when she moved to match me. I frowned and shuffled the other way, only to have her follow me as well. Looking at her face this wasn't a case of us trying to be too polite, she was deliberately blocking me.

"Can you excuse me please?" I asked in a neutral tone.

"No."

"I'm sorry?"

"No."

I blinked in surprise for a second. "Why?"

"I need to talk to you. You are Jacqueline Davies, right?" She seemed to drop the tough girl look for a second, becoming nervous.

"Who wants to know?"

"Tracey, you're not getting my surname." Aaand the tough girl look was back.

"Fine, what do you want?"

"You know the whole, business with Pete?"

"Yeah." I frowned, "Are you new? 'Cause I don't recognise you."

"No, I'm not new."

Tracey held her hand out in front of her as if to shake, but before I could even question it dark shadows wrapped around her hand. My eyes widened and I almost took a step back before remembering my bad leg. My eyes then narrowed as I assessed the situation, this was a crowded place, there's no way she would attack.

However, the shadow power seemed to something that both the Descendants of Pitch and Lupine could do, but the Descendants of Lupine could use it more effectively. Given how they'd acted before, a crowded place wouldn't hinder them in the slightest.

"Descendant of Lupine?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

"Yes, and don't worry, I'm not going to do anything. Too many people."

"That didn't seem to be something that concerned the others. Given how Lupine was acting."

"Not all of us are like him, and not all of us blindly follow our ancestor." Hissed Tracey in an irritated manner.

"That is surprising to hear." I said, honestly surprised. Wolves were supposed to be loyal and as far as I was aware the Descendants of Lupine only found out their heritage recently. Was it possible that some of them had rejected it?

"It's not only Black Furs that follow Lupine." Admitted Tracey, "but there are those of us who don't, rouges if you like."

"Okay. Now, why are you here?"

"You don't want to cross Pete."

"Bit late for that."

"I know, but from what I've heard, he doesn't take any slander on him or his pack lightly. He and Lupine share an ego if you will. You beat Pete, and he's not happy about it."

"How do you know this?"

Tracey's mouth twitched with a smile, as if sharing a joke. Sadly this was one I didn't get. "I keep my ear to the ground."

Her mouth stopped twitching. "Look, Pete will find anyone who has a grudge against you and use them. While technically we cannot kill each other unless one set of Descendants declares war on another, but, no offense, not many are going to think twice if anything happens to you."

I opened my mouth to say something cutting and probably angry, but she cut me off.

"This is me warning you, because I know the rumours are wrong. Do what you wish with the warning."

With that Tracey turned on her heel walked swiftly into the crowd, disappearing and leaving me to wonder what on earth just happened.