Disclaimer: I don't own Rise of the Guardians

Talk

The cave wasn't easy to navigate. Even with the moonbeam dagger showing off a tiny light here and there, it was still confusing. There were so many twists and turns, that they didn't know how to maneuver it.

And splitting up was out, Sarah didn't know if she could turn her scythe into a flashlight (though probably) and even if she could, Jackie wouldn't hear about anyone splitting up.

Nyx cawed softly. Jackie didn't know what she said, only that whatever it was caused Sarah to hesitate before replying.

This conversation lasted only a couple of seconds before Nyx flew up and away. "Do Ravens have night vision?" Jackie asked.

"Generally, no." Sarah whispered, "But Nyx has been subjected to magic from practically the day she hatched, which gave her enhanced abilities not normally found in corvids. And as she's fond of reminding me, her flight means that she can track more ground." Sarah whispered, "She's assured me she'll be careful. And will find us when she's found them."

"Won't that alert Krampus?"

Sarah didn't say anything for a long moment, "She's fast, she'll be able to get away. If Krampus is smart, he won't want to leave the boys alone for too long just to catch a bird."

"I hope you are right."

For a moment Sarah said nothing, and when she spoke again her voice was choked up and worried. "Me too."

The plan had been to sit and wait for Nyx to return, as the cave was big and having Nyx call out to them was sure to raise suspicion.

Sarah hated the option, but Nyx flying around was faster and less conspicuous than two teens stumbling around in the dark, even if Jackie did fly it would be too conspicuous. And it was harder to keep the cloak on both of them if the girls were flying.

Nyx being a Raven and black raven better blended into the background.

So, Jackie and Sarah both found a section of the wall to lean against while they sat on the floor and waited for Sarah's pet bird to return.

For a moment, neither Sarah nor Jackie said anything. Jackie stayed silent hoping Sarah would break the silence, but Sarah didn't. She just stayed quiet lost in her thoughts.

"So…" Jackie started, "How… uh…. How did you meet Jane?" She asked.

"Uh… F- I mean three years ago. During my imprisonment with Pitch." Sarah said,

"And she didn't save you?" Jackie asked. "Some friend."

"It's complicated" Sarah sighed, "She's not really meant to interfere in affairs of the living or the spirit world, only when they step out of line."

"Pitch held you, hostage, for three weeks, how is that not stepping out of line."

"The reapers are only meant to step in under extremely specific circumstances, Pitch hadn't delved into those circumstances. "Sarah explained.

"I don't get it," Jackie complained.

"You're not a reaper, their world isn't like ours. Their concerns aren't our concerns, they can't be."

"But to do nothing?" Jackie asked. "To just leave you to rot?"

"She didn't do nothing," Sarah said.

Jane stopped and thought about it then, before remembering what Mother Nature had told her back when they hadn't known where Sarah was... before she rolled her eyes, "Wow, yes, fine she told Mother Nature to lead the Guardians to you. So hard."

"Yes, it was." Sarah said, "Emily Jane doesn't like moving against her father."

"Still. She could have done more"

"She did what she could," Sarah argued. "I know it doesn't seem like much to you, but she did."

"I just don't understand, she knew, and she didn't…"

"Yes, but Emily Jane wasn't the only way Jane helped me," Sarah said.

"How so?"

If Sarah had not been growing agitated at the line of question and doing her best to keep her powers in check. Sarah would have marvelled at the challenging tone in Jackie's voice. She would have almost been proud of Jackie.

If Sarah had not been agitated, she would have also been watching her mouth, and stopped herself from dropping the bomb she was about to."

"Jane's the reason I'm alive" Sarah hissed then slapped her hands over her mouth in surprise.

For a moment it was so silent, that you could hear a pin drop, then: "What do you mean?"

Sarah froze Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! She hissed at herself.

Fortunately, Sarah was saved from having to explain when she heard a familiar flutter of wings and in the light of the moonbeam dagger, she saw Nyx descend and sit on her shoulder.

"We're not done talking about this." Jackie hissed before they both stood up.

For a moment Sarah said nothing as she listened to Nyx cawing as softly as possible to her. "Let's go," Sarah said.

Jackie glared into the darkness, but then she relaxed, she could demand answers later. "Let's go," Jackie said.

They both took off, Sarah translating their corvid guide.

In between Nyx giving directions and Sarah translating them. They went over the plan they had come up with back at Jackie's house. It was shaky at best, and Sarah hated it, but given that the other option lay with Sarah giving herself up, something Jackie had staunchly rejected

Jackie half expected Krampus to appear out of the shadows, but he didn't. Nyx cawed as softly as a raven like her could.

With Sarah as a translator, Nyx guided them back to where she saw Krampus.

Inwardly Jackie hoped that Nyx hadn't been noticed and if she had been, Krampus had just mistaken her for some lost bird. Instead of Sarah's pet, hoped that Krampus didn't even know Sarah had a pet Raven.

They stopped just as they reached the entrance of a large cavern.

Sarah and Jackie didn't say anything they just looked at each other before stepping forward into the cavern.

Krampus was there sitting in the middle cavern blocking the way to an opening into what might have been another tunnel, or a small cavern.

"Well, well, well thank you for saving me the trouble of having to kidnap you." Krampus laughed.