Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D Sorry about the late update; I had to go to a doctor's appointment with my sister and my dad. =) They said we were due for shots (my sister one, and me two), but apparently they got the dates mixed up, so our actual shots won't be given until the week after next week. =D We did get our physicals and wellness done, and I discovered that I'm five-foot and a half. But I'm at the age where a girl stops growing, so...man. It looks like I'm going to be a shorty for the rest of mah life. QwQ Still clinging to the hope that I'll grow at least a little bit though, haha. X)

Anyway, this is the last part for "Lost in the Woods!" =D We're almost at our fiftieth chapter for this story too (although in my Google Doc, I've almost hit sixty, hehe), so that's sure to be an occasion. ^u^

And...yeah. That's all I've got to say. XD I hope you guys enjoy the final part of "Lost in the Woods!" =D

~ XLVII ~

Lost in the Woods, Part Five

A battle was coming

They were outnumbered

And they didn't know if help was on the way

The three Guardians rode

As fast as they could

Before it was too late

...

"A-An army?!" Jack exclaimed. Aster threw more sticks into the fire to illuminate the area. Thankfully, there were no Fearlings and Nightmares in sight. At least at the moment. "B-But…we hardly survived the first wave. How are we supposed to defeat an army!?"

"We're not," said Aster. Jack started.

"I thought you said we're supposed to stay hopeful," Jack said with a frown.

Aster snorted. "I didn't mean it like that mate. Of course, we can't fight those bloody things b yourselves. That's why we're going ta call for help."

"Call for help? How?" asked Jack. "I can't send out a signal with my ice. It'll just attract more of those…" Jack shuddered. He couldn't bring himself to say the creatures' names after his frightening encounter. "Those things."

Aster lowered himself to the ground. "Yer not goin' ta send a flare, mate," he explained. The Pooka tapped his index finger against the ground. Once, twice, three times. He paused in between each beat. Then, he laid his ear against the ground, humming in satisfaction.

"Alright. They got it," said Aster.

Jack was bemused. "Who got what?" he asked.

"I have eggs beneath the ground that can carry out messages," the Pooka explained, standing up and patting his paws together. "Just a few taps in Morse Code, and they'll carry whatever message ya need."

"Why didn't you do that before?" asked Jack.

"The lines are busier during the day. Probably even busier than Tooth's postal service," Aster answered. "It would've taken at least a week for a message from here to reach Santoff Claussen. Wherever here is anyway.

"But it's faster for them ta get a message out when help's already in short distance," Aster continued. He walked over to the camp, and Jack followed him. Aster sifted through their materials and luggage, and pulled out some torches, lighting them and placing them around the camp. Fearlings and Nightmares recoiled to light, so if they illuminated the area enough, they would be slower in advancing. "If North, Sheila, and Sandy are already on their way, the googies will bring 'em here."

"And what are we supposed to do in the meantime?" asked Jack. He gestured to the forest. "Those things are still out there, and they're hungry!"

"We'll do what we did before," said Aster, turning around. "Hold them off until help arrives."

"Th-There's too many of them. We won't make it," stated Jack. "I nearly died last time."

"We have to try."

"B-But what if something happens? What if we're crushed the instant they arrive? What if—"

Aster placed his paws on Jack's shoulders. "Ya need ta stop askin' 'what if,' Frostbite. Ya need ta focus on what will. We'll kick those shadowy arses long enough for North, Tooth, and Sandy will get ta us."

Jack gripped his staff. "How do you know they're coming?"

Aster paused. "I don't," he said. "But that's a risk we'll have ta take."

From the trees, the hissing of Fearling and grunting of Nightmares could be heard. The bushes rustled. Jack held out his staff and Aster pulled out his boomerangs, hoping that the three Guardians would come swiftly.

…

North's sleigh dashed through the trees like a bullet. The tree line blurred and raced at high speed as it clamored through the woods. Tooth and Sandy sat in the back, gripping the edges to prevent themselves from flying off. North snapped at the reins, urging the reindeer to move faster. They hadn't spotted any Fearlings or Nightmares yet, but they could sense their presence. The air was thick with tension, and the air felt cold. This wasn't the friendly chill that Jack brought with him where he went. This cold felt dark and foreboding. This cold put North, Tooth, and Sandy on edge.

They felt like they were being watched, though they didn't see anything in their path. "We need to move faster!" cried Tooth. "They might have found them at this point!"

North was about to urge the reindeer to increase their speed, but suddenly, the reindeer and the front reared back, moaning in surprise. North pulled the reins to gain control. Tooth and Sandy tumbled in the back. Once the reindeer calmed, North hoped out of the sleigh to investigate what they had seen.

The ex-Cossack tilted his head. "What is this…?" he asked out loud. There was a large hole right in the middle of the path they were riding down. Tooth and Sandy fluttered and floated behind him, peeking over his broad shoulders.

"How did this get here?" demanded North. He wasn't upset; he was worried for Jack. With this hole in the way, they would have to find a new route. But every minute spent was another minute Jack and Aster were in danger.

Tooth gasped. "Oh! It's one of Bunny's messenger tunnels!" she exclaimed. And as she said these, five small eggs popped out of the hole. The tunnel closed, and the eggs frantically ran around the Guardians and darted deeper into the woods.

"They've obviously been sent from Aster," said Tooth. "Why else would eggs appear in the middle of the woods? We have to follow them! Come on!"

She spoke so quickly, but North and Sandy didn't need her to repeat what she said. They hopped back into the sleigh and rode after the five little eggs, whom they hoped would lead to Aster and Jack.

…

Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.

They're just shadows, don't be afraid.

They'll only hurt you if you're scared.

Don't be afraid…don't feel afraid!

Jack and Aster fought through the chaos. The lit torches forced the Fearlingsand Nightmares back a little, but that didn't make the battle any less rigorous. Jack forced himself not to feel scared as he cut and slashed through the shadows and sand. He found that they attacked him more rigorously than before, and Aster saved him more than once. The two continued to beat down the Nightmare King's ilk, getting drenched in nightmare sand in the process.

They both fought as hard as they could. Aster sliced through Fearlings with his boomerangs and destroyed those who got too close. Jack froze and stabbed at the oncoming attackers, using the window to guide his blasts and aim.

But the Fearlings and Nightmares kept on coming, regardless of how many times their kin was destroyed. You'd think that after losing a quarter of their army, they'd retreat. But the Fearlnigs and Nightmares were in their element: night. When it was night, they were beyond powerful. They ruled the darkness and controlled the shadows. They could shock fear into anyone they approached. Torment anyone, they encountered with nightmares. They were powerful, relentless creatures. And when enticed by fear, they did not know when to quit.

The battle had reached its peak. Aster and Jack were overwhelmed. Aster was beginning to tire, Jack even more so. They were completely surrounded, and there was nowhere else to run. They didn't know what else to do. The shadows began to close in on them.

And then the auspicious occurred.

Barging in on the sleigh, North, Tooth, and Sandy arrived in a blur. Without even waiting for the reindeer to stop, they leaped out of the sleigh and charged into the fight, battle cries tearing from their throats (except for the Sandman, of course. He used several exclamation points for his entrance). They fought alongside Jack and Aster, dreamland snapping and swords slashing. The two had never been more relieved to see them.

The Fearlings and Nightmares weren't expecting such a sudden change, but they attacked regardless. But with the addition of three, the Guardians and Jack were much stronger than before. They were unmerciful toward the Fearlings and Nightmares that attacked them. They tore through as many as they could, reducing them to dust and air as they fought through.

Though rabid, those created by Pitch were no fools. The Fearlings and Nightmares knew that they were wasting their energy continuing the fight. If they stayed too long, they would be caught in the sunlight. Resisting the firelight was already strenuous enough.

Swearing revenge in their ancient tongue, the Fearlings and Nightmares retreated to the shadows. They sunk into the puddles of black, leaving the Guardians behind. All that was left in the clearing was piles of nightmare sand and their fading screeches.

The Guardians breathed heavily. Now that had been quite a battle. But where the Fearlings and Nightmares were was the last thing on their minds. Who they were worried about at the moment was—

"Jack!" North cried, relieved to see that the boy was alright. Jack dropped his staff and ran up to the ex-Cossack.

"North!" the snow sprite crashed into him and hugged him tight. North ran a hand through the boy's hair. He was okay, he was okay…

Jack trembled. "I-I'm sorry!" he cried. "I j-just wanted t-to have f-fun and then we got lost and the F-Fearlings and N-Nightmares attacked and I-I was so scared and I—"

"Shhhh, deep breaths, moy mal'chik. Deep breaths," North soothed. Jack stopped talking and he focused on breathing to calm himself down. His breaths were shaky, so North held him close. Jack gripped him tightly, he didn't want to let go.

"We should ride back before anything else happens," said Tooth.

"Agreed," said Aster. And the Guardians made their way to the sleigh. North placed Jack in the passenger side of the vehicle. North walked to get into the driver's seat on the other side, only leaving Jack for a few moments, but the boy feared he'd be gone for long.

"N-North—"

"It's alright, moy mal'chik. I'm right here," reassured North. Jack nodded, feeling a little silly that he had been fretful over nothing. But considering the past few hours, the young snow sprite had every right to feel that way.

Soon, the Guardians were on their way to Santoff Claussen. Jack leaned against North, weariness sinking in from the battle. He was tired and looking forward to returning home.

Sandy, Tooth, and Aster sat in the back. The Tooth Fairy turned to the Pooka and asked quietly, "What happened while you two were out here?"

And Aster explained everything. How the terrain shifted and changed verses to what was drawn on the map. How the Fearlings and Nightmares appeared out of now where, and how Jack nearly got hurt during battle.

"I feel bad that the kit had ta experience a Nightmare attack at his age," Aster murmured. His brow furrowed. "But…there was something about that battle that didn't settle quite right."

Sandy created a question mark over his head, voicing both his and Tooth's wondering.

"During the battle, the Fearlings and Nightmares didn't go as hard as me as they did Jack," he said. Aster looked at Sandy and Tooth, a serious expression on his face. "It wasn't easily noticeable, but I felt it. We were all fightin', but it was clear who they were after."

"What are you saying?" asked Tooth.

"They were after Jack," said Aster. "They were targeting him."

…

Jack sat in the living room while the Guardians spoke in the study. He tried not to listen in on their conversation, but he couldn't help himself. Sometimes, he wished that he didn't have such keen hearing.

Aster was explaining to North what had happened in the woods, and the ex-Cossack was deeply troubled by his suspicions. The Fearlings and Nightmares worked for Pitch. If they had gotten hold of Jack, would they have taken him to the Nightmare King?

"If Pitch is after Jack, we need to protect him," said Tooth firmly. Jack was like a son to her, and she didn't want him to be hurt by the Boogeyman.

"We will," Sandy reassured, dreamsand flashing over his head. . He crossed his arms and frowned. "But what I want to know is why he's after Jack. He must be plotting something to do with him."

"He is the last snow sprite," Aster prompted. "Maybe he wants ta use his powers to do his evil bidding or somethin'."

"That does sound like something Pitch would do," Tooth remarked. "But he must have something bigger in mind if he'd come all this way to take Jack away."

Unfortunately, none of the Guardians knew why Pitch was after Jack. Granted, he was the last snow sprite and possessed great power, but Jack would never side with the Boogeyman. Pitch would have to use his Fearlings to force him into working with him. But what was he planning that involved the young snow sprite? The Guardians didn't know, and this frustrated them.

Aster, Sandy, and Tooth looked to North, who hadn't given any input. For one who had lots to say, North was uncharacteristically silent. The ex-Cossack looked at them, his expression was solemn. Tooth, Sandy, and ASter had never seen him so serious.

"If Pitch is coming after Jack, he is going to have to go through us first," North proclaimed. He narrowed his eyes. "I am not letting him touch my boy."

…

Aster found Jack in the armchair next to the window. The young snow sprite appeared to be lost in thought. He nervously nibbled on his thumbnail, waking the many memories of Jack sucking his thumb when he was little. Aster couldn't help but smile at the warm memories; he still found it hard to believe Jack was twelve already. It seemed like just yesterday he had bit his finger with his toothless gums.

When Aster approached, Jack pulled his thumb out of his mouth and looked up. He smiled lightly. "Hey, Bunny."

"Hey yerself," the Pooka said. He crouched in front of the boy. "How are ya feelin'?"

Jack shrugged. "Okay, I guess," he replied. The snow sprite let out a small sigh. "Just shaken and a little tired."

"A little, eh?"

Jack smiled wryly. "Yeah. A little."

Aster chuckled. "Well, ya'll feel better after a good night's rest and a fillin' meal."

"I hope so," said Jack. "I wonder what North'll make for breakfast tomorrow…After eating those berries, I'm up for anything."

Aster laughed and ruffled Jack's hair. "Be careful what ya wish fer, mate. He might serve carrots for the main course."

Jack grimaced. "Reprhase…anything but carrots."

Aster didn't know why Jack disliked carrots. He felt he was truly missing out. The boy only ate them if he was told to. At any other given time, Jack avoided the vegetable as if it were the plague.

Aster wondered if there was a way he could trick Jack into eating one, if not a few, carrots. Perhaps he could hide them in a dessert or meal, and Jack wouldn't even notice.

"Hey, Bunny?" Aster pulled himself out of his thoughts and turned to the snow sprite. Jack shifted in his seat. "Um…I was wondering if you could give me some tips on fighting. I…didn't do so well back there in the woods, and I want to be able to defend myself better."

"I'd be happy ta," said Aster. Jack smiled. "We can get started once yer all rested. And don't be too hard on yerself. Ya gave it yer all out there; I could tell."

Jack was touched; it was rare for Aster to give such compliments. Receiving one from him was like earning a trophy, and Jack couldn't have appreciated it anymore. He stood up and gave Aster a hug. The Pooka was stunned.

"Ah…what's this for?" he asked awkwardly. Aster wasn't a hugger.

"For protecting me," Jack whispered. "And helping me stay hopeful even though I was scared."

Aster softened, and he returned the embrace. After pulling away, Tooth and Sandy came over to say their goodbyes. Aster, Tooth, and Sandy left. North closed the door behind them.

"Are you ready for bed, moy mal'chik?" asked North, though he knew what Jack's answer would be. The snow sprite slipped out of his chair and walked over to North, stifling a yawn.

"Yeah…" said Jack. "It's been a long day."

North lifted Jack into his arms (he was as light as a feather), but the boy didn't protest. Jack giggled, and he leaned against North as he carried him upstairs. North lay Jack in bed; the snow sprite rubbed his eyes.

"You didn't have to carry me upstairs," Jack murmured sleepily.

North smiled softly. "You looked tired."

Jack hummed, and North was reminded of how he tucked Jack in when he was little. He had vowed to protect him the day he had found him in the woods, and yet he had almost lost him today. North had an inkling that something bad was going to happen. He wished he hadn't let Jack join Aster in the woods. But if Aster had gone by himself, he would've been overwhelmed, so perhaps it was good that Jack had gone with him.

The thought of Pitch coming after his boy hovered in the back of his mind. North wondered if he should tell Jack what he and the Guardians had discussed. The boy deserved to know since it did regard him after all, but he needn't think about this, for Jack spoke up.

"North…?"

North turned to Jack. "Yes, my boy?"

"Is…Is Pitch coming after me?" Jack asked. North could see the fear in his eyes. His heart sunk at the sight.

"No," North replied. "Or, yes. Well—"

The ex-Cossack shook his head. He couldn't lie to Jack.

"We…do not know," North replied earnestly. Jack listened intently. "The Fearlings and Nightmares were targeting you, but we are still unsure what Pitch's motifs are. But you don't need to worry. We will protect you. You are safe here, my boy."

Jack appeared to be reassured, and he nodded. North pulled the covers over him. "Now, get some sleep."

Jack yawned. "Goodnight, North…I love you."

North ran a hand through Jack's hair. "I love you too, moy mal'chik."

Then he left Jack to sleep for the night.

Author's Note: I know I've used this ending before, but I can't get enough of the "I love yous," guys. QwQ Sorry not sorry; it's just so dang sweet. =')

And that's the end! Don't know whether to label it as happy or not. XD Pitch is definitely up to something, but he be warned that if he lays one finger on my Jackie Boy, I will go on a rampage...with a flaming broomstick and pepper spray.

Jack: *Raises eyebrow* Do you actually own those things?

Um, I, uh...HUSH UP, JACK! YOU GET WHAT I MEAN!

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I hope to see you all in the next one! =D

Until the next chapter!

~BeyondTheMoon1203