"Aw, man..." Jack complained as a yeti caught sight of him.
He had been going through the halls, and unlike most times when he came here, he wasn't here to sneak into the workshop. If he happened to come across an oppurtunity to get inside there, he definitely wouldn't pass it up, but today... He was here to become more familiar with the large structure of the North Pole.
There was so much more to it besides the workshop but Jack had yet to see it all. Since getting into the workshop seemed too difficult, he decided to maybe figure out a different way to get in there. Maybe an entrance through one of the lower floors. That workshop seemed to have a section in each of the levels after all.
A sudden grab at him made Jack focus on what was going on around him. Jack danced across the halls, avoiding the grasp of the yeti. He laughed as the creature swore in Yetish. Who knew they spoke with such language, especially around children?
To be fair, Jack wasn't exactly a child, what with being around 250ish or more years old... and the yeti probably didn't know Jack understood Yetish, but still.
Jack paused in his flight for a moment, and just hovered there. He wondered how many of the yetis actually knew that he spoke their language. Not that many obviously. Jack didn't think he'd run into a yeti who did know he spoke Yetish. How would they react when they found out? Why hadn't Phil told them?
When a furry paw came at him again, he decided to focus on the task at hand. He reminded himself to thank Phil for not telling anyone, though. He liked listening in to some of the conversations that went on around him. There were some interesting secrets that had fallen into his grasps because of his new skill.
Jack shifted his grasp on his staff and aimed it at the floor, causing a patch of ice to form near the feet of the large creature that had attacked him. As the yeti stepped forwards to reach for the winter spirit, he felt his feet lose their grip on the floorboards under him, and found himself falling quickly to the ground.
When the familiar THUD sounded, Jack flew off, leaving the yeti to try to gain his footing once more.
Jack quickened his pace as he tried to find his way around. The hallways all looked the same, and he often found himself lost if he didn't pay attention... He had kind'a gotten side tracked when the yeti had spotted him, and in trying to lose the big guy, Jack had lost all sense of direction. As he flew, he kept looking back where he had come from, and would often look down the halls that he passed by. He felt as though this whole building had eyes. When ever Phil knew he was inside (which he did now, thanks to that first yeti...) it didn't take long for his friend to catch up with him. Jack didn't know why, or how. It's not like the winter spirit just hanged around waiting to be caught. Jack was constantly on the move, yet the big guy was always one step ahead of him.
When Jack came to a hallway that split off into multiple branches, he let the winds fly ahead and tell him which would lead to outside. If he could find outside, then he could find the workshop.
They started pulling him down one of them, and just as Jack was about to fly down it, Phil came running down that same hallway. Jack quickly turned around a flew through a different path, hoping to lose track of the yeti before he was caught. This place was a maze, it shouldn't be too difficult.
Boy was he wrong...
No matter how often Jack broke off into a random direction, or did U-turns or anything, Phil seemed to be hot on his trail. The reason that Jack knew was because he could hear the yeti's complaints of having to run around everywhere.
How was he doing it? Out of all the twists and turns Jack took, Phil never missed any of them and seemed to be able to follow him flawlessly even though Jack was out of his vision.
Jack eventually sighed and came to a stop. He was officially lost. He didn't even know what part of the Pole this area was in... He had flown to the lower levels, but he must have gone farther than he thought because Jack couldn't recognize anything. This was his first time being in this part of the North Pole.
Jack stood there for a bit, waiting for Phil to come and throw him out. It was better than being lost down here...
After awhile though, Phil hadn't come and Jack was wondering if he had finally lost the yeti. "Great... the one time I need him to find me, and he's nowhere to be found..." Jack mumbles. He feels the wind surround him gently, and he decides to send them out to see if they can find a window or anything that could lead him out of here.
Soon after the wind came, he heard the familiar footsteps of Phil coming towards him. He excitedly jumped into the air and flew towards the big creature. "PHIL!" He exclaimed as they both came to a stop.
The yeti paused for a moment to catch his breath, but he also released a sigh of relief. Jack guessed that Phil didn't want him messing around down here. It didn't matter though, he was found and he could get out of here.
These lower levels were actually a bit creepy. There weren't many lights, so it was dim, or maybe it wasn't that dim, but the lack of natural sunlight just made it seem that way... anyways, there were almost no yetis. They were always all over the place at the pole. He had heard maybe one or two since he got lost down here. What made this place even more strange was that there was no elves at all. None. Normally, Jack would find it hard to not an elf, he would always be passing a couple elves that would be hanging out in the halls causing trouble for the yetis, but down here it was empty.
"Phil, what is this place anyways?" He looked towards the many doors that covered the walls. Now that he wasn't worried about being lost, he could see that there were numbers, like years, on each door.
Phil stared at the winter spirit for a minute, deciding whether or not to show him. In the end, though, he went towards one of the doors and opened it up for Jack to see. When both entered the room, Phi held in a chuckle at how Jack's eyes bulged.
It was filled with toys. One of every kind, it seemed like. They were separated into different sections, with a year hanging over each area.
"Wow" Jack whispered. "You keep version of every toy you make?" He incredeulously asked. "I know this is only one room, but shouldn't it be a lot fuller than this? You guys do make a lot of toys..."
Phil explained that they only keep one of the toys that the yetis, themselves, create. Humans are coming up with toy ideas, and the yeti's make those for the children as well, but they don't keep them down here. Only the original designs of the yetis are kept, and if there was ever a toy that was similar enough to an already made one... they would just keep it simple. The yetis didn't want to fill up this area too fast, they still had to have room in the future.
Phil thought back on past years and how humans recently have been coming up with most of the newer toy ideas. North and the yetis just improve upon them. In the past, almost all of the gifts North brought to the children every year were thought up by the inhabitants of the North Pole, but as time went by, the mortals got more creative in their thinking and were finding new ways to entertain they children.
The yetis had noticed something. The toys were becoming a bit more violent as the years progressed... Phil shrugged it off though. That was just how the children were growing up. These were made for them, so they should be focused on the children's interests.
"So, how many years fit in each room?" Jack asked, bringing Phil out of his train of thought. Jack had been survaying the room and noticed that it held twelve years worth of toys, at least thats what Jack guessed based on the signs that overhang each section. He wanted to know if every room held the same amount of toys though. Did they create the same number of toys each year? Did they have a quota that they needed to meet?
Phil shrugged, saying they just filled the room, not counting how many years worth goes in each. Some years they came up with a lot of different ideas, others, the humans mostly created new toys.
Jack started walking towards one of the shelves, a specific toy had caught his eye. He did a quick glance back at Phil, silently asking if he could. Phil ushered him forwards to check it out. These toys had been made by yetis, and from the finest materials. They were made to be handled by young curious children. The toys certainly wouldn't break just by a simple winter spirit getting a hold of-
SNAP!
Phil flinched at the sound and hurriedly looked at Jack. The boy's eyes were wide in a panicked expression. He was looking down at the broken mess that now sat in his hands, his breath coming quickly. Suddenly his head shot up and looked at Phil pleadingly.
"I-I... I just-..." He took a few hurried breaths, and quickly glanced back at the toy for a moment. He tried to say something but it seemed he was at a lose for words. "It broke!" He finally said, his voice cracking.
Phil laughed as he watch Jack freak out. He was so flustered, it was great. Phil wasn't too worried about it. They could always remake it. The toy hadn't been anything special, it was also a newer creation, so it would be easier to remember how exactly it was made. Now... if Jack had been in one of the older rooms, like four or five-hundred years ago... that would have been a bit different.
Jack visably relaxed when he saw Phil wasn't upset. Guess it wasn't a big deal. Jack decided to put the mess back where he found it.
After he returned it, Phil signaled that it was time to go.
"Fine..." Jack pouted. "But you should bring me back here some time, so I can get a better look."
Phil laughed, asking why he needed to bring him, when Jack could just come on his own.
"... I don't want to get lost again..." He mumbled to the floor.
Before Phil could comment, Jack's head suddenly shot up as he remembered his earlier question. "How do you keep finding me?"
Phil smirked and gave Jack a 'its a secret' look. He then turned and started leading them towards the upper floor, and the outside.
Jack glared at Phil's back, but decided he'd figure it out later. With the winds, he floated up and caught up with the yeti. He was just about to ask Phil another question when he noticed something.
Phil's fur was moving in the wind. The small amount of wind that carried him as he flew... Phil could feel it.
Jack thought back to before, and realized that Phil hadn't been able to find him until shortly after the wind had blown through the halls... he'd been following the winds!
The winter spirit smiled as he figured it out. It was obvious now, as he thought back to the other times it had happened. Since Jack had come to these lower levels, he had slowed down, and tried to find his way back. The winds hadn't been blowing hard enough for Phil to feel them. That why he lost track of Jack.
Jack grinned as the realization hit him, but it soon disappeared as he realized it didn't account for all the times he was followed.
He slipped his hand down on his staff, allowing it to touch the floor occasionally as the two of them returned to the upper floors. He continued to try and think of how Phil and the other yetis did it, because it wasn't just Phil would could find Jack. They all could. It seemed like it happened more when he was rushed...
Just as his staff touched the floor, a beautiful frost pattern sprouted forth from it, covering a bit of the floor. Jack smiled as he watched it grow as they walked on. The frost grew into a complicated pattern as he put his thoughts in it. He loved watching how the ice reacted to his thoughts, even if he wasn't consciously thinking about it.
Phil must have noticed the ice trail following them, because he gave out a short growl, asking Jack to stop. With a shrug, the winter spirit complied. Without the frost pattern to occupy his mind, he let his eyes drift to the walls that surrounded them. They weren't to where Jack could recognize the area, but he knew they were getting close. A darkened spot of wood caught his eyes and he noticed that part of the wall was wet. He leaned closer and saw small traces of his frost still there. Phil turned a corner, and when Jack followed he saw more signs of his frost.
Jack paused in his steps and just stared at the walls for a felt like something should be clicking right now... like he was missing something that was really obvious.
...
...
...
"Aw, Come on!" He suddenly shouted out.
Phil stopped and quickly turned around to see what had happened.
Jack glared at the yeti. "No wonder you've been able to follow me so easily." He exclaimed. "I haven't exactly been making it difficult for you, I mean... These conveniently placed ice patches all over the walls are almost just shouting out at you 'Jack went this way, just follow his own well placed snow signs, its really easy!' " He said mockingly.
Phil smirked at Jack as the boy gestured to the wall where a new pattern had now formed. The yeti gave a shrug of his shoulders to Jack.
"Ugh.." Jack sighed. "How was I supposed to noticed I was doing that? It just naturally happens when my staff touches something." The winter spirit continued to complain about how they formed without him trying. It was normally really cool, but now they were setting him back from his goal... He'd have to fix that. "Well," He started defiantly. "You'll find it much harder to catch me from now on. Now, there'll be no more unconsciously placed frost patches all over. You're just going to have to find me the old fashion way... With luck." He finished with a smug smile.
Phil sighed. That was all he needed. A harder time getting a hold of his mischievous winter spirit.
"Aw, don't feel too bad, big guy." Jack said, patting Phil's fur. "You can always-" Jack cut off and quickly looked around. "Hey, I recognize this area." He gestured to the walls and doors that surrounded them.
Phil looked back at Jack was chucked to see how happy the boy was.
Jack suddenly flew ahead mumbling to himself. Phil decided to run to catch up.
"Two right... take a left... door to the workshop-ignore..." He took a double take when he saw two yetis standing guard by it. He seemed a bit tempted to do something, but... nope. Jack continued on and then stopped in front of a double door. He paused dramatically, and called upon the winds. They blew open both doors with such force, they hit the walls, and a torrent of cold air blew in.
"Outside!" His voice rang though the cliffs and mountains that stood tall outside the workshop.
By the time Phil reached the door, Jack had already flown into the air and was having the time of his life, doing flips and tricks, and free-falling, and a bunch of other things that he seemed to enjoy. Jack let out exclaims of cheer, and yelled out into the winds.
He came down quickly and landed in front of Phil. He brushed his wild hair out of his face as his breath came short from over-exertion.
"So, the Pole is all fine and dandy, but... after being lost in there for awhile, with no room for actual flight..." He let out a deep breath. "That felt really good." He let loose a big smile.
Phil ruffled Jack's hair, ignoring the boy's protests that sounded when he started. He gave a final little shove to Jack as he turned back inside. He said a small good bye to his friend, telling him that he had to get back to work, and that not everyday could be full of fun and games, despite what Jack tried to do.
"Hey, work can be fun." Jack retorted.
The winter spirit gave a sly smirk and shot a bolt of ice forwards.
Phil immediatley felt gravity take hold of him as he slipped.
"See?" Jack laughed., perched upon his staff. "How fun was that?"
Phil rolled his eyes, asking how that was considered work.
"Uh... winter spirit here." He stated, gesturing to himself. "Bringer of snow and ice?"
Phil quickly bent down and grabbed a handful of snow. Before it could leave his hands, though, he himself was pelted with the cold snow.
"You're gonna have to be faster then that if you want to catch me!" Jack called out as he flew away.
Phil quickly gathered more snow, and put all his might into throwing it through the air. He went inside before he saw it hit, but the shout of surprise he heard before the door shut told Phil all he needed to know.
He gave a final smirk before heading back to work.
A/N: Wow, guys. I can't think of anything to say after that... You guys get not authors note for this chapter. ;]
