Chapter 6

"Jack, common! You said you would explain." Katherine begged Jack.

"Fine, alright. Common and I will explain." Jack groaned as he took Katherine's hand and led her to the living room. Katherine could feel a blush rising into her cheeks, but she quickly suppressed it. Katherine jumped onto one of the couches opposite to the fire and waited for Jack to start explaining. But Jack wasn't completely sure how to explain who Pitch is.

"Well..." Katherine insisted.

"Um, well it's a bit hard to explain." Jack began as he ran his hands threw his hair. "The man you saw was Pitch Black, or the Bogyman. He is our number one enemy and the greatest threat to the Guardians."

"Why?" Katherine interrupted.

"Why? Because he steals every good dream he comes across and replaces it with misery and despair, and when he does that it threatens us as well as the children. He will do anything to make sure there is nothing but fear, and darkness in the world and I mean anything. It is why he is soo dangerous, and it's why we don't want you near him." Jack ranted.

Katherine didn't really know what to think of this new information. She felt like there was something more to Pitch than Jack had told her. But she wouldn't press Jack on the matter, it was the most information she had ever gotten about Pitch. So she was grateful enough already. But there was only one thing left she had to ask.

"How does he know my name?" Katherine asked. Jack seemed to hesitate for a little bit on the question.

"Pitch knows everyone's greatest fears, and if he really cares enough he might occasionally learn there name as well." Jack replied waving his hand in the air as if the matter was of no importance. "Does that answer all of your questions?"

"Yes, thank you." Katherine chimed. She didn't want to bother Jack about Pitch anymore, she could tell it was a touchy subject. But why?

"Good. Now hurry up, or breakfast will get cold." Jack grabbed Katherine's hand again and pulled her to her feet, her long red and black dress flowing her.

Katherine had almost forgot about breakfast, she hadn't really been hungry for the past couple days. But she had to force something down to keep her strength up. Katherine laughed as Jack threw her onto his back and flew into the dinning room were North sat finishing up his breakfast.

"You are here so often it's almost like having a second child to take care of." North joked as Jack and Katherine sat down. "What were you two doing anyway?"

Jack waited a moment before answering, making sure North was in the right mood to be told of the recent events. "It was Pitch, he caused a little commotion last night while Sandy was teaching Katherine. Katherine wanted to know who he was, so I went ahead and told her the basics. I figured she was old enough to know by now." Jack explained, hoping north wouldn't jump to conclusions.

North's expression turned grim, he didn't like the news. "So he is starting to come back out of the shadows huh?" North stopped for a moment, as if deciding on something. "Then I think we should start to teach Katherine how to defend herself against the evil at hand if it ever becomes a problem."

"Agreed." Jack nodded and then took a bite of his ham.

But Katherine was lost all together. "Why would I need to defend myself? What are they hiding from me?" Katherine pondered. It was starting to become rather annoying. She hated having information kept from her.

"North, do you have any books on Pitch? I mean, so I know what I'm up against in case anything happens." Katherine asked. It was a risky thing to ask, and the answer was probably no but Katherine had to ask.

North and jack shared a glance. There was only one book in history that contained any information about Pitch, the ones that the original Katherine wrote when she was young. They were North's most treasured items that held the most fond memories of his youth. But they held some dangerous information that could lead to Katherine finding out who her parents were.

Katherine had a good point though. If she was ever going to defend herself against Pitch and fight the evil she would have to know exactly what they are capable of.

"Yes my dear, in fact I do. After you have finished eating I will get the books for you." North replied after a long silence. Katherine's face light up with the brightest smile and instantly started to shovel her breakfast down.

Jack began to become worried though. He remembered what Pitch had said the other night while fighting him. "She will find out one day... You cannot keep my daughter from me." Pitch's words echoed throughout his mind. Jack was afraid that Pitch was right, that Pitch would take Katherine from him.

As soon as Katherine had finished her breakfast she sprang to her feet and pulled North to his. "Calm down Katherine, give an old man a minute." North laughed. Katherine followed North to his office library like a dog follows his master.

"Know Katherine, these books are very special and dear to me. They were written by a young girl very similar to you, as you will find out. Take care of them, and return them when you are done." North told Katherine as he pulled out a set of dusty books from a hidden compartment in his drawer and handed it to Katherine.

"I promise I will." Katherine promised as she looked at the old books in awe. They were covered in the most fantastic drawings she had ever seen, and had amazing penmanship. She saw the authors name was Katherine. Just Katherine. "Who is Katherine? Why doesn't she have a last name?" Katherine asked. Never had she seen an author with no last name.

"Read, and you will find out." North answered with a smile. "No spoilers." Katherine smiled and instantly ran off to her little room in the library and started to read the first book.

"Are you alright Jack?" North asked eyeing Jack's sullen expression.

"Huh? Oh, yes... and no." Jack began. "I'm worried about Katherine. Pitch warned that she would find out one day about who she really is, and i'm starting to think that his words are coming true."

"I fear your right Jack. All we can do is try to keep her away from Pitch as much as possible and steer her in the right direction." North sighed. He didn't want Katherine to leave him either. After all these years he had grown to love the little child like his own, and had never planned for her to leave.

"There has to be something we can do." Jack ranted.

"Maybe there is... We will call the others together shortly and discuss what can be done." North mused as he started to think of any solution to this mess. Jack nodded and flew off. He wanted to be alone to think, besides there were still kids who needed a snow day about now.