Again, sorry for the long wait. But I'm afraid updates will not be any quicker- Unfortunately motivation and the other tasks I have are piling up. But I do really want to finish this- Finally I feel like the story is coming together.
I had many aspects I wanted in this, but getting them all together properly and in a way that wasn't overcrowding it was difficult. It may mean that some things I was planning on may have to be in a sequel- things surrounding the Guardian's lives and my OC'S.
Tyzentray, the former Witch's familiar from 'Nightmare Dust nand the Second Sand' finaly returns!
Please review.
Chapter 3: Northern Beacon
Alecvander was long lived. And very, very alone in his world.
Many saw the old man in his old shop, the dusty antiques a lot like the aged man's antiques that gathered in stiff piles on the shelves. Many questioned how the old shop stayed open, and the reason being that no-one ever seemed to enter but Alecvander.
No relatives known, no children or grandchildren. Not even a hint towards whether 'Alecvander' was his sir name or his first. No one really knew why he was there or what he did all day and frankly they'd rather not know. The truth was, there was something about him that was...strange and different. And it frightened people.
Either way, he was just always there. Sweeping the street outside his shop, or otherwise never seen. Only spoke of legends, the weather, or nothing at all. Many people grew up seeing him in front of the shop, an old man still.
A quiet, lonely man who seemed to have been around forever.
The garnished frozen walls oft he office glistened in the torchlight as the whirling buzz reverberated through the air, marrying the clatter and calls from outside the thick doors. Upon the walls stood a bulky, muscular shadow cast by a large figure that strode with joyful but sturdy confidence through the carpeted room, towards a large table on which large chunks of ice sat. Behind the ice stood the windows, equally white landscapes stretching out far past the horizon, touching the tip of the sky.
The North Pole was clear today, though the winds blew strong outside its walls in the mountainside. These cold winds were fought by the fires stoked in the office- but these fires curiously did not interfere with the bulky man's work.
North pulled out a large and sharp chainsaw from under his hand, laughing almost gleefully as he switched it onto full power and proceeded to slice into the ice, spraying small sprinkles of snow everywhere.
Sitting stiffly on a large armchair to the side, Tryzentray the former Witch's familiar watched with growing unease at how this large man acted so child-like when handling a dangerous weapon. Her forearms folded before her, she continued to observe with natural silence as North plucked a small carving knife from his work table and cut into a small junk of ice, humming contentedly to himself as he shaped the frozen block.
Not a few moments later, North blew the dust-like ice from his creation's surface, and the pale-eyed rabbit sat on the chair noticed that it was none other than a small steam train.
An eyebrow rose almost comically at this realization.
Honestly?
North wasn't at all bothered by the rabbit's unimpressed look. With a booming laugh, he slipped the chain onto the winding train track on the work table, and watched as it rode down the slides. He looked as happy as well, a child on Christmas.
Then, Tyzentray watched with surprise as if fly straight from the track and through the air, and morphing in the air to produce wings and engines like an airplane. North sat at his workshop, arms outstretched as it flew around him.
Finlay, the Guardian of wonder turned his attention to the wide-eyed doe on the seat, remarking jubilantly,
"Very good, is it not?" Tyzen sighed to herself at how excited he was.
North continued to watch his creation zip around the room. Ah, sometimes he wished he could ride in a flying train for a small change- thought he would never give up his slay. Hm...perhaps good idea for new project-
Those thoughts would have to wait, for a second later a thundering amount of steps moved towards the closed door of North's office, and it swung open just as the hovering chain flew by.
Tyzentray cringed as the unmistakable shattering sound met her ears, and the ice cluttered to the snow. North gave a wordless exclamation and gestured to the pieces as the yeti responsible held his paws to his face in alarm, yelling in a hyper manner.
North placed a large, rough hand to his forehead, "How many times have I told you to knock?!" He asked incredulously. The yeti gave an apologetic grumble before gesturing wildly behind him. Tyzentray's brow creased in bemusement, but North looked anything but confused. All child-like wonder for his train had vanished, replaced by a blank, suspicious frown.
"...The Globe?"
The centre of the North Pole was empty. A enormous, glittering globe was suspended in the centre of the carving-adorned, bright cavern, and all over the globe were small, strange letters and thousands upon thousands of tiny, golden lights.
But, even as the winter sunlight shone through the tall wide windows, a shadow seemed to fall as the air dropped to an even colder, bitter chill.
Two yetis stood staring at the sudden strangeness they sensed as North strode through, almost roughly setting himself between their shoulders to gaze up at the representative of the world. Tyzentray hopped onto the control panel, following his gaze.
Far away, yet watching still, a pair of sharp, pale yellow eyes bore down on them with a small, toothy smirk.
"Let's see how you like my show, North. I hope you find it...thought inducing. "
The globe's surface began to rattle and shake, and North's eyes widened as he watched. Then, as the trembling increased, slithering black sand began to slide over the top of the globe, and North's breath caught in his throat as it began to engulf the whole sphere.
Blue eyes watched with horrified alarm as the sand suddenly burst from the globe like a deadly, light less firework, only to move through the air and take the shape of a familiar, ominous looming form.
And as it did, an echoing laugh rippled through the air, and faded away. North stood stock still for a moment, thoughts racing. Black sand, the figure, the globe.
All pointed to one terrifying, and threatening conclusion:
The Children were in danger.
So, without further hesitation, North reached out towards a handle nearby and turned it roughly, pressing it down with a grunt. Tyzentray's head jerked upwards as she watched the colourful, blue-green lights leap into the air as quick as a lightning bolt.
The Northern Lights, blazing during the day, reached over the sky towards their goals. And as they did, North gazed at the globe with dark silence, and Tyzentray could only watch with him as the uneasy feeling around them grew.
The forest was different this time. Still cold, chilly. Still foggy and blurred like seeing through tear-filled eyes. But all was not as it was before, he knew as much.
The trees, black against the grey fog, stretched higher and their claw-like branches reached further to the side like outstretched arms, tangled with bushes and leaves. The boy walked hastily through the winding trunks, which had doubled in number and now were blocking ever three steps. Everywhere there were trees standing in his way, cutting him off, like sheepdogs herding him around a maze.
His breath began to quicken, and his eyes darted around. Then, he grew calm. He did not know why, but he felt as if something had lifted. Already now, after wandering for what seemed like hours, the trees began to get a little further apart, and did not stretched over the sky and cast frightening shadows upon him.
Yet, as his back was turned to the tangled, darkened part of the forest, some strange feeling came into his chest. One that told him he must go back...
Jo's eyes snapped open.
A single, wrenching breath drawn by his lungs shocked him into consciousness, and he found himself lying in the snow, exactly where he fell. He was trembling, but not from the cold snow beneath him. In fact, it hardly bothered him at all.
what bothered him, was that Pitch had been there. And had looked at him with such a terrifying malice, as if telling him he was there to do harm...
Well...its not like Pitch hasn't been around. He always disturbs a few dreams here and there, gives people the spooks. Its not like its the end of the world should I run into him by mistake...
But...
Jo sat up on his elbows, his shaky silver frame partially covered in frost. But...something just wasn't right. Maybe he should go and see Sandy.
The thought of seeing his mentor brightened him a little, and Jo pulled himself onto his shaky feet and was ready to bounce into the air when something prodded him from behind.
He jumped, and spun around- only to find nothing there. Jo took a moment to glance around the street. It was the early morning, snow sitting softly around the streets and roofs, the sky blue and sunny despite the cold conditions. No one was about.
Yet...he couldn't help but feel watched.
"H-hello?" He called out, licking his lips. His voice was hoarse and husky, and the tremble in his tone didn't help. He looked around again, only to find that like before there was no one to be seen. He let himself relax a little Jo sighed irritably to himself. He glanced down at the comic-looking snow angel his fall had created and sniffed to himself.
I must be the stupidest Guardian in existence, He remarked to himself with a shake of his head, Falling from a windowsill? Honestly, Joseph...
Suddenly, Jo stiffened. Right then, he could feel the unmistakable presence of another behind him- and his hair stood on end. He turned around, very slowly.
His heart almost failed when he saw a pair of familiar grey-yellow eyes. He froze, an alarmed yelp caught in his throat as he stumbled back, very nearly loosing his balance. But, just as he raised his arms as if to defend or attack, he saw that the owner of these eyes was not who he had been dreading.
Standing before him was a girl. But not a normal one. Dark blue feathers covered her thin, small frame, a plain black dress the only garment she wore. Yellow feathers poked out at her ears, black plumage around her neck and making up her hair-like feathers on her head. A round, young face, younger than his by at least two years. But the youth in her face said different from the grimness in her gaze. Jo felt a strong sense of familiarity.
This girl...he'd seen here before. And for some reason he felt terrified of her. He stepped back, and for a long while all the two did was stare at each other. His eyes fully of wariness, hers unreadable behind her frown. Silence held them in a tight embrace as they watched each other, both of them still. The girl's head was bowed slightly, and his eyes looked up at him with a strange hostility. Jo swallowed, but did not look away.
Images flashed in his mind. Forests. Grey. Cold...
He stared at her, his wariness turning into curious awe. Who was this girl? This girl who stared as if she knew him, who looked... so much like...
"Tooth?" He murmured, lowering his arms in bewilderment. Yes...she looked almost exactly like tooth. But her eyes...they were not the violet lights that were Toothiana's. They were sharp, watching. And they were almost sinister in their glare.
The frown n on the girl's face faded, and she she shook her head. Then, startling him even further, the girl hopped like a bird into the air, hovering there as she drew forward, until her eyes were centimeters away from his. A bright, bubbly smile stretched across her features happily. Jo couldn't help but be utterly confused by the change the girl went through.
"Hello!" She sang happily, "We're kidnapping you!"
Jo's eyes shot wide, and his eyebrows creased in an incredulous look. "Wait, What?"
Not a second later, something dark red and fabric-like slipped over his head, and the girl's familiar, eerie eyes were hidden from him.
That's the most enthusiastic and friendly kidnapping I've ever seen.
Please review :)