"I wish we could." Jack sighed, pointing his staff in the direction of the kids, who had now started a snowball fight with one another, their happy shrieks filling the air. Understanding flashed across Ella's face.
"Oh. Yes, I'd forgotten. We have to take care of them first, right?" Ella says, her mouth struggling against a frown.
"You guys don't have to worry about us" Jamie says, suddenly appearing in the conversation.
"Huh?" Jack asks, his eyebrows knitting together.
"We can look after ourselves. We have our footprints to follow back to town. And if we get in trouble we'll call I doubt it's anything we can't handle" Jamie says, a small smile adding comfort to his words.
"How will you call us?" Ella asks, looking eager to get going.
"No phone." he says with a laugh. "Most spirits get cut off after neglecting their bills for a few centuries"
"I have this" Jamie says proudly, holding up a small whistle. The whistle has an odd beauty about it, the way that it shines in the sun and is completely transparent making it strangely unique.
"It can summon you if I need help, right? That's what North told me anyways" Jamie asks, gazing at the whistle as if it is priceless.
"Let's test it out" Jack says with a flourish, floating up into the the canopy of the trees. When he was about a mile away he hears a small tune, similar to that of Yankee Doodle. He flies back just as Jamie takes the whistle from his lips.
"You called?" Jack says, landing easily. Jamie nods.
"What did you hear?" He asks eagerly.
"Yankee Doodle, I think" Jack says, leaning against a tree.
"It must be different for each of you. North told me that I had to think of who I wanted to call before using it. I guess that's yours" Jamie says with a laugh. Ella looks upset, her lips pursed in thought.
"What is it?" Jack asks, concern coloring voice without even meaning to.
"If I'm like you, then shouldn't I be able to hear it too?" Ella asks quietly, almost as if she doesn't want to say it at all. Jamie shrugs, putting the whistle to his lips. From the look on Ella's face Jack assumes she still can't hear anything, even when Jamie's cheeks puff out in exertion. Ella avoids looking at Jack, probably hoping to keep herself from bursting into tears.
"We'll figure this out, okay?" Jack says gently, thanking Jamie before leading Ella away from the rest of the group. With a chorus of good byes at their backs, Jack and Ella head deeper into the forest.
"You'll be okay?" Jack asks for the third time in a row, hoping to rouse an answer out of the solemn girl.
"Yes. I'm fine. I'm just lost, and I don't know how to get found" Ella says so sadly that she sounds on the verge of crying, though no actual tears fall from her watchful blue eyes.
"Well, we'll try. And if we can't figure out who you are, we'll find out who you can be." Jack says with a smile. Ella nods, the sorrow already melting from her face, a spectacular grin lighting up her face.
"How long does it take to get to the North Pole?" she asks, looking as if she is already calculating the distance in her mind.
"About an hour and a half if you travel by wind." Jack says automatically, wondering himself how he will get them both to the Pole and wishing he had one of North's globes to transport them.
"Well then, we best head off" Ella says, looking up at the sky. A second later a warm breeze lifts her away, taking off like a shot into the afternoon sky.
After a moment of astonished staring, Jack grins as well, gathering the wind around him and using the icy gale to lift him in hot pursuit of Ella.
)****(
I can't believe the rush I feel when Jack flies alongside me, our eyes tearing as the wind whips into them relentlessly. The hope, the possibilities, it sets me free, I allow my heart to soar as we race through the clouds, our clothes soaking wet when we do. Jack swirls in the clouds, creating exotic patterns and shapes as he swoops and dives, almost like he is dancing in mid-air, as graceful as a ballerina.
The time passes quickly, Jack making sure to keep pace with me and giving bits of encouragement when I lag behind, only to be bowled over as I pour on the speed and force him to race to catch up to me. Since I can't remember anything, this is the most fun I've ever had. And I'm glad to share it with this strange, elfish boy who I've just met. I close my eyes to soak in the feeling. And open them just as quickly when I hear Jack scream from behind me.
"Ella!" is all I can hear him say, that is, before I notice that I've crossed into the path of a sleek plane soaring through the air towards me, the long nose of the aircraft preparing to skewer me right through my heart.
*Author's Note*
I have no excuse. I am a terrible human being! *sobs*
Sorry, but I have a slight case of ADD, when I get bored with things I tend to drop them. So, I'm not very good with stories. But, I've recently gotten back into the RotG fandom once more and shall be adding more chapters real soon! Read and Review! (if I still have any readers that is.. T-T)
-AngelxWings14