Thank you to those people who have reviewed. I'm glad people are enjoying the story.
Nothing recognizable belongs to me.
The sun smiled on a small village in Michigan. The adults were out shopping and gardening; and all the children were out playing. A group of five kids were playing catch on the outskirts of the forest that bordered the village. They tossed the ball from one to another, laughing when someone threw or caught poorly as they breathed in the sweet summer air. One boy, who had a peculiar amount of energy, accidentally tossed the ball past the group and into the woods.
"Nathan!" his sister groused, stomping her foot on the ground. "You always throw the ball too far."
"Sorry…"
"Go get it!" she shouted, stabbing a finger towards the trees. Nathan eyed the trees warily – all the children were afraid of the forest.
"Make Katherine get it. She's closest." He replied and his sister stalked over to beat some sense into him. Before she could, however, Katherine put an arm out to stop her.
"It's okay, I can get it." She walked calmly into the forest without looking back.
The sun could barely penetrate the thick cover of leaves and pine needles that rose up almost a mile past Katherine's head. It was dark, cold, and- because of the pine needles that littered the ground- eerily silent. Katherine searched for the ball in semi-darkness, getting more and more frantic when she could not find it.
She was just about to give up when she saw something move out of the corner of her eye. She whipped around, ready to run or even fight if she had to. But it was just the ball, rolling to her feet. "At last." She whispered and bent to pick it up. The ball in hands, she stood to leave- and froze.
Katherine was staring into a pair of enormous black eyes. Though obviously not human, they gazed back at her with human intelligence. A soft snarl ripped through the silence and a dark grey paw stepped out of the shadows.
Snapping out of her trance, Katherine sprinted towards the village. She'd never run faster in her life- but Flint and his pack had given chase and soon overtook her. The next thing she heard was her friends screaming as the wolves burst into the village.
^^^^ROTG^^^^
"Wow," Jamie exclaimed after Jack's explanation. "a real vampire." Jack looked at Jamie's expression and shook his head.
"Not wow. Someone has already died. I really only came to make sure you were okay."
Jamie stopped smiling. "I know. But honestly, I'm more worried about you, Jack." Jamie paused. "You don't think I'm scared? Jack, I'm terrified. But I learned from you that the easiest way to deal with fear is to find something fun." Any response Jack would have given was interrupted by several things at once.
One of North's snowglobe portals opened, spilling North and Sandy; Bunny hopped up through one of his holes, and Tooth flew through the window- literally. "We've got a problem, mate. Seems like Dracula's wolves've attacked a small town in Michigan."
Jack and Jamie's eyes widened. "Michigan? But that's like…really close." Jamie whispered and Jack turned to him.
"Exactly. That's why you're not going to leave this house."
Jamie looked startled. "What?"
"I'm putting you on house arrest, Jamie."
"But I want to help…" Jack shook his head.
"Jamie, I need you here to protect Sophie." Several expressions crossed Jamie's face, ending with resignation.
"I hate you Jack. Playing the 'Big Brother' card is low."
"Come, Jack. No time to waste." North grunted, pulling out a snowglobe and creating a new portal. Before Jack could walk away, Jamie grabbed his arm. "Jack, I-"
"No." Jack interrupted bluntly.
"But I-"
"No."
"You didn't even-"
"No."
Jamie gave up trying to talk, instead, he pulled Jack into a bear hug, hugging him the same way he did the morning they defeated Pitch four years ago. "I just wanted to wish you luck." He whispered.
"Don't worry. I'll come back after we check this out." Jack assured his friend, pulling fee from the hug. With one last look over his shoulder, Jack jumped into the portal, closely followed by the other Guardians, Bunny being the exception; he used his tunnels.
^^^^ROTG^^^^
Jack arrived first, barely seconds before Bunny, and was horrified at what he saw. Even when the other Guardians came through the portal he didn't move. The area was exceptionally quiet, only interrupted by the sound of people crying. Piles of wood were toppled. Some houses had collapsed and were burning from the fireplaces within. Glass was shattered everywhere, especially around the houses that still stood.
Jack walked towards the destruction as if in a daze, looking around at everything. The cry of a small child caught his attention. It had come from a little girl who knelt next to the rubble of one of the houses that managed to not get caught on fire. In front of her a calloused hand protruded from under the stone and wood of the house.
Movement caught his eye. When he looked he found himself watching a mother and father cradle the body of a child. Tooth fluttered to Jack's side. "Jack, I'm so sorry."
"I should have been able to do something." He breathed a tad angrily. "These people shouldn't have to suffer like this!" Suddenly the shout of a woman took Jack's attention.
"Katherine?! Katherine where are you?!" Tooth and Jack followed the voice and found a middle-aged woman looking around frantically. Another woman, much younger, ran and whispered something to her. Both ran towards the edge of the forest where Jack and Tooth found the other Guardians and a small group of people, all gathered in a loose circle.
"Let me through!" The woman cried, pushing past the ring. Tooth flew over to where the others stood and gasped. Jack only had to see his friends' faces to know what had happened. He stayed where he was, eyes closed and leaning on his staff. "No! Katherine, NO!"
The mother's sobs were too much. Jack turned and flew to the edge of the village, landing on a roof and staring at the sky. Ha didn't even turn when Tooth flew up behind him and put an arm around his shoulders. "We should go, Jack." She murmured, "There's nothing we can do here."
Jack didn't have the strength to argue. He followed Tooth down to where North and Sandy stood in front of another portal (Bunny had already left). He couldn't stop the tears from escaping as they left the ruined village behind.
Thank you again for reading and to those who've reviewed? THANKS! Keep them coming please. Every time I get an email saying I have another review I get a warm happy feeling inside!
~~Wavelength