Toothless had managed to drape Hiccup over his back; adjusting one of his wings higher, he could make an almost umbrella motion over Hiccup to protect him from the torrents of weather. The only problem was protecting Hiccup left Toothless with no force against the numbing cold that assaulted his body; Toothless was blind, burnt, numb, confused and scared. He struggled to trudge out of the woods and find shelter.
The wind whistled and shrieked as Jack tumbled from the great expanse of angry clouds; the wind tried to control his fall and perhaps cushion it. The wind tried to grab him, to place him gently over grass and sand; instead the wind was pushed against, fought, so that Jack was on his own. He fell into the pond Toothless was struggling to find shelter near.
Toothless jumped and roared indignantly at the sound. He watched the lake glaze over with thin sheets of ice before a pale hand burst through the glass-like surface of the pond and a boy with frosty-tipped hair pulled himself from the lake, his feet brushing against the soft auburn glow of a forgotten hourglass. Jack shoved himself from the pond, the ice crackling back together. Jack pulled a cold egg from the ice over the lake where he'd rolled it, standing on unsteady feet as he turned to the dragon. Jack limped to Toothless, rubbing his snout before tugging off the scorched metal of Hiccup's leg.
Toothless led Jack to a grassy cool cave sculpted within the footprint of a clearing that he'd first met Toothless and Hiccup in. Jack followed Toothless inside; Jack pulled Hiccup from Toothless so that Toothless could lay down. Jack placed Hiccup down gently under Toothless' wing and placed his egg beside Hiccup's. Jack tugged off his boots before snuggling into the cold damp stone, his back to Toothless.
"We'll take Hiccup back tomorrow," Jack told Toothless, wrapping his arms around himself for comfort; he shivered - not because of cold, obviously but ... in fear. He could still hear the chilling words of the shadow and his cheek was throbbing painfully now, the pain spreading until it was behind his eye.
Toothless watched Jack with his catlike eyes, blinking them every so often. Toothless would send sparks and tongues of flame to the eggs when they grew so cold they would shake in their shells; Toothless didn't know the first thing of caring for eggs but he figured he might as well let his instincts take over and try to keep them alive. The faint blushes of warmth kept Hiccup from shaking against Toothless; Jack could feel them as hot flashes searing his back but he didn't complain, only gritted his teeth and shut his eyes tightly, trying to fall asleep.
...
Guardians weren't known for dreaming; Sandman did it plenty, but that what the Sandman's job. Jack's job was to have fun and when he was sleeping, he wasn't spreading fun or joy or anything. He was just lying on the cold cave floor, struggling to find a comfortable position; a swirl of gold began to twist over his spiky hair and Jack winced, knowing what was to come.
What was to haunt him again.
It was like Jack was watching his memories from a front-row seat; his sister was there, inches from him, yet so far away. There he was, too, alive and reassuringly warm; yet here Jack was, dead and forbiddingly cold. His sister - he still couldn't recall her name - was so hopeful, so trusting that Jack would save her ... It broke his heart that she believed in him that much yet he'd never gotten to see her again.
When the ice began to crack, Jack felt a pain behind his eyes, the start of a splitting headache. He woke up, but not before he could hear his sister's cry as the lake swallowed him whole.
Jack sat up, panting on his own cool air. He was covered in a thin layer of frost - his substitute for sweat - that was already thawing from the warmer air of the cave, crackling against his cold skin. Jack pushed himself off the floor of the cave and slipped from the cave mouth; he took a seat near the pond and pulled his legs to his chest, his toes causing frost to swirl near the bank.
Jack stared into the pond and suddenly thrust his hands into the water, his hands closing around a slick stripe of black and yellow.
...
Tim threw his black hood from his head, rapping his fist against a deep red door. When Tim received no answer, he rolled his eyes and, with a flick of both wrists, the door was thrust open and Tim waltzed in.
A deep velvet red comforter was pushed lopsidedly on the heart-shaped bed. A form rolled over velvet sheets; Tim took several strides forward before he threw open the thick red drapes. Sunlight filled the heavily scented room and the forms in the bed groaned and shifted.
There was a shriek and one of the forms in the bed covered herself as Tim rolled his eyes; a figure with bedhead groaned and blinked uncertainly before a lazy smile lit his face like the blush of a candle. "Nice timing, Tim."
Tim rolled his eyes and ripped the blankets from the godly form on the bed, ignoring the girl who tightened her hold on her bundle of blankets. "Let's go, Eric. We're already late."
"That's Cupid E. Valentine to you," Eric shot back, rolling off the bed and strutting. Tim averted his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose, tugging out a pocket watch to check the time.
Eric snickered and grabbed his forgotten boxers off the floor, struggling to tug them over his heavenly legs. He sighed and snapped his fingers, deciding to just go full God; he could care less for mortal living, especially since he could snap his fingers and be fully clothed or fully nude in moments. It was a very beneficial skill, he had to admit; Eric tugged at his pink tie and began to tidy his white suit. "How do I look?" He asked, smirking.
Tim raised an eyebrow and began to walk to the door; Eric turned and sent a wink to the Muse in the bed. "Hey, baby, lock the door on your way out, alright? And, please, no more Taylor Swift songs about me, they're getting a bit annoying." With that, Eric followed Tim out until they were walking in stride.
"So, where are we going?" Eric asked.
"Did you not get the signal?" Tim asked, predicting the answer as Eric said, "Nah, man, I was a little tied up with a Muse, if you know what I'm saying-"
Tim held up a hand. "I honestly don't care about how your night went, Eric."
Eric shot Tim a glare. "It's Cupid-"
"Look, point is, Peter's missing and there have been more shadow sightings than ever before," Tim snapped, picking up speed.
"Are you sure-" Eric began.
"-it wasn't just his shadow that's missing? Peter's shadow's been gone for months. There are Nightmare sightings across the globe and in several different dimensions - past, present and future," Tim pulled a set of keys from his pocket; a flying mobile was suddenly visible, its invisibility gone.
"Well, aren't you Timmy Robinson?" Eric asked, somersaulting into the seat of the car, the top capsule flipping down over him as Tim took his own seat. Eric watched Tim from his spot as Tim glanced his way. "You can do anything!"
"Just because my grandpa is Cornelius Robinson does not mean I can do everything," Tim clarified, flicking multiple switches and pushing several blinking buttons. "My dad is Wilbur; that should concern you."
"'Least you were lucky enough to miss out on that cowlick," Eric teased before Tim pulled down a lever and they shot forward into the sky, directly for the second star on the right.
...
Hiccup blinked awake, snuggled into Toothless, his leg stump warmed by a hide boot. Hiccup glanced around the cave; his heart tugged at the absence of Jack, which was ridiculous ... Wasn't it?
Hiccup picked up the base of an egg and rubbed his finger down the baby dragon's spine. The other had cracked and splintered but the baby in the egg was asleep; Hiccup watched a thin swirl of smoke lift from the dragon's nostrils. Toothless was awake, too, his wide eyes watching the baby dragon's tail wrap around Hiccup's finger.
Jack walked in just then, four slick striped bodies slapping against his back. He pulled them off and tossed them on the floor. One of the bodies slid until it was inches from Toothless and Hiccup; Hiccup's eyes widened and he shouted, "Jack! No! Toothless, he's-" just as Toothless shrieked and leapt to his feet.
Jack rushed forward, grabbing the eel from the ground and pulling it away. Jack stumbled back, throwing the eel onto the pile. Toothless was pushed against the back wall of the cave, roaring and spitting at Jack. Hiccup pushed himself back into a sitting position; two baby dragons fluttered in panic at Toothless' fading roars.
"-scared of eels," Hiccup finished, his heart hammering in his chest. Hiccup shot Jack a glare. "Didn't you know that? All dragons are afraid of eels, Jack."
Jack's eyes found his toes and Jack shook his head. Jack sat down heavily. "There goes breakfast, then," He let out a sigh and Hiccup stared at him, biting the inside of his cheek.
"Jack?"
Jack glanced up through his white bangs; Toothless had calmed down enough to back away from the cave wall but was casting Jack dirty looks on the sly. Hiccup played his hands, watching them with sudden interest. "Are you ...," Hiccup wet his lips. "Are you Jokul Frosti?"
Childhood memories blinked before Hiccup's eyes; snowball fights, laughter, fun and games - it was all there and so was Jack - wasn't he? - yes, he was! He was so familar yet so faint and Hiccup's stomach rolled and fluttered as he relived those good times of childhood innocence.
Jack stared at Hiccup - a smile tugged at his lips and Jack couldn't help but surge closer, his eyes alight. Jack laughed, closing the distance between them and placing his cold hands over Hiccup's cool ones. "Was I that obvious?" Jack asked, his eyebrows quirking. The breath of winter and autumn mingled together and Hiccup's lashes fluttered. Hiccup then tried to stand aburtly, his mind frazzled and momentarily blown by this odd and unbelievable truth; but of course, he was missing a leg and he teetered down. Jack rushed forward to catch him but Hiccup caught himself and grabbed his leg, hurriedly slamming it over his stump. "I-I'm going to get breakfast," He said, his tone high and uneven. "Um ... Do you ...?"
Jack's heart fluttered when he thought Hiccup was asking him to join; instead, Hiccup was asking him if he still ate. Jack's smile drooped when Hiccup rephrased and then left when Jack gave him a small shake of the head. Toothless scooted from his spot of the cave until his head was level with Jack's; they both watched Hiccup work to catch some fish alas the boy and dragon were both focused on different points of him, one Hiccup's butt and the other the fish he was pulling from the lake. Toothless shot Jack a knowing look and Jack poked his tongue out, grabbing an eel by its tail and throwing it near the suddenly shrieking dragon. Jack couldn't help but smirk; he was beginning to get used to the fiery reptile ... and his master, of course.
...
Tink was in a hysterical frenzy when the Guardians arrived. She was close to tearing her hair out, her tinkling uncohertable even to Tooth's Baby Teeth, who were known for their excellent Fairy Speech. Bunnymund and North tried to awkwardly calm her down, which only caused her face to grow red and for her to singe North's beard. Tooth tried to relax her enough for her to explain the situation and Sandy kept creating images of the ship to try and convince everyone to go look for evidence.
A third of the Council of Guardians was there - North, Bunny, Tooth and Sandy, obviously, but also the Leprechauns, The Lorax, The Leafmen and Queen Tara, and The Groundhog. North sighed, noticing Mother Nature, Father Time and Cupid astray from the group. North knew Nature most likely wouldn't show as the world could not go unattended for a moment unless you wanted a terrifying death toll - North decided he might as well fill the rest in.
Tink fluttered down until she was level with Tara; Tara held her hand as North began to explain the predicament, trying to ignore the tinkling of fresh fairy tears. North spread his large hands and addressed the group, "We must look for evidence - anything to show where Pitch went or where Peter is now." North started to say a large speech of what the Baby Teeth had told him of Tink's recalling of the event and was about to set everyone to work when a ship materialized behind him.
Tim and Eric stepped from it, their shoes meeting the sand of the cliffside. North tried his best to ignore them, to finish his rousing speech, but Tim was already checking the time and poking the clockface for emphasis. North's shoulders slumped forward a bit and they all set to work, searching the last known whereabouts of Peter Pan.
...
Tim didn't feel unease as his feet squleched against the bloodied deck of Hook's ship; Eric followed him, wincing as his white shoes became streaked in red and whining about how hard it was going to be to find someone to clean them. Tim was Death; a little bit of blood didn't scare him. Eric was the squeamish one; he'd already gotten sick twice and the ship wasn't even moving. Tim trudged forward, bending down to inspect grains of black sand which seemed to nip at his ankles.
Eric groaned, his suit tearing against a splintered side of the stern. "Oh, come on," He whined, staring at the shred in the fabric. He blew a stray hair from his face; it curled expertly at his breath and he watched Tim from behind. "Are we done yet?"
Tim ignored him, finding a small insignificant patch of sand; the grains glinted malevolently with the kiss of youth's blood and Tim's eyebrows pinched as they swirled together then bend forward, like a beckoning finger. Tim's eyes rose over the finger and they caught on the feather flapping against the breeze, the green of its fabric in the jaws of the ship's boards. Tim reached for it, plucked it up and inspected it, turning it over in his hands; with his attention on the hat, Tim had forgotten of the swirling sand which lazily swelled before leaping at him and gnashing its fine grains into the bare skin of his arm. Eric leapt over at Tim's surprised cry before shoving Tim from the striking sand; it dug through the fabric of Eric's pantleg, twisting into the flesh until golden ichor added a metallic hue to the mixed bloodtypes on the floor - the blood of the immortal, the eternally youthful and timeless Death.
Off in the distance, the tick and tock of a pocket watch sounded; the popping eyes of a crocodile broke the surface of the water. The crocodile's green skin was scarred with marks of battle, the only marks of the past; the crocodile hadn't a clue how he had received them but he did know it had hurt. The crocodile's lean body broke the surface, its yellowed snout and hungry teeth grazing the water; its tail swung to and fro like that of a pendulum; the ticking and tocking met Tim's ears, his hand clutching the torn flesh of his arm, his fingers grazing bone, past generations of inky words dripping and smearing on the deck beneath his feet. Tim hurriedly helped Eric up and the two rushed to get from the boat; Tim had tucked the hat in his pant pocket and they would've gotten away if it hadn't been for the crocodile, its eyes popping hungrily over the water.
Tim recognized the sounds of the clock; it had been one of his, after all. He'd gone in search of Peter to recruit him as a Guardian and was knocked from the sky by stones and instead of the croc biting into meat, he chomped down on the lapel of his suit and swallowed his clock whole. Or, maybe this was a different one and Tim's clock had found its way out the other end.
Eric glanced down at the sea, Tim beside him. The sand was growing, swelling; Tim knew it was only a matter of time so he steeled his courage and shoved himself and Eric from the rickety plank.
Thankfully, Eric was equipped with wings; he just never let them show, as they were incredibly large and normally sent holes right through his dapper suits as it did at that moment. Two pricks formed in his back as he fell until the pricks broke through the layers of fabric and unfurled into thick white wings; Eric grabbed Tim's wrist and flew to the cliffside, much to the crocodile's obvious dismay.
Eric dropped Tim on the edge and landed on his bleeding ankle but he stood his ground, smirking through the pain. "You know what they say about a man's wingspan," Eric quirked weakly, holding a hand out to help Tim up.
"You've been waiting all day for that, haven't you?" Tim asked.
Eric grinned. "But of course."
alright guys more Guardians woo
Meet Cupid E. Valentine, Guardian of Love also known as Eric Valentine
The Lorax and The Leafmen are not the same thing. In my mind, The Lorax only shows up when he's needed like when The Once-ler was chopping down the trees. He was called to the meeting and he appeared because Mother Nature couldn't. The Leafmen protect the Queen and the Pods and keep The Rot from taking over.
Leprechauns - Guardians of Luck and Mischef
Groundhog - Guardian of Change (he's also extremely nervous which you'll figure later)
I updated a day late I apologise
I CAN'T THANK ANY OF YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL THE KIND WORDS ON THIS AND HOW MANY OF YOU ENJOY IT IT MAKES ME HAPPY 64 REVIEWS GUYS 64
I'm also going to go complete fangirl and buy a bunch of Peter Pan and Disney merch and cry a lot in them yup