Mist and cloud clung heavily to the dawn air, darkness hanging to the land like a reluctant child to its leaving mother of night. Pale light was barely colouring the sky, a toneless white peeking over the horizon, scoping the cool air before creeping any further. The crescent moon had retreated to other lands, withdrawing silver rays to spread upon the sleeping children somewhere where night still quilted the earth.
Jack sat hunched, knees drawn up to his chest, arms wrapped around them, with a vice like grip on the aged wood of his hooked staff. The ice beneath him on the small lake frosted over where he sat, swirling patterns of hazy frost spreading out over the immaculate surface, gradually adding layer upon layer, thickening the before frail sheet of ice. Winter was just setting in, the telltale sign of the changing season- the few chestnut leaves that remained stubbornly on the otherwise barren limbs of trees, the wilting flowers that had survived this long into the cold, the carpet mosaic of colourful leaves that had submitted to their time and curled against the trunks of their used-to-be homes- the signs abundant in the environment that winter could take its place. As the creatures of the night settled down to be replaced with the creatures of the day, silence fell, still and encompassing.
Jack rested his head on his knees, eyes fixed straight ahead but sight trapped deep in his mind. The calm reassurance of being back home was slowly settling into his heart, the familiar surroundings the closest thing to welcome he knew he would receive. Though it did not have much to call a home and he did not know why he felt the yearning to return, this place always brought an empty comfort and without fail, as soon as the first hints of winter coming back to this place appeared, he raced back, if just to sit in silence, alone. Although he may not have been as alone as he first thought.
A faint rustle in the leaves disturbed the silent air, at first could have been mistaken for a breeze but after it repeated again as though gentle taps of footfall that were anxious to be overheard, Jack was jolted into awareness to listen intently for the sound once more. Crunch. The definite sound of a brittle autumn leaf succumbing to the weight of some being, echoed through the trees. He cautiously raised himself to stand, staff clenched defensively in pale hands. No movement disturbed the trees but that didn't lower Jack's guard at all. Much like an animal stalking its prey, he carefully padded away from the lake and into the trees, one bare foot in front of the other, silently, with long perfected skill.
He was only a short distance in when he stopped again, listening for any noise. There was another faint rustle and he spun around in alarm, staff raised, just in time to see another figure burst through the bushes, oblivious to his presence. In the brief moment that the figure was unaware of him- a feeling he was much accustomed to from his invisibility over the centuries- he took in the appearance.
It was a young girl, obviously a spirit from the way her feet lightly brushed the ground and hovered in the air longer than would be possible for a human, as she twisted in delight of her surroundings, a large grin enlightening her young face, mahogany eyes gleaming in joy. She was young, her small frame carrying her a few inches smaller than Jack, skin pale but still holding more colour than the young winter spirit's, and long flowing hair caught between light brown and burnt orange, a perfect capture of the colour of the leaves when they near the end of their time and change. This, Jack therefore concluded, was an autumn spirit.
Said spirit then turned and caught sight of her watcher. The reaction was almost comical. She froze mid-turn, body facing one way, head whipped around in Jack's direction. Her eyes were wide in surprise, mouth parted in a near perfect oval, perfectly frozen like and image caught in a photograph. Slowly, she turned fully to face him, movements wary and eyes fixed on the ground, gradually drawing in on herself as if she had been caught in a shameful act. Jack didn't understand how she could have done anything wrong. By the looks of it, she had been having fun, something he would never take as a bad thing. He would have reassured her immediately except for the fact that this could be his only chance to get a close look at another spirit without them running off or trying to kill him.
Either side of her face, a strand of hair was pulled back in a braid which joined together at the back of her head, circling her head like a wreath. She appeared to be about his age, maybe a few years younger, though in spirit years she could be centuries ahead of him. That didn't alter her submissive, guilty behaviour before him. She wore a thin red jacket, hood spread out on her shoulders, reminding him of his own favoured blue hoodie apart from the colour and of course the inconvenient affronted (as Jack thought them) zip running down the middle. She wore trousers of deep brown as the old bark of oak trees and her feet, he was comforted, much like his, were bare.
When he felt like he had studied her as long as would be appropriate without it being awkward or unacceptable, he cleared his throat quietly to get her attention. Her wide eyes shot up to meet his icy blue ones and she fidgeted distractedly with the cuff of her jacket.
"Look," she began, eyes flicking away, avoiding meeting his again, "I know I'm late. I'm not meant to still be here. I lost track of time and I didn't mean to disrespect or overstep the season boundaries. It was an accident, I swear. Please don't be mad. I'm sorry."
Jack was shocked. He had been insulted, taunted, sneered at, threatened, cursed, yelled at, accused, and any other hurtful thing that could be thrown at him by other spirits, but never had he been apologised to or feared. He decided he didn't like it, didn't like the way another could look so small, could feel the way he did in front of any other spirit, because of him.
"It's okay," he reassured, flipping his staff around and holding his palms out in a peaceful gesture, "no harm done. I just didn't expect anyone to be around."
"Oh," the spirit frowned, not expecting to be let off so easily, "so you're not going to punish me or anything for 'disturbing the balance' or something like that?" At the alarmed shake of his head, she visibly relaxed, stiff posture sagging.
"I really thought I'd done it this time," she muttered, more to herself, running a hand over her face. She then fixed him with a calculating stare, "you're not like the other spirits."
"And proud of it," Jack smirked, mind flashing to the run ins with the other spirits he had met and the rather painful outcome on his part and unreasoned bullying nature of them.
"I'm Jack Frost," he stepped forward, swapping the staff to his other hand, now spare arm outstretched. She approached, shaking his hand, smile gracing her features, sparking her eyes as they had when she was enjoying herself moments before, making her features rather pretty, if he admitted it, not beautiful, but pretty. He was more amazed at the first friendly contact he had made since he had first come into existence. Her hand was cool but still warm to his icy skin, much like the cool breeze on a September night.
"Nice to meet you Jack Frost," she said, stepping away. The way she said his name, with lack of contempt was liberating to his years of solitude. "I'm May."
Unable to contain his instinctual humour, he grinned widely, "May?" he questioned but she merely nodded, confused at his problem so he had to explain, "an autumn spirit…called May. Talk about irony."
She grinned back at him.
"Well, Jack Frost, at least my name's not stereotypical. I could have been called October if I wanted but unlike some, I have imagination."
Jack couldn't help his grin grow wider. Out of all his years he hadn't had a proper conversation with anyone and this was just what he wanted. She studied him and a frown once again crossed her brow as she took in his own appearance. He shifted uncomfortably under her look.
"Hey, I've heard of you," she said slowly, as though slowly pulling a thread of memory from her mind, and Jack's heart seemed to plummet, "You're The Spirit of Winter." Her eyes widened on what could have been awe and Jack's last glimmer of hope dropped.
Oh great, he thought to himself, sure that another spirit was about to reject him for being who he was. It had been a nice few minutes while it lasted, but then again everything had to end didn't it? It just was always too fleeting when it came to him. He braced himself for her insults, for her to turn her back, for his spirit to be crushed once more by someone he barely knew. At least she had the decency to introduce herself unlike the others.
"You're not what I expected," she commented.
Here it comes, he felt like scrunching his eyes closed to avoid her words like a physical blow.
"I'm sure glad I ran into you and not another of those winter spirits."
Wait, what? That didn't sound like an insult, did it? Was it? No, she actually sounded pleased.
"Yeah, they can be real jerks sometimes," he gave a nervous laugh. That was putting it lightly, but he didn't really want to openly insult any spirits.
"Tell me about it, huh? Season's are family though," she said with a shrug, like there was nothing they could do about it.
"I suppose," he agreed half-heartedly, rubbing the back of his neck with his palm.
"Well, I, er, better go," she told him, shuffling her feet nervously, "before any of the other spirits come."
"Oh, yeah, sure, okay," Jack muttered dejectedly, backing away.
"Maybe I'll see you around?"
"Yeah, I'd like that," he replied quietly, quite certain this would be the last he would see of her now she knew who he was.
"It really was nice meeting you," she told him and her voice sounded so sincere that he couldn't help but look back up at her. She was smiling warmly at him, eyes shining in the growing light. He was so happy to see a face not filled with disgust or hatred towards him he couldn't help smiling back, a smile which for once was not a mask, not a disguise for his tormented life but genuine to have someone there who actually tolerated him and didn't turn away because of what other spirits said.
She turned away before shooting into the air, with much grace and dappled leaves spinning behind her, twisting in the air with practised ease, pivoting in the first rays of sun and darting away. His gaze remained fixed on the pale sky where she had disappeared for a while longer before he ruefully turned his back on the trees, resting his staff on his shoulder and strolling back to the frozen lake, wondering if that had really happened or if it was just desperation dreamed up from his lonely mind.
"Jack?"
Darkness clouded everything as he felt the pleasant world from long ago fade away as it had so many years ago.
"Jack?"
His face contorted in pain as he felt all his injuries flare to life at once, all screaming for his attention, more intense than they had before. Slowly, hazily, he clambered back into consciousness, bringing the pain further into awareness.
"Jack!"
He wrenched his eyes open, cerulean orbs becoming visible to the world, staring helplessly up at the stretch of grey sky that swam high above him. Dimly, he was aware of a shaking on his shoulder- luckily the uninjured one- and his sight fell on the distressed face of Jamie leaning over him. The chestnut eyes broke with relief when he noticed the coherence of the winter spirit, sitting back on his heels to give him some space to sit up.
"What happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did that spirit come back? Do you want me to get anything? Anyone? What was wrong?" Jamie's questions tumbled over each other, shooting pains across the throbbing headache that he could feel resonating from the back of his head.
"I don't really know," Jack groaned, painstakingly pulling himself to sit up. "I think I just fell asleep…I was dreaming about…" his voice drifted off when he realised what he had almost said. Instead he tried to recollect his memories to last night. "I was just leaving when I saw…the lights!" Ignoring all the aches of his protesting body, he leapt to his feet, glancing around in a panic for his staff. "I've got to get to the Pole!"
Jamie straightened up, presenting the long shepherds crook. Jack sighed in relief. For the first time he noticed Jamie's attire. He had a thick winter coat wrapped around his pyjamas and his winter boots. It was still early then. Maybe he wasn't in as much trouble for being late as he thought if it had only been a few hours.
"You're going to see the other Guardians?" Jamie questioned sceptically, "I think they're going to find out about that fight." He swept a critical look over the spirit who still sported the visible bruises on his face and the deep cut on his forehead.
"It'll probably be nothing," Jack offered a shrug and tugged his hood over his head, throwing his face in shadow.
"Master of disguise," Jamie rolled his eyes, offering the staff to the spirit.
Jack accepted with a smile, the wood instantly frosting over under his touch. "Next time I stop by I promise I'll take you somewhere good. We could go to a mountain somewhere and try out skiing. I've always wanted to try that. You should see the view from the peaks though, not to mention the snow. Some of my finest work, if I say so myself."
"Modest as ever," Jamie commented with a smirk, nevertheless eyes shining with excitement at the offer, "And you owe me a snow day."
"I suppose I do," Jack conceded, "Whenever you want."
"Well," Jamie thought slowly, a devious look crossing his innocent features, "There is an English test in two weeks time."
"You got it," Jack backed up holding his staff out, not before giving a smirk and adding, "I think I'm beginning to have a negative effect on you." With that he turned on the spot, launching himself into the air, offering a wave to his first believer before darting as fast as the wind could carry him towards the North Pole.
The icy wasteland spread out, vast and cold before him, endless fields of white that rose and fell, swirling hazy mist of snow across the land and, rising up against an icy outcrop of jagged cliff, tall and impressive, a large building towered against the blank canvas around it. A glowing warm golden light burst from the windows, dancing patterns of light against the snow and tall towers casting a faint shadow against the pale sky.
Jack sped across the arctic tundra, a spec against the infinite scene of white. The wind whirled around him, trying to offer him comfort to the agony he could still feel deep within him, softening the journey but understanding the haste the winter spirit was in need of.
The great building loomed up to him sooner than he had wanted and he briefly paused to examine his appearance in the window, ensuring his hood hid the sight of his face in shadow and there was no other visual evidence to his injuries. Deeming it acceptable, he braced himself with a calming breath before shooting in through the window.
The icy blast of wind that funnelled around the large globe room alerted the inhabitants to his presence including some very disgruntled and worried Guardians.
"Where the bloody hell have you been?" An angry voice bellowed at him, graced with a thick Australian accent.
Jack perched on the top of the large globe that took up one side of the room, shining with dots of glowing lights that represented the believing children all around the world. He watched nervously down at the towering form of an oversized rabbit that was glaring at him.
"Jack! Are you alright? You had us worried when you didn't show up." A frantic voice trilled out as a green blur shot towards him. He ducked to avoid the collision that came from the over energetic fairy-woman hybrid who backed up with a blush.
"I know, I'm sorry," Jack apologised, relaxing his posture under there curious stares. "I was just with Jamie-"
"You were with Jamie? Oh because that makes everything better," The Easter Bunny raged, "We had to sit and wait for ya to drag yourself down here in yer own time. We had to 'ave the bloody meeting without ya and have probably delayed more than we should 'ave to wait for ya. You have no respect of your status. You can't just pick and choose when to answer the lights."
"Yes I know but-"
"Enough," The loud Russian voice of a tall burly man bellowed, silence falling at once, "we have no time for this. We have already been delayed long enough." Jack hung his head at that but North either didn't notice or didn't comment on it. "We have much need to hurry. To the Sleigh!" he declared, marching out the room with the rest of the Guardians on his heels. "Jack, we will explain on the way."
Jack hovered down from his place on the globe and followed a short distance behind them, tugging his hood further down over his head and trying to numb the pain in his side to a more manageable ache. He was inwardly relieved that none of the Guardians had commented on his hood being up although Sandy had silently quirked an eyebrow at his appearance. So far so good. Now hopefully there was nothing serious and he could go his separate way soon. Of course his luck was never that good.
"So," North's loud voice shouted over his shoulder and Jack jumped in surprise before wincing at the sudden movement, "Disturbing patterns on globe. Number of lights have been seen to flicker. At first me and yeti's thought it was fault but no. We believe it may be Pitch's work."
"Pitch?" Jack was startled. It had barely been a year since they had defeated him, he should still be hiding away in his hole under the ground licking his wounds.
"Yeah, mate," Bunny grumbled, "We're going ta check it out. We think we've found which area should be next. They're moving across the globe steadily and we're going ta intercept 'em and find out what going on."
"And hopefully put a stop to it," The tooth fairy added, wings fluttering madly as she sped after North.
"Now," North declared, "All caught up. Is good. Now time for sleigh."
"Don't understand why I can't just use me tunnels," Jack heard Bunny grumble under his breath as North threw wide open a pair of large doors to reveal an open cavern that was taken up with a large rickety wooden crimson sleigh attached to impatient oversized reindeer that leapt in place, raring to take to the air.
"Nonsense," North called having heard Bunny as well, throwing a large arm around the rabbit and practically throwing him into the sleigh.
Jack hid a laugh at the sight before jumping up and taking his precarious perch on the very back of the sleigh, anxious to get going. The shimmering golden form of the Sandman eagerly took a seat along with Tooth who seemed to struggle to keep still, wings fluttering constantly. North took the front of the sleigh, seizing the reins and with a loud cry launched the reindeer into action, pounding into the air.
Jack welcomed the cool breeze, jolting his still weary senses back to attentiveness. His mind flickered back to the dream that he had been having. A time that he hadn't wanted to think about in so many years and now was conflicted as to whether he wanted to remember or not. Things were better now, the Guardians surrounding him now were proof enough of that, but he still couldn't process it.
A well timed twinge of pain distracted him from his thoughts and he suppressed a groan, tugging the hood again to make sure it hadn't come loose in the powerful wind that blasted around the sleigh.
Up ahead he watched North raise a small snow globe and hurl it before them where it burst into a swirling portal of energy and light that hung suspended in their path. Jack had a moment to brace himself against the twisting disorientated sensation that would come and the pain it would elicit from his wounds, before they disappeared into thin air. The colour blurred around him and he clung to the edge for the sleigh to prevent being thrown off. For a second he felt an unusual feeling swell in his heart.
For the first time since becoming Jack Frost, he felt cold.
Hope you enjoyed Chapter 3! Sorry for the longer wait but I think it may become a bit more delayed as I'm struggling on writing at the moment and will not have much time next week and once these holidays are over. I hope you like my OC here, I've grown quite attached to her whilst writing this so hope that you will like her too. I have been thinking about the timings of their first meeting so it is about 1900 here when they first meet.
Thanks to everyone who left a review, I really appreciate it and it keeps me writing. I'm glad that most of you are enjoying this story so far. Please leave a review.