It had been a month since the Guardians had found their broken member, and he was steadily improving every week. His eyes retained their dull, dead gaze, but soon, he began walking around and interacting with subtle things. He still did not speak, and was still very much a being of instinct; wimpering every time Bunny tried getting close, growling and flashing his whiter-than-snow teeth at Tooth's approaches while hunkering down as if to spring or run, and outright cowered at North's attempts to comfort or entice him.

His attention always heightened at the sight of Pippa, and the others were in agreement that the little season was the only thing keeping Jack from closing himself off from the world fully. The presence of his sister even coaxed out one small smile out of him.

Unfortunaely, prying eyes also saw the connection to the winter spirit, and they brightened considerably in cunning and hatred.

"So...you really are close to her aren't you? Perfect! This factors nicely into my plans, Jackie Boy..and I won't even have to lay a hand on you..."

Spring sighed as she too watched the goings-on in the workshop. "Why can't you leave him alone, Summer? He's broken enough as it is, you don't need to shatter him!"

The heated spirit snarled at her sister.

"I will make him pay for what he's done! This way, I really can't be blamed now can I? Especially because I won't get close to him."

The other sprite sighed heavily again, shaking her head. "You are going to regret this, Summer. Winter's fury is nothing to sneeze at, you should know. Plus when Mother finds out.."

"She better not find out." Summer growled threateningly. "Now hush and watch me work."

ROTG

The Guardians were watching their youngest with curiosity. Jack had taken it upon himself to snuggle up to a large white buck of a reindeer, hooing and almost cooing in content as the creature nuzzled him protectively. The buck was smaller and scrawnier than any they had seen, in many ways he was like Jack, thin, lanky, and wiry. North smiled, making sure to not upset the winter sprite with his booming tone as he whispered to the rest.

"Is Jack's buck, Snowdrift. "

"The one he rescued from yer sword?" Bunny hissed, "Blimey...he got big fast!"

"Bah, he is small for his age. He is not even year old yet, and his antlers are patheticly short even for his size."

Tooth giggled as the white reindeer glared at North, as if chastising him, then dipped his head and licked Jack's hair, cleaning it. The boy opened his dead eyes and lay very still, yawned, stretched, and curled back up.

"I think that Snowdrift knows about Jack's condition. He seems to sense that he needs extra comfort right now. It's adorable."

Pippa moved forward to join her brother, but to her suprize, the reindeer lowered his small antlers at her and huffed loudly, a sign of warning. The little season stomped her foot, twice, like her brother had told her to do when a ram was about to charge, and clicked her teeth, a special signal used only for Snowdrift. The buck humphed his agreement and let the little girl curl against her brother's frail frame. As before, Jack wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him and visibly relaxing.

The Guardians all smiled, and would have been content to turn away and leave the sweet scene...

If Pitch Black had not appeared and sent Jack into growling fits of protective fury, clutching Pippa closer to him.

Bunny was instantly all over the boogeyman, "Oi! What do you want ya dingo?! Come ta gloat? Come ta make him more miserable than he already is have you?"

The man ignored the furious Guardian of hope, and sneered at North. "I hear from my Nightmares that Spring and Summer have been...dealt with. However, Summer has plans for your Guardian of Fun...Plans that will endanger everything he holds dear."

North was instantly alert "Why would you tell us this, Pitch? Why do you care about Jack?"

The Nightmare King snarled, eyes blazing as he growled forcefully "I don't, per say. I have my own reasons for not wanting the annoying brat to stay like this permanently. Leave it at that."

All but Tooth believed the Nightmare King. The fairy knew there was a layer of Pitch that had been stripped away. His armor had been chinked, and was falling away. It had something to do with Jack, and Tooth was going to find out what, even if the man gave her nightmares for the rest of her life.

Pitch once again moved towards Jack, his eyes searching for the winter spirit's spark. In a month, the boy had failed to repair his core. He had no spunk at all now, not even a hint of mischief danced in the stormcloud orbs. To Pitch's annoyance, not even a trace of fear was evident in the growling form curled up against a reindeer. All of a sudden, Jack's eyes focused...really focused, on the Nightmare King. He drew his hand up, and flicked it in Pitch's direction. The man drew in a breath as ice shot up, nearly encasing the bottom of his cloak in frozen water.

This scared Pitch. He knew what this power was born out of, and he stepped away quickly. Composing himself, he glanced at the astonished Guardians, and North gasped.

"That is the first intentional show of powers in a month!"

"Don't celebrate just yet, you simpleton." The Nightmare King cautioned gravely, "That wasn't a normal power surge. That was Jack's other mindset asserting itself."

Sandy gulped and showed a snowflake, a crown, and an arrow pointing to Jack, with a question mark.

"Yes, Sanderson. The Winter King. Careful Guardians. I wouldn't provoke him too much. It seems that when there is no escape, no option, the boy falls back on his instincts. His beastial instincts seem to be one defense. His Winter instincts are what happens when something or someone gets past the beast in him."

"Will be noted." North said softly.

Pitch left then, and the others looked once again at their youngest, hoping against all hope that their Jack would return very soon.

Because seeing him like this was beginning to worry all of them.