Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D I don't really have much to say at the moment, so I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. ^u^


~ XLIV ~

Lost in the Woods, Part Two

And so they were lost

But they couldn't fret

For if they did so

Things would become direr yet

Thankfully, Aster was an expert

When it came to survival

But Jack couldn't help but wonder

If they'd find their way out with no trouble

...

Meanwhile, in Santoff Claussen, North was beginning to worry about Jack (and Aster too, of course). He didn't like being separated from his boy for too long. Not only that, but the snow sprite was out of reach for him to protect. If something happened, North wouldn't be able to get there right away. The ex-Cossack gripped his mug of tea as he stared at the window, wondering if the Pooka and snow sprite were alright.

A soft, gentle hand placed itself on his shoulder. North turned to see Tooth fluttering next to him. "Don't worry, North. Jack and Aster are probably just fine," she said. Behind her, Sandy nodded, affirming Tooth's statement with a thumbs up. The two had stopped by a little while ago, and North was grateful for their company. The house was extremely quiet without Jack, and they helped settle North's nerves.

"Olsolurstia isn't too far from Norsurberian," Tooth reassured. "Jack and Bunny have probably arrived by now. They'll be back by tomorrow!"

North sighed. "I know," he said. "But I still can't help but worry. I have this bad feeling in my belly, and it won't go away."

"Maybe you're hungry!" Tooth quipped. North deadpanned, and the Tooth Fairy smiled sheepishly. "I'm sure Bunny and Jack are alright, North. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. They can take care of themselves."

North nodded, mostly to himself than to the Sandman and Tooth Fairy before him. He turned his gaze to the window, where the evening sun was beginning to dip into the horizon. The sky grew darker and darker until there was hardly any light at all.

The feeling in North's belly did not leave him alone.

They were lost.

They were lost.

They. Were. Lost.

"W-We're lost?!" Jack exclaimed, he turned to Aster, who was sifting through his satchel. "B-But I thought you said you knew where you were going!"

"I did," said Aster, nonchalantly pulling out a canteen of water and drinking from it. "But…it looks like I lost my sense of direction. That or we took a wrong turn somewhere."

"That's the same thing!" Jack shouted. Aster hushed.

"Look Frostbite, I know yer scared, but we'll be fine. We'll camp out here for the night and then find our way out of here in the mornin'."

Jack frowned. "I'm not scared. And why can't we just leave now? You have a map, don't you?"

"I have a map, but what use is a map when ya can't even see what's on it?" Aster retorted. "It's gettin' late, and it's too dangerous ta travel out there with all that's lurkin' in the shadows."

That last statement left Jack startled. Upon noticing his horrified expression, Aster quickly added, "We'll be fine as long as we keep a fire goin'."

Aster began to collect nearby sticks for a fire. Jack collected some twigs himself. He handed his bundle to Aster, which he took and muttered a thank you, and the Pooka began to set them up in a teepee shape.

Jack watched as Aster set up the fire. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" he asked.

"I'm sure," Aster replied, knowing that Jack was only scared and wanted extra reassurance. "I've been trained in survival. Just do what I tell ya, and we'll be alright."

"W-Will we find out way back home?" asked Jack. He gasped "What if we're stuck out here forever and nobody comes to find us? What if something finds us in the dark and takes us away?! What if—"

"Frostbite, calm down!" Aster snapped. Jack clamped his mouth shut. The Pooka sighed and placed his paws on the boy's shoulders. "Listen, mate…we'll be fine if we stay in one place. We'll find our way back ta Santoff Claussen or Olsolurstia—whichever's closer—in the mornin'."

Jack let out a breath, and he nodded, though he was still fearful. But regardless, he followed Aster's instructions and helped set up their camp.

Once the camp was set, night had fallen. The sky was dotted with stars and what little of the Moon's glow seeped through the thick canopy of leaves above. The Wind blew softly, and the orange fire that glowed in the center moved along with its breeze. The snow sprite nibbled on the bread and cheese North had given him. Across from him, Aster munched on some carrots that he had brought from home.

Jack finished his bread and drew his knees to his chest. He tried not to show it, but he was scared. He didn't know what would happen to him and Aster out there, or if they'd come out of the woods perfectly fine. There have been rumors spreading about Fearlings and Nightmares lurking in the woods, and Jack didn't want to have another encounter with them.

He had only been six at the time, but Jack still clearly remembered his first encounter with one of Pitch's creatures. He was glad that he was with Sandy, for he never would've been able to stand up to them the way he did if he weren't. Jack had been beyond scared during that attack, but nothing could compare to when he first stood face to face with Fear itself.

Pitch was unlike anything he had imagined. And Jack hoped that they wouldn't encounter him again anytime soon. The Boogeyman was able to shock fear into anyone, and he had done so with Jack and the rest of his friends when he locked them in Big Root that fateful night. Pitch had said he had something "special" planned for Jack…He hadn't given it thought in a while, but here in the darkness of the woods, Jack's thoughts were much louder than normal.

Jack pushed Pitch out of his head. Thinking about him in the dark only made him feel even more fretful. The forest silence was a little unnerving, so Jack broke it by prompting, "I wonder what everyone's doing at home." Not that he didn't know; he knew that everyone was probably getting ready to sleep by now.

"Probably gettin' ready fer bed," said Aster, just as Jack predicted. He poked a stick into the fire."We should do the same."

"Us? Sleep? Out here?" Jack asked, surprised.

"Ya sleep out here," Aster rephrased. "I'm goin' ta stay up and keep watch fer a bit. Don't want anything gettin' ta in our sleep."

"Right." Jack stood up and walked over to his tent. "Um…Goodnight, Bunny."

"Night, mate."

The minute he entered his tent and lay down, Jack suddenly felt very tired. He didn't know how long it was until he fell asleep, but even as he slumbered, he still felt wary and fearful. The only sound that comforted him was the Wind and the gentle flickering of the flames.

Outside, Aster prepared himself for the long night ahead. The Pooka was worried himself, but he did his best not to let it show for Jack's sake. He had a feeling that these woods were more dangerous than they appeared. He didn't recognize the area at all, but he hoped a path would lead them back home.

The Pooka pulled himself out of his thoughts and turned to the nearby treeline before him. As Jack slept in his tent, Aster kept his eyes on the shadows.


Author's Note: *Cliffhanger music intensifies*

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all in the next one! =D

Until the next chapter!

~BeyondTheMoon1203