Author's Note: Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Winter Child!" =D The weekend's almost over, and I'm pretty sad about that (I do not feel like going back to school tomorrow QwQ). But eh, that's life, I guess. =')

Some books I asked my mom to order for me two days ago arrived yesterday. Two of them are about using brain science to influence your writing (I can't remember the titles, but they're by the same author. And I forgot her name as well XD), and the other two are romance novels called "100 Days of Sunlight" and "The Best Christmas Ever" by Abbie Emmons (both books go together, haha). I highly recommend them if you like a good romance and fluff. ^u^ It's been a while since I've read any romance books, and I devoured them both in about a day. XD The couple is just too cute. =3

Abbie Emmons also posts a lot of helpful writing videos on her YouTube channel. =D I've been binge-watching her writing videos on YouTube lately to get some advice for the original book series that I'm planning, and I'm hoping to use a lot of the tips she gives in my future fanfictions as well. =D I know I have decent writing skills, but there's always room for improvement. =3 So if you guys are looking for some amazing writing tips, check out her channel! (I'm not being paid to say this, she's so dang helpful QwQ).

Anyway, right down below is the next part for "Lost in the Woods," so I hope you guys enjoy it! =D


~ XLV ~

Lost in the Woods, Part Three

The paths were endless

And seemed to lead nowhere

Aster tried to stay strong

Jack was beginning to lose hope

Meanwhile, in Santoff Claussen

A shocking discovery had been made

Jack and Aster would have to prepare themselves

To face the upcoming fray

...

Jack groaned, slowly crawling out of slumber. Why was he so sore? And why was his pillow much harder than usual?

Jack shook his head and slowly sat up. His drowsy vision cleared and he found himself inside his tent. The previous day's event came rushing back to his mind. Jack blinked slowly. He and Aster were in the woods. They were miles away from Santoff Claussen, and they had no idea where they were.

It had gotten late by the time they realized they were lost, so Aster and Jack camped in the woods that night and were planning to find their way out in the morning. Jack grabbed his staff and hurriedly tied on his cloak. He stepped outside to be greeted by the cool, autumn air that flooded the forest. Sunlight seeped through the leaves in the trees, and the snow sprite's ears twitched at the sound of birds chirping in the distance.

The fire was out (Jack assumed Aster had done so). And across from it stood another tent, which Jack knew to be Aster's. He must've gone to sleep once he was sure there was nothing dangerous in the woods.

Jack slowly crept up to the tent and pulled it open. Aster was asleep inside."Hey, Bunny? Bunny—WHOA!"

Jack let out a yelp as he was suddenly pinned to the ground. His staff clattered out of his grip, so he had no way to defend himself. But it wasn't a foe who held him down, but Aster, who thought Jack was an enemy.

"B-Bunny! It's just me!" Jack cried. Aster loosened his grip and his eyes widened. Then, he scowled.

"Jack! I could've killed ya, mate!" Aster chided. He got off of the snow sprite and dusted himself off. "What do ya think yer doin' sneaking up on me like that?"

Before Jack could open his mouth to apologize, Aster continued. "Anyway, we need ta get out of here. But first, let's find breakfast."

"Breakfast?" parroted Jack. He followed Aster as he walked deeper into the woods. "But what's out here to eat?"

"Lots of things," replied Aster, pointing at some bushes. Jack followed his furry finger and spotted the round blue berries that bulged from the bushes' branches. Suddenly, he felt very hungry, and he reached out to take one. Aster batted his hand away.

"Don't. They're poisonous," he said.

"But they look perfectly fine!" exclaimed Jack.

"Excuse me, but who's the plant expert here?" Aster asked, raising an eyebrow. Jack frowned. "If ya want ta survive out here, don't go pickin' at the first things ya see."

Jack continued to follow Aster as he trekked through the trees. The snow sprite hoped they weren't wandering too far away from camp, but Aster seemed to know where he was going. The Pooka paused in front of a few bushes and plants. The majority of the ones they encountered weren't safe to eat. But Aser managed to pick out a few that wouldn't harm them if they were digested.

Jack helped carry some of the berries and plants ASter had found, and they both returned to their camp. They ate the forest food with what was leftover of the food North packed Jack. It wasn't entirely filling, but enough to get them through a day of navigating through the woods.

Jack grimaced and pushed away the last of his berries. They were more on the bitter side. "This isn't that great of a meal," he remarked.

"Ya can't be picky when it comes ta survival," said Aster. His plate was clean, and Jack didn't know how he had downed such bitter plants. "Ya either eat what's there or nothin' at all. or else ya won't last long. Now finish yer berries so we can get going."

Jack had to force himself to eat the rest of them.

"Alright, North, I'm starting to get a little worried," Toothiana conceded as she fluttered into the toymaker's house. It was past afternoon, and Aster and Jack should've returned three hours ago. She and Sandy had stopped at North's house to share their concerns."It's never taken this long for Bunny to find paint ingredients."

Sandy, who had stopped by moments earlier, nodded in agreement. A golden question mark curled over his head. "I wonder what's keeping them?"

"They're not in danger, are they?" asked Tooth, her feathers twitching worriedly.

"I do not know," North said, looking out the window. "We should go look for them."

"I agree," said Tooth. She sighed. "But I still have several clients to attend to, and my girls and I have quite the load of deliveries to make."

"And I have work here to complete," said North with a frown. "I can't miss the deadline."

"I can look for them when I leave for patrol tonight," said Sandy, the image of a blimp, arrow, and telescope flashing over his head. "I'll leave early so I can get a head start."

"Great idea, Sandy!" Tooth said.

North nodded. "Da, thank you, Sandy," he said.

The Sandman smiled, and the three returned to their tasks for the day. Though they tried to reassure themselves that Aster and Jack were alright, their worry continued to increase throughout the day.

They had walked around the woods for hours and hours, stopping only to take a break, drink, or eat. By the time they returned to their camp, the evening had fallen once again. They were still lost.

Jack didn't know how they kept circling the forest, seemingly going somewhere only to end up where they were once before. He didn't know where he and Aster were. The stored food and berries had been finished when they returned to the camp, but Jack wasn't hungry.

He sat in front of the newly started campfire, his piercing blue eyes staring into the leaping flames. He gripped his staff. He was tired and scared. He wanted to go home. He missed Santoff Claussen, North, Tooth, and Sandy.

Jack didn't think he could spend another night out there in the woods. The first night had been difficult enough. Jack had woken up in the middle of the night. There were so many noises out there in the woods. The feeling of being found by something not so pleasant was almost everlasting out there in the dark. Jack wished he was back in his room at home, with North right across the hall. He couldn't focus on his snores to lull himself to sleep. The young snow sprite had squeezed his eyes shut and forced out all the forest sounds until he—miraculously, managed to close his eyes again.

Jack hugged his knees to his chest, wondering if he and Aster would ever find their way out.

Aster noticed Jack's worried expression. Not only that, but the snow sprite was shivering, though he didn't notice. Aster couldn't tell if it was from the cold or fear, but still. He felt like he had to do something to comfort him.

In one swift movement, Aster pulled Jack to his side. Flustered, Jack asked, "Uh…what are you doing?"

"Keepin' ya warm," Aster replied simply. "Can't return ya ta North lookin' like an ice box, can we?"

"I'm practically a living icebox," Jack retorted, but his joke drew no laughs. He tried to pull away from the Pooka, but Aster firmly kept him in place.

"I know yer worried, mate," said Aster. Jack stopped struggling. "But I'm tellin' ya, we'll be alright."

"How do you know?" asked Jack. He didn't mean to sound harsh, but he didn't know how Aster was so calm in this frightening situation.

Aster shrugged. "We just have ta stay hopeful," he said.

Jack knew that Aster was an expert when it came to hope. It was his "center." All the Guardians had one. Jack didn't know what his center would be if he were a Guardian, but North said everyone had a center. They just had to find it.

The snow sprite didn't quite understand the concept completely, but he trusted Aster, so he nodded. The two stayed silent for a while; the flickering of the flames filled the still quiet of the forest atmosphere. As Jack continued to stare into the fire, his eyes grew heavier and heavier. He snapped them open before they had the chance to close.

"Go ahead and sleep, mate," said Aster. Jack looked up at Aster, surprised that he had noticed. "Ya need the rest."

"I'm not tired," Jack said, but this was a blatant lie.

Aster chuckled lightly. "Just rest," he said. "I'll keep watch."

Reluctantly, Jack closed his eyes, but he was asleep faster than one could say a word. Aster poked at the fire and looked around the wooded area. He and Jack were in a clearing, which made them more exposed to whatever was out there. But it was better than sitting squashed in the middle of a row of trees.

The first night was harder to stay up in than the first, and Aster found his eyes trying to close more than once. He needed to stay awake to protect Jack, but at the same time, he hadn't slept at all last night. That little accident he had with Jack had only been his heightened instincts responding before he could properly act. He was still awake.

Aster wanted to sleep, but he forced himself not to. He tried to distract himself, thinking of the many ways he and Jack could find their way out of the woods. But soon, his eyes closed to the crackling of the fire. And the Pooka fell asleep.

The shadows that surrounded them pulsed in and out as if they were alive.

Night had fallen, and Santoff Claussn was once again preparing for bed. This excluded North, Tooth, Ombric, and Sandy, who were still desperately searching for Aster and Jack. Sandy was patrolling with the rest of Santoff Claussen's scouts (shortly after Pitch had attacked their village, security, and surveillance had been significantly improved). Tooth, North, and Ombric waited anxiously for them to return, but the clock continued to tick away, and no sign of them had arisen.

Katherine had stayed up with them as long as she could, but after completing her homework, the girl was deeply tired. She had turned in moments ago, leaving North, Tooth, and Ombric waiting in Big Root. No sooner had Katherine left when they heard the sound of Sandy's blimp returning, and the rushing steps of scouts emerging from the woods.

The three ran outside. Sandy had just gotten off his blimp. The expression on his face was deeply alarmed. And this did not settle well with Ombric and the two Guardians.

"Sandy? What is it? What's wrong?" asked Tooth frantically.

Before the Sandman could respond, a scout answer her from him.

"It's the forests!" he exclaimed. "They're infested with Fearlings!"


Author's Note: Dun, dun, dunnnnn!

Yeah, I just had to make things even more difficult for Jack and Bunny, hehe. I wonder what's going to happen next? Of course, I know, but you guys are going to have to wait until tomorrow to find out and wonder if things will turn out well or not...*laughs manically*

*Ahem* Sorry about that...I promise things will get better. But for now, Bunny and Jack are in quite the pickle. OuO

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

Until the next chapter!

~BeyondTheMoon1203

PS - I noticed this a while ago, but I never said anything about it until now...THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR 100 PLUS REVIEWS! =D I'm so glad so many of you are enjoying this little collection. ^u^

...Oh, and happy Daylight Savings Time! I don't know if that's really something to be happy about but...yeah. Make sure ya'll change your clocks. XD