Ailouros Tails book 4: The Return

Chapter 15~ Pancakes and Pinkis

Anaminka opened her eyes in a comfy bed. Oh good, big brother won't be mad. I made it home and can tell him about the girl being captured. She thought to herself then sniffing the air smelled food. Really good food. "Big brother doesn't cook," She whispered looking around the empty room.

Curious and hungry she followed the scent out of the room and down the stairs. Halfway down the stairs, she stopped being able to feel someone watching her. When she looked back, no one was there. Confused, she continued down the stairs as quietly as she could.

Peeking around the corner of the kitchen she saw three cloaked people eating with the woman who hit the girl the night before. "J-just one of big brother's illusions..." She told herself shakily.

Suddenly the three cloaked figures looked at her. Most of them showed her their teeth. The one who looked the oldest didn't bare his teeth at her.

"Hi! I'm glad you're up. Are you okay kiddo?" The youngest-looking one said cheerfully.

Anaminka stepped back from uncertainty. These people don't act like Pitch or mother... Why? I don't understand.

"Come have some pancakes and syrup sweetie." The woman said, setting down a plate of food at an empty chair. "Jack, do you know who she is?"

There was no reply to which the woman sighed, "I hope we can get her home soon." She looked at Anaminka, "If we knew who your big brother is, we can see if we can find him so you can go home."

"P-Pitch is my big brother. He told me so'" Anaminka said looking around anxiously.

"What's wrong, dearie?" The woman asked in a strange soft voice.

"I-Is Jack really here? Big brother gets really mad whenever he talks about Jack." she stammered.

The old man snorted after a minute of silence, "Don't flatter yourself, Jack. Yes, he is here. Can't you see him standing beside you?"

"There's no one there." She answered, glancing behind her.

"Have you ever heard of Jack Frost?" The middle-aged man asked.

"Is that his name?" Anaminka asked.

"The stories say that Jack Frost comes out in the fall causing the leaves to change color. He brings the frosts with him wherever he goes. You know he has flown by when the frost on the windows looks like frozen ferns. Some people used to fear him, but he never wanted to cause fear. All he wanted was to play again." The man in the middle said softly.

"What do you mean by again?" Anaminka asked. The black cat leaped onto the table beside her and sniffed at her pancakes. Before she could move, it snatched one of the pancakes and disappeared. Before it could return for more of her pancakes, she started to eat hungrily. The pomegranates had been great but not terribly filling.

"Well kiddo, Jack Frost was once a boy. He had a little sister and many friends which he liked to play with." The man's voice was slower as if repeating what was being told to him. "One day, they were playing on the ice when the ice cracked beneath his sister. He used a stick to pull her to safety."

"What happened next?" Anaminka asked, intrigued by the story.

"He fell in, but his sister was fine." The cloaked man replied.

"Why? Why would he do that for his sister??" Anaminka asked, confused and stopped the cat from stealing another pancake.

"Because that's what big brothers do. They protect their little sisters. Doesn't your big brother protect you?" The youngest cloaked man asked.

"What is protect?" Anaminka asked.

"Keep you safe, give you comfort when scared or upset, is always there to help you." The youngest man said.