Flame & Frost | Rise of the Guardians Fanfiction

Cold

Jack POV

THUMP.

THUMP.

SWOOSH.

I cussed in Russian as I hit the ground on my back, with my eyes still closed. I heard Ben groan beside me and Aqua calling our names. And yes, Russian. I somehow learned some words whenever I hear North get irritated or angry -- most of the time, with his elves.

My staff rolled away from its holder that I carried on my back and my hands were searching for it blindly until I had finally gripped it -- firm. My fingernails scraped dirt when I tried to move.

"Jack? Ben? A little help?" I heard Aqua said.

My eyelids flutter open, revealing a very dull looking sky. I don't even need to flinch at the sight of the sky like I usually do -- because it was not as bright. I can't seem to spot the bright sun rays -- or maybe there are sun rays -- probably that its too dim for me to see. That's how dull the sky is.

 Ben stood up and help out his hand to help me. Blinking twice to get rid of the starry vision-- effect of the fall -- I took Ben's hand with my vacant one. He lifted me up and a few seconds later we were laughing our stomachs out.

Aqua was hanging upside down on a tree branch in front of our eyes, looking helpless and defeated. I laughed because of two reasons:

One, he looks like a hobo with his dark blue hair all messy and soggy.
Two, his funny looking belly button is showing. His belly button is the bulgy type, so I can't help but imagine how Alaine would poke it from time to-

Okay, no.

 "Stop laughing and help me,"

Just as I was about to reach out to him he wriggled and fell down, head first. Dried leaves stuck to his soggy hair, dirt matted one side of his face. We laughed again, this time featuring Aqua's groan. He somehow managed to get up by himself when we finally stopped laughing.

I feel weird. I'd expected this trip to be nerve wrecking and serious, but we managed to pull off a laughing session not once, but twice.

I'd never realised how creepy our location is until Aqua looked around and shuddered.

The three of us was on a clear spot surrounded by dark trees and rotted vines hanging down from each branch. The shrubs had no leaves, its stems had decayed like somebody had been putting it on fire. I poked the decayed stems with my staff, a few frosts trailed on it before it turns to ash. Sensitive much?

Speaking of fire, I instantly thought of Jade. How she's holding on right now, I don't know. I'd checked on her before we left, and I noticed that her skin was getting a tad paler. How I wanted to wrap her into my arms that time - but guess what? They didn't allow me to.

She also didn't know where we were going. She didn't know she had the Hyreaoti. And she didn't know why I'm not going to be next to her at her desperate moments. She's an independent person, North once said. And she wasn't the type to admit defeat without a last battle. That's Jade. Its part of the reason why I love her.

She was sleeping when I came for a brief moment. I said I wanted to give a goodbye hug or somewhat. I only managed to tuck her hair behind her ear as they fell across her face pale face. And that, even, gave a mere effect. She shivered. Did I mention how I wanted to wrap her into my arms at that moment?

Cupid said that if I do, she'll get weaker. She can't defuse her internal flame to appear normal anymore. She needs the flowing fire energy to move. My ice-cold skin couldn't touch hers -- even when there's a layer clothing between our skin, how ridiculous is that?! -- as I may reduce the energy she's trying to maintain.