Guardian with claws (A RotG fan-fic)

Chapter 12

*POV Anna*

I really needed some time to process all of what I had just heard. I mean, how could I be a guardian?! I couldn't even stop that Pitch guy from taking Jamie! I sighed. This was going to be a long, long day.

'Can I...?' I started, vaguely gesturing towards a corridor. The guardians nodded.

'Of course,' Bunny said, smiling. I smiled back, but then hurried away. The whole situation was freaking me out. It all started to feel like some sort of mixture between a dream and a nightmare. Looking for a place to sit and think of the past day, I came across some sort of hall, packed with busy yetis. They were all focussed on their own tasks, only talking to each other in their grunting language if it was really necessary. Christmas music was playing and all of the yetis looked happy.

I was surprised to see Sophie among them, giving colour to some toys, accompanied by a patient yeti. He was helping her by giving her advise on what to do better. She looked like she was having the time of her life. A smile found its way to my face. I couldn't help it, it just made me feel happy to see Sophie and the yeti working together. I leaned against the wall, enjoying watching them.

'Hey,' I heard somebody say from behind me. I turned around to face Jack. He wasn't looking at me, though. 'You know,' he said after a while. 'I have wondered for three hundred years why I'd become Jack Frost, and who I was before that time. I thought I'd never get an answer to that. But then I was chosen to become a guardian. I got my memories back. I know now why the Man in the Moon chose me. I have discovered what I protect in the children, by protecting them. I just needed someone to believe in me.' He finally looked me in the eyes. 'You might not know why you were chosen, or what the purpose of that choice is, but you will find out. I believe in you.'

My mouth fell open. I didn't know what to say. How could something like that come from an annoying boy like him?!

'Thank you,' I managed to say. He smiled, which made the moment instantly less tense.

*POV Jack*

Anna looked awestruck. I had surprised myself too, with that little speech. I didn't think I would tell her, not this soon. But something made me want to tell her. And I was glad I did. I felt relieved, like I could now end this chapter of my life, to really move on, being a guardian. 'So, what are you going to do now?' I asked, still slightly smiling. Anna seemed to wake up from some sort of trance. 'Well, I was planning on going somewhere to think,' she replied dryly. I chuckled. 'I know a good place for that,' I said. 'Shall I show you?' She smiled cheekily. 'Sure,' she answered. 'But don't you dare to play pranks on me!'  'Oh, I wouldn't dare to!' I said innocently. Then I gestured for her to take lead.