Rise of The Guardians 2: Just Like Fire

Chapter 10: Jack

                  

Bunny and Sandy watched me unsympathetically as I paced back and forth in the seemingly small room, my thoughts whirring.

I had never understood why people paced before, but now I do. It's to do something, anything that can prevent you from thinking of increasingly gruesome outcomes to your issue.

It wasn't working. I needed to go faster.

"Come on Jack," Bunny said, sounding slightly pissed. "Sit down."

"But this is all my fault. I don't deserve to sit."

"I never said it wasn't your fault, but you're giving me a headache."

I glared at him, but collapsed into a chair anyway, staring sullenly out the window. "I still don't understand why we aren't doing something to find them." I muttered.

"It's a waste of resources. We don't know where they are, and we don't want to spread ourselves thin in case of another attack. What don't you understand?" Bunny repeated for the fifth time.

"How long you've known them." Bunny looked confused until I continued. "How can you just sit there, completely calm, and tell me to wait when your friends are out there, missing, and quite possibly dead?"

Bunny sat up straighter. "You think I'm not worried?" His voice was dangerously quiet. "You have no idea how worried I am about them. None."

Sandy stood up and went over to the window, effectively cancelling any fight Bunny and I had been about to have.

We both followed him, leaning over the cushioned seat of the second story window to see what he was staring at so intently.

About a hundred meters away, snow was being spun in a localised tornado, fire licking and circling the other way, rising higher.

Aria, Tooth and North stepped out of the swirling flame, the latter two looking pale and feverish in the evening light.

I ran outside, kicking up snow with my bare feet.

I fully expected myself to go straight to Tooth and North to check they were alright, but my feet didn't obey my brain, stopping in front of Aria.

"What the hell was that?" I asked her, my tongue spilling words before my brain had time to protest. "You scared me so much when you just vanished."

She tilted her head to one side in apparent confusion, the single swift movement reminding me of a bird.

Then my brain caught up.

"With Tooth and North." I added lamely, knowing how false it sounded.

I noticed her shoulders shake, and not the kind where they're shaking with suppressed laughter. I cursed silently.

"I'm sorry, I came out a bit harsh. You're freezing. Come inside."

I moved to take her arm, but she pulled away.

"Please, don't touch me." She mumbled, and my heart twinged.

What the hell is wrong with me? I've never been one to fall head over heels like a love-sick puppy for a beautiful girl. Why was Aria any different?

She must have noticed my crestfallen expression. "I don't want to burn you." She explained hurriedly. "It's different when I'm doing magic, but normally, the hear burns everyone I touch."

I nodded and we turned back to the Pole.

Tooth glared at us but I turned away, slightly embarrassed by my outburst, but also really not needing her crap.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tooth's leg shoot out to the side, sending Aria sprawling in the snow.

Tooth smirked, and I opened my mouth to criticise her but before I could, Aria whipped around on her hands, kicking Tooth behind the knees. Tooth crumpled to the ground, rising to her knees very quickly, snow coating her eyebrows and lashes to make her look prematurely old.

I smirked, knowing she deserved it, but wiped the smile off my face when she turned to glare at me.

Realising Tooth was still pissed at me from earlier, I said nothing, just reached down for her hand. She grabbed it and lifted herself up, almost pulling me down in the process, then pushed me away. I raised my eyebrow and started down the slope, not looking back to see if either of them were following.