Here I come... The Start of a Journey

[Jack Frost]

"Hurry up Jack", his sister called as she skated out and around the sheet of frozen ice then returned back rushing him to come join and play with him.

"I'm giving you a headstart", Jack laughed. "First one to the other side and back has to help mother do the dishes and clean up."

Annabelle smilled as she snickered and wheeled around yelling back,"You're on, but you better not back out. I'm getting faster you know. "

Jack Overland winked at her as she turned away and he bent down to unknott the string to is blades. He slipped his shoes and wool socks off and was about to put them on when he heard the saddest sounds he would ever hear.

He heard the blades of his sister's skates skid. He heard the ice snap as it began to crack slowly. He heard the scared cry of his sister.

"Annabelle" Jack yelled. Jack had never heard the sound of cracking ice, but he knew what it was without looking up. He jumped up and ran towards his sister. His feet stung as soon as they hit the fresh snow, and got worst when they hit the frozen ice. Still, Jack never stopped. He had to get his sister. He dug his heels in and leaned back as he heard the ice groan as he got closer. He slid to a stop two arm lengeths away from his sister, and the ice around him showed slight crack marks on the surface.

Annabelle started to move towards him, but Jack saw the weight of her step making the cracks bigger. Jack through his arms up and outward, "Careful", he called. "Don't move until I tell you but, I need you to stay there for a few moments. Everything's gonna be okay. Just trust me. I promise it's going to be okay."

"Jack, I'm scared." Her face expressed just that, that she was frightened.

"It's okay, it's okay. Don't look down, just look at me" Jack smiled, he had to offer that smile. He had to offer her courage. He had to offer himself the courage.

"But I'm really scared, Jack." Her voice was on the verge of a shriek..

"I know, I know. But, you're gonna be alright. The ice isn't going to break. You aren't going to fall in. Actually, we are gonna have some fun instead." Jack had looked around and saw the long curved stick close by. Had it been there before? He couldn't remember.

"No we aren't." He voice was trembling then. The cracks in the ice were slowly spreading.

"Would I trick you?" Jack already knew that was the wrong thing to say as soon as it left his lips. Of course he would trick her. He tricked her all the time.

"Yes, you always do! You always play tricks." See? Jack always played tricks.

"Well, not this time! I promise. I have never broke a promise, now have I?"

"When your finger are crossed, you do", she retorted panicked.

Jack's hands were already out, "But they aren't crossed are they? No. I promise you're gonna be fine, just beleive in me. You have to beleive me. Ok?""

She nodded slightly.

Jack looked around for a second and saw the curved stick nearby. He looked back at Annabelle and offered a gentle smile, "You want to play a game? We can play hopscotch, like we do everyday. See One" Jack top a simple hop, "Two, wooooaaaah", Jack acted like he was about to lose his balance and got a laugh out of sister, and with the last hop he was clear and bent down and grabbed the hooked stick.

"Now, it's your turn", Overland coaxed.

Annabelle took a step, and started to loose her balance.

"One."

She took another and gasped trying to keep control.

"Two", Jack whispered. "Three." He snagged her at her waist and yanked her, pulling her out of harms way. He slung her free using his weight, and watched her tumble then look back at him.

'See, no problem right", Jack called.

Annabelle laughed, but Jack heard the ice groan and came to the understanding that, when he had saved his sister, he had also slid back onto the cracked ice himself, he looked up with a nervous smile, "I love you"

"Jack! No!" Annabelle was old enough to figure out was ging to happen next.

The ice gave way and the cold touch reached up and grabbed him.

I'm sorry Annabelle...

----------

Jack woke up and looked around. Arith, and Airyonna, were standing over him, the konouichi had a puzzled expression, while the other wore his mask, and his head was cocked in a curious-esque position. Alaina was sitting cross-legged, with her head down. They were in a rusty jagged cage. surrounding them were creatures, larger then boglins, more musclar, but just as ugly.

"Who's Annabelle", Airyonna asked.

The Guardian rubbed his head where it was sore. He had been hit hard there and seems it broke through his defenses, "My sister."

"Oh, is she hot?" Arith seemed to have no boundaries.

Jack shook his head clear, trying to ignore him," Where are the other three?"

"Asuma and your green friend are out there somewhere, the other one..." Airyonna hesitated for a moment.

"Dead", Alaina aswered solemnly. "He was cut in half. Hardly stood a chance. He tried though."

Arith snickered. Airyonna glared at him, "What's so funny?"

"Let him be gone then. There are no elves in these parts, all of our weapons have been taken from us, and there's a good chance he wouldn't want to be here anyways. I mean do you guys want to be here?"Arith threw his hands up as if he had rested his case.

Jack looked around frantically, "Savior where is it?"

"Savior?"Airyonna looked back at Jack, only to wind up glaring back at the golden armored warrior.

"Must be another hot sister."

"My staff, where is it?" Jack looked around.

"They never brought it with you, Jack" Airyonna answered.

"Unless you can hide it..." Arith, stopped and laughed loud to himself.

"So whats the plan?" The konouchi interjected.

Jack threw his hands up showing he had no idea.

"We wait on Retane to come for the boy." Arith folded his arms and leaned agasint the rusty cage.

"How do you know?"Jack spoke up as he stood. The Guardian remembered Retane had said never to worry about Inrtias or Arith, and the dragon helmed warrior was extremely calm about it all.

"Gremlin likes you obviously. He see's sometihng in you. Something he longs for. Plus he won't leave an ally behind and has a desire for making a name for himself. So he will want to complete this mission. Something inside his head. I don't know. Maybe he's changed, and left us for dead."

"I don't know about your 'gremlin', but sensei is still out there, and he's strong. He won't leave us behind." Airyonna was confident in that.

Jack looked around, trying to come up with something.