[Ash]: 102.Jack Frost.21

Klaus flew through the air and landed high on a Maple tree, his talons scratching it slightly. He nestled in and watched as the Dryads hopped carefully from tree to tree. The woman archers had their bows drawn, the hint of green and red at the end showing poison arrows on head already cast of silver. Behind them ran the catchers. The catchers have a peculiar job of running from trunk to trunk pulling arrows out of their fallen enemies and giving them back to the arches.

Finally moving faster than any of them were the barbaric warriors of the Dryads and centaurs. The centaurs wielded large steel swords that could shame any humans weapon and the Dryads held two long and flat daggers used specially for severing limbs. Klaus flapped his wings feverously and flew ahead to the next tree.

He could see ahead, lurking just meters away were the wolves, their large hair ridden paws crushing the sticks in shards as they moved. Klaus heard as the ting of bows went off, he raised his wing and covered his eyes to avoid seeing the catastrophe.

It was over in minutes, the trees around him were scratched so badly that the Dryads who lived off them had died in mid combat. All around the tan forms were on the ground bleeding sap from their thick skin. A few of the women who had healing capabilities began to work on the badly wounded. The victors, the wolves, were pacing around in a circle, glad to see their next meal would be an easy one.

From the forest behind a loud chant and groans erupted the lead wolf, his man covered in blood lifted his snout and sniffed the air. He turned to the others telling them he smelled no danger. It was then the snowmen and the ice bears erupted through the trees. The bears grabbed the wolves and began biting them all the way through taking limbs and whole chunks of body away, the blood spurting from the wolves like a fountain.

The snowmen weren’t the killing type and began freezing the wolves leaving them a later snack for the bears. Klaus heard the familiar roar and peeked between his brown feathers to identify Jack’s magic saving the day below.
Klaus quickly took off to Cassandra’s cabin and flew in the open door. Cassandra sat inside cutting a fine leaf into small strands. The owl landed and saluted with his wing. “Woods Lady, the Dryads were defeated. However the snow army came in and crushed the wolves quiet bloodily.”

“Bloodily? Jack’s fond of blood, he’ll love to hear that. Go report it to him quickly and tell him I’m safe and will be home tomorrow.” She said not taking her eyes off her work. The folded up paper sat across the table from her, she picked it up and began reading it carefully. She smiled and grabs the strands throwing the leave into cauldron. Klaus watched for a second before taking off towards the icy castle.

“Don’t… Don’t…” Gareth whispered to himself as he stood over Marylin’s body. It was dark outside, Jack had been in his room all day so Gareth had figured it was safe to come inside and see her. “Don’t die on me…”

“You, Dryad!” Klaus said popping inside and landing on one of the large apple trees branches. “Where is Jack?”

“Jack… Frost? I think he’s in there.” Gareth said pointing over to Jack’s bedroom door. The owl began to flap away and Gareth stopped him. “What happened in the woods?”

“Many of you kinsfolk are dead… I’m sorry, but the wolves were defeated by the snow army.” Klaus made his way up to the door and turned the handle and the door eased open. He took a couple flaps and was inside. The door shut with a cold breeze of snow coming out. Gareth shook his tan lightening and his hair reddening.

“The weather’s changing me… how peculiar.” He said and shrugged his shoulders and hopped up into the tree and lay down on a branch watching Marylin sleeping below in her ice coffin. “Wake up soon… I’ll wait.”


“I want her home tonight; it’s still dangerous out there.” Jack said, and the owl took off leaving him alone. Jack had done a great deal of thinking while Cassandra was away. He was a king and she was just a witch, shouldn’t he be in control? Jack sighed he could never truly think like that he was just feeling neglected.

They had been married a week and they still haven’t consummated yet, and Jack knew that was weird. He had begun missing being alone, not having to worry about anyone. Nothing about a missing wife and a dying daughter while your kingdoms under a threat of Strigori.

“Damn…” He said and fell back onto his bed feeling the cold sheets against the snowy skin, that was it; he knew it was there, not softness, not a temperature, just there.


Tiffin walked out of Cassandra’s room, he had been sleeping with the children, playing with them, being their everything. The girls loved the little fawn greatly and he in return played with them. Tiffin however never lost sight and wandered to the coffin and began sighing. Gareth pulled an apple off and tossed it down. Suddenly the icy doors to Jack’s room exploded into shards and Jack walked out.

“You, Dryad-Fairy boy, watch the castle for a while.” Jack said and kept going, the front doors to the ice palace flying off as outside his sleigh and snow horses erupted from the ground. Jack jumped on his sleigh and grabbed the reigns hitting them hard against the horses. Into a frenzy the sleigh began hauling over the tundra.

“Watch the castle?” Tiffin said, “Something must have gone wrong.” The deer sighed and walked over to the apple and took a large bite. Chewing he stared out the door and watched as the sleigh was going faster then ever over the ice. “Wonder what?”

“I heard he’s having problems with the misses. Guess the marriages going array.” Gareth said and pulled an apple for himself. He sighed and looked down at Marylin, the sleeping body still and silent. “I miss her.”

“I miss her too…” The little deer said and lay down next to her.


The sleigh began to skid and turn on the ice; Jack dismissed them quickly and walked carefully keeping the fast momentum into the forests. Putting his fingers to his lips he whistled and suddenly a snow owl flew down from an outer tree and nodded its head slavishly. “Show me to the Woods Lady, bird.”

The Owl flapped slowly and took a little ahead of Jack and began to lead him through the woods over down trees and through what seemed a battlefield. Jack stopped and the owl landed near him and waited. Jack peered down and saw the slaughtered wolves everywhere along side decorated bodies of Dryads. In the distance he saw Frosty approaching him.

The snowman rushed up and bowed quickly. “The battle is won, O’ king.” The snowman said slowly. “The Dryads will recover their numbers soon. Your lady wife is brewing spells for entrancing men as we speak.”

“Is she now?” Jack said playfully. “You and the army are dismissed. Go rest.” Flatly the king of winter snapped his fist and the owl took off again. Following Jack began to think of what he would say to her.

‘I thought you at least liked me? Don’t you care about a good marriage? I think your acting childish! I’m not acting childish! I do not look like a fool!’ Jack stopped and realized he was already putting words in her mouth.

He kept walking and passed by a pool, he looked down at it and it slowly began to freeze over, he looked away and the pond stopped cooling instantly. The snow owl stopped at the tree just in front of the cabin and stopped and hooted.


Klaus sat inside and began cutting the rosemary leaves with his talons. Cassandra was busy boiling the potion for the Dryads and had to stop her project. Klaus was kind enough to volunteer to continue her work while she helps her fellow women get their numbers back up.

Klaus suddenly stopped and Cassandra noticed. The bird looked up and heard something Cassandra could. “Klaus, what is it?”

“A snow owl, in this part of the forest? Quickly, help me put this away!” Klaus said figuring out the cause of the anomaly. He quickly began to move vials and bags into a leather satchel. Cassandra dropped her large spoon and aided the small creature.

There was a large knock at the door, it banged and banged and Klaus stopped her before she went to open the door. “Lady… It’s Jack.”

“Oh, goody.” She said and opened the door to a harsh winter wind.