Chapter One: Gather and Return

Chapter One:
Gather and Return
Nicholas St. North watched as his fellow Guardians assembled, muttering and glancing about with wary eyes. He noticed as the shadows in the corners of his vision flickered for a moment, becoming aware that the Boogeyman was here as well, though it seemed that none of the others had noticed. He supposed it didn’t matter; he would make himself known at some point this evening. The last to arrive was the Sandman. He looked more somber than usual and had taken on a newer, more human- like form in the absence of the children and life. The silent man, fixed his dimmed eyes on North, making it known that he wanted the meeting to start.
He cleared his throat, silencing the chattering Guardians. He could feel Pitch’s eyes on him as well, staring from the shadows. “Comrades. The war has been done and over with for years. Most are dead. Mainly bandits and wanderers left. Tell me”, he paused, “Has anyone spoken to the others? Found any remaining children?”
He noticed Sandy flinch at the silence, his head bowed sadly as he shook it. North knew there was a young women that was special to him. She was one of the few that still believed even though she was now at least twenty-three. He supposed the sense of loss poor Sandy felt was great.
Jack Frost, looking defeated, looked at his feet, signaling to everyone that he had the same result. Bunny and Tooth looked at each other and shook their heads.
North felt disappointment bloom in his heart. “And, the other Guardians?”
It was at that moment that Pitch decided to make himself known. “Wait, there are more of you? How… Annoying.” He leered, making a few of the Guardians jump. He received many glares and cold looks before anyone else spoke up.
“I only saw glimpses of Tareign in the storm clouds  to the south. We didn’t speak, though.” Bunny shrugged dismissively. Pitch remained silent, watching with an eerie sort of amusement, making North uneasy.
At this point Tooth piped up. “I saw Whispers! But she, uh, disappeared before I could ask her anything.” She said, her voice becoming rather sheepish towards the end.
North looked at them all in turn before giving some news to his fellow Guardians. “I have gotten in touch with Lich and-“ He was caught off guard by an amused chuckle from Pitch.
“The corrupted Skeller, ah, yes. I remember him. He is still a Guardian?” He said with an unnerving smile.
Jack glared at the king of nightmares. “Oh, do you? Well that’s good! Because if I remember correctly, you were the one who corrupted him in the first place!” He snarled, making Pitch jump slightly only for a moment, before turning and giving him a rather bored look before averting his attention elsewhere once again.
Taking it as his chance to continue North began speaking once again. “Lich, well,” He smiled, letting his comrades know that this was good news, “He has sighted a group of children, a few adults, and they seem to be led by-“ He was once again cut off by Pitch, and was getting rather irritated.
Pitch clapped slowly, a sharkish grin on his lips and his eyes glowing. “Yes, yes, I have been with that group for quite a while. A strong bunch. Especially that leader.”  At this he looked at the Sandman, his grin widening. “And, Sanderson. I think you know of who I speak.” His voice grew rather grim and he lowered his hands. “But this has been fun, though it is not why I am here.” He looked around. “There is a rather large group of bandits that have their camp in their sights. And, well,” grim amusement glittered in his eyes, sickening North thoroughly, “I fear they will not last very long. They are not very nice, you know.” He grinned, not noticing the golden tendril wrapping itself around his ankle. He was yanked into the air, and straight into the face of an enraged dream-maker. Fear took the nightmare king’s heart as he looked at him. ‘Take me to them. NOW.’ The sand colored eyes growled. “I-I’ll take you to them, I-if you would like, Sandman.” He said. “But I cannot promise that we will get there in time.” The Sandman dropped his enemy head-first on the ground, making him cry out.
Sanderson looked at the Easter Bunny with a glint in his eye that frightened the Pooka. With hatred in his eyes, he turned on Pitch. “Take us. North, we’ll go through the tunnels, you take the sleigh.” With that, he opened a hole, grabbed Pitch, threw him in, and saluted the rest of the Guardians as he jumped in after the human-like Sandy floated down. The hole closed, leaving a flower to bloom in their leave.