The wolf is a she! I officially heart she-wolf. We need more default she-characters in the universe.

Oh, I'm so happy that her dream came back! It's a nice reminder of some of the early weirdness that started this whole adventure.

You know, I love how Sophie is dealing with/thinking about her new superpowers. She's reacting just like I imagine I would, had I been in her shoes. None of this is making much sense, and she sums it up pretty well with "I just can't catch a break." But that's the way to keep me reading! :3 Honestly, I'm so involved in reading that I'm forgetting I'm supposed to be writing a review at the same time. Yes. It's that good.

So, as an aside, I normally try not to get too hung up on SPAG on any of the stories I read, because, let's face it, proofing our own work is damn near impossible and some of us (*coughmecough*) are just too busy. However, there are a couple of things in this chapter that just aren't right. The first one is [but ahead of her lied that strange structure of black ice jutting into the horizon] Should be "lay." The second is [but those eyes stayed the same, soulless and lifelines] I think you meant "lifeless"? Helpy McHelperson strikes again!

OMG. Nothing has screamed "Guardian in the Making" as much as this right here: [The fire kept spreading, burning anything it touched, and Sophie yelped in pain again, not wanting to hit them-] I would. I would totally smack a few demonic-child fannies. LOL.

Wow, WAR. That was super exciting! Just, all of it. Incredible action is incredible. And tense. And kind of scary but so exhilarating. You need to update this. Please.

:3

[There she was, covered in sparkling goo, her tailbone aching, her hair a tangled mess, and she probably looked crazy, to boot.] This sentence, right here, sums up all parts of your writing. This is quintessentially you! You're not afraid to get your heroines dirty, to hurt them not only badly but in embarrassing ways, we all know hair in movies is so unreal it may as well be plastic, and I burst out laughing at "looked crazy." Yes, Sophie. I'm sure you do. X3

I honestly don't know which was more staggering in this chapter:

The Leshy, which is like one of my nightmares come true (seriously, I always had being-chased-to-death dreams when I was little).

Watching Nightlight disappear.

Watching Sophie turn into the badass part of the Easter Bunny. That poor girl! What the heck is she supposed to do now? I don't blame her one bit for crying.

In all seriousness, another really excellent chapter. I love this so much, WAR. Maybe even more than ROotA.

*ducks things thrown in her direction*

[The display of submission did little to please Pitch, did nothing to stroke his ego. It only infuriated him.] Oh, I LOVE this. Not because it's suprising or not my idea of his personality, but that it's stated. Too often, readers will assume all villains are complete egomaniacs. Pitch isn't, really. Bitter and angry for being shunted aside and ignored for so long, but he's a man(?) of action, not one who purely wants to sit on a throne and have people kiss his feet.

And, really? The Shadowman isn't a thing in and of himself, but a creation of Pitch's? I feel so dumb for not seeing that sooner! It's perfect!

[telling of his victory in killing the Guardians] I know Nightlight told us a bit of what's going on, but I didn't realize that it was THIS drastic. I kind of want to know what happened, how Pitch got free so soon (I mean, Sophie's still a kid, even if she is a Big Kid), and what he did differently this time around to cause the darkened globe. I realize that it's all backstory, but my curiosity is a pest like that. X3 I do, however, really appreciate seeing how Pitch must have created the Shadowman with the little shadow ball on the globe. THAT is cool. Plus, I think you have his voice nailed, man. Nailed.

LOL, Nightlight has attitude. I laughed when he snapped his fingers in Sophie's face so she would look at what he was trying to ask. He's a good match for her. I like him very much as a character - when he starts showing wear and tear on the way into the Warren, I actually got pretty concerned for him. I hope Sophie can do this, for his sake as much as for Mom and Jamie.

The overarching color theme is wonderful (when she falls into paint puddles). Animation makes excellent use of painting with light, and Sophie just embodies Easter imo (especially that little moptop kid she used to be). So I like that you're continuing to weave that element through the story!

Anne

Oh. My. Gosh. They can't be dead. Don't you even.

[She didn't know any martial arts or self-defense techniques, but she had a piece of rope, and by god, she was going to use it.] I love your female leads So Much. Nothing but this absolute conviction that on a level head would be insanity could possibly carry her forward with enough oomph to actually pull it off - which she does. It's fun to see how legends and superstitions would play on each other if they were real (something as scary as the Shadowman being undone by something as commonplace as a rope - like if you hide under the sheets the monsters can't get you).

SQUEE! Nightlight can talk! I love how Baby Tooth came to fetch her and how she followed the moonlight. Gentle descriptions are needed just as much as action-filled ones. It's hard to watch a character grieve, but awesome when a reader can follow her into peace like this, even if we all know the peace can't last too long. This is my favorite part: [She wasn't afraid. The light told her that there was nothing to be afraid of.]

[In a way, it made sense. But it was like somebody telling Sophie she was adopted] This is possibly one of the most elegant similie I've seen in fanfiction. Because it's EXACTLY like that. I didn't put it in those words myself, but once I saw them and thought about everything I'd just read - the origin of MIM and Nightlight and Pitch - yeah. Spot on. You go, writer girl!

Okay, good. They aren't. X3

Sweepingly epic chapter! It feels just like watching the movie. All we need is a soundtrack. (Do you write to a soundtrack?)

Oh, poor Sophie. What an emotional roller coaster she's just been through. Throw in a bit of a meat grinder and here she is, thinking she's going to be sick and cry - and she IS crying. Gosh. The confusion and the fear and the pain and sick are all done so incredibly well!

Nightlight! Squee! I love that! And here we go with a character who isn't talking (grin). That's okay. Sophie's got this. X3 She's doing pretty well, considering. (As an aside, I appreciate that she even commented on how well she's taking things. Helped make it all more acceptable, you know?)

Ha, nice. I like the backstory on the Shadowman . . . but really, I would love some more description of Nightlight's clothes, since we have spent so much time on Sophie's (old and new!). These phrases are very provocative: [he wore clothes Sophie had never seen before] and [from some magical pocket on his body]. Yep. Want to know more. Mostly because he sounds so much like Jack that that's all I can imagine and I really don't think that's who Sophie sees. I wonder if I'm the only one struggling against a preconception . . .

I think it's funny (and says a lot for the impression her brother made on her growing up) that Sophie - through this whole story so far - thinks of "Mom and Jamie." Always together. Like "Mom and Dad." She even thinks [Mom and Jamie are going to ground me for five months!]. She's the sweet little baby girl, no one below her in the family dynamic. As if Jamie had the power to ground her, hee. I like it. It's good characterization.

Wow, the defilement of her bedroom -! I don't even have the words. Powerful, powerful stuff. That's damn scary.

Hey, WAR! Totally forgot I started reading this, sorry. X3 Gonna continue now!

Firstly, I loved everything about Sophie's dream. Especially the pitch black ice and the crack of blue white light. Reading those words felt like a reminiscence. But then you add this detail of the ice being hot, and I was immediately freaked out, lol. Then the scene runs into this wonderful horror-movie dismissal of her snow-wet hair being put down as sweating too much in her sleep. Loved it. I'm very much looking forward to what these dreams have in store for her and what they mean.

[It wasn't uncommon for her to roll out of bed.] More reminiscing! Great character-building, showing us that even grown up, Sophie is stil the sweet little mop top we fell in love with.

[Sophie honestly hoped he found one - because, hell, he was her brother after all and she did love him - but she really didn't think that it excused him from being such a jerk lately.] More character-building - I'm huge on that. This one assures me that Sophie is a good girl, not perfect, not a doormat, not a drama queen. Basically, she's someone I already care about (and I care about this grown-up Jamie by proxy). I care what happens to her. Nice job.

Whoa. Bizarr-o-Meter just went off the scale. How could the kids forget (I'm assuming they forgot) about the Easter Bunny? No, don't answer that, haha! This is me thinking out loud as I read. The Easter Fox was a twist I wasn't expecting, and I love it. And then Sophie getting those kids into the hunt - so cute. But when Jamie shows up . . . This chapter is full of nasty surprises, isn't it? It's super tense. To have Jamie - of all people! - tell Sophie to stop lying! GOSH!

Ugh, and it didn't stop there. Let me tell you, their fight when she first got home was so real (everybody who has a sibling is going to understand). Poor Sophie! And even, a little, poor Jamie. He's hurting, too, from something out of his control, and although it's just wrong of him to push his anger onto her, there is that small hope that he really is trying in his own way to "help" her. But to make her cry like that . . . stupid, stupid big brothers who think they know everything!

[The lights all along the street were going out, one by one, and soon, hers was the only one that was lit.] This may be me reading (way) too much into things, but I can't help but think she really is the only thing keeping that light lit, like it's her belief keeping her light on the globe lit. I liked the imagery.

It's interesting that Sophie knows who the Shadowman is. Should I know? Or is he yours, new to this story?

Pretty killer ending, lady. My favorite lines are the last two (I've come to expect stunning imagery from you, hee).

Anne

This is really interesting and different; quite the bit mysterious too. Love it so far :)

Ooh, a lovely update! This chapter was awesome beyond words, keep up your good work, WAR!

i think it still turned out pretty well :)
and i'm glad that Sophie is finally coming to terms with what she will have to do to save her family :)
but i am really curious to see how Sophie will free Jack, and what she will end up facing with the other 2 Guardians :/
and yay for Wolfy the super wolf :D...i just hope that Wolfy also has fast healing abilities as well :/
and i wish i could help you get past your writer's block, and i'm glad that you and your mom are better now :)
and thank you for mentioning me, i wasn't really expecting that :o

Sophie! Such adorableness. But Jamie as a near-adult is just scary, lmao.

I love how the story starts. It's yet another teenager in her room, but this time it's different. She made it so tactile for me, bringing me into her act of drawing, making me hear and feel the paper. I loved that. I could SEE what she was drawing, too. Her and Jamie bickering was pretty real, too. Antagonism between siblings is fine - it was nice to see that Jamie thinks he's giving good advice because he cares for her.

I wonder if kids believe in the bogeyman, or if all belief is suspended.

I like this version of Sophie, and I'm looking forward to what she might do to bring a little light back into the world. :3

Anne

Suspenseful and intriguing. I'm confused on how suddenly Sophie now has Bunny's abilities and stuff and all but ehh guess I have to read to find out. So please update soon :D

Do we get to see Jack soon. Please?

Awwww! That ending was so cute! I'm super excited for the next chapter! Keep up the good work!

i hope she gets to keep the wolf/hope the wolf stays with her even after she has left the Warren :/
but i love the story and i love Sophie's new abilities but i wonder if she will get to keep them the entire time or if she will lose them when she finds and restores Bunny's heart?
anyway, please keep up the awesome job and i hope to see you again soon :D

Awwwww poor Sophie :(