North POV

The sleigh burst out of the portal above Santoff Claussen. North pulled the reindeer in for a landing at the stables in relief. They were all worn out. He glanced back at the guardians. Tooth slept on the lowest seat of the sleigh, her head resting on her arm and five small fairies curled into her feathers. Bunny sat on the floor of the sleigh, intent on looking at anything but the ground below. Every few seconds his head would start to drop as though he were about to fall asleep but would snap back up with every jerk of the sleigh beneath him. Sandy was passed out on one of the higher seats and was apparently sleeping soundly. Of all the guardians, he seemed the most exhausted and he wondered for a brief moment what exactly Pitch had done to so exhaust the dream weaver.

And Jack, Jack was sitting in the top part of the sleigh, unbothered by the height or the chilling winds whipping his snow white hair around his head. His staff rested in his lap as he tapped it lightly against the wood, creating small frost patterns against the wood. He didn't seem tired in the least, but was oddly quiet as he watched the other guardians carefully, an unreadable expression crossing his youthful features. He didn't even seem to notice North watching him with interest. He pointedly looked away without a word, lifting his head slightly and breathing in deeply as he had done every few moments since they'd returned to the pole.

He took another deep breath. Pale blue eyes suddenly glowed an almost neon blue, narrowing dangerously into a look of utter contempt and hatred that shocked North. The change in the boy was so sudden. His whole body posture seemed to shift and his eyes darted this way and that as though seeking out a threat.

"Jack," he called lowly so as not to disturb the sleeping guardians, "Is everything alright?" Bunny glanced up at the teen, eyes widening at the anger he found burning in that icy glare.

"Yes." He answered slowly, smoothly, with a voice so calm for his expression that it left him with an uneasy feeling in his belly. Bunny's eyes locked with his, making it known that he too felt disturbed by Jack's sudden change in behavior, before glancing back at the young guardian once more, now fully awake. The sleigh landed without incident, yetis rushed to secure the reindeer while Bunny shook Tooth and Sandy awake. Sandy seemed to sense Jack's change in attitude instantly, glancing up at the teen but he gave no sign of acknowledgment. Whatever had him so . . . . upset, clearly had his full attention. Tooth noticed too, giving him a questioning look. He shook his head in response.

As the sleigh came to a full stop, Jack was the first one out, hoping over the side and gripping his staff tightly in both hands as though he expected to be attacked any minute.

"I believe you have a house guest, North." He said, in that same calm voice that sent chills up his spine and made a lump of ice settle in his belly.

Bunny POV

The tone in Jack's voice was calm, almost too much so. Like the soft cool winds right before a blizzard. He didn't like it, not in the least. The very air itself seemed to rush with a chill foreign to even the North Pole and made his fur stand on end. Just then, a yeti rushed into the stables speaking something in their garbled language to North before heading off again.

"What is it, mate?"

"Seems I have unexpected house guest who won't leave without seeing guardians." The stables seemed to get just that tiny bit colder.