A journey to see the world

[Jack Frost]

Jack Frost had always had trouble fitting in with the elves of Concordia. Perhaps it was his silver hair that shone like ice, or his teal eyes with a gaze that bit like ice. Maybe it had something to do with the way the air seemed to drop several degrees whenever he was around. Either way in didn't necessarily bode well for Jack's social life. Only three people in the town would tolerate Jack's presence.

One was the village elder, Keena Venita, who had taken him under her wing. She had spent all her time teaching Jack the traditions of the elves, training him to take her place. He would spend hours upon hours carefully listening to her stories and repeating them back to her, earning a sharp slap on the wrist when he messed up.

Another was the eldest hunter, Theyrin Gayle. He felt Jack's skills were helpful when it came to hunting, and often chose to take the young man with him to track down rabbits in the winter. The man was always wearing pelts, and thus never felt the coldness of Jack's aura. He had taken a licking to Jack after his adopted parents had died from a nasty pandemic. He had taken Jack into his house, and even offered him the hand of his grand daughter in marriage, which Jack gratefully accepted.

Jack's betrothed, Jill Gayle, was the only person who actively sought Jack's company. Whenever he was free from Keena or her grandfather he could be found holding her hand by the fire. Their passion for each other was greater than the love any bard had ever sung of, or so the tribe thought at least. They would constantly talk, walk, or eat together when they didn't have duties to attend to. Even then Jack had a tendency to shirk off some of his practicing of tribal medicine or meditations in order to spend time with her.

Despite all of this, he was still not really a member of the tribe in the eyes of many. He would never be until Keena died, and he would be left to pick up her mantle. That day would come soon, Jack just did not know exactly how soon though...

[Jack Frost]

It started on an average spring day for Jack. The sun would rise and the camp would begin to wake. First his soon to be betrothed Jill would stop by his tent to wake him, for he had a terrible internal clock and often would sleep in well past noon if given the chance. She had crept in silently and gracefully, having removed her hunting boots before entering. Her long blonde hair dangled past her shoulders as she leaned forward, breathing silently. Her tunic and skirt were dark green with splotches of brown, meant to mix in with the forest. Goosebumps rose on her fair flesh as she stood over her frosty soon to be husband. A wicked grin spread over her lips as she pounced upon her unaware prey.

Jack yelped as she landed on top of him, and flailed about attempting to escape his aggressor. Jill had spent many a year hunting, and pinned her prey down not allowing him to escape. The struggling stopped when Jack realized who it was. "Morning Frosty!" She cooed, her pale lips planting a kiss on his forehead. She sat on top of him, pinning his arms down. Jack smiled, his teal eyes shining with an energy they rarely portrayed.

His skin was fair like hers, but to a more extreme. His skin was almost pure white like a fresh coat of snow. His hair was silver, and hung in his face so much that he was brushing it out of his face frequently. He didn't speak, just freed his arms and pulled her into an embrace. His body was frigid, the most peculiar thing about him. Many believed him to be some sort of spirit or demon, many elves clutched protective amulets when he walked by. Jill however saw him as another elf, despite his lack of pointy ears.

After a moment of silence between them, Jill's face pressed into Jacks hair, he spoke. "Morning Love," he replied in barely a whisper. Jack lived for these moments, having Jill in his arms was the only time he ever felt warm. An omen he was sure of it. It was his destiny to marry her, and he was glad to oblige the fates.

She sighed and handed him his jacket that was beside him. He had taken to sleeping in a thicker cotton long-sleeved shirt and his black trousers. The only part of his attire missing was his jacket. He always wore one, it could be hot enough to spontaneously light the forest on fire and Jack would wear his jacket. Made of a thick leather the interior was lined with wolf fur, it was the ideal winter coat. Jack just wore it for all seasons.

"Thank you dear," he said pulling it on. The front was open, and snapped shut with several buttons. Jill found herself standing so Jack could finish getting ready. She herself had more chores to get on, and so would Jack when he went to speak with elder Venita. "How many days?" she found herself asking aloud. "Three including today" he said pulling her into a hug as he stood up. Casually stepping back, she followed mirroring him, as if they were waltz partners. He slipped his right, then left foot into his sturdy fur lined boots, and then led his fiance forward, ducking slightly to exit the tent. Jill slid her boots on and sighed. "A whole day of hunting..."

Jack hushed her. "I'll see you at dinner." he promised her, then kissed her. Her lips were warm to him, and his were cold to her. He backed away and left her slightly stunned. The corners of his mouth had formed a smirk, and he was off on his merry way to the elder when she recovered...

[Jack Frost]

Whenever the tribe moved the elders' tents were the first to be set up, for they were the largest and the center of the camp. Seven tents stood in a semi circle around a large bonfire, marking the Elders' homes. Each elder had control over part of the camps operations, each the senior member. Elder Venita was the eldest medicine woman, and knew all of the tribes strongest medicines. Elder Gayle was the strongest of the hunters despite being the oldest. Elders Crow and Roe Oak were twin brothers, and handlers all of the tribes legends. Elder Ashe kept the fire alive and handled all of the tribes justice disputes. Elder Lora was a blind old woman who spent her days gazing into the fire and seeing the future. She rarely spoke, but when she did it was of omens and fate. The final Elder was the eldest man in the village, and the chief, Ventus Willow.

Jack had spent the last few years serving and working with the elders, so when he approached the semi circle the few elders in attendance greeted him warmly. "Good Morning Jack" Elder Willow muttered through a spoonful of soup. "Good evening Master Willow" Jack said bowing. The chief chuckled and wiped a bit of soup from his mouth. The man had wizened over the years. No-one knew the exact age of any of the elders, but elves had a tendency to live for long amounts of time in Concordia, so Jack assumed the man was old enough to still consider Jack an infant.

He had eyes brown like the bark of the oldest trees in the forest. His skin was leathery and sagged transmuting his face into a mask of little to no expressions. He bore a nose that resembled and eagles beak, and comically long ears. He could hear, and smell everything, and most of the younger children could swear the old man had eyes on the back of his head. He was bald, and wore a simple tunic and trousers, sitting so close to the fire that a blizzard could have been raging and he wouldn't have noticed. How the man was neither sweating, or still had soup that hadn't evaporated was beyond Jack.

"Keena has yet to awake from her slumber, come join me by the fire and talk with me." Jack nodded and grabbed a sturdy log to use as a stool. Grunting he lugged it over to the elder and sat beside him. The heat caused Jacks cold skin to release steam, and the chief almost died laughing. "You're a bizarre boy Jack, but that's not why I wanted to talk." Master Willow paused. The barest hint of a smile betrayed his lips. "You're getting married in three days...tell me." He paused. "Tell me what it's like to feel young..."

[Jack Frost]

Jack paused for a moment. He was not ready for this question. "I don't know..." he replied simply. Master Willow simply chuckled. "Youth is wasted on the young they say, but you don't know any better." the old man sighed. "When you live to be my age your body starts to betray you. You can't simply just do the things you've always done. Your bones begin to ache, and your joints are sore. You wouldn't know though."

He paused. "All you ever do is work here with the other elders and I. Master Gayle takes you hunting, and had he not given you his granddaughter you would not have a love life. You study tirelessly, too much for your own good..." he droned on. "When I was your age all I wanted to do was go hunting, and I dreamed of the lands outside of this forest." Jack got a strange suspicion as to where the elder was going. "You aren't an elf Jack, so why do you tie yourself down in our traditions and bind yourself to our tribe? You could be free to roam the world and find your purpose." The old man paused once again. "Forgive me, I ramble more and more these days."

"All is well Master Willow, I am content with the life I've been given. The forest holds a greater claim as my home than any other place. I have a duty to the elves that I enjoy, and soon I will be married. I have no need to find my purpose out there because I have found it here." He paused. The older elf smiled. "Your conviction reassures me."

Jack felt the fire at his face, barely. The heat was something that he could stand, but he had his doubts the elder could handle it. "Master Willow..." Jack paused choosing his words. "Are you okay?" The older elf simply laughed. "As okay as I can be at my age."

[Jack Frost]

A light moaning alerted Jack to the presence of another elder. Elder Keena shuffled out of her rather large tent, clutching tightly to a crooked birch walking stick. The staff was as old and gnarled as master Willow's face, how it managed to support any weight was beyond Jack. "Good morning Dearie..." the elder grunted under her breath. Jack quickly readied a chair and lowered her into it, setting her cane beside her. "Morning Master." he muttered bowing his head.

This earned him a swat. "Stop acting like a three year old Frosty! You are my apprentice not my personal servant!" she squawked. Jack cringed. "My apologies..." again another swat, "Don't you dare apologize to me mister!" Elder Keena roared. "But..." Jack stuttered. "But nothing you spineless whelp, grow a pair and act like you're going to get married in three days! By the tree spirits I have been granted the sweetest young man with a penchant for magic to boot, but they forgot to give him the brains or the self-respect to use both of them..." Jack simply tuned elder Venita out while she ranted, as he had grown accustomed to doing.

Then he felt her lips on his head in a small grandmotherly kiss and he knew the storm had passed. "I swear you have snow where your brain should be sometimes." She sighed. "You have a fire in your heart that age cannot quell..." Jack shot back smirking. "Who are you calling old mister?" She asked chuckling. "Today's lesson plan?" Jack asked.

"I need you to go into Underwood today and get some herbs that grow behind the tavern, they can be chewed and applied to cuts and stabs to clot the blood and slow or stop the bleeding..." She instructed patting Jack on the head. "While you're there you can fetch that lazy good for nothing that is Jill's father from the bar and have him come agree to sign his daughter over to you." She added.

Jack sighed and stood up. "I'm on it..."