As Seen by the People

All at once it seemed like their rag-tag group had a new objective: chase after this nonexistent abominable snowman. All thanks to this mysterious boy with stark white hair and eyes like ice. She didn’t mind, of course. Clearly not, as she was tearing after the imaginary monster with all the enthusiasm of the child she still was. She tried, often too hard, to grow up. To be a superhero, to be a soldier, to do things she thought she should do, but it had been a while, too long perhaps, since she had embraced that fact that she was, in fact, still a child.  

Even if she was just playing along, fully aware of the fact that there was no mythical beast to follow, moments like this reminded her of her youth. She felt a momentary sense of gratitude towards Jack for arranging this little wild goose chase. She slowed her speed to a jog for a moment, turning around so she was jogging backwards to look at Jack. Her eyes softened at the gentle way he picked up the little blue alien known as Stitch. It reminded her of Jack Jack, and the thought was enough to cause the smile to slip off her face for moment. She knew she was where she wanted – needed – to be, but sometimes the guilt and longing for her family gnawed at her heart so much it physically hurt.

She cleared her throat and banished those thoughts right away. Now wasn’t the time for regrets, now was the time for fun. She turned back around and picked up the pace until she noticed Jumba come to a stop, scrutinizing four eyed gaze trained on Jack. Uh-oh. If this guy was smart enough to create an entire living being from scratch, how long before he put the pieces together and put an end to their little game? Violet didn’t want that, at the moment it, and Jack, was the only thing distracting her from thoughts of her family.

“We shouldn’t stop for too long or he might get away.” Violet pointed out as she jogged to where the alien had stopped. “As I'm sure we all know, abominable snowmen are notoriously fast and crafty.” She said with the utmost seriousness, eyes shifting momentarily from Jumba to Jack. It wasn’t a complete lie, after all. “Which begs the question of how we’re going to catch the big lug?” She looked back to Jumba. It was a reasonable question to ask him, she thought. He was the biggest of all of them, and the smartest if his creation of Stitch was anything to go by. If anyone had an idea as to how to trap a beast it’d be him, right?

If nothing else, the question might be enough to get his eyes on her and off Jack long enough for him to keep their game going.

Stitch let out a small gurgle of a whoop as Jack picked him up and slung him over his shoulders. The navy blue alien bear hugged his neck, steadying himself before lifting up. On their way they were! To go see about a yeti! Again Lilo would have been so excited for their journey but Stitch was happy she wasn’t there. He let out what would sound like a small purr and squinted his eyes, determined to find this fuzzy white beast. He let out a huff everytime his belly touched Jack’s neck. Jack was cold! Ice co-

Stitch froze (no pun intended) and lifted his ears.

Was Jack, cold as he was, the ones making the footprints?!

He shook his head. No way. Why would he send them out to find a beast that wasn’t there? Although it was still terribly suspicious.

“Stitch catch cousins! Stitch can catch snowman!” He eyeballed Jack after that comment. He was onto him. Even if he had given him a piggyback ride.

Glittering pale teeth shone like pearls as he brandished his best smile towards Jumba, he attempted innocence but it probably resembled a troublemaker more than anything. His muscles flexed and smoothed out whilst he tucked Twiner idly behind his back, man that stare was fierce. Then Violet’s voice peppered out and his impish gaze focused atop her, heeding her words carefully. Jack was mildly impressed with her lie, maybe he was guilty for letting such a nice girl lie but it was in the name of good fun. Then Tiana uttered forth more words and Jack Frost couldn’t have felt eviler with the best helpers in the city. Dramatically flinging Twiner to point towards them, he offered them up the entire stage so perhaps all eyes could hone in atop the twin deviants.

“You girls have instincts, I trust them, they have the minds of true hunters, am I right, Jumbo?” declared Jack, getting his name wrong whilst he twittered the cane towards them. It took all of his self-control to keep from dispersing out ice and turning this into a snow-day but then they’ll know he was the cryomancer.

Jumba finally voiced his reasons for scrutiny and Jack couldn’t help the sudden sputter of laughter. If only they knew how old he was, he was likely aged beyond any of them… Although he wasn’t sure what age Stitch and the big guy was. Then Jumba proceeded to boast and Jack raised his hands to tap at Stitch approvingly. “You’re pretty ‘all that’ huh, little dude?” smirked the winter spirit, completely unaware Stitch was eyeing him suspiciously.

“They probably like cold stuff? Ice-cream… Snow-cones?” prompted the frosty boy casually backing towards the wall behind him, acting as though he intended to lean atop it. Whilst they spoke and mused over bait, he lifted Twiner and arched it around the corner out of site before shaking out the frigid magic. He wasn’t watching but the footprints snaked down the sidewalk towards an alleyway, perhaps assumed to be ‘trapped’. He wouldn’t call it out this time but he glanced towards the girls and gestured with his eyes before leaning against his hands to act like they’ve been there the entire time. Perhaps placing Stitch on a vantage point wasn’t wise and he glanced up to the little guy with a smile.