"Why clean up when someone else might camp in the same place?" A male voice said suddenly, surprising them all. The siblings looked around to see who it was. Astrid spotted him first, but he was just a silhouette.
"Who are you?" She questioned. He came closer, into the light of the fire.
"Don't you remember your old pal Jack?"
Jem scowled. "The hell?" He asked. He looked at him pointedly. "That was.." he looked confused and counted on his fingers. "Eleven years ago?" He said, still seeming confused.
"You can't be Jack. That's not possible," Astrid said, grabbing Jem's hand.
"Want me to prove it?"
"Yes. Yes, prove it."
"Well, I don't really know how to……but I'll think of something."
Jem squeezed Astrid's hand. "Do you really expect us to believe you?" He asked accusingly.
"How did we meet?"
"The shadow mage by the name of Black was trying to kill you."
"Why did you disappear?" Jem asked in turn.
"I don't need to tell you that," 'Jack' replied.
"Glacia," Astrid said, and Glacia became menacing, something she rarely did. 'Jack' made a snow crystal that seemed to look like Glacia when she was a baby, at which age she looked very different to how she was now. "You-you are Jack."
"Told ya."
"Mhm." Jem muttered. "Sure you are." He huffed, his muscles tensing.
"I still….I still need more proof."
"Yeah!" Jem blurted. "She still needs more proof. We still need more proof." He stepped back and pushed Astrid slightly in front of him.
Jack thought for a moment. "Hmmm…….Well, I don't really know how to show you."
Jem scowled deeper, if that was even possible. He thought for a bit. "Maybe if you tell us why you disappeared." He said gruffly.
"The shadow mage that tried to kill Astrid then locked onto me. Sure, it took me 11 years to kill him, but it was worth it."
Jem snorted. "Yeah sure." He turned to Astrid. "I don't think we can trust him. What say you?"
"Um….I….I don't know."
(I gtg for the night)
(ok bye)
(I AM BACK)
Jem glanced at 'Jack', thinking. "I don't trust him. Let's just leave." He suggested.
"I don't know what it is Jem, but I feel like he's really telling the truth. That he really is Jack."
Jem shook his head. "Whatever. So.. What do we do?"
"I say that we let him come with us but still keep an eye on him."
Jem shrugged, "Okay. If that's what you want."
Astrid nodded, although it was quite obvious that she was still unsure.
"So, shall we be off?" He asked peppily, smiling widely, and quite clearly fakely.
Astird nudged him gently.
"Hmm?" Jem looked at Astrid. "What's it, little sis?"
"Act. Natural."
Jem's smile dropped. "Yeah okay. Whatever. Are we going to leave now or what?" Is this better? he mouthed at Astrid.
Yes," She mouthed back, before saying "Yes, let's go."
