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Description
Stretching as he jumped out of bed, a young borrower smiled at the view outside. Just a hole in the wood on the side of the little house he lived in, with a bit of glass he'd managed to fit into it to make a window. Snow. Freshly fallen snow. And he was up early enough to pull off the stunt he'd been dreaming up for the past month. Without hesitation he slipped into his borrowing wear, as it made moving freely more comfortable, and grabbed his goggles and a snowboard he'd taken from a discarded action figure. Straightening his short black hair, his bright blue eyes scanning his bedroom for anything else he missed, he took a turn out of his room. Almost immediately he was halted by his roommate, another borrower of course.
“Oh, Jace. What's got you in such a rush? … And dressed like a snowboarder?” His roommate asked, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
“Well, I'm snowboarding of course. I've been planning this for about a month now, and today, I'm finally up early enough with freshly fallen snow to get this under way. It'll be perfect! And a blast too! I know you've got a board somewhere Kat, you should totally join me!” He said in excitement, walking past her and turning to keep talking, effectively walking down the hall backwards with a smile on his face.
She chuckled, shaking her head and making an attempt at straightening her curly blonde hair. “Yeah, think I'll pass.” She said, waving a hand and heading into her bedroom again to get dressed for the day. “Just be careful, don't get caught, you know the drill.”
“Doubt I'll be caught. Only thing that's gonna be out there is me, a snow plow, and a wave of snow waiting to be surfed on!” He said, raising his board and taking off.
“Mhm, you surf that snow Jace.” She said, rolling her eyes for a moment as she dressed herself. Being still half asleep, it took her a moment to process what he was on about. Her eyes snapped wide open as she put two and two together. “You're doing what!?” Hastily finishing her dress job, she took off after him, catching him just as he managed to get outside and onto the sidewalk.“You can't be serious!” She crossed her arms, looking at him with a questioning expression. As if she was trying to figure out if she was being toyed with. “You're really going to do this? … Do I get your stuff when you end up killing yourself?” Despite her attempted humor, it was obvious by her expression she was far from ok with what her friend had planned.
“I've got it all planned out, don't worry.” Jace offered a smile, adjusting the goggles over his eyes as he glanced around the corner, trying to see if his 'ride' was on it's way down the street yet. “It'll be just like how humans go surfing.”
“Except you're going to have a massive mechanical monster behind you constantly, and if you wipe out you'll either die of being crushed, or die of being buried!” She said, throwing her hands into the air.
“And how is this any more dangerous than your little dog rodeo idea?” He asked, a brow arched and a hand to his side.
She huffed, crossing her arms again. “Dogs are smart, covered in soft fur, and easily trained. A snow plow has non of those things, and is driven by a human!”
He sighed, shaking his head and glancing around the corner again, obviously anxious to get his stunt under way. “This is the end of the snow plow's route, ok? And I've practiced going down hills and stuff before, I can do this.” He again tried to assure her, giving her shoulder a light punch. “Have some faith, we've both tried crazier stuff than this before after all.”
She shuffled in the snow for a moment before sighing, giving him a slightly stronger punch of her own. “If you're not back in an hour and I find out you're dead, I'm killing you.” She told him. She of course didn't want to lose her friend to some stupid stunt, but he was right. They'd both done much more elaborate stunts and come out fine. So why was she getting so up in arms about it this time? Something in her gut was just telling her this was a bad idea for some reason. Sighing and shaking the thought off, she turned. “I'm headed back home. Be careful, ok Jace?”
“You know I will... Later Kat.” With that, he leaned up against the side of the building, waiting for the snowplow to make it's rounds. This would be awesome, he just knew it!
It only took another half an hour after she'd left for his opportunity to approach. The rumbling machine made it's way down the road, prompting a smile from him. The way the snow was flying up, just like waves in the ocean, this was his chance! Taking a deep breath, adjusting his goggles once more to be sure they were secure, he took off running, jumping to catch the snow wave as the plow passed by. Board down, knees bent, and there he went! He was going faster than he'd anticipated! He couldn't help laughing as he balanced, actually managing to stay upright with his dangerous little winter stunt. He knew he'd be able to pull it off.
His enjoyment only lasted for a minute though, something solid striking the rear of his board and sending him completely off balanced and airborne. Sailing through the air, he caught sight of what looked like a small rock, probably the thing that knocked his board off balance. He was only able to register that for a brief second though as his vision went completely white, then completely black, the snow plow paying no mind to his plight and throwing him to the sidewalk with the rest of the white stuff. He tried to dig his way out, but the sheer amount of the stuff coupled with how compact it was made it nearly impossible to move. On top of that, he could feel the cold starting to shut his body down. He had to get out, get free, get to the surface, get back home. Get out... out...
---
Warmth. Softness. The ability to breathe and move. Those were what he first registered as he slowly regained consciousness. Was he alive? The soreness in his back told him yes, yes he was very much alive. Opening his eyes slowly, he was more than confused by what he was met with. This wasn't some spiritual after life, and it wasn't the snow... but it wasn't his room either. When he realized he wasn't dead, he assumed Kat had just dug him out and brought him back home... but now, the room he was in looked to be much bigger. And brighter too with a ceiling light glaring down at him.
Sitting upright, he put a hand to his head, suddenly confused. Where were his goggles? Had they come off when he went flying? No, he at least thought he could still feel them on before he lost consciousness... He got his answer as he tried looking around the room, his blood running cold and his face going pale at the sight before him.
Sitting mere feet away from him was a child, looking at his goggles with intense interest. It wasn't the fact that a child had his goggles though. No, what had him terrified was that it was a human child of all things. About to try to stand and get going, he froze up, having to stop himself from yelling when her glance turned towards him.
She did a double take, eyes going wide with a smile spreading across her face. “You're awake!”
That was all he needed to hear. He stood up, turned away from her, and used the first method he could find of getting away. Realizing he had been laying on a desk of some sort, he picked a lamp cord as his method of escape, sliding down it and to the ground. He didn't bother looking back to see if he was being followed, instead taking off for the nearest thing to hide under, soon finding himself under a large bed. Jace practically slammed into the wall the bed was pressed up against, running his hands over the molding. “Come on, come on, gotta be a door here... no?!” How recently had this damn house been built for there to be no borrower door made yet?! He knew the general codes and plans. One door minimum in the room of every home, said door in the most out of the way space where there was little to no chance of being seen, let alone caught. So with no door down here... he had no method of escape.
“H-Hey, hold on a sec!” He heard the child's voice come from behind him, turning just in time to see a hand reaching for him. This time he did let out a shout before seeing that there was easily a foot of space between as far as she seemed to be able to reach and where he was sitting. Ok, so for the foreseeable moment, he was safe. Another moment of stretching proved futile, the girl pulling her hand back with a disappointed pout on her face. “Come on little fairy, you can come out. I know I'm big and scary, but I'm nice, I promise!”
He frowned at the title. Fairy? He was no fairy, he was a borrower. Of course she wouldn't know that though he supposed. Sighing, he remained silent and refused to respond to her. He'd wait her out. She looked young, just a child, so she wouldn't be moving the bed he was hiding under any time soon. Probably not clever enough to grab a long device of any sort either, so he'd wait. She'd have to let her guard down at some point. Leave the room, get food, go to sleep, use the bathroom, something. She couldn't stay here forever. Then again, he hadn't exactly had breakfast either, and at the moment he had no idea what time it was.
“Hmmm... do you talk? Maybe fairies don't talk like people...” She seemed to mutter more to herself, scratching her chin in thought for a sec. She snapped her fingers suddenly, or more made the motion without the sound, and stood up to move away from the other side of the bed. Was she leaving the room already? Inching forward a bit, he frowned. No, she was still right there back at the desk he'd been on, hard at work on... something. He immediately backed up to the wall again when she came running back over to the bed. She laid back down on her stomach, reaching her hand underneath the bed again, this time leaving a piece of paper when she pulled her hand back. She looked expectantly at him, then at the paper.
He was of course skeptical, moving only just slightly to see what she was making an attempt at. What he saw was a crudely drawn picture of what he guessed was a girl, probably her, smiling with what looked like a smaller person floating beside her head, smiling as well. That would be the 'fairy' he guessed. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he kicked the paper back towards her, only managing to make it move barely an inch before turning away from her and crossing his arms. Ignore her. Wait her out. That was the plan and he was sticking to it.
She frowned when her attempted peace message merely received a kick, pulling the picture back before resting her chin on her hands. “What's wrong? Did I do something? … Is it cause I took your stuff?” She guessed. Again she stood up and walked away, and again she returned in only a brief moment of time. Sticking her arm as far under the bed as she could towards him, she gave a little flick of her wrist, his goggles landing right next to him. “Those are yours, right? When I got you out of the snow, they fell off. Did you make them?” She asked.
He was more than confused now. This had to be a trick, right? After all the horror stories from traveling borrowers, there was no way this human could really be this... innocent. Humans just weren't that. They saw a tiny thing and immediately decided it was either something to keep, something to sell, or something to play with. No gray area. Yet this child was trying to explain how nice she was, didn't seem to have any ill intentions, and was for some reason returning his things to him. Without him even asking for that matter. Cautiously picking up his goggles, as if they'd spring some kind of trap, he slipped them back over his head and let them rest around his neck. He looked for a moment more, trying to figure out this girl, when a sound snapped him out of his thoughts. The sound of a door opening.
“May, dinner's... why are you laying on the floor? Did you drop a toy under your bed?” An older voice asked, a new set of feet visible from under the bed.
The little girl sat upright, shaking her head. “Nuh uh! Mom I found a fairy in the snow! He's hiding under my bed though, I think I made him mad at me for some reason... I'm also not sure if he talks like us or not. I tried telling him I was nice, and saying sorry, I even drew him a picture!” She said, holding up her crayon drawing.
The woman smiled, figuring this was some sort of game her daughter was playing. “Alright, well why don't we get your fairy friend to join us for dinner since it's all ready to go? I think even someone of his size can appreciate a burger.” She said, going along with the little game as she got down on her hands and knees. Peeking beneath the bed, she scanned beneath it in an attempt to find whatever toy she'd lost. Frowning, she sat up again. “Sorry May, doesn't look like there's anything down there. Maybe he flew away? Or used his magic?”
She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “He didn't have wings, mom, he's not that kind of fairy.”
“Oh, my mistake. Either way though, he's not there.” She said, patting her head and standing up.
“What?!” The little girl dropped back onto her stomach, frowning in disappointment at the barren underside. “Aw... he must have run off when I got up...”
“Well, maybe he'll come back. If he's a fairy, now's a good time of year for him after all. Almost christmas, so lots of magic about, right?” She reasoned with the girl, standing up to head out of her bedroom.
She looked disappointed, glancing under her bed once more as if expecting him to suddenly be there again. “I guess... Can I bring some food up for him just in case he does come back?” She asked, standing up and walking beside her mother.
“Mmmm... a little. That doesn't mean you're getting two desserts though.” She said with a laugh.
“It wouldn't be for me, it'd be for him!” And that was the end of the conversation when the door shut behind them.
Jace let himself drop onto the carpet bellow, having hoisted himself onto a wooden support beneath the bed when the opportunity presented itself. Rolling over to lay on his back, he allowed himself a moment's rest. They were gone. They were both gone now, and off to have a meal apparently. Much as food sounded nice about now, he figured he'd pass up the girl's offer of leftovers now rather than when she asked him later. He needed to find a way to get back home. Now.
Standing up and carefully making his way out from under the bed, he stood just at the edge. Rule number one of venturing anywhere in an active human household, keep near hiding places and other safe spots, and keep out of any open space. Rule two was to know your entrances and exits, but right now he just needed to find one. No gear on hand, he frowned when it looked like the only possible exit was the cracked open window across the room. Well, if that was his only shot, he'd have to try. Gear or no gear. Who knew what would happen if they got back and he was still there. He wasn't too keen on finding out, or getting caught for that matter. Clapping his hands in preparation, he bolted across the room, beginning his escape attempt.

Description
Stretching as he jumped out of bed, a young borrower smiled at the view outside. Just a hole in the wood on the side of the little house he lived in, with a bit of glass he'd managed to fit into it to make a window. Snow. Freshly fallen snow. And he was up early enough to pull off the stunt he'd been dreaming up for the past month. Without hesitation he slipped into his borrowing wear, as it made moving freely more comfortable, and grabbed his goggles and a snowboard he'd taken from a discarded action figure. Straightening his short black hair, his bright blue eyes scanning his bedroom for anything else he missed, he took a turn out of his room. Almost immediately he was halted by his roommate, another borrower of course.
“Oh, Jace. What's got you in such a rush? … And dressed like a snowboarder?” His roommate asked, yawning and rubbing her eyes.
“Well, I'm snowboarding of course. I've been planning this for about a month now, and today, I'm finally up early enough with freshly fallen snow to get this under way. It'll be perfect! And a blast too! I know you've got a board somewhere Kat, you should totally join me!” He said in excitement, walking past her and turning to keep talking, effectively walking down the hall backwards with a smile on his face.
She chuckled, shaking her head and making an attempt at straightening her curly blonde hair. “Yeah, think I'll pass.” She said, waving a hand and heading into her bedroom again to get dressed for the day. “Just be careful, don't get caught, you know the drill.”
“Doubt I'll be caught. Only thing that's gonna be out there is me, a snow plow, and a wave of snow waiting to be surfed on!” He said, raising his board and taking off.
“Mhm, you surf that snow Jace.” She said, rolling her eyes for a moment as she dressed herself. Being still half asleep, it took her a moment to process what he was on about. Her eyes snapped wide open as she put two and two together. “You're doing what!?” Hastily finishing her dress job, she took off after him, catching him just as he managed to get outside and onto the sidewalk.“You can't be serious!” She crossed her arms, looking at him with a questioning expression. As if she was trying to figure out if she was being toyed with. “You're really going to do this? … Do I get your stuff when you end up killing yourself?” Despite her attempted humor, it was obvious by her expression she was far from ok with what her friend had planned.
“I've got it all planned out, don't worry.” Jace offered a smile, adjusting the goggles over his eyes as he glanced around the corner, trying to see if his 'ride' was on it's way down the street yet. “It'll be just like how humans go surfing.”
“Except you're going to have a massive mechanical monster behind you constantly, and if you wipe out you'll either die of being crushed, or die of being buried!” She said, throwing her hands into the air.
“And how is this any more dangerous than your little dog rodeo idea?” He asked, a brow arched and a hand to his side.
She huffed, crossing her arms again. “Dogs are smart, covered in soft fur, and easily trained. A snow plow has non of those things, and is driven by a human!”
He sighed, shaking his head and glancing around the corner again, obviously anxious to get his stunt under way. “This is the end of the snow plow's route, ok? And I've practiced going down hills and stuff before, I can do this.” He again tried to assure her, giving her shoulder a light punch. “Have some faith, we've both tried crazier stuff than this before after all.”
She shuffled in the snow for a moment before sighing, giving him a slightly stronger punch of her own. “If you're not back in an hour and I find out you're dead, I'm killing you.” She told him. She of course didn't want to lose her friend to some stupid stunt, but he was right. They'd both done much more elaborate stunts and come out fine. So why was she getting so up in arms about it this time? Something in her gut was just telling her this was a bad idea for some reason. Sighing and shaking the thought off, she turned. “I'm headed back home. Be careful, ok Jace?”
“You know I will... Later Kat.” With that, he leaned up against the side of the building, waiting for the snowplow to make it's rounds. This would be awesome, he just knew it!
It only took another half an hour after she'd left for his opportunity to approach. The rumbling machine made it's way down the road, prompting a smile from him. The way the snow was flying up, just like waves in the ocean, this was his chance! Taking a deep breath, adjusting his goggles once more to be sure they were secure, he took off running, jumping to catch the snow wave as the plow passed by. Board down, knees bent, and there he went! He was going faster than he'd anticipated! He couldn't help laughing as he balanced, actually managing to stay upright with his dangerous little winter stunt. He knew he'd be able to pull it off.
His enjoyment only lasted for a minute though, something solid striking the rear of his board and sending him completely off balanced and airborne. Sailing through the air, he caught sight of what looked like a small rock, probably the thing that knocked his board off balance. He was only able to register that for a brief second though as his vision went completely white, then completely black, the snow plow paying no mind to his plight and throwing him to the sidewalk with the rest of the white stuff. He tried to dig his way out, but the sheer amount of the stuff coupled with how compact it was made it nearly impossible to move. On top of that, he could feel the cold starting to shut his body down. He had to get out, get free, get to the surface, get back home. Get out... out...
---
Warmth. Softness. The ability to breathe and move. Those were what he first registered as he slowly regained consciousness. Was he alive? The soreness in his back told him yes, yes he was very much alive. Opening his eyes slowly, he was more than confused by what he was met with. This wasn't some spiritual after life, and it wasn't the snow... but it wasn't his room either. When he realized he wasn't dead, he assumed Kat had just dug him out and brought him back home... but now, the room he was in looked to be much bigger. And brighter too with a ceiling light glaring down at him.
Sitting upright, he put a hand to his head, suddenly confused. Where were his goggles? Had they come off when he went flying? No, he at least thought he could still feel them on before he lost consciousness... He got his answer as he tried looking around the room, his blood running cold and his face going pale at the sight before him.
Sitting mere feet away from him was a child, looking at his goggles with intense interest. It wasn't the fact that a child had his goggles though. No, what had him terrified was that it was a human child of all things. About to try to stand and get going, he froze up, having to stop himself from yelling when her glance turned towards him.
She did a double take, eyes going wide with a smile spreading across her face. “You're awake!”
That was all he needed to hear. He stood up, turned away from her, and used the first method he could find of getting away. Realizing he had been laying on a desk of some sort, he picked a lamp cord as his method of escape, sliding down it and to the ground. He didn't bother looking back to see if he was being followed, instead taking off for the nearest thing to hide under, soon finding himself under a large bed. Jace practically slammed into the wall the bed was pressed up against, running his hands over the molding. “Come on, come on, gotta be a door here... no?!” How recently had this damn house been built for there to be no borrower door made yet?! He knew the general codes and plans. One door minimum in the room of every home, said door in the most out of the way space where there was little to no chance of being seen, let alone caught. So with no door down here... he had no method of escape.
“H-Hey, hold on a sec!” He heard the child's voice come from behind him, turning just in time to see a hand reaching for him. This time he did let out a shout before seeing that there was easily a foot of space between as far as she seemed to be able to reach and where he was sitting. Ok, so for the foreseeable moment, he was safe. Another moment of stretching proved futile, the girl pulling her hand back with a disappointed pout on her face. “Come on little fairy, you can come out. I know I'm big and scary, but I'm nice, I promise!”
He frowned at the title. Fairy? He was no fairy, he was a borrower. Of course she wouldn't know that though he supposed. Sighing, he remained silent and refused to respond to her. He'd wait her out. She looked young, just a child, so she wouldn't be moving the bed he was hiding under any time soon. Probably not clever enough to grab a long device of any sort either, so he'd wait. She'd have to let her guard down at some point. Leave the room, get food, go to sleep, use the bathroom, something. She couldn't stay here forever. Then again, he hadn't exactly had breakfast either, and at the moment he had no idea what time it was.
“Hmmm... do you talk? Maybe fairies don't talk like people...” She seemed to mutter more to herself, scratching her chin in thought for a sec. She snapped her fingers suddenly, or more made the motion without the sound, and stood up to move away from the other side of the bed. Was she leaving the room already? Inching forward a bit, he frowned. No, she was still right there back at the desk he'd been on, hard at work on... something. He immediately backed up to the wall again when she came running back over to the bed. She laid back down on her stomach, reaching her hand underneath the bed again, this time leaving a piece of paper when she pulled her hand back. She looked expectantly at him, then at the paper.
He was of course skeptical, moving only just slightly to see what she was making an attempt at. What he saw was a crudely drawn picture of what he guessed was a girl, probably her, smiling with what looked like a smaller person floating beside her head, smiling as well. That would be the 'fairy' he guessed. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he kicked the paper back towards her, only managing to make it move barely an inch before turning away from her and crossing his arms. Ignore her. Wait her out. That was the plan and he was sticking to it.
She frowned when her attempted peace message merely received a kick, pulling the picture back before resting her chin on her hands. “What's wrong? Did I do something? … Is it cause I took your stuff?” She guessed. Again she stood up and walked away, and again she returned in only a brief moment of time. Sticking her arm as far under the bed as she could towards him, she gave a little flick of her wrist, his goggles landing right next to him. “Those are yours, right? When I got you out of the snow, they fell off. Did you make them?” She asked.
He was more than confused now. This had to be a trick, right? After all the horror stories from traveling borrowers, there was no way this human could really be this... innocent. Humans just weren't that. They saw a tiny thing and immediately decided it was either something to keep, something to sell, or something to play with. No gray area. Yet this child was trying to explain how nice she was, didn't seem to have any ill intentions, and was for some reason returning his things to him. Without him even asking for that matter. Cautiously picking up his goggles, as if they'd spring some kind of trap, he slipped them back over his head and let them rest around his neck. He looked for a moment more, trying to figure out this girl, when a sound snapped him out of his thoughts. The sound of a door opening.
“May, dinner's... why are you laying on the floor? Did you drop a toy under your bed?” An older voice asked, a new set of feet visible from under the bed.
The little girl sat upright, shaking her head. “Nuh uh! Mom I found a fairy in the snow! He's hiding under my bed though, I think I made him mad at me for some reason... I'm also not sure if he talks like us or not. I tried telling him I was nice, and saying sorry, I even drew him a picture!” She said, holding up her crayon drawing.
The woman smiled, figuring this was some sort of game her daughter was playing. “Alright, well why don't we get your fairy friend to join us for dinner since it's all ready to go? I think even someone of his size can appreciate a burger.” She said, going along with the little game as she got down on her hands and knees. Peeking beneath the bed, she scanned beneath it in an attempt to find whatever toy she'd lost. Frowning, she sat up again. “Sorry May, doesn't look like there's anything down there. Maybe he flew away? Or used his magic?”
She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “He didn't have wings, mom, he's not that kind of fairy.”
“Oh, my mistake. Either way though, he's not there.” She said, patting her head and standing up.
“What?!” The little girl dropped back onto her stomach, frowning in disappointment at the barren underside. “Aw... he must have run off when I got up...”
“Well, maybe he'll come back. If he's a fairy, now's a good time of year for him after all. Almost christmas, so lots of magic about, right?” She reasoned with the girl, standing up to head out of her bedroom.
She looked disappointed, glancing under her bed once more as if expecting him to suddenly be there again. “I guess... Can I bring some food up for him just in case he does come back?” She asked, standing up and walking beside her mother.
“Mmmm... a little. That doesn't mean you're getting two desserts though.” She said with a laugh.
“It wouldn't be for me, it'd be for him!” And that was the end of the conversation when the door shut behind them.
Jace let himself drop onto the carpet bellow, having hoisted himself onto a wooden support beneath the bed when the opportunity presented itself. Rolling over to lay on his back, he allowed himself a moment's rest. They were gone. They were both gone now, and off to have a meal apparently. Much as food sounded nice about now, he figured he'd pass up the girl's offer of leftovers now rather than when she asked him later. He needed to find a way to get back home. Now.
Standing up and carefully making his way out from under the bed, he stood just at the edge. Rule number one of venturing anywhere in an active human household, keep near hiding places and other safe spots, and keep out of any open space. Rule two was to know your entrances and exits, but right now he just needed to find one. No gear on hand, he frowned when it looked like the only possible exit was the cracked open window across the room. Well, if that was his only shot, he'd have to try. Gear or no gear. Who knew what would happen if they got back and he was still there. He wasn't too keen on finding out, or getting caught for that matter. Clapping his hands in preparation, he bolted across the room, beginning his escape attempt.