i own nothing but pumpkin and lantern weeee

"Don't go too far, Pumpkin!" Lantern shouted after the autumn spirit as she practically skipped out of the castle doors, leaving the other spirit with their new friend Valentine. Pumpkin had nothing to worry about, her partner was in good hands with the guardian of love. He was still getting use to his human form so he couldn't follow her and Jack out into the forest to explore anyway.

Once outside in the forest, Pumpkin paused and took a look around for the winter spirit. She regretted not being able to call out for him, but he usually always found her anyway. It was such a weird feeling being without her cat, even if he was with her he was in his human form in order to get use to the new body so she couldn't hold him for comfort. From being lost in her thoughts she tripped over a large tree root and was caught by a large vine that set her back on her feet. Pumpkin laughed a little and patted it as a thank you but was quickly distracted by some bunnies running by, having been startled by the vine moving.

Perking up, she hurried after them to see where they were running to. Maybe this time she could see their dens. They dived under a bush as they saw they were being followed and the autumn spirit tried to go after them, managing to get stuck in the process. She groaned and whined as she tried to pull herself out, feeling the branches tugging at the shirt Valentine let her borrow and her hair. After a few more tries she stopped. If she couldn't go back, she'd go forward!

With a determined grin on her face she lowered her head and started pushing through the bush, feeling a little guilty at the tunnel she was making, but she ended up out on the other side.

Giggling a little at her smart idea she got to her feet and started picking the twigs out of her hair, taking a look around as she did. This part of the forest was different. There were only a few trees and bushes and they didn't look as healthy as the ones closer to Valentine's castle.

Out of curiosity, Pumpkin walked towards one of the trees to get a better look at it. The bark was chipping away and the leaves were all wilted, like it was the middle of autumn. She pulled her hand away and put it on her face as she tried to figure out what was killing the section of the forest when a loud pained cry came from the boarder made by the bushes. The spirit jumped in alarm and dived into the plants, fighting her way through them to get to the animal that was screaming for help.

She practically fell out of the bushes in her hurry and jumped to her feet, ready to run at whatever was hurting the animal. Until she saw what it was.

Nightmares.

Three of them had the little fox she had become friends with cornered between them all but when the spirit fell out of the bushes they had all stopped to look, allowing it to dart away back into the forest.

Tensing up at the sight, Pumpkin started to shake as she stepped backwards to try and get back into the bushes. She was out of bounds. The forest couldn't help her out in the field she was in now. One of the nightmares screeched at her and made her collapse in fear. She didn't have the time, or the focus, to make a lantern to ward them off.

When she fell, they started closing in on her. Pumpkin started tearing up and covered her head with her hands, curling up into the fetal position. The one time she was off guard. The one time.

"Oh now my pets, you've done your job well."

The voice startled Pumpkin, and she instantly knew it was Pitch. Of course it was Pitch. Those were his creations.

Pumpkin's head was filled with thoughts of escape, but her body refused to move from its defense position. All she could do was pray Jack would see her and help.

"What's this? The Great Pumpkin is all alone?" the boogeyman mocked as he walked closer. Pumpkin could hear the dead leaves crunching under his feet. "Well that's not too new now is it? After all, children only know of what you do, not who you are."

The teasing didn't bother her, but feeling his cold hand wrap around her wrist did. Pumpkin yelped and tried to yank her hand away, only to be pulled up to her feet.

"No cat, no lanterns, no protection. It's been long enough." Pitch mused to himself before looking to one of the nightmares. It moved closer and the autumn spirit went rigid again, not wanting it near her. It's ribcage stomach opened and before she could respond, Pitch shoved her into it. She was trapped. And no one knew where she was.

Self indulgence? I think yes