It has been 5 years since Pitch was defeated and Jack joined the Guardians.
Although no longer alone Jack couldn't help but wonder who else was out there. How had he missed them for 300 years?
He had asked Bunnymund, Tooth, Sandy and North. They tended to disappear every now and again and would only reply with the same answer.
"Just visiting a friend."
Who? Who are they friends with? Why won't they introduce them to him?
Because of this Jack now found himself flying, not bothering where he lands. He simply allowed the wind to carry him wherever it wished to take him. Lying on his staff relaxing as the wind carries him, he stares at the clouds.
Suddenly the winds stops and he drops. Quickly he strengthens his grasp in his staff and turns to face the incoming ground. He manages to hold back the scream.
As he drops closer to the ground the wind quickly sweeps under him, slowing his descent but not stopping it.
Jack landed with a bump and a splash. Somehow the wind had manages to drop him in to a stream. Grumbling Jack picked himself up.
"Oh great now I am soaked. Thank you wind."
The wind responded by gently caressing his cheek. Jack couldn't help but smile, the wind was just as mischievous as him when allowed. Looking around Jack found himself in a forest of some kind. Before Jack could take a step a blur hit him in the chest sending backwards back into the stream.
Blinking Jack looked at what had been the blur now sat on his chest. Ice blue eyes met warm brown, a pink nose touched Jack's pale white one. On his chest sat a white rabbit, well almost white, patches of mud clung to its fur. Jack raised a hand and gently stroked the animal's ears.
"Hey there little one, what's the rush?"
The rabbit's ears quickly perked up before jumping off Jack's chest. It hopped a little further away before turning back, looking expectantly at Jack.
"What? Want me to follow you?"
The rabbit's ears perked once again as it turn and hopped once before turning back to Jack. Quickly picking himself up Jack chuckled. He was used to animals interacting with him, they were the only company he had for over 300 years that could see him.
"Ok, ok I'm coming."
As Jack walked closer to the rabbit it hopped off, glancing back occasionally to make sure he was still following. As Jack pushed through the trees and bushes, he began to notice more animals appearing and heading in the same direction.
Soon appeared a small cottage, hidden amongst an outcrop of stone. Jack hesitated for a moment but noticed both the rabbit and the wind encouraging him closer.
"So this is where you were trying to bring me huh wind?"
The wind answered him by ruffling his hair. Another strong gust came pushing Jack closer.
"Ok I get it."
With that the wind died down once again. For a moment Jack watched as the animals entered the cottage, showing no fear. Soon Jack followed.
As he entered he relaxed. The cottage felt like home, yet Jack was sure he had never been here before. As he looked around he noticed the sofas surrounding a fireplace to the right, then to the left he noticed a kitchen with a pot bubbling on the stove. He noticed a couple of doors but followed the animals as they passed through and exited through a door opposite.
The white rabbit continued to watch Jack before also moving towards the door. As Jack passed through the second door he found himself in an opening that could put Bunnymund's warren to shame.
The air was warm but not uncomfortable for Jack, a breeze seemed to twirl around him just in case. Scanning the area Jack spotted a small wood to his right, the center was a large field and to the left was a rocky outcrop. As he walked, Jack noticed how all the animals seemed to settle quickly. There was a wide range of animals, rabbits and deer as well as wolves and bears. None of the animals showed any aggression or fear towards each other but simply minded their own business.
Jack just noticed the large lake before walking into it.
"Woah that was close."
The little rabbit that had been with him continued hopping along. As it hopped along the edge of the lake it came to a couple of rocks that lead into the water. The rabbit hopped from rock to rock until the next hop would mean diving into the water. Jack watched as the rabbit waited.
"What are you waiting for little one?"
The rabbit ignored him and simply sat waiting. Sighing Jack sat down on the grass, he found it was soft. After a few minutes Jack started getting impatient and bored of watching the waterfall that filled the lake. He opened his mouth to speak only for someone else to interrupt him.
"Ah! Sorry Snowy I didn't realise you were here."
Before Jack could turn around to find the voice a figure quickly walked past him. Jack simply stared as the figure quickly moved towards the lake. The voice belonged to a girl no older then himself.
She had brown hair that was tied into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. She wore blue jean and a white vest top. She looked like an average human except her ears and… tail?
Jack stared. Yes the girl had a tail, a rabbit tail. Her ears? Rabbit ears! Jack continued to watch as the girl somehow changed her jeans into a skirt that ended just above her knees and enter the lake.
She quickly approached the white rabbit, Snowy? White ears perked as she got closer. Jack watched as the rabbit jumped at her as soon as she was close enough, knocking them both into the water.
Jack stood to rush over to help but stopped when he heard laughter.
"Haha Snowy. You did that on purpose didn't you? I bet you got dirty again on purpose to right?"
The girl was now sitting in the lake with water just above her elbows, the rabbit snuggling into her chest.
"Ok let's get you clean."
With that the girl held the rabbit in her arms like a parent would a baby and slowly lowered the rabbit into the she rubbed her hands through its fur Jack could hear the rabbit grinding its teeth in pleasure.
A few moment later and the girl stood up and walked out of the water. Placing the rabbit on the ground again. Hands on her hips she spoke once again.
"Now there you go, clean once again. I hope you stay clean this time."
The rabbit simply nudged her leg before hopping towards the door across the field. Laughing she speaks again.
"That rabbit is probably as much of a trouble makers as you are Jack."
He jumped. Did she just talk to him? He turned towards her to find the rabbit ears and tail had disappeared. A smile crossed her face as she closed the distance between them. Jack gasped as he found himself wrapped in a hug.
"Hi Jack. It is so nice to be able to greet you properly after all these years. Come on we are both soaked. Let's get dry and have a long awaited chat."
Suddenly Jack found himself being dragged across the field back towards the cottage. The girl was holding his wrist and her grip told him she wasn't going to let go.
Once inside the cottage she pushed him through a door.
"Go warm up or cool down and get a fresh set of clothes on."
Before Jack could respond she had exited the room. Jack stood there for a few moments as he processed the last few minutes.
She sees him. She knows him. She touched him. She greeted him. She treats him like a friend. She wants to talk to him!
As much as Jack wasn't used to the physical contact he couldn't help feeling comfortable when she hugged him.
Looking around Jack realised he was in a bathroom. It was many shades of light blue. The room made him feel calm once again. Quickly making his way over to the shower Jack prepared himself a luke warm shower. Quickly stripping Jack left his staff against the wall before climbing into the shower.
The slightly warm water rained down on his cool body. Happily Jack began humming as he let the water warm him a little. After a few minutes he climbed out again.
The first thing he noticed was his clothes had gone. As He frantically looked around he grabbed the towel off the shelf. He barely noticed it was light blue, almost white in colour with his name and a snowflake embroider on it.
As he looked around once again he noticed a pile of clothes folded on a chair. Moving closer he recognised then as his trousers and hoodie, but cleaner? Picking up the hoodie Jack unfolded it to find it not as worn down as before. Shrugging, he quickly dried himself off before getting dressed again.
He hadn't been sure what to do with the towel and had left it folded on the chair. Grabbing his staff Jack exited the bathroom. Entering the main room once again Jack looked around for the girl. He soon spotted her in the kitchen.
She was wearing fresh clothes. This time she wore an old fashioned dress. Her shoulders left dare but two sleeves stretched down her arms. The dress seemed to hug to her body as it dropped to the floor, she wore a corset over the top half of her dressed making the curves of her body more noticeable. As she turned Jack noticed a slit in the skirt of her dress that ran from the floor to half way up her thigh. Her brown hair now hung free, reaching half way down her back. Jack admitted the dress looked good on her, it complimented her body well.
Jack cleared his throat so not to scare her. She turned towards him. A smile settled on her lips.
"Hey Jack. I'm glad to see the clothes fit? Would you like something to eat or drink?"
"What do you mean you're glad the clothes fit. There my clothes."
She smiled.
"Of course they are yours. They have been here since you decided to change your look waiting for you. I must say the modern look works well on you. Though as you can tell I prefer the middle ages."
Jack was shocked.
"What do you mean they have been waiting for me?"
She gestured to the other door.
"Well like every other spirit you have a bedroom here. It changes as you do and fills with clothes you are wearing or ever have worn. It is designed to be as comforting and relaxing as possible for you."
It took a few moments for Jack to process what had been said. The girl spoke up once again.
"Here Jack, let's sit down before you faint and have a proper chat. Then I can explain properly and from the beginning."
With that she gently encouraged Jack to walk towards the settees. Sitting down he simple watched as the girl returned to the kitchen before coming back with two glasses. She sat on the sofa opposite.
"Here Ice cream smoothie. Vanilla. I hope you like it."
Jack reached for the glass and took a sip through the straw. A cold sweetness flowed onto his tongue and down his throat. A smile soon crept across his face. He only stopped drinking when the straw started sucking in air. Jack looked down into the glass to see the drink finished.
He couldn't stop a whimper of disappointment. Laughter soon filled his ears, looking up he found the girl trying her best to hold in her laughter but failing miserably. After a few seconds she stopped laughing long enough to form a sentence.
"Don't worry I can make more. Would you like another glass now?"
Jack quickly nodded his head. She smiled and giggled again as she took his glass and entered the kitchen. Minutes later she came out with another glass. Jack gladly accepted the second glass and took another sip.
"Right shall we begin our chat?"
Jack nodded straw still in his mouth.
She smiled.
"Ok let's start with the basics. I'm Kellina the spirit of care. I provide care for all fauna of the world. The care I provide ranges from meeting the basic needs such as hunger, warmth etc. to the wellbeing of the animal. I play, cuddle and provide company for those that need it. That includes animals, humans and spirits alike."
Jack, who had been sitting quietly decided to speak up then.
"If your care includes keeping spirits company how came I never saw you for the 300 years I was alone?"
Jack watched as Kellina's smile dropped.
"I am so sorry about that. It wasn't my fault I tried everything to be by your side. But Manny wouldn't let me near you often."
Jack jumped at that.
"Wait did you just say Manny stopped you from getting near me?"
She folded her arms over her chest and seemed to pout.
"Yeah. The only time I managed to get close enough to interact with you, I had to be an animal."
"An animal?"
She shrugged.
"Yeah don't you remember the birds that occasionally flew next to you or the squirrels that used to sleep with you when you slept in the trees?"
"Wait! That was YOU?"
"Yeah do you know how annoying it is not being able to speak to someone knowing they need to talk to a person? Every time I tried to get close to you in human form Manny would force me to change into an animal."
Jack stared at Kellina. Tears rolled down his cheeks.
"You tried to be there for me? You tried to get rid of my loneliness?"
With that Kellina crossed over to the sofa Jack was sat on. She wrapped her arms around the winter spirit.
"Yeah Jack. I tried to be close to you. I tried to remove you loneliness."
Jack clung to her as he cried even more. Once he started to calm down again Kellina whispered a few words into his ear.
"Promise me you won't EVER repeat Easter of 1968."
"You saw that?"
Kellina nodded into Jack's shoulder. Tears started to fall again. Hugging her tighter Jack cried until he fell asleep.