Anna crept through the undergrowth, guided by Kristoff's beckoning hand.
'Found one.' He muttered. He unslung the crossbow from his back, passing it to her.
They were wearing dark, fur lined leather coats and trousers, provided by Kristoff, which he used when hunting.
Kristoff smiled as Anna visibly balked at the weapon, as if its very existence was offensive to her. She reached out and took it, hesitantly. Kristoff gently took her arm and pulled her beside him, gesturing to something in the clearing ahead of them
'There, see it?'
Anna nodded with grimace, suddenly very unsure of what she had been goading her friend into teaching her only an hour ago.
'Yup.' She squeaked.
In the clearing, was a rabbit. A cute, furry, adorable little rabbit. And she was going to shoot it.
Kristoff was trying hard to stifle a laugh, this was Anna all over. This morning she'd enthusiastically stalked out to his cabin, like she normally did, announced the days plans, like she normally did, preached a passionate sermon about why she could do whatever Kristoff was advising her against, like she normally did and had succeeded in putting herself in an increasingly uncomfortable situation.
Like she normally did.
In a way, he was sorry he'd agreed. He wasn't sure the Quee-…Elsa would approve of him defiling Anna's spirit by trying to teach her how to hunt and kill cute, furry animals. As he looked at her though, trying to hold the crossbow comfortably, trying to look down the sights, he had a feeling he knew already how this would turn out.
Whether she knew it or not, Anna was all heart. He'd been a little hurt at first, as she had, when they realised they didn't really love each other the way they thought they did. But they had talked their way through it, a lot, and realised that in the end, neither of them had a problem with it. If anything, they were closer now than they had ever been when they were both trying so hard to make real a relationship that was built on…well…dishonesty. Both to each other and themselves.
Kristoff had always had suspicions her heart belonged to somebody else. He couldn't be sure, though he had an idea who, and he still wasn't totally sure what he thought about it, but he was okay with their friendship. He wouldn't change her for the world.
'Kristoff, it's looking at me.' She hissed.
'It's just a rabbit, Anna' He tried to placate her anxiety. 'There are thousands of them.'
'But they're not here right now!.' She half-bawled.
The rabbit stiffened, Anna squeaked again, clamping a hand over her mouth.
'Maybe we should just…' Kristoff began, reaching for the crossbow.
'No.' Anna insisted, pulling the stock back into her shoulder and looking down the sights. 'I said I could do this, I'll do it.'
You had to respect her conviction, Kristoff conceded. If you didn't, she'd launch into another passionate tirade until you did.
'If you're sure…' Kristoff smirked. 'Inhume the rabbit.'
Anna looked appalled.
'Why did you have to say it like that?' She whined in a hushed voice, not taking her eyes off the rabbit.
Anna tried to shut out Kristoff's teasing. She had asked him to show her how to hunt because she wanted to bring something fresh for dinner tonight. Elsa had been tired and withdrawn a lot lately, so she'd wanted to surprise her sister with something nice.
Her brow furrowed as she focused. She didn't like it when Elsa pulled away. Things had been good between them for the last year, they had gone a long way to repairing what their parents had broken. She still loved them, as she always would, but she'd never understand their decision to just shut Elsa away. Her sister had nightmares, some nights. Not just usual ones, but ones about her.
Elsa had never directly told her they were about her, but Anna knew. She cried in her sleep sometimes, snippets of dialogue about her regrets and sorrow at hurting her younger sibling. Anna's heart broke each time she held the Queen close in a vain attempt to…make the visions go away. She wasn't sure exactly how far a rabbit she'd…murdered…for dinner was going to go in appeasing Elsa, but it was the first idea she'd had this morning and she was going to stick with it.
'O…kay.' Anna squeezed shut one eye in concentration and gritted her teeth in concentration.
The rabbit looked up at her. She felt its beady eyes burrowing deep into her soul.
'…can't!' She squeaked as she hauled the crossbow upwards at the very moment she pulled the trigger.
The bolt sailed upward into a tree as the rabbit scurried away at the disturbance. There was a sudden explosion of feathers and a furious howling squawk.
Without warning, she felt Kristoff barrel into her, sending them both tumbling into the soft snow. She caught a glimpse of a dark shape divebombing where the two of them had previously been, before it shot up again and out of sight.
'….um…' She managed from her place on the ground.
Kristoff sat upright, regarding her with a deadpan stare and a raised eyebrow. He helped her to her feet and they began making their way back to town.
'Nice work Anna.' He murmured, sounding exhausted. 'Nice work.'
...
'Come in.' A voice mumbled.
Elsa was sprawled across her desk as Anna entered the Queen's study. She'd returned triumphant with Kristoff a little while ago with a rabbit…that Kristoff had watched her buy from the market. He'd elected to wait outside, leaving Anna to receive all the glory. She'd scowled her best scowl, promising retribution for his laughter, to little effect.
'Hello sister.' Anna chirped.
Elsa looked up in surprise, hurriedly trying to tidy herself and her desk.
'Anna.' She breathed. 'Sorry about the mess, I've been…its…how's your day been?' The Queen promptly gave up.
'Okay. Kristoff was teaching me how to hunt.'
'Oh?' Elsa raised an eyebrow. Anna felt herself get flustered.
'Yeah. Uh…he was showing me how to stalk and shoot and…um…' She trailed off as Elsa stood, gracefully, pacing slowly toward her.
'Was he?' There was a glimmer in her sisters eyes, Anna felt the urge to keep talking.
'Yeah, yeah, we went out into the hills and hunted a rabbit and at first I couldn't shoot it and then I shot but I still couldn't shoot it and there was this hawk and I missed and it attacked and-' Anna stopped, breathless. 'It was Kristoff's fault!' She blurted, waving her arms frantically.
'Hey!' A voice shouted from outside.
Elsa crossed her arms. Anna couldn't bear her sisters knowing grin any more.
'…it was my fault.' She groaned, head in her hands. 'I wanted to catch a rabbit as a surprise for dinner tonight.'
Anna looked up at her sister, who was in turn looking at her with a funny look on her face. Anna felt her face flushing, embarrassed at her rambling. Elsa so easily reduced her to this.
'What?' She asked, crossing her own arms.
There was the glint of something behind Elsa's eyes, little creases were forming at the edges of her face.
'…what?' Anna repeated.
Elsa bit her lip.
'You're trying not to laugh at me.' Anna stated.
'Anna bought a rabbit at the market!'Kristoff called from outside.
'Kristoff!' Anna spun round.
Elsa burst out laughing.
