The spinning lasted a short time before Bunny landed in a pile of snow. Despite this he still felt as if he was going to hurl. Sandy helped him to his feet before spinning about. A question mark once again appeared over his head.
"The snow globe brought us here, Jack cannot be far off." North answered.
"Then let's find him. It's freezing." Bunny said shivering.
North searched about in the dark looking for a sign of life. Seeing a light in the distance he pointed and waved the others to follow him.
"This way."
"Stay quiet, we don't want to spook Jack." Tooth instructed following at North heels.
The four came to the edge of the woods and found the bright light they had seen was a porch light; one that looked as if were in it's last hour as the once bright light was now a faded orange. Seeing the pale figure of a boy step beneath it Sandy held a finger to his lips encouraging the others to be quiet.
Jack walked up to the door and knocked twice upon the window. As he waited Jack lifted the wicker basket from the crook of his staff where he had been carrying it. A moment after he did a little girl poked her head out the door. Her green eyes stared up at Jack in wonder. He handed her the basket and gave a gentle smile.
"Merci, Monsieur Hiver." She said in French.
"It's just Jack." The spirit laughed.
Jack had many nicknames, but Mina had always learned to call the frost old man winter. Not being that old (Or at least not looking it) she thought it would be rude to call him such a name and Jack Frost was so odd to her. Having great respect for him the little Canadian girl settled on calling Jack 'Mr. Winter' and despite Jack's objections she would continue to do so.
"My mother has gotten a new job so next week we will have money for more food." Mina assured him.
"Well if you ever need anything, just ask." Jack replied with a smile.
"Then may you please do me a favor?" She asked wide eyed.
"And what would that be?"
The others could not hear what was being said from such a distance. Fortunately Bunnymund's keen hearing picked up on every word. He switched between listening and talking trying to get the whole message as it was difficult to speak word for word and interoperate the French accent.
"Her mother's been out of work. I think Frosty's been delivering food." Bunny said listening.
"I am surprised. I did not know Jack had found believers outside of Burgess." Tooth Fairy said honestly.
Sandy created a picture of a computer. The image was long out dated by modern standards, but being just as out of the loop the others understood.
"Da, the children must have spread message through inter-web." North said with a nod.
"What?" Bunny said surprised.
"You know Bunny…" Tooth said trying to think of a way to explain. "The electronic thing that became huge in the 50's."
"Not you!" Bunny hissed. "She wants Jack sing a lullaby to her and her brothers."
"Really?" North said with a chuckle.
"Oh he's don't it before!" Bunny said with a smirk as he heard the girl say 'like always'.
The girl took the basket inside and Jack flew up to the bedroom window. A trio of small boys opened it and greeted the spirit of winter before their sister reappeared and shooed them to bed. Jack waited patiently as she tucked them in.
"This I've got to hear."
Bunny tapped the ground with his foot causing a hole to open up. He jumped down in followed by Sandy, Tooth and eventually North. However he was just as reluctant to the idea of the tunnels as Bunny was with his snow globes. The hole opened up next to the house and Bunny and the others jumped out. Bunny took the lead and pushed the others back trying to keep them out of the light. North fell as he was thrown out of the hole. The others all wrapped their hands around him mouth trying to muffle the sound of his yelp.
Jack heard a sound and turned his head. He raised his staff prepared to go hunt down the sound but a soft voice called his attention back.
"Monsieur Hiver? Is something wrong?" Mina asked.
Her brother's eyes were wide as they stared at the startled phantom. Jack put a reassuring smile on and tired to put them at ease. He entered and sure they were all properly covered as he explained the fear away.
"Just a deer." Jack said taking his place back in the window. "Are you ready?"
They all nodded. Jack put his staff down just inside the window. He then curled one knee to his chest, letting the other hand down out the window. Jack looked at the children and then out over the woods. He recited a poetic introduction.
"Wind, carry out my song. Let them know that the winter's chill seeks not to harm them, but to comfort them. Tonight I will preserve their light with my snowflake lullaby."
The Guardians pushed and shoved as they all tried to be the closest to the edge. However their fight was soon made irrelevant as the wind picked up and Jack's voice was carried out over the trees. Baby Tooth swooned as she heard the first angelic chords of Jack's song. Tooth encourage her to calm herself and yet the Tooth Fairy was equally bowled over. None of them had ever heard Jack sing before and they were almost certain he would have never done it in front of them. It was with good reason as Bunny was already thinking of ways to exploit Jack's tender side.
"Oh if only I had a camera." Bunny snickered softly.
"Shh!" North hissed as Jack started to sing.
To the Children whose dreams…
have given me life…
I sing to you now…
a sweet lullaby….
Lay down your heads…
In warm winter beds….
Fear not the darkness… and shut… your tired…eyes…
I'll sing you to sleep…
Until tomorrow we meet…
I'll sing you to sleep…
With my snow…flake, lull…a, by…
As if on cue snow began to fall in the sort of magically slow manner as a holiday movie. The fairies shivered as they felt the cold, joining Bunny who was now silently complaining with a series of muffled words. Sandy swayed to the song and mouthed the words as Jack went on.
Do not fear…
Do not cry…
You will see soon…
In the morn…ing…
a wonderland awaits you…
Shut… your eyes…
Have no fear…
I am… always… here…
To keep safe until you… can dream…
But until then, I will sit, and sing…
My snow…flake… lull…a, by…
La…la la, la, la, la…
La…La la, la, la….
As the children yawned Jack lowered his voice and began to hum the lines once more. On the last chord he took up his staff and softly began to pull the window shut. He whispered goodnight before shutting the windows and locking out the cold. With a sigh he then turned and flew off towards the forest.
"Quick he's leaving!" Tooth said pulling on North and the others.
North and Sandy leaned up against the house, having fallen asleep under the influence of Jack's spell. Bunny took off with a snicker. After all the blizzards he had suffered through, every prank for the last three hundred year, Bunnymund was finally going to have some pay back. Tooth ignored the others and followed after Bunny before he caused any damage.
Bunny followed just far enough back that Jack had no idea he was being followed. When he popped out to tell Jack all about what he had seen he wanted to freeze the look of shock on his face. This was going to be priceless, but the moment was soon sweetened as Jack came lower to the ground. Bunny was not only going to expose his secret he was going to uncover Frostbite's hide out. With the double win in mind Bunny slowed his pace and crept up on the spot Jack had landed. He expected to see a cave or some sort of snow covered lodging, but there were only more trees.
Tooth caught up with Bunny and pulled him back. She whispered in his ear.
"Did you find the entrance yet?" She asked.
Tooth didn't see anything other than trees. Thus she assumed that Jack's home was hidden somewhere. Bunny only shook his head as Jack sat down beneath a pine and leaned against the trunk. The pale boy raised his hood and bowed his head as the snow began to cover him like a blanket. Jack paid no mind and fell asleep this way.
North and Sandy rushed to catch up with the others after they had awakened. When they came upon the two Sandy stared at them curiously and looked about for Jack. If not for his blue hoodie Jack would have completely blended in with the snow.
"I saw Frostbite sleeping in the snow once…" Bunny said shocked. "I never thought…I thought he was just tired…"
"Bunny you knew?" Tooth snapped.
Sandy formed another question mark. North was just as confused.
"Knew what?" He demanded seeing Jack in the snow. "What is wrong with Jack?"
"Mate…Jack's homeless."