Here's chapter three! Thanks so much for your interest guys! It really helps me to keep going! R and R your thoughts!
"Pitch?" Jack hazarded, taking a small step back. The Nightmare King scowled, drawing his long coat more tightly around himself. It seemed that Pitch had undergone the same transformation as the Guardians. Where once there might have stood a dark shadow, with glowing eyes and wicked teeth, there now stood a slight, sallow faced man, with dark greasy hair, thin fingered hands, and a thin pinched mouth. His cape of shadows had been replaced by a coat of simple black cotton and he seemed to be wearing a jumper. "What are you doing here?" Jack asked slowly, lowering his hands.
"I've been sent to play daddy to you lot, while you undergo your…task." Pitch's voice was hard and disgruntled. He definitely didn't want to be here. Bunnymund tilted his head, studying the spook. He did look older then the lot of them, even North, something about the set of his mouth or maybe his eyes.
"So you know what we're supposed to do?" he demanded and Pitch spared him a glance.
"I know what I'm supposed to do for you. You're on your own." He turned away, his coat flaring out behind him.
"Fat lot o' good you are ya' drongo!" Bunny's foot tapped in irritation and he wished he could feel the weight of his ears pressing against his head.
"Follow me." Pitch shot the pooka a withering look and continued down the street. The Guardians shared a look. Finally Sandy shrugged and took off after the Boogeyman and his fellow Guardians were forced to follow. Bunny trailed, dragging his feet. He didn't like it up here. All pride aside the truth of the matter was that he was a bunny, he didn't like the noise of the cars or the stares of the people, and don't even get him started on dogs. Oh he could handle it, he wasn't afraid or anything, it just made him anxious. He much preferred his quiet warren to the loud bustle of the top side world. And as a human? That just added to his anxiety. I mean, look at his legs! Gone were his powerful hoppers capable of leaping to a rooftop in a single bound, now he had these scrawny bones to get around on. There wasn't any spring in 'um! And his ears! How could anyone hear anything with these flat lifeless things? He hadn't turned his head this much since that dog pack of 1902, how did humans keep their focus if they didn't have the ears to keep a check on all the noise they made? A nudge at the shoulder brought him out of his thoughts.
"You okay Bunny?" Jack asked casually, watching the Guardian out of the corner of his eye.
"What? Nah, I'm fine." The once pooka straightened with a sniff, regarding the street over Jack's head. "No problem. Right?"
"Right." Jack nodded and offered the rabbit half a smile before vaulting forward to check on Tooth. She was really wobbling. Of course after centuries of flying everywhere he supposed that was to be expected. The Sandman seemed to take his legs in stride, but that was pretty much what the Sandman did. Took things in stride. He was definitely the most welcoming of the Guardians, the most trusting. Maybe it had something to do with being surrounded by the innocent dreams of children. It tended to help keep ones mentality young. North, in keeping with his centre, seemed fascinated by everything. He'd put Pitch out of his mind and was looking at the town around them with a large grin, mumbling the names of children and whether they were naughty or nice, it seemed to help him keep his head. He seemed especially interested in the cars that whirred past. Bunny jerked as one of them grumbled by, splashing water against his bare feet. The others had picked out shoes and coats, even Jack had reluctantly pocketed a pair of soft moccasins which had yet to make an appearance thanks to the smooth cement. But Bunny couldn't bring himself to do it. It felt unnatural enough to be wearing clothes; shoes would have been the straw that broke the camel's back. He'd picked as little clothing as he could get away with as it was. And he was regretting it a little.
Everyone had agreed that pants were a must and Bunnymund had allowed himself to be talked into a pair of soft jeans that clung to his legs almost like a second skin. Shirts he had been less certain of. He always wore his weapon straps so he was used to something across his chest, it was the sleeves he was having a problem with. He'd finally settled into a wife beater and been ready to have done but all the Guardians had assured him that without fur, a coat was a necessity… he didn't like it, but the lamb skin jacket was almost comfortable so he made do. But when it came to covering up his feet no amount of threats, pleas and assurances could change his mind. He'd tried sandals, the straps had felt constricting. Boots were too heavy to move. Flip-flops made his toes feel funny, their simply was no happy medium. So his feet remained bare. And yes it was uncomfortable.
But not as uncomfortable as shoes.
"Here we are." The Boogeyman's voice drew his contemplation up from his toes and to the house in front of them. It was a tall thin house, painted a pristine white and at least three stories. "This is where you'll be staying. You can have any room that takes your fancy, except the basement. That's already mine." Pitch glided through the gate and up the steps, the Guardians following hesitantly after. The instant Bunnymund set a foot in the yard the barking started, growing increasingly louder. The spook caught his eye and grinned. "Mind the dog."
"I'm gonna thrash you, you grey faced box of blowflies!" Bunny growled as he charged up the walk catching the shadow of a dog running up behind him. If he hadn't felt so out of depths, he'd have giving the dog a thumping, as it was he still wasn't quite used to his legs. Bunny didn't stop once he was over the threshold, he continued down the hall as fast as his new legs would allow, fighting the instinct to go on all fours, until he was safely behind a locked door. Only then did he take a moment to look at his surroundings.
The room he'd found himself in seemed made for him. It was small and cozy, with large windows that overlooked a backyard of green grass and tangles of flowers. The colors were earthy and inviting, the floor was plush, and the lights when he found them were dim and orange toned. The bed, which was shoved to a corner of the room, stood low to the ground piled with pillows and thick woven blankets. On the other side of the room was a table and easel set up with paints and drawers that proved to be full of paper and light weight shapes, much like his egglets back home, waiting to be painted.
Bunny hopped about stiffly, giving everything a sniff. Well, it was no warren but it'd do he supposed. Better than being trapped in the open with that ruddy dog hanging about. Inching back to the door he opened it a crack, peering out into the empty hallway. With a small sigh of relief Bunnymund exited the room. And came face to face with the ruddy dog!
"Gah!" leaping back Bunny pressed himself against the door, raising a foot in warning. The dog regarded him silently, black spotted tongue lolling out of it's mouth. The pair eyed each other. The dog was one of those huge, thick boned beasts that drooled everywhere, it's body covered in thick black fur. Steeling his nerves Bunny puffed out his chest, fixing the dog with his most poisonous stare. "What'd you want?" The dog panted at him, licking at it's muzzle. "Rack off ya' mug!" The dog's tail started wagging. Holding both his breath and the stern expression on his face he pushed past the dog, working to keep his steps even. The dog leaped up and followed him, falling into step beside him. Despite the dog's easy attitude Aster's heart leaped and he dashed down the hall, turning into the first door he came across. The dog followed.
Bunny found himself in the kitchen, the other Guardians already present, Jack lazing on the counter while North, Tooth and Sandy sat about the table. Jack laughed at the sight of the frazzled pooka, the happy dog bounding behind him.
"Hey cotton-tail, who's your friend?"
"Rack off frostbite!" Doing his best to ignore the chortling winter spirit Bunny turned to North. "How do I get this yobbo to stop followin' me?"
North's rich chuckle joined Jack's for a moment.
"How should I know? I am not dog!"
"Oh, he's a sweetie!" Tooth gushed, on the floor rubbing at the dog's ears while it's tail thumped appreciatively.
"Yeah." Jack agreed, leaping down to join the fairy. "What's the big deal Bunny? He likes you." Bunny turned to glare at the smiling youth.
"I'm a bunny mate, dogs ar'nt supposed ta' like me."
"Oh come on Aster, look at him!" Tooth twisted her face into a pout, raising the dog's face up next to hers. "Look at how cute he is!" she pressed a kiss between his ears. "I would love it if this little boy was following me around."
"Great! You can take him!" Bunny slouched around the table and into a seat. The dog followed him, setting it's head into his lap and letting drool seep into his pants. Bunny pushed it away irritably. "Rack off!" The dog gave a whine and lay beside him.
"Jerk." Jack quipped from his place back on the counter and Tooth shot him a disappointed look. He scowled back at her and might have made a scathing retort but at that moment Pitch walked into the room.
He froze when he saw them, giving the room a sweeping look, his eyes catching on the clock. Bunny turned his attention to the spook, jerking upright in anger.
"Oi! Tall, dark and ugly! Mind yer' dog would ya?!" He gestured at the creature beside him. Pitch arched a brow and slid further into the room.
"The dog is a gift from MiM. Something to connect to the children with. Since some of you won't have much in common." He gave a pointed look in Bunny's direction. "It won't listen to me anymore then it seems to listen to you." Pitch got into the fridge, removing a thin glass bottle full of amber liquid. "I suggest you five head to bed. School starts early tomorrow and you don't want to be tired." His smile was wicked as he left the room descending back to the depths of the basement.
"Well that's bloody brilliant!" Bunnymund exploded. "Now what am I supposed to do with it!"
"Bunny! Are too tense! Relax!" North urged, standing from the table. "Dog does not know you are bunny. Is point. You are human now! Embrace it! Play with dog, eat cookies, sleep past dawn! Will be good for you! Right Sandy?"
Sandy cast him a double thumbs up and a beaming smile.
"He's right cotton-tail, loosen up a bit!" Jack leaped from the counter heading from the room. "You might even enjoy yourself!"
"Yeah right." Bunny cast the dog another disproving glance, it doggy grinned back at him. Bunny waited as the other Guardians left the room, hoping the dog would follow. When it made no move to rise he grit his teeth and resigned himself. Then he bolted from the room as fast as his human legs could carry him. The dog gave a startled yelp and Bunny heard it take up the pursuit. He passed Jack in the hall as the boy entered a room a couple of feet over from his own. The winter spirit yelled something out to him but Bunny didn't hear just scrambled to the confines of his own room and slammed the door.
G-G-G
Bunnymund jerked upright as his door creaked open, a large black blur darting through and leaping onto his bed.
"Gah!" Bunny scrambled back as the dog ran a slobering tongue over his face.
"Sorry, he was out here whining. I couldn't get to sleep." Jack apologized from the door, closing it behind him.
"Ah! No! Hey! Frostbite!" Bunny pushed the dog away his voice hushed. There was no reply. Gritting his teeth the Guardian of Hope glared at the closed door. The dog settled onto the bed beside him. Bunnymund gave the animal a wary look, reluctant to give up the warm comfort of the bed and too tired to try and muscle the animal out. With a tired groan he fell back onto his pillows and accepted his fate as Mother Duck to the oversized puppy. "But don't think I'm happy about it!" he snapped at the dog. It lapped at his face in thanks before falling back to sleep against his pillow. "Codger." Bunny grumbled. 'Codger' wagged his tail.