And, to apologize for that previous late update? New chapter! Actually I just really wanted to write and this chapter was a pain in the butt. I don't really like it but, eh. It's got some plot points in it and some wild action plus some brooding Jack. Don't worry, we should be able to meet Bunny in the next chapter if my calculations are correct. Which generally means we're gonna see Bunny but idk what to do after that quite yet XD

Pairings: Jackrabbit, Onesided!BlackIce, Emma/Jamie, and other hinted pairings.

Warnings: Violence/Gore, Wolves, Pitch being a total creep.

It had been several days after Pitch had shown up and the wolves were coming down even around sunset. They'd lost two more pigs and one of the cattle during those nights and people were beginning to fear what was going on. Jack didn't like to stay around, so he took his sister to friend's houses and tried to avoid Pitch and his awkward stares. The man was beginning to get a little bit creepier by the day.

Jack had spent the better half of his day out walking towards the lake. Emma had went to spend time with the Bennetts and Jack trusted Jamie to watch over his sister while he was gone. He just needed time to cool his head and Emma wouldn't quite help with that.

He sighed, walking down the path he knew so well. Of any places, the lake was often his favorite to spend time at. The people of the village rarely ever ventured out so far and usually it was only the kids or a few select parents that Jack didn't have any qualms with. North had shown him the place when he was younger and from then on he felt connected to it somehow.

He knew it was dangerous to be out alone but it was daytime and the wolves didn't hunt during the day.

The snow had begun to pile higher and his feet stung with each step into the white fluff. Jack had never been one to wear shoes. He liked to feel the earth under his feet, almost like he were connected with it as well.

Jack didn't know what to think as he spotted the frozen edges of the lake. He didn't know if he should worry about their lack of supplies going into the winter or how the weather kept getting worse. He didn't know if he should worry about the man now imposing on their village or his sister and her seemingly close relationship with Jamie. Worst of all, he didn't know how long it would be before another person was taken by the wolves, and more families would be torn apart.

There seemed to be too many things to concern himself with and the list kept growing. Something in the back of his mind reminded him of Pitch's smile, the slyness of it. He had a feeling the man was lying but he couldn't yet tell about what.

Jack tried not to let the image of the man's smug look on his face return to his mind as he sat down at the water's edge and poked at the ice with his staff. It seemed to be rather solid, which was odd, considering the air didn't seem too cold. It was probably just Jack's proneness to being insensitive to cold. It never seemed to bother him as much.

He felt like memories were coming back to him each day, bit by bit. His mind was unraveling the memories he'd stuffed away under lock and key in the back of his mind. He'd never wanted to remember the incident with his parents but he kept having thoughts about it.

Jack was always prone to having nightmares about blood and abductions, almost always centering on his sister and the kids in town. Most of the times he'd hear screaming in his dreams, and almost always those screams were the real screams as someone had been abducted that night.

He tried not to let that haunt him too much. He already had enough trouble seeing his mother's face in his dreams.

Jack was alone for a few hours as the sun began to descend in the sky. It wasn't yet sunset but it was getting close and he knew he had a short amount of time before the wolves would be prowling about. The lake was pretty far from the town, so his screaming wouldn't be easily heard.

He stood, stretching his limbs after sitting for so long and got ready to move through the trees to the path again but something caught his eye.

He turned, eyes settling on the darkness at the other side of the lake. He squinted, almost thinking he saw something as he leaned forward slightly, propping himself up with his staff. "What in the…" He muttered, taking a step forward and unconsciously stepping on the lake's ice. He flinched the moment his foot made contact, watching as the ice cracked.

His eyes shot downward for a moment before he looked up, spotting the eyes watching him and hearing a low growl. At the same time he glanced behind him, hearing howling as the wolves awoke early. Jack jumped back from the lake, instantly running through the trees and ignoring the thing he'd seen on the other side of the lake.

The tall trunks of age old trees disappeared in his vision as fast as they came. The only thing on his mind was getting back and warning everyone the wolves were out and protecting his sister.

His bare feet were scraped from the snow as he finally reached the village's edge. He spotted North, Sandy, and Pitch walking around with Tooth leading them. They had to be showing Pitch around. North and Tooth instantly turned when they saw him, blinking in confusion at his disheveled appearance.

Jack dashed down the last of the street, meeting North halfway. "Wolves…" He breathed, heaving in a deep breath. "They're out." He said, looking behind him towards the woods. If the wolves were already up then they only had a short while before they attacked.

North instantly looked up as well, turning to the others. "Warn villagers! Wolf pack is coming!" He yelled before turning back to Jack. "Help get animals inside. I will fight if needed." North told him, confusing Jack greatly.

"Fight? We have enough time before they get here. Get inside with the others!" Jack yelled but the burly man didn't listen as he marched back to their home to retrieve his weapons. Jack shook his head, looking to the others as they began shuffling about. Pitch was standing in the middle of it all, a content look on his face until he met gazes with Jack.

The tall man looked towards him, stepping forward as if he hadn't just been smiling about the whole ordeal. "Is there anything I can do?" The man asked, his voice sending shivers down Jack's spine. "Just get inside." Jack ordered, pushing past the stranger as he went to go see the Bennetts.

Jack found it odd that the wolves were out so early. They shouldn't have been out until the moon came up but they were already on the prowl, moving about in the forest and creating panic within Burgess.

He was just about to turn down an alley when he noticed Pitch behind him, following him. "I can help you, Jack." The man said, obviously trying to get on Jack's nerves. "It's Jackson!" The angry teen yelled, turning around and giving Pitch a nasty look. "Just go back to the house and make sure all the windows and doors are locked." Jack added, pointing at Pitch as if it'd make the man turn.

The stranger didn't relent but they were both stopped when they exited the alley between the two buildings and spotted the several wolves standing at the edge of the town.

Jack halted immediately, eyes wide in fear as he stared at the thing. He hadn't seen any of the wolves close up in a long time, having had similar run ins with them several years back when he'd been in the forest. Jack had been lucky enough to climb a tree fast enough that the wolf didn't want him anymore but this wasn't the case.

Previously, the wolves had been greyer than anything. They were a lighter color, but now they had almost black fur as they stood menacingly at the edges of the town, ready to attack. They were bigger, more feral. Something about their new hair color reminded Jack of Pitch but he couldn't build on that thought as the eyes of the beast seemingly caught with his.

Icy blue met with menacing black and for the moment, time stopped.

Jack didn't dare pull his gaze from the wolf but he was forced to when he heard a scream. "Jack!" His sister shouted from across the street, instantly drawing the wolf's attention. "Emma!" Jack shouted back, his face going pale as he broke for a run across the street.

She was standing there, tears welling up in her beautiful green eyes.

His heart was beating like thunder in his chest and he held his breath in his throat as he waited for the wolf to make a move. It seemed to look back to him before moving towards her, walking first and then picking up its pace as it began to run forwards.

Jack was across the street in seconds, his feet carrying him across the dirt and stone road as he dashed towards her. It was a race and somehow, Jack had reached her first. He dove forwards, crouching down and holding her against his chest as they both waited for the teeth and claws to come.

When it didn't, they knew something had happened. Both turned, Jack standing up and holding his sister in his arms tightly. In front of them was North, ancient swords drawn and being held towards the wolf. He had the thing cornered as he had jumped on it, wrestling it to the ground and having enough time to stab it in the side.

"Run!" North's booming voice shouted and Jack finally remembered what was happening. He moved as quickly as he could, cradling his sister towards himself as he made for the alleyway to get back to North's home. Jack didn't have enough time to make sense of Pitch's angered face as he pushed past the man and made it to the other street.

Jack and Emma didn't make it far before Tooth and Sandy pulled them into Tooth's home.

"Jack! Oh please tell me you're alright!" Tooth's concerned voice echoed through the room as she pulled both children into her arms and hugged them tightly. "It's a miracle you're still alive." She said, tears evident in her tone as she practically sobbed over them.

Jack nodded his head. "We're fine, don't worry. North's still out there." Jack responded, obviously concerned for his surrogate father. He wanted to make sure the man was okay, help him fight. He didn't have much time to do so when the door opened again to North, covered in wolf blood, and Pitch.

Tooth instantly went to North, concern practically dripping off her features. "What is wrong with you? You could have been killed!" She yelled, looking him over for injuries. There was nothing but a few minor scratches that could be easily dealt with.

North chuckled, shaking his head. "Would not be me but Jack and Emma that die." He responded, looking towards his children as Emma pushed past everyone to hug North. Tears were now streaming down her face endlessly as she practically sobbed into the man's clothing, completely disregarding the blood covering him.

Jack smiled, nodding his head. "Thanks." He said, catching a look from Tooth as the woman realized that the kids had nearly been killed. "What?" She spoke frantically, the volume of her voice rising as she tried to process that thought.

North only laughed, along with Jack as he picked up Emma and hugged her closely. Sandy took Tooth's hand, holding it to get her to calm down but the woman still fumed.

Yet, with all the happiness for Jack and Emma being alive, the problem still stood.

"Why are the wolves here so early?" Jack asked, looking between the others. North shook his head as they all moved to sit down at Tooth's table. "They shouldn't be out for another few hours." Tooth added, still hovering around Emma and Jack to check if they were okay. She also moved to see if Pitch had done anything to his previous injuries, mysteriously they were healing much quicker than anyone would have predicted.

North set his swords down on the table after having wiped the blood off. Emma reached to poke at one but Jack and Tooth both beat her to it, Jack grabbing his sister's hand and Tooth placing the swords down elsewhere.

They all thought on the matter, Sandy occasionally making a few gestures with his hands. Jack tried not to notice the scars on the side of his throat. Everyone knew Sandy had been attacked by a lone wolf a few years back. The thing had managed to tear his vocal chords, but the man didn't let it get to him. Instead he handled it fine, covered up the scars, and made motions with his hands with the occasional mouthing of words.

"Have they always been coming to the village?" Pitch asked, finally calling attention to himself. He'd been otherwise silent, trying not to intrude or at least observing.

North shook his head and Tooth spoke. "Not always. They would attack travelers in the woods and mainly stick to the trees but a few years after Emma was born they began attacking the village more, and soon every night." She said in a solemn tone. They had lost so many to the wolves over the past half a decade.

Jack looked up, realizing something when he heard Pitch speak. "They didn't come this early until you showed up." He spoke in an almost accusatory tone. Pitch blinked, leaning back at the thought while the rest of the room shot glares at Jack.

"Jackson, apologize." Tooth reprimanded but Jack only looked the other way. "It's true!" He defended.

Pitch seemed to be smiling at that point. "No, he is right. It's an odd coincidence. I wouldn't blame him for pointing it out." He said, obviously trying to help Jack in some sort of twisted way. Jack didn't trust him and he thought everything he did was in some greater scheme to kill everyone and their cousin for no good reason at all.

"Still, Pitch, not good for you to be blamed." North stated and Jack groaned, getting up and leaving the table. He was done with the conversation. He wanted to go home, throw himself down on his bed and lay there until the guy left.

Pitch's eyes followed him as he rose, watching him disappear off towards some unknown destination in the house. Jack didn't know where he was going but he ended up in Tooth's store room, fiddling around with some of the fire wood. There wasn't much there, nor was there much food.

He tried not to think of how little Tooth had in preparation for the winter but knew North and his sister would gladly make room for her in their home as they had in many previous winters.

His mind wandered back to the sight of whatever was across the lake from him earlier. It didn't seem like a wolf and he'd only just barely gotten glimpses of it, mostly just its eyes, which he felt as though he'd seen before. Those eyes were a piercing green, something he recognized as all too different from any animal. They were almost human.

His thoughts were interrupted as North came to sit down with him. The blood on the man's clothes had dried and he looked more concerned about Jack than anything. Jack was his family, his sister's son, and he felt as though he had to help him all he could.

Both Jack and North shared a quality that man of the other adults had felt as well. They'd seen the outside world, the life it was like to live outside of fear and pain. For Emma to have been growing up with no knowledge of a place any safer than Burgess, they both felt guilt as though they could have done something.

"Jack." North said as he sat down beside his 'son'. The man had never officially called Jack that, seeing as he felt he didn't have a right when Jack's own father was far more of a father in his time. Jack often tried to tell him that he was a great father and an even better uncle, but that was all he was. North was an uncle that had placed himself as the caretaker of two homeless children.

North never invaded on Jack's privacy or ordered him around. He let the boy live on his own and do what he needed. Jack helped the town's people and protected the children. He tried to help North with his hunting but it wasn't in his spirit. The best he could do was watch out for wolves, keep track of the children, and read constantly.

Jack felt like he had no place. Maybe he still had to find one.

The boy looked up to his uncle, his mind revolving around that fact. Jack was well aware that the most he ever did was protect the children. "Am I going to be like this forever? There's nothing I can do for everyone and they don't like me anyway." He asked, insecurities showing.

North shook his head, gaze softening. "No, no, Jack is big help already. Maybe become teacher? You love reading." He suggested, patting his surrogate son on the shoulders.

Jack only shook his head. "It doesn't feel right." He mumbled, clutching his staff tightly with both hands as he stared at the ground. "I feel like I don't belong." He admitted, glancing through the doorway towards his sister who was laughing and playing with Sandy's hair.

It seemed the wolves had retreated, allowing people to speak a bit louder and enjoy themselves.

North frowned at Jack's words, looking towards Emma as well. "You will find way. Whatever way it is." The man smiled, patting Jack on the head and standing up. "Come, Tooth is making food." He said, pulling his nephew through the doorway.

Jack smiled and nodded. Maybe he would find his way.

-o-

The night passed by rather quickly after they ate. For a while Sandy and North made jokes without really saying much to each other. Jack read to Emma for a little while until the girl fell asleep in his arms and he went to tuck her away in Tooth's bed.

Within a few hours North and Sandy were passed out and Tooth had gone back to her room to share her bed with Emma. The only one still awake aside from Jack was Pitch. The man was sitting at the dinner table, watching everyone with dark eyes. Jack knew this was the best time to question the man since everyone else was knocked out.

Jack bravely stood up from his cot on the floor, getting up to go sit down at the dinner table across from Pitch. He didn't know what he was aiming to do, but he didn't like the look that Pitch was giving everyone's sleeping forms.

"Where did you really come from?" Jack asked, looking at the man as he turned to look at Jack with another one of his insufferable smirks.

Pitch only leaned forward. "Does it matter?" He asked, leaning his elbows on the table and watching Jack closely. "You seem to realize that I'm not who I say I am." Pitch stated, making Jack flinch slightly. A creepy grin spread across Pitch's face at Jack's fear.

"Why did the beast attack you?" Jack asked, gaze narrowing. Pitch almost laughed at that. "It was angry, naturally. The thing is a brutal monster. It killed your mother and father didn't it? Didn't it almost kill you?" Pitch commented, his voice sending shivers down Jack's spine.

Jack looked away instantly. His mother and father's faces flashed across the forefront of his mind. "I don't believe in monsters." He said, contradicting his earlier statement.

Pitch smirked. "Yet you still bother to ask why it attacked me? You're a funny boy Jack-, and don't think of me calling you anything different. Your name may be Jackson but everyone here calls you Jack, don't they?" Pitch responded, his facial expression going slightly sour when Jack looked as though he might correct him.

Jack refused to meet Pitch's gaze. "If there is a monster, what is it?"

"A cursed being." Pitch responded, standing up from the table. He went to move past Jack, his hand ruffling Jack's hair as he went. "You're a smart boy, Jack. You'll understand eventually. Maybe it has to do with the so called path you'll follow." The man added, retreating from their conversation.

Jack didn't understand what that meant for the life of him and spent several minutes just trying to fix his hair and rid himself from the rough feeling that Pitch's hands seemed to give him.

Yeeee, this chapter was really awk to write. For me its kinda filler cause other stuff is going to be so much fun. ;3 Tell me if you like it because I dont xD But yes, BUNNY in the next chapter and revisiting the lake because fun times always happen at the lake xD

ALSO WHO SAW THE SORT OF PARALLELS WITH NORTH AND JACK'S CONVO TO THE WHOLE "what is your center" bit in the movie? I didn't because there really weren't any but I like to think that sometimes. Also I hate North's accent because I can't. I can't. I can try but I can't.