"Are you okay?"

"I already told you I'm fine."

"I know, but it looks painful." Jack touched my ankle, which was bruised and slightly swollen. It did hurt, but not enough for me to cause Jack endless worry. If I did that, he'd never let me out of his sights so long as I lived. "Are you sure it's not twisted or something?"

I shook my head. After twisting my ankle (on more than one occasion), I'd learned how it felt. "I'm sure. The grip of the sand was really tight, that's all."

Jack still seemed unsure as he pulled my blanket over the swollen area. This had been his idea, which came about as soon as my ankle had started to swell. He touched the edge of his staff to the blanket and waited a thick layer of frost to develop. Neither of us felt like going to get an ice pack, so this was our best option.

"Ah." I let out a sound of relief and delight at the soothing feeling the ice had brought. "That feels marvelous."

I heard a snicker and turned to look at Jack. He shrugged innocently and looked around the room. His staff was relaxed, not in attacking position: whatever was in my room was friendly to some extent.

"What's with the big words, Sheila? This is Frostbite you're talking to," an Australian voice said from beneath my bed. When I sat up a little straighter, I saw a small thing of grey-blue fur poking out.

Jack smiled, pointing his staff at the fluff. I nodded, eager to see what would happen. I was still angry at Jack, but he always played the most hilarious pranks. It was how we met, without getting into much detail. A spark of blue ice travelled through the air, freezing the whatever under my bed. There was a small yelp and what sounded like a head banging.

"You're in for it now, Frostbite!" the voice exclaimed as I heard claws scratch at me floor. "Where're you at, Flyboy?"

Jack was floating, clinging to my ceiling. Leisurely, he drifted down to my bed and rested beside me. When he spoke, his voice was loud and clear. It sounded like a proclamation. "Alvarie, meet the Easter Kangaroo!"

"The Easter what?" I said, stifling a laugh. "Is that you meant when you talked about ruining the "Kangaroo's" holiday? You ruined Easter?"

We both laughed at my forged horror. "Blizzard of '68, one of my best blizzards yet."

A head appeared from under my bed. "I'm still waiting for the right moment to get my revenge. And what about the Titanic? You feel guilty for that one, Mate?"

"You sunk the Titanic?" I shouted, staring at Jack in a new light. "How many people did you kill?"

"I didn't mean to. I was so far away from land; I didn't think anybody would go there." Jack's eyes filled with tears at his extreme guilt. "I counted all the people who died, unable to stop. It's why I can't let anything happen to you or anybody else. I can't add to that list of people I killed. My fault."

I grabbed his wrist firmly, careful not to move my ankle. "It's not your fault. Accidents happen. Right… I'm sorry, what should I call you?"

"Bunny works just fine." The large face peered at me from the floor, green eyes popping against his subtle fur. "North sent me to check on 'er."

"Sitting right here," I said to no one in particular. If they were going to start talking about me, I didn't want to be in the room. "And I can defend myself, FYI."

Bunny laughed at my words, as though I said a hilarious joke rather than a statement. "She's almost as bad as you are, Frost."

Jack smiled at me, that same old hopeful look back in his eyes.

"Can it, Cottontail," I said coolly. Life had proven itself interesting for me, and interesting demanded several different tones that not everyone needs. "Hey, wanna make a bet?"

The room was so quiet one could hear a pin drop, which we did. I decided to test it out.

Jack leaned in, looking excited rather than lovey-dovey. "What kind of bet? Don't do speed; that's one thing I'll give him." He glared at the large rabbit on my floor. Bunny had finally come out from under my bed when I called him Cottontail.

"We'll see who's more graceful. Jack, you'll set up flower pots, empty ones only, around my backyard. Then Bunny and I will see who can go through the course without breaking any." I leaned down so my face was about six inches from Bunny's. "What do you think?"

"I'm in."


A competition between Alvarie and Bunny? I decided that Bunny needed to be tested on more than just speed, so I added gracefulness. Thanks to all my wonderful readers and reviewers (LuffyxRuby). Who do you think will win this, the ancient Pooka or the sixteen year old girl? Type in the review box who you think will win!