Sorry for not updating in a few days. I had every intention to do so last night but when I got back from work I was so exhausted I just put my son to bed and crashed. Slept 10 hours, I haven't done that in years but I'm feeling better today, still a little tired. Hopefully my charger will be in the mail this afternoon.
Child's Play 11 - The Warren.
Jack squealed with laughter as he held onto Bunny's and instinctively pressed his little body against the Pooka's back. The Pooka raced through the warren, jumping over flowers and leaping over little eggs as he gave Jack the ultimate tour. Bunny laughed as well. He would stop and show Jack the painting pools and magical flowers that sprayed the eggs different colours.. It was just like the time he took little Sophie Bennett on the same tour many, many decades earlier. Jack had just as many questions and was just as fascinated. He chased after eggs, catching one and admiring it with child like glee. Bunny smiled adoringly at the boy. This Jack had no snarky remarks and played no pranks. He was utterly innocent and untouched with no burden on his little shoulders only smiles and joy. He liked this version of Jack enough through he missed his Jack with all his heart.
"Whoa, Jack, not so close to the river," he warned as the little ankle bitter leaned over the edge of the river bank to peer at a egg floating by covering in sprinkles and bright blue paint.
"Hehe..pretty!" Jack told him as he reached over to grasp it.
Bunny knew what was about to happen before he did and raced to advert it as quickly as possible but just as he reached out for the boy Jack toppled into the river with a surprised cry. What happened next should have been expected but it still took Bunny by surprise. A burst of winter magic erupted from the river as paint flew into the air and froze and Jack all but flew out of the water. Instinct took hold of Bunny and he leapt up, catching Jack in mid air. The child's power when out of control and lashed out every which way. Bunny clung to him even as the cold seeped past his fur and into his skin.
"Shh...it's alright, Jackie, it's alright," he soothed but it was like holding an ice sculpture. The child was cold as ice and his body temperature dropped by the second as he shivered in fright. It took a few minutes for the shivers to stop by which time Bunny felt as if he too was made of ice. Everywhere their bodies touched was covered in ice and Bunny's fur cracked when he tried to move the child. "You need to relax, little one. It's okay, I'm here I'm not going to...let you go?"
Bunny's blinked as he looked around his once green and lush Warren. Now it was covered in snow and ice as if the biggest blizzard in history had hit it. It only a matter of minutes there was over too feet of snow everywhere it looked save for a small circle of spring magic immediately around them where Bunny had used his magic to try and keep warm.
"Crikey..." he whispered to himself as he held Jack just a little tighter.
"I'm sorry," Jack whispered, cuddling into his shoulder. "I'll fix."
Nuzzling his head against the child's Bunny shook his head. "Nah, mate, this ain't your fault. I should have been taking better care of you. It'll melt." He sent a wave of spring magic throughout the Warren and while it would taken longer for the snow to melt than it did to fall Bunny was confident that it no real damage had occurred. But Jack still sobbed in his arms, scared that Bunny was mad at him. There was still some part of His Jack left in the child, otherwise the boy would not have been so concerned about his feelings or being in trouble. A child this small shouldn't even be concerned about such things.
Using his magic, Bunny sped up the melting a little to create a trail back to his burrow. "How 'bout we get a little lunch, he, mate? Maybe some carrot soup and salad."
Jack little face scrunched up at the thought, his fear subsiding as the ice on Bunny's fur melted then became thoughtful. "Bunny?" he asked in a timid voice.
"Yeah, Jackie?"
"Do you love me?"
Bunny paused and looked down at those bright blue eyes still holding a shimmer of tears. "Of course. More than you can imagine."
The boy gave a small nod, as if satisfied by the answer then he asked a father grown up question. "Why no more kits?"
At that Bunny practically froze on the spot and nearly dropped the winter sprite. He held the child closer and took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. There was more of his Jack left in this little version than any of them thought. "Oh you little..." he muttered before staring down at the child. "That's a rather grown up question and if you want the answer you have to be a grown up...or at least yay tall." He indicated by raising one paw to just above shoulder length.
Jack seemed rather confused and stared at that paw for a few long seconds. Then he smiled sweetly up at the Pooka. "You're silly," he declared before wiggling out of Bunny's arms and jumping into the snow. "Bunny's silly! He should knit some kits!" he laughed in a sing-song voice as he raced ahead of the Pooka. "And kit some knits real early one morning!"
Covering his face with a paw, Bunny laughed. Maybe little Jack didn't have big Jack's memories. Perhaps he had just overheard the grownups talking. Maybe. He wasn't so sure anymore. But if this was some elaborate trick his little winter elf was in for some trouble once he was back to normal. Nonetheless the Warren experienced it's first snowball fight in history that morning as Bunny chased after Jack until he caught him near his burrow where the snowball fight turned into a tickle fight. Jack's laughter and squeals filling the air as his little feet kicked the air and hands slapped at large paws. Bunny laughed too. He had to admit he missed play wrestling with their kits when they were young. Yeah, maybe a few more kits wouldn't hurt. Maybe, when Jack was himself again and if they could work through their issues and get back together they could try again, properly this time. Maybe... There was a lot of maybes but there was also an awful lot of hope.
. . .
Late that night Jack managed to find his way out of the Warren as Bunny slept. He followed a tunnel until he reached the surface. It didn't matter where it led all that mattered was seeing the Moon. When he did he found a tree to lay beneath as he gazed up at the silvery orb in wonder. He didn't know why he had to come all this way only that a Moonbeam told him to. He smiled lazily at the bright or, feeling warm and fuzzy inside, a strange feeling for a winter spirit and slowly slipped back into sleep. Even though he was alone he knew that under the Moon he was safe.
