Set after the movie.
"Jackson, look at all the bunnies. Watch them, you see?" cooed a relaxing tone that caressed his cheek like smooth satin. He looked out across the woods as the snowy white creatures bounded over the hills of green. It was out of season to be seeing such creatures at the time, yet this was unbeknownst to the cheery youth. All he could imagine was little cottontails that didn't let the contrast of scenery bother them. A giggle escaped his lips as his pudgy arms extended to grasp their furs which were far beyond his reach.
"No, sweetie, you can't touch the bunnies." came the same passive tone though it hung a slight edge clipped in the t's. Soon the hands lowered and the laughter faded from his throat. The stubborn attitude flared within him, scrambling out of the vague forms grasp. It was if her physique was faded and stained with water till her features were no longer recognizable.
"Why not? I jus' wanna pet 'em." he whined, pouting while still maintaining an indignant expression. Hands reached out to comfort the heated body but Jack shifted out of reach before taking off down the path. A shout resounded behind him yet he hardly took notice, his sole focus now was the task ahead.
Four dainty twitching noses peeked up from their lunch to watch the boy clamber ungracefully over the loose sticks toward their position. Chase ensued as they fled into the thicket of the forest, a hearty bubbly physique gaining ground. The bunnies dispersed, hoping to deter the adolescent, however, he simply took the means of pursuing whomever his eyes locked upon. Another swish of fabrics could be heard churning through the trees, disturbing branches to high for the little one to smack against.
"Jackson! Where are you sweetie, it's dangerous. Come back, please. Honey?" the woman called out, while the boy continue his unfruitful game about the darkening patch of foliage. Winter had only just begun to leave their area, as the small clumps of slush still filled the pockets of dirt while leaves were still unable to bring forth their distinctive shades. The fur boots straped against his feet slid over the wet mush, catching his balance every so often. Yet his bull-headed ambitions kept him moving over hollowed patches and dry grounds. Further and further, both animal and human ran, watching the distance between them alter with every bump and bustle. At his tender age, the male didn't notice the change of scenery or how distant his adventure had taken him from home. Nor did he take in the dangers hidden underfoot till it became to late.
Crack. It crunched beneath his feet, nearly inaudible over his high-pitched glee. Crack. The bunny rabbit hopped with little weight as his speed earned it a few feet ahead of its terrorizer. It feared little but the thought of being captured that it hustled toward its awaiting family. Crack.
"Jack!" shouted the woman, panicked and stern over the ridge. Thankfully, the hunt had been interrupted as the white-eared rabbit took his opportunity to escape while the youth threw a glance over his shoulder. Breath puffed from his rising chest as her eyes widened in a peculiar size. The boy knew he was going to be in trouble as he bit into the soft flesh of his inner lip.
"I'm so-" Crack. This time both spotted where the pursuit had ended, breathing stopping dead in its tracks. "Momma?" he paused, switching his eyes between the figure in front of him and danger beneath his boots.
"It's alright, sweetie. Don't move, momma'll make it all better, you'll see. Just hold on baby." she stammered, cautiously testing each move as her feet met with the twinge of stinging cold water. The season were in a state between the big four, subtle changes transforming one to the next, including the conversion of ice to water. And it just so happened this very beautiful modification just so happened to be nestled underneath the pads of Jack's footwear.
"I'm scared, momma. I'm sc-" Crack. His foot slid toward the figure, watching the thin breaks crunch around him. He froze the movement, hitching the sentence along with his air supply.
"I know, I know. Just stay there. Don't move. honey. Look at mommie instead, I'm gonna come get ya, okay?" Her words were meant to sound endearing yet it gave way to fear that crept along her back like a serpent. Each step brought her closer as the water rose to her ankles, no doubt estimating the depth her child had settled over. "Just-" Crack. "-don't mo-" Crack. "-ve." Tears welled in the boy's eyes, while she felt the same christening her own face. Chills leapt along her skin, warning the woman of staying in the frigid water, still she pushed against the tide as it came up to her waist. Close yet still so far from her target.
"Momma?" came again, shivering with more alarm than temperature. Their eyes met for a moment, unable to tear themselves away from the possible outcome reflecting in their retinas. A yelp erupted from the center, as the plum of water jumped over the hole. Her hands had long since turned numb as she screamed into the palms, feeding them warmth while she sobbed over the fingertips, letting the aching noise call through the shuttering woodlands.
Darkness swallowed the boy's vision as his futile struggled only earned him a quicker descent to the murky bottom. Bubbles leaked from his gaped mouth while his breath ripped from his lungs. Terror led him to breathe in, swallowing nothing but pressuring water that coated his throat and insides. The more he consumed, the cloudier his head seemed till his mind felt fuzzy with numbing thoughts. His eyes, that saw nothing but shifting images of black closed to that blank film. The only movement came from his head as it swayed through the waves that dragged him impossibly deeper. Through his stupor, he made out an echoing noise before the shadows pulled him to unconsciousness.
The mini fairy had taken refugee in the young child's hoodie, cuddled up against his neck while the baggy fabric became a make-shift blanket. Although the mischievous teen still held tight hold of her precious heart, the comfier and heated body did have its benefits. Plus, this one still was her friend and regarded him as such that she couldn't bare to desert him in this crucial time of need. Her debt was still unfulfilled and her pride refused to let the simple rescue hang above her head for eternity. She nudged the flesh with her feathers, carefully avoiding contact with her sharp beak. The last thing she needed was to wake up the child, much less by injuring him in the process. The flight across the world had left her in a slightly weakened condition and the comforting position did little to help. A yawn sawed from her throat as she settled deeper into the blue hood. A laugh, however, bolted her awake. She had heard this noise before, how could she forget the sole cause of her capture. Pitch.
It was then she lightly turned her face up upon her pillow, noting the creased forehead and bead of sweat that slid along his jaw. Wait, no, not sweat. Her amethyst eyes turned to saucers, stiffening the once relaxed body and paralyzing her body in a cold breath of air. Only on one other occasion had she seen the snow spirit in such a condition as this and it had been a time of great depression. It always turned a heavy stone within her breast that she couldn't help but follow his example, fresh tears smacking against the thick veins coursing through Jack's neck.
The Guardians murmured in the conference room, Tooth explaining every detail that her brave messager had delivered. Desicions had to be made, theories overlooked, scrutinized before being rewritten. Each stone-faced upon the challenge to come while they peered at the globe. Lights glittered back at them like stars, reminding each of their reason for such strife. No one wanted to budge from their positions, afraid of the consequences following each moment. They were all so vulnerable, each so weak that they couldn't believe how they'd survived for so long without incident. Plans strewed over the table, which had been brought over by Phil, or so the teen had nicknamed the yeti. Marks resided on all of them, highlighting key aspects or mistakes that had to be altered for a more convenient method. North pulled a hand through his greasy hair, tonight was definently going to be a long one.
Sandy conjured an image of the snowflake, then two bodies, one slightly shorter than the other. Bunnymund shook his head in frustration, ears drawn back tight against his head.
"I jus' don't see how the kid got in this predicament. How the nelly did he turn to an ankle-biter?" wondered the Australian, stomping the large foot in confusion. Their options had dwindled down to the three possible ideas. First, they could search out their enemy before he was able to get the jump on them. Second, they could investigate the cause behind their Jack problem or third, they could wait and see how each issue progressed before jumping to conclusions. A unanimous vote had yet to be reached as they discussed the issues following each notion. Never had an event such as this have occurred, and now that it did, the group pondered just how invincible they had made themselves out to be. Without a single member that had only joined their ranks for a short period, their strategies no longer resembled the finesse it once reached nor did they see the strength and willpower they had dawned in the previous battle.
Could they really solve the mystery and return to their time of peace? It was on everyone's mind yet none had the courage to put up the subject, no one had an answer for it anyhow. Tooth bent over the lengthy papers, shuffling through the pile in her arms. Considering the vast collection gathered in North's library, they expected a simple solution to be resolved on the cause, yet so far, they had found nothing to even signify the rapid change. Her eyes grazed over several spells, charms, and explanations of complex rituals that warped her brain to even consider performing. She sighed, tossing them into a cluttered pile that was assigned for what didn't hold the answers they sought. Then just as her arm reached out to grasp the next set, a furry appendage grabbed them first. Bunny shook his head in dismay, toying with his shoulder strap before adding the useless information to the corner.
North sauntered over to the book cases, retrieving anything that seemed even the slightest bit useful. They stacked well above his height as they were arranged about the pair of armchairs. Sandy had taken the one on the left, flipping across thousands of pages trapped in their bindings. He had a concentrated look upon his face, setting the volume on the opposite side he'd obtained it from. North returned to his own, browsing over ancient texts of nearly every language. Pig latin. Spanish. French. However, their knowledge held no appeal and they were set aside with the rest before being replaced with another. The four continued this work for a straight hour, discouraging the helpers whom offered them cookies or hot chocolate to tide them over.
Around the time Aster had felt his left foot fall asleep, his long ears perked and turned. The pages he held crinkled against his firm touch, as the noise caused the others to gaze up from their own research. His nose fidgeted, while his emerald eyes flickered about the room.
"What's wrong, friend?" came the Russian, rising from the comforting plush backing of the chair. The Sandman copied the move, scooting closer to the fuzzy Guardian. Even Tooth, as manic as her intention were, lingered over to the circle forming.
"Something's not right." he murmured, just low enough for the three to catch. As soon as the words began to sink in, a shout bounded from the walls. Eyes gathered upon the wooden stick forgotten in its place, before their senses kicked into overdrive.
"Jack!" they shouted in unison, racing from the space in a full on sprint.
Holy cow! Look how long this one is, longest chapter so far! Still I skipped last week because I was helping out BIG TIME with little middleschoolers in swimming. Yeah, I have talent, it just doesn't happen to be in writing, sorry. Still I passed out last week just when I set up a blank document to write this so...yeah, sorry about that. So consider the lengthy passage my apology for the late addition. Part 5 is done! Tell me if you like this arc since I do but feel like I'm making this to big a deal when it is supposed to be about one shots instead. Should I move it to its own place or...? Let me know, I need you guys' opinions! *Cough* Anyhow, like always...
Feel free to rate and review at your own pace.
