"Yeesh," Jack wrapped his arms around himself as he walked back into the cafeteria. "Little cold in here, isn't it?"

North looked around. "No, not really?"

Jack, shaking slightly, slid into his seat. "Hey, where is everyone?" he asked, looking between North and Sandy. Sandy glanced to North and shrugged.

"Tooth is still in science lab, Julia is talking with Bunny in-"

Cutting him off was the door to the kitchen swinging open, revealing Julia and Bunny. Julia waved at Jack with a water bottle in her hand. "Hey, kid! I'm off to bring this to the Doctor!"

"Bye, Julia," Bunny waved, sitting back down at the table. "Well, if it isn't my cousin. What's up, pipsqueak?"

Jack's eyebrows furrowed as he tried to ignore the insult. "I'm a bit cold."

"Weird, this place never gets cold, it's hot year-round," Bunny commented, resting his chin on his fist. "Maybe you're comin' down with somethin', mate."

Maybe it's that weird ice thing, Jack thought, rubbing his hands up and down his arms, his shoulder still aching. But it's weird that my whole body feels cold. I can't believe the others aren't feeling it either. At least the cold was tolerable, just a small chill. Still, it was enough to send goosebumps down his arms.

"Oh no!" North exclaimed. "You don't think the boy is sick, do you?"

"I'm not sick," Jack chuckled, shaking his head. "Just hungry."

"Well, fetch your own snack, bucko, I'll...be right back," Bunny left the cafeteria. Jack watched him leave with surprise and suspicion.

"Well, he's acting funny."

Julia burst into the biology lab. "HELLO!"

Tooth choked, clutching her chest and jumping. "You have to stop scaring me like that!"

"Sorry," Julia winced, walking over to the desk. "I brought your water. What are you up to?"

Tooth sighed, taking a blanket off of the caged Nightmare rat. "Right now, just physical observations. I'd like to take a blood draw soon, but it's not like this high school has many supplies. Do you think the nurse's office could have some blood drawing needles?"

"I could go check," Julia offered.

"Thank you, Captain Hart. I appreciate it," Tooth said, digging through a drawer in the lab table. Julia just smiled, saluted, and left the lab once again. Tooth slowly shut the drawer, turning to face the door. She sighed and looked back at the rat.

It blinked its beady yellow eyes.

"Don't give me that look," Tooth scolded, wagging her finger. "I know she's suspicious, but I can still thank her."

The rat blinked.

Tooth sighed. "Listen to me, talking to a Nightmare. Maybe Jack's right, maybe I am paranoid," Tooth fell onto the stool, resting her cheek on her fist dejectedly. "Captain Julia could be just a regular person after all."

The rat's nose twitched.

"After all, I don't have any real evidence," Tooth continued. "Just my over imaginative mind."

"Uh...Tooth?"

Tooth gasped and shot up from the stool, spinning around. In the doorway stood a very confused Aster Bunnymund. "Were you just talking to...the rat?" Bunny asked.

Tooth chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck. "You know I can get a little talkative when there's a lot on my mind."

"Want to talk with a friend? You know, instead of a Nightmare," Bunny crossed his arms and leaned on the door frame.

"No thanks, I'll be alright," Tooth grinned. "Probably just fatigue. Is there a reason you came?"

"No just...looking around," Bunny slowly closed the door and turned to lean his back against it, crossing his arms, bowing his head, and sighing. "Talking to the Nightmare," he mumbled. "Just like what Julia said about the other night."

"Aster? What are you doing here, I thought you were in the kitchen?" Julia asked, walking down the half-lit hallway with a shot needle in her hand.

"I-I just thought I..." Bunny rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at Julia, then the door, then back at Julia. The girl smiled.

"I hope you weren't spying on the doctor. Oh, I really don't want to come between two friends."

"You were right, though, Julia," Bunny whispered. "Tooth was talking to the rat."

Julia blinked in surprise. Was she really? I just made that stuff up! "She did it again?"

"Yeah," Bunny nodded, his eyes falling on the shot needle. "Uh...why do you have that?"

"The doctor asked for it. She's going to take a blood draw of the Nightmare," Julia explained, looking down at the tool in her hand. "Do Nightmares even have blood? I mean, they kinda look like they're made out of sand."

"That's crazy. How could they be made out of sand?"

Julia laughed and shrugged. "I don't know, I'm not the science genius here, the doctor is." She walked past Bunny, patting his shoulder as she entered the lab, closing the door behind her. Bunny sighed and crossed his arms.

"How could they be made out of sand?"

"I'm not the science genius here, the doctor is."

"Doctor is."

"Doctor is-"

Bunny snapped out of it, sharply turning his back to the lab. Could Tooth be able to create the Nightmares out of sand? he wondered. What if she knows what they are? What if she has been making them?!

No, that's crazy, he objected. Why would she be trying to take a blood draw then?

Bunny felt himself getting dizzier as he stumbled down the hallway. He tripped, catching his balance by leaning against the wall. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Dang."

General Bunnymund.

Bunny jumped and looked down at his black glove. "Dammit, M.A.N.I.!"

Your heart rate has increased.

Bunny groaned and rolled his eyes. "You aren't starting on this again-"

Perhaps weaning was not the right way to go-

"M.A.N.I., I don't need your professional opinion right now!" Bunny snapped. "I have a lot on my mind. Shut off!" he ordered, storming down the hallway.

Jack shivered, wrapping his arms around himself, and North and Sandy looked at each other.

"Are you sure you are feeling alright, Kyle?" North asked, using his fake name. Jack nodded.

"Just a bit chilly. Really, it's nothing I can't handle."

"If it gets worse, you will let us know?" North laid his hand on the table, staring at Jack seriously. The boy nodded, shrinking slightly under the large man's gaze.

I haven't exactly gotten time to get close with these two, Jack thought, looking between Sandy and North. North always seemed busy, doing his leader duties, and Sandy was just intimidating, despite the small stature and kind smile.

"Mister...uh...General..."

"Just call me North," he chuckled, resting his chin on his fist. "No need for such formalities."

"Alright, North," Jack cleared his throat. "Do you really think we'll find my da- uh, Mister Overland?"

North smiled. "Of course. Tooth just found a clue! We just need to find where Prado Calle is, and we can find his lab. And maybe even him!"

"I hope so," Jack sighed, lying his head on his arms, resting on the table.

Jade In Night: Well that is a fantastic prediction ;)

Monochrome Blue: I'm glad you have a lot of guesses, and they're probably very close if not correct! (also yes, the loss of Jack's stick is very sad and don't worry, the Guardians provided him with some shoes)

Misaikoneho: Julia that bitch xD I'm glad you like both of the stories!

I'm hoping to catch up with all of my stories (INCLUDING THE STORYBOOK ON INKITT, POSSIBLY GOING TO PUT IT ON WATTPAD IF ANYONE REQUESTS) so I'm sorry about the slight hiatus n.n