Jokul stood before Mother Nature. As stiff as a board. He stood before her in her throne room. She sat in her custom throne carved from an old oak tree, entwined with branches of spring, summer and fall, the base coated in frost keeping it connected to the floor. It complimented her dress for the day, a golden colored dress that was styled similarly to an old English noble. Her face was not as beautiful as it was marred to anger and sadness.
"This had better not be a joke," she said with barely contained rage. Jokul's eyes never strayed.
"Tis not Mother. Were it a joke, I would not be calling for humanity's protection and only a spirit's blood."
"And normally you would not call for blood at all, young one."
"Tis not my way, but the death was not necessary. And all is hopeless if the being of hope wishes to bring in what he has sewn, with the planet turned to dead ash."
Mother Nature didn't say anything for a moment. Her body was tense with war lust. Her mind most likely a fearsome storm. Her eyes betrayed her there with their stormy overcast.
"Wait here," she said in a creepily calm voice. Jokul bowed his head acknowledging her request. He stood with his staff in hand shifting his gaze around the room. He actually moved his head when he heard a crash.
The elf had thawed. Well, it was North's problem. It was his elf. His responsibility. Mother Nature didn't care for the stocky Russian anyway. Something before his time he presumed. She tolerated Bunny before and actually got along with Sandman but the Tooth Fairy and North seemed rather unlinked by Mother Nature. Not that it bothered him any. Though it might be a tad annoying if they still wanted him as a "Guardian". Well maybe not now that he had effectively abandoned them after the tooth hunt. Eh, what did he care? He was the Shepard of Cold. He already had a job.
The elf seemed to be enjoying the ivy as a swing and a snack. He raised a brow curiously as he felt the urge to swing from the ivy covered windows. Why did mother have such interesting drapes? Curtains? Window decorations? Plants. He knew that much.
He knew that Flora grew the ivy. He knew that too... Why was he focusing so much on the ivy anyway? Oh yeah, upside down hanging elf. He debated grabbing the little terror when the doors to the hall opened with Mother Nature dressed in her old battle armor. Gold and black trimmed armor adjourned her body. A sword with a golden hilt attached to her hip.
Flanking to her right was a man who appeared to be in his late twenties with messy blond hair and golden armor of a knight with a mace in hand. His face was chiseled and charming. He had slight stubble, on his neck, chin and upper lip. His eyes were burning infernos of smoldering orange suns. Or so Jokul had heard from enamored female spirits. The only real fault was his teeth. Not yellow but not really white. Lord Summer. Calor by his friends and family.
On Mother Nature's left were two girls, one dressed in a sun dress of light green and lots of jangling bracelets. Her feet were wrapped in ivy sandals. Her face was dusted in freckles, her hair was an earthy brown. Long and braided with many flowers weaver throughout. Her eyes a warm hazel, often mistaken for green. In her hand was a thorny whip. The Lady of Spring. Flora by family.
Behind her a little bit was a red head with choppy red hair under a fur cap. Her clothes were all fur from her cloak to her boots. Fox fur, rabbit fur, and raccoon kept her warm. Her fur made her look a little rounder than the other spirits. Her eyes a bit narrower than the others and a stormy grey to contrast the vibrant furs. She carried a small scythe on her person for collecting purposes. The lady of Autumn. Dathanna. Not usually spoken of as she was a recluse of an artist.
"The courts?" Jokul questioned.
"The seasonal courts are all involved for the safety of Earth Jack."
"Jokul Mother."
"Jokul," she whispered quietly, "We shall soon depar-"
"Jack!" Flora shrieked, "What is that in my ivy?!"
Jokul glanced over at the ivy to acknowledge the little menace. Rather impressive knot he got himself into. Though how he had little idea. Knots never were an interest of his anyways.
"One of North's little minion elves. Rather destructive little creatures they are," Jokul tapered off.
"What is it doing in my ivy?!" She hissed.
"Calm thy tits woman. The little thing is harmless."
"You keep my tits out of this Frost!" She screeched crossing her arms protectively over her modest sized girls, a slight blush apparent on her cheeks.
"Would you two stop fighting?" Dathanna grumbled.
"Yes, yes you two are both pretty," Calor stated rubbing his eyes, "But can't we deal with that later? I believe we have a war coming?"
"Calor is right. Flora, you may deal with the elven terror later. For now, we have bigger fish to fry." Mother Nature commanded total attention from her children. Each stood waiting, no longer bickering as siblings were prone to do.
"As Jokul has alerted me, E. Aster Bunnymund has killed Pitch Black. He means to start a war to destroy other spirits that conflict with his ideals or the essence of hope."
"Aster would never!" Flora defended, "He's brash but a good ma-er... Rabbit. He wouldn't do that!"
"I hath seen it with mine own eyes. They do not decieve."
"Children. Enough bickering. We shall know soon enough if Ja-Jokul's words are true. Where is the fight young Shepard?"
"One front in New York at least. The humans are aware of this front as many prepare for battle. As for where exactly Bunnymund shall strike, I know not. For he can plan below any settlement in which he believes he may be victorious."
So, Mother Natures "kids". Well, the battle should be next chapter. Please review.