Disclaimer is at the bottom for this one.
All the rabbit can hear is the pitter-patter-drop of the rain. It works its way down trees, and over logs, and into streams, and all of the cricks and crevices of the toy sitting beside him.
The toy gives a small shiver. "What are we waiting for?" It asks.
The rabbit looks at the sky. "A Child." he replies.
The toy looks down at itself, all shabby and well-worn, and more than slightly broken. "No child would want to play with me." It says dully. "I am not a toy for playing with anymore."
"That isn't true." The rabbit replies. "You're a proper toy, you know. You've been loved. Made Real. That matters more to children than playing."
"But only MY child can see that!" the toy cries. "Other children won't want a broken toy. They can't see that!"
The rabbit only smiles. "Jack Frost is not most children." he says gently. "He's much more."
The toy frowns. "More? How?"
The rabbit shrugs, all of his muscles bunching up and falling down. "You'll see. Jack doesn't have favorites."
The toy looks miserable. "All I want is to go home. My child must be so worried."
"I know." the rabbit says. "I know."
The air turns cold. "He's here." The rabbit stands, shaking out his hind legs. He turns to the toy beside him. "It's okay to be hurt and afraid, you know. That's part of being Real. But your child will always love you."
"And Jack?" the toy asks. "What about him? Will he love me too? Or will he forget about me?"
The rabbit looks at the sky, water running down fur as soft as velveteen. "Wait and see."
I do not own RoTG or GoC or the Velveteen Rabbit.
I was remembering the Velveteen Rabbit. And Ollie's Odyssey.
And being a favourite is the same thing as being Real (language does change, you know. Even among toys.)
My headcanon- There are groups - diverse, and having arisen independently and not connected - who find lost or worn-out toys and give then to Jack. Jack either takes them home, or to North for fixing up. The Velveteen Rabbit (yes, that's who the rabbit is) is one of these.
(Also- Semi-immortal Quasi-mythical rabbits that used to be toys and won't keel over dead after two years, please!)
