Author's Note: Happy November and Friday, everyone! =D Welcome back to "The Winter Child!" Ah, the second one-shot (chapter? Yeah, I'm done.) for this collection! ^u^ I received a question asking whether this is the cold Jack Frost that we're familiar with or just a regular human baby, and this one-shot includes the answer to that question and more background on where Jack came from. =) Mr. Bunnymund also makes his entrance in this chap, so I hope you guys enjoy it! =D

Oh, and a quick heads up...Bunny is referred to as "Aster" throughout this fanfiction. His full name is E. Aster Bunnymund if you didn't know already, but the tough ol' Pooka is still referred to as Bunny by his friends. =) There's more elaboration on that in this one-shot too, haha. X)

~ II ~

Jackson Overland Frost

He didn't know his name

Didn't know where he was from

But a name still rested on his tongue

His nickname would be Jack

The full name came rather fast

Jackson

Jackson Overland Frost

...

E. Aster Bunnymund didn't like the cold.

E. Aster Bunnymund also didn't like stepping out of the safety of his cottage.

At any moment someone could ask why he hid his face behind a scarf. Or why he was taller than most of the adults in the village. Or why he had such a perfect reaction time to anything and everything. And why he never stepped outside much.

All of these questions could be answered in a few words. Aster was a Pooka, not a man.

Aster was from the region of Monrilethel, where the fabled race of Pookas lived and thrived. But an attack that occurred on their village years ago (an attack that was planned and orchestrated by the bloody Boogeyman himself), had destroyed his entire clan. Aster was the last surviving Pooka. His identity wasn't known by most. Not even the villagers of Santoff Claussen knew who he truly was. The only circle of people he trusted with his secret was North, Tooth, Sandy, and Ombric. And Aster intended to keep things that way.

During the winter was when Aster spent the longest time in his cottage, which was tucked away in the furthest part of Santoff Claussen, where not many people ventured. Aster liked to keep to himself and would love nothing more but to stay locked away in his home painting for the rest of his life. But North, Tooth, and Sandy somehow managed to drag him out of the solitude he had put himself in. Aster still couldn't wrap his head around how they did it; he had absolutely no intention of ever stepping outside again. And yet here he was, on the way to North's house bundled in a long, thick green coat, red scarf, and hat that concealed most of his ears.

Aster was on his way to deliver a painting that North had requested a few weeks ago. The Pooka had spent extra time on this one since North was his friend, and he thought the painting might serve as a silent thank you for what he had done for him. North was the one who snuck him into Santoff Claussen without drawing attention, and he still kept his Pookan identity a secret, which Aster was quite grateful for. Aster didn't normally deliver his paintings on his own, but since North was one of his closest friends, he made an exception for the loud, friendly man.

Of course, he never said any of this out loud…Aster wasn't the type to express his feelings openly. He prided himself on being tough. He was a Pookan warrior. He didn't rest on sentiments, and nor did he let his emotions get the best of him.

Well, at least he tried to.

Finally reaching North's front door, Aster grumbled, kicking the snow off of his feet. It wasn't that Aster didn't like winter…It was just that it was too cold for his liking. Aster was from a constantly warm place, and it took him a long time to get used to the snowy, winter weather when he first arrived at Santoff Claussen.

Aster walked up the set of steps to North's front door and knocked. There was shuffling from the inside but no one came to the door. Aster's ears twitched from the chilly wind, and he knocked on the door again, wondering what was keeping North. Soon, North pulled the door open, greeting Aster with a smile.

The Pooka huffed, his breath visible in the cold. "Took ya long enough," he said.

North laughed. "Come in from the cold, my friend. It is freezing out here!"

Aster walked inside almost instantly; he handed North the painting so he could remove his coat, scarf, and hat. Ironically, the illustration is one of a snowy landscape, something that Aster probably wouldn't paint unless requested. North examined the painting and nodded.

"This is wonderful, Bunny," the ex-Cossack remarked. "It looks almost real. How do you do it?"

Aster shrugged as he removed his coat. "I had lots of practice." The Pooka frowned at North. "And it's Aster, not Bunny."

North smirked. Aster's full name was E. Aster Bunnymund, but he insisted on calling him just Bunny. It made sense since it was a part of his name. But Aster found it downright annoying, and over and over again he corrected North. Still, ten years had passed, and North still called him that awful nickname.

"There's some fresh tea in the kitchen if you'd like some," North said kindly. His irritation gone in a flash, Aster headed into the kitchen with North following him. A pot of tea and a stack of cups sat on the table. Aster poured himself a mug and watched as North prepared one of his own. There was something about the man that had changed, Aster noticed. But he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"So," said Aster, stirring the honey in his tea with a spoon. "How was the trip to Ardelean? It started snowing before ya came back."

"The ride was fine," replied North, tilting his head side to side. "But I did have to ride through the snow on the way back."

Aster smirked in amusement. "Looks like I'm not the only one who doesn't like the snow."

North chuckled after taking a sip of his tea. "I do like snow," he said. "Is just difficult to ride through on sleigh. Especially at night."

Then, the ex-Cossack set down his mug. "Though I did find something interesting on my way back…I still can't believe it myself."

Aster tilted his head. "What did ya find, mate?"

North looked up and smiled. "Come with me."

North led Aster into the living room, and the Pooka quietly guessed what North was about to show him. The man had a habit of making even the simplest things dramatic and mysterious. He often did so whenever he unveiled a new toy or invention. So Aster assumed that North was about to show him something he had made. Or perhaps the blueprints of a new design.

But none of these items lay in the living room. Only a wooden cradle, which Aster was sure hadn't been there the last time he visited North. Bemused, Aster turned to North. The ex-Cossack held a finger to his lips and pointed inside the crib. Aster raised an eyebrow and peeked inside. A gasp escaped his mouth before he could stop it.

Inside the cradle was none other than a baby boy as pale as snow. His hair was as white as winter. He looked like a corpse, and Aster didn't think he was alive until he caught sight of the steady rise and fall of the little one's chest.

Aster slowly turned to North. Fighting to keep his voice as low as possible, he exclaimed, "Ya found a baby in the woods?!"

North nodded, and he explained what had happened to Aster. He had found the boy wrapped in an old blanket in the snow, just beneath an old tree. North told Aster that there was no sign of the parents, and the boy looked undernourished, so he took him home.

"And when did all this happen?" asked Aster.

"Five days ago," North answered. He nodded toward the sleeping babe. "I've been looking after him since."

"And ya still haven't found anythin' about his parents?" Aster inquired.

North sighed. "Not a thing. I consulted Ombric to see if he could track them down, but so far, nothing has turned up. I don't want to assume the worst, but either this child's parents were cruel enough to abandon him or—"

"Somethin' happened ta them," Aster finished. "Both are possible, mate. One more than the other, but I guess we'll just have ta keep diggin'." The Pooka paused, glancing at the baby before asking, "Are ya plannin' on keepin' him?"

"Keeping him?" North repeated, surprised.

"Yeah," said Aster. "If we aren't able ta find the kit's parents, someone's gotta take care of him."

North stood next to the cradle and shrugged. "I do not know. I was thinking that I could nurse him back to good health and continue to see if we can find his parents. If they are out there, we might as well…return him to them, yes?"

Aster didn't miss the brief pause at the mention of giving the child away. He knew North was already attached to the child, which was why he suggested he take him in. Aster watched as North traced his finger against the baby's cheek with a gentleness only a father could muster. The winter child stirred and opened his eyes. He yawned and sat up, staring at his two guests. The baby recognized North, but the furry fellow was a new sight to him. The little boy giggled, pointing at Aster's large ears. He then proceeded to look over the edge of his cradle, trying to climb out of it.

Aster chuckled as he watched the baby attempt to escape his crib. "He already looks like a troublemaker," the tall rabbit remarked.

"He hasn't caused much trouble," stated North. "He just sleeps and eats."

"Soon ya'll have ta deal with the cryin'," said Aster. "And the whinin', complainin', and fussin'."

"I haven't looked that far ahead yet," said North. The winter child stopped trying to climb out of bed and lifted his arms toward North, requesting to be carried. North complied, and he scooped the child into his arms. The baby began to fumble with his beard, laughing as he did so.

North smiled in amusement. Then he looked at Aster and asked, "Do you mind looking him over? I know I'm probably doing some things right…but I want to know what else I can do for him."

"Ah…" Aster hesitated. Due to his Pookan background, he was knowledgeable in health and regimen. But he hadn't implied those in a long time. Tending to people only reminded him of how he used to care for his siblings in the past.

Aster looked at North, noticing that his expression was full of only pure concern for the baby. The white-haired child looked at him too. His big blue eyes were just as imploring as North's.

Finally, Aster sighed in defeat and held out his paws. "Give 'im here."

North handed the boy to Aster. "He hasn't been held by anyone else before, so he might be a little…uncomfortable."

Aster nodded, and he began to examine the baby. He first checked his stomach, his eyes, and, lastly, his mouth. Aster poked a furry finger inside, and the winter child thought it was food. He chomped down on the Pooka's finger like a piranha. Pain shot up Aster's finger, and he yanked his finger out of the baby's mouth.

"Oi!" cried Aster, rubbing the baby drool on his pants. North laughed, and Aster sent a glare in his direction.

"Ya didn't tell me he's a biter!" Aster snapped.

"He has never bitten me before!" North said, still laughing loudly. The winter child in Aster's arms began to laugh too. Though, he didn't know what was so funny.

Aster rolled his eyes, and he handed the little boy to North. Then he gave the ex-Cossack the results of his assessment.

"Ya were right about him being undernourished," Aster said. "I could spot his ribcage from under his shirt. The kit has a small case of strep throat, so I'd suggest ya give him warm milk and feed 'im daily. I have some stuff back at my place that can help with the irritation. I'll drop it off sometime later."

North nodded. "Is there anything else I should know?

At this question, Aster appeared to be shocked. North didn't know the ramifications of his reaction.

"Ya haven't noticed anythin' special about him?" Aster asked slowly.

North shook his head, confused. "I wouldn't have asked if I did."

Aster sighed. "The kit's ears, mate. Take a good look at 'em."

Even more confused, North looked down at the child in his arms. The baby gazed back up at him as he fiddled with his beard. North gasped when he noticed that the little one's ears weren't normal, rounded human ears but were pointed, like an elf's.

"He's not a regular baby, mate," Aster said. He crossed his arms and nodded toward the baby. "Ya've found yerself a snow sprite."

A snow sprite? North was deeply surprised. Snow sprites were a race of magical beings who possessed power over snow, winter, and the wind. Like Pookas, they didn't show up much, but they were even rarer than the earth-bound rabbits. They stayed hidden in the shadows and lived far away from the rest of the Tsardom. North heard they resided in a secluded part of the mountains called Windskald. It was far north, and very few traveled there due to the frigid temperatures, leaving its regions, landscape, and habitations unknown to most.

Snow sprites were extremely powerful and not to be toyed with if you knew what was good for you. With a single flick of their wrists, they could summon catastrophic blizzards and violent gales that could obliterate entire villages. But if one was patient and hospitable, snow sprites were generally friendly and welcoming to those who proved they weren't a threat.

North had never encountered a snow sprite. But there were times when he'd ride through the snow and spot a silhouetted figure dashing through the white. When it was snowing heavily, North thought he saw a figure flying amidst the frozen rain. These moments had been brief, and North didn't think he'd ever meet a snow sprite face to face. Let alone find a baby one in the snow.

Due to their solitary nature, snow sprites weren't treated unfairly…but they weren't treated too well. They were considered outcasts amongst the rest of Lunslruna. And they weren't welcomed by people either. Some believed that they conspired against Tsar Lunar and were out to take the throne. Some presupposed that they did nothing but destroy with their blizzards and had to be put to an end. Whenever a snowstorm came around, people would remark, "Looks like a snow sprite is in a mood today!" or "The snow sprites must be causing blizzards again!"

North never liked it when people blamed all harsh winter weather on the snow sprites. He felt it was unfair, especially since they didn't know much about them or their nature. These rumors and unkind statements eventually reached the snow sprites' ears. And it wasn't long until a calamitous blizzard forced everyone in Lunslruna to stay inside their homes. After that, snow sprites were never seen again. No mysterious figures were seen in the snow. The wind held no emotion. Snowflakes weren't as unique as they used to be. It was as if the snow sprites had been wiped off the face of the earth. Gone. Forgotten.

North looked down at the baby snow sprite in his arms. He was babbling nonsense and tugging at his beard again. North looked up at Aster, who was wearing an empathetic expression on his face. Being an outcast himself, Aster knew what it was like to feel like you were unwanted and alone. His entire clan was wiped out, and he was still being hunted. He knew how hard that was.

North felt even more sorry for the baby snow sprite, and he found himself rubbing the child's back. The baby didn't know where the gesture had come from, but he accepted it anyway with a soft coo.

"Ya shouldn't make people aware of him yet," said Aster. "There's still some controversy about snow sprites floatin' around, and ya don't want ta draw any unwanted attention."

North nodded. "I'll do my best to look after him. No matter what people say."

Aster smiled, and he headed toward the door. Putting on his hat, coat, and scarf, he said, "I'll come back tomorrow with some medicines for the 'lil ankle-biter. I'm sure I still have a couple of Pookan remedies lyin' around."

North smiled. "Thank you, Bunny."

"It's Aster," corrected Aster, wrapping his scarf around his neck. "And yer welcome."

Aster was about to open the door and step out, but he paused. Turning around, he said, "Ya know, I never caught the kit's name."

North rubbed the back of his head. "I actually haven't named him yet," he told the Pooka sheepishly.

"Well, that's probably the first thing ya should do as his new caretaker," said Aster.

North thought for a moment, trying to think of a suitable name for the baby boy. When he tried to think of one, his mind drew a blank. He hadn't given much thought to naming the child.

"How about Biter?" Aster prompted.

"Absolutely not," North said immediately. Aster shrugged.

"Just throwin' out ideas," he said.

North deadpanned, and he looked down at the baby in his arms. The winter child looked at him with a smile and sparkling blue eyes. One strand of hair from North's beard brushed past his nose, and the little one sneezed, causing a thin trail of frost to spread across North's beard and shirt.

North learned that sometimes, the best ideas come to mind when you don't think. So he did just that, allowing his mind to wander until letters formed and came together based on his and the child's past experiences. Suddenly, the perfect name came to mind.

"Jackson," said North. The baby looked up at him curiously. "His name is Jackson Overland Frost. Jack for short."

The baby—now named Jack—seemed to like the name. "Abafla obalga da!" he said, trying to say his new name but failing hilariously. North laughed, and Aster grinned.

"It's fitting," the Pooka remarked. He pushed open the door. "Although I still think Biter was a good choice."

North shook his head, a smile on his face. "Whatever you say, Bunny."

Aster huffed, but he didn't correct the ex-Cossack, knowing it was futile. "Anyway, I'll see ya and Jack around." And with a quick wave, Aster was out of the house. North and Jack waved behind him.

Closing the door, North felt Jack staring at him again. The ex-Cossack looked down at the child, a smile crawling onto his face.

"Welcome to Santoff Claussen, Jack," said North.

Jack smiled and laughed.

Author's Note: ...Jack biting Bunny has to be one of my favorite parts in this collection, ahahaha! XDD

You guys didn't think I'd completely disregard the winter part of Jack's nature, did ya? =D Winter makes up a HUGE chunk of Jack's character, and it just wouldn't have felt right writing him without it...So, yes. Jack is a baby snow sprite. =) I have so many sketches of him taking over my sketchbook, haha. XD Maybe I can use one of them for a filler cover while the real one's in progress. =) We'll just have to see, hehe. X)

While Jack is a snow sprite, he is only a baby at the moment. So he can't withstand cold temperatures forever. X) He eventually would've frozen if he was left out in the cold any longer, which is why North had to warm him up a bit in the last chapter. =D Jack can still feel warmth, ya'll. ^u^ It's just extreme heat that he can't endure. =)

And...that's about all I have to say! =D I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you in the next one! ^u^

Until the next chapter!

~BeyondTheMoon1203