Here we are chapter 10 is up and running! :D As usual, I do not own ROTG, just my OCs
The first thing Amberlynn felt when she regained consciousness was…surprisingly, not cold. Last thing she remembered was being dragged from her home through a portal to North's workshop like some raggedy old puppet. Ugh when I get my hands on North and his yetis I'll…wh-what on earth am I wearing?
When she opened her eyes, she found herself wrapped in an exceedingly large, red-and-black, fur-lined overcoat. North, she remembered with disgust. Well, I'm at least not freezing my arse off. When she sat up she found herself inside a brightly lit cavern completely covered in ivy. Upon inspection of the scenery below her, she saw flora of magnificently bright blues, reds, yellows, and she even saw a…purple river?
"I'm glad to see you're finally moving around, sheila," Bunny said. When she turned to look at him, he was leaning against an ivy-covered column, whittling a boomerang. Shifting her focus between the Guardian and the scenery around her, she asked, "How long have I been gone?
"Oh, not long," he answered. He turned his body to face her while still leaning against the column. "I reckon 28…30 hours. And it's a good thing, too. That bloody awful number North sent Tooth and the yetis to do out of left field took quite the toll on you, mate."
"Yeah, well and it's no thanks to Tooth and those rotten—wait, what did you say?" Amberlynn asked.
"I'm saying I agree that it was a horrible thing for him to do," Bunny said as he stood up. He held out his paw for Amberlynn to take to help her up on her feet. As they walked down one of the many halls, he continued, "North has this trait where he tends to take charge no matter what the rest of the team might say. At best it's annoying, but his direction gets us where we need to go but at worst…there aren't enough words in the world to justify this situation, but I'm truly sorry that his obstinance nearly cost you, Amberlynn. I should have fought harder to prevent this."
The summer spirit stopped for a moment before pulling Bunny into a quick but meaningful hug. "Don't beat yourself up over it too much Bunny, because I more than forgive you. It's not your fault. You weren't at the desert when it went down and…something tells me you weren't in Santoff Claussen at the time that Tooth went through the snow globe the first time, were you?"
Bunny's sheepish grin accompanied by a shrug gave all the confirmation Amberlynn needed. She chuckled and asked, "By the way, was my having a near-death experience the only way to get you to let me see the actual Warren? How many decades have I protected the meadow above, and you've never let me see this beautiful place?"
This time it was Bunny's turn to laugh. "My apologies, sheila. If you'll come this way I shall begin the grand tour." He led her down every nook and cranny of his Warren, showing her not only all the flora and fauna of vastly different hues, but also his stone warriors shaped like eggs which help guard his home and come to him in times for battle.
After about the umpteenth time she tripped over North's large overcoat, she groaned and decided enough was enough. Figuring she was warm enough by now, she shed the coat only to notice the lack of an article of clothing she knew she was wearing before getting kidnapped to North's workshop.
"Umm, Bunny?" she asked. "I know I'm not going crazy, so I'm just going to ask this outright. Where the heck is the jacket I was wearing earlier?"
Bunny stopped in his tracks and crossed his arms. "I wouldn't recommend opening this can of worms with the others, but when Sandy hit you with his dream sand, it disintegrated every last bit of Pitch's nightmare sand that it was made from."
Amberlynn's jaw dropped in realization of the warning Bunny was giving her. While he and Jack knew she wanted nothing to do with the Guardians' drama against Pitch (funny how Jack used to be the same way not that long ago), the other three just didn't seem to get it. As far as they seemed to be concerned, any ally of Pitch was a potential threat to the children and their work. Although to be fair, Bunny was just as dense she thought, remembering a time when they first became friends. He didn't seem to grasp the concept that I couldn't care less who did what in their petty arguments.
The summer spirit's thoughts were interrupted by Bunny as he continued to speak. "I'm not gonna lie to you and pretend that I understand what exactly is going on, sheila. To be honest I'm not entirely sure if I can handle the truth of whatever you are or aren't doing with him." Amberlynn rolled her eyes as Bunny mock-shuddered at whatever thought appeared to cross his mind. "But for whatever reason he gave you that jacket, it very well could have been the reason you didn't go into hypothermia. As far as I'm concerned, Black saved your life after Tooth and the yetis took you. I won't forget that."
Amberlynn couldn't believe her ears. Bunnymund, the one who she could have sworn hated Pitch Black more than any of the other Guardians, just openly admitted to being aware of a good thing he did—or rather a bad thing he prevented—that was caused by the Guardians themselves. She wasn't sure why, but this gave her a newfound sense of confidence.
She hugged Bunny, a little bit longer and tighter this time, and whispered in his ear, "Thank you, Bunny." After releasing him from the embrace, she coughed slightly and asked, "So, where exactly is the exit for the Warren?"