A.N. On to the next part of the story!

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The Birthday - Bunny's Warren (3 of 4)

Previously: As the floor opened up beneath him, he groaned "Not again!"

By this time, Jack understood why Bunny was always so grumpy. The tunnels made his ears pop, and he could only imagine what they did to the Pooka's sensitive ears. As his second tunnel ride of the day ended he, of course, expected to wind up at the North Pole. It appeared that Fate liked to laugh at his surprise. He dropped out of tunnel into another, this one not intended for world traveling. Jack's eyes widened as he recognized the spring scent. He had wound up in the Warren. A thought flickered through his mind- maybe he had gotten lost? No, that wasn't it. A part of his brain told him that he would walk through, and then get pulled into another way of transport. But, the small voice that had only recently cropped up whispered, "Sandy and Tooth gave you rooms, why not Bunny?" Out loud Jack only said,

"Now, where am I supposed to go?"

That was the moment when one of the eggs decided to show up. It was simply painted, with a blue top and bottom, with a white stripe through the middle.

"Here we go again huh?"

The egg bumped into his leg and then started down the hall. The egg was significantly slower than both Dolphy and Baby Tooth. Jack had plenty of time to argue with himself. Inside he was warring with two sides of his brain, one that said that Bunny would never do it, while the other replied with the fact that this had happened at Sandy's castle and Tooth's palace, so it would probably happen here too. Jack just wanted to get this over with. He didn't want his hopes to be crushed if it didn't happen, but then, he was in the Guardian of Hope's home.

Finally the egg stopped, and Jack assumed they had made it to their destination. A brown curtain that almost blended in with the walls, hung in front of him. It too was decorated with a snowflake. His breath caught in his throat. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. Slowly, as if in a dream, Jack reached his hand forward and pulled aside the curtain.

Inside was a simple dug out room. A small window looked out to a grassy meadow. The wall opposite was covered with wood, was intricately painted with a snowy forest, and the ceiling with the stars. The bed was a nest-like thing that rose only a few inches off the floor. A sheet covered the fluff in the nest, and a soft looking pillow sat near the wall with a fleece blanket covering part of it.

His breath came out harshly, and his nose started to become stuffed. Jack didn't know when he had fell to his knees, but found himself there, as he dropped his staff to have both hands available to rub at his eyes. No, no, he wouldn't, he couldn't. But he did. The tears flooded out, only to partially freeze onto his hands and cheeks. Jack hadn't cried in years. It was a sign of weakness, and for a winter spirit who couldn't afford to show any, this was something he never did anymore. But, he didn't care right now. This was so big to Jack, that not to show it in anyway would have simply made him explode.

"He cares! He wants me. They want me! They really care! They do! They do!" These were the things he joyously whispered. For someone who had been so alone, and uncared for, for so long, the hope and gratitude nearly flowed out of his pores.

He slowly recovered. The rough breaths he had been taking slowed, and the sobs turned into small hiccups. He didn't know how long he had spent there on the floor, taking in the room, and trying not to cry anymore. The room was definitely the simplest of the three, but Jack knew it was probably where he would feel most at home. To tell the truth, he wasn't used to the extravagant. He had slept in trees and snow banks for 300 years. He took another glance at the mural of the forest on the wall. Looking closer, he noticed that it looked familiar. Quickly he picked up his staff, so that he could move to the wall.

"It's the forest by my lake! Cool!"

Yup, he still sounded stuffed up, but it had to be said. The detail was amazing. The trees' branches stuck out just like they actually did. The snow glittered in the same spot as always. In the background, he could just see the hole where the field rabbits liked to hang out. And of course, he could see the ice on his lake, intricately painted with Jack's own frost patterns. He looked up, to the stars, yes; he would feel at home here. He could see Orion and Perseus right off the bat. Jack smiled. Bunny really must have worked hard on these. He could feel tears threatening again, and quickly looked down at the little egg. It had bumped into Jack's leg and seemed to look up at him.

"This is really nice. Bunny really is awesome."

The egg nodded and then turned to leave the room. The bringer of winter soon followed after one last look at his new room.

As Jack walked behind the egg, he was expecting the floor to give out under him at any moment. But, that was not to be. Instead, he found himself in an open field with the giant egg golems standing around. One of them turned toward the two and in a move that seemed that the unwieldy egg should never have been able to accomplish, kicked a snow globe their way. Jack only had to time to say,

"Oh, crap."