Almighty Therianthropy

Chapter 2

:::

"Werewolves?" Tooth couldn't believe the story she and the Guardians just heard from Bunnymund. Jack had called the others with the warren's own aurora signal and they all came in a flash. They stood in the special meeting room in Bunny's temple-like home. This is where the warren's globe was erected. "I know they were around but we never had too much trouble with them." Sandy agreed, saying "Weren't they dealt with during the Dark Ages?" with his sand.

"Yes, the Crusades!" North rubbed his bearded chin. "Such a long time ago."

"Did you fight werewolves in the Dark Ages?" Jack asked, not being able to suppress his child-like curiosity.

"Not exactly." North continued. "It was mostly Pitch and his Fearlings we dealt with."

"Werewolves, vampires, any evil creature you can think of, reeked havoc during those times." Bunny explained. "Fear helped them become strong. But ever since Pitch's first defeat, they've been relatively dormant."

"So, do werewolves work together, like a pack of regular wolves?" Jack asked.

"Yes." North replied. "And during the Crusades, they were all in one pack, one family." His brows furrowed. "Though I'm trying to remember reason why…"

"And we just beat Pitch's arse again." Bunny grunted. "Fear isn't that strong right now. How are the bloody bitzers screwing around?"

"And you said they were saying, 'Cleanse the Earth'…" Tooth said. "What does that mean?"

"Well, why don't we just go ask the bastards?" The Easter Bunny stood from his chair, though carefully as to not aggravate the wound.

"In the condition you're in? All they'd need is a spit and roaring fire." Jack showed his worry by throwing an insult to the rabbit instead. Bunny gave him a glare.

"And don't forget…" North added. "The only way to kill a werewolf is a silver projectile. Your weapons would never work."

"Really? That legend is true?" The teen asked.

"Fair dinkum, mate. They're allergic. But I'm fresh outta silver, let alone guns." The Pooka said.

"Me too." Tooth obviously hated guns. Sandy shook his head.

"I have never manufactured firearms, only swords." North said, recalling his days as a thief.

"Silver swords won't work?" Jack asked.

"No. The silver must remain inside creature, or else it will heal eventually." The jolly man explained.

"Oh wait!" Bunnymund's ears perked up, suddenly realizing something. "I know just the gal who can make weapons for us!"

"Who?" The winter spirit wondered who the rabbit could possibly be thinking of that would make him so happy and smiling like that.

"Ah yes! July! Lovely lady!" North smiled, putting his hands on his hips.

"Oh yeah! I haven't seen her in ages!" Tooth smiled too, remembering this girl. Sandy also smiled, small sand fireworks exploding over his head.

"Anyone gonna tell me who July is?" Jack looked around, confused.

"She's the spirit of the United States." Bunny was still smiling. "I'm surprised you never met her. She lives right next to you, and that bloody Groundhog…" Now the Pooka was frowning.

"Spirit of… America?" Jack thought about that. "So like, the 4th of July is her holiday? Hence the name?"

"You're smarter than you look, Frostbite." Bunnymund jabbed. "Alright mates, I'll go talk to her. You can all go home for now, but Jack…" He looked at the white-haired boy, a grin crossing his furry face. "You should come with me."

"Really? Why?"

"To meet other spirits like yourself, ya gumbies!" Bunny rolled his eyes. "And don't worry, she'll like you, mate."

"Oh yeah?" Jack grinned too, intrigued. "Fine."

"It is settled." North took out a snow-globe. "You two be careful, and no fighting!" North, Tooth, and Sandy waved goodbye before disappearing through the warp hole. Bunny and Jack exchanged a little less than friendly smirk.

:::

"I thought we were going to July's house." Jack sat across a wooden table from the Easter Bunny, getting bored.

"And I thought I told you I'm not going there empty-handed." Bunny worked quickly but efficiently on an Easter egg, painting it with red, white and blue. The colors crossed and melted together like flowing streamers.

"Can you explain why?" The boy leaned forward and put his chin on the table.

"Yes, I can." Bunnymund was almost finished, letting the paint dry a bit. "I promised to give her a special egg every Easter since she became a spirit. But because Easter was ruined this year…" He realized his choice of words and looked at Jack, who was saddened by what he said. "Nah, Frostbite, don't do that. I know that it wasn't your fault."

"But it…"

"No!" Bunny said firmly. "Let's not start this again. It. Wasn't. Your. Fault."

"Okay, okay." Jack couldn't help but smile. Bunny just referred to when he apologized to the teen after they celebrated Pitch's defeat. He apologized for saying hurtful things and nearly hitting the poor boy. Jack didn't think it was necessary but he appreciated it greatly. It was good to know that their relationship was getting better, and it indeed has… but it still wasn't what Jack truly wanted. And now this girl July, who Bunny promised to give an egg to every year, and he would smile mentioning her… it all seemed suspicious to the teen.

"Anyway, since I couldn't give her an egg then, I'm making her one now." Bunny put the egg in a tiny white basket with real grass inside to keep it safe.

"So, you've known her all her life?" Jack tried not to sound jealous.

"Yeah. She was curious about other spirits like her when she became one, and she had met the others before me. She was on the lookout for me that Easter, and I ran into her – literally – when I thought she was trying to steal my eggs."

"You are so good with people." Jack smirked.

"I don't wanna hear that from you." The Pooka retorted while tying a blue bow around the handle of the basket. "After that misunderstanding was over I promised I'd give her an egg every year so she wouldn't touch the ones made for the children."

"How kind of you." The boy said dryly. "What's she like?"

"Oh, you're gonna find out, mate." Bunny laughed, standing next to his friend. "Just a warning: she's very… affectionate."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Like I said…" He shook his head. "You'll find out. Now get up, we're going."

:::

"Are we… in Philadelphia?" Jack looked around, seeing the Constitution Center to his right, the Liberty Bell Center behind him, and Independence Hall before him.

"Told ya she lived relatively close to you." Bunny said, holding the basket carrying the egg with care. "She lives under Independence Hall."

"Under it?" Jack gasped as another hole was opened beneath his feet and he fell through, landing on his butt after the short drop into July's… underground apartment. He got up and looked around. He was expecting more of an eighteenth century kind of look, but it was a modern, average apartment living room. Granted it seemed larger than a normal apartment and it also had some expensive-looking furniture and gadgets. There were posters and knick-knacks of Philadelphia sports teams and pop culture. The one that stood out the most for Jack was a framed Avengers poster. "This isn't what I was expecting."

"Me either, actually." Bunnymund said. "The furniture's new."

"Wh-When's the last time you were here?" Jack asked.

"Too long, about a year ago I guess." Bunny shook his head not seeing Jack's dubious look. A year isn't really a long time for immortals, so to hear him say it was in terms of seeing this girl, well… Jack was trying so hard not to ask a question that might get him yelled at. "July? You here?" No response. "Must be downstairs." Bunny walked to a door in the back of the apartment and the winter spirit followed. It was a very securely locked door, like the ones in spy movies. It had a keypunch pad and… was that a retina scanner? The rabbit – who Jack couldn't imagine using a cell phone let alone this stuff – punched in some numbers and peered into the retinal scanner. The door confirmed Bunny's identity and slid open.

"… Wow." Was all Jack Frost could say. It let him in? So, he can just come in here whenever he wants?

"You think that's bonza, wait till ya see the warehouse."

"Is that where we're going?" Jack followed Bunnymund down the stairs, and they sure enough entered a huge warehouse full of weapons big and small, massive vehicles for war, and even nukes. There were glass casings along one of the walls showing off highly decorated military uniforms from every major American war. Old paintings, newspaper clippings and photographs were scattered about the walls as well as firearms that looked hundreds of years out of commission. There were shelves and cabinets full of tools and parts for all kinds of weaponry. Bon Jovi music was playing somewhere in the background.

And right in the middle of it all was a sweet car that looked like it belonged to James Bond, and a woman was working under the hood with a wrench. Her back was to them so Jack couldn't fully see her yet, but he sure saw enough to get a strong impression. The woman had long, platinum blonde hair tied back in a messy ponytail. She had amazing curves and toned musculature. It looked like she was wearing a string bikini as a top and baggy camouflage pants, and when she leaned over Jack saw the bikini bottom underneath. American flag pattern; how appropriate. He thought. And there was a large tattoo on her back of a coiled rattlesnake, and above it read 'Don't Tread on Me' across her shoulder blades. She was singing along to the music, occasionally groaning in frustration at the apparently broken vehicle. And then she closed the hood and – much to Jack's surprise and awe – lifted the car up with one hand to check the floor board. Holy shit.

"Hey, July!" Bunny called over to her, a smile in his voice. The girl put the car down, hearing him calling her. "How ya doin', sheila?"

"That voice can only belong to one of two people…" July said with a rich velvety voice. "Hugh Jackman, or…" She turned around and smiled big. She was a beautiful and flawless woman, looking to be in her twenties. Great. "BUNNY!" She ran right over to him, giving him a big hug around his neck. She's tall, too, probably two inches shorter than the giant rabbit.

"Oh, you wish I was Hugh Jackman, don't you?" Bunny hugged her back.

"Of course not!" She said playfully and pulled away slightly, grabbing his pointy cheek fur. "Where have you been? And don't give me that 'Oh I've been busy' crap!"

"Alright, alright…" Bunny shook her hands away, so she pulled him into another hug.

"Oh, I missed you, Bunny! You…" July stopped, seeing Jack standing beside the rabbit. He smiled at her awkwardly. She pulled away from Bunnymund, not taking her bright ruby eyes off the winter spirit. "And who is this gorgeous boy?" Okay, Jack wasn't expecting that.

"July, this is…"

"Oh no, wait, don't tell me…" She smiled, knowing who he was. "Jack Frost, the new Guardian!"

"Uh, yeah, that's me." Jack gestured to himself. July grabbed his hand, shaking it with good might.

"It's so nice to meet you! I'm July, the spirit of this country." She said proudly. "Oh, look at you, you're so cute!"

"Um, thanks?"

"And polite!" She turned to Bunny, pointing accusingly at him. "He is nothing like you said, Bunny."

"Wait. What?" Jack was curious.

"You know, the Blizzard of '68 nonsense." Her eyes rolled and put 'Blizzard of '68' in finger quotes.

"He told you about that? About me?" He confided in her about that? Jack thought.

"Oh yeah, he wouldn't stop complaining about what you did. He just kept going on about how annoying and selfish you were…" The Pooka made a cutting motion to his throat, silently telling her to shut up. "I didn't believe him, though. I mean, he believed what he was saying, but I knew he had to be wrong."

"How… how would you know?" He was interested in that last part.

"Because he's Bunny. He exaggerates everything." July gave a playful snarky look to the Pooka. He sarcastically grinned right back. "And also, I felt like the two of us could be… similar, in a way."

"You think?" Jack smiled genuinely. He wanted to know more, but he remembered this wasn't the time for that. Suddenly, he felt a gust of wind and a loud cacaw. He looked up and saw a giant bald eagle hovering over them, looking at him with intense gold eyes. He landed next to July, who seemed about half its size.

"Take it easy with the glaring, Rev." She patted his breast. "Jack, this is my brother, Revere."

"Br-Brother?!"

"Yeah, don't we look alike?" She laughed at her own joke. "He was reborn at the same time I was, so we are kind of like siblings." Revere leaned over and looked the teen up and down, sniffing him. He stood up straight again, seemingly satisfied.

"Nice to meet you, too." Jack smiled. The eagle nodded in response. He turned to Bunny, nodding to him, too.

"Hey bird, how are ya?" Bunnymund said.

"So what brings you two by, hm?" She asked.

"Well, I wanted to give you this." Bunny presents the egg in a basket to her. "I know it's late."

"Aw, Bunny!" She crooned, taking the basket. "You didn't have to. I heard about what happened with Pitch."

"That's exactly why I had to." Bunny said.

"You guys should have called me. I would have kicked that guy's ass for ya. You wouldn't have seen him for a whole millennium! No one fucks with my friends!" She held her fist in the air.

"We'll keep that in mind." Bunnymund sighed and grinned.

"Oh, I love it! As always." July looks at the egg and its beautiful design. "Thanks, Bunny." She hugs him with her free arm.

"No problem, sheila." He hugs her back.

"Oh yeah, I have something for you, too." She went over to one of the many stainless steel cabinets along the wall and opens it, pulling out a big bag. "I made you some more of these! Figured you used them all on Pitch." She hands the bag to her friend and he takes it carefully, knowing what's inside. He opens it, and it's full of egg bombs.

"Whoa, wait, you make the egg bombs?" Jack asked, surprised.

"That's right. I call them GrenEggs, get it?" She laughed, but suddenly stopped. "Wait, he hasn't been taking the credit for them, has he?"

"What? No, I haven't!" The rabbit's ears flattened. "I just haven't told this little bugger, that's all."

"Mm-hmm." Her brows furrowed. "Anyway, I know you didn't come here just to give me this." She held up the egg. The two gave her confused looks. "You need something from me, right? Otherwise, you could have just brought this to me any other time without bringing Jack."

"Nothing gets by you, does it?" Bunny tied the bag of bombs tight to close it. "We need your help. I've been attacked."

"By who? I'll kill 'em." She said very seriously.

"Would you believe werewolves?" Bunny and Jack looked at each other as July's red eyes went wide.

:::

A/N: Let's stop here, shall we? The chapter might've seemed long, but it was mostly dialogue. So, here's July! I hope you like her! To all my non-American readers, let me know if you have any questions about our independence day or other strange American things. (Though, you all probably know more about my country than I do, lol) And here's her character bio:

New Character: July, AKA Lady Liberty

Born July 4th, 1776. She's 257 years old, counting the years when she was human. She was 21 when she died.

She died saving children from a tyrannical British general. He stabbed her with his bayonet, but she kept stern eye contact with him while she was slowly dying, showing her true fighting spirit and determination. MiM saw this and gave her rebirth a few months later, her spirit born from the fireworks display.

She mostly wears American flag-inspired outfits, especially her collection of American flag bathing suits she wears as underwear or when she's at home, as an outfit. Her favorite is her AF one-shoulder dress. She also likes camouflage and eagle stuff.

Her power is creating fireworks, so it's kind of like a fire element but not quite. She invented handguns that control her power into bullets. She has super strength, too.

Her animal familiar is a giant bald eagle named Revere. He's big enough to carry two people on his back. He too was born from the fireworks, so they're kind of like siblings. They can combine their powers, so July becomes an eagle woman with big wings and claws for feet and hands.

She is an expert on weapons and machinery. She herself has updated and invented new weapons for American forces to use in war. She can't take the credit, since she's mostly invisible to others, so she plants the ideas in people's heads, which doesn't always work.

She's been involved in every war that America has been involved in, whether for or against it. Example being she was in battle during the World Wars but was highly against the Vietnam War.

She lives underground below Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The first floor is like a normal albeit lavish apartment while the next floor under is a giant training facility and weapons factory. Her technology is far beyond what the public is handling.

She has assisted most of the presidents in their work. The guys that were the crappy presidents were the ones that never listened to her, therefore never believing in her. Some of the presidents could fully hear and see her, and those guys were obviously the best.

Her work with children is mostly on her birthday during the parades and fireworks. She has the power to create fireworks but mostly lets the humans handle that part. However, you know that extra firework that goes off after the show is over? Well, that's her! Her main job at fireworks viewings is to inspire her people with the pride of being American, and to be thankful of their freedom. She wants the children to grow up and be strong and proud Americans.

She has a 'cousin' in every country that declared independence from another, so they are all spirits of freedom. They're powers differ but their jobs are relatively the same. Some spirits are evil while some are good.

She has flaws, like all of us. She loves to eat junk and she always says how thankful she is that she'll never gain weight cuz of her spirit-hood. She's also a habitual flirt but not ever expecting anything serious from the men she flirts with. She's funny but can be loud, perverted and obnoxious. She is very opinionated and true to her own beliefs. She likes money and likes to make deals. She's also very trigger-happy and bloodthirsty in battle.

She loves pop culture. She watches football and baseball. She loves video games. She loves to sing and dance, and also make people laugh. She loves her friends and hates their enemies.