Questions
After walking for a while Bunny decides that it was probably best for them to rest.
They set up camp, and exhaustedly sit by the fire.
Bunny flops down and sits by a tree.
He leans back and motions for Sophie to come over.
The little girl climbs and lies on his lap.
Cradling her, he gently brushes her hair aside and clears the left side of her face so that she could resume in using him as a bed.
Soflty rocking her back and forth, the rabbit proceeds to sing to her.
Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hopping down the bunny trail.
Hippity hoppin',
Easter's on its way.
Bringing every girl and boy
Baskets full of Easter joy…
In no time the girl was fast asleep.
Still shaken from the earlier events, North awkwardly plays with the fire, only to glance over at Sophie from time to time.
Bunny notices and lovingly pulls her closer to his chest to help keep her warm. He nearly drifts to sleep until North forwardly asks him a question.
"She's your daughter?"
"Hard ta believe right? Nah, I took her in when nah one else would."
"Her parents?"
"Dead. Killed when Claus and his goons came and attacked our town. We didn't stand a chance. Found this liddle one cryin' by her mother. We've been together ever since."
There was another thing that bothered North, but he didn't know exactly how to go about in asking.
"So…why..ugh…"
The Pooka couldn't help but laugh at North's uneasiness. Instead of watching this poor man struggle he helps ease the awkwardness.
"The Brothel? Ha! You're a bloody curious man. I assume you're askin' seeing as if I have a liddle ankle biter of me own. It was easy money, kept a roof over our heads, meals galore, and most importantly the women."
North's eyebrow perks at the last remark, forcing Bunny to further clarify.
"All the women except for Kama loved Sophie, and would take care of her on their down time. Brushin' her hair, painting her nails. You know! Girl stuff! I never had a kid let alone a liddle sheila, so I had nah idea what I was doing. Sophie lived at the Brothel, but she never knew or saw what was going, I made sure of that."
"What about me?"
"You mean Claus?
His domineer quickly changed. His ears flopped back as he pondered over the question.
"He's as bad as they come. There's nah ounce of good in his heart. If yoos ever see him you run the other way! I'm serious mate! He'll kill you without a second thought."
"But you knew him."
"Exactly why I'm tellin' yoos ta stay away!
The conversation was beginning to get heated, which wasn't North's intention. Deterring from Claus, he asks one more question.
"You mentioned something about Pitch helping you."
Bunny situates himself in a better sitting position, to better converse with his ever so curious guest.
"Well I'm hopin' he can help me. See? When I was a liddle kid, I remember me parents tellin' me stories about this beautiful place full of hopes and dreams. It was there that Spring came ta be."
Reaching back he pulls a paper from his bag. He passes it over so that North could see.
Looking over the paper, North traces a finger over the image.
"The Warren."
Even the name warmed the Pooka's heart.
Smiling, he looks down and softly pats Sophie on the head.
"That's the one. I promised I would take her there so that we could live the rest of our days away from this horrid place and finally be safe and happy."
Laughing he cheerfully states;
"She didn't care for all that. All she wanted ta know is whether the butterflies in the picture will be there."
North passes the picture back to the rabbit, who carefully puts it back in his bag.
"Rumor has it that Pitch knows how to get there."
The Pooka's story struck a chord with North. He wanted ever so badly to help the pair in getting as far away from this place as possible.
"Can I ask yoos a question?"
The question came unannounced and took North by surprise.
"Yes."
"How are we in your world?"
He had only been there for a day, but he already desperately missed his friends.
"Believe it or not, we are all very close minus Pitch. Tooth and Sandy are very gentle, kind and loving. You and Jack are good friends, but don't quite see eye to eye from time to time. Bunny is an amazing fellow. He's brave, proud, and caring. He brings hope everywhere he goes."
He now looks down at Sophie and smiles.
"Sophie is very close with Bunny, just like you two. She has family and friends who love and care for her deeply."
Bunny wanted to smile, but it hurt him to know that somewhere out there they were living these amazing lives, and here they are fighting to survive on a daily basis.
"Funny how the cards are dealt am I right?"
North could detect a touch of sadness in his voice,
"Bunny I-"
"It's gettin' late. We have a long day tomorrow."
The Pooka gently rolls over to his side and places the little girl besides him.
He covers her with the table cloth he had stolen earlier and closes his eyes.
Regretting in informing Bunny of the others, he rolls over in the opposite direction to face away from the rabbit. In a matter of minutes they all are fast asleep and ready for whatever tomorrow has in store.
PLEASE REVIEW! :D