Taking Care of a Bunny
If was just or normal day at the North Pole… Or so we all would think. Bunny had woken up that morning, not feeling as cheery and fast as he normally does. He walked out of his room and down to breakfast. His shoulders slumped and his feet dragged. It took more effort than he thought it would to get down to the breakfast hall. He grabbed a plate of food and sat down with the other guardians.
When the guardians saw Bunny walk over to the table and practically drop his plate and plop into the chair, it worried them. Bunny would usually happily sit down and tell him good morning but today he didn't say anything and just let his head fall onto the table. Tooth looked at Bunny, "Are you okay?" Bunny replied with a voice that sounded like his nose was stuffed with cotton balls or something of the sort, "I dunno, mate. I just woke up not feeling like myself this morning." Tooth, Jack and Sandy became worried and flew over the globe to make sure everything was going okay and saw that none of the lights had gone out and let out a sigh of relief.
North frowns in concern and walks over to the tired guardian. He puts a hand on Bunny's forehead, his frown deepening. "You feel warmer than you should, Bunny." Bunny groans in exhaustion. "I can't be sick…I have work to do back at the warren…" Even talking took a lot out of him and his ears drooped. North shakes his head and helps the other up. "You're not going anywhere in that condition. You need to rest, Bunny." North turns to the other guardians. "I will take care of Bunny. I believe all of you have jobs to do somewhere in the world." The others nod. Winter was closing in on Burgess and Jack promised Jamie and the other kids that he would visit them. Tooth was constantly busy with collecting teeth, as was Sandy when it came to giving kids good dreams. North smiles and sends them off and tells the Yetis to clean up the table while he takes Bunny back to rest.
Bunny tiredly looked up at North, "What 'bout you? Don't you have to get ready for Christmas?" "Eh. I can take a break for a day. We're a little ahead of schedule anyways." "Are you sure, mate? ... I don't want you to fall behind schedule just because I have the sniffles." "We won't. Trust me." North smiled at Bunny. When they got back to Bunny's room, Bunny laid down and looked at North, "Are you sure I won't cause any trouble for you?" North chuckled, "Yes. I'm sure. Now, you rest up and I'll check up on you later."
Bunny sighs and curls up. He didn't normally need blankets and how he was feeling right now definitely proves it. He was too warm and his fur was enough to bother him. "If you say so, mate…" Bunny quickly drifts off to sleep. North leaves Phil and couple of elves in charge to keep an eye on Bunny while he checks to make sure the workshop is in order.
Bunny twisted and turned; even though he had fallen asleep it didn't mean that was a pleasant sleep. He jumped awake and put a hand over his heart. The dream had felt like it was actually happening… again. In all reality his dream wasn't actually a dream; it was a memory. The memory was the worst thing he had ever felt in his life. To not be believed in. His heart raced, he thought it was happening again but, thank the moon, it wasn't. As he figured it out, Bunny fell back onto his pillow and calmed himself down, 'It's alright. It's not happening again…'
A couple of hours went by and North finally found the time to check up on his fellow guardian. He made his way to Bunny's room and quietly opened the door. Bunny was curled up, but awake. His ears twitched at the sound of the door and North's boots against the hardwood floor. North smiled down at his old friend and spoke softly. "How are you feeling?" Bunny looks up at him with dull, tired eyes. "I had a memory…about the time when children stopped believing in me." His ears fell, lying flat against his head. North frowns and checks Bunny's forehead again. The fever had gone down, but not by much. "Don't worry, Bunny. It won't happen again. Right now, we need to get you some medicine and something to eat or drink. You don't want to be dehydrated." North pats the sick guardian's head and tells Phil to get some medicine. Phil grumbles in his strange language and scurries of to get the medicine.
Bunny smiles at North, "Thanks, mate." "If that guy ever attacks any one of us again, we'll be ready." Phil came in with the medicine and a glass of water for Bunny.
Bunny gratefully takes the items from the yeti. He takes the medicine and downs it with a few sips of water. North sits in the chair that was next to the bed and watches Bunny. The Guardian of Hope still didn't look too good, even after the hours of sleep he had gotten. His eyes were glazed, ears droopy, and his fur had lost its shine. The only good thing was that the fever had slightly gone down. Bunny sniffs, his nose twitching. He sighs and curls up again. "I hate being sick…I feel so useless." North gives Bunny a look. "It happens, Bunnymund. I get sick every year, and it's because I overwork myself. You've been doing the same." Bunny's brow furrows. "I have a lot of work to do, mate. You know that." North pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. "I know, Bunny. I do too, but I take breaks. I even give the yetis a break a few times throughout the year. You need to do the same. We may be immortal, but we still have mortal traits. We need to eat, sleep, relax; you get the picture." Silence falls between the two and Bunny lies back down. North gives him a small smile. "Besides, you wouldn't want little Sophie to see you like this, would you?" Bunny's ears perk at the young girl's name. He had grown a soft spot for the little girl.
As Bunny was about to speak, Jack swiftly flew into the room and as he reached the sick guardian, he threw his arms around him, "Bunny! Are you feeling any better?!" Jack looked at Bunny with worried eyes. Bunny hated to make Jack sad or worried, "I am. I should be up and chipper by tomorrow morning!" Bunny held up his arm and flexed his muscles to show that he was quote on quote, "feeling better". Jack's face brightened and hugged Bunny tighter. He let go of Bunny, "I'll let you rest up so you can get better." Jack had a big smile on his face when he left which made Bunny smile too. When the door closed behind Jack, North looked at Bunny with a frown, "You lied on purpose didn't you?" Bunny's smile was weak, "I did." "Why?" "I couldn't bear making Jack worry like that. If anything, knowing that Jack was worried about me would make me feel even worse."
North frowns and sighs. "But what would Jack do tomorrow when he finds out you won't be out of bed? He won't be very happy, Bunny. You know he hates being lied to." Bunny rubs his eyes tiredly. "I'm feeling a little better now, so if I feel the same tomorrow, I'm going to try and get out of bed. For Jack's and everyone else's sake." He looks at North with tired determination.
North lets out a sigh, "Alright, but if you start getting worse you are going right back to bed. You have to promise me Bunny." "Alright, alright. I promise." North smiles, "Good. Now I think some Bunny needs to get some more rest so he can feel better tomorrow, don't you think?" "Yeah," Bunny laid back down and within a couple minutes he was fast asleep.
Morning came quickly and Bunny woke up, feeling quite refreshed. He could breathe through his nose again and his ears were perked instead of drooped. Smiling, Bunny jumps out of bed and stretches. His limbs no longer felt heavy and achy.
Bunny opened his door and walked out still smiling. As he walked down to the breakfast hall, he met up with Sandy who pointed to him with a question mark above his head made from the golden dream sand. Bunny answered with, "Good morning, Sandy! I'm feeling much better thank you!" Sandy smiled and they continued their stroll to the breakfast hall. They got their food and went to the table and saw Tooth and Jack sitting there, anxiously waiting to see if Bunny's okay. Bunny sat down saying, "Good morning Jack! Good morning Tooth!" Tooth and Jack's spirits brightened to see Bunny feeling better.
As the morning went on Bunny still felt better and better. Throughout the day the guardians each took a turn to "help" him. Although they mostly did it to talk and hang out with Bunny and making sure he was okay. Other than that, the day went on like any other day and life for Bunny felt normal again.
Author's Note: Thank you nightfury97 for the wonderful chapter idea! We enjoyed writing it and hope that you and everyone who reads it, enjoy it as well!