End of chapter 4:

Jack's head emerged from the water and the oxygen was heaven-sent. It filled his lungs and sent a judder through his blood. When he pulled himself out of the water, he crawled onto the non-broken ice and lay there for a long while. It was beautifully freezing and Jack knew that a normal human would be dead already.

"Thank you," he whispered to the staff. "Thank you..."

Jack Frost promptly fainted.

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Bunnymund told the other Guardians that he would search the area around Burgess. He still wanted to be the one to find Jack Frost, but the others were looking in case Frost was able to travel far.

He'd gone through enough winter already. It was too cold and wet and exhausting for one measly bunny, but then again, he wasn't just a measly bunny— he was the Easter Bunny, born of the spring and hope from the hearts of millions. It was his job to keep that hope alive. If Jack Frost was threatening anyone, it was the Guardians. Bunnymund felt hot with contempt and bounced around until he could bounce no more.

"What am I even lookin' for?" he wondered, and suddenly wished for a nice hot Australian sunny day. The clouds were weak and he sprinkled some snow onto his tongue to stay hydrated. "Footsteps? Weird ice? A wreck?"

He sniffed the air and felt rather hopeless. Jack Frost's scent was nowhere. The days of looking through ice and sleet were beginning to take their toll. He wondered what was wrong with his nose. And he could barely hear anything but wind, wind, wind. Bunnymund watched the sun go down and sadly tapped the ground with his foot- a magic portal appeared and he jumped into the rabbit hole, glad that it was dirty and dry. He cut off the outside world and snuggled into the wall, not planning to sleep but only to rest. It was so warm... so comfy...

Unfortunately for him, Bunnymund dozed off, but was awoken by loud shout, and his ear perked and his first thought was danger. danger. danger.

"Someone- help!"

Bunnymund hopped up and brushed the dirt off of himself. That was the voice of a child, he knew, a teenager. He shook himself all over and then jumped out of the hole, landing on snow that he was not prepared for. It sent a stinging tingle through his body.

"Hello?" he shouted, but the hello echoed back and there was silence otherwise. It was already bright out. It felt like he'd only been asleep for an hour or two, not an entire night but, from the position of the sun, it was morning.

"P-please!" came the voice. Bunnymund knew the direction to go immediately- due east. He readied himself and then took a giant leap- thirty feet, easily. Again, and then again. "Somebody! Anybody!"

Bunnymund felt sick. There was a kid over here in great danger, and he was probably alone- what if Jack Frost was causing this? Steam all but poured from his ears as he jumped towards the boy as fast as he could. There was no time to waste. Summoning any other Guardian would result in the boy's death. He had to find him, now.

He listened for another shout for help, but there was nothing. Was the boy already lost? Bunnymund bent low and took several short breaths, then flew fifty feet into the air and looked around fast.

Where are you, kid? Where- there!

He didn't see a child, but he could see a hole in the ice where someone surely just sunk. The ice was freshly broken. By directing his feet, Bunnymund landed a few yards away and hurried over. He looked into the depths, but couldn't see anything around the snow and slush. He had to save him. If anything, this was worth dying for.

Bunnymund was not an idiot. If he jumped into the water, he would die immediately and both he and the child would be lost. He looked around for something to help. A shepherd's crook lay close to the hole. It obviously belonged to the boy, and was shaped so that Bunnymund could pick it up and toss it in. He did just that, dipping in the hook to catch a hand or clothes.

He felt a grip, but it sent a shock through his body. Bunnymund jumped back and the stick sunk into the water. His throat felt dry.

"Are you down there?" he said. "Hello?"

The water had a soft glow to it, and the rabbit peered in to see why. When the boy emerged, he couldn't seem to see anything. Bunnymund ran close to help him out, but didn't need to. The child collapsed and was knocked out.

"Hey, hey," said Bunnymund, placing a giant paw over the shivering heap of skin and bones. "You're a skinny one. C'mere," he said, and lifted him. "Cold. How are you alive?"

The boy's hair was as white as their surroundings and his skin almost just as pale. He had no shoes. His clothes were simple, so otherwise he just looked like a normal kid. Bunnymund listened to his heart and it fluttered healthily.

He took the staff and carried the boy a small way away from the hole in the ice. He brought them back into the ground, and Bunnymund rested the child on some dirt.

"Are you alright?" he muttered, mostly to himself. "Try to warm up... poor bugger. Can't be more than sixteen..."

Bunnymund decided his search for Jack Frost could wait. This kid needed care. Bringing him to North was probably the best decision, but with Christmas coming up, he didn't trust Santa Claus or the Yetis to nurse this guy back to health. Besides, what were another couple hours?

He covered his boomerang with soft dirt and used it as a pillow for the kid. It was warm underground, and he felt great. If only he had a carrot...

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A/N: This chapter is prone to editing. Next update on the 23rd.