Chapter 2 - Records.
The warren was it's usual bright, airy self. The large stone eggs switching to smiling faces when Jack arrived, the grass green, they sky blue. Calm, peaceful, quiet. Jack climbed out of the tunnel to be immediately greeted by Bunnymund, standing cross-armed and face blank, his whole stance radiating caution and slight anger. Strange. Jack looked up,
"Hey R-"
"Why're you asking about the Ratbag?" Bunny's voice was accusing at he watched Jack, the winter spirit leaning against his staff,
"Why is everyone so mad at this girl? And you'd better not just send me on to Sandy, I've already asked three people including you" It was getting a little annoying. He wanted to know.
Bunny's expression just became harder, "You don't know what you're dealing with Jack, don't go looking into her. That hellraiser's not worth anything but her pumpkins. She especially ain't worth friendship" a small egg bumped into his leg, the rabbit picking it up and setting it down with the others before looking back at Jack, "better fill me in on what Tooth told you."
Now he was allowed to talk, finally. He shrugged, still leaning on his staff. "Not much, just that she was an old spirit, powerful, dangerous, and something about Pitch…" his voice trailed off, Bunny's expressionless mask was falling away into something that almost resembled guilt. "Could someone just give me a straight answer? Please? It's one person! And a girl!" that had Bunny laughing,
"Oh mate, don't let her hear you say that! She's a pretty strong feminist…" the laughing stopped, "and she's got the strength to back it up." Bunny's voice was dropping low. Jack folded himself up, tilting his head to the side and sitting cross legged in the air next to his staff. He didn't need to say anything, Bunny just sat down on the grass, "you're curious, ain't ya? Well I hope you got the time to kill, this won't be quick. How much d'you know about Hallowe'en then, eh?" Bunny looked up at the smaller winter spirit from the perch on the floor.
Jack took a moment to think, considering everything he knew, "It's changed a lot. But a lot's still the same, isn't it? Kids dress up as things they think are scary, knock on people's doors, ask for candy, carve faces into pumpkins, and of course, play trick on each other! That's always the best part" Bunny chuckled at him, his ears going back against his head slightly,
"Yeah, mostly right..." there was a sigh, a small noise, "we're gonna have to go back to some of the oldest tales here mate. Halloween ain't just a new idea. It's got old roots. Really old. Right…how do I explain this? Eh, wait here. I think I've got something to make it easier" The rabbit hopped off, returning only minutes later with a thick book in his paws, "'ere, read this. It'll explain better than me." Taking the book in cold hands, Jack looked up at Bunny,
"What is it?"
"Suppose you could call it a record of sorts"
"And you want me to read the whole thing?"
That made Bunny's mouth quirk upwards, "Just page three hundred onwards for a bit."
It was with a shrug Jack began to turn the pages of the book. There was no title to the book, and the pages were old, slightly yellow and thin, the writing curved and slanted in a font so small Jack had to hold the page about an inch from him nose to understand any of it. It looked like some sort of record. Jack stopped on page two hundred and nine, "wait a minute, you're in here!"
Bunny gave a light smirk, "we all are, mate. Any past, present or guardian or potential guardian has their information in that book. You're in there too, somewhere. But don't get distracted now. You were asking about someone else." Of course, Jack made a mental note to get ahold of this book later on. For now, he pushed on, flicking through until he reached the page Bunny had said.
The first think to catch his eye was the Picture taking up the entire page, and with no surprise really. He'd asked if there were other guardians his age, and in looks, she fit the bill. She was pretty, but young. Her skin a flawless white as she stared up at him with wide yellow eyes and dark lashed, made to stand out even further with the dark makeup. Her hair pulled back off of her face to tie half-up, half down behind her head save for the loose curls framing her face. The rest curled in waves and loose ringlets over her shoulders, a bright, pumpkin orange with a tiara sitting on her forehead, black, set with an eye-shaped amber stone. A slightly parted, faintly upturned mouth gave her face a mischievous look that Jack found endearing - even cute.
Black boots with long laces up to the knees were wrapped with green ivy, be it real or not Jack couldn't tell. Her stockings, still black and orange, were torn and dotted with holes to where they almost disappeared underneath the lace edging of her orange skirt, two layers of orange fabric that faded to black on the edges. A corset of black with thin silver spiderweb detail hid her stomach from view, the top a bright orange fabric that was designed to curl up against her skin on the edges, making it seem like fire. He sleeves were medieval, with long flowing fabric around her wrists and tight bands around her upper arm. Once again, torn fingerless gloves matching the design of the stockings and an armband of orange set with a black jewel.
The picture showed her sitting, staring up at him with her legs tucked almost underneath her, a huge pumpkin behind her and a smaller one by her knees. She was pretty. Very pretty. Until something red in the picture caught Jack's eyes, and the winter spirit froze where he was.
"Bunny, why're there thorns around her neck?" he was right. Covering her neck and shoulders were thick, thorny branches that, in the picture, had already made shallow cuts in her skin that were bleeding red, the blood welling up in some cuts and already dripping slightly in others. Bunny just sighed,
"No one knows, no one asks. It's what Hallow does, confuses you to hell and back twice over just to say she can. She ain't a nice person Jack. A pretty face won't always mean a pretty person" Jack could pick up on the anger and annoyance in his fellow Guardian's voice, which confused him further. He wanted to question, but instead looked back to the book and drew his eyes away from the picture to the writing next to it. In fluid script it read, 'The Hallowed Lady – Hallow Eve.'
Well, Hallow was pretty. And young. But that could not be all there was to her. Just who was Hallow Eve?
Chapter 2. If I've made mistakes, please tell me and I'll endeavour to correct them, also, if there is anything you do want to know about this little OC of mine, let me know and I'll try to answer it. This will not be a JackxOC story.