Bunnymund lifted himself gingerly from the ground and put on a show of dusting his fur while collecting himself. "What is it, North?" He asked, all jokes aside.
"This could potentially be very serious," North replied, running a hand down his beard as he thought.
"P-p-potentially?" Bunnymund stammered, not sure what he meant.
"Indeed. It reminds me of curious phenomenon that happened many years ago. But it could be something else entirely."
"So…gut feeling?" Jack pitched in, not really sure whether he should regret his decision of telling North or not.
"Exactly!" North exclaimed, but a serious look took over his face a moment later. "I vill assign mission to two of you."
"Oh, dear," Bunny started, rolling his eyes. "Listen, mate. I am not-"
"I ask for surveillance of girl, tventy-four-seven!" North shouted over Bunny, not tolerating any more bickering between the Easter Bunny and the Winter Spirit.
"WHAT?!" Came the cry from both Guardians.
"Yes. You shall vatch over her like hawks."
"Listen, you old crow! I have things to do! Important things! I can't just drop everything I'm doing and watch some potentially unimportant girl just because of your gut feeling!" Bunny emphasized the last two words with disgust.
"Important things? Bunny, it's not even Christmas yet. And as you have told me over and over again, you deal vith perishables. So you have plenty of time!" North's jolly tone did nothing to suppress Bunny's anger. "Plus, ven have my gut feeling been wrong?"
"And what about me? I still had plans for the Southern Hemisphere," Jack piped up, feeling kind of confused. "And what could be so important about this girl anyway?"
North laughed, but it sounded almost ominous. "My boy, I think your plans too ambitious. Besides, that's vhy I decide to post two Guardians. To take turns. So you vill have time over," he took a pause to wink at Bunny, who almost deflated with relief. "And I shall not go to detail, but if what you describe is correct, she could be a Thesan."
His words were met with silence. Jack's forehead had creased. The word meant nothing to him, but Bunny's jaw seemed to have dropped once again.
"Guess we better get to it then," he said when he'd composed himself for a second time. "I can take the first shift," he offered, looking straight at Jack- all business.
"Wait, wait, wait," Jack said, lifting his palm towards the two of them and shaking his head. "Thesan? Am I supposed to know what that is? I mean, I know I'm still new to the whole 'being a Guardian' thing, but I didn't know I was that clueless."
"Bunny," North said, and the oversized rabbit nodded.
"I'll explain on the way, kid. Let's just survey the area. I need to get more familiar with the girl and where she lives," Bunny said, tapping his foot twice. A large hole suddenly opened beside him. "What was her name, North?" Bunny asked suddenly, looking at the big man with his ears perked up.
"Maleya," North replied, his eyes shining. "Maleya O'Connor."
And before Jack had a chance to repeat her name to himself- a name that sounded too foreign and too interesting to suit a girl so plain, he found himself being dragged through the rabbit hole by Bunnymund.
A/N: A short chapter, but hopefully the pace will pick up now. It might be a bit confusing, but everything will be explained in due time.
I also plan to introduce the antagonist(s?) within the next three chapters. Woo!
Let me know what you think? And thank you for the wonderful reviews on the last chapter!