Not much to say. o3o Hope you enjoy~
I couldn't have known that my rescue was already in progress. I had no way of knowing that the Man in the Moon had sent word of a poor child held captive by Pitch Black. How could I have even begun to imagine that the Guardians would be coming for me? In my world, so enveloped in darkness as it was, Guardians didn't exist.
I hadn't realized I'd fallen asleep with my chin tucked against my chest until a frosted wind whipped down into the little prison and sent a shiver across my skin. The black short-sleeve shirt I wore only provided so much protection, but I hadn't needed any cover from the wind down here. It was really the sudden neighing that had me jolting awake. There was a tiny tugging at the gag in my mouth and I jerked away on instinct.
Someone was here. Convinced it was another trick by Pitch, I struggled vainly to escape. All I managed to do was tighten the silken restraints around my wrists which already felt like they would remove my hands soon enough as it was. When one of the closest nightmares exploded into a pile of black sand, I flinched back so hard I banged my head hard enough against the walls to momentarily see stars. And…fairies? Certainly not.
The sound of metal slicing through air had me cringing with closed eyes, but surprise had my eyes flashing open when I felt the restraints holding me go completely lax. The sudden lack of support would have sent me to my knees – or more likely my face – had not an invisible set of arms caught me. That they felt strong and…furry threw me off guard enough not to struggle.
Explosive noises burned at my ears while flashes of light too bright burned my abused retinas. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to protect them from the pain of the light. It was then that I heard the voices. As if I didn't have enough problems!
I felt the vibrations of a chest as a thick Australian accent shouted over my head in warning to comrades. "North! Got one coming up on ya, mate!" A loud guffaw followed that rang in my ears and a keening neigh was silenced.
"Alright, Cottontail, get her out of here!" came another voice. It sounded younger, filled with a laughter-like tone. I didn't even have time to brace before I felt myself being lifted up with enough speed to make me cling to whatever was available. As my eyes were still shut, I could only tell I had hold of some type of leather harness. It was on the landing that I opened my eyes.
I wasn't sure which was more shocking: that I was finally free of the prison that had been my home for years or that I was in the arms of a 6'1 rabbit. As far as nightmares went…this one was at least creative. I had to give Pitch props for that.
"Hurry!" called a brilliantly colored feathered woman as she flitted our way before ushering us towards a sleigh. Sleigh? A high-pitched squeaking in my ear had me turning to stare at some variant of hummingbird, though its face was rather human-like in appearance. Three remaining beings rushed towards the same sleigh: a tiny golden man, an enormous jolly Russian with two intimidating swords, and a white-haired boy carrying a staff and blasting blue light down into the hole.
There was a snap of reins from the big guy who looked remarkably like Santa Claus and the sleigh shot off like a rocket with roaring stags leading the way. The bunny had unwrapped his supportive arms from around me at the takeoff, nails digging into the nearby arm rest, leaving me to cling fearfully to the leather harness – it was indeed a harness – strapped across his chest.
I'm not certain if it was the takeoff, my exhaustion, relief to be free, or the suspicious golden ball of sand that came at my face, but my grip slackened and head slumped before North could throw his globe to make a portal to the Pole.