A/N: So this may be a short filler chapter, after that unless someone wants a request it will be the movieverse!

Chapter 19 – Explanations

3rd POV

Bunnymund tiredly made his way back to the warren, Easter was over and thankfully besides the bloody blizzard there was no more mishaps for this year, not even a flurry or chill in the towns that still forecasted winter still.

When the opening of his burrow in the warren came into view relief filled the Pooka at finally being able to rest, his shoulder slumped as he pushed open the wooden door to his little home and slipped off his holster from his shoulder, the strap brushing against his chest.

He was exhausted, because of the frostbite he had to work overtime to get things ready in time. The last few towns on the map were close calls of not being able to deliver and hide his googies. Just as his eyes began to droop his ear perked up at the sound of his magic wards shifting in warning, someone or thing is in his warren.

His body shot up, hands grasping his 'rangs automatically as he slowly and attentively walked back out into the open.

"Blimey! You bloody drongo's, I could have seriously hurt you!" Aster yelled exasperated as he saw his fellow guardians in the middle of a field in his warren.

Scrubbing his face with his paw he gestured for them to follow him back inside his den, "what are ya here for anyway? I was 'bout to go into my two week long hibernation." He asked as he plopped tiredly down in the chair, the other guardians taking their own seats at the rarely used table.

"We were worried Bunny, we got a message from the spirit of Spring that you were acting odd." Tooth states calmly as she fluttered her wings in worry.

Aster frowned and glared at the wood table top, even now the bloody nuisance was ruining his day. All he wanted to do was sleep and because the idiot caused him a delay he had to play host to three worried guardians.

"I had a run in delay with the winter spirit. The bloody galah ruined my holiday in Burgees; put me on a delay as we had it out." Aster grunted, his eyes still glaring at the table top.

Sandy was suddenly in the Pooka's face, sand flashing angrily over his head as he glared fiercely at the rabbit. The three guardians were shocked; it was very rare to see Sandy so pissed off before.

"Whoa mate; slow down!" Aster gestured nervously as he leant away from the sandman.

Sandy huffed before forming the sands again, what did you do to Jack? You better not have hurt me or I will make sure you never have a restful sleep again! Was the translation Bunny heard.

"I didn't touch Frostbite if that's what you're thinking; I just had a few choice words for the nuisance." Aster rushed out, though he knew he shouldn't have called the boy a nuisance as he saw Sandy's rage double. Suddenly he felt his tired body being slammed into the wall as a giant sand fist knocked him back. Sandy rushed forward, sand images floating quick over his head but the Pooka got it.

Jack is my friend, he has suffered a great deal in his isolation… did you even let him explain? I bet you just yelled at him every time he tried to explain and apologise!

Shame filled the Pooka as he realised that Sandy was right. He didn't let the bloody show pony speak or explain but just because this was pointed out, the Pooka was still pissed off at the winter spirit.

"Bunny, what's that? New marking?" North asks as he saw the blue marking.

Aster froze, his eyes shooting down in horror as he saw the blue mark on his chest, it was darker if only a shade but still noticeable. Confusion swept through him, no that can't be right; his mate was… was dead, how could the mark darken.

"It's, it's the mark of a mate… It's a Pooka thing, when a mate is near or ready your mark grows in. Only when both halves of tha soul are ready does the mark fully finish, it grows in the markings of the tribe they're in and colours. My Dam and Pa had our flower markings, their names or symbol that represent them form their name. I remember my brother's mark was golden against his black fur, a tulip in the centre. His mate was from the summer tribes…" Aster trailed off, the others looked on in worry as they saw the bravest and toughest of their group seem to break.

"What about yours?" Tooth asks hesitantly.

Asters shoulders tensed as he ran his paw over his mark, "Mine stopped growin' in, ma mate… ma other half… died… When a mate dies the mark doesn't grow or change… All I know is that they 'ad blue in their fur, a rare colour for a Pooka… Only a select few had blue in their fur… I lost… I felt it… I felt them dying." Aster stopped as his chest tightened, his paw moving his fur to cover the mark as the memory of being suffocated in ice resurfaced in his mind.

"We are sorry Bunny… We will leave you to rest, right guys?" Tooth levelled North and Sandy with a look that dared them to disagree. Sandy nodded, though he was upset at Aster he was anxious to find his friend; for Jack to create a blizzard this close to spring something must have happened.

"Da, we are soory. Come to pole when awake!" North stated quickly before standing and exiting the house, his hands riffling through his jacket for a snow globe.

Bunnymund watched the guardians leave before closing the door and walking deeper into his burrow where his nest was. Today started out fine, how did it come to this anger filled grief twisting pain filled night? Moving silently, Aster pulled out the small mirror and moved his fur out of the way to see his mark. It was indeed a shade darker and blue; his mate would have been beautiful… With one last sigh Aster placed the mirror back in the draw and moved to his nest, curling in on himself as he tried to imagine what his mate would have looked like…

As the darkness began to take him and the sleep begin to fog his mind he remembered something strange about when he stood in front of the winter spirit. When the galah's face twisted in agony, his body had flickered slightly… Aster could have sworn that for a brief second, a blink of an eye… A Pooka of pure snow stood in the place of the Winter Sprit. No, it couldn' be… Jus ma eyes playin' tricks…

A/N: Okay, does this make sense? Did the chapter make sense?

What did you all think? Also… some of you may be looking at how I write bunnymund's accent… I am an aussie and to tell the truth half the fics out there they stuff up the accent… We don't as Ah instead of I well 'I' doesn't sound like Ah… So just sayin.

Drongo – Idiot.
Galah – foolish person