Barren Warren- Ch 7

Whew! What a week! I love you guys! Your reviews totally made my week! Anyways, thanks for reading and feel free to review politely! I don't own Dreamworks- Katsenburg does. So I make no money off this. It's purely free entertainment!


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The fifth day came with a slow start. Normally, the Pookas would be bounding with energy when they awoke, but this morning felt more like the kind of day spent laying in bed, talking. Bunny didn't mind, after all, his time with Jack had made him fonder of the younger man. He was starting to like the idea of Jack being stuck as another member of his species, if only to have someone to talk to. Jack seemed more than eager to explore the remainder of the Warren when Tooth's fairy zipped up to the rabbit's nose. Bunny tried to listen to the chattering feathered friend, but she was talking too fast.

"Hold your horses! Slow it up a bit! I can't hear what you're sayin'!" Bunny yelped as Jack pounced ahead of them, oblivious to the larger rabbit's situation. The small fairy did a small backflip before pointing to Jack and drawing a snowflake in the air in front of her. Bunny nodded, listening intently as the small fairy described North and the number one. Bunny took a moment to assimilate the information before realizing the fairy meant that North's spell would be ready in another day. His heart shot up for Jack, knowing that the smaller Pooka would be thrilled to have his havoc wreaking powers back, but a small part of him felt regret as well.

Wait.

No. No, he wasn't happy that Jack was getting his powers back. Jack had become his Jack. Not just the trickster that annoyed the ever living daylights on occasion, but the smiling face that he came home to each day. The brat he shared jokes with, told stories to, and relaxed into bed with each night. Bunny had missed that feeling of having someone waiting for him when he got home from his rounds for so many years, this tiny lick of attention from someone that shared his traits and could stay with him-

No. No. Jack wouldn't want to be held down here.

His body betrayed him as he tried to calm his racking nerves, tensing and relaxing with the ideas of Jack and him spending not time together. His subconscious must have been screaming with ideas of what his new little brother could do, perhaps only because this was the first being that he could have a real relationship with in over five hundred years. Jack, the pest that made his life insane back in the day, was now his only hope for ever having some semblance of a family. Given, it wouldn't have kids or a white picket fence, but it would be something. Maybe the king of Hope wasn't ready to fork over that ideal yet.


The tiny fairy's hand came to Bunny's paw, which now covered his face. He hadn't even realized he was having the mother of all freak outs in front of the tiny fairy, but her tiny smile seemed to speak worlds about how he felt at the moment. Bunny cupped the flittering creature in his hands, trying not to break down while the fairy was so close.

He had to push his feelings aside as he heard the now recognizable thumping of Jack's hopping approaching. He straightened his ears and released the small fairy before Jack rounded the corner.

"Hey, Bunny, what's the hold up?" Jack asked before he saw the mini Tooth. He greeted the small fairy, who ogled him like a teenage girl would coo over a celebrity.

"Nothin'. Nothin', mate. Just havin' a talk with Tooth's fairy here. She says North will be ready in a day. Think you're ready to have your powers back?" Bunny asked, his heart sinking at the expected response. Certainly Jack was ready to get the hell out of his Warren, and start freezing fish bowls again.

"Well, kinda." Jack replied as he reached behind his head and pulled an ear forward to play with the floppy appendage. Bunny's ears perked up at the response.

"Wha'dda mean?" Bunny inquired. Jack flopped his body down on the sweet grass, still playing with his ear. He refused to look at the elder Pooka until Bunnymund sat beside him and placed a heavy paw on his shoulder. Jack turned to the larger buck and smiled as Bunny rubbed his thumb into the younger buck's shoulder.

"I-I-" Jack took a deep sigh as he tried to relax his body.

"It's ok, mate. I won't judge ya'." Bunny said as he made sure the smaller Pooka felt loved.

"I want my powers back… but I don't want to leave yet." Jack said as he gripped his captured ear in fear.

"Wha? Don't ya wanna go be Jack Frost again?" Bunny said as he pulled his hand back.

"Well, yeah, but I really like spending time with you." Jack said as he pushed his body against the larger Pooka's. Bunny didn't hesitate to pull the youngster into his lap, rushing to wrap his arms around the smaller form.

"I really liked havin' ya' around, Frostbite. I'm sure we can manage some time together. After all, not every day can be Easter, right?" Bunny offered with a half hearted chuckle.

"Yeah, and I can't make it snow every day. That would throw off Mother, and she'd have a fit." Jack laughed back, his chuckle dry and unfulfilling.

"Well, why don't' we spend the last day together havin' fun?" Bunny offered. Jack nodded as he shoved his body against the larger rabbit, nudging his chin against the larger Pooka.

Bunny let out a small moan of surprise, not expecting the smaller Pooka to make such a move- but also expecting the young buck didn't know what that motion meant. Against his better judgment, Bunny carefully leaned against the young buck, checking to make sure the brat was actually here and this wasn't some wild dream. When Jack didn't poof into a dragon or turn into Lillith, he carefully leaned forwards and rubbed his chin on the prankster. Jack seemed to enjoy the contact, and Bunny would never say a damn word about this to the other guardians.


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The next morning came too soon, waking Bunny with an unwelcomed sense of dread. He only had a few hours to prepare for Jack's leaving, and he was still battling the emotional roller coaster inside his heart. He looked down at the resting buck in his arms, where Jack had nestled himself for many nights before, and watched the rising and falling of his chest with the appreciation of an old fine art fan viewing the entire works of Da Vinci,  Michelangelo, Rapheal, and Botticelli, collected in one gallery and reserved just for their eyes alone. He didn't wake Jack, but managed to slide his muscular arm from underneath the kid's torso without disturbing him. He reached over to his bedside drawer and carefully slid the well oiled furniture's chamber open. He removed a small jar from the inside and removed its lid. Inside was a very special, very old mixture of bright blue paint. Bunny never thought he would have to use this mix again, but he never thought he'd meet another Pooka for the rest of his immortal existence.

Leaning over to Jack, Bunny wiped a finger through the paint, taking just enough of it to accomplish the job. He noted that the mix had dried over the years, but he'd deal with that later. With the caution of a hunter about to shoot a deer, Bunny touched his finger to the young buck's head and carefully crafted a small, blue floral sign on the kid's forehead. It wasn't nearly as elaborate as Bunny's markings, but Bunny's were intended to show dominance in the tribe. Jack was just a kid, and as he grew, he would gain more markings to note his accomplishments.

Jack's eyelids shot started to pry themselves open as Bunny's finger left his face. Bunny tucked the pot away, making sure it's lid was on. Last thing he needed was tattoo paint dripping all over his nice furniture.

"Mornin' Frostbite." Bunny said as he pulled the kid close to his chest. He was going to miss the brat taking up the space in his bed. For a winter spirit, Jack kept the bed nice and warm.

"Mornin' Kangaroo!" Jack said as he rubbed his head under Bunny's chin. Out of the decency of his heart, Bunny swore he'd never tell Jack what that move meant in their species language. However, since this was his last day, Bunny wouldn't have to worry too much about Jack doing anything too embarrassing. Though he had to admit, he had missed his odd nickname.

"So, ready to head off to North's?" Bunny asked as he shoved the kid back and pulled himself out of the bed. Jack performed a cat like stretch before rolling himself over to the side of the bed and sitting up.

"Yeah. When should we leave?" Jack asked.

"Oh, well- you should go in about an hour. They should be ready for you there." Bunny said as he placed his armor on his forearms. He told himself that this was for the best. Jack was a big boy, and he didn't need a bunny babysitter to escort him to North's. Besides, it would just be really sad anyways.  

"Wait- You're not coming with me?" Jack inquired, a hurt tone painting the younger male's voice. Bunny didn't want to turn around because he knew his collapsing resolve would only fall faster if he did.

"Nah. I got a lot to catch up on here, and you don't need me there. It's just a spell anyways. Not like you're havin' a kid." Bunny replied as he turned towards the door and started walking. He heard Jack throw himself off the bed in a huff.

"But what if I want you there?" Jack barked, hurt still lacing his tone. Bunny turned to see an unraveled Jack, fur ruffled and unruly pouncing in all directions.

"Well, I'd still say no. You have to be there in a few minutes, Jack." Bunny insisted.

"So what? All this? This was all nothing to you? All the- the fun we had and the games we played? All the nights together? Was that nothing to you?!" Jack cried as he stomped his foot. Bunny's resolve shattered into anger and hurt. He grabbed the younger buck and pulled him to his chest, crushing Jack in a tight hug. Jack couldn't find any words to say as he rubbed his nose into the larger rabbit's fur.

"Nah, mate. I-" He sighed quickly. "I just can't see ya go. But we'll always have this. This was our time. And who knows, maybe at the next change of seasons, we can have some time together. Just… just not now." Bunny whispered in his ear before pulling the kid away from his chest and pressing a small kiss on his forehead. Jack didn't seem to understand right away , but didn't protest.

"I'm still your Jackrabbit, right?" Jack asked as tiny tears formed in his eyes. Bunny wouldn't call the kid out on it, but he knew the brat would be upset over losing a big brother figure.

"Always."


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Jack arrived at Santoff Klassen through the offered tunnel, plunging his feet into the snow with a hearty thud. He took one look back at the tunnel and smiled to himself before plodding towards the snowy hideout. As he passed a highly reflective ice wall, Jack turned to look at himself for a moment. Something was on his forehead, so he wiped at the marking. When he pulled his hand away, nothing had come off. He wiped the ice with his other hand to get a clearer image, only to see the marking on his forehead. He stared at himself for a few minutes before slowly pacing his way towards the workshop. He was escorted in by Phil and another yeti, who he'd seen before when he was getting tossed out through the second story window.

"Jack, my boy!" North's booming voice came over the hustle and bustle of the workshop. Jack looked at the larger man with an air of gloom.

"North…" He replied.

"Come- come, my boy. We have spell ready! You can have your powers back in no time! And we also found the human spell, too! You can…" North was still talking, but Jack's ears weren't listening. His body became numb and his voice lost itself in his throat.

Human again?

After all he'd been through, all the fun he'd had, and the emotions he'd felt with Bunny as his family, the idea of being human again seemed so dreary compared to the life of a Pooka. If he was human again, he'd have to go back to being alone at his lake, sleeping through the cold nights with nothing more than his staff and his memories to keep him warm.

"North. North! NORTH!" Jack roared as he finally got the man to stop blabbering. North looked at Jack, who's eyes were going from red and fuzzy to taught and intentional again. This was the look of a spirit who had a plan.

"Yes, Jack?"

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*I tried to reference Maori culture on the tribal tattoos, but I couldn't get much time to find anything definitive on where the first one went. So I went with the forehead.
Please read and review! I know it's kinda short, but the next (and possibly final) chapter will be better!