A Winter's Regret

Part Fifteen

Tooth

"What did you do?" I screamed, glaring viciously at Bunny, faeries flanking my shoulders with equally dark expressions.

"Nothing!" he griped. "Well …"

"Well what?" Hovering towards him, I turned my attention towards Jack, who was draped, fitfully sleeping, across Bunny's lap; candles illuminated the scene, casting shadows on his pale skin and revealing the tear tracks of blue ice which snaked across his skin.

"I might 'ave … sorta … called 'im selfish …" the Pooka admitted, shame writhing upon his furry face, his ears drooping in despair.

There was silence. Then: "WHAT?! You arrogant, conceited, hairy hare ball of utter idiocy! What in the world would cause you to even suggest such a false, ridiculous statement?" I hissed, the faeries fluttering beside me tilting forth with the promise of vengeance writ on their features.

Bunny slowly leaned backwards, nervously eyeing Jack and myself. "Now, Toothy, don't do anything rash – "

"Rash? Rash?" I took a deep breath, held it for two seconds, then released it. "You are a Guardian. That" – I pointed at Jack – "is a child. Do you recall, perchance, your Oath? To protect? Or does that only apply to your precious Sophie?"

Gently extricating himself from Jack, Bunny stood tall, fury quivering along his form, green eyes blazing with anger. "Now you listen here, ya know that ain't true! It was a moment of anger, and he fell in the river –"

"Fell in? Do you hear yourself? You said that you'd 'Take care o' it,' that 'He'd be safe,'" I attempted his accent. "I left you with him, and, returning, find him shivering, fully in the clutches of nightmares! What is wrong with you? You – hurt – my – son!" I yelled, face reddening with rage.

The air was thick and heavy, a rough, cool draft flowing around us. My wings beat in synch with my pounding heart, and there was nothing but the harsh sounds of our breathing.

"It was an accident," he said quietly, face impassive and level. "Ah startled him, an' he fell in. Ah made some cruel – untrue – statements, and he – he – struggled with them. Ah apologised, and he cr – crie – " Bunny broke off. "He fell asleep, and started tossing, only settling down when ya came in. Ah didn't – didn't mean what ah said, not – not at all, but ah said 'em, and now ah have tah live with that." He swallowed, sitting on the cold rock floor again. "Ah moved him outta the river room – 'cause, well, yunno; but then you charged in here before ah could lay him tah bed – and Tooth?" He lifted his head to me, deploring. "Ah only do that fer family." Bunny rubbed his paw across his face viciously. "He's mah family now. S'ahm sorry, ah am, and ah'll spend the next thousand years attempting – and ultimately failing – tah make it up tah him. Because ahm that idiotic Kangaroo, but ahm his idiotic Kangaroo."

My feet settled onto the floor, and I closed my wings with an audible snap. "Say it," I commanded. "Say it to me, and when Jack wakes to him; but mostly, say it for yourself, for you need to. Say it."

He turned his head away from me, and stared at a patch of ebony rock. Slowly, he lowered his head, staring at the child that lay slumbering by his side, frost swirling across the floor in stunning blue-white patterns. Licking his lips, he said: "Ah love 'im."

"And that," I whispered, voice equally as low-pitched as his, "that, Bunny, I believe is you caring. Never let your pride get in the way of that."

Jack

There were voices. Quiet, contemplative murmurs, whispering at the edges of my consciousness.

You're worthless, the ones inside roared. You're an abomination of nature!

I moaned in agony, twisting upon iciness. But then –

A voice – from the outside – said Ah love 'im, and the cold, the dark, the pain was washed away, and I settled into the warm embrace of golden sleep ...

Wow, nearly a year later and here I am … Sorry, guys; I know this is short but I just wanted to post something – hopefully it's better than nothing to you.

Anyway, enjoy! (I'll try to update soon … with North and Sandy.)

Shadowed Violin