[rd][fic][Rise of the Guardians] Scenes, part 3

[sakon76]

Scenes From the Life and Death of Jackson Overland Frost
Part 3: Egg Hunting and Trapping
by K. Stonham
first released December 9th, 2012

March 28th, 1704

Pre-dawn quiet. Bunnymund relished it. This little village in the middle of nowhere, New World, was barely a dozen houses arranged around a central area. But they were humble, industrious folk, and had good relations with the local Lenape. Maybe they'd make it. And regardless of whether or not the village thrived, its children deserved the joy of an Easter egg hunt.

Hiding his brightly-colored eggs here and there, where they weren't quite out in the open, but also not likely to be overlooked, Bunnymund hummed to himself, enjoying his work. Picturing the joy on the children's faces... now, that was what this was all about.

He crept up on a bush convenient to one of the paths into the woodlot, and directed a quartet of pretty little kippers, all pink and green, to hide underneath. Right, that should be enough. His work here was done.

Turning to go, his long ears heard a rustle and then he was yanked unceremoniously into the air by his left hindpaw.

* * *

The village poured out of the meetinghouse, happy to be out in the early spring air now that the prayer meeting was done. The day was fine and clear, and the snow nearly all melted, with only a few patches left in shade. Although this made the ground muddy, the sight of greenery and blue skies, together with their spiritual reflections on the Resurrection, lifted everyone's moods.

Though some were less sedate than others.

"Motheeeeeer," Jackson Frost pleaded, chomping at the bit, "can we please go look for eggs now?"

Anne Frost smiled serenely down at the twelve-year-old. "Do you think Phillipa's old enough this year?"

"Two!" Phillipa thrust one chubby hand into the air, with two fingers held aloft. "Bunny! Hophop!"

"Well." They reached their doorstep. Anne Frost opened the small cabin's front door and reached within, pulling out the two small, rough-made baskets she'd left stacked by the door. "I suppose, if you keep an eye on your sister, and if you stay with the others, and if you don't go too far...."

"Yes?" Jackson was almost dancing from foot to foot, eager to get away.

"Then you may go hunt eggs."

"Eggs!" Phillipa cheered, reaching up for her basket.

"Back by midday," Anne warned her eldest.

"Yes, mother!" Taking his sister by the hand, Jackson hurried off in the direction of the other waiting children.

* * *

"Bloody gumdrops!" The sun had risen and Bunnymund found himself danging ten feet above the ground. Even as he growled, though, and seethed about the damage to his day's schedule, he had to admire the artistry of a mind that could set a trap that would catch him.

...Oh, if North ever found out about this, Bunny would never hear the end of it.

Pulling himself up along the trapped leg, Bunny took a knife from his bandolier and made a quick slash through the rope. Catlike, he twisted to land on his feet. He pulled the snare off his ankle and examined it. "Hemp, local make," he murmured to himself. Then he froze, ears twitching.

Children's voices, coming this way.

Dropping the rope, he bounded away, hiding in the forest's shadows like a ninja.

Mere moments later, half a dozen village children, practically scrubbed to shining, came running down the path. The lead boy, brown-haired, was clearly heading for the bush by which Bunny had been neatly caught.

"Eggs!" cheered the small girl behind him, going for her own target.

The boy, though, looked up at the rope dangling from the branch overhead. His mouth pursed and he set down his basket. Almost as quick and nimble as a squirrel, he scaled the tree and scooted out along the branch. He pulled the rope up hand-over-hand.

"Jack?" called one of the other boys.

Jack examined the end of the rope. His eyes widened. "This was cut!" he called down to them. He unfastened the rope, coiled it over his shoulder, and returned to the ground. The little girl was contentedly examining her eggs, having carefully placed them one by one in her basket.

"I told you, he always places eggs here!" Jack told the others. "So I set a trap for him."

Bunny's eyes widened. That kid set a trap that had caught him?

"Where's the rest of the rope?" Jack asked. "It must be around here somewhere." He and the others started looking.

Right, Bunnymund thought. If I'm getting predictable enough that he knows where I'm leaving eggs, clearly it's time to shake things up next year.

"Jack, here it is!" One of the other boys held up the remainder of the rope.

Jack took it, examined it closely. Pulled something out from between the cords. Held it up to the light. Grinned. "Rabbit fur," he said. The other children, except for the little girl, crowded close. They shared his grin.

Bunny groaned, and placed his hand over his face, shaking his head.

"Gentlemen, ladies," Jack announced, "thus do I present you all proof: the Easter Bunny is real!" He accepted their applause with a gracious bow, then placed the rope in his basket, and took the young girl by hand, presumably leading her off further on their egg hunt.

Bunny was way behind schedule now, but he couldn't help but stay long enough to watch the gaggle of children depart. "That kid," he murmured to himself, in the shadows, "is going to be trouble one day."

*~*~*

Author's Note: Trying to google a date for a pre-1752 holiday is an interesting exercise, because of the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. The Julian calendar, which is what Britain and its colonies were using previously, was slowly drifting out of synch with the seasons; when they moved to the Gregorian calendar in 1752, there was a nine-day shift. So Easter in 1704 can be dated either on April 8th (by our modern calendar) or on March 28th (by the calendar they were using then). And to boot, the year used to start on Lady's Day, March 25th, rather than our modern January 1st. What fun!

I highly, seriously doubt that Bunny ever let ANYONE know that he'd been caught by a ten-year-old. He is a very prideful character, after all. Which leads me to wondering what Jack would do with this knowledge in present day, post-movie. And how Bunny would react to realizing Jack was the kid who'd caught him. (Since, at the end of the film, Jack is the only one who knows who he used to be....) We'll see if the story materializes or not. In the meantime, feel free to imagine your own scenarios!

Comments

[eerian_sadow]

oh, this was fabulous. their rivalry was early, and definitely destined to be deep. ~_^ poor Bunnymund's pride. it would certainly take a bit to recover from that blow

*giggles*

[mmouse15.livejournal.com]

LOL, Jack caught Bunnymund?! What a fabulous touch. Given their rivalry in the movie, this is a nice twist back to the beginning.