Chapter Text
The first time he saw the Easter Bunny had been on a Tuesday in the spring of seventeen fifty-four.
The day had dawned clear and bright, the sun tracking slowly through the heavens as the day settled into a pleasantly balmy afternoon. Jack had been flitting about in the colder reaches of North America, before skimming across the Great Lakes towards his home.
Well, at least what he considered home; the villagers that lived near his lake couldn't exactly see him, despite his best efforts, but he still considered the place home. The little cave hidden beneath the rocky outcropping abutting his lake – that he'd carefully carved and widened with his ice and a great deal of time and patience - was certainly better than nothing; the little touches he'd added to it gave it a nice homey feel, even if it was still rather bare.
He reallyneeded to spend more time watching the carpenter in town if he wanted to have real furnishings someday.
A flash of grey out of the corner of his eye brought him up short. Instantly wary – for though the mortal humans could not see him, he'd had some pretty nasty encounters with a few disgruntled spirits – he scanned the lightly forested copse for any further signs of movement. Just when he'd about given up, thinking himself daft for jumping at shadows, of all things – for surely that's what it had been – he saw the flash of grey again. It was running in a southerly direction, with great speed, and was already nearly out of sight. Curiosity getting the better of him, Jack made to pursue the blur.
Maybe the eighth time will be the charm? he mused as he flew.
Jack had to admit, the grey-something was amazingly quick; he could barely keep up, and only because he was flying above the forest and didn't have to dodge obstacles. Unfortunately, after about ten minutes of pursuit – his quarry apparently still unaware of his existence – he managed to lose sight of the creature.
Swearing under his breath, he flew lower, beneath the forest canopy. Weaving through the trees, he hunted for signs of the creature's passing. Luck must have been with him today, for in short order, he found sign: a tuft of grey fur. And tracks. Rabbit-like tracks.
Nearly larger than his head.
Putting that thought aside for the moment, he set to carefully following the trail. He nearly lost it a few times, until he realized that the rabbit-creature liked to bound off tree trunks and boulders. Once Jack figured that out, it was easy to follow – he just had to make sure to look ahead a dozen or more feet each time.
Landing next to a boulder to examine the tracks more closely, he froze when he heard noises coming from the other side. Peering around it, he found the creature. It was hiding partially behind a large bush, watching a camp of humans. Odd, that.
Odder still, the creature. At first glance, it resembled a rabbit – albeit one of human-size and general build – but the structure was subtly different. Jack couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it seemed safe enough to approach.
He stepped out from behind the boulder. “Pardon the interruption, good sir, but-”
Gunfire rang out as more humans poured into the clearing where the others were camped, but Jack barely had time to pay them any mind, as he suddenly found himself on his back, face buried in the rabbit-creature's chest ruff.
“What's it with you kids and wandering in the woods near soldiers? Don't you lot have any sense of self-preservation?” it – no, he; that was definitely a masculine voice – he groused as he pressed Jack down and out of the way of any stray bullets.
Jack muttered a request for the rabbit-man to get off him, but it was so thorough muffled that the creature pulled back to ask, “What'd'ya say?”
“I said, 'Could you get off me? I can't breathe.”
His long ears drooped slightly and he pulled back, still crouching low. “Sorry 'bout that, mate. So, you can see me. Unusual, for someone your age.”
Jack tilted his head. “Pardon me?”
“Humans. Can't see me if they don't believe in me. Aren't you a bit old to be believing in the Easter Bunny? Not that I'm complaining! It's just unusual,” he said easily, shrugging one shoulder.
Jack was having trouble placing the accent, but – wait, what? The Easter Bunny?
“You're the Easter Bunny?” he exclaimed, sitting up as he spoke and staring in awe.
The bunny-man grinned. “Aye, that I am. Name's Bunnymund. My friends usually just call me Bunny.” He paused and considered Jack for a long moment. “You're not human, are you? You're a spirit, like me. That explains a lot. Here.”
Bunny offered him his hand – paw? - and Jack gladly accepted the assistance in standing. Dusting himself off, he introduced himself. “My name's Jack Frost. A spirit? Is that what we are?”
Bunny cocked his head inquiringly, ears forward. “What, you didn't know?”
Jack shook his head. “I woke up over a frozen lake north of here with no memories, and no idea who, or where, I was. The Moon whispered my name to me right after, but hasn't said anything since. And none of the other people – I guess they'd be mortals then, wouldn't they? - can see me. It's been lonely.”
Bunny nodded, gaze assessing. “You're a winter spirit, I take it?”
Jack shrugged. “I guess. I mean, I can call the wind, and make snow and ice and frost, so...”
He nodded again. “Yup. Winter spirit.” Bunny glanced over his shoulder and winced. “Yeah, I don't think I want to go out there right now. Battle’s about over. It's not a pretty sight. Look - Jack, was it? - I don't have time to stay and chat right now; I came out this way scouting for next year's Easter. I've got things to do. But, well, I guess if you're ever in Australia, you can look me up, yeah?”
Jack grinned and nodded. “Sure. I'll do that.”
“Take care of yourself now. And don't make it snow on Easter!”
And with that, the Easter Bunny tapped his foot twice on the ground and subsequently jumped down into the hole that opened, which closed a moment later, with a small flower growing in it's place. Jack hummed to himself thoughtfully.
“So that's the Easter Bunny? Strange. Nice, though.” He paused and gazed skyward in exasperation. “Where on God's Green Earth is Australia?”