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ave-aria · 4 years

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Day 1: Slipper

ROTG Halloween 2020 Day 1: Slipper

—

"She hates me," Bunnymund groaned, dragging his feet all the way through the tunnel that led to Burgess. "Crikey, Jack, just face the facts. This is never gonna work."

"Abby doesn't hate you, Bun-Bun," Jack argued without looking up from the stolen dog-training manual he'd buried his nose in. He followed Bunny down the tunnel, trying to sound reasonable. "She's just… overenthusiastic, that's all." Which did nothing but earn a groan in return.

It was mid October, months after the battle with Pitch. Jack had spent a lot of time with his first, and favorite, believer, and had been trying to coax the other Guardians to do so as well. They'd all been reluctant, citing tradition and avoiding favoritism and whatnot, but most eventually warmed to the idea of having at least a few believers who they visited on a frequent basis.

Bunny had been the toughest nut of the bunch to crack—not because he didn't have a favorite kid (Sophie. Duh.)—but because his favorite kid had a dog.

"I tried to make peace with the pup, I really did," Bunnymund insisted. "But nothing works. Treats, squeaky toys—"

Jack snorted. "Bribery. Should've known." He touted his book. "Listen, one of the methods in here is bound to work. If I can get Cupcake's cat to stop hissing at Tooth, getting Abby to tolerate you should be a breeze."

"If I end up with a chunk taken outta my hide, you're gonna eat those words," Bunny warned.

The tunnel opened up ahead of them, and Jack, riding on the brisk October wind, swept out onto the Bennett's lawn. Bunny followed reluctantly after. It was the perfect picture of Autumn, red- and yellow- maples bright against the clear blue sky. Jamie and Sophie's voices drifted from the backyard, and on the front porch—

"Speak o' the devil," Bunny muttered, turning to see Abby the Greyhound perched on the steps of the front deck.

Abby was busy gnawing on something, but perked up the moment the two spirits arrived. Her ears pricked up, eyes watching Bunny intently for a long, drawn moment.

Then, she went back to her toy.

Jack smiled, gesturing. "See? She didn't growl, didn't snarl—didn't even try to attack you on sight. I'd call this a win."

"…what's she doing?" Bunny asked, squinting at her toy.

Jack turned to look. Abby'd turned back to gnawing on her toy, ripping at it with her teeth with a renewed viciousness. And - after watching her tear into it with glee - he noticed what Bunny'd figured out already: that it wasn't a toy at all.

"Bunny slippers," Jack said, almost numbly.

As they watched, Abby continued to eviscerate her prey. Sharp teeth sank into pliant gray fur, tearing and shaking her captive until wads of stuffing bled out of its wounds. Its twin, already disembowled, lay mangled and near-unrecognizable on the stairs below. The first, bit by bit, slowly joined it.

At last, with a final shake, the bunny slipper's head ripped off. It bounced down the stairs, rolling to a stop at their feet. Abby, satisfied, let the mutilated slipper drop to the deck with a plop, and turned to blink up at them, licking her nose.

Bunny nudged the severed head with his hindpaw. Then he sent a dry look to Jack.

"…Okay," Jack said slowly. "…So maybe she does hate you."

Abby bared her teeth and quietly began to growl.

Bunnymund put his face in his paws and sighed.

—

for the prompt week by @rotg-halloween

#ROTGHalloween2020 #ROTG #Rise of the Guardians #Bunnymund #E Aster Bunnymund #Abby the Greyhound #Jack Frost #fanfic #fanfiction #Halloween #sorry for the length

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