Spring Time Highs and Low

Chapter 1: Hop Along

Humming a soft tone you hopped along a fallen log, minding the snow and ice. The soft tingle of cold that nipped up your paws caused you some annoyance as you started to climb up a hill snow displacing with each step. Reaching the crest  of the hill you rose to two feet and brushed the snow off your hands. While you don't hate the cold and everything that comes along with it, cold paws still annoy you.

Kicking snow from your feet with each step you placed yourself at the very top of the hill. Raising a hand you watched the moon light filter through your fur and fingers. A shiver crawled up your spine ruffling your fur, shaking your head a little you laughed quietly.

"I know, I know, gotta keep mah schedule." You stated shifting a little to open the sack at your hip nose twitching at the sweet smell of flowers and fresh spring air that leaked free 

Reaching in you grabbed a handful of petals and leaves, lifting your cupping them in both of your hands you rubbed your hands together grinding the petals and leaves a little. The warmth that began to grow within your signalled it was about ready. Pressing your hands firmly together and taking a deep breath you opened your hands and blew.

The soft pinks, purples, and greens were quickly taken by the wind twisting and dancing away from you sending the first kindlings of spring along with it. Smiling you took a moment to watch the beautiful sight before the wind farther began to disperse it until it was thin barely seen grains. 

Sighing softly you rolled your neck a little, "Ugh... I'ma so... tired." You muttered ears flopping back as your posture slouched and your grumbling continued, "Alright, That's... that's enough of that..." Your hands ran down your face, "Let's get to work!" With that you took a leap from the hill.

To begin the long and arduous task of clearing out winter to make way for summer. It was a job you've had for a long long time, but it still never gets any easier, it feels like every seasonal shift Sir Winter just makes your job harder and harder, as though he was trying to make you fail. Of course you never did, it was still a thorn in your thumper, and you had a contractual obligation that you really could not break. Madam Summer was really a woman you didn't want on your bad side. 

It was lonely work, transitioning the seasons, you couldn't remember how long it had been since... Since you were a little rabbit with your brother alone in a dying village, grasping at the smallest sliver of any joy. Any smile you could get from your brother would keep you going just a little bit longer. 

You missed him. 

You suppose that's why you threw yourself so utterly and completely in your work and contact. While she was often difficult to work for you still had much to thank Madam Summer for, as she did give you what you asked for in exchange for your service under her. She held up her end of the deal both of you had made so you had too as well, even if your job left your paws tingling with cold by the end of the day. 

It wasn't all bad, you did get to see other spirits form and grow. Though you do have you didn't play favorites, you do have a few that you hate, the Groundhog being the one who made you  unreasonably angry. That cocky little gremlin claims he can predict when spring is coming? 

Wrong.

Sometimes you wait just to hear his prediction just to delay or rush your work just to make him wrong. He was probably one of the few people you could solidly say you hated. Yes, there are others that annoy you, much like Jack frost, who often causes delays and other issues in your spring, you didn't hate him. Just like how you didn't hate the other well known spring associated spirit, the Easter Bunny.

Now you've never really interacted with the pooka, you were surprised to even see another pooka after all these years. He is an acquaintance you made just after the Dark Ages, he seems nice enough. You'd see him occasionally doing job, enjoying the warm air and smells of spring. He probably knew of you, but you weren't one who strayed too far away from your work. There was just so much to do, you wished you could get to know him a little bit better. 

As much as hated to admit it you did have a small crush on the Bunny. 

But alas nothing would probably ever be done about these feelings and they will probably fade with time. Oh well.

Pausing from pushing snow you shot straight up ears standing on end twisting trying to pinpoint the weird noise you had just heard. Narrowing your eyes you shifted your weight a little on your feet ready to take off at a moments notice. 

Attempting to go back to your work pushing the snowball away to be melted somewhere else you leapt several feet off the ground in fright, and when you landed you whipped yourself around gripping your weapon to see what had scared you from behind. A bird stood there and tilted its head confused at you. 

Blinking you shook your head a little and hooked your weapon back behind you, "Bloody hell.... You scared me lil fella." You chuckled lowering yourself down a little to stroke the feathered chest of the bird, "Yer pretty early, ya know, I just started cleanin' up!"

The bird of course didn't respond but did coo and peak at your fur. You smiled a little and gently poked the birds head before it quickly fluttered off. Stiffening your ears shot up again facing the sounds behind you, listening to the unintelligible muttering. When they got closer you took off quickly down the road paws scraping against the pavement. 

From the sound of it you were being pursued, you weren't terribly concerned they wouldn't be quick enough to catch you. No one ever is. 

Your ears picked up the distinct crackle of frost forming, lowering your brows you continued straight throwing yourself along quicker and quicker. Stopping only briefly you couched for a moment winding up for the jump wiggling your hips a little taking the the jump and scrambling up onto the roof of a building. 

Intent on keeping ahead of whoever was chasing you you continued to leap along the tops of buildings not even attempting to slow down. You could still hear who ever was chasing you but you had gained several blocks on them. Leaping down into an ally you sat up on your back feet ears upright and twisting around listening for everything. 

Chest heaving you relaxed slightly bringing a hand up to your head to smooth down your ears. Attempting to rationalize what was happening was a battle, did you overreact a little? Yeah maybe,  but someone was seeking up on you then proceeded to chase you, so all likelihood says their intentions aren't good. 

You jumped hearing a loud sound behind you, once again you tried to run, but you got hindered by the bag they got half way down your body. So the blind leap you took slammed you right into the side of a car.

And taking a car right to the face has some consequences.

Much like how you knocked yourself out and slumped against the car blaring its alarm half inside of North's Gift Bag. If you weren't literally out you would have laughed at the absolute absurdity of the situation. But luckily, you were out much to the distress of the poor poor Yeti's.

The two guardians also sent to get you had two different reactions, but hey, the job is done regardless. Though Bunny was more concerned as he helped the Yeti's get you the rest of the way into the bag a, hopefully safer trip back to the North Pole.

This really was not how he expected to see you again. 

He kinda hoped for something more relaxed...

And didn't end up with you slammed into a car...

Well maybe you wouldn't remember he was there?

Hoping was what he was good at after all.