Sunshine and Frost

11. Suspicion

Kyumi's grip on me feels like she'll never let me go, like I'm the only thing keeping her up. I hug her gently, rubbing circles on her shoulders to keep her calm.

"And we're supposed to just be okay with this stranger walking around here freely?" Bunny whispers.

"You worry too much Bunny," North pats the rabbit on his shoulder. "It is perfectly safe, so long as she is calm."

"So now we have to trust that she'll stay calm? This fire demon or whatever she is?"

I frown at the group, "What's wrong with you? Don't call her a demon! Besides I think she'll be fine for now, right Kyumi?"

She releases her hold on me, facing the others while sticking close to me, she bows to them all. "I'm sorry for the trouble I caused for you. When I get stressed my powers have a mind of their own, I can control them better when I'm alone." She lowers her head further, "You should probably send me back to the forest, no one will be hurt by me there."

The Guardians look to each other, "Wait we're just gonna send her into isolation again? Is that the best idea?" Jamie asks.

Sandy awkwardly looks at his feet, "Well, the fire breather was safe where she was before, wasn't she?" Bunny points out, also looking uncomfortable.

"But we can't just pretend like we never met her!" Sophie chimes in, standing beside me.

I position myself in a protective stance in front of Kyumi, "No one should live in total isolation."

North's eyes shift from us to the floor, "Children, it's not—"

"We're not children anymore North." Jamie interrupts, "So you can't expect us to blindly listen to you and abandon this girl. No way, not like when you made us abandon him all those years ago."

I narrow my eyes at the group, "Yeah and what kind of guardian group are you? Why would you reject Jack Frost if he said he was sorry? And what changed if you guys had already planned on letting him join? What makes you better than him?"

The large rabbit's gaze fixes on me, green flames flicker in his irises. "Hey! Don't talk about things you don't understand Sheila. You weren't there." Bunny growls at me.

North places a hand on his shoulder, "Bunny please, they are guests here." He turns his wise gaze to us, "If you think this is what's best, then we shall welcome your new friend as our own!"

He raises his arms, suddenly little men come out with horns and drums, along with large beasts spinning torches. The room becomes lively so quickly it gives me a feeling of whiplash. I feel Kyumi flinch behind me, clearly uncomfortable by all the noise.

"Uh wait—" I start.

"Oh yes, this is best part!" North yells as the creatures continue to move around us.

Heat starts to radiate behind me, "Hey!" I yell.

As sudden as it started it stops, bringing everyone's attention to me. "I uh...I don't think Kyumi likes the noise." I mutter, looking back at the girl.

"Oh—uh of course, apologies young one." North awkwardly shoos the creatures.

Kyumi nods from behind me, still as stiff as a board, and clinging to me desperately. Jamie moves beside me before clearing his throat, "We should be getting back home anyway, North could you make us a portal?"

The other Guardians look sad to see us leave, but no one says anything to stop us. "Of course young one, do you need more to come visit?" The old man asks.

Jamie shakes his head, "I'm okay—ow!" Jamie yelps due to Sophie hitting him in the arm.

"I think what my brother meant to say was, 'Why yes North, I do need some more snow globes because I've wasted all the ones you gave me last time.'" She says sarcastically.

Jamie glares at his sister while North smiles at both of them. "No worries," he motions to one of the larger creatures, "Phil will get you more." The creature looks at North with wide eyes before groaning and stomping off.

"It's been a long day for him." The old man chuckles.

I look behind me at the cowering girl, "I think it's been a long day for all of us." I keep to myself.

Phil comes back with his arms full with the spheres that the boy requested, handing them to Jamie. The boy takes one, whispers something to it, and throws it at the ground.

He dumps the rest of them in a bag, giving the guardians one last glance, before jumping in the portal. Sophie follows her brother after offering a smile and small wave to the others.

I help Kyumi over to the portal, looking skeptically at the glowing circle. "Don't worry we went through it once before remember? I'll be right behind you so don't worry." I reassure her.

She nods gratefully, stepping into the portal and disappearing in a spiral. I go to step in too when a hand grabbing my arm holds me back.

I turn to find that Bunny has stopped me, "Listen Sheila, be careful who you trust. Especially Jack Frost, he's never learned how to trust or be trusted by people."

I jerk my arm back from the guardian, "And whose fault do you think that is?"

The rabbit's eyes flare again, growling before North places a hand on his shoulder. "We might not have been able to help him, but trust has been problem for Jack longer than his grudge with us." North explains.

He looks me in the eye and offers a kind smile, something I'm not used to at all. "It is our job to protect children, Bunny's approach is just sometimes more how you say...aggressive. Just make sure to be careful of who you choose to trust, but the decision will be yours to make."

I say nothing, choosing to leave the strange place and think on what the Guardians warned me.