~The Aphrodite Cabin~

‘Does anyone know where’s that stack of miniature hats are?’ Piper asked her cabin mates as she rustled through a bag of dirty clothes.

Lacy, the nearest, fleetingly glanced up from her relaxed position on her bed and shrugged, ‘I think Drew had them last.’

‘Thanks Lacy,’ Piper smiled and Lacy went back to her sparkly pink diary.

‘Drew!’

Delving further into the giant Barbie house, Piper called her sisters name until she appeared from the bathroom with a tube of lip gloss in one hand and a mirror in the other.

‘Drew,’ Piper sighed. ‘Finally. Where is that stack of miniature hats? Lacy said you had them last.’

‘Over there, Hun,’ Drew pointed to a box near the bathroom door, neatly labelled Pet Clothing.

‘Thanks Drew.’

Piper waved over her shoulder before hurrying over to the box. They only had a limited amount of time, and Piper wasn’t sure how long the charmspeak would last on Frank before he bailed, turned into a bird and flew away.

‘Let’s see,’ Piper murmured to herself. ‘Cowboy hat, cap, bandana; ugh, definitely not. Hmm, gotcha!’

She reached deep into the box and pulled out what she was looking for; a little, shiny black top hat. Frowning, she dug around a little deeper until she found a matching silk, black vest.

She squealed, ‘Frank’s going to look so cute!’

Stifling a major giggle attack, Piper clasped the vest and hat to her chest and sprinted out of the her cabin, headed straight for Percy’s where the gang was gathered. When she reached the door she didn’t knock, instead quietly turning the handle and creeping in so as not to startle anyone.

Frank sat leaning up against Percy’s lower bunk, his head in his hands. Percy and Annabeth sat above him, staring at the son of Mars sympathetically. Hazel sat across from him, holding his hand. Jason was paying no attention to the situation whatsoever, but was investigating the Poseidon cabin, poking things curiously.

‘It’s not really that bad,’ Annabeth said softly, laying a hand on Frank’s shoulder. ‘You’ll be fine.’

Looking at Frank, Piper felt immensely guilty that she was forcing him to do this. She hadn’t even convinced him, she’d charmspoken him. What had happened to her personal rule of only charmspeaking her friends if it was absolutely necessary? Still, seeing Frank as a bunny would be adorable.

Piper shook her head and walked carefully into view, slipping the hat and vest into the pockets of the jeans she’d changed back into.

‘Hey people,’ she grinned. ‘We all ready?’

‘Frank needs some psyching up,’ Hazel muttered, squeezing her boyfriend’s hand.

‘I can help,’ I said, lacing a little charmspeak into my words.

‘It’s okay, Piper,’ Frank stood up, sighing. ‘I-I’m alright. I can do this.’

Percy clapped him on the shoulder, ‘Of course you can. You’re the mighty Frank Zhang; Praetor of the twelfth legion, defeater of giants, hero of Olympus-’

‘And soon to be Easter Bunny?’ Frank put in with a raised eyebrow.

Percy froze, his mind struggling to think of a comeback, ‘Bunnies are cool.’

Frank managed a laugh, ‘Thanks for trying, man.’

Percy smiled, ‘Any time.’

Piper cleared her throat, ‘Hate to break up such a cosy bromance. Are you ready, Frank?’

Frank nodded determinedly and smiled a sideways smile, ‘See you in two shakes of a cotton ball tail.’

Then he closed his eyes, concentrating. His skin began to ripple, turning lighter and growing hairier. His ears grew larger and he started to shrink. He kept getting smaller and smaller, his skin turning pure white and his clothes melting into fur, until it all stopped.

‘Guys,’ Piper said, picking up the beautiful white bunny. ‘Meet Frank, rabbit version.’

Annabeth and Hazel cooed how adorable he was, while Jason and Percy cracked up until their girlfriends hit them over the head.

‘I didn’t tell Frank earlier,’ Piper admitted, bring the hat and vest out, ‘but I grabbed these from the Aphrodite cabin.’

In her arms, Frank started struggling as a giant hand loomed towards him. His wet, black nose twitched in alarm.

‘Frank,’ Piper chided. ‘Stay still.’

The bunny fell still and allowed Piper to dress him up in the smart top hat and matching black vest. Piper placed him on the bed and took a step back, admiring her handiwork. Frank stared blankly.

‘Aw, he’s so cute in the little get up,’ Hazel praised.

‘Oh yeah,’ Percy disguised his laughter as a cough. ‘He looks real fetching.’

Annabeth sighed, ‘Real supportive, Percy.’

The son of Poseidon shrugged, ‘What can I say, I’m just that good.’

‘Let’s go!’ Piper laughed.

~The Mess Hall (that night)~

‘Can I have everyone’s attention, please,’ Percy shouted over the chatter.

The campers, fixated on their dinner, took a while to quiet down and focus on Percy, Jason, Piper and Annabeth up front by the head table.

‘Okay,’ Annabeth said once there was silence. ‘Well, as you know, the day after tomorrow is Easter, and as is tradition, the camp will be hosting the Grand Egg Hunt instead of Capture the Flag. But for today, we have a very special guest.’

‘He’s come all the way from his burrow on, uh,’ Jason faltered for a moment, realizing he didn’t quite know where he was going, ‘Easter Island? Yeah, Easter Island. And he’s come to see all of you.’

Some of the younger campers, the ones who were around ten years or younger-and even some of the older campers-started getting worked up and excited.

‘You all know who he is!’ Piper exclaimed, pointing to the back of the Mess Hall. ‘Say hello to the Easter Bunny!’

The campers turned in their seats to where Hazel came in carrying a little, red, velvet cushion. Frank sat on top, smartly dressed in his top and vest. Hazel carried him to the front, past dozens of screeching kids.

Piper giggled as Hazel reached the head table and placed the cushion right next to a basket, ‘That’s right. And if you line up in an orderly fashion, he’s got a special surprise.’

Piper nodded at Frank who sighed in his head and reached into the basket with fuzzy rabbit paws, pulling out a little blue and green Easter egg. The Aphrodite cabin went ballistic, screaming how adorable it was. Piper bit her lip to hide her beaming smile. Everything was going perfectly.

Naturally, that was when something went wrong.

Frank froze, his rabbit ears sticking straight up, stiff and alert. His head jerked around like he was scanning his surroundings. He caught Percy and Annabeth’s attention.

‘Frank?’ Percy whispered. ‘You okay, buddy?’

Frank couldn’t respond, but then he saw it. A cloaked, dark figure on the other side of the hall staring right at him, unseen eyes boring right through Frank’s furry mind. The voices of his friends were muted and all he could hear was the voice coming from the figure.

‘I’m coming for you,’ the voice promised, unheard by anyone else. ‘I’m coming for you, little one.’

Frank’s small heart raced, blood pounding in his ears. His pupils dilated and he crouched low.

The voice laughed cruelly, and Frank couldn’t tell if it was male or female, only that it wanted to take him away, and if Frank didn’t do something it would catch him.

He tried to bolt, but his rabbit feet slipped on the wooden table. Frank’s feet finally found traction and he leapt off the table, hopping straight for the woods.  People shouted, little children cried, and his friends shouts grew more and more worried. But Frank didn’t stop.

‘Run, little rabbit,’ the voice taunted. ‘Run.’

Frank didn’t know where he was going, as long as it was away from the figure, and away from that voice.