"There's just not enough around for variety," Kevin said as he hopped to another bush and started pulling berries off it, "I feel like all I do anymore is find the same two things to eat. I either wanna find something else entirely, or I wanna do something else entirely."
"That's the leadership spirit we all admire so much," Number Two said, smirking as Kevin continued griping under his breath. Mipsy came up to Number Two and held her bag out so he could look into it. "Is a lot, yeah?" she asked, and he smiled, nodding as she added, "I'm doing good job?" "You're doing excellent," Number Two said, "Just try that bush over there now, see what you can find, okay? We'll be right here." Mipsy nodded and headed on towards a new bush as Kevin came up to Number Two, the both of them watching her. "Why'd you invite her?" Kevin asked. "You need to get to know the other rabbits here if you intend to keep them alive. You can't know what's best for everyone if you don't know them at all," Number Two said, "Besides, she wanted to come. She likes to help." "Can I ask you a question?" Kevin asked as Number Two spit more berries into his bag. "Always." "Do you think I'm doing as good a job as Gerry would've?" "Hard to say since he didn't get out. Who knows how he would've done. All I can say is that you take action and Gerry, unless pushed, is all talk, from what I have seen. His heart's in the right place, but he's lacking in actual motivation. It's not that I think he doesn't care or doesn't want to help, I think he's crippled by the concept of failure, especially when it can effect lots of other rabbits and not just himself. I think The Incident really screwed with him," Number Two said. "Dodger," Kevin said. "Yeah, what Dodger did was wrong and I think it messed Gerry up for-" "No, Number Two, it's Dodger," Kevin said, interrupting him as Number Two now looked up to see Dodger sitting on a rock in front of them. He looked haggard, dirty, like he'd been through a lot. His fur was scruffy, and he was covered in dirt. Nobody said a thing for a minute, until Dodger sat up, wiped himself off a bit and smiled slightly. "Hey guys," he said, "How's it goin'?" "You look like crap," Kevin said. "I'm well aware," Dodger said, laughing a little, "It's been tough out here. Things aren't easy, even for me. You guys seem like you're not doing too bad though." "If you want me to believe for a second that you just happened upon us, I want you to know I'm not buying it," Number Two said sternly, "Now what is it you want?" "...I don't want anything..." Dodger said, sighing, "I understand it must be hard to trust me, given all I've done, but...I want you to know that this isn't anything other than seeing you out here like me and wanting to catch up. I have no ulterior motives. How could I? There's nothing pitting us against one another out here, so what good would it do to fight you?" "He has a point," Kevin mumbled, as Number Two furrowed his brow. "So how're things going for you?" Dodger asked. "We've found a burrow, we find food pretty easily," Kevin said, calmly but cautiously. "Everyone doing alright?" "Pretty much," Kevin said, "You don't look too hot though." "I'm not doing too great, no, it's true," Dodger said, smiling, "No, I've been feeling a bit sick lately. But I'm sure it'll pass. So where's Gerry? Back at the burrow?" Kevin and Number Two exchanged glances before Kevin said firmly, "Gerry isn't here." "What? What...you...you mean he's still in that place?" Dodger asked. "As far as we know," Number Two said, "We're not even sure if he's alive. Not everyone made it out of there. We were lucky we managed to get as many out as we did, to be honest." "Bad mouse," Mipsy said, approaching the group now, making Dodger chuckle. "Yes, I guess I was a bad mouse...I was selfish, I made poor decisions and used you all, but I...I didn't have much of a choice," Dodger said, "I hope one day you can maybe forgive me." "Where are you staying, Dodger?" Number Two asked. "Eh, over near a creek, living in a tree. It's not bad, but sometimes the squirrels can be rude," he replied, "Otherwise it's peaceful as anyone can ask for, I suppose. Getting food back to the tree can be kind of tough, considering I'm so much smaller than you guys are and don't have much help. Sometimes I'll run into another animal that may help me, but otherwise I'm pretty much on my own." "We should go home," Mipsy said quietly, backing away from Dodger, clearly frightened of him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you in any way, I just thought I'd say hey," Dodger said, backing away now, "I'll just go, okay?" He turned and started to walk back into the forest until Kevin stepped forward. "Dodger," he said, making Dodger turn to face him again, "Um...would it be possible to go back and get them if they're still there, you think?" "Wha...where? The lab? To get Gerry and the others?" Dodger asked. "Yes." "I mean, anything is possible, I don't see why not. At this point I think we all know that place inside and out, so it shouldn't be too tough, especially if it's only a small group that goes in," Dodger said, "But you don't even know if he's alive." "I know, but Four is sick, and if they have something that can help her, or maybe stave off the illness a bit more, then I also could go back for that," Kevin said, "I'm just asking, do you think it's possible." "I think anything is possible," Dodger said, "I really do, if you're willing to do what has to be done. Sometimes to obtain things means making tough decisions. Decisions not everyone will be happy with. It just depends how much what you're working towards means to you." "Four means the world to me," Kevin said softly, "But you do think it's possible?" "If you only take a few rabbits, sure. I think it's possible," Dodger said, "I wish you the best of luck with that, if you decide to do it. And, if you do get Gerry out, if he's alive, tell him I'm sorry for everything. I really am." With that, Dodger turned and walked off into the woods as Number Two glared at Kevin. "What?" Kevin asked. "Never tell him anything," Number Two said, "I don't care how disheveled he looks, I don't care how pathetic he seems, never trust him for a second. He'll use everything you tell him against you. Trust me on this." Number Two turned and started to head off to a new bush to continue collecting food. Kevin looked at Mipsy, who just blinked out of unison at him and cocked her head to the side. "What?" Kevin asked. "He's bad mouse," she said, "But...you want to save Number Four, and that sweet." "I took this role, to lead and protect us all, no matter what the cost and no matter who it was," Kevin said, "I intend to fulfill that goal." "You good leader," Mipsy said, "I like you." Mipsy then also turned and followed Number Two, leaving Kevin there alone. He glanced back at the spot where Dodger had disappeared back into the woods, and he sighed. He knew they were both right. Dodger couldn't be trusted, but he seemed so run down, so exhausted, and so dirty. He didn't look very well. And Dodger had another point as well...what was left out here to take from them? Once Dodger hit the treeline, he walked a bit and found the fox sitting beside a tree waiting for him. He walked over to her and she started cleaning him off with her tongue. "Kevin is too easy," Dodger said, "It's no fun if it's easy." "You like a challenge," the fox said in between licks. "Well, at least Gerry was somewhat of a challenge," Dodger said, "He has that fire inside of him. Kevin is just...so blah. He's got no real rage. Not anymore anyway. Not since being out here, where everything is much easier for him. Nothing to fight against. Except for Fours health..." "So where do we go from here?" the fox asked. "You know what to do," Dodger said, "Bring him by the tree. We'll make a deal." "Will do," the fox said, as the two of them began heading back to their tree. There was just one thing Dodger was wrong about. Kevin DID have the fire inside of him. It just wasn't easy to spot like it was with Gerry. That's what made him dangerous. He fought only when necessary, when provoked, and he would make sure he won, no matter what the cost. At this point in his life, failure was not an option in Kevins eyes. There'd been enough of it already.
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The Rabbit Collective follows a group of lab rabbits struggling with their purpose, and hopeful eventual escape. Archives
October 2020
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