Richardson sat outside The Hollow, watching the sun rise, when he noticed Minerva coming up to his side and seating herself, licking her paws clean of the red on them. He looked at her paws and up to her face, somewhat worried.
"Breakfast?" he asked, and she nodded as he added, "What was it?" "Possum," she said, "Don't worry, you didn't know him." "This is wrong," Richardson said, "We're lying to him." "He's still going to get what he's going there for," Minerva said, "We're just not being totally honest about our reasoning for going to begin with. Are you ready to go? What're we waiting for exactly?" "...we're waiting for Kevin..." Richardson said quietly. He wasn't wrong. Kevin was sitting with Number Four, making sure that Nickel knew to take care of her, and what she needed. After they had that thorough discussion, Kevin had Nickel leave so he and Number Four could have a few moments alone. Sitting there, just the two of them, Kevin wasn't really sure exactly how to start. Number Four coughed and put her ears back, batting her eyes at him. "You don't have to say goodbye," she said. "It's not goodbye," Kevin said, "Goodbye insinuates I'm not coming back, and you better believe I am coming back." "You don't have to do this," Number Four said, "We can just spend our time together. You don't have to try and save me, or anything, Kevin. I would honestly just be fine with fighting it off and-" "There IS no 'fighting it off', Ellen," Kevin said, "It's gotten worse with each passing week since leaving and...and if we don't do something, then you might...well, I'm not going to let it come to that, so it doesn't even have to be talked about." "You've done so much, not just for me, but for everyone. For yourself. You've come so far from the bitter, cynical, jaded rabbit I first met. I'm so proud of you. Please don't ever think that you can't do something, because you can do ANYTHING," Number Four said as Kevin approached her and nuzzled her face with his nose. "I left the lab to give you a better life and you've only gotten worse...sometimes I wonder-" "This is NOT your fault," Number Four said, "This was always a possibility. We knew that going into it that we wouldn't have any medical help. Besides, Nickel says she can help with what she knows about herbs and stuff, so who knows? Maybe it will do some good." "Ellen, just...please be here when I get back." "I won't let you down," she said, smiling warmly. Deeper in The Hollow, Number Two was sitting with Stone, as she prepared them a little snack with carrots and berries and more. Number Two wanted to help, but she insisted that he instead take it easy for a change. Told him that he looked like he could use the rest. Number Two looked around her area nervously, feeling weird about being in a totally different underground home than their own. "How long have you guys been out here?" Stone asked, and Number Two thought for a moment. "Uh, god, I...I think it's been like, a handful of months, you know, it's hard to know for sure," Number Two said as she pushed a celery stalk towards him, "But, it's been hard to adjust to. I was so certain things would be just as bad outside as they were inside, but-" "I felt the same way, and in some ways you aren't wrong, Paul," Stone said, "I hope it's okay to call you by your name. Those Special 7 monikers aren't our names, that's just what THEY called us. I feel your real name is more personal to use, but please tell me if it's not." "It's fine, Stone." "Good," she said, smiling, "So yes, while you do face dangers out here as well, I don't think they amount to nearly the same as being tested on and abused for the sake of humanity. You did a good thing, leaving that lab." "I didn't really do it. It was much more Kevin and Gerald." "Gerald?" "He got left behind," Number Two said, sighing as he crunched into the celery stalk, "But...we should go back for him. Kevin is going back to the lab with some others to see what they can do and bring back some medicine for Number Four. I don't think it's a good idea, but we'll see what happens." "You trust they'll come back safely?" "I...I don't know, honestly." Just then, Nickel showed up at the entrance, and nodded at Number Two. "They're leaving," she said, and Number Two knew it was time to see Kevin before he left. He found Kevin at the front with Richardson and Minerva, both of whom appeared perfectly ready to go and somewhat irritated that they hadn't left already. Kevin smiled as Number Two came out the front of The Hollow and they faced one another. Number Two had never seen Kevin with this look in his eyes before, this...determination. It was refreshing. He really had become a leader. "I guess I'll see ya when I see ya," Number Two said. "We'll be back in two days max," Kevin said, "So, you'll see me in two days max." "You know where you're going once you get in?" Number Two asked. "Yeah. I remember exactly what you told me," Kevin said, "I know how to get in, what I'm looking for once I'm in and how to get out. You think you'll be okay without me for a bit?" Number Two smirked and nodded, making Kevin laugh as he turned to Mipsy and smiled at her now as well. "Don't worry, I'll be back shortly, alright?" Kevin asked and she nodded slowly, understanding. "Be careful," she said softly, surprising him, but nonetheless, everyone took a final glance at eachother, and then with nothing else to say, Richardson, Kevin and Minerva turned and headed off into the woods, towards the lab. As they got further and further from The Hollow, Kevin glanced over his shoulder at Number Two, feeling like, despite telling him the opposite, that he'd actually not see him in two days max. *** Number Two found himself back in Stones hideaway, watching as she gathered some food for the Hollow dinner that night and cleaned up her sleeping area. He didn't know how to feel. This would be the longest he'd been apart from Kevin for ages, and even with Mipsy and some others around, something just felt OFF without him around. Finally he heard Stone talking to him, and he looked up to find her standing in front of him, grinning. "You okay?" she asked. "Yeah? I...I don't know." "Maybe you need to get some fresh air. Why don't you go out and see if you can find some more strawberries? They should be nearby. Take that Mipsy girl with you and try and relax? I know this must be weird, but your friend is right. He'll be back soon enough." "Something doesn't feel right. Things don't just work out for us. There has to be something coming." "No, that's the legacy of trauma talking," Stone said, "That's what happens when you're repeatedly subjugated to pain and failure. You're then forced into believing that that's all there is to look forward to. But sometimes, Paul, just sometimes, even the worst stories have happy endings." Number Two nodded, grabbed his satchel and threw it over his shoulder with his teeth before grabbing the one that had belonged to Kevin and took it with him to find Mipsy. *** "So, you know what you're doing when you get in there, right?" Richardson asked, as Kevin nodded in response. "Yep. If there's survivors, get them free, you'll take them out while I find The Sick, get the medicine for Number Four and then I'll get out and then we'll all head back to The Hollow. Why is SHE coming, exactly?" he asked, nodding at Minerva. "Protection against the dogs," Richardson said, making Kevin nod in understanding. "Yes, they have been a problem in the past," Kevin said. "Don't worry. With me around, no dogs will fuck with you," Minerva said, "I'll make short work of them if they even try." Kevin smirked as he looked back at Richardson, "And...heaven forbid anything happens to me in there, don't hesitate to just go, alright? Don't risk your lives or the lives of any remaining Collective just for me, okay? Just...make sure you're safe." Richardson stopped in his tracks. Now he felt REALLY bad. The walk back to The Lab wasn't all that bad, and by the time they arrived, Kevin, Minerva and Richardson actually seemed like they could all be the best of friends, joking around and taking interest in one another. By the time they reached it, it was early evening, and there it was, appearing in front of them like a slumbering giant, ready to awaken at any moment and destroy anything in its path without mercy or pity. Standing there, staring at the place he swore to never return to, Kevin couldn't help but feel like this was a mistake, despite knowing it was the right thing to do. He looked at Richardson and Minerva and sighed. "Welp...let's do this. Let's save some rabbits," he said. *** Number Two knew he was due back to The Hollow at any time now, in case he wanted to have these strawberries ready for dinner. He knew Stone was waiting on him, and he didn't want to be out here after dark, especially without Kevins guidance. He sat near a bush, pulling berries off trees and dropping them in his pouch as Mipsy hopped up to him and dropped her bag. "It total full now," she said, making him smile. "Alright, good job. I'm almost full too, and then we'll head back, alright?" he said. That's when he heard the fluttering of wings overhead and glanced upward to see a crow sitting on a branch. He cocked his head and furrowed his brow, "Can I help you?" "I guess some of you DID get out," Lorna said, "Surprising, but good to see nonetheless." "Do I know you or something?" Number Two asked. "My name is Lorna. I helped Dodger escape," she said, "Unfortunately, he decide when he done with someone, and I haven't seen him since. But I see you got out without his help, so good for you." "Yeah well, only a handful of us escaped, so, no. Not good for us," Number Two said, "Now if you're done, I'm trying to get this stuff back to our home before dinner. I'd like to be back before they get home." "Who get home?" Lorna asked, pruning her feathers. "Some of the rabbits and a fox headed to The Lab to get something," Number Two said, "Can't imagine why they'd risk it, but hey, not my place to judge." "...a fox?" "Yeah, a fox," Number Two said, "Bright orange, black tipped ears, called herself Minerva." Lorna suddenly flew down to the ground to be eye level with Number Two, her beak up against his face. "No, no that not good," she said, "No. That why he threw me away, because he find her, and she suit his needs better now than I ever could. What could bird do that fox cannot do better?" "What the...who the hell are you talking about? Suits WHO'S needs?" Number Two asked. "Dodger!" Lorna said, "The fox! This Minerva, she is friend of Dodger, she is setting your friends up! They not coming back!" Number Two felt like the wind had just been knocked out of him. Could this be true? If it was, what should he do? He felt like he had to do SOMETHING. He tried to gather his thoughts but his mind was too scattered now. He looked back up from the ground to Lorna, who appeared genuinely worried. "Why...why would he do that? He...we're already out of that place, what could he possibly gain from hurting us anymore?" Number Two asked, "What could his intentions even be?" "Who need intent when you just damn evil?" Lorna said, "He is bad mouse. He gave all mice he rescue from lab to fox to eat, so she protect him! He does not care about anyone else but himself! You, small rabbit, you must warn your friends." "I...I can't just go, I have a friend with me, and she-" "Tell me where your home is, I will take her back there," Lorna said. "It's...it's over through the creek, in the meadows," Number Two said, "Please make sure she gets home okay." Number Two turned to face Mipsy, who appeared scared and confused. "I know this is sudden, but trust me, alright? This bird is going to take you back to The Hollow, okay? You're going to take these satchels and give those rabbits their berries and you're not going to tell anyone where I went, okay? Can you do that for me, Mipsy? I believe you can." "I...I can, yes, I will," Mipsy said, stuttering, "Where you going though?" "I have to save Kevin," Number Two said, picking up his satchel and putting it around Mipsys shoulders, with the other one, "Mipsy, if I don't come back, tell Stone thank you, and please, take care of Kevin for me. Alright?" "I won't let you down," Mipsy said as Number Two nuzzled her forehead and then turned back to Lorna, "Thank you. Thank you for being good. We need more goodness." And with that, Number Two took off through the woods, trying to reach The Lab before all hell broke loose. He knew it. He had felt it in his gut. Stone had said even the saddest stories could have happy endings. But Number Two knew this was not one of those stories.
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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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