Flash Story
A Dreadful morning
There was a meadow, with crab apple trees and blackberry
bushes outlining the edges. A few beech trees were growing in the middle with
primroses and daisies just starting to bloom. Fresh rabbit droppings were seen
beside large holes. These holes dotted the meadow. Some were hidden where the
grass grew longer, with worn down trails leading to them. The beech trees
harbored more holes amidst dusty roots. A great warren must be there. The
rabbits who occupied the warren steadily left the mouths of their holes and
began their morning silflay.
Sunshine, occasionally blocked by a dark cloud, exposed the
freshly soaked shoots from the previous night’s rain. A soft breeze brought the
scent of recently cut wheat to their noses. Does supervised their frolicking
kittens, while chewing pellets. Groups of friends were forming, to chatter
about the latest gossip. It was looking
to be a fine morning if it wasn’t for a tussle between an Owsla officer and a
heavy doe and her litter of four.
Rabbits tried to focus on feeding their stomachs, but
couldn’t help stealing a glance at the quarrel. The big buck spoke with an
annoyed tone. “I’m not looking for a fight; all I want to do is share the
clover with you.” He was a monster of a rabbit, big as a hare and battle scared
from head to toe. Unlike his companions his fur was an unnatural color. In the
sunlight it burned with a copper red sensation. Maybe it was in the rabbit’s
genes or maybe it was from the bloodshed he regularly encountered that stained
his fur. This buck’s name was Brute.
“I don’t think so; my kittens need all the nutrition they
need. Why don’t you go and eat some rotting flesh and stop bothering us,” she
replied with a stern look towards the tree line. This doe compared to Brute, was fit to be
El-ahrairah’s wife. Her smooth fur glowed on the darkest days and never had a
speck of dirt on it. No buck could resist her beauty; because of this her name
was Blima.
“Because I don’t eat meat Blima. I’m not a fox. I’m a rabbit
I eat clover and flayrah.”
“Oh really? That’s not what I heard Brute.”
And with that the Owsla officer was descending upon her with
furious paws and teeth. Her kittens squealed in disbelief, as their mother was
battered until her nose bled. She managed to kick Brute off, and she retreated
down a nearby hole. Followed by her kittens.
The buck, finally rid of the pest, happily chewed at the tiny
patch of clover. He only stopped once to sit straight up and check for any
dangers. He had almost eaten the whole patch, when a buck ran over and put his
paw over the rest of the clover. Blima had returned and was cowering behind the
buck crying as her kittens licked her bloody nose. He glared at Brute without
showing any fear. Brute was about to shove the buck off of his patch, but then
he spoke. “Blima said that you bit her and made her nose bleed, all because you
wanted this patch of green to yourself. Now don’t you lie to me Brute, tell me
the truth.” His voice was full of concern for the pitiful doe
“The truth is Enderyn…” Brute paused and came closer to
Enderyn’s face. Brute saw in Enderyn’s brown eyes that he was yearning for this
to be true. He wanted to see Brute suffer under his claws. He wanted to finally
be relieved of this monster. “The truth is, you’re standing on my clover.” With
a swift head butt, Brute sent the bewildered buck toppling over his mate and
onto an unlucky kitten. Satisfaction burned in Brute as he continued to munch.
Blima, horrified that her mate might be injured ran to his side, but there was
no need. Enderyn was already rushing forward seeking vengeance. His claws tore
down Brute’s face, just inches away from his eye. Brute jerked aside. He sat
up, displaying his full size, proving that Enderyn was at a disadvantage. The
blood dripped off his face and seeped into his fur, adding a new color of
bright red to his coat.
Undeterred by his threat, Enderyn spoke “I’ll send you to
meet the Black Rabbit of Inle you filthy Owsla.” He sprung forward and leapt
into his stomach, forcing Brute to stumble over. Enderyn tried to grip his
teeth around Brute’s throat, but this was made difficult because Brute’s legs
vigorously kicking into him.
Other rabbits were becoming more intrigued in the fight and
were gathering around. The thought to stop the fight never occurred to them,
and they stood transfixed by the bloodshed. Blima was standing by watching with
wide frightened eyes, shielding her kittens from seeing their father being torn
up like paper. She finally could take no more; she pushed her young towards a
hole on shaky legs. “Momma, what’s happening to father? I heard him screaming.”
One of the kittens with a white spot over his eye said. He was franticly trying
to escape his mother’s protection and rush back to help his father.
“That’s not him, that’s the monster. Father is winning
obviously. Don’t say stupid stuff Dogwood.” said a kitten that looked like the
perfect reincarnation of her mother. She cuffed her brother hard on his head
that made him squalled.
“Momma Thistle hurt me.” He looked towards his mother for a
response, but she said nothing, she didn’t even notice the roughhousing. Her
eyes were fixed on the approaching hole. When they reached it, she stopped
pushing them. At that second a shrill scream cut through her thoughts and she
dashed into the darkness; her frighten kittens followed without another word. Blima
started helplessly yelling down the tunnel. “Help! Somebody help, Brute is
attacking my mate!”
Glossary
Silflay: to
go above ground and eat.
Owsla: the
strongest rabbits in the warren.
El-ahrairah:
rabbit folk lore hero.
Blima: means
‘beautiful’.
Flayrah:
really good food, like lettuce or carrots.
Enderyn:
means ‘bleeding bird’.
The Black
Rabbit of Inle: the grim reaper to rabbits.
