Chapter Text
'Why haven't I eaten him yet?'
I watched the little white rabbit munch on some greens from my hiding spot in the bushes. I've been doing the same thing for nearly a moon cycle, just watching the spunky little rabbit whenever I had free time. Which really wasn't much time, these days. I had splintered off from my pack, from those who killed far more than they needed to. Only two others had followed me, so hunting was now very difficult to do and very time-consuming. 'So, why didn't I eat the rabbit when I first saw him? I was definitely hungry enough for an easy meal.'
When I first saw the rabbit, it was being chased by a large fox. Every time I thought it would be caught, it cleverly out-maneuvered the fox, finally ending up causing the fox to tumble down a steep hill while he stayed safe at the top. He even wiggled his little bottom at the downed fox before hopping away. From then on, I kept going back to see what else the little thing could do. My favorite was watching him face down a snake that had yet to hibernate. The poor snake went away with bite marks while the rabbit went away unscathed.
He was fascinating. And I wanted him for myself.
The problem there, though, was catching him. The best course would be surprise, and if that didn't work, then chasing him to the open field to the north. I'd rather not have to chase him that far, but there really isn't a better option. He has the advantage in the trees and hills of the forest. The real question is how I'm going to catch him. Teeth are the only things I have that can grab, but if I bite too hard then he will be severely injured. If I bite lightly, then, he can wear himself out faster. I only hope my hunger won't interfere with anything; despite how much I like him, there is always the chance that I'll slip.
Finally, on a particularly cold day where the ground wouldn't yield a hiding spot, I started the chase. As I thought, the little thing got away after my surprise attack. After tracking him down and finding him in a shallow burrow, I reached in and nipped his hind leg. The squeal of rage and pain was what allowed me to ignore the taste of blood in my mouth. I had bit a little harder than I meant to, but it wasn't bad. The chase took longer than I had thought it would, though. While I had herded him to the open field, he was still able to keep out of my reach until the sun was lowering in the sky and his exhaustion got to him.
I approached him slowly, watching him shiver as he stared me down, the brave little thing. When I reached him, I stood still for a moment, trying to appear as nonthreatening as I could before slowly laying down next to him. Pretending to ignore him, I felt his stare and confusion as I stared at the hill in front of us. When I looked back down at him, he cowered away, then peeked up at me, then gave me a full-blown glare. It was hilarious; I couldn't not laugh.
The surprise on his face was priceless as well, but the smell of his blood was starting to get to me, so I looked forward once more and tried to remember why I didn't want to kill him. Trying to feel bad for injuring the perfect little thing, I focused on that rather than my hunger. Eventually I built up enough resolve that I was able to promise to myself that I wouldn't harm him any further. So, trying to appear safe and harmless, I smiled down at the little thing, making sure to not show any teeth. I lowered my head back to the ground and made no further move.
To my surprise, after trying to escape once, the little thing slowly came towards me and started touching me all over. I knew he was a bit daring, but I never thought he would do this. He explored every inch of me, from my tail to my ears, even touching my nose. I desperately tried not to breathe with his wound so close. When he was done, he went back to his little spot on the ground and stared right back at me.
After a little while more, the little thing finally fell asleep and I was able to pick him up and carry him back to my cave. It was a bit of a walk, made harder by how tired I was after that long chase. When I eventually made it, though, I curled up around the little thing and fell asleep. He tried to leave a little later, but I just dragged him back and encircled him more.
I finally had my brave little rabbit.