Chapter Text
Early in the morning, when dawn doesn’t break and night doesn’t end. A certain scoundrel daughter is trying to escape her home.
Quiet quiet! I can’t wake mom and dad! A conniving plan she dreamed up. To escape home and explore the whole wide world! It all seems so exciting, just her and the great outside!
Okay, I have my backpack, spare clothes, enough hay for a week, treats, my favorite comb for my mane, my life savings of Asteries and my medication… Yup! I have everything! The mischievous daughter makes sure she brought everything she would need for the journey ahead.
To the stars! She raises her arm in celebration. Her arm slowly drops down to her sides, her usually upright ears also droop down to her shoulders. Heart beating like a drum, head hung low and a deep sinking feeling within her stomach. A pit so deep, the deepest trench could not match.
A feeling she never had before, no matter how hard she tries she could not place her finger on it. Shame, fear, worry all poured into a cauldron, stirred and left to simmer over many years. A stew she can’t stand any longer.
I’m sorry, mom, dad… But I will bring you a star! Then you’ll see! Her determination reignites, spirit roaring and face hardening into a smile full of resolve. She is ready to take her first step.
Before she even lifts her knee. “Thalia!” a masculine voice demands. Thalia quickly turns around to see her father. “What do you think you’re doing?!” he continues in a stern concerned voice, the glorious immaculate mane around his neck standing up in shock, his daughter is obviously getting ready to leave.
Thalia’s parents were always strict with her, stricter than any other rabbitkin parents are. She is their only daughter after all, after Thalia both her parents inexplicably became unable to bear any more children. A great shame for any rabbitkin. It is tradition among their people to have at least twelve children.
“Dad, I-!...” Thalia searches for the perfect answer, but all her mind could come up with were insincere excuses, she knows she needs to be honest. “I wanted to visit grandma for a week!”, “I wanted to surprise you by taking care of the farm today!” doesn’t quite cut it, not to mention it wouldn’t explain the giant backpack she has with her.
“I’m waiting, young lady.” Thalia’s dad demands answers, thumping his foot impatiently to summon Thalia’s mother. They’ve done nothing but be kind to their daughter, why would she try to escape now?
“Dad, I’m sorry but-” Thalia begins again. Trying to come up with any half decent excuse at all. The truth is simply too hard to tell.
Rubbing her eyes awake, Thalia’s mom is summoned by the ruckus caused, only to be shocked awake by her daughter dressed as if she’s ready to leave. “Thalia!” she calls out to her daughter.
Thalia reaches for her long droopy ears, her nose twitching faster as her breath stressfully quickens. Stroking her left ear from base to tip to calm her nerves. She has to say something soon.
Steeling her resolve, releasing her ears from her hands and breaths becoming full again. She swallows air and takes a deep breath. “Mom, dad, I want to reach the peak of Celestethorn.” Thalia can only bring herself to say the truth.
Thalia’s parents look at each other in horror and disbelief. ““Celesthorn?! Why?!”” They demand in unison. What is their daughter thinking, the best adventurers attempts to scale that blasted mountain!
“I want to bring back a wishing star.” Thalia explains with immovable conviction. “I want to lift the curse that befell our family…” She continues, her voice and expression softening.
“Oh honey… You don’t have to concern yourself with that…” Thalia’s mom reassures her daughter her already naturally droopy long ears, somehow drooping even lower. “Yeah, bad things happen, and we have to live with them.” Thalia’s dad adds.
Thalia stomps in disapproval, her ears upright in anger. “But I do have to worry! Ever since you found out you’ll only have me you’ve changed! You got so overprotective you forbade me from going to school! All I ever did was help out on the farm and stay inside! No one even visited! You keep acting as if we’re complete outsiders to our family and friends!” Thalia yelled her heart out, oh how good it felt to get it out after so long. “I just… Want our family to be happy again…” Thalia’s ears droop.
Both parents avert their eyes from their daughter in shame. They’ve been denying and pretending everything is fine for so long it felt as if things were always like this, not realising they are hurting their daughter as well.
The air hung heavy with the cathartic feeling of finally letting the truth out. Thalia’s chest never felt lighter. Oh, did… Did I overdo it? Everyone’s whiskers sharpen in response to the sudden change of tension in the air.
Unbearable silence follows. No one dared to raise their voice in fear of saying the wrong thing, making the situation even worse.
After what felt like an eternity, despite being mere moments. Thalia’s father rubs the back of his head and sighs. “So our little girl is all grown up now, huh..” says in the calmest voice he can muster, despite being ready to burst into tears.
Turning to his wife “Honey, I think it's time she leaves our burrow. If that’s what she wants” the bottom of his eyes turning into a flood-containing dam.
Thalia’s mother isn’t as restricted as her husband is, leaping towards Thalia, giving her a warm embrace. “Thali, we’re so sorry. You know everything we’ve done was just to protect you right?” she tearfully rubs the bottom of her chin between Thalia’s ears. “You’ll always be my little girl no matter where you go”
Thalia stands there in a frozen shock, trying to return her mother’s hug but she was squeezing too hard and keeping her arms in place. “Mom you’re gonna-.. choke-.. meeee-” Thalia struggles for air.
Her mom quickly releases her from her protective clutches, Thalia’s freedom didn’t last long. Even her father hugs her quickly after, also rubbing the bottom of his chin between Thalia’s ears, his mane tickling Thalia’s entire face.
Oh great, being choked half to death by both of my parents before I leave, just what I hoped for. Thalia notes sarcastically, somewhat relieved they aren’t forbidding her from doing so, instead it looks like they’ve accept her quest for adventure and a star.
Thalia’s dad hugs her for a little white longer, he isn’t one to express much emotions but deep down he is a big softie, whenever he grounded Thalia it never lasted even half as long as he said it would, usually it would barely even be an hour before he felt bad and let her do what she wanted.
“I love you, Thalia.” He finally lets go of his daughter, his eyelids failing to contain the sea of tears swelling within. “Wait here, I’ll give you something to take on the road okay?” he disappears further into their burrow, only to come back with a journal and a charcoal pencil.
“When you come back, I want to hear and read all about your adventure, okay?” he says tearfully, handing the two items to his daughter. “And don’t get so lost you won’t be able to come home.” He jokingly demands, wiping off his tears.
Thalia’s face contorts, she had been holding in tears this whole time too, but she can’t start her adventure with tears. She must be strong. Taking the note to store it in her half full backpack, making sure to rub the underside of her chin onto the cover to claim it as hers.
“Thank you, dad.” she manages to muster, if she tries to say anything more she would surely burst into tears. I’ll write every single interesting thing that happens on my adventure for you. Thalia swears.
“I want to give you something too,” Thalia’s mom adds, taking off a necklace she always has around her neck. “Here, I want this to remind you of home. Though.. it might get entangled into your mane. Make sure you keep it groomed, okay?” She instructs, placing it around her daughter’s neck.
As soon as her mother’s hands leave Thalia’s shoulders, leaving a reminder of the mother she belongs to, Thalia’s eyes swell with tears. No no no! I can’t cry! That’s not how a proper journey starts! She tries her best to stop the ears from flowing.
Looking skywards, letting the tears pool under her eyes but none flow. “Thank you, I will treasure and look after both of your gifts.” With a deep inhale, she faces her parents once more.
“Mom, I love you”
“Dad, I love you too”
Thalia wordlessly turns around, gently opens the door leading out of their burrow. “I’ll come back soon enough, don’t worry about me too much.” She smiles and waves goodbye as she leaves.
“We love you too, honey” her parents wave back, sorrowfully smiling. Their little girl is old enough to leave their burrow.
They can only hope she will be safe.
Dear Journal
Today I stated started my journey. It took me evry everything I had to not cry, a proper jouney can’t begn begin with tears.
I also promised my dad I wold would write down about my journey, nothing hapened happened yet but I’m sure it will be a lot of fun.
Oh great now I have charcoal all over my fingers. Thanks. dad.