Chapter Text
The sun was a warm, golden coin in the sky, and the mountain forest was a giant, leafy umbrella. Little bunny Wei Wuxian, a ball of greyish-brown fluff with eyes like sparkling drops of midnight, was having the best adventure all by himself.
He was a very busy bunny. He chased a bright orange butterfly, his long ears flopping with every joyful hop. He sniffed a patch of clover, his tiny pink nose twitching so fast it was a blur. He was just about to practice his best, most impressive hop over a mossy log when he heard it.
A tiny, sad sound. A whimper.
Wei Wuxian’s ears perked straight up. He froze mid-hop, one paw in the air. What was that?
He poked his head around a big fern and his heart gave a little squeeze. Underneath a drooping fern frond lay another bunny. This bunny was the most beautiful, perfect white Wei Wuxian had ever seen, like a little cloud that had fallen to earth. But the cloud was in trouble.
The white bunny’s back leg was held at a funny angle, and a little red trickle stained his pristine fur. One of his long, velvety ears was floppy and wouldn’t stand up properly. His eyes were a soft, gentle grey, but they were squeezed shut in pain.
“Oh no!” Wei Wuxian squeaked, hopping over as fast as he could. He flopped down beside the hurt bunny. “Hey! Hey, little cloud! Are you okay?”
The white bunny’s eyes fluttered open. They were so sad and scared. He tried to scramble away, but a sharp whimper of pain stopped him.
“Don’t move!” Wei Wuxian said, his voice full of concern. “I’m Wei Wuxian! I’m the best bunny in the whole forest, and I’m going to help you.”
The white bunny just blinked at him with those watery grey eyes, his small body trembling.
Wei Wuxian’s mind raced. He looked around. Big leaves! He hopped over to a broad, waxy plant and used his teeth to carefully clip off two of the biggest leaves. He hopped back and gently, so very gently, placed one leaf over the cut on the white bunny’s leg. The little bunny flinched but didn’t cry out.
“Shhh, shhh,” Wei Wuxian cooed, his voice softer than a dandelion seed. “I know it hurts. But this will help. My Lan Zhan—er, I mean, a friend I know—he says leaves are good for boo-boos. See? All better!”
It wasn’t a real bandage, but it covered the blood, and that was something. For the ear, Wei Wuxian carefully, tenderly, used his little paws to push the floppy ear back up and held it there for a moment, as if willing it to stay.
“There,” he whispered. “You look much more handsome with your ear up. You are very handsome, you know. Like a little snow prince.”
A tiny, fragile blush seemed to dust the white bunny’s cheeks. He seemed to understand Wei Wuxian’s kindness. He stopped trembling.
“Now,” Wei Wuxian declared, puffing out his small chest. “We need to get you home. I can’t carry you… I’m too little. But I can stay with you! I’ll be your guard bunny!”
He settled himself down, curling his soft body right up against the hurt bunny. He was a warm, fuzzy shield. He kept talking, his voice a cheerful, reassuring stream.
“I’ll find you the best dandelions! And the sweetest clover. We’ll be best friends, okay? You can be quiet and I can be loud, and we’ll balance each other out.”
He stayed with the white bunny for what felt like a very long time. He told him silly stories about a frog who thought he was a dragon, and he even sang a little song his mother used to sing, a cheerful, nonsensical tune that seemed to make the white bunny’s eyes grow less pained. When the white bunny finally started to doze, his small body relaxing into Wei Wuxian’s warmth, Wei Wuxian felt a fierce, proud warmth in his own heart. He protected him.
Eventually, they heard a rustle in the forest. A beautiful, majestic pure white rabbit with a ribbon on its ear appeared, followed by a group of other white rabbits. The mama bunny’s eyes widened with alarm and then softened with relief.
Wei Wuxian scrambled to his feet. “Oh! Are you his mother? I found him! He was hurt, but I stayed with him! I got him a leaf bandage and I kept him company! I’m Wei Wuxian!”
The big white rabbit gave him a grateful look and a gentle nuzzle on the top of his head, a silent thank you. She then carefully nudged the little white bunny, who woke with a sleepy blink.
As they were lifted and carried away, the little white bunny, now being gently held by his mother, turned his head. He looked back at the little grey bunny standing all alone on the forest floor, and he gave the smallest, shyest hop of his good leg.
Wei Wuxian’s face broke into a brilliant smile. He waved his paw frantically. “Bye, little cloud! Be careful! Don’t forget your new friend!”
And though no words were said, as the white bunny was carried out of sight, his grey eyes, now clear of pain, met Wei Wuxian’s dark ones one last time. A promise sparkled between them. The story of a brave little grey bunny and his new, quiet little snow prince had just begun.