The fox was fast but the bunnies were faster. A flood of white fur and bushy tails enveloped the fox and his progress was hindered to the point where he could no longer move. The bunnies circled the predator threatening to attack.
“Why don’t you just leave us alone? You’re a predator! A murderer!” one of the rabbits called out to the fox.
“I-I am sorry. I was only trying to eat you!” the fox pleaded. He really was sorry, as he knew he was not supposed to eat bunnies. It was just that they tasted so good.
“We understand. But you have to stop.” the rabbit furthest away said softly.
“I will, I promise.” the fox said and meant it. He just wanted to not be eaten anymore. He wanted to live in harmony with all animals. He wanted to be accepted by them.
The bunnies circled the fox and walked in closer to him. He saw they all had kind eyes, as they were different sizes. The biggest was as big as a medium sized dog and the smallest seemed like it was more like a rabbit. They all looked so peaceful, kind and cute. They didn’t see the challenge in what they were going to do. No, the fox just wanted to get out of this situation.
“Mandy, do you think we should scare them or shall we just give them food to make them go away?” one of the bunnies asked in a calm tone. It was a rabbit who seemed to be the mother of the group.
“I think they need food.” another rabbit said. The fox stared at the rabbit that was talking, he seemed more like a girl than a bunny. But foxes were very bad at reading the gender of humans. And, the fox made a note that she seemed very kind.
“I think it’s best if we scare them.” another bunny sounded very tough. It was a bigger bunny that seemed to be male.
“Oh, don’t say that. They look very sad and frightened.” another rabbit said, this one seemed to be a smaller bunny.
The fox couldn’t take it anymore. He just wanted the bunnies to stop talking. “STOP IT!” he yelled.
The bunnies stared at him in silence. They all had kind eyes and soft ears. The one that appeared to be a girl smiled at him. She had very pretty eyes, and foxes were known to be attracted to that. They never knew it, but it was a very bad thing to get stuck attracted to them.
“I think that’s enough food for now. What do you say?” the female rabbit said. Her ears stood up straight and her tail looked very proud as a mother's.
“I understand.” the fox stated. “I just would like to say I’m sorry.”
The bunnies stared at him blankly. The only sound was the grass cutting by the mother's large feet. The fox took a few steps back. As he was about to turn tail and run a big, creamy white bunny stepped in front of him. She looked like a giant bunny. She must've been close to reaching two feet high and two feet wide.
“We accept your apology but you won’t ever be forgiven.” she said in a very soft but firm tone.
“Huh?” the fox asked hoping he might have misheard. He didn’t.
“You have to pay for all the animals you have killed in your life.” the white bunny said. “But, we don’t want to hurt you. However, if we did this to you, you wouldn’t be able to live much longer.”
The fox stared at the bunny. He hoped he didn’t really hear everything she said. But as he looked at the mother and the others, he could see in their eyes that it was true. He was scared.
“Close your eyes.” the white bunny said. The fox did so. He didn’t feel any different. He smelled the bunnies, he could see the grass and he could hear the wind blowing, but nothing else. Not a single thing hurt. And yet, he could feel himself getting a little taller and straighter. After a few moments, he felt his body getting lighter, as if he was floating.
“You can look now.”
The fox opened his eyes. He was laying on his back looking at the sky. He stood up and looked around. He wasn’t on a lawn anymore. He was on a dirt road. He looked around himself. He didn’t see his tiny body anymore. Instead, there was a black wolf standing on all four paws next to him. Its ears were very pointy and the whole body of the wolf was covered with a brown, short fur. Both the wolf and the fox made a fist and knocked on each other’s fists.
“Welcome to the bunny hole, my new friend.” the white bunny said to the wolf who stood before her. The wolf smiled. It didn’t feel scarred anymore. It felt whole. It felt it belonged. It felt to be safe there. It was in the best place it could ever be.
Gina and Ran both got up from where they sat when they finished reading the story. Ran gasped as she read it was a wolf. She had to get out and have some fun.
