Darkness.
For once, everything was pure darkness, solace from the flashes and flames that reigned only moments ago. Like all good things, though, it did not last, and with a gasping breath, a figure shrouded in the dim shadows of the night opened their eyes and sat up to a scene of horror. All around them, yellow flashes like small stars sent waves of lead over their head and into the droves of others charging forward from behind. It wasn't until a distant pop and bright white light of an artillery flare that this figure took form. Clad in the traditional green uniform of the motherland was a teenage bunny, just barely able to be conscripted. Her purple eyes now shined in the light, grey fur matted and caked with mud and grime from days upon months of fighting. She was soon broken out of her trance by the thwack of a bullet passing only inches from her ear, prompting her to drop to her stomach and reach for her discarded rifle and helmet.
Clasping her worn helm over her head, long ears folding back into what little protection it gave them, she checked her weapon, an old Mousen-Nagant small mammal bolt-action rifle, for any damage. Before getting even one shot off to defend herself from the wall of fire, she heard the order, "CHARGE! Comrades of the Prey Union, onwards for the Motherland!" Knowing she would be shot if she was to retreat, she crawled forward, having fought in a few battles before and understanding how to survive.
Many of her fellow bunnies of the 188th Rabbit Rifle Division rushed forward blindly, merely conscripts because of their great number and aptitude for raising many new, young soldiers quickly. She pitied them, rookies who hadn't seen how to properly wage war and make it back alive. Look how far I've come. Spotting a predator MG emplacement, she quickly took aim and fired, hoping her aim was true and she could offer her comrades some chance at survival.
She was given some measure of satisfaction as the sawing sound of the MG-42 came to a stop while she cycled the bolt, readying another shot. Beginning her slow crawl over the mud yet again, she let the thought cross her mind again of Why. Why was there even this senseless war? Couldn't predators and prey live in peace, not killing each other for the sake of sheer differences? She scoffed, banishing the thought to her subconscious yet again. The battlefield is no place to focus on what-ifs.
She was getting close to the Predator entrenchments, so much that she could hear the shouting of their soldiers, firing away into the now dwindling mass of rabbit conscripts. She knew she only had two options, retreat to her own lines and be executed for cowardice or resign herself to her fate and take a few of the heartless murderers with her. She chose the latter, drawing bayonet from scabbard and quickly fixing it onto the end of her weapon. Making it as close as possible to the enemy emplacements as she could, she took one last calming breath before standing and rushing into their lines.
Finding a wall of sandbags and Predators in their grey uniforms, she leapt over and thrust her blade into the closest enemy, ending him before they knew what hit them. As the surrounding soldiers began to react, she impaled another in the gut, losing hold of her rifle in the process and drawing her personal blade. Despite keeping an air of confidence and hostility, as the predators drew near and circled her, she became afraid. It was a primal instinct, she wanted to run, but knew she could not, and that she would end up dead in a few short moments. She started to pray, to any god that would listen, wishing for some sort of mercy or forgiveness.
In a way, her wish was granted, as suddenly, she sensed herself falling forward, and the images of the soldiers around her faded.
Darkness.
*LB*
AN:
EDIT: Corrected Typo.
Hello everyone and welcome to a new fanfic! I hope you enjoyed this prologue chapter, there is definitely more to come in the near future. As for my other two stories, I have decided to take a step back from them and re-evaluate, then come back at a later date, so consider them on temporary hiatus.
As always, enjoy, and please leave a favorite, follow, and review! It helps a ton.
-BookSurgeon