The Tale of the Black Rabbit
Chapter One
A black rabbit doe lay in a burrow, crying out from birth pain. She knew that despite the intense pain, there would only be one kitten, a male. She gave one loud shriek, and rested her head on the grass. She breathed deeply, relishing the feeling that came with one's first litter. If one kitten could be called a litter. The kitten, like its mother, was completely black. Its eyes had not opened yet. It breathed, its tiny chest expanding with each new breath. She gingerly curved her neck, and nuzzled it, falling back with the effort. The little rabbit slept on, oblivious to the world that awaited it. As well as its destiny.
The next morning, the doe, who was named Foxfire, lay feeding her kitten. Another doe entered. Her name was Holly, a friend of Foxfire. She watched the suckling kitten for a time with gentle brown eyes. After a moment she looked at Foxfire. "Very healthy. What do you call him?"
Foxfire looked down at her black kitten. "I was thinking about Inlé."
Holly nodded. The word meant night, and the kitten was most likely named for his fur, which was as dark as the night without moon or stars. "A good name. When is his father going to see him?"
Foxfire shook her head. "There is no father."
Holly's eyes widened. "You never mated?"
Foxfire shook her head. "I am capable of raising one kitten by myself."
Holly smiled gently. "If you say so."
She left the two alone, and Inlé fed in peace.
Days passed. Before too long Inlé was able to go above ground to silflay with his mother. He made a friend on his first day, a young buck named Moss. One day happened though, that would change his life.
It started out as a normal day; Inlé was feeding with his mother, Moss and his mother Hyzen near them. Two large male rabbits came up to them, and one dealt Moss a hard cuff. As the young rabbit rolled, the bigger buck sneered. "This is our spot, runt. Clear off."
Hyzen placed herself between Moss and the two bucks. The one that had struck Moss sneered again. "Huh. Protecting your runt, eh? You'd best clear off too, before it ends badly."
"What's going on here?"
The six rabbits turned, Inlé looking up briefly from his feeding to watch the strong, scarred rabbit that had intervened. He looked up at his mother. "Who is that, Mama?"
Foxfire rubbed her nose behind her son's ear. "Captain Tussock. Now watch him, Inlé. You might learn something."
The two bucks attempted to look casual. "Nothing's wrong, Captain. Everything's fine."
Tussock's eyes took in Moss, rising and shaking his head. There was already a bruise forming. The eyes snapped back to the two bucks, who were attempting to sneak away. "Fine, eh? You're both under arrest."
The two stopped and angrily faced the Owsla Captain. "Why?"
"For assaulting a kitten. You will be taken before the Chief Rabbit. Now."
As if from nowhere, burly Owsla rabbits appeared from the grass and surrounded the two. They were led off, protesting volubly.
Inlé nudged Moss gingerly with his nose. "Are you okay?"
Moss nodded. "As much as I can be."
Inlé smiled. Even at this early age, Moss was tough.
That night, Inlé was asleep in the burrow when he woke. There was no inkling of his mother's warmth near him. He crept to the hole, hoping to go out and look for her, when he heard voices.
"You do know that there is a reason I brought you up here, Foxfire?"
"I do, Tussock. You are worried about Inlé and I and how I will be able to take care of him without a mate to teach him the skills he needs."
There was surprise in the captain's voice. "Yes. I've been debating this since you lost your first mate, and I-I, uh…"
Inlé noted that his mother's voice was faintly amused. "Captain, are you asking me to mate with you? It's past the season."
There was a sigh from Tussock. "Maybe. But, I was slightly envious of Hemlock when he won you, and his last wish to me was to mate with you, to take care of you."
"There's another reason, Tussock. You love me, come out with it."
Tussock sighed again. "Yes. Ever since I first saw you, I've been admiring you. You're calm, kind, and caring."
Inlé poked his head up from the burrow's entrance, and saw his mother and Tussock nuzzling each other. He cocked his head for a moment, then went back in and went to sleep. Shortly after, he was joined by double the heat. Foxfire had a mate once more.
