CHAPTER 2: BE VEWWY VEWWY QUIET!

"Okay guys, here's the plan," said Frieda to Spike, Andy, and Olaf. "Your brother never wants to fulfill his quota for hunting rabbits. I figure since all of you are here now, especially you, Andy and Olaf now that you live here in Sparkyville, maybe you guys can convince how fun rabbit-hunting can be. I mean you guys HAVE hunted rabbits yourselves, haven't you?"

"Should we tell her that none of us are rabbit hounds?" asked Andy through his thoughts. "I mean at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, we didn't hunt rabbits; we played with them."

"Well some dogs DO hunt rabbits," Spike replied. "Maybe we should humor her. Pretend like we're world-class hunters of the hare."

"Okay, let's go talk to your brother," Frieda continued. And they walked over to Snoopy, who was resting on top of his doghouse.

"Hey Snoopy," said Frieda. "I've been talking with your brothers, and they are excellent rabbit hounds. Maybe if they took you with them to hunt rabbits, you'll see what fun you were missing out on."

"Snoopy, for the record, this wasn't our idea," said Andy.

"I know, fellas," Snoopy replied. "Let's just humor the girl and act like we're hunting said rabbits. Maybe with her dating the round-headed kid she won't report us to the Head Beagle this time."

"I know a group of rabbits in the area that owes me a favor," suggested Olaf.

"Lead the way, brother," said Spike. And Snoopy, Spike, and Andy followed Olaf to where the rabbits were.

"It's working!" said a happy Frieda. Just then, Charlie Brown came out of the house and greeted his girlfriend.

"Hey Frieda," he greeted.

"Oh, hi, sweetie," she said, kissing him when they met.

"What's going on with Snoopy and his brothers?" asked Charlie Brown.

"They're taking Snoopy out hunting for rabbits," Frieda replied. "I figured that if his brothers were good rabbit hounds, maybe it would rub off on Snoopy."

"Really? You know Snoopy is known to be stubborn when it comes to rabbits."

"Well, hopefully, with his brothers influence, that stubbornness will go away. In the meantime, how about we have some breakfast together, baby?"

"Sure, if you don't mind cold cereal."

"I am up for anything, Charlie Brown. Even cold cereal. As long as it's with you." Charlie Brown smiled and he led Frieda to the house so they could enjoy some breakfast together.

A while later, Thibault and Rattler were at the park walking around. He noticed Rattler's sad demeanor. He wondered what was wrong with his girlfriend.

"Hey, Holly," he began. "What's on your mind?"

"Huh?" said Rattler, snapping out of her trance. "Oh, sorry, babe. I had a lot on my mind as of recently."

"I noticed. Care to share what you're thinking about?"

"Well this week it will have been a year since we lost our friend in that confrontation with the Lizard Ladies at the hands of the girl we thought was our friend and comrade."

"You mean that Anaconda girl?"

"Yeah, that's her." Rattler started getting upset, thinking about how that night ended. "While she was aiming for Lucy, Python had pushed her out of the way. That could have been any one of us. What's even sadder than the fact Python died that night is that I thought Anaconda had our backs. She never seemed like the jealous type. How wrong all of us were. Instead of having our backs, she stabbed us in them. I don't know if I'll ever forgive her."

Thibault looked at his girlfriend starting to cry a bit, but was trying to fight off the tears forming in her eyes. Of course he wasn't there when all of the drama went down, as he was back at Melendez Military Academy by the time the Serpent Sisters and Spiders fought the Lizards.

"What happened to the other girl, Tarantula?" he asked.

"She got locked up at Hennepin County Mental Hospital," Rattler continued after regaining her composure. "From what I heard, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Anaconda, meanwhile is in juvie."

"Have you talked to Cobra and see how she was?"

"Not yet. I may call her later, though. And I'll call Mamba as well." And the two of them continued to walk.

Later that evening, Charlie Brown and Frieda were with Sally and Michael watching TV. Snoopy and his brothers and Woodstock all walked in with a bunch of rabbits with them. Charlie Brown was beside himself with shock.

"Good grief, look at all these rabbits!" he said.

"Snoopy, did you find all of these rabbits?!" asked Sally. He and his brothers nodded.

"Good for you, Snoopy!" said a happy Frieda. "I'm so proud of you! There may be hope for you, after all!"

"All right, Snoopy, can you get these things out of the house before mom goes crazy?" said Charlie Brown. And Snoopy and his brothers and Woodstock led the rabbits outside.

"I knew once Snoopy actually tried doing some rabbit-hunting he'd learn to like it," said a proud Frieda.

Once they got back outside and was out of sight of everyone, Olaf paid the rabbits in carrots. He said to them, "Thanks for your help, fellas."

"Hey, no prob, Olaf," said the leader of the rabbits, who had a black spot on his eye. "Just as long as you had the carrots we were on board. If you need any more help, let us know."

"Will do," said Snoopy. "And thanks again." And the rabbits headed back to their meadow, with carrots in mouths.

"And you said it wouldn't work," said Olaf to Andy.

"I said I MIGHT NOT work!" corrected Andy. "I was wrong, okay?"

"Forget it," said Snoopy. "At least Frieda will be off my back for a while. Andy and Olaf, you go back to your owners. Spike and I are heading back to the round-headed kids place." And the beagles went back to their homes for the evening.

NEXT CHAPTER: RECONNECTING