Chapter 2:

On the Edge of Tharn



The storm had all but ended now, the only trace of its existence being torn tree limbs and man things scattered on the ground. Zenthlay looked around their little safe haven and then nudged Balm. He was snoring loudly, and kicked out, hitting Zenthlay in the arm with his hind legs. "Geesh Balm!" she growled. "Seriously, how could have you fallen asleep during that?"



Balm shrugged and covered up a sheepish look with a gigantic yawn. "Well I was tired so I fell asleep, simple as that," he explained, and headed out silf without a worry in the world. "Boy it was much, much too cramped in there," the larger buck motioned for his sister to come out.



Zenthlay warily exited out of the burrow and sighed at her brother. She sometimes wondered how he would make it in the world without her. I mean, she had nothing against him and all, but he seemed kind of, well, dense would be the nice was to put it.

She looked around the forest, surveying the damage. It appeared the tornado had ripped right past them, only missing their hollow by a couple of metres. The trees were devastated, and those that weren't uprooted completely had limbs dangling in a queer sort of fashion. "I'd hate to see whatever had done this," Zenthlay shuddered, "surely it must have been something even greater the power of the black rabbit." She looked to the sky, which held not the faint trace of the storm anymore. "How can Frith protect us against something this devastating?" the brown doe asked her brother, motioning to the destroyed trees.



"Uhhh…well…." Balm shook his fur causing raindrops to splatter across the ground. "Wait, what did you ask me again?" he blinked and scratched his ears with his hind leg and stared at Zenthlay blankly.



Zenthlay shook her body, "Balm, pay attention," she sighed, but was too weary to reprimand him again. The storm had drawn on her last nerve, and she was just sick of him now. It wasn't difficult to deny that the only reason she was sticking around at this warren was because she didn't think it would be wise to bring Balm anywhere where he could get eaten by elil. With his intellect, he would probably walk right up to a homba and offer give him an easy meal. Or maybe kill himself for a starving pheffa. Zenthlay snorted at the thought but she could just see him doing something like that.



Balm perked up and broke Zenthlay's train of thought by speaking, "Hey sis, lookie over there!" he squealed like a little kit.



The brown doe closed her eyes in utter annoyance at the childishness of Balm's attitude, but curiosity overcame her and she looked over to where Balm had lollopped too. He was sniffing some kind of man object. It was all silver and shiny, what on earth could it be? Zenthlay gingerly ran her paw over the slender piece of plastic that contained many little buttons.



"BRRIIING!" the man object chimed and Zenthlay jumped back a couple of feet. "For Frith's sake, it's alive!" she said anxiously to Balm.



Balm looked at the man-object. "Well, what are we going to do with it? It sounds like it needs help; we can't just let it die."



The brown doe shook her head. "No," she snapped, "We don't assist man-creatures; they try to kill us, why should we save one of their own? I say we leave it alone." Zenthlay turned and began to head up the rise of the hill towards the warren. She was almost in a trace, as she swallowed loudly, her throat completely parched. She felt a little shaky and just wanted to get away from that weird man creature. As Zenthlay made her way up the slight slope in the hill, a sinking feeling entered her heart. Zenthlay halted in her tracks and stared in despair at what lay before her. The doe's features froze in anguish as her lips opened in a silent scream. She flung her body around and dashed the opposite way, as quickly as possible, oblivious to what was taking place in the outside world.



Balm let go of the man thing he had begun to drag towards Zenthlay, and surveyed the area quickly. There were no elil anywhere, what in Frith's good name was she doing? "Zenthlay!" the muscular, yet sleek buck called out. Seeing as she had no intention of stopping and had now engaged into a zig-zag pattern, thoughts wheezed through Balm's head. He squinted his eyes and caressed his temples, debating the best solution. He watched the tharn Zenthlay reel past him, and then something deep inside cracked. Balm launched himself after his sibling. The fit buck was soon upon Zenthlay and pinned her to the unforgiving ground.



The terrified doe's eyes fluttered wildly as she focused her gaze on Balm and glared at him.



Balm retracted from his position, intimidated by Zenthlay, and released his grip on her. Cripes! What was he doing? Zenthlay amply took control of the opportunity and dashed away again. All she was thinking about was getting as far away as she possibly could. It was true Zenthlay had more brains than Balm, but he had the edge physically.



"Zenthlay! Zenthlay!" Balm screamed as he resumed the chase of his sister. "Stop it! What's wrong with you? I'm sorry??!!" he shouted in desperation.



Suddenly, Zenthlay halted in her tracks. The brown rabbit's sides heaved with immense effort. Balm had been so intent on 'saving' Zenthlay that he smashed head-first into her with full force when she stopped.



Zenthlay went flying a couple of feet, and then slid through the dirt on her stomach. She lay there, unwilling to move. It was too much effort.



Balm bashfully hopped over to Zenthlay and gave her an apologetic smile. "Oops, my bad," he chuckled and then offered a paw to help Zenthlay up.



Sides heaving painfully and ears flickering angrily, Zenthlay averted her gaze from Balm and ignored his offer. She tucked her paws under her weary body and slowly pushed herself up off the filthy ground. She stared at Balm for a couple of minutes, with cold unblinking eyes. Zenthlay sighed like the weight of the entire world was burdening down on her. She just couldn't believe that Frith was still looking out for his people, now it was just too… "Okay Balm, can you repeat for me the most important thing I've ever told you please?"



"Bah…Well that would be…" Balm blinked and raised a forepaw to scratch his head in confusion. He didn't ever remember her telling him anything that important, but then again, his mind did tend to wander sometimes when his attention wasn't captured right away. Oh a butterfly! Balm's gaze transferred to the monarch which fluttered delicately through the air and then plummeted to the ground with conviction. What happened to it? Why had that beautiful creature just died so suddenly, so unexpectedly? A look of absolute horror crossed the buck's face as he shook his head. One could never figure out the fickle cruelness of the vast world.



Balm's sister watched the other rabbit and signed deeply, exhaling a cold, harsh breath that froze her lungs. She looked at Balm, and examined his crinkled brown and confused eyes. The poor buck didn't deserve to know about what had happened, it was all too horrible. Zenthlay squeezed her eyes tight as a single tear found its way down her furry cheek.



"Is something the matter, sis?" Balm asked as he playfully swatted at the brown doe's sagging ears.



Zenthlay's body shuddered, and she turned to face the young buck. He was so innocent and unaware, it wrenched her heart. The female swallowed, her throat parched. "Zorn…" she managed to choke out. "Completely, utterly zorn."