I've been working on this one for a long time. I hope you like it!

To Defy the Black Rabbit's Call

Chapter One: Alone…

The darkness was suffocating her. She tried to run but her legs were unresponsive. She tried to scream but no sound came out. Suddenly a blood-curdling screech sliced the humid, summer air. Iris reared up onto her hind legs and clawed at an invisible enemy. The darkness pressed down deeper and smothered everything, like jaws closing on her throat.

Suddenly a jolt snapped through her body. Iris opened her eyes quickly and blinked to adjust to the dim light in the scrapem her body just barely regaining feeling after the stupefying dream. With a mind-clearing shake, the doe stepped into the powerful afternoon sun and let it soak her chilled body.

Her ears strained to hear a faint gasp. Ice was flowing in her veins instantly. Part of her knew what was coming but she hoped it wasn't true. For a moment, Iris couldn't see straight and it seemed she'd stepped from her own body and was seeing herself and the scene before her from far, far away. The terrible screech she'd heard in the dream was suddenly here.

Iris forced herself to look across the meadow before her. She felt a painful lurch as she registered a weasel crouched over two motionless rabbit bodies. Iris felt numb as one of them, no more than an whisker's length from death, look deep into her own eyes with all the love of a mother, the sorrow of never seeing her young again and the anger for her murderer that loomed over her now.

The other younger rabbit was Iris's only brother, Hawktalon, who was already dead. His face was twisted into a snarl of hate and Iris knew he died fighting. Rage flushed through Iris. She silently watched in horrid fascination, her legs frozen still. A thought of her other sister crossed her mind momentarily. Rose was nowhere to be seen.

A sudden gust of wind blew against Iris's back. Her scent was carried on the breeze to the weasel. It lifted its head, brow creased in concentration. By the time the scent was recognized, Iris was long gone. The weasel grinned at the fleeing rabbit. A chase would be fun. The creature took off astonishingly quickly, a mere blur of gray and brown.

Iris didn't slow down to look back. She kept running as fast as her five-month old legs would carry her, but it wasn't fast enough. The weasel was closing the gap between them. Its mouth watered as it imagined closing its jaws on the doe's throat.

Iris felt hot breath on her heels. She was becoming tired and her body screamed in pain to make her stop and rest. She closed her watering eyes to prepare for the attack. Claws and teeth hit mercilessly and Iris gave a very un-rabbit like howl of agony. She thrashed for all it was worth, fueled by rage and fear.

The weasel struggled to get his claws anywhere. Iris kicked her hind feet relentlessly. If Iris was going to die, she was taking the weasel with her. The attacker was becoming light-headed from the loss of blood. Iris seized the opportunity. She clawed mercilessly at its throat. Its breath came out in ragged gasps. With one frightening death-shudder, it collapsed onto Iris. The doe wiggled out from under the dead creature and fell down next to it, completely exhausted.

The doe eventually forced her to her aching paws. She felt light-headed but was determined to find a safe burrow to clean herself in. Iris settled in a burnt out tree with one opening at the base. By the time she found the tree, she was too tired to do much else. Iris gave a very bunny-like flop onto her side. She was determined to stay awake, terrified of never waking up.

After an agonizing resting period, a voice blew gently through the trees. " … Iris … come to me, Iris … leave the fleshy body and be free with me, Iris … It is your time," the serene voice called. Iris was frozen in fear. The Black Rabbit of Inle was waiting for her spirit.

Iris whispered, trembling then her voice grew into a strange roar. "No! No, no, no! This is not my time!" The doe wailed as she attempted to force herself onto aching paws. Her brown eyes were glazed and yet held a clear shine of determination. Her mind scoured her memories for a way to reason with the living shadow when Iris snapped. A insane grin crawled onto her face and a small chuckle escaped her mouth.

"No, Black Rabbit of Death, it is not my time."

Then it was as if Iris could feel its emotions on the very air. There was dull shock, followed by an almost resentfl sting.

"Very well then. Next time we meet, you will not be able to wriggle out of my grasp with simple will-power." Then the voice was gone and the emotions vanished. Iris simply stared in amazement. She was the first and only rabbit to defy the Black Rabbit. A numbness came into the doe and she fell limply on her side, into a deep sleep.

I've had this story in my head for, like years. I was horified when someone posted a story with nearly the same plot and the exact same character name! Sorry to whoever posted that! The next chapters are much better, longer too. Please tell me what you think!