The Rabbit's Gift by Jessica Vitalis

Author:Jessica Vitalis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2022-08-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine: Quincy

I hopped off the back of the carriage the moment it stopped in front of an enormous home far out in the country. A comfy ledge packed with luggage had allowed me to rest during the trip. As my body had recovered, my courage renewed. Before long, I’d be back at the Warren, my reputation shining brighter than a star in the nighttime sky.

The girl exited the carriage, a Chou-shaped bundle in her arms. She chatted with a smaller but more weathered-looking woman. My ears perked up when the older woman revealed that several Chou hadn’t been delivered last night. Chesney had said it would be business as usual, but Durrell’s call for a strike had apparently stirred up trouble.

I couldn’t worry about that now. The girl (whose name I’d finally learned was Fleurine) took off around the side of the house. I followed, taking care to remain far enough behind so as not to alert her to my presence.

She didn’t so much as look back as she made her way around a garden and down a twisting path, stopping when she reached a little clearing.

She sank to her knees, set the Chou down, and used a stick to begin digging. With a little luck, she’d poke her eye out. I felt bad for wishing her ill, but she was the enemy. Because of her, I was the scourge of the Warren.12 Even if I had the chance to begin the pre-ripening process for her, I wouldn’t. This girl didn’t deserve the Chou—she was nothing more than a thief.

As soon as she returned to the house, I’d make my move. The Chou and I would be back at the Warren before nightfall.

The girl finished patting the dirt down around the Chou.

Go on, I thought. Off with you.

Instead of leaving, she curled up and started whispering plans for their life together, promises of the relationship they’d have.

What a bunch of rotten carrots!

I needed a diversion.

I’d passed a mud daubers’ nest closer to the garden. It was risky, but if I could get it over here without upsetting the wasps inside, it could buy me enough time to dig up the Chou. (Any guilt I might have felt at causing the girl harm was more than outweighed by the fact that she’d brought all this on herself. Besides, the transport rabbits reported that humans had all sorts of magical healing potions they called medicine—she’d be fine.)

I slowly backed away from the clearing and retraced my paw prints, pausing when I came upon the nest. It rested on the ground, four hollow tubes molded out of mud.

I sucked in a deep breath. If I was going to save the Chou, if I was going to redeem myself, this was something I had to do.

Footsteps sounded in the garden. Please, Great Maman Rabbit, let this work.

I bent over and slowly, carefully, lifted the nest from the ground.

The footsteps moved toward the path.

Holding the nest out in front of me, I began hopping as smoothly as I could manage.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.