Originally posted 23 November-24 December, 1999. This story takes place soon after Fitting In and partially coincides with The Search for Eugene. Parts 1-8 of this story are also parts 6-13 of The Search for Eugene, which should be read before this story.
©1999 by Scott Bernier
First HTML-ized 28-29 December, 1999
Like all my other stories for 1999, this one is interrelated with the others.
Return to Scott's devilbunnies stories homepage.
Catherine cautiously stared out the window into the yard. She had scouted out the farm for several days before slipping into the house and her room. In the yard below she watched small patrols of devilbunnies enter and exit a paw-dug warren entrance. Thirty-nine, forty devilbunnies she counted. She was infuriated. Not only did these buns drive her family and friends from her home, they decided to move in.
"I'll show them what happens to those who trespass on the Blake farm." (STOMP!) Cathy turns around and glances at the pelt in her sleeping hollow. "Isn't that right, hon?" (gigglefluff)
That night, the bun on nightwatch at the warren entrance stood alert and called out his challenge as he saw the stranger bun approach. "Hault! State your business." (STOMP!)
(shimmywigglefluffbatseyelash)
(BOINK!)
"Hello, handsome," the brown doe whispered. "Stuck all alone out here in the cold? Maybe," (wink) "I can help.." (nipeartip) "keep you warm." She (shimmywiggled) against the buck and nuzzled his cheek.
(BOINK!BOINK!) The buck's heart fluttered as the doe giggled lightly. He finally caught his breath and semi-composed himself. "You shouldn't be out here. There are Fouriers about." (STOMP!)
The doe (shudderfluffed) at the mention of the word, Fouriers and looked about fearfully. "What's a doe to do?!" she stammered in a panicked tone. "I...I don't want to get killed and eaten..." she stared at him with her big brown dewy eyes, blinking back fear-inspired tears.
(suspiciousfluff) "Where are you from?"
Tears began to flow freely from the doe's eyes. "I'm lost, cold and scared. When I saw you I knew you could help me...and now you tell me they are about," (scaredfluff) "what's a doe to do!" she was beginning to turn frantic. "Where do I turn to for help?!"
The buck couldn't help seeing a doe under duress. He (bunnyhugged) her and calmed her down, whispering reassurances in her ear. "I'll take you inside and get you a nice warm burrow and some food. We'll talk to the commander in the morning."
(shimmywiggleshaketailbateyelash) "Maybe you can help warm me up in that burrow..."
(BOINK!) The buck briefly lost his composure again. "I...I can't. I have my duty to perform. I must guard the entrance."
(scuffpaw) "You know it wouldn't take long..." (suggestivenibble) She nuzzled him such that he would get a head full of her scent and then looked at him with those huge bambi-eyes again. "I'm sure you won't be missed, big guy...and you know, you get to be on top." (bunnyhug) While still embracing him she whispered in his ear, "How long would you have?"
The buck relaxed as he replied, "My relief isn't for several hours," (poutfluff) "night shift can be so..." *POP* The buck, minus his head, dropped out of Catherine's grasp.
"Good, that means I'll have plenty of time to do my work," (gigglefluff) she commented as the guardbun's head landed 12 feet away from the entrance. With blood from the guard dripping on her dewlap, Cathy turned towards the warren entrance and hopped in whispering a Fudd battle hymn.
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Cathy yawned exposing her fangs as the water ran over her from the shower. She was thankful for the farm's back-up generator as the homestead's power and phone had not been reconnected yet. Without it, there would have been no running water in the bathroom, never mind hot water for her shower.
The last of the blood rinsed down the drain as she shut the water off and grabbed a hand towel, which was more then enough for a doe her size to dry off with. She almost felt like she was going into heat after the act she had to put on last night for the few bucks who were awake. She couldn't believe there wasn't a single doe in the warren.
Cathy yawned again as she brushed her fur in the mirror. She was very thankful that Dad had a bun-size bathroom installed just off her and Julie's room in the farmhouse. Julie...Callie must be a proud mother by now, she thought to herself as she combed out the last of the small knots that had been made in her fur from the tight warren tunnels. They must be what? Three, four months old now....she pondered on it for a moment and grimaced as she brushed too close to the one wound she received in the cleaning out of the warren. It wasn't big enough to stitch, but was deep. She'd have to watch it closely and make sure it didn't become infected.
She turned her thoughts again to her sister and her litter. (shockfluff) No! They were nearly half-grown! Had she been away that long??? Yes, it has been that long. She hadn't seen her sister since April and she had just announced her pregnancy then...that meant the kits were born in May....six months ago. Cathy sagged her head a moment. Her captivity and indecisions had cost her six months, a long time for a bunny. No wonder none of her passwords worked on the laptop she had kept in secret storage under the floorboards in the back corner of her room.
Cathy froze as she sensed another presence in the room. She whipped around and stared at a small, nervously twitching buck. *How did I miss one?* flashed through her mind briefly as she stared at the newcomer, a snowshoe hare.
"Hhhowww cccOoOmmMee tThHehyey diDidnt hHhuuUrrRrttrt yYyyOouu?" (scaredfluff)
Cathy relaxed a little, it was a regbun. She could smell his fear from across the room. There was also something about him...something she liked. She tried to push the thoughts aside.
"WwwHhhaAaattt aaArrReeE weE tTtoowoo ddoo? Iii kkKnnNoooOwww iIitT waSses Dddaa fFofuR! IiIi fFooOunNded aAaLll MmmYyy fFrRiiEendS DeaaAddEd aAnNDdd tHeEiiR FfuR wWwaAssS mIiiSssing." (scaredfluff) "IiI dDdinont wWwaaAanNtT tToo gGiTTet kKilLleEd aaAnNnDd eEaaTten."
Cathy hopped towards the regbun buck. (motherlyfluff) "What's your name?"
"JjjooEyey," he replied without question, recognizing the alpha-tone in Cathy's voice.
"They call me Cathy. You wait right here, I'll check things out." Cathy hopped out of the room and down the stairs. She made her way out into the yard and scouted about, knowing the scared regbun was probably watching her from the window. She entered the warren and sniffed about. Good, no other buns about. How did she miss this regbun? She waited a little bit and hopped back to the house, eventually making her way up the stairs.
She stared at the buck with shock-filled eyes. "They're all dead! And like you said, they've been skinned. It does look like Fourier work."
"YyooOouuU ssSounNd lIikeE aAnan aaLllpaha, CcaaaAthEyY. WwilLil yYouU ppProTect mMeeE?" (nervouseartwitch)
Cathy closed the door behind her. "We'll protect each other, Joey. Fouriers are mean, but stupid. They didn't think to look inside this old Fudd house when they attacked. It must have happened as I was using the shower. I tried the commlink in the warren, it's dead. All we can do is bunk down and wait for help to come, surely others will come looking when we don't report in." (reassurefluff) She glances slightly past him and is thankful she had remembered to pack the pelt away before attacking the warren.
"YuyouuU Thtinnk Ssoosoo?"
Cathy (noddles). "And I know just how to pass the time too." (wink) She pulls the bottle of chocolate syrup from behind her back and squirts some at Joey who yelps in surprise at first and then (BOINKS!) as she drizzles it on her own fur.
[alt.dbs OFF] I don't know how Whiskers, the regular bunny, can type like that. It hurts! [alt.dbs ON]
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Cathy slowly drifted back into consciousness. She felt warm, warmer then she had in a long time, not since her days as a kit when she and Julie had shared the same sleeping hollow...She felt somebun snuggle against her and she snapped fully awake. Joey was there, cuddled-up asleep beside her. She looked about. She was in her room in the farmhouse and from the looks of the long shadows outside the window, it must have been late afternoon.
(panicfluff) Did she? She couldn't have! She couldn't remember. She must have been more tired then she thought. Her stirring about woke-up Joey. He yawned and looked over at her, playfully nibbling her ear.
"What happened?" she asked him.
(poutfluff) "Iii''Mm aa gGgooDd bBubuckk." (STOMP!) "YyOuu MmUmssst Hahveve BbbEeeeEN tiRreded, 'cAuCSe yYyouuuU fFeelll aAAasssSSlelEep AssASas I cCLlEeaAnNneded dDdaa Chohcholaljtate OouOUtTtt OffF yYOuuyrR fuFufr."
"Did you..." (glare)
(indignantfluff) "nNnEeVeeer!" (STOMP!) "Iii''Mm aa gGgooDd bBubuckk."
Inwardly, Cathy felt relieved, but a small part of her deep, deep down...she pushed the thought aside. She gathered her thoughts as she stretched, extending her claws. Joey looked on impressively, but behaved himself like the good regbun he said he was.
"Shower?" She wiggled suggestively and hopped into the bathroom with Joey following.
As they toweled off, she was impressed. The buck continued to show restraint. She figured he would have tried something in the shower, especially the way she rubbed against him with their two bodies soaped down. She paused for a moment. *WHAT AM I DOING?!? Why am I trying to attract the regbun? Do I want kits that bad??!*
Joey noticed her pause and nuzzled her worriedly, but remained silent.
"Hungry, Joey?"
(noddle)
"Then let's see what we can find in the Fudd kitchen downstairs." Cathy led the way down with Joey following almost like a faithful dog.
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Cathy stayed clear of the fridge, having seen the growing mess in there the previous day. You could tell the battle had taken place a month previous. She did find some elbow macaroni and a jar of spaghetti sauce under the counter and got a pot heating on the stove, not an easy feat considering it was a human-size appliance. As the water began to boil, Cathy found some flour and began to make a batch of quick biscuits to place in the oven. Joey watched in fascination, never having watched anybun cook before.
Dinner was on the table in thirty minutes. Joey dug hungrily into the macaroni in mushroom spaghetti sauce. He didn't complain about the lack of meat, but praised Cathy's cooking.
"YyYouuU'Vve bBbeeEenn sSosoo NnNIcicCE tTotOW MmEeE, CcaaaAthEyY. IiI WiwWiShsh IiI wawWSass aAnan aaLllpaha llLiIkieee YyYouuU oOOrrRor dDdaaaaTtat YyYouuU wawWsass aAa rReegGEbBun llLiIkieee mMemeE."
"Why do you wish that, Joey?" Cathy asked as she picked-up the dishes and leapt from the table to the sink to clean them. She had relaxed somewhat in this regbun's presence.
"TtThheEnenn wWweeeeE cOdoudld bBeBEE mamMaaTtttes. YyYouuU'RreE NnonTeet llLiIkieee ooOTherher aaLllpahaSs. YyYouuU dDodndt't PpiICik oOnnN mMemeE." (scuffpaw) "TttTHhatht iIIssSSee iIIIfFF YyYouu..."
Cathy dropped the dishes in surprise at the regbun's statement. She turned and faced him. "Is that why you didn't try anything when I fell asleep this morning?"
(noddle) "Iii''Mm aa gGgooDd bBubuckk."
"And why you behaved yourself in the shower?"
Joey repeated himself again. "Iii''Mm aa gGgooDd bBubuckk. rReegGEbBuns aaAadnnd aaLllpahaSs dDdonNtT hHhaavveE kKitTSsts. IiITIT'ssS NoNNOtout aAalllowied." (sighfluff) "Iii''Mm aa gGgooDd bBubuckk," he repeated again. "SssOometITimes IiITIT'ssS hHhaharrrd tThthoouuUghGh."
Cathy felt tears come to her eyes. She fought them back. She couldn't understand why. She sniffled. She couldn't harm this regbun, he wasn't much more defenseless then a kit. Did she actually feel something towards this bun? He wasn't like any other normal devilbunnies she had dealt with. She could detect the honesty in his words. After a momentary debate, she came to a decision.
"You're not going to like what I'm going to tell you, Joey. Fouriers didn't kill your friends out there."
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There was a long pause and then Cathy stated, "I killed them."
Joey stared at her from the table and backed away towards the edge, nearly losing his balance. "Iii dDdonn'ttT bBbeeLieaeve YyYouuU. "YyYouuU'RreE aa gGgooDd dDdoOeE." (STOMP!) "YyYouuU dddoND'ttt lLLloookk lLlliIkeEke aaa fouFurier."
"No, Joey, I'm not a good doe as devilbunnies define them. My last name is Blake." (STOMP!) "And this was my father's base," she stated matter of fact.
Joey fell off the table and landed in a ball, where he shook in terror. "aaAadnnd nNnooOWw YyouuU'RreE gGoiNg tTtoowo kKilLl aaAnNnDd eEaaTt MmMEmee." Joey whimpered still curled up in a ball. "YyYouuU fFefeed MmMEmee tTtoto fFFfaatTTeenn MmMEmee Uuupp." (whimperfluff)
Cathy jumped down from the counter and over to Joey. She nuzzled him and he screamed in fear and then whimpered some more. She nuzzled him again and forced him to look at her.
"I'm not going to kill and eat you, Joey, I'm a Fudd, not a Fourier." She (bunnyhugged) him and he struggled at first, but eventually calmed down as she hugged him as he whimpered. She made shushing noises in his ear.
"YyouuU'RreE nNnoOtT gGoiNg tTtoowo kKilLl aaAnNnDd eEaaTt MmMEmee?" he asked for reassurance.
Cathy shook her head negatively.
"WwHhyY?"
"You said it yourself, Joey. You're a good buck. You didn't take advantage of me though I gave you a few chances to do so. Because you're a good buck, I'm letting you leave here with your life."
Joey stared at her in disbelief.
Cathy nuzzled him onto his paws. "Go on, get going, before I change my mind."
Joey took a couple of hesitant hops towards the door, turned quickly leapt at Cathy, bowling her over quicker then she could react.
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Cathy found herself pinned under Joey. She didn't have a chance to unsheath her claws. Major Blake's words echoed in her mind, *Never Trust a (STOMP!) DEVILBUNNY!!!!*
Joey quickly sweeps her up, (bunnyhugs) her, and lets her go. "Tthhahnkkk yYyouuuU, MmmSIss BbblBlakKe." He turns and hops out the door, Cathy staring at the regbun dumbfounded.
Cathy soon hears a commotion outside and Joey quickly races back in, nearly bowling her over. "FouFuriers!!!" (panicfluff)
Cathy rushed to the window to see humans fighting buns, but she didn't recognize the humans. Then she saw the silvery pelted bunny. Fouriers! The buns they were fighting must have been a scouting party come to see what happened to the warren. Cathy was angered that they would come here and burst out the side door into the yard as the Fouriers captured the last three buns for interrogation. "There's one more!" one of them cried, pointing at Cathy.
(STOMP!) "You are trespassing on my family's land, Fouriers. You're not welcomed here!" (STOMP!) Cathy extends her claws. (SNICK!)
The Fouriers began to surround her, but the wyrmdoe ordered them to stand to. "Who are you that we should listen?"
Cathy sat back on her hindpaws. "Agent Catherine Duquette-Blake, Army of Fudd Intelligence, and you?" she glared at the wyrmbunny.
"If your father is Major Blake you may sheath your claws. We will cause you no harm."
Cathy sheathed her claws, but her body remained tensed. "I answered your question, will you answer mine?"
"Yes." The silver doe motioned for the soldiers to lower their weapons. The men complied, but positioned themselves to stop any attempt at escape. Their hands never strayed to far from their weapons either. Obviously, they would keep their word, but would kill Cathy in a second if she did anything funny.
The silver doe then turned back around to face Cathy. "I am The Chosen One, Cassandra, in charge of this war party. I take it the pelts in the barn are your work?"
Catherine nods once, thinking fast on her paws. "Took all forty of them by surprise last night, all but one who's cowering inside. A regbun I wasn't through playing with yet." (fangygrin)
Cassandra looks at Catherine closely, hopping slowly around her. "Nice work, almost worthy of a true wyrmbunny. Truly well done. Did you enjoy killing them?"
"Come again?" (puzzlefluff)
"You killed them like a Fourier would. I would almost think you enjoyed killing them. Did it feel good to skin those vermin? I bet you could almost taste their fear as you skinned them alive." (inquisitivegrinch) Cassandra's paw wiped her muzzle unconsciously.
(negativefluff) "I don't enjoy killing, but it is a necessity in war. Their deaths were quick and painless. Most died in their sleep. Why waste the pelts?"
"Tell me, why did you kill them then?"
Catherine glared at Cassandra. "Hello! We're at war here." (sarcasticfluff) "They were trespassing on a Fudd base and are the enemy. Of course, I'm going to kill them!" (STOMP!) "They drove my family from their home."
Cassandra smiles as she continues to slowly hop around Cathy, wanting to observe her from every angle. "So you did it in revenge..."
"They are the enemy," she stammers again.
"Ah, so you deny the truth. They drove your family away from here. You killed them in revenge." This time Cassandra (STOMP!)s her paw, but it didn't sound anything like a devilbunny stomp. It had more deadly force lurking behind it.
(sighfluff) "If you put it that way, then yes." (STOMP!)
"Then why do you deny your true self? You were born human, forced into conversion. Is it not right for you to want revenge? You are already a Fourier at heart. You kill in revenge. That's what we do. The Dark One offers a way out of your predicament. Accept his gift and free your true self." Cassandra bared her fangs.
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(SNICK!) "Stay away from me!" (STOMP!) "I am not a Fourier!"
"You're not a Fudd and by killing your fellow devilbunnies you are an outcast as well," she countered.
"You're right, I'm not human. I AM a devilbunny." (STOMP!) "A bunny who wants to be cute and fluffy." She unleashes a cuton burst with a huge (FLUFF) that angers some of Cassandra's men. "But I don't want anything to do with toes or subverting the human race. You're" (spit) "'Gift' would take from me what I am. I can control my urge for toes, I know you can't say the same for bun flesh."
"I can control my hunger. I haven't eaten you yet! You obviously have fallen for the devilbunny propaganda that we are carnal eaters of bun flesh. Yes, I do eat buns, but I don't do it arbitrarily. Buns are nothing but a plague upon this planet. They are the mote in the Dark One's eye and must be eradicated. Do the only thing that will save your soul, accept the Gift." Cassandra moved closer. Cathy slashes-out just in front of Cassandra to show she meant business.
"If you have met my father," Cathy states, "maybe he told you about the strain of bunnyvirus™ we carry. It is immune to antibunnies™, eats through it like candy. I've learned it's an engineered version. Who knows what would happen if you gave me 'the Gift' as you call it. It might not affect me, but you could revert to bunnydom." (fangygrin)
Cassandra shivered at the statement. "The thought of being physically turned back into vermin revolts me. Though on the positive side I will always be one of the Dark One's children, regardless of my form." Still, the thought of becoming less then what she has achieved, Cassandra backed off. "Very well. Lord Wade has promised to provide aid to the Maine Fudds until they are back on their own. This is not a good place for you to stay as we plan to leave a message for the next bun scout party." She points to one of her men. "He will escort you to where ever you wish to go to from here."
Catherine thinks for a moment. She definitely didn't want to hang around the Fouriers any longer then she had to. "He'll need a four-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance. I wish to be dropped off in the southwestern corner of the Nahmakanta district of the Maine Public Reserve Land Trust near the southern shore of the lake with the same name. I need to pack some things first though and the regbun comes with me." Cathy turns back towards the house and then paused.
"Why? He would better serve us than you!"
"There are some fates worse then death. Everyone in this war seems to have at least one mad scientist. You have Dr. Kralk. We've got Dr. Remus Shephard out in Colorado and...Aldin Busheytail here in Maine. Aldin is in need of a new 'henchbunny'. His last one had a most...unfortunate, accident." She smiled her fangygrin at Cassandra again and ducked into the farmhouse.
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Cathy quickly packs what little she had upstairs. She then hops into her parents' room and to the closet in the corner and opens it. "Come out, Joey, do as I tell you, and they won't harm you."
The regbun pokes his head out from beneath a pile of fallen blouses. "NnnoonO, tTthheEeeyyy'RrrEE gGoiNg tTtoowo kKilLl aaAnNnDd eEaaTt MmMEmee!"
"You need to make a choice, Joey, live or die." Cathy pauses a moment. "They will kill and eat you if you don't come with me, maybe eat you first and let you die slowly...or worse, make you one of them..." She trails off and pauses again and then adds more quietly, "But if you don't want to come, I could provide you a quick death, something they would never do."
Joey stares deeply into Cathy's eyes and hesitates only a moment. He nods at her, comes out of the tangle of human clothing and listens as intently as only a regbun can to her instructions.
They leave the house side-by-side and hop towards a waiting pick-up truck. Two cages sit on the ground. Cathy hops up to one, and quickly slashes through a part of the wire mesh and pulls her paw back quickly. The scent of blessed vanilla wafts in the evening air.
"My father designed these, you try to escape, and you'll die from vanilla burns."
Joey nods, hops into the other cage and allows himself to be locked in. The cage is then placed into the back of the truck and is secured in place to prevent it from sliding around.
The Fourier assigned to transport them turns to Cathy with distrust in his eyes. "Get in," he motions to the cab of the truck.
"You know where to take us?"
The Fourier nods and states his instructions.
"Then, I don't need to ride up front and we wouldn't welcome each other's company." She hops into the cage she had damaged. "Place me next to my prisoner, I'll trust you will follow the instructions given to you."
"Always, very unlike any Fudd or devilbunny." The Fourier then closes the cage, places and secures it next to the other and drapes a blanket over both. He then gets in the truck. In minutes they are driving on I-95.
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Once the truck was on the interstate, Cathy relaxed somewhat, and breathes a sigh of relief. She pulls a keychain-style battery lantern out of her pack and turns it on. It's small LCD bulb providing enough illumination for her and Joey to see by under the blanket. She looks over to Joey and sees he's shivering. The blanket flapped as the truck raced down the highway.
"Are you alright?" (concernfluff)
Joey looks over to her and shakes his head negatively. "WwwHWHEeerrRe..." he starts to ask in a low voice.
"We're going to see some old friends of mine. I couldn't think of anywhere else to go at the moment where we could get away from the Fouriers. That was probably the most dangerous hand of poker I've ever played. I'm glad that wyrmbunny fell for my bluff."
"BbBBlluuuff?"
Cathy told Joey about the 'conversation' she had with Cassandra. Joey (shudderfluffs) and continues to shiver.
Cathy showed even more concern in her tone then before. "Are you chilled?"
Joey nodded. Cathy dug the pelt out of her pack and Joey's eyes widened a little. She passed it between the bars of the cages, but Joey backed up a little.
"Trust me, you didn't know him, Joey. Use it like a rug to insulate yourself from the cold truck bed." She waits a moment, but Joey wouldn't move from his spot. She (sighfluffs), drops the pelt in the cage and moves over the door.
Joey watches her intently a mixture of fear and new fascination as Cathy unlatches her cage, hops out with her pack and hops over to the locked latch on his. She pulls a small brass key from the pack, unlocks the door and lets herself into Joey's cage, locking the door behind her. She then picks up the pelt again and spreads it on the floor of the cage. She then settles down on one side of the pelt.
"Well, come on. There's room for two. We'll keep each other warm."
Joey takes a couple of hesitant hops and sniffs the pelt. He yelps as Cathy leaps over and nuzzles him invitingly.
"Would you prefer to freeze or..." (cuddle) "keep warm?"
(Boink!) Joey finally gave in and followed Cathy back onto the pelt, the two of them cuddling down together, Joey continued to shake, but it was more nerves then cold. Cathy nibbled on his left ear affectionately trying to get the regbun to calm down.
"This is the smooth part of the ride, Joey. Later on, things will get a bit bumpy back here. You should try and get some rest while you can. Hopefully, Aldin will be expecting us..."
Joey's eyes bulged. "TtTTthhhEEee CccCRrRRaaaAaZZzzYeieyy SsSQuqquiiEiirrel mMEmemntntat?"
"He's not crazy, Joey. Aldin and his mate are good friends. I'm sure they'll help get you home."
Joey physically began to relax listening to the soothing tone of Cathy's voice. "YyYouuU'RreE nNnooTT lLlliIkeEke oOthHHeERr FfFuddDS."
"So I've been told quite a bit recently." There was silence for a moment. Cathy then shut off the small light and settled down next to Joey in the dark. He had finally stopped shivering. (yawnbarefangs) "We should get some rest while we can..." she stated as she started to drift towards sleep.
"CcaaaAthEyY?" Joey nuzzled her gently. She mumbled something in reply. "sSosoo wWhhOo wawWSass tTthiIiSs?" he pawed the pelt beneath them.
Cathy looked over at him. "I don't know his name. He didn't give it to me. I killed him this past spring at the Grand Canyon when he tried to rape me."
Joey's eyes widened. "HhHEe wWwaaasSsnnN'TTnt aa gGgooDd bBubuckk."
"No, but you are." She nibbled him again on the ear and fell asleep with her muzzle tucked into his flank.
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"Most likely when we are hailed, you will have to be blindfol...DUCK!" Cathy dropped, pulling Joey down with her as several mini-quarrels implanted themselves in a nearby tree trunk rather then their bodies. The scent of vanilla and Moxie™ wafted from the impact zone.
(SCREE!!!! CHIT, CHITTER, SCREE!!!!)
"Elmer," Cathy sighed under her breath, "I guess the message didn't get through. Don't make any sudden moves, Joey."
A grey squirrel scurried partway down a nearby tree trunk and leveled off on a branch about twelve feet in the air. It eyed the two buns flicking its tail wearily. "SCREE!!! CHITTER, CHIT, CHIT!" it yelled up into the trees. It was answered by other squirrels who descended into view. Several dangled from the trunks via their hind paws aiming mini-crossbows at the two buns with their forepaws. The first squirrel then came down to ground level and faced the two intruders.
"If," the squirrel wigwagged it's tail and Cathy understood (suggestflick) "you go back the way you came fluffers. Your kind aren't welcome around here."
Cathy stared long and hard at the grey in front of her. She looked up at the members of the scout party and shook her head. She didn't recognize any of them. This didn't bode well. "I take it, that Aldin and Ash didn't receive my transmission."
(confusedflick) The grey remained silent a while. He then turned to his companions in the trees. "That's a new excuse! Usually, they claim to be lost and give us the Bambi eyes." He whips around again and points forward with one of his forepaws, a hair length from Cathy's nose. "That's when we usually turn'em into pin cushions."
(perturbedfluff) "I see things have changed around here at Namakata. I suppose you wouldn't be willing to contact Councilor Ash or her mate, then?"
"They're too busy to be bothered, toe-breath." (annoyflick) "Be off before I loose my patience, bun."
"That's Catherine Blake to you."
(gigglechitter) "You here that?" he calls up to his comrades. "She claims to be the Major's daughter." The lead grey roles about on the ground, grabbing onto his tail as he laughs to keep it from whipping about.
Cathy started to fume and prepared to retort when the squirrels all fell silent. All except the one in front of him. The others had all turned their head towards a new comer who had just came into view from the east.
One of the ones with a crossbow clears his throat. "Sir," (pointflick, pointflick).
The lead grey pays no attention as he's still too engulfed in laughter.
"Birchbark!!!" (commandingscree)
The grey in front of Cathy instantly shuts up and leaps to attention, facing the newcomer. (saluteflick)
"Why are you holding-up Agent Blake and her...guest out here?"
"Councilor Oakleaf, sir! You shouldn't be out here alone, sir."
"You took your patrol out before this morning's briefing, Birchbark. You will appear before the Council this evening and explain why." (understoodflick/questionflick)
(bowhead) "Yes, Councilor."
"If you had been at the briefing, you would have known to be on the look out for Agent Blake here." Oakleaf turns to Cathy. "We just received your message a few hours ago, Catherine, forgive us. You know the rules concerning your 'guest'."
"I do, councilor, thank you."
Cathy took a blindfold and wrapped it around Joey's head.
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Joey followed along as he was lead by the paw blind folded for what seemed like over an hour. Eventually, he could tell they had entered an underground passage as the trail he was lead on went downhill and the air became warmer. Left, right, left again, he couldn't keep track. The scent of squirrels was all around him along with Cathy's scent. He sniffed again and thought there was a feint scent of human. Finally, they come to a stop and the blindfold is removed. He blinked at what seemed to be blinding light. As his eyes refocused, he noted he was in a medium-size burrow.
"You'll need to stay here alone a while, Joey, while I talk to Ash and Aldin."
Joey nodded in understanding, trusting Cathy. "Iii''Mm aa gGgooDd bBubuckk."
Oakleaf led her down the warren tunnel. "I know of two people who will be surprised and excited to see you, Agent..."
(pleadfluff) "Call me Cathy."
"Cathy it is. Your parents are here. Care to see them first?"
Cathy did a double-binky (approximately a double backflip/body twist) in the corridor to show her excitement. "They're here and not Portland?"
(drooptail) "All is not as good as you may think, my dear..." Oakleaf briefed her as he lead her down to the infirmary.
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Cathy hopped into the infirmary and was motioned towards the ICU. She peaked in and caught Carolyn's eye. Carol gasped. "Impossible."
"No, Mom, I'm home...well I was home, now I'm here." She leaps into Carolyn's arms and cuddles for a moment as adopted mother and daughter reacquainted themselves. "Councilor Oakleaf told me everything. How bad is he really?"
"Hazel doesn't think he'll ever fully recover, provided his heart holds out. Dr. Firbrush concurs. He's amazed Steve has held out this long." (sniff) Carolyn brushed back a tear.
Cathy looked on at Steve's unconscious form under all the wires and sensors on the tiny gurney, his body rising and falling to his breath as monitors nearby keep track of his vital signs. He stirs and flicks an ear, but doesn't open his eyes.
Carolyn sets Cathy down next to the gurney. She scritches Steve between the ears. "Wake up, loverbuck, you have a visitor."
Steve stirs again, wiggling his ears, yawns slightly and opens his eyes. He blinks a few times and then his eyes widened. "Impossible," he rasps. "They captured..." (confusedfluff) he didn't finish the sentence.
"I've been told I'm not allowed to stress you out, Dad. Yes, I was captured. They tried to bring me over to their side...and almost succeeded, but I escaped..." She gives Blake an edited overview of her escapades since spring, avoiding anything that might upset him a lot. "...when I got home, I found that the buns had set-up an outpost warren. I took it out, killing all but one regbun, who is being held in confinement here. It was either bring him with me or paw him over to the Four." (shudderfluff)
"Eugene is among the missing," was all Steve replied with. "I want to talk more, Catherine, there's a lot I need to tell you....but I'm...so...tired..." Steve slips back into unconsciousness.
Cathy nuzzles her adopted father affectionately and leaves the infirmary with a nod from Carolyn who mouths to her: thank you.
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[Author's note: If you haven't read the rest of The Search for Eugene, you had best do so now before continuing.]
"Catherine," (greetingsflick) "It's been what, a year now?"
"Close to that, Ash," Cathy replies, (bunnyhugging) Ash as Ash wraps her tail around the bun in greeting. "Where's Aldin?"
"I sent him off ahead of me to the gathering in the great hall." (drooptail) "We're honoring twenty of our comrades who died in the battle and an outsider. Come..." The two old friends talked in the tunnels of Namakata all the way to the great hall. It was impressive in squirrel or bun terms, but would be just a good sized conference room by human standards. Cathy easily spotted her mother sitting in a back corner of the room which was packed with squirrels. The chittering conversations in the room were almost harsh to her bunny ears.
Ash leaps up on a small podium. "SCREE!!!" (squirrelstomp) The room fell silent. "My comrades, my friends. We gather here to honor the brave twenty who lost their lives in last month's surprise attack against our allies, the Maine Fudds. We now inscribe their names upon our Memorial Wall of Honor. Let no one forget them. They gave their lives so that the rest of us may live in freedom." She called out the names one-by-one, pausing as other squirrels chiseled their names into the granite wall, all bowed their heads. "Oakhurst the Elder, Beechnut, Stoutflick, Elmwood, Yew Longflight, Hollyberry..."
Cathy brushed a few tears from her eyes. She knew many of those names as she always hung around the squirrels back at the base/farm.
"...Sassafras, Slicktail, Sumacleaf, Cherrypit." Ash held the silence for a full minute after the last name was called off. "We also gather to remember a brave comrade who..."
(warning scree) Ash stopped in mid-sentence as a commsquirrel darted into the hall. "Councilor! Everyone!!" (dismayflick)
"Young Elmleaf, this had best be important," Ash was not happy that this solemn occasion should be disrupted.
"We just received and recorded a transmission from the Maine bun commander a few minutes ago." (drooptail) "You're not going to like it."
Ash points to the large screen on the wall behind her. "Patch it through."
(hesitantflick) "You're not going to like it, councilor..." Elmleaf chitters something into his headset. The screen comes to life with Jerry CrimsonPaw's widebeam. Most of the squirrels become motionless as they watched their human comrade, Eugene Pomerleau, get executed. The screen goes blank. Even Cathy is in too much shock to react.
Ash seems to compose herself first, but is visibly shaken. "In addition to our fallen comrades, we honor two outsiders. One of whom we owe our very existence to. Our human friend, Eugene Pomerleau." There was a long pause, and the sounds of quiet whimpering echoed from some in the audience as the chisels chipped away. "And Rough, leader of the Leafy Creek, New Jersey freesquirrels. She had been captured by the local buns and was tortured to death for her belief that our kind should be free. One of her comrades, a Fudd by the name of Antonio provided me with her last words, which were somehow record by some comrades-in-arms. I shall play that recording to you now. I can't think of a better, more inspiring eulogy for..."Ash brushes back a few tears of her own, "the fallen then Rough's last words. She was brave and true to the end."
(respectfulflick) Ash played the recording:
"Perhaps it is kyOOt to torture a helpless captive. Most assuredly, however, it is Skree for that captive to stay defiant to the end. Do your worst, Devilbunny. I am Skree. I am greater than you. Look upon the size of my spirit and know fear. "I see the future clearly now, Devilbunny. Thank you for that. Death is the great clarifier. I am near death now. All the mists and veils of life are receding. With eyesight stark and grim I see the Way and Weird of Devilbunny and Squirrel. "You who slay with disdain shall die in misery and all your children and all your race. I who stay defiant may die as well, but not in misery, for you slay only me. You do not slay my children. And my race shall be the slayer of yours in the end. "I am Skree. I am greater than you. Look upon the size of my spirit and know fear!"
The room fell silent in awe behind the power of those few sentences. Ash finally broke the silence. "I don't know this term, Skree she used, but I promise all of you that I will learn what it is in future communications with her survivors. Elmleaf, make sure our comrades in New Jersey receive a copy of all of this."
Elmleaf nodded and left. Everyone else filed out soon afterwards or broke into smaller groups to console one another. But all felt a renewed sense of strength from Rough's last words.
Rough's last words used with permission from Ronald Squirrel-Friend Petrocco. ©1999 by Ronald Petrocco
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After the gathering broke up, Cathy found herself aimlessly hopping the corridors of the multi-tiered former bun-warren. She just needed to hop and get away for a while to morn in silence. She would have preferred a stroll around the lake, but didn't as the scouting patrols may now be even more uppity then earlier. She turned a corner lost in her thoughts and didn't see the white squirrel dart out of a room with a tray of test tubes. The two collided and the test tubes went flying, shattering on the far wall.
"Hey!" (warningchitter) "Watch where..." the squirrel paused in mid-sentence as he stared at the devilbunny in front of him. He clacked his teeth in rapidly and took a step back from Cathy.
"I'm sorry, I was lost in thought, here, let me help..." she stared at the squirrel. He wasn't albino, and she knew he wasn't Aldin's and Ash's son, Cloud(chitter) for he had stayed behind at the gathering with his folks. The squirrel in front of her was white except for his paws, tail tip and ear tips which were black. "No...I thought Aldin was just joking when he posted those claims in banter..."
"Who are you?" there was a bit of authority behind the question. The squirrel had backed towards the far wall and an intercom panel.
"Catherine Blake," she nodded to the squirrel. "And you?"
"Mustard..."
"Snowpaw?" (surprisefluff) "But..."
"Yes, don't remind me." (pleadflick) "I don't want to go back to what I was. I'm happy here." The squirrel relaxed as he darted back over to Cathy and scooted around her back into the room. He reappeared with a broom and dustpan. "So the Major had been hiding something from me when I was a 'guest' at the Maine Fudd base." Cathy took the broom and dustpan from Mustard and started sweeping-up the broken test tubes. Mustard stared on, appreciating her form. "I can see why he hid you from me." (gigglechitter)
Cathy whipped around on the former bun. He held up his paws to stop her. "Whoa, whoa, no insult intended, Ms. Blake. I'm not into the cross-species thing." (besidesflick) "Mapletip would never forgive me." (wink) "But if I was still a bun, I'd have a hard time to resist such a lovely doe." Mustard bowed and flicked his tail. He snatched up Cathy's paw and kissed it lightly.
She pulls her paw back slowly and blushes at the flattery. "So why are you down here all alone?"
"I was in the middle of an experiment. Aldin knew and sent my apologies to the survivors of the fallen."
Cathy's face changed to near dismay as her memory was jogged. "Great Elmer! I almost forgot!" She turns to dart back the way she came, pauses and turns back to Mustard. She (bunnyhugs) him gently, catching him off-guard. "It was good to meet you, Mustard." She turned and darted.
"Where are you off to in such a rush?" he called after her.
"Survivors! You reminded me I have a 'guest' to attend to. I hope Joey forgives me for being gone most of the day. He must be starving..." her words echoed behind her as she left Mustard behind.
*Joey? No...it couldn't be...* Mustard quickly tossed the swept-up mess into a receptacle and gave chase after the doe.
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Cathy found Joey fast asleep in the burrow. He stirred into wakefulness as she nuzzled him.
"Hungry?"
Joey's eyes widened as he nodded.
"I'll see if I can lead you down to the mess hall as you are or if you need to be blindfolded."
"OooKkk."
Cathy hopped outside. Joey gets-up and stretches. He uses the bathroom in the back corner of the room and grooms himself. He freezes as he feels he's being watched. He whips around and stares at Mustard. The white and black squirrel stares back, examining the snowshoe hare intently.
"May I enter?" (respectfulflick)
Joey nodded as he continues to stare. "CcaaaAthEyY sSsaiidd IiIi aAammM nNnotTtot ttTotoo UUuuppPeSsettt anNyy SsSqqQQuRUuiirRrells."
"I'm not upset with you, Joey. I'm just surprised to see you here."
Joey stares dumbfoundly at Mustard. "HhhoooWww..."
"How did I know your name?" Mustard finishes for him.
Cathy ducks back in just then with blindfold in paw and two security squirrels behind her, interrupting his reply. She slides to a stop with a surprise. "Oh?! What are you doing here?" she asks Mustard politely.
Mustard looks at the blindfold in Cathy's paws and then looks at the two members of security. "You won't be needed to escort this 'guest' to dinner. I'll take full responsibility for him. Let Councilor Ash know."
(respectfulflick) "You can't give that order, Mustard," one of the security squirrels replies. "You don't have the authority."
"I do in this case. As I said, I'll take full responsibility for Joey SnowPaw. If I can't trust my own brother to behave, knowing that I will share in his punishment if he doesn't, then who can I trust?"
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All present stare in disbelief at Mustard. Joey responded first.
"MmmUSuuSttard? yYyYoOuu ccCanant bBBee MmmUSuuSttard. HhhHEe'sSs dDdddaeadd." (droopears)
Mustard scampers up to Joey and looks him in the eyes and switches from human-English to fluff-speak. "I am very much alive, little brother, I just have a new and better job." (reassurefluff)
"Impossible," Joey replied in fluff-speak, which he could handle more easily then English. "Mom was so upset..."
"I'm sure she was. Probably as upset as the day we received word that father had been killed in the Portland Battle and we were forced to move from there to Bangor."
Joey (bunnyhugged) Mustard who returned the hug and wrapped his tail around his brother. "IiiTTtt IiIISss yYyYouu!" Both shed tears for the other.
Mustard turns to Cathy who had just motioned the security squirrels to leave. "I don't know what your role is in all this yet, Ms. Blake, but thank you."
Cathy brushes back a tear of her own. "I'm sure you two have a lot to catch-up on," she starts to make her way to the door. But stops as she hears a familiar (STOMP!) behind her. She turns to see squirrel and bun glaring at her.
"You think we're going to just let you leave?" Mustard states. "You're joining us for dinner."
Cathy looks at the two of them, both looking at her with bambieyes and their forepaws crossed. "You two must be brothers. Come on." She motions to the door.
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The two buns and squirrel laughed and joked throughout dinner, the two brothers filling each other in on what had transpired over the past two years.
"Are you really happy as a squirrel, Mustard?" Joey asked in fluff-speak. He tried not to use too much of it in front of Cathy as a courtesy. He had learned during the meal that she hadn't learn too much native bun, much to his surprise. He repeats the question in his broken English for Cathy's benefit.
Mustard paused at the question and thought deeply about it, his tail flicking back and forth idly (ponderflick). "I have a lovely mate, who happens to be expecting our first litter within days...you're going to be an uncle, Joey. I have many friends here. I am not looked down upon or treated as a second class citizen. Career-wise, I have advanced further then I could ever hope to as a lowly Beta techbun. Here, I am now the bun-equivalent of a submentat. I am in charge of my own research lab. Mom would be proud. Yes, thinking about it, I'm quite happy here."
He ruffles his brother's pelt playfully. "But don't you think just because I'm going to be a daddy lets you off the hook," (teaseflick) "brother. I'm sure Mom would like to have some bunny grandkits." He glances over at Cathy with a wicked gleam in his eyes but doesn't say anything else.
(chitter) "Excuse me?"
The three of them glance over to the newcomer.
"Hazel! Join us! This is a joyous time. I've been reunited with family! Hazel Busheytail, Joey SnowPaw..."
Hazel bowed politely. "Can't stay, I'm about to go on shift, I'm hear for Cathy."
(quizzicalfluff) Cathy glances at Hazel.
"Your mother has requested your presence in ICU."
Cathy pales slightly, excuses herself and follows Hazel out.
Mustard turns again to his brother and continues in fluff-speak. "If you want, I could try to set you up here at Namakata. Aldin is looking for a new henchbunny." (gigglechitter) "Just don't fall for any of the squirrel-does or you might wind-up like me." He winks. Joey pales slightly.
""Iii''Mm aa bBubunNnyy. Iii dDdonn'"t wWwwanttT ttTtoo BbBbee aAA SsSqqQQuRUuiirRrell." Joey stared at Mustard in fear.
(soothingfluff) Mustard continues in fluff-speak. "Take it easy, Joey, I wasn't threatening you. I was just joking around. This..." he points to himself and grabs his tail, waving it at Joey, "was all an accident. An accident caused by sabotage..." Mustard gave Joey a detailed account of how he wound-up being a squirrel. "...they were going to banish her from here if I hadn't stepped in and demanded the charges be dropped. I had a lot of time to think over what had happened by the time the trial had come up, and I realized I did love her." Mustard got up from the low lying table. "However, I'm afraid, it's time I took you back to your room. If we stay here much longer, security might come looking. They've been real antsy since the battle."
Mustard didn't blindfold his brother on the way to the mess hall and didn't do so on the way back. He went into Joey's room with him and shut the door.
"Joey." Joey glances at his brother. "A little advice from your brother...You've got a chance at a very lovely doe here. Don't let the moment pass you by." Mustard let himself out and nodded to the two security squirrels outside.
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Cathy bounded into the medical facility and headed straight for the ICU. She dodged around four half-grown bunny kits before registering they were there and slid to a stop, half spinning around on the waxed floor. Bunny kits? Here?!
"Glad you could join us, sis."
Cathy froze a moment, turned around and stared at the calico doe peaking out from her hiding place behind a curtain. "Julie!!!" Cathy squealed with delight, pouncing on her sister. The two rolled to a stop, hugging each other firmly.
"What are you doing here?" Cathy asked. "How did you get here?" As she stammered the words, the four kits bounced over and gathered around the two does.
"Is this her, Mommy? Is this Auntie Cathy??" (excitedfluffs)
"Yes, my little ones, this is my sister, Cathy, your auntie." Before Cathy knew what hit her, she was buried under a mini-tidalwave of fluff. As she hugged and cuddled the four kits, her sister answered her questions. "We came as soon as we got the message from Mom about Dad." (droopears) "But there's too many births taking place back at Volo Bog for Orchid to pull himself away. He wasn't too happy about me coming here alone with the kits. We have established communications between here and there though, and Dr. Firbrush is filling-in Orchid on Dad's condition as we speak.
"As to how we got here," (blushfluff) "well, we're bunnies, aren't we? I took the chance of the bunmover system through Canada and then arranged for a Lumberjack escort here. But does it matter? We're together again, even if it is only for a few days. Mom tells me you've been through a lot since last we met."
The kits finally let go of Cathy and bounded back to their mother. "Long story," Cathy replied.
Julie/Callie hugged her kits as they snuggled up to her. "I had to bring the kits along so they could meet their grandparents." She points to the four each in turn, "This is Thistledown, Sunfall, Brownpaw, and Smudge."
Cathy (gigglefluffs) slightly at the mention of Brownpaw's name. The little brown and tan buck (poutfluffs) "Why are you laughing at me, Auntie?"
"Did your mother tell you that your name is the code name your grandfather liked to use on spy missions?"
"Really?" (excitedfluff)
Cathy nods. "Sunfall...where have I heard that name..." her ears shoot straight-up. "Wasn't that..."
Julie/Callie nods. "I've seen pictures of the late Sunfall, my little Sunfall is the spitting image of her. Brightspot appreciated the gesture. Thistledown and Brownpaw are actually named after Orchid's parents." (gigglefluff) "I forgot Brownpaw was also Dad's code name. Smudge is named after a buck who saved my life." Smudge perks-up and (proudfluffs).
Thistledown tugs on her mother's pelt to get her attention. "Why did Auntie Cathy call you Julie, Mom?"
Julie picks-up the kit and hugs her close. "Because that's my old name, back when I was human, little one."
Carolyn pokes her head out of the ICU room. "He's awake now." A great cheer went-up from the kits. Carolyn gives them a warning glare. "Behave yourselves, your grandfather is ill as I warned you." Carolyn stamps her foot.
The bunny entourage pours into the room. Half an hour later they all leave Steve so he can get some rest.
"When Matt arrives tomorrow, I'll have my whole family together again," Carolyn whispered under her breath. She looks to her two daughters and grandkits lovingly as they leave the medical facility together. "You'll have to pardon me, but I can't take much more cuton exposure tonight. I've got to go have a cold Moxie™ as much as I hate the stuff..." She headed towards the mess hall.
"Moxie™?!" the kits squeal. "Eeeuuuuuu!!! Grammie IS a Fudd."
The two grown does chuckle at the kits. "I think bringing them along was a good thing, Julie. I think the cuton dose actually helped him. He seems stronger this evening then he did this morning."
Julie only nodded as they moved down the corridor. She didn't want to break her sister's illusion over how serious their father's condition really was.
"You are truly blessed with their presence, Julie. Orchid must be proud..." The two of them conversed all the way to Julie's designated guest quarters, kits in tow.
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Cathy couldn't sleep that night. She tossed and turned as the turbulent events of the day passed through her mind--Eugene's execution, learning Mustard had indeed been converted into a squirrel, Joey was his brother, and the arrival of her sister and her kits. Kits, the thought of kits kept echoing in her mind. She had enjoyed being in their presence thoroughly. *I want a litter of my own...* she thought. She was drawn out of her thoughts as someone knocked on her door. Cathy got up and answered.
"Ms. Blake?" the squirrel at the door inquired. "Sorry, to disturb you. Dr. Firbrush, your sister, and mother need you in the medical center."
Cathy paled as she bounded quickly down. She entered to see Julie was consoling their mother, cuddling in her lap. Blake lay asleep within view in ICU.
"Mom, Julie? What's wrong?"
Julie glanced at Firbrush who nodded. He pawed Cathy a printout.
"Communication from Dr. Orchid of Volo Bog. After examining our data and consulting with me for over an hour he's given his prognosis on Major Blake. His chances of recovery are extremely slim. The fact that he's lived this long is a miracle."
Cathy glances through the printout. "...an increase in his bloodstream of...." she trails off. "There's only one way to do that naturally..." She trails off a second time.
"You try and tell your father that, dear," Carolyn states. "Julie already tried."
"Mom!" Julie leaps off her lap. (STOMP!) "It was at your request."
"I know, but you know how he doesn't want to bring harm to me..."
Cathy stared at her sister and mother. "You're telling me, you..."
"Yes," (STOMP!) "I'd do anything to try and help save him! He's our father!"
Cathy looks to her adopted mom. Carolyn shakes her head negatively at the unasked, but understood question. "Though I've tried to get Steve to nip me for years, he has refused. If I asked you two to nip me now, he'd never forgive me...nor you. Nor, could I go through with it now. There are too many buns out on the net hoping that is exactly what will happen."
"So what does that leave us with?" Julie asks.
"Only one other choice," Cathy comments and hops into her father's room, closing the door behind her.
Julie turns to follow, but Carolyn reaches over and stops her. "Let Cathy try on her own, Julie. Maybe Steven will listen to her."
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Steve slept peacefully, despite the wiring on his body. Cathy stared at his form contemplating how to approach this problem. (resolutefluff) She hops onto the gurney, cuddles up next to her adopted father and nibbles his left ear lightly.
"Wake up, Stevey..." (nibble) "Wakey, wakey..."
Steve earflicks a few times and then slowly wakes-up, yawning. He then looks over at Cathy and sits up on his hindpaws. (sighfluff) "You two just won't give up, will you?"
"We don't want to loose you, Dad." Cathy (shimmywiggled) against her father's chest.
Steve pulls away from Cathy. "Don't," (weakSTOMP!) "do that."
Cathy pulls up to him again and rubs herself against him. He can't back any further away. (thump, thump, thump) His hind leg moves on it's own accord. "Just do it, Dad...please." (bambieyesnosewiggle) She turns her back on him and rubs her tail against his tummy.
With a strength she didn't expect him to have in his condition, Steve shoves her away. (STOMP!) "No! What the hell's gotten into you and your sister? First she comes in here with these games, and now you!"
"Dad," (pleadfluff) "calm down. We're just trying to help..."
"Help? You know what kind of reaction you were trying to get out of me?"
Cathy quit the pleading and switched to a no nonsense tone. "Yes, I do, Dad. We're trying to give you a fighting chance at life. And since it isn't possible for you and Mom to do this in her current physical state, that leaves Julie and I as the only ones who can try to help you."
(bogglefluff) Steve stares at Cathy as he drops back down on all four, feeling weak again. "What?"
"Two doctors, Firbrush and Orchid, and Firbrush's trainee, Hazel, all concur so far. This wasn't any normal heart attack, Dad. This one would have killed any other bun. None of them understand how you've survived as long as you have--that famous 'Blake Stubbornness'" (perhapsfluff). "You're still under a lot of stress. If you are to recover, we need to bring those stress levels down, or you could have another attack. The next one would most likely kill you..."
"And hormones released in a buck during mating make the body relax more then any combination of drugs..." Steve trails off in thought. "Thank you for giving it to me straight, Catherine. I don't understand why Julie didn't do so..." he trailed off again in thought a moment.
"It's not just your family that needs you, Dad. The Maine Fudds need their commander back in good health. We lost," (sniffle) "Eugene today. The buns in Bangor or where ever they're located now had kept him alive as a prisoner all this time. They publicly broadcasted his spamming today."
Steve's ears began to quiver and turn red. "They'll pay." He states in a quiet, sinister tone. "You may leave now, Catherine."
"But..."
Steve cut her off with a wave of his paw. "Send your mother in. She and I have a lot..." he paused a moment, "to discuss."
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"Congratulations, sis, you got through to him." Callie hopped down the corridor beside her sister. "You must have scared him. I could hear him stomping that back paw out in the main room."
"Do you think Mom will be a bunny in the morning?"
"I doubt it. Dad is very protective about that."
Cathy nods in silence and continues down the hallway. They finally reach Julie's guest quarters, the two hug. Cathy peaks in and (adorefluffs) at the scene of the four napping kits piled against one another within. She then takes her leave and continues towards her own guest room. She stops, hesitates, and keeps going. She still couldn't get the thought of kits off her mind. Julie's were so wonderful...
She rounds a couple of bends and finds herself at Joey's room. The two squirrel sentries were fast asleep at their post. Cathy shakes her head negatively and nudges one awake. He blinks at her. His eyes shoot wide and he leaps up, kicking his companion awake.
"If you were that lax on the job back home, father would probably skin the two of you." (STOMP!) "That's a REAL devilbunny you're suppose to be guarding." (SNICK!) Cathy unsheathes her claws and slashes out, just shy of the two squirrels who leap back in fear. "Never underestimate a devilbunny." (STOMP!) "He could have checked on you two and sent you to the next world while you slept."
(pleadflick) "Don't tell the Council..."
Cathy peaks into the room. "He's still in there. You're lucky." (STOMP!) "But you think, I'm going to let you off that easy?"
The two squirrels stare at Cathy with pleading eyes and tailflicks.
"It's going to cost you...Go get some rest but get back here before your morning relief is due."
(boggleflick)
"You heard me. Go get some shut-eye. I'll watch Joey."
"Well..." (scuffpaws)
"Would you prefer I make a full report to Ash and the rest of the Council of Elders?"
The two squirrels bounded down the hall rapidly.
Cathy quietly enters while Joey remained fast asleep. Cathy hesitates a moment, debating whether or not to wake him. She hops over and snuggles down next to him. He wiggles but remains sleeping. Cathy falls asleep, soon afterwards with her muzzle tucked into his flank. At some point, Joey shifts in his sleep and positions himself in the same fashion with his muzzle against her flank.
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Cathy stirred and (sighfluffed). The sigh was not one of boredom, but that of one who had found happiness of sorts. She opens her eyes and blinks a couple of times. Joey was still asleep cuddled next to her. She alternately nuzzles him and nibbles on his ear until he awakens.
He blinks a couple of times and stares at her in surprise. He quickly hops a couple of steps away from Cathy. "WwhhhaaAatt..." Cathy cuts him off by hopping back next to him and cuddling. His left rear paw starts to thump of its own accord.
"Hush, Joey, you'll draw the attention of the guards." (confessfluff) "I couldn't sleep without you next to me." (eartwitch) "I've grown to use to your scent..." (shimmywiggle) Cathy rubbed herself against Joey's flank.
(weakprotestfluff) "BbBbutt Iii''Mm aa gGgooDd bBubuckk.. rReegGEbBuns aaAadnnd aaLllpahaSs cCcaaAnN''TT..."
Cathy hushed Joey again by nibbling lightly on his left ear. "I'm not an alpha. Others at other warrens have tried to label me one, but I'm not an alpha. And you, Joey SnowPaw...you're just a mislabeled beta." Joey stared at her, but she continued before he could reply. "With a little practice, I bet we could get rid of that stutter." (encouragewiggle) "You proposed to me first, remember, back at my parents' house...." (scuffpaw) "and I couldn't think of a kinder, more honest buck for a mate."
(pleadfluff) Cathy lowered her voice, "Be a BbBbbaAAaaaDDdd bBubuckk for a change, Joey." (bambieyes) "Just for me..." (nosetwitch) Cathy nibbled on his ear again, bucked her head under his, turned her back on him and (shimmywiggled) against his chest.
(BOINK!) Joey leapt on top of Cathy. Even a good regbun could only remain 'good' so long.
A short time later, Joey slid off Cathy and lay in a comatose-like state on his side, a happy expression on his muzzle. Cathy helped the regbun back into the sleeping hollow and lay down beside him and soon joined him in slumber. The two of them would mate (and rest in between) several more times before emerging from the room for dinner when Mustard came looking for his brother. Both had an extra bounce in their hop all the way to the mess hall.
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Even if finding Cathy in Joey's room hadn't been a give away, Mustard could see right off that a bond had formed between the two devilbunnies. He politely kept his observation to himself, figuring the two of them would make their announcement when they were ready to. Secretly, Mustard was happy that Joey had taken his advice. They had a lighthearted conversation during dinner. Mustard was in the middle of talking about the ice rescue he performed soon after his arrival at Namakata when the room fell silent.
Noticing the silence and that everyone else was staring at the doorway, Mustard turned to look also. There stood the entire Council of Elders. They had never all come to the mess hall together as one group before in Mustard's recollection.
"Well?" (movealongflick) "What's wrong?" Oakleaf, one of the members of the Council chittered in his grizzled voice, showing his true age. "Stop staring at your elders like we're a bunch of strangers. Go on, don't stop your meals for us." Oakleaf had always been rather vocal over the years.
The Elders scanned the room and a few pointed towards Mustard's table. Mustard drooped his tail. To his surprise, only two enter the dining hall while the rest melt back into the hallway. Shortly, Oakleaf the Elder, and Ash are at Mustard's table. (greetingsflick) Both tailflick to Mustard. Mustard returns the gesture. Cathy bows her head to the two. Joey (fearfulfluffs).
"I've been told that...Joey is it?" Oakleaf starts off and stares at the snowshoe regbun. Joey nods unable to find his voice. Oakleaf continues, "Joey is your brother, Mustard, correct?"
"Yes, Elder Oakleaf..."
(squirrelystomp!) "Respect for your elders is one thing, but don't remind us!" Oakleaf snaps back.
(scoldingscree!) Oakleaf's retort is cut short by Ash. "Oakleaf, Mustard's manners are better then many a young squirrel I've come across lately. He should be praised, not scolded. However, he is not why we are here. We are here for the snowshoe hare."
Joey droops his ears. Ash scampers over next to him and wraps her tail in a motherly fashion around the regbun. "You have nothing to fear, Joey SnowPaw. The Council wishes to question you before we decide whether or not we are to turn you over to your allies. Come."
Cathy and Mustard also get-up from the table only to be stopped by Oakleaf. "We have already considered your testimony, Mustard, on the matter of your brother. As for you, Catherine, you will be questioned afterward." (dismissiveflick)
Oakleaf and Ash escort Joey out of the mess hall and the room erupts into semi-hushed conversations over the incident.
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An hour later, Aldin Oakhurst (named in honor of Busheytail, but he prefers to go by his family name) was sent for Cathy. She dutifully followed Oakhurst out of the tunnels of Namakata and around the lake shore to the shelter of an ancient pine tree which glowed in the late afternoon winter sun. The gnarled white pine had probably stood shadowing the lake for the past two hundred or so years. Cathy sat back on one twisted root cleared of snow and looked up into the lower branches where the seven members of Namakata's Council of Elders made the decisions that affected all at Namakata. To one side, Aldin sat silently observing the proceedings, flicking his tail occasionally.
"Catherine Duquette-Blake, it is always good to have a friend of the squirrels visit us," chittered Birchleaf, a female member of the Council. "But you brought a normal devilbunny with you, why?"
"It was either bring him here or paw him over to the Four..." A few other members chittered angrily. The Four were not a welcomed subject. Cathy told her tale as the Council quieted down.
As Cathy finished, Ash asked, "If he is just a devilbunny regbun as you have stated, then why did you dismiss the two guards assigned to watch over him last night?" Cathy stared at Ash in surprise. Ash continued, "They confessed to me what happened this morning. It seems you didn't leave from within his room until dinner this evening..."
Cathy bowed her head and nodded. "We have fallen for each other, Councilor and are now mates. Joey has won me over in ways the buns of Torbique Warren never dreamed of. Do I need to go into details?"
(soothingchitter) "No, you do not. Love is a powerful and dangerous weapon. I just hope the two of you made the correct decision. We have read and forwarded your report to Army of Fudd Intelligence about your 'captivity' at Torbique. Joey has told the same story from his viewpoint of the first encounter between you two."
(howeverflick) "You and your mate have placed yourselves in an awkward position. We are not a bun warren. We will tolerate adult buns for brief periods of time as they have the discipline to control their cuteness levels. That is one of the reasons your sister is only visiting for two days--the kits. Kits have no control over their cuteness. It causes disruptions, disruptions we can not tolerate. If the general masses became use to bunnies in their midst, it wouldn't be hard for them to be enslaved, for many it would be re-enslavement by devilbunnies if and when they and we have an encounter. Do you understand why we will not be able to allow you and your mate to settle here?"
Cathy nods and suppresses a (disappointmentfluff). She had hoped to have Namakata as a back-up place to settle down at.
"Do you have any plans on how to get out of this situation, Catherine?"
Cathy was silent a moment. "Actually, I do, but I do not know whether or not you would approve, but I would need that approval to proceed. As for my parents, they will learn of Joey soon enough."
Ash nods. "Before you speak your proposal...Joey SnowPaw." (squirrelstomp!) Joey hops around the other side of the tree. "Thank you for remaining hidden as requested. I apologize for the trick, Catherine. I wanted Joey to know for sure what you felt about him candidly. It was important before we make our decision regarding him." Ash turns to the others and chitters with them a moment. The conversation is brief. They fall silent and Ash chitters briefly, and looks to the others. They all raise their tails. Ash nods and turns back to Joey. "It is unanimous. You will be allowed to go back to your bun comrades. We will provide escort through the wilderness to within one mile of the nearest known bun outpost, provided you wish to go back."
Joey (hesitantfluffs) a moment. "Iiii cCcaAan'tt..." He stares at Cathy. "LllleEEaAavvVvee mMmyYy MmmAaTtEe BbbeeEhiNnD."
(droopears) "And I wouldn't be safe visiting your mother's warren, and we can't stay here. I understand." Cathy hops over to Joey and (bunnyhugs) him. "Go home, Joey. Spend Frithmas with your mother. Tell her about us and your brother. She deserves that much. I'll break the news to my parents in the meantime. I want you to contact me on Frithmas so we can arrange where we'll move to..."
Joey (bunnyhugs) Cathy tightly. Tears flow freely in his eyes. "WwwHEeerrre?"
(slyfluff) "I can't tell you yet. If all goes well, that'll be my Frithmas present to you." (gigglefluff) "But it's dependant upon the approval of the Council of Elders. Go back inside. Hopefully, I won't be more then an hour." She leans over and whispers in his ear in broken fluff- speak, "see if you can find some whip cream or chocolate syrup." (wink)
(BOINK!) The regbun quickly follows Oakhurst as the squirrel escorts him back.
"Speak of your proposal, Catherine," commands Oakleaf once the regbun was out of earshot.
Cathy lays out her plans, sparking a long debate among the elders. The sun sets long before the Council comes to an agreement. They approve of Cathy's proposal and request with restrictions.
Cathy again bows her head. "I thank all of you for your generosity." She turns and hops back towards the warren with some of the elders following her. Others depart through the trees to their nests in the woods. Much to her surprise, Aldin hadn't uttered a single peep nor flicked his tail much during the whole proceedings.
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Cathy bumps into Joey and Mustard in a corridor soon after returning from the meeting with the Elders. Joey and Cathy (bunnyhug) and rub noses, giggling to one another. Mustard suppresses a (gigglechitter) of his own.
"I take it all went well," Mustard interjectes.
The two buns suddenly remember he's there and let go of one another. Cathy blushes through her fur.
"What's so embarassing, sis'? At least, I'm going to assume that's the case now. Is congratulations in order yet?" This time, Mustard did (gigglechitter) and (gigglefluff). He catches the two of them off guard.
While they stand there trying to come-up with a reply, someone down the corridor calls out Cathy's name. Cathy whips around to see her sister and her kits come bounding down the corridor. Cathy droops her ears a moment. She didn't want to tell her sister this soon. She didn't have time to say a thing as she's buried under her four nieces and nephews.
When they finally let go of their aunt, Julie (bunnyhugs) her sister. "I came looking for you. No one knew where you were most of the day. We've got to leave first thing in the morning if we're to get home before Frithmas." At the mention of the holiday, the kits cheer. They couldn't wait to get home and see their dad again. They were anxious to tell stories of their visit to this squirrel warren, too.
"I met Mustard this afternoon when he came in to visit Dad," Julie adds.
Cathy glances at Mustard. "I figured it was time we settle our differences," he replies.
Julie continues as if she hadn't been disrupted. "But who is this handsome snowshoe hare?" (curiousfluff) Joey blushes through his eartips at the compliment from the calico doe as she moves over towards him.
"Joey, this is my sister, Julie Blake and her kits. Sis', this is Joey SnowPaw, your new brother-in-law."
"He's our Unca?" the kits cry-out and suddenly Joey finds himself buried under a mini- tidalwave of fluff.
It was Julie's turn to be speechless.
"It's a long story, Julie, and I'll write you about it. Mom and Dad don't know...yet." (droopears) "Remembering how he reacted to Orchid, I'm very hesitant to tell him. If my plans don't work out, we will probably take-up the offer Brightspot made to me."
Julie (bunnyhugs) Cathy tightly again. "I'm happy for you, sis'. I hope things work out. You'll always be welcome at Volo Bog."
By this time, the kits had released Joey and he had learned their names in turn. Now it was poor Mustard who was receiving the kits onslaught. They all suddenly let go of him and rush back to their mother shaking and shivering. She glances over at him and he knew what the question was.
"They asked me why my pelt looks more like Joey's then a squirrel's. I told them the truth...." (scuffpaw) he droops his tail under Julie's glare. "Well, ok, semi-truth. I told them I had misbehaved and Aldin, the Squirrelmentat, turned me into a squirrel in punishment." (gigglechitter)
Young Smudge pokes his head out from behind his mother. "Is it true?" (fearfulfluff)
Mustard points to his pelt. "I use to be a bunny. Joey is my brother. This happened due to an accident in Aldin Busheytail's lab. Mentat Busheytail can easily repeat that 'accident', however, if the need arises." He winks at Julie.
Cathy responds in the moment of silence afterwards, "I'll see you, sis' before you leave in the morning."
Julie heads down the corridor with her kits following her. To their credit, they were on their best behavior for their mother for the rest of the evening.
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Cathy hops into Namakata's medical facility to see her folks. Much to her surprise, Steve is up and about. They hug. Carolyn wasn't anywhere about.
"We're going home in the morning, Catherine."
(surprisefluff). "But..."
"I credit the grandkits." Steve turns his back on his daughter and packs what few belongings he's got in the room. "So, what's the buck like?" he asks nonchalantly and turns to face his daughter again. "Are the two of you going to move to Volo Bog?"
Cathy drops her jaw in surprise. Steve (gigglefluffs). Cathy couldn't remember the last time he did that.
"Word spreads quickly around here. Squirrels speak at a faster pace then rabbits or humans."
"You're upset."
(negativeheadshake) "Not really, you're an adult and have been through a lot in the past few months...and you were in heat the other night."
Cathy glares at her father but he cuts her off again, speaking quietly.
"You haven't a clue how hard it was for me to push you away when you tried to tempt me. I just hope you made the right decision in this buck...because I care for and love you, my daughter." They (bunnyhug) for a moment.
"What's gotten into you, Dad? You're not acting normal?"
(droopears) "I'm dying, Catherine." Steve whispers in her ear as he sheds a single tear. "The visits by the kits have given me a boost, but that's all. No one knows how long I have...maybe a few weeks, maybe a few months if I take it easy. Who knows, I could still be here in a year, but the old ticker has had it. That's why we're going home tomorrow. I intend to spend my last Christmas in familiar surroundings." Cathy hugs her father tightly and wets his fur with her tears.
"Can't Aldin help you?" she asks, her voice muffled.
He strokes her head. "Aldin may be able to get a severed tail to regrow. I'll bet the rumor on toes is true, but even he can't heal an injured heart. I'm just happy that you are here. I'm not upset with you as you had feared. I would have been if you had infected Carolyn with this curse. I'd be even more upset with myself right now if I did something that made you leave me, even if he is a regbun as the rumors claim." Cathy's whimper is muffled as she buries her muzzle in his chest fur. "I'm not upset that you've found somebun to love, hon. I'm happy for you. So, do I get to meet my son-in-law?"
Cathy pulls herself away from her father and wipes the tears clear. "Yes, of course," (sniffle) "right away."
Steve nods. "Carolyn, Julie, and her kits are suppose to meet with me in the mess hall in about 15 minutes for a late dinner. We're going to break the news to Julie."
"Then, I'll go get Joey SnowPaw and we'll all meet there together." She hugs her father again briefly and heads for Joey's quarters.
*SnowPaw?* Steve thinks to himself.
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The Blakes had the mess hall to themselves as it was well past the normal dinner hour. Cathy and Joey arrived half an hour late and apologized. Julie's kits behaved exceptionally well. They were excited to see their auntie and new unca again. It brought a few tears to Steve's eyes. Perhaps he mellowed out due to knowing he hadn't much time left.
Everyone could see the bond that had formed between Joey and Cathy. They never seemed to let go of each other the entire time, whether they were cuddling or just holding paws. It didn't take long for Steve to accept Joey as a member of the family--Steve was surprised at himself for there was a time when he knows he would have *POP*ped the bun first and asked questions later, much like he had almost done to Julie's mate, Orchid. He could see the characteristics in Joey that made him attractive to Cathy-his honesty and gentleness, something unusual in a devilbunny.
Eventually the conversations died down as they finished their meal, Cathy and Joey only nibbling lightly, while the kits ate voraciously for their size. Steve decided it was time.
"Julie, Carolyn and I are going home tomorrow."
Julie (surprisefluffs). "So soon? You were just released."
Steve told her the news gently, much as he had told Cathy earlier. He comforted her the same way, except he also had to include the teary eyed kits in a group hug. After about five minutes they pull apart. Steve quickly glances to the others. To his surprise, even the regbun was brushing away a few tears.
"I want you and the kits to spend Christmas with us, Julie." (pleadfluff)
The kits look up to their mother with expectant eyes. "Dad will unnerstand," Smudge states. (nosewiggle)
"We'll get two Frithmasis!" (excitedbounce) Thistledown adds.
The kits bounce around their mother begging to go to their grandparents' house.
Julie hesitates only a moment. "Yes, yes we'll come. I'm sure Orchid will understand."
"He already knows, sis'," Cathy states. "That's partially why we were late. We had a short communication over the net with Orchid. We told him about the situation and he wants to talk to you when you have a moment, something about delaying Frithmas at Volo bog for it wouldn't be the same without the Angel of Frith there." (gigglefluff)
Julie cringes at her title from Volo Bog. Cathy continues. "Hazel Busheytail will be traveling with you when you do return to Volo Bog. She's going to receive an intense two week crash course on bunny physiology and medicine and then return here."
Julie looks surprised at Cathy. "Why?"
"Dad needs a new doctor with Doc Matthews among the missing and assumed dead," Cathy replies quietly. "And," (scuffpaw) "well, we were going to wait for Christmas to give the news, but," (scuffpawblushwiggle)
(STOMP!) "GggEeettt iiiItTt oOuTut aaAAllREeady, CcCaAattThhY!" Joey cuts-in. "We're having kits!" (proudpooffle) He didn't stutter the last sentence at all. He leans over and rubs noses with his mate briefly.
Cathy nods. "Mom and Dad you're going to be grandparents again. Julie, you'll be an auntie in about a month. I tested positive in the medical facility just before we came to join you. We were going to wait, but it seems to be a good time right now as we needed some happy news. I'm going to need a good doctor too." (gigglefluff)
The kits were the first to react at learning they'd have cousins soon as they bounced around their auntie asking if when the time came they could help kitsit. In all the excitement, as she reveled in the cuton overdose from the kits, Cathy suddenly understood why the Council of Elders were so concerned about their presence. She was also thankful they were willing to compromise as they had.
TBC in Maine Frith/Christmas 1999
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