The group arrived in the small, bustling town, where a grateful ferret thanked them for ridding him of the curse zone. “I’m sorry I didn’t thank you properly,” he said, handing each of them a small pouch filled with gold coins. “You have helped me greatly, and I hope this will be enough to express my gratitude.”
Kelvin accepted the pouch with a nod. Wallace signaled them to follow him into the woods away from the town.
“This seems like a good stopping point,” Wallace said, raising his hand to open a wide portal.
"Where are we going?" Kai asked, raising an eyebrow.
Wallace turned to face them. "We're going to Rabbit Day.”
Mica looked at Wallace. “You know about Rabbit Day?”
Wallace nodded. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I know about it?”
“Because,” Mica paused before continuing, “you grew up on a planet where predators kill and oppress prey like you every day. It’s a holiday on my planet because rabbits and other prey have equality.”
Wallace chuckled. "Yeah, I know. But I’m clairvoyant and I know Kelvin wants to spend it with you even though he’s an alpha predator.”
Mica smiled. “I know me and him are getting married soon. You kinda brought it on, you know.”
Wallace looked thoughtful. “You mean how I got an alpha predator to date a prey she once hated, and now she’s having his twins?”
Mica laughed. "Yes, exactly that.”
Wallace looked around. “What’s the group now? We have Fiona, Kai, and Kelvin as alpha predators, Kit as a regular predator, and we have four rabbits: you, myself, Demi, and Mat. That makes eight people, each in a predator/prey relationship.”
The others looked at each other, surprised by Wallace's observation.
"That's an interesting way to look at it," Kit said.
Wallace nodded. “Fiona is having Mat’s twins even though she killed one hundred rabbits in a single night.”
"That's not really the point," Fiona interrupted. “I’ve changed since those days, and I’m proud to be having his children, even if it wasn’t planned.”
Wallace smiled. “Yes, I understand. That’s why I asked you all to come with me to Rabbit Day. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on our relationships and how we’ve grown.”
Kai looked at Wallace. “You sure this isn’t just a perfectly timed coincidence since you fucked me without consent?”
Wallace looked at Kai. “I was having fun, and you lost your mood.”
Wallace grinned, but Kai's expression remained stern. "That's not the point, and you know it. You treated me like an object, and I deserved better."
“Predators like you treat us like objects on our planet. Get over it,” Wallace said.
Kelvin interjected, his voice firm. "Wallace, that's enough. You can't justify your actions by comparing them to others. We need to treat each other with respect, regardless of our backgrounds."
Wallace had to get the last word in. “You’re just mad that a rabbit held you, an alpha predator, and you were powerless to stop me.”
Kelvin’s expression remained stern as he faced Wallace. "This isn't about power or who held whom. It's about respect. We can't justify our actions by what others might do. We're better than that, Wallace. We need to be better."
Wallace looked away, clearly frustrated, but he didn’t respond. The tension in the group was palpable as they made their way through the portal.
Kelvin looked around. “Are we in Edwin’s mansion?”
Wallace grinned. “Of course. Why go anywhere else?”
The group emerged from the portal, finding themselves in the grand, opulent halls of Edwin’s mansion. The marble floors gleamed under the light of extravagant chandeliers, and the walls were adorned with intricate tapestries and paintings.
Edwin, a tall and imposing figure with a calm demeanor, approached them. "Welcome back," he greeted, his voice smooth and confident. "I see you’ve brought friends."
Kelvin stepped forward, offering a polite nod. "Edwin, thank you for having us. We need a place to gather our thoughts."
Edwin smiled, his eyes scanning the group. "You are always welcome here. Please, make yourselves at home."
Wallace gathered his friends. “Kai, Mat, this is Edwin and his brother, Alex.”
Edwin looked puzzled. “My apologies, but have we met before?”
Mica laughed. “Sorry, Edwin. Wallace is clairvoyant. We've learned to find humor in his mannerisms.”
Edwin chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "Clairvoyant, you say? That does explain a few things."
Kai, confused, asked. “Edwin is a rabbit, Alex is a ferret, yet you say they're brothers?”
Wallace responded, “Edwin was born into slavery, and Alex views him as a brother. They were both eight at the time. Edwin, do you remember when Alex went too far and his dad punished him?”
Edwin, recalling his early days, said, “Well, Alex was being bullied, but if I hadn't stepped in—and of course, if his dad hadn’t shown up—that rabbit slave would have died.”
Edwin's words hung in the air, creating a somber atmosphere in the opulent mansion. The group exchanged glances, each processing the revelation in their own way.
Wallace broke the silence, his voice softer now. “We’ve all been through a lot, and it’s clear we’re still dealing with the repercussions of our pasts. That’s why Rabbit Day is so important. It’s a time to celebrate equality and reflect on how far we’ve come.”
Kelvin nodded in agreement. “It’s also a time to forgive ourselves and each other for past mistakes. We need to move forward with understanding and compassion.”
Fiona, standing close to Mat, gently squeezed his hand. “I agree. We can’t change what we’ve done, but we can choose to be better. For ourselves and for each other.”
Edwin nodded thoughtfully, then added, “Nolan is a very strong and noble leader. Perhaps we can see our father again; it has been at least a decade.”
Alex, standing beside Edwin, looked pensive. “Seeing him again after all these years would be... something. He was always so stern, but I wonder how much he’s changed.”
Kelvin raised an eyebrow. “Nolan?”
Edwin nodded. “He is Alex’s father and my adoptive father.”
Kelvin looked at Edwin with curiosity. “How did you manage to escape?”
Edwin’s gaze turned distant as he recalled the memory. “We shall discuss that another time, but suffice it to say, I endeavored to befriend a prince. He provided me with directions to Skycross Castle, fearing the repercussions of being seen conversing with a slave as an equal. I seized that opportunity and never looked back.”
Kelvin nodded. “The king remembered you calling him a coward.”
Edwin's eyes widened slightly. “So, he ascended to the throne?”
Mica, sensing Edwin’s surprise, leaned forward. “Yes, he did. And we had quite an interesting encounter with him recently.”
Kelvin continued, “When we met the king, he noticed the Skycross brand on our weapons and immediately recognized it. Seeing the brand made him trust us, and he shared a story about a slave who called him a coward, which turned out to be you.”
Mica interjected, “He told us about the time you called him a coward for not standing up against the injustices in his kingdom. It clearly struck a nerve with him.”
Edwin looked thoughtful. “I did not think a slave's words would have such an impact on him.”
Kelvin continued, “Marlin kidnapped the princess because he opposes the king’s gradual yet progressive anti-slavery measures. While we saved her, the knight remains at large.”
Edwin smiled. “We can save that discussion for another time. For now, go out and enjoy Rabbit Day. Perhaps one day, the rabbits and prey in my homeland will be free, just as Mica is.”
