Following breakfast, which consists of tea and bread, you grab the dust ban and rag before heading to the shelves to clean.
You gently remove everything from the shelves before putting them in the living and went back to clean the shelves with the rag. It's very simple to work you have to do, anything for the kind Mrs. Belle who's letting you stay here. Maybe she just really wanted to have someone to talk to, and having you here to listen to her stories will also be a big help. Yesterday she did mention her children never visit her for a reason she doesn't know.
Then the entrance door opens as an old woman of an animal you don't know enters the store. She doesn't look as old as Mrs. Belle.
Mrs. Belle: Pleasure to see you here Miss Bethany. (Gives her a hug)
Bethany: (Hugs her back) I know, it's been longer than a minute.
Mrs. Belle: Come for more tea I see.
Bethany: No I- (She sees you)
Bethany: Oh my, who's that?
Mrs. Belle: She's my new attendant and housemate.
Bethany: She's a beautiful bunny, do you think she and the doctor will make a good couple?
Mrs. Belle oh no, she's not staying for long. Besides he's not in the best prime of his life.
Bethany: Well that's too bad, he could use a woman in his life.
Mrs. Belle: Come sit, I'll make you some tea.
Bethany: Actually...
That's when you walk over to another bookshelf that's closer to them, but because you were behind it they couldn't see you and you can hear what they were saying.
Bethany: I'm leaving town... permanently.
Mrs. Belle: What? L-Leaving? You can't leave. This is your home.
Bethany: I'm sorry, but my family can't grow anything without water. We tried our best but... I already sold the land to the mayor.
Mrs. Belle: I...
Bethany: I came here to say goodbye...
Bethany then hugs her tight. From leaning over the bookcase you see Mrs. Belle shed a couple of tears even seeing them run down her dark brown fur.
Mrs. Belle: Alright I understand... Go take care of your family. I hope one day we see each other again soon...
They continue hugging for a few more seconds before Bethany pulled herself away and said goodbye before slowly leaving the store, leaving Mrs. Belle only to watch her leave.
Bethany said that they can't grow anything with water. Is this town suffering a drought? Either way, you feel terrible for her, as it seems like those two were good friends. You walk over to Mrs. Belle placing your hand on her shoulder.
Y/n: Mrs. Belle?
She looks at you and lightly wipes her eyes.
Mrs. Belle: (Sighs) Well... there goes another family that's gone from this town...
Y/n: Another family?... Um, let's sit down.
Leading her to the back, you help her sit on the rocking chair before sitting across from her on the couch.
Mrs. Belle: This town was more than what you see today. Back then, it was the place everyone wanted to be. When farmers had crops for miles and the children ran and laughed. I was one of those children. I recall my father taking me with him whenever he went to the markets to sell his crops. I always helped him set everything up before playing with the other children. Back then, everyone was a family. We knew everyone's name, and what crops they grew, and whenever we needed help, they all would pitch in as we did the same for them. (Sighs) But...
You stare at her, and patiently wait for her response.
Mrs. Belle: As I got older, that's when the pond down by the hills was getting smaller. It wasn't until the mayor you'll see took over this town and somehow the water was disappearing sooner than we all expected. And now... There's no water. No pond, no river, no sea. And what little water the bank has, it's not enough for everyone to stay... And so over the years more and more families left town in search of another with water. As you just witnessed... Bethany is now one of them...
Y/n: You grew up with her?
Mrs. Belle: (Nods) Yes... She was one of my good friends this town had... This town, I remember this town had hundreds of animals living and roaming around but... now there's less than a hundred; I believe. Everyone's leaving... And I understand, I do. They have to feed their families. I just wish that... that one day we could go back into the town it once was. When there weren't. any buildings falling apart, molded, and abandoned.
Y/n: I'm... I'm sorry to hear that, I wish I could help...
Mrs. Belle: (Smiles) I know and it's alright. Even I tried to do something but there's nothing I could do.
You honestly wish you knew what to say to help her feel just a little better, but...what could you say?
Mrs. Belle: (Take a deep in and out) Well... we shouldn't be weeping over something we have no control of. I'll get back to knitting and I'll let you finish cleaning the bookcases. Later today I need some help carrying some supplies back from the store.
Y/n: (Soft smile) Okay.
You get up and get back to cleaning while she reaches for her knitting kit and starts to knit. You feel bad for her knowing that her kids don't see her, for her friend just leaving town, and for hearing her story about this town.
A Couple of Hours Later...
You follow Mrs. Belle into the general store and help carry a basket full of knitting supplies. The owner of the store was outside helping someone you didn't see as you follow Mrs. Belle around the store.
Mrs. Belle: Have you ever thought of knitting Y/n?
Y/n: Uhh no I haven't. I'm not sure I'll be good at it.
Mrs. Belle: Aw well perhaps I can teach you the basics or maybe learn how to make a quilt. I can teach you that if you like.
Y/n: Yeah, why not? It's time I learn a new skill or two.
Then you see Beans quickly walk in through the entrance door.
Y/n: (You smile as you wave to her) Oh hi Beans.
Mrs. Belle: Oh Miss Beans, how are you doing dear?
Beans: (Walks up to you two) Afternoon Mrs. Bella, Y/n. I see you helping out? (Points to the basket)
Y/n: Yeah, she's even going to teach me how to knit. Do you want to join us?
Beans: Thanks but I'll have to decline for now. Them piglets aren't going to completely feed themselves.
Mrs. Belle: Oh I'm sure you can come by later today? Or whenever you have time to spare Miss Beans. How's the ranch been?
Beans: Same as always but I can still manage ma'am. It'll take more than a drought and a greedy mayor to take me down.
Mrs. Belle: Now that's what I like to hear. Oh I think I see a yard of red satin.
As Mrs. Belle walks over to the fabric box you take a step forward toward Beans.
Y/n: Just how bad is the mayor in this town?
Beans: Worse than expired jam left out in the sun for a month. He's been trying to buy every farm out including mine to build whatever he wants. He's already bought over ninety-five percent of the nearby farms, and my farm is the biggest one he's trying to get.
Then the owner of the store comes back inside and quickly shuts the door.
Owner: Don't come outside ladies! The hawk is back!
Y/n: Hawk?
You all run towards the windows and see the brown hawk staring down at what looks like a green lizard.
Mrs. Belle: Now what in the world is that young man doing? Is he talking to the hawk?
Beans: Oh boy, seems like it.
Y/n: And with his back turned to it. He's going to get eaten if he doesn't hide.
Mrs. Belle: Oh I'm afraid it's too late to hide now.
Then the green lizard turns around now, seeing the hawk behind him. He runs towards a small building and the hawk shows its razor-sharp talons before slicing the little plastic building. It was then when another animal runs up the dirt road to try to retrieve his hat, but the hawk saw him and the animal went back into hiding. When the hawk turns its attention toward the shredded little building, the green lizard was gone. But that didn't stop the hawk from running in a specific direction.
You guys don't see what's happening, but it wasn't long until a couple of buildings look like something exploded inside.
Y/n: I don't think he's going to make it.
Beans: The chances of him outrunning that hawk are two to ten and that's for surviving with one of your limbs ripped off.
Mrs. Belle: May his poor soul rest. But funny, I haven't seen him before. Have you Y/n? Beans?
Y/n: No.
Beans: I unfortunately do.
Then you all hear gunfire and something loud crashing down, making you all go outside to see what happened. The second you went outside was when you see the hawk crushed to death by the old water tower and everyone was gathering around the hawk and green lizard. As you get closer, everyone cheers for the green lizard while you continue to look at the dead hawk in front of you.
Mrs. Belle: Everything alright Y/n?
Y/n: Oh uh yeah, yeah I'm okay I was just uhh...
Mrs. Belle: Is this your first time seeing a predator?
Y/n: Y-Yeah, it's... a bigger than I thought.
Mrs. Belle: Well, us prey have many predators we need to look out for. Out here, it's hawks and snakes.
Y/n: There's more of them? And snakes?
Mrs. Belle: Oh yes plenty of them. This desert stretches up for miles and miles, even then you must know your way around it in order to stay away from predators.
Predators... you have forgotten that you walked across the desert and yet you didn't come across any predators. You feel lucky but... when you leave town and back into the desert again, just what exactly are you going to do if you come across a predator?
After putting yourself in deep thought, Mrs. Belle places her hand on your shoulder and that's when everyone took notice of you. Some of the guys wouldn't stop staring at you, making you feel uncomfortable, but Mrs. Belle assured you that they would never hurt a woman. You greeted them with a smile and some of the men tip their hats to you, a few even bowed a bit when greeting you.
Hours Later...
You finished everything you needed to do. Undust the shelves, sweep the floor, try your best to clean the windows, undust the blankets and sheets that were hung up, undust the top of the bookcases, and undust the dolls. You feel exhausted at this point and decided to lie down on the couch while Mrs. Belle sits in the rocking chair knitting something.
Y/n:... Rabbits are fast runners, right?
Mrs. Belle: Oh yes. But unfortunately for me, I can't run like I used to. Why do you ask?
Y/n: I was just curious.
You just couldn't help but think of what you're going to do if you come across a predator. But there's also another question you have.
Y/n: What kind of snakes are here?
Mrs. Belle: There are plenty of kinds, but the main ones are the rattlesnake diamondbacks. They're bigger than the other snakes and they have a powerful venom. I remember one of my father's friends was eaten by one of them. They like to squeeze their prey to death before consuming them whole.
Y/n:...
Mrs. Belle: I know it's not a pretty picture, but that's how they eat prey. It must freak you out just thinking about it I know. The same was for me when my father was telling me what happened to his friend. But at the end of it, he told me that we rabbits can outrun them when we're scared. We can get into small tight places that they can't because of their size. You honey, you can outrun them even if you don't know you can. You can.
Y/n: Really? But I never really run from anything before.
Mrs. Belle: Even if you never run before, you can run at a fast speed. Why don't you give it a try out back?
Y/n: Um, alright.
You get up and head out the back door while Mrs. Belle continues her knitting. The sun's beaming down on you, but you somewhat adapted to it, besides you'll have some cool tea when you're done. You stare into the desert, seeing nothing but a couple of tumbleweeds and a large rock about thirty feet away from you. Mentally marking it as your endpoint, you run towards it.
As you run your ankles start hurting, but you keep pushing yourself until you eventually make it to the rock. You're out of breath and you lean against the rock. Your ankles are killing you, you barely run since you never had to. Back home, your human got everything you needed and carried you all the time or put you in her purse whenever you two went out.
You look back to the building and decide to push yourself through because you need to know how to run. You're a rabbit damn it, you mentally tell yourself you got to run fast.
You run back to the building and you could feel the pain coming from your knees as well. And when you come back you sit down on the little barrel just as Mrs. Belle came out with some tea.
Mrs. Belle: I brought you some tea Y/n, how was the run?
She sees you out of breath and your hand on your knee.
Mrs. Belle: Oh I know that pain.
Y/n: Y-Yeah.
Mrs. Belle: I wouldn't rush at first. It's going to be a little while before your legs will get used to it here.
She hands you a cool cup of tea as you say thanks. Taking a sip, you noticed a little dried leaf in it.
Y/n: Yeah, you're right. My knees and ankles are killing me.
Mrs. Belle: My first time running I remember running down the hill thinking it would help me run faster. It worked until I lost my balance and started rolling down the hill and hit my head on a rock. I fainted and I remember my father carrying me back home.
Y/n: I wish I knew what that was like.
Mrs. Belle: Hitting your head on the rock? That's not a good experience to have.
Y/n: No, I mean having a father and daughter relationship. I never knew who my parents were, the same thing with siblings.
Mrs. Belle: I'm terribly sorry to hear that Y/n. But at least now you're here and you still get to have a choice of starting your own family.
Y/n: Wanna hear something crazy? My human was going to purchase another rabbit, a male rabbit, and have me mate with him. I told her no because I don't want to do it and have babies with a stranger. If I'm going to have a family, it'll be with someone I love.
Mrs. Belle: That's great to hear Y/n. I know you'll make any man so happy.
That day, you continue talking to Mrs. Belle about a possible future you could have with a future husband. She shared advice and tips on how to raise them and told stories of her and her husband when he was alive.
You now understand that you are prey and that you need to learn some skills, such as running if you're going to leave. But... something else has been on your mind. If you did go back with Jenni, would she still make you be the male rabbit she chooses? Also, you feel like you have some free will being on your own than when you're with Jenni. The only bad thing you don't like is the predators that want to eat you.
Main Owl: Here in the desert, animals had millions of years to adapt to the harsh environment. But this rabbit... she's not going to make it if she doesn't learn the skills every prey must know, to run and hide. Speaking of prey, she's definitely going to feel like it when the legendary and viscous Rattlesnake Jake comes to town now that the hawk is gone. The people of this town will soon meet the grim reaper himself.