Minerva had never, once in her life, wanted to kill another living thing. When she was a small pup, her father often got angry at her when he tried to take her hunting, because she adamantly refused to kill anything, but as she got older, she realized that simply wasn't a viable way for a fox to live. She had to eat, which meant she had to kill. But, she made one simple promise to herself, and that was that she would only kill things for food; never for pleasure, for sport, or revenge.
Minerva was about to break that promise.
Standing there at a crossroads, the two groups staring at one another, Gerry couldn't really understand exactly what had just happened here. A rabbit he didn't even really remember, Richardson, had just betrayed them all because he had wanted to rescue his sister? And somehow Dodger had orchestrated this entire thing? This seemed like utter madness. He looked at Kevin, who was steaming mad, and he glared.
"How the hell could you be so blind to this?" Gerry thought to himself, "You were supposed to be better than me at spotting this shit."
"What do you want, Dodger? I know you weren't just helping Richardson out of the good of your heart," Kevin said, "As that would imply you have one."
"Oh, so clever," Dodger said, chuckling, "I will tell you exactly what I want. I want protection. The rest of your 'collective' provides me that. You have your medicine, you can go and save your ladyfriend, but in return, I want everyone else you took out of the lab, for my friend here," he finished, motioning to Minerva.
"Her?" Six asked.
"See, when I got out, I thought I could be a leader too," Dodger said, "turns out, Gerry as you may well know, it's a lot harder than you think it will be. One can't just BE a leader. It takes a lot of qualities you can't just decide you have. You have to have been born with these traits, or learn them over a long period of time. So, I made a decision. I met Minerva, and asked for her protection, and in return, I gave her my group."
"...gave her-"
"As compensation. Delicious compensation," Dodger said, every rabbits jaw dropping at this revelation.
"You're a sick piece of shit," Six mumbled, "What the hell is wrong with you?! Those were you friends!"
"Oh please, I barely knew any of them," Dodger said, "I only took them with me so I could be taken care of by a large group, as their 'leader'. Turns out it was easier to sell them out for better protection. But...sadly, most of them are gone now, and I need to give her something in their place, and I want your group. So, if you give me the remaining Collective, then Kevin can leave."
"What....what about me?" Gerry asked, and Dodger walked forward, their faces so close now.
"Gerald, why would I feed you to someone? You know you can be just like me. Come with me, be my partner. Life is good, Gerry. It can be good for you too, you just have to put yourself above everyone else. Are you ready to make that kind of commitment, cause last time you weren't," Dodger said, making Gerry chew on his lip, his ears twitching, as he glanced back over his shoulder at the collective, and wondering.
***
Number Two was about out of breath when he stopped in the woods for a quick drink from a water hole. As he pulled his face from the water and looked at his reflection, he wasn't sure whether or not he would make it in time. Number Two turned around to continue, only to bump into Richardson head first.
"Hey!" Number Two said, "You're...you're here! Where's everyone-"
"I'm sorry," Richardson said, standing in front of his sister, his eyes glued to the ground, "He has them. I'm sorry. I'm a very bad rabbit. I hope you can forgive me."
"...you....you did this. You sold them out...why would you-"
"You know what love can do, don't you? Look at what it's making Kevin do. Look at what you're doing, because you love them, your friends. Love can....destroy everything you hold dear. Keep going if you want to try and stop them, you're almost there."
Number Two furrowed his brow and began hopping past them, continuing on his way.
"Paul," Richardson shouted out, making him stop and look back.
"What?"
"Just do me one favor. Don't become like me," Richardson said, and Number Two nodded. He could see Richardson really hadn't wanted to do this, but he so badly wanted his little sister back that he had to. Number Two knew, deep down, Richardson wasn't a 'very bad rabbit' as he'd so delicately put it...he was just broken, just like the rest of them. With that, Number Two turned on his heels and continued onwards, hoping he could get there just in time.
***
"Gerry, tick tock, time's racing," Dodger said, "I need a decision. I know you have it in you to be like me. I know you do. I know that deep down, you and I are not that different, that's why we get along so well. Gerald, do the right thing. Come with me, like we planned originally. Like I offered in the vents. Come with me."
"...never," Gerry said, snarling at him, "These are my friends, and my family, and you are trash, Dodger. I so regret ever having met you. You have brought nothing except pain and death to everyone who comes into contact with you, and your fox friend here will soon recognize that. That you don't really care about her, that you're just using her too. You use everyone. You're using me now, to try and get me to hand over my friends for supposed power, but I know weeks, maybe months down the road, you'll turn on me too."
"I would never turn on you," Dodger said, "You're one of the few animals I've ever had the ability to forge some sort of relationship with, honestly. I wouldn't turn on you, Gerald. I'm sorry you think that though. That hurts."
"I have to get this medicine back to Ellen," Kevin said, "I'm leaving."
Dodger whistled and Minerva stepped in front of them, baring her teeth.
"You have 5 seconds Gerry, to make a decision. Come with me and Kevin can go back to his life, and Minerva gets your rabbits. Or...we just slaughter the lot of you right here and now, including Number Four, who'll die without that medicine. The choice is yours."
Gerry knew it had come down to this. He had to make a decision. He had to do something. He didn't have much time left, and he knew that if he didn't do something, anything, in the next few seconds, so many rabbits could shed blood right here and now because of him. Dodger cleared his throat and Gerry looked back at him as he smiled.
"Time's up," Dodger said.
"I'm not going with you," Gerry said.
Dodgers eyes became narrow, angry, as he muttered, "Kill them all."
Minerva moved into position, snarling at every last rabbit. Gerry looked at Kevin, who he knew wanted so badly to get back to Number Four. Gerry looked at Number Six, whom he promised he'd give a better life too. Gerry looked at all the others in his group, Crisp and Melvin, and he knew he'd failed them. He'd told them it'd be safe. He told them it'd be better. Gerry stepped in front of Kevin, in front of everyone and shut his eyes, standing his ground.
"If you want to kill them, you'll have to kill me first," he said.
"Do it," Dodger said, "He's too soft."
And then, without warning, Minerva started yelping, and Gerry opened his eyes to see Number Two on her back, biting into her neck. Dodger looked stunned, like he never could've imagined this sort of thing would occur, and he and Gerry locked eyes.
"Run!" Gerry screamed, looking at everyone, "Scatter into the trees! Stick together if you can, but get the hell away from here!"
The collective wasted no time, and took off into the treeline as Minerva threw Number Two off of her, and he skidded in front of Gerry and Kevin. He stumbled to his feet and shook the blood from his face.
"Go," Number Two said, "Go, get out of here."
"We can't-"
"Just go Gerald!" Number Two screamed, and Gerry nodded, taking off with Kevin by his side. As they approached the treeline, Kevin glanced back at Number Two, who was still standing his ground in front of Minerva. He was breathing hard and fast, unsure of what was to come, but he was ready. Whatever was coming, he was prepared.
"How could you do this?" Number Two asked, "How could you willingly help this monster kill innocent rabbits who never did a GODDAMN THING TO HIM!? Gerry and Kevin, okay, that I understand. They're the ones involved with him, but the rest of them? You can sit easily with yourself while you kill poor, scared children and mothers and friends, and that's fine to you?!"
"I...I need to protect myself, and my cub," Minerva said, "You don't know what my life is like, so don't you judge me!"
"And YOU!" Number Two yelled, turning his attention to Dodger, "You poor, pathetic piece of trash. You continue to hurt my friends, you continue to hurt our group, and you continue to hurt ME, but not today! Today is the day someone stands up to you!"
"Kill him!" Dodger shouted.
"With pleasure," Minerva said, snapping at Number Two, who just ran underneath her, dodged between her ankles and took off into the woods. Dodger hopped on top of Minerva and pointed at wher Number Two had vanished.
"Follow him!" Dodger shouted, and she did just that.
Number Two bobbed and weaved in every direction he could, simply trying to wear Minerva out, until he came to the sound of rushing water. He thought perhaps he could get through a river and slow her down, but he knew she was a larger creature, she had more of a chance making it through than he did. But, as he turned to the sound of the water, he discovered it was not a river at all, in fact...it was a waterfall, and he had trapped himself. He turned to see Minerva coming to a stop on the edge of the fallen tree he had perched himself on, as Dodger climbed off her and pointed at him.
"You!" he shouted, "You have been nothing but a pain in my backside!"
"Because I actually care about people?" Number Two asked, "What kind of psychopathic murdering pompous ass are you? Do you really not care about anyone other than yourself? Even Minerva here says she was doing it for her child!"
"Kill him and let's get going, this day was wasted," Dodger said, "Maybe if we're lucky, we can catch some of them in the trees still."
Minerva lunged at Number Two, but he ducked, and she slid over him, her front paws grabbing the edge of the tree trunk as he torso twisted, holding herself from falling off, into the water below. Dodger looked at her and grinned, if he could just make it past Dodger, then-
-but no, the mouse had caught him unawares, and rammed into him, forcing him to stumble and slide over Minerva, falling, grabbing onto her tail with his paws and clinging for dear life. Minerva looked up at Dodger, now standing over the edge, looking down at them.
"Dodger!" Minerva screamed, "Dodger go get help!"
"...nobody can do anything right. If you want anything done correctly, you have to do it yourself," Dodger said, sighing, shaking his head before turning and heading back into the treeline. Minerva couldn't believe her ears. She clung to the tree, Number Two clinging to her.
"Brace yourself!" Minerva said, "We're gonna fall!"
Number Two, however had begun climbing back up her body, and was nearing her head. He jumped onto the trunk and looked back at her, her large eyes staring at him, her ears laid back. She looked so sad and helpless, hanging there. He stood there for a moment, just watching, waiting.
"Help me," Minerva said, "Please...I can't....I can't leave my cub behind, please, help me! I'm sorry! I did it to survive! I didn't know what kind of monster he was when I met him, and before I knew anything, I was in too deep!"
Number Two didn't respond, he just stood there, staring at her.
"Please, help me, you have to-"
"My name is Number Two," he said coldly, "I'm only telling you this because I want this to be the last face you remember before you die. And I'm not going to help you. I'm going to sit right here and watch you fall."
Minerva was about to break that promise.
Standing there at a crossroads, the two groups staring at one another, Gerry couldn't really understand exactly what had just happened here. A rabbit he didn't even really remember, Richardson, had just betrayed them all because he had wanted to rescue his sister? And somehow Dodger had orchestrated this entire thing? This seemed like utter madness. He looked at Kevin, who was steaming mad, and he glared.
"How the hell could you be so blind to this?" Gerry thought to himself, "You were supposed to be better than me at spotting this shit."
"What do you want, Dodger? I know you weren't just helping Richardson out of the good of your heart," Kevin said, "As that would imply you have one."
"Oh, so clever," Dodger said, chuckling, "I will tell you exactly what I want. I want protection. The rest of your 'collective' provides me that. You have your medicine, you can go and save your ladyfriend, but in return, I want everyone else you took out of the lab, for my friend here," he finished, motioning to Minerva.
"Her?" Six asked.
"See, when I got out, I thought I could be a leader too," Dodger said, "turns out, Gerry as you may well know, it's a lot harder than you think it will be. One can't just BE a leader. It takes a lot of qualities you can't just decide you have. You have to have been born with these traits, or learn them over a long period of time. So, I made a decision. I met Minerva, and asked for her protection, and in return, I gave her my group."
"...gave her-"
"As compensation. Delicious compensation," Dodger said, every rabbits jaw dropping at this revelation.
"You're a sick piece of shit," Six mumbled, "What the hell is wrong with you?! Those were you friends!"
"Oh please, I barely knew any of them," Dodger said, "I only took them with me so I could be taken care of by a large group, as their 'leader'. Turns out it was easier to sell them out for better protection. But...sadly, most of them are gone now, and I need to give her something in their place, and I want your group. So, if you give me the remaining Collective, then Kevin can leave."
"What....what about me?" Gerry asked, and Dodger walked forward, their faces so close now.
"Gerald, why would I feed you to someone? You know you can be just like me. Come with me, be my partner. Life is good, Gerry. It can be good for you too, you just have to put yourself above everyone else. Are you ready to make that kind of commitment, cause last time you weren't," Dodger said, making Gerry chew on his lip, his ears twitching, as he glanced back over his shoulder at the collective, and wondering.
***
Number Two was about out of breath when he stopped in the woods for a quick drink from a water hole. As he pulled his face from the water and looked at his reflection, he wasn't sure whether or not he would make it in time. Number Two turned around to continue, only to bump into Richardson head first.
"Hey!" Number Two said, "You're...you're here! Where's everyone-"
"I'm sorry," Richardson said, standing in front of his sister, his eyes glued to the ground, "He has them. I'm sorry. I'm a very bad rabbit. I hope you can forgive me."
"...you....you did this. You sold them out...why would you-"
"You know what love can do, don't you? Look at what it's making Kevin do. Look at what you're doing, because you love them, your friends. Love can....destroy everything you hold dear. Keep going if you want to try and stop them, you're almost there."
Number Two furrowed his brow and began hopping past them, continuing on his way.
"Paul," Richardson shouted out, making him stop and look back.
"What?"
"Just do me one favor. Don't become like me," Richardson said, and Number Two nodded. He could see Richardson really hadn't wanted to do this, but he so badly wanted his little sister back that he had to. Number Two knew, deep down, Richardson wasn't a 'very bad rabbit' as he'd so delicately put it...he was just broken, just like the rest of them. With that, Number Two turned on his heels and continued onwards, hoping he could get there just in time.
***
"Gerry, tick tock, time's racing," Dodger said, "I need a decision. I know you have it in you to be like me. I know you do. I know that deep down, you and I are not that different, that's why we get along so well. Gerald, do the right thing. Come with me, like we planned originally. Like I offered in the vents. Come with me."
"...never," Gerry said, snarling at him, "These are my friends, and my family, and you are trash, Dodger. I so regret ever having met you. You have brought nothing except pain and death to everyone who comes into contact with you, and your fox friend here will soon recognize that. That you don't really care about her, that you're just using her too. You use everyone. You're using me now, to try and get me to hand over my friends for supposed power, but I know weeks, maybe months down the road, you'll turn on me too."
"I would never turn on you," Dodger said, "You're one of the few animals I've ever had the ability to forge some sort of relationship with, honestly. I wouldn't turn on you, Gerald. I'm sorry you think that though. That hurts."
"I have to get this medicine back to Ellen," Kevin said, "I'm leaving."
Dodger whistled and Minerva stepped in front of them, baring her teeth.
"You have 5 seconds Gerry, to make a decision. Come with me and Kevin can go back to his life, and Minerva gets your rabbits. Or...we just slaughter the lot of you right here and now, including Number Four, who'll die without that medicine. The choice is yours."
Gerry knew it had come down to this. He had to make a decision. He had to do something. He didn't have much time left, and he knew that if he didn't do something, anything, in the next few seconds, so many rabbits could shed blood right here and now because of him. Dodger cleared his throat and Gerry looked back at him as he smiled.
"Time's up," Dodger said.
"I'm not going with you," Gerry said.
Dodgers eyes became narrow, angry, as he muttered, "Kill them all."
Minerva moved into position, snarling at every last rabbit. Gerry looked at Kevin, who he knew wanted so badly to get back to Number Four. Gerry looked at Number Six, whom he promised he'd give a better life too. Gerry looked at all the others in his group, Crisp and Melvin, and he knew he'd failed them. He'd told them it'd be safe. He told them it'd be better. Gerry stepped in front of Kevin, in front of everyone and shut his eyes, standing his ground.
"If you want to kill them, you'll have to kill me first," he said.
"Do it," Dodger said, "He's too soft."
And then, without warning, Minerva started yelping, and Gerry opened his eyes to see Number Two on her back, biting into her neck. Dodger looked stunned, like he never could've imagined this sort of thing would occur, and he and Gerry locked eyes.
"Run!" Gerry screamed, looking at everyone, "Scatter into the trees! Stick together if you can, but get the hell away from here!"
The collective wasted no time, and took off into the treeline as Minerva threw Number Two off of her, and he skidded in front of Gerry and Kevin. He stumbled to his feet and shook the blood from his face.
"Go," Number Two said, "Go, get out of here."
"We can't-"
"Just go Gerald!" Number Two screamed, and Gerry nodded, taking off with Kevin by his side. As they approached the treeline, Kevin glanced back at Number Two, who was still standing his ground in front of Minerva. He was breathing hard and fast, unsure of what was to come, but he was ready. Whatever was coming, he was prepared.
"How could you do this?" Number Two asked, "How could you willingly help this monster kill innocent rabbits who never did a GODDAMN THING TO HIM!? Gerry and Kevin, okay, that I understand. They're the ones involved with him, but the rest of them? You can sit easily with yourself while you kill poor, scared children and mothers and friends, and that's fine to you?!"
"I...I need to protect myself, and my cub," Minerva said, "You don't know what my life is like, so don't you judge me!"
"And YOU!" Number Two yelled, turning his attention to Dodger, "You poor, pathetic piece of trash. You continue to hurt my friends, you continue to hurt our group, and you continue to hurt ME, but not today! Today is the day someone stands up to you!"
"Kill him!" Dodger shouted.
"With pleasure," Minerva said, snapping at Number Two, who just ran underneath her, dodged between her ankles and took off into the woods. Dodger hopped on top of Minerva and pointed at wher Number Two had vanished.
"Follow him!" Dodger shouted, and she did just that.
Number Two bobbed and weaved in every direction he could, simply trying to wear Minerva out, until he came to the sound of rushing water. He thought perhaps he could get through a river and slow her down, but he knew she was a larger creature, she had more of a chance making it through than he did. But, as he turned to the sound of the water, he discovered it was not a river at all, in fact...it was a waterfall, and he had trapped himself. He turned to see Minerva coming to a stop on the edge of the fallen tree he had perched himself on, as Dodger climbed off her and pointed at him.
"You!" he shouted, "You have been nothing but a pain in my backside!"
"Because I actually care about people?" Number Two asked, "What kind of psychopathic murdering pompous ass are you? Do you really not care about anyone other than yourself? Even Minerva here says she was doing it for her child!"
"Kill him and let's get going, this day was wasted," Dodger said, "Maybe if we're lucky, we can catch some of them in the trees still."
Minerva lunged at Number Two, but he ducked, and she slid over him, her front paws grabbing the edge of the tree trunk as he torso twisted, holding herself from falling off, into the water below. Dodger looked at her and grinned, if he could just make it past Dodger, then-
-but no, the mouse had caught him unawares, and rammed into him, forcing him to stumble and slide over Minerva, falling, grabbing onto her tail with his paws and clinging for dear life. Minerva looked up at Dodger, now standing over the edge, looking down at them.
"Dodger!" Minerva screamed, "Dodger go get help!"
"...nobody can do anything right. If you want anything done correctly, you have to do it yourself," Dodger said, sighing, shaking his head before turning and heading back into the treeline. Minerva couldn't believe her ears. She clung to the tree, Number Two clinging to her.
"Brace yourself!" Minerva said, "We're gonna fall!"
Number Two, however had begun climbing back up her body, and was nearing her head. He jumped onto the trunk and looked back at her, her large eyes staring at him, her ears laid back. She looked so sad and helpless, hanging there. He stood there for a moment, just watching, waiting.
"Help me," Minerva said, "Please...I can't....I can't leave my cub behind, please, help me! I'm sorry! I did it to survive! I didn't know what kind of monster he was when I met him, and before I knew anything, I was in too deep!"
Number Two didn't respond, he just stood there, staring at her.
"Please, help me, you have to-"
"My name is Number Two," he said coldly, "I'm only telling you this because I want this to be the last face you remember before you die. And I'm not going to help you. I'm going to sit right here and watch you fall."