The Complicit Bystander

The kits escaped the heat of the sun by gathering in the shade of a tree.

“My Uncle Phil says those browns are stealing the carrots!” Fi puffed out her cotton ball chest.

“Yeah! And they smell bad, my mummy told me.” Hannah retorted, bouncing on her hind legs.

They glanced around the group, keen for others to fuel the fire. When our eyes locked, I glared and scrunched up my snout.

“You do know my dad's a brown rabbit.”

An uncomfortable silence ensued as they all avoided my gaze, only to be interrupted by Hannah's snap.

“Yeah, but you're different. You don't drawl like a hare when you speak. You're one of us, Sarah!”

I looked away to conceal my eyeroll and lied. “My mum needs to give me a groom before we set off. See you in a bit.”

Today was the anniversary of a neighbouring colony's culling, which meant we spent the day paying respects at their memorial. On the return journey, the sun hung low in the sombre sky. We strolled together speaking in hushed tones, but my father stoically marched ahead. With concern, I hurried after him, straining to hear his quiet mumble.

“Why do we only feel sorry for white rabbits?”

I scurried to catch up with him. “Dad!” The word caught in my throat as he turned his head.

“Why don't we get everyone to build a memorial for your culled colony?” As the idea tumbled out of my mouth I realised how ridiculous it sounded. His pained expression told me what we both already knew. He turned away to continue his march. As I watched his fluffy tail disappear between the blades of grass, depressed strands trailed behind.

Whilst I gazed at the path he had trodden, I heard a rustling behind. My prey instincts kicked in. My senses heightened as I stood motionless. I twitched my nose, and when the air filled with the scent of rabbit, my muscles relaxed. I crept forward to investigate, and when I slipped through the grass a pair of frail looking rabbits appeared. One of them inched slightly forward, protectively shielding the smaller of the two, and his big glassy eyes scanned me. I gently lowered my ears. They held their position with the smaller of the two twitching uncontrollably, so I flopped to the ground, exposing my tummy. Their rigidity and twitching subsided, and the stick in the smaller rabbit's mouth fell to the ground.

He hesitated before squeaking. “Are you part of that colony?” He gestured in the direction of our warren.

“Yes.”

The authoritative rabbit threw a penetrating look at the other.

“We're collecting as many twigs as we can before night falls, so we'd better crack on.”

The leader placed an affectionate paw on the smaller rabbit's back, guiding him away.

After rejoining the group, a handful of rabbits including my mother and me took a detour to the farmer's field. As we approached, it looked barren against the fiery sunset. We searched for any sign of carrots, and with the evening light dimming into blackness, we wearily accepted failure. As we started the retreat back, I could see the cogs turning in Fi's head.

“I told you! Didn't I?! It's those browns! It's always those browns! What are we supposed to do now?!”

Her shrill voice penetrated my chest so deeply that my heart started thumping in my throat. I sucked my teeth, looking away to privately compose myself.

I felt Hannah waking the next morning as her soft fur rubbed against me. My eyelids parted as the first of the morning light trickled into the stuffy warren. Before the crowded tunnel came alive, I scrambled over the top of the squirming carpet of bodies and launched myself into the fresh air with Hannah following closely behind. We hopped over our usual spot, and began grazing as all of the other rabbits started to emerge.

Out of nowhere, Fi's piercing squeal filled the air. “Look over there! Those fat browns are nicking the carrots again. There aren't going to be any left for us!”

There was a muttering of agreement from the ever-growing number of rabbits fumbling out of the ground.

“You realise we need to do something about this. We are going to starve because of those funny eared fatties!” Hannah chirped in.

I shifted uncomfortably as everyone rallied around the vocal fearmongers, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dad sulk into the background.

“They're such pests.” Hannah jeered, while ogling the rabbits, occasionally glancing at Fi, who nodded approvingly.

“They don't even care! That's the brown mentality isn't it?! Just take take take, greedy little pests!” She had a glint in her eye as she scanned the crowd forming around her.

An elderly rabbit jumped on his hind legs with his ribs on full display. “There, look! He's got a really juicy carrot. All I've eaten is grass for the past three days!” I could see brown rabbits bouncing back to their warren oblivious to the onlookers. Squinting, I could make out a tiny withered carrot hanging from a watering mouth.

“They're taking all of the carrots. We were there yesterday weren't we, Sarah? Nothing left, right?!” I had edged as far away from Fi as I could, but she still managed to throw her voice in my direction. Heads spun towards me, eager for my approval.

“Erm, I mean, I'm not sure if it was the rabbits taking them.” My mutter projected into the ground as I looked down.

But Hannah gave the crowd what they wanted. “I'm so hungry! I don't want my carrots being taken by some stupid little brown. Why can't they share?” She wailed, and when she thumped her foot on the ground, the rest of the rabbits followed suit.

A handful of rabbits shifted closer to Fi and Hannah. Then, as more onlookers converged, more rabbits were attracted to join the gathering. Individual cries could be heard from the growing organism, but as the shouts became more frequent, they unified into a deafening sound, with only Fi's voice rising above the noise. She thrust herself up onto her hind legs.

“We need to get rid of those vermin!”

It was too late to stop the riot. The dominoes had already fallen. The stampede charged. The browns froze in terror. My father, mother and I watched helplessly as the rampage commenced.

It was over. I struggled to bring myself to approach the browns' territory, and when I arrived the devastation burnt onto my retinas. The ground was littered with corpses. My legs felt like lead, but somehow they carried me to the warren to search for any remaining survivors. The empty tunnel echoed sorrow, where I pictured it bustling with life. I could envision the rabbits I'd met in an embrace, the larger of the two licking his companion clean. But they were all gone now. Something struck across the corner of my vision, and as I turned in its direction, it disappeared behind the treeline. I could see an exposed brown ear poking out of the bushes. I quietly tiptoed in its direction.

“Hello!” I enquired, being as friendly as I could.

As I parted the leaves, I recognised the rabbits' glassy eyes, and as they fixated on me, they grew wider.

“I've come to help.”

His brow furrowed, but his eyes were still wide, and then they narrowed.

“What is this? A trick? If you are going to attack me, just get it over with!”

I surrendered my paws to the air. “You've got it all wrong. Honestly, I want to help you!”

He glowered at me. “But that makes no sense. Your colony destroyed everything I've ever known!”

I cut across him quickly. “But I don't agree with them.”

I paused.

“I should have stopped them.”

He snorted. “It's too late for that!”

I could barely form a whisper. “Much too late.”