Fated meeting

Bunny liked returning to nature. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. She turned off her phone; discovering a clearing in the forest. She unpacked her bag, pitching a tent. She left the tent to collect firewood. Bunny happily strolled with her paws behind her back, taking in her surroundings. Inhaling the fresh forest air. Listening to the bird song and rustle of ever-green leaves. Her cathartic stroll morphed into a hike as she ventured further and further from her comfortable single man tent.

Bunny started to look for berries, mushrooms or wildflowers to gather, folding up her hoodie to carry anything she could add to her collection. The sky was starting to grow dark when her attention was drawn to a dark presence amongst the undergrowth. There were specks of light from the expanding shadows. Like torches. Not the modern kind with batteries. The kind you would expect to see in an old movie with mobs wielding pitchforks and wooden torches. Curious, the young vagabond decided to investigate. She crept through the undergrowth. Covering her glasses with her paws to avoid having them scratched. Branches snagged on the sleeves of her oversized hoodie and the laces of her hiking boots.

What are so many people doing out here?

It was not so out of the ordinary for the feline. She spent most of her spare time relaxing in the forest. She knew the rugged yet picturesque mountains and acre upon acres of trees and babbling brooks. Bunny realised she was holding her breath the whole time, but she was too afraid to make a solitary sound. Even if she called for help now, help would not arrive until it was too late for…her.

Is this a…cult?

Bunny squinted, adjusting her thick, circular glasses. She raised her phone, using it as a torch. She had not intended for her walk to transform into a hike, so she was underprepared for this situation. Even if she had a torch, she doubted that anything could have prepared her for what she saw as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. It took her brain what felt like an eternity to take it all in.

It being an enormous creature that resembled a bear due to its brown fur, stature and impressive height, but it displayed features that distinctly did not belong on a bear. Like a long, furry amphibious tail that reminded her of an axolotl. Its brown coat and face resembled that of a hyena, except for the beasts large, golden tusks. Bunny counted double the usual number of upper arms.

What alarmed her more than the creature itself were the figures around it. A mysterious and violent cult. Trying to inflict harm on the creature with homemade weapons. Despite being so far away from it, Bunny’s heart skipped a beat. The beast’s eyes connected with hers. There was a flicker of recognition- an eternal bond. Love? Bunny felt her cheeks flush, raising her paws to her cheeks. She knew what she had to do. Her feet moving before her brain could string together a coherent thought. She looked for a sharp rock to free the creature with. Something that large could get them both to safety, abandon her, or harm her. Either way, Bunny was not going to let the creature suffer.

Mustering up the courage, she crept closer. The creature laid deathly still. Unflinching, save for the faintest flicker of her large disc like ears as Bunny stumbled towards where the beast was restrained. It closed its eyes with a smirk as Bunny tugged at and sawed at the restraints as quietly as possible. The whole exchange felt as if they were fated to meet. The creature felt it too. They were soulmates.

Bunny screamed as a pair of dark gloves grabbed her from behind. A blade pressed into her throat. Her attacker said nothing. Which terrified her. Blood trickled down her pretty, tender neck. The feline struggled. Her glasses knocked off her face. An unmistakable crunch of glass underfoot. The beast roared, baring her teeth at the masked cultists. The shackles creaking as Jupiter thrashed her way loose. The world spun. Unable to process it all, Bunny’s eyelids were forced closed by blood loss. She slumped in her attacker’s arms. Life dashing from her like deer startled from a clearing.

The creature snapped her bonds, rampaging through the camp. Tearing apart timber, canvas and flesh. The embers from the torches roared into flames. The flames licked at the destruction she left in her wake. The golden glow illuminating her vengeful eyes as she defended her dead soul mate.  

Bunny’s eyes cracked open. She starred up at the canopy before sitting up. Mist rose from the leaf-litter like smoke from a dragon’s mouth, misting her glasses. She realised she was…being carried?

Whoever or whatever it was smelt warm and earthly like a campfire and pine needles. She rubbed her eyes. Her blood running cold as she stared into jagged teeth and golden tusks. The creature holding her was ENORMOUS!

“P-please don’t eat me.” Bunny stuttered.

At least it could swallow me whole.

The creature blew air out from its nostrils and mouth – laughing at her?

“W-what’s so funny?”

The creature purred, nuzzling Bunny’s fur. Inhaling her scent like a puppy.

“Where am I?”

“The Realm of Forest and Rain.”

“What are you?” Bunny found herself sounding more confident than she felt dwarfed in the beast’s shadow.

“A demi-goddess.”

“Where’s my bag?”

The beast cocked her head.

“My bag! Where is it?”

Bunny’s chest tightened. An anxiety attack. She laid a paw over her own chest to calm her heart.

“My bag. It’s yellow. This big. Has one strap I wear over my shoulder. I was wearing it when-”

“What happened to me?” Bunny asked, smoothing her dark hair down with her paws.

“You saved me.” The beast said in a deep voice like an echo in a cave.

“I did? I don’t remember it that way.”

Bunny sat in silence as the creature carried her over fallen logs and rugged terrain with ease.

“What’s your name? I’m Bunny.”

“Jupiter.”

“Where are we going?”

“Home.”

“Home?” How could Bunny go home knowing there were cultists in the forest she held so dear?

“To my place.”

“You have a place?”

A terrifying thought crossed her mind. She heard the fairy tales as a kid about trusting strangers. Hansel and Gretel. Little Red Riding Hood. Bunny sprang from the beast’s arm, landing in the undergrowth on her forepaws and knees. Cats always landed on their feet. She looked back. The creature stood where it was, bending over to pick up a yellow flower. Holding it out to Bunny.

“What?”

“For you.” Jupiter smiled, stepping closer. She smiled without showing her teeth.

“For me?”

Jupiter nodded, extending her paw.

“Eep!” Bunny flinched, scrunching her eyes closed tightly.

Nothing happened.

She waited, opening her eyes gingerly. Her paws reached up to her ear where Jupiter pinned the flower.

“Th-thank you. It’s very…um…yellow?”

Jupiter bent over, picking another yellow flower and another. Bunny was bewildered. She adjusted her glasses. They were slightly bent out of shape, but not smashed to pieces like she remembered.

Jupiter seemed amused by her mousey response. She offered an armful of yellow blossoms to Bunny. A heartfelt gesture.

Bunny tried to carry them all without dropping them but failed in doing so. Jupiter seemed to have a solution. Fashioning what was a small paw-full to her (and entire armfuls to Bunny) into a flower crown for the smaller female. The feline was surprised by how gentle and dexterous such large paws were. She wondered what it would feel like to have Jupiter’s paws roaming over her slender figure.

The crown was too large. Drooping over her bi-coloured eyes. Bunny laughed along with Jupiter, trying to paw it out of her face. She gasped as the beasts swept her off her feet, twirling her in a circle. Bunny felt her cheeks flush. Jupiter’s tail swayed as Bunny repositioned herself in Jupiter’s arms again, nestled amongst the blanket of yellow petals.

“Alright. You win. Let’s go home. I want to get to know you. You’re the nicest person I’ve ever met.”

Jupiter obliged.

“Hold on.”

Instead of wasting another moment, Jupiter teleported the pair of them to her front doorstep. The log cabin was eye-boggling. Bunny gaped around in a stunned awe at the interior design. It seemed out of this world. Jupiter gathered the spare yellow daisies and arranged them in a clear glass vase.  

“Are you hungry?”

Bunny nodded.

“Do you have any doughnuts or chips?”

She thought stuffing her face with something might help her avoid the long, awkward silences. Jupiter nodded, rummaging through the cupboards to retrieve a spare stash of doughnuts. She set them down on the table. Jupiter loved cooking. She hoped she could cook for this woman for the rest of her afterlife. The whole cottage seemed like a dollhouse compared to the creature sitting across from her.

“You don’t need any more sugar. You’re already sweet enough.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. I know it.”

“Is that why do you keep sniffing me?”

“You smell like freshly cut daises and sunflowers with a hint of sugar.”

“You smell nice too.”

“Since it’s getting so late, what would you like to do?”

“I’d like to read a book.”

Jupiter grimaced.

“I’m sorry. Is something wrong?”

“I don’t like reading anymore.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.” Bunny reached out, feeling a pang of sympathy as she touched the deep scars from the cult.

“It’s okay. I can read. You can…do something else?”

“We’ll go upstairs. I’ll have something amazing to show you something special tonight.”

Bunny followed Jupiter upstairs to what looked like an observatory. The large glass ceiling showcased a brilliant, cloudless sky. As soon as the sun set, it would be a dream come true.

Bunny lost track of the hours she spent reading a hard cover book from the wide selection available. Jupiter curled around her like a beanbag. She could get used to living here. Being cuddled at night. She woke up to look for something to drink. By the time she returned, the pinkie-orange sunset faded into inky, star-spangled galaxies. Bunny was blown away. She loved space. She felt like a child again.

“Do you want to stay here forever with me?” Jupiter whispered seductively in her ear.

Bunny jumped, instantaneously snapped out of her trance. Almost dropping the glass. She would have if it were not for the four pairs of tree-trunk sized arms wrapping around her. Her heart raced.

“Yes. I do. What should we do tomorrow?”

“We should go swimming.”

“You like swimming? I wouldn’t have guessed.”  

“There might be some caches nearby.”

“How did you- Were you watching me?”

“Yes. We are soulmates.”

“You believe in love at first site?”

“Not until I saw you. You were brave. Trying to save me. I admire your courage, my peach pie.”

Bunny sipped her water as Jupiter shrugged into a red and black chequered flannel shirt.

“Stop. You’re embarrassing me.” She giggled.

“Honeysuckle. Sweetie doll. Sunflower. Babe.”

“Oh my gosh, Jupiter.”

“I love the way you say my name.” Jupiter beamed, purring.

Bunny had so many questions, but none of that mattered.

“How can I repay you?”

Jupiter shrugged.

“You’re bleeding. I’ll tend to your wounds.”

It’s my fault that you got hurt. I wasn’t strong enough. I’m not as strong as you. I’m…just me.

“Why are you crying? Please, don’t cry. You’re too pretty to cry.”

Bunny laughed half-heartedly, swiping at her eyes with the backs of her sleeves. Her glasses misted as she choked back sobs. It was all too much. The happiness. The regret. The fear. The unknown.

“I’m fine. Th-thank you. How do you feel now?”

“Better now that you are here with me.”

This felt right. This was the best thing she found in her life. She became addicted to geo-caching at a young age. Trying to find herself. Bunny sat down to bandage Jupiter’s open wounds. Jupiter bent over so she was eye to eye with the feline. Jupiter took the smaller female by the paw, kissing the back of her paw with deep, blue, bedroom eyes. Bunny’s heart melted. Bunny reached up, cupping Jupiter’s cheeks. She planted her lips on Jupiter’s. Jupiter deepened the kiss, lifting Bunny off the ground, onto her lap. The smaller female buried her face into Jupiter’s thick, brown fur. She drifted off, dreaming of the life they would have together. Nothing but true love for the rest of her afterlife.