De'Coration Academy for Exceptional Rabbits Part 4: Marshmallow's Solo Mission

Part 1, Part2, Part 3

Each short story can be read separately or as part of the series.

Operatives.

Meet under the marigold bush two nights from now at the height of the moon. There is a new mission for you.

The Secret Paw

Marshmallow examined the note that had been slipped under the door of the lodge. Sprinkles was still fast asleep and would not be up for a few more hours. The note was definitely from The Secret Paw. Perhaps it would be a good idea to scope out the marigold bush before Sprinkles woke up, after all, Sprinkles was still very young and very soft, and it was Marshmallow’s job to look after the younger bunny.

Tucking the note away under the mat, Marshmallow slowly pushed the door open and crept out into the pre-dawn. The grass was cool and damp with dew and so tempting, but Marshmallow resisted the urge to take a nibble. She couldn’t afford to waste any time if she wanted to find and scout out the marigold bush and make it back to the lodge before Sprinkles woke up for the day.

Employing all the stealth she could muster; Marshmallow crept across the garden and leapt the boundary fence out into the wilds. The faint trail She and Sprinkles had used to find a way into the human lair was still present. Pausing for a moment, Marshmallow pondered the best path to take. She knew that there weren’t any marigold bushes close to the lodge or the garden. It might be best to use the existing trail to start, at least she knew that was safe.

Hopping slowly Marshmallow skirted the perimeter of the human lair to the entrance they had found during their first mission for The Secret Paw. It was the furthest Marshmallow had ever ventured. As she sat at the bunny door to the human lair Marshmallow took a few steadying breaths. The world was so much bigger than she had thought. She had spent most of her life within the safety of The De’Coration Academy and as soon as she graduated she had been place on an academy approved expedition. If she ventured further, then she was well and truly leaving the protective reach of the academy.

She took a step.

And another.

She began to hop. Further away from the high walls of the human lair. The sun was just beginning to peak out over the trees as the grass beneath Marshmallow’s feet faded to stone. Marshmallow stilled. All greenery was gone. A barren scar of grey stretched out before Marshmallow. On the other side she could see a Marigold bush. The Marigold Bush. Glancing from side to side, Marshmallow dashed across the vast grey expanse and dived into the safety can cover of the marigold bush.

“Who are you?!” I tiny, high-pitched voice demanded. “What are you doing here? There’s nothing happening today! No jobs! Nothing! Go away!” Marshmallow looked around her frantically, she couldn’t see another being. “I said, GO AWAY!” a very large, very spikey conker uncurled to reveal a strange being. A being Marshmallow had only every heard stories about. A hedgehog! “Go away, bunny. No jobs today.”

“I’m not looking for a job. I have a job.”

“Then what are you doing here? Go away.”

“I just wanted to find the marigold bush. I’m meeting someone here in a few nights.” The hedgehog narrowed their eyes and stared long and hard at Marshmallow before curling back up into a ball once more.

“Well, you found it. Congratulations. Now go away.” How rude. Marshmallow huffed and turned to leave, stamping loudly as she hopped back out into the grey.

*

The Sun was seeping in through the upstairs window of the lodge, warming Sprinkles as she dozed. It was blissfully quiet, a very rare thing since Sprinkles had started living with Marshmallow, who was very much a morning rabbit. Sprinkles stretched out, making herself as long as she could be. Usually at some point during the stretch she would make contact with Marshmallow, but not this time. Sprinkles opened her eyes. Marshmallow was nowhere to be seen.

“She must be downstairs.” Sprinkles mumbled to herself as she got to her feet. “Marshmallow? You’re very quiet this morning, are you alright?”

Silence.

“Marshmallow?” calling out in concern Sprinkles hopped down in search of her absent friend. “Where are you? It’s too early to be out in the garden, you’ll get wet feet.” Sprinkles hopped slowly around the lower floor of the lodge, peering into every corner in search of the white lop. The longer she searched the more frantic she became. Marshmallow was not in the lodge. “Marshmallow?” Sprinkles called as she hopped into the garden to continue her search.

The grass was moist and gleaming with dew in the warm dawn light. As she hopped Sprinkles wasn’t even a little tempted to take a nibble as she searched. Finding Marshmallow was far too important to afford time for snacks.

Marshmallow was gone.

She was not in the lodge, and she was not in the garden and it would be very silly indeed to venture out into the wilds alone without telling anyone. So, the only logical conclusion was that Marshmallow had been bunny-napped!

Sprinkles hopped back inside and slumped down on the mat in distress. She lay forlorn and confused, pondering what to do. How could she go about finding Marshmallow? Marshmallow was a grown rabbit and Sprinkles was still just a little bunny who hadn’t even chosen her speciality at the academy yet. Where would she even start? She picked absentmindedly at the mat. Unwinding thread after thread until she noticed a small scrap of paper. Leaping into action she snatched the paper out from under the mat and stared at it. The emblem of The Secret Paw. Sprinkles pouted, was Marshmallow taking on secret missions without telling her. That wasn’t fair. Sprinkles was part of the expedition too.

Operatives.

Meet under the marigold bush two nights from now at the height of the moon. There is a new mission for you.

The Secret Paw

Well, if Marshmallow wanted to do this alone then so be it. Sprinkles would do something else. Sprinkles would spend the day in the garden eating the best grass and persuading the humans to provide extra treats.

With her mind made up Sprinkles made her way out into the garden and found the perfect spot to lounge and nibble. She stretched out in the sun on the stone beside the grass, some of the most succulent stalks of grass within easy reach. As she lay and ate a blur of white appeared over the garden boundary. Marshmallow was back.

“Sprinkles! I met a hedgehog!” Marshmallow dashed right over to the little lionhead eager to tell her everything about her adventure. Sprinkles stood without saying a word and hopped over to the far side of the garden, her back to Marshmallow. “Sprinkles!” Marshmallow followed and tugged lightly on one of the long tufts of fur around Sprinkles ears. “I found the marigold bush and met a hedgehog!” Sprinkles harrumphed and hopped away again, disappearing into the lodge. She would not forgive Marshmallow easily. “Sprinkles!” Marshmallow hurried after her. “Did you know that hedgehogs look like really big conkers? Why aren’t you talking to me?”

“You left me behind! I thought you had been bunny-napped until I found the note, the I realised that you were just being mean and doing things without me!” Sprinkles stomped loudly and dashed away, as far from Marshmallow as possible.

Marshmallow lowered her head sadly to her paws and watched Sprinkles across the garden. She hadn’t meant to frighten Sprinkles. She had thought she would be back before the little bunny woke up. She also hadn’t meant to leave Sprinkles out of the exploration. Marshmallow slowly crossed the garden.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure it was safe before taking you so far away.” She apologised softly as she began to meekly groom Sprinkles’ fluff. Sprinkles nodded and lent into Marshmallow’s side.

“Just don’t do it again.”

“I won’t, I promise. You will come with me the next time I go exploring.”

Part 5

Marshmallow and Sprinkles are both real life rescue rabbits, I'm fostering them while they search for their forever home. I'm only able to do this because of the Support provided by Rabbit Retail who are a small business local to me, so please check them out. Any purchases or donations made on their website will be helping to keep these two bunnies happy and healthy, and will help pay for their spays as will any tips.