Once upon a time, deep in the great forest, there laid an egg-shaped child as red as blood and as shiny as a jewel. Still as a log, quiet as the dead.

“Poor little egg, lossst in the green~” murmured a slithering stranger. “Eye-catching asss you are, to leave you alone would be obssscene, hm?”

Seldom do creatures in this forest come across food quite as easily, and so the stranger picked up the egg-shaped being with its wide maw and gulped it down in one go. However, what the stranger didn’t know was that the child was quite alive.

“GUH!”

Torn right through the walls, the child emerged from the stranger’s corpse with eyes glowing ominously gold. In its own mouth laid the flesh of the stranger, being grounded between teeth and cheeks.

This is how they are typically born, these “sacred creatures” of the forest.

…..

…..

…..

“You can’t leave me here! You can’t leave me here!” Arley cries,  arms wrapped around your body with a grip unbecoming of a prey to a predator. His golden eyes are big and wide, watery with tears threatening to overflow, and his bunny ears are folded backwards. “Darliiing! You can’t.”

You took a deep breath and sigh heavily. “Arley, for the last time, I need to tend the barley. The sun is up already. Why do you keep doing this every morning?”

He shook his head, wrapping his arms around your waist even tighter. He even swings his legs to curl around your legs. Eyes still shut from slumber and with a pout, he whines, “Nooo…”

Ever since that day you decided to share a nest with the rabbit back at your family’s den,  once you both returned to your den, Arley has found himself unable to sleep in his own nest. At least, without you in it. Thus, from then on, whether it was in your nest or his nest, you had begrudgingly became bedmates. You’ve even started a barley field just to keep fattening him up, and yet he still remains as gangly as you had found him. Well, nearly. He’s become a little more healthy, but not to proper rabbit standards just yet.

It’s fine. It’s fine. To fatten up a rabbit properly for eating, they need proper sleep too. This is going to benefit me in the end… But damn it, why is he so clingy!?

You groan. “Well, I need to use the litter.”

“No, you don’t.”

Are you kidding me!?

“Yes, I do,” you insist.

“No,” he simply rejects.

You deeply inhale and exhale. “I will go in this nest and it will stink and I won’t be able to wash it out. Is that what you want? You want to lay in a puddle of my urine? Huh? Huh?” you threaten.

He shifts about, moving his nose towards your neck and nuzzling it. “Mm. It’ll smell more like you, so it’s okay…”

Your expression morphs into horror. What’s wrong with him!? Doesn’t he know foxes are the worst scenters!? He is a rabbit!?

You begin wiggling wildly, twisting your body around this and that way. Just as your limbs manage to grab onto the side of the nest, he grabs you by the shoulders and proceeds to lay on top of you and give you his best frown. “Stooop,” he whines with a pout, his eyes now open but still droopy. “Why do you want to leave me so badly?”

“... 

Having had enough of his morning shenanigans, you grab his shoulders and toss him to the other side of the nest, quickly scrambling onto the floor and running out to your garden.

“DARLING!!!”

Just as expected, he barrels right after you and practically tackles from behind, just as you come near the shed where your gardening tools are. The field of just barely sprouting barley can be seen if you just turn your head from where it laid on the ground now.

You sigh. “Arley. Get. Off.”

Despite being a head shorter than you, he continues to press down on your body with his own. You feel his head shift in a refusing manner against the back of your neck. “No.”

Yes. This happens every morning, ever since you returned home from your family’s den. And no. Unfortunately, you have no idea why he’s been doing this for a while now. He never used to do this before.

After about an hour of… cuddling, you suppose, he finally allows you to tend to the barley. While you tend to your field, he sits on a nearby log and watches you with the eyes of a hawk. Which, you have to admit, are adorable with his big doe eyes, but his often blank expression is always a little… unnerving, for the lack of a better word.

It sort of reminds you of that night when…

~~~

An ungodly roar booms behind you. Right as your hand grasps onto a door handle, a hand wraps around on your legs and hauls you backwards, forcing your chin to hit the ground. Before you can recover from the impact, you feel the air around your head turn warm and in the edges of your view are rows of sharp white teeth.

“A-”

~~~

A shiver racks through your body, which you quickly shake off with your head. You’ve already told yourself over and over again how it was just a nightmare, and yet…

“Darling?”

You jolt and turn around to find Arley right behind you. “Y- Yes, Arley?”

Nowadays, you often remind yourself that you’re a fox while he’s a rabbit. A fox shouldn’t be afraid of a mere rabbit. It would be against nature, wouldn’t it?

But then again, another fox would have eaten him by now. That is the natural interaction between a predator and prey. So why haven’t you?

Is it pity?

He tilts his head towards the ground and looks up with a pout. “Darling~? Are you afraid of me?”

Is it fear?

You awkwardly laugh. “No? Why do you ask?”

“If not, then…” He pokes his fingers together, chewing on his bottom lip as his foot gently pads at the ground thoughtfully. He looks away before looking back at you with determination in his eyes. “Why do you keep refusing to have my kits?” he bursts.

…..

Wow. That nightmare has really scrambled me up since then. I should go look for a therapist sometime soon. Do owls take on fox clients, or should I consult one of those tortoises instead?

You blink. “Huh? Sorry, could you repeat that?”

His face turns red as his floppy ears twitch. “I know we haven’t discussed it, b- b- but I think it’s about time we had kits now, shouldn’t we? We’ve already been living together for a year now a-and you’ve already introduced me to your parents… I- I’d have thought you’d eventually ask me b- b- but…”

You blink again, rubbing the fluff of your ears. You remember there was something in one of your books about how psychological trauma can often affect your physical senses.

Perhaps, I should consider getting therapy starting tomorrow. The sooner the better.

“... What?” you ask for clarification. “Sorry, my ears are- What are you saying, Arley?”

Frustrated at your lack of understanding, his face scrunches up and he stomps the ground with every word that tumbles out of his mouth. “Kits! Babies! I want babies! Now! Now!”

…..

A million thoughts run through your mind, ones especially regarding his strange behavior. After a moment, something finally clicks and you smile.

“Oh.”

-----🐰🦊-----

It has been months ever since he shared his greatest desire with you, but now is the time you are able to help him fulfill it.

“Oh my, oh my. I’ve always heard foxes are mean tricksters, but to think you’re such a kind soul to help out a fellow rabbit,” an older female rabbit comments. “Aren’t you the shining representative for your kind?”

You awkwardly chuckle. “Thank you kindly. I… um… couldn’t leave him out to die, you know? I mean- Oi, Arley, why don’t you greet them?”

“.....” His arms are crossed and his ears are flopped over his face.

“Oh, isn’t he a grumpy young man? Or is he just shy?” one of the other older female rabbits teases.

“He, um, isn’t usually like this?” you worriedly say, hoping his unfriendly demeanor doesn’t scare away the rabbits. When Arley’s eyes flashes towards you, you immediately look away.

The Spring Fest is one of the many special occasions for which all of the animals of the forest join to celebrate the forest and all that it brings. Different occasions meant different themes and specific rituals, but they all have one thing in common. And that is for animals to find their sacred mates.

“Well, maybe he’s not really talkative right now, because his chaperone is still here,” comments one of the younger rabbits, whose eyes are directed at her nails before they land on you. “I don’t mean to offend, but, uh, shouldn’t you be with your own kind right now?”

Her words are that of concern, but the look on her face is anything but welcoming. For a bystander looking in, you, being a fox, stick out like a tall, sore thumb amongst these shorter species. Even though Arley is surprisingly taller than all of them, with him being a fellow rabbit, he blends in quite well.

“No, she doesn’t,” Arley mutters.

You send a look towards Arley. You prefer that the rude rabbit had worded it better, but begrudgingly, she’s probably right. “Right… Sorry.“ You turn to exit the crowd. “Have fun, Arl- Arley!?”

With the most displeased expression on his face, he has his arms wrapped around your arm. As always, his grip is unexpectedly tough to get out of.

“Arley? Arley, get off!”

He shakes his head, much to your confusion.

One of the older rabbits tries to help by tenderly saying, “Arley? Dearest. You shouldn’t be holding onto her like that. She’ll bite you if you do.”

You feel irked at her words, but whatever it takes for Arley to snap out of whatever sort of tantrum he’s in. “That’s right, Arley. I’m going to bite-”

“Oh yeah? Then bite me already!” he hisses. “You already said you’d eat me, and yet-”

The rabbit crowd gasps in horror.

Embarrassed, you whisper harshly, “Arley! You can’t say that! You’re not supposed to-”

He glares up at you with tears in his eyes. “Darling? Darling, did I do something wrong? Please stop it. I’m sorry.”

“What?” You shake your head. “No? You haven’t done anything-”

“Then why are you doing this to me!?” he screams, uncaring of the crowd. Fat tears roll down his cheeks. “Why did you bring me here? To them? You want me to mate with some stupid doe? Why? How could you do this to me!? Don’t you care!?”

What in the big blue’s name is going on?

You are at a loss for words. “Didn’t you want to?”

His eyes go wide as his mouth drops. “Huh? When did I say that?”

“You said you wanted kits!”

“Wha- With you!” he clarifies. “I want kits. With you!”

~~~

His face turns red as his floppy ears twitch. “I know we haven’t discussed it, b- b- but I think it’s about time we had kits now, shouldn’t we? We’ve already been living together for a year now a-and you’ve already introduced me to your parents… I- I’d have thought you’d eventually ask me b- b- but…”

~~~

A memory of the conversation floats into your mind. However, somehow it still doesn’t compute as you stare at him. “...What?”

He finally lets go of your arm and grips his hair in frustration as he stomps on the ground. He shouts through gritted teeth. “What are you not getting, Darling!? I don’t want anyone except you?”

Perhaps it is at this point, you feel as if you have made a mistake. You have heard rabbits get easily attached, and it is quite evident from Arley’s typical behavior. However, you hadn’t expected it to extend to…

… Does he not know…? You suddenly figure out what the problem could be. … Oh of course, he doesn’t know.

You grab his arm and drag him off into a secluded part of the forest, out of the curious eyes of the other crowds of animals, in order to educate him. Arley is, expectedly, very happy to get away from the crowd.

Unexpectedly, the moment you let go of his arm and turn around to confront him about his strange behavior, he suddenly pounces on you.

“Oi, what are you-”

He grabs your wrists and holds them down by the sides of your head as he giggles uncontrollably. He sits on your hips, trapping you on the ground. “Oh, I’m so happy you finally understand~ Now we can finally-”

You grit your teeth and hiss. “Arley, get off me! Get off me right now!”

He leans down and nuzzles against your neck, a soothing action. “It’s okay. Shh. Shhhh. It’s me. Your Arley~ Calm down now~”

Your legs flail about to no avail. “Arley! Arley! Stop! You have to listen to me,” you struggle.

He keeps the pressure and nuzzles. “Mmm, no.”

You exasperatedly groan. Deciding not to wait any longer, you shout, “Rabbits can’t have kits with foxes!”

He stops and leans back. He stares down at you, like you’ve just spouted that the sky is falling.

“.....”

“.....”

The silence is unnerving. “Arley?”

“Darling,” he answers.

“Arley… Can you get off me?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Darling, please stop talking. I’m thinking.”

What kind of- What’s happening here?

You try to wiggle, but his weight is still pressed on you as he is deep in thought.

His thumbs rub your skin. “Darling, please stop moving.”

You give him an exasperated look. “Excuse me? Get off me!”

“Darling… Do you think I’m stupid?” he suddenly proposes.

You stop, confused. “No? Now get off-”

“Oh good. So you’re not against having kits with me because you think I’m stupid.”

What in- This damn rabbit!

“Didn’t I tell you already? Foxes can’t have kits with rabbits!”

“Yes, I’m aware,” he answers matter-of-factly.

…..

“Okay… so-”

“Hmm, now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever asked you about your mating season. When is that?”

“Why in the big blue’s name does that matter?” you ask, cheeks heating up.

He tilts his head side to side thoughtfully.  “It matters because I want my mate to be comfortable when we’re making kits? Mine was back in during Hallow’s Eve, but you seem quite scared that time, so I figured-”

Hallow’s Eve? That was…

That was during the time you were visiting your parents. But you apparently seemed scared of him? Since when? You’ve never been scared of him. How can a fox be scared of a rabbit? If you were scared of him, it was only when-

~~~

Arley- If it is Arley at all- tilts his head the other way stiltedly, his neck cracking with every angle. He towers over you with the height of a bear. The skin on his face looks stretched across his abnormally large skull, almost tearing at the seams of his mouth and eyes and nose. The ears on his head are stiffly standing above his head, shaped more triangularly than his typical round ones. Accompanying them are two massive antlers, ending in serrated stake-like ends. Where his eyes should have been are now dark black pools with little gold rings floating in them. The clothes on his body have shredded apart, revealing long skinless, muscleness limbs ending in similarly long claws sharper than the thorns of wild roses.

~~~

The feeling of something soft brushing across your neck brought you out of your memory.

“Arley, stop it right now!” you command.

From your view, all you can see is the top of his head and his floppy ears, which, looking closely, look more… angular than usual. With his refusal to cease his actions, you immediately bite onto one of his ears, making his flinch and back up, releasing your wrists to grab his injured ear. With your hands freed and him momentarily distracted, you throw your weight and flip him over so that you’re sitting on him and he’s laying on the ground.

“O- Oh?”

You breathe heavily, heart pumping as you pin his wrists on the ground and immobilize him. “Okay. Now you listen to me-”

You don’t realize your position until you feel something poking your bottom. His hips are raised as he gives you a sleazy smile. You scooch forward with your knees so you’re sitting on his abdomen instead. He pouts. You scowl at him.

“Darling!” he whines.

“No, you listen to me and you listen to me well. Foxes cannot have kits with rabbits! Which means I cannot have kits with you. Do you understand?”

He sighs, unable to break from your hold. He closes his eyes. “Darling, I know. Of course foxes can’t have kits with rabbits.”

You nod. “Good-”

“Because they don’t try hard enough,” he adds.

Are you kidding me!?

He sighs again. “But I don’t get how that applies to me?”

“I’m a fox. You’re a rabbit.”

“... Right.” Arley opens his eyes, his expression quite… serious. “But I’m not a normal rabbit, so you don’t have to worry about that, alright? Now, can we get to making kits now? Or do I need to court you like a fox,” he asks, licking his lips.

This damn rabbit, what the fu-

You take a deep breath.

“If you need a moment, I’m very patient-”

“I don’t… want kits.”

“... Oh, I’m sure you’ll change your mind-”

“With you,” you add, flinching at your words.

His mouth hangs open, and then it closes into a thin line. His eyes stare hard at you.

You stare back, feeling a sense of relief as you hope your words sink into him. It was not that you did or didn’t want kits with him. It’s just that he’s a rabbit and you’re a fox and it’s just that this whole ordeal is just strange. Why would a rabbit want to mate with a fox? Does that even make any sense? Though you suppose if he was fox, then perhaps-

“Darling, my wrists hurt,” he whimpers.

You release him immediately. “Oh, sorry-” He takes this chance to flip you over, only this time you’re laying on your front. “A- Arley!?”

Thump.

You have not yet turned your head when out of the corner of your eye, a skinless muscular hand larger than two heads ending with long sharp claws slams down on the ground beside you. Even in the shadows of the trees around you, a darker shadow overlays you. Something heavy breathes behind you. A familiar scent of blood begins to waft in the air.

“A- Arley…?”

You feel something nuzzle against the back of your head, stealing your voice. His chest rumbles with a sort of extremely deep purring sound.

And then you feel the back of your hips being brought upwards, only to rest against a larger set of hips.

.

The end.

.

Little rabbit, little rabbit, soft no more,

Forced its will through a crimson door.

The fox now bears what should not be—

Born of love madness, despite their mother’s plea.

.

.

.

.

.

Eggs naturally come in all kinds of colors, from brown to white to green, blue, pink, etc. They can be speckled or simply a solid color. They also are produced by many kinds of animals, particularly from the bird species, such as chickens, ducks, owls, turkeys, and so forth. The only known mammal to give birth to eggs would be the infamous platypus, which has the head of a duck anyway.

The eggs in your nest, however, are quite colorful with their strips of pink and blues, and dots of greens and yellows. They hardly resemble anything natural. Most importantly, they weren’t laid by any bird. 

No, they were laid by you. A fox. All three of them, each length and wide of your palm and fingers.

“Aren’t they wonderful?” Arley coos, tenderly poking each egg. “You did such an excellent job, Darling~”

Eggs. Laid by a fox. With a rabbit for a father.

He gives you multiple kisses on your head before nuzzling you. “Are you cold, Darling? Oh, I know, I know. I heard mothers become cold after giving birth. Here, let me warm you up.” He wraps his arms around you. 

You silently stare at the eggs. Then you look at Arley, who perks up.

“Hm?”

“I… am going to eat you,” you say, robotically.

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