De'Coration Academy for Exceptional Rabbits Part 5: Let's Find Reggie

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Each part can be read separately or as part of a series.

Sprinkles nibbled on a long stalk of hay as she waited for Marshmallow to finish applying her camouflage. They were about to head out to meet their contact under the marigold bush.

“Did you wear camouflage when you snuck out last time?” Sprinkles asked. She was sure Marshmallow had been her usual pristine, gleaming white when she had come back a few nights ago. Marshmallow paused as she tucked another twig into her fur.

“No.”

“So why are you…”

“Because that wasn’t a mission. Tonight, is a mission.” Marshmallow cut across Sprinkles’ question. She wasn’t going to admit that it just hadn’t occurred to her to be stealthy before, she had been so excited and preoccupied that a lot of her training had been left behind. “Let’s get going.”

The moon hung high and full in the say. The sun had dipped behind the trees several hours ago but the night was still bright. A gentle breeze rustled the grass and leaves as two small rabbits dashed through the greenery. They leaped the garden boundary and continued on into the wilderness. After a few moments of their fastest running, Marshmallow and Sprinkles arrived at the vast expanse of stone grey. It stretched out endlessly to both the left and the right. Sprinkles skidded to a stop and stared in awe at the enormous expanse of grey before her. Marshmallow turned back to face her companion. Sprinkles really was a very small bunny.

“Marshmallow? It’s so big! I had no idea that there was so much space without green!”

“I know, it’s a lot. But there’s more green on the other side. And a really grumpy hedgehog.”

“I’m very excited to meet a hedgehog!” Sprinkles voice shook a little as she continued to stare at the expanse of grey. She shook herself, fur tufts flopping into her eyes. She was ready, she could do this. She was an Exceptional Rabbit in the making. She was perfectly capable of being part of a covert organisation. “Let’s go!”

*

“You’re late!” Both bunnies froze as a sharp voice broke the peaceful silence of the shady marigold bush. “Why are you lot always late?” Before either Marshmallow or Sprinkles could answer the hedgehog continued, “Reggie is waiting for you in the field out that way.” The hedgehog pointed out of the marigold bush in the opposite direction than the bunnies had come from. They needed to go even further out. Marshmallow stood still, was it worth it? Going home would be a so much safer and they would still be able to do good and important work back there. The academy would be more than happy with the information they had managed to gain so far, working with or for The Secret Paw wasn’t necessary. It was a step above and beyond.

“Are you coming, Marshmallow?” Sprinkles was already half way out of the far side of the marigold bush. “We have to go and meet Reggie and apparently we’re already late even though I don’t remember there being a specific time that we were meant to be here. We must have missed it.”

“The height of the moon. You were meant to be here at the height of the moon. Anyway, move along silly rabbits, Reggie is waiting for you.” The hedgehog grumbled at them and began to wave them out of safety of the marigold bush.

“How far away is Reggie?”

“In the field!”

“Yes, but…”

“In the field. Go away!”

“But…”

“Go. Away.” The hedgehog snapped as they pulled a few leaves back into place, blocking Marshmallow and Sprinkles out on the far side of the marigold bush. Marshmallow harrumphed. Apparently, hedgehogs weren’t the magical creatures of stories, they were very rude.

In silence the two rabbits hopped on. Passed endless bushes and trees until the reached the field. It was wide and open, stretching right up to the horizon. It would have been perfect for dashing if not for the truly enormous bull in the middle.

Large animals were dangerous, every bunny knew that. They were so big that they couldn’t always see their own feet! Even worse, they also worked very closely with humans! They would need all the help of the great sky rabbits to find Reggie with a bull stood right there in their way.

“You go left, I’ll go right, meet again on the other side of the field.” Marshmallow instructed softly before setting off. They would find Reggie. They had to. They had come so far, they wouldn’t leave with nothing.

“Are you Reggie?” Sprinkles asked a sleepy dormouse. “Are you Reggie?” She asked a shiny slow worm. “Are you Reggie?” She asked to a mole and a badger and several flowers but the answer was always ‘no’. “Are you Reggie?” She asked again, calling out to the flash of white moving in her direction.

“No. I’m Marshmallow. Silly Sprinkles.”

“Did you find Reggie?”

“No. I have no idea where he could be.”

“Maybe, we could ask the bull.” Sprinkles suggested.

“Don’t be silly Sprinkles, that’s far too dangerous.” Marshmallow scoffed, but Sprinkles was already hopping away towards the centre of the field and the bull who stood there.

“I’m going to ask the bull! Hello, Mr Bull, are you Reggie?” Marshmallow watched in horror as Sprinkles hopped closer, not even trying to be stealthy. She had to intervene. Sprinkles would surely be squished if she kept going! Launching into action Marshmallow leaped forward, charging after her little friend.

“Why hello, little bunny. Yes, I am Reggie. Are you one of the rabbits I’ve been waiting for?”

“Hello, Reggie! I’m Sprinkles! And this is Marshmallow!” Sprinkles introduced as Marshmallow came skidding to a stop at her side.

“Excellent, excellent! I am going to instruct you how to find the local headquarters of The Secret Paw. If you make it there and make it back to your home before sun rise you will be fully initiated into the order. Now, are you all ears?” Reggie chuckled to himself as the bunnies glanced at each other, twitching their ears. Quite a lot of them was ears, but they had other bits too.

“We are mostly ears!” Sprinkles announced confidently, Marshmallow nodded in agreement.

“Wonderful. Somewhere in the bramble hedge is a badger set. Find it and follow it to a fork in the path. From there you must follow the green lights until they come to an end. There you will find The Secret Paw. Now go quickly, there’s not that much time left until sun rise, you are a little later than we had expected, but not to worry. I’m sure you’ll manage.” Sprinkles looked to Marshmallow. Marshmallow took a deep breath and nodded. Together they dashed off towards the bramble hedge at the back of the field. “Off you go little bunnies. Goodbye. Goodbye!” Reggie called out after them.

“Goodbye Reggie!” Sprinkles called back pausing in her dash to stand on her haunches and wave at the bull over the long grass.

The mission continued.

Part 6

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.