by Sue Bentley
The germ of an idea started to form.
‘I know magic bunnies can’t talk to wild rabbits,’ she said to Arrow. ‘But you said you could sense Smudge’s thoughts in pictures, didn’t you?
Arrow nodded. ‘That is right.’
‘So – if you needed to tell her something really important, you could imagine it in pictures and she’d be able to understand you?’ Becky asked.
‘I do not know. But I could try.’
‘Right. This is what I think we should do,’ Becky warmed to her idea. ‘We wait until everyone’s asleep tonight, then we go to the warren and …’
As she finished explaining, Arrow’s whiskers twitched excitedly. ‘It is a good plan!’
*
Later that evening, Arrow was curled up on Becky’s duvet. Outside the window, a glorious sunset had spread flame colours across the darkening sky.
‘I’m just going to pop downstairs to tell Uncle Den and Leon that I’m having an early night,’ Becky said. ‘I don’t want anyone coming in later and seeing I’m gone.’
She found Uncle Den and Leon in the sitting room. Leon was sitting hunched in a chair with his arms folded. He looked a picture of misery as he thought about what was to happen the following morning. Becky wished she could tell him what she and Arrow planned to do, but it had to remain a secret.
‘Goodnight, love. Sleep tight,’ her uncle said.
Back upstairs, Becky got into bed with her clothes on and lay there cuddling Arrow. She was sure that she was far too excited to sleep.
But she must have dropped off, because it seemed like only moments later when she felt Arrow nudging her cheek urgently with his damp nose.
‘Wake up. We must go!’
Chapter
NINE
Bright moonlight flooded the garden. Becky peered out of the kitchen door with Arrow by her feet as she got ready to run towards the gap in the hedge. But then suddenly she felt a familiar warm prickle down her spine as Arrow’s key flashed and a big whoosh of crystal dust swirled around her like a small tornado and instantly transported them both to the top of the hill.
‘Whoa!’ Becky steadied herself after the amazing journey. She loved magic! She checked to see that Arrow was OK too and noticed that the little bunny’s key was still flashing. Before she could wonder why, Becky felt a light and fizzy whoosh run through her – just like bubbling lemonade – and she looked down to see her own feet had turned into greyish-brown paws!
Paws? Next to her, Arrow seemed to have grown in size. Oh, wow! She was a wild rabbit!
‘Cool!’ Becky blinked in amazement. Everything looked extra bright and clear through her large rabbit eyes.
‘This way,’ Arrow told her, hopping towards the warren. ‘We must find Smudge.’
As Becky moved forward, she immediately tripped over in a messy tangle of legs and paws. It wasn’t very easy with four feet! Taking a deep breath, she tried again. This time she managed a rather wobbly hop, but the next one was better and she soon got the hang of it.
‘Wait for me!’ she called, chasing after Arrow.
As they got closer to the warren, they saw dozens of rabbits hopping about above ground. Some were feeding, while others kept watch. Becky spotted a large grey-brown rabbit with six kits in tow.
‘Smudge!’
Arrow had seen the lead female too. He hopped towards her and Smudge reared up on to her back legs in welcome.
Becky watched anxiously as Arrow and Smudge stood with their heads close together, just as they’d done on that first visit with Leon. Would Arrow be able to make Smudge understand that the whole warren was in great danger and that they must all move quickly?
Arrow came back towards Becky.
‘How did it go?’ she asked.
He hunched his furry shoulders. ‘She understood, but she is anxious. The hills seem very far away and she does not know if the land there is suitable to make a new warren.’
‘But it looks perfect!’ Becky said.
Arrow nodded. ‘I think so too. That is why I have promised Smudge that you and I are going to lead them there.’
‘We are?’ Becky gulped worriedly. But she trusted her magical friend. ‘Um … OK then.’
She felt the ground vibrate beneath her paws as first Smudge and then dozens of other rabbits thumped their feet. It was the signal for them to leave. More rabbits poured out of the burrows, some of them holding kits gently in their mouths.
And then, headed by Smudge, they hopped towards Arrow and Becky.
‘Ready?’ Arrow flashed Becky a reassuring glance from chocolate-brown eyes that gleamed with rainbow light.
Becky nodded. As her friend sprang forward, she leapt with him. They kept pace, side by side, as they hopped down the hill and past fields of crops.
Hundreds of rabbits formed a grey-brown stream that seemed to pour after them as they left Foxglove Farm behind. They passed through fields, down paths and across quiet empty roads. When they reached the woods Arrow sped on, confidently weaving through the trees.
Becky’s legs were starting to feel tired by the time they led Smudge and the other rabbits up the slopes of the once-distant hills. At long last Arrow stopped, his sides heaving, and Becky paused beside him.
Smudge hopped over to Arrow. She dipped her head as if to thank him and then snuffled around for a few seconds before scrabbling at the soil with her strong paws. Other rabbits came forward and did the same.
‘They’re building new burrows!’ Becky exclaimed delightedly.
Arrow flicked his tail with satisfaction. ‘Yes, Becky. Our work here is done.’
Becky felt a warm sense of pride as she looked at all the rabbits working hard to make a new warren. They would be safe here.
But before she could say anything else, she saw Arrow’s key flashing again and another cloud of crystal dust surrounded them both.
There was a whooshing sensation and a blur of speed. Becky felt herself landing gently on her behind. She felt soft grass against her hands as she got up. Hands! She was a girl again.
She looked around for Arrow and saw him nearby. They were back at the old warren on the hill above Foxglove Farm. It was getting light and the first rays of sunlight gleamed on Arrow’s pale fur. Suddenly he leapt into the air, kicked out his back legs and changed direction.
‘Hey! You did a binky!’ Becky said.
‘Yes. I am happy because we saved the rabbits!’
‘We did, didn’t we?’ Becky said, beaming at him. ‘We’re a great team!’
A strange look of happiness mixed with sadness spread across Arrow’s face.
Becky saw that his key was glowing brightly, as if it had the sun inside it. The moment she had been dreading was here. More shimmering crystal dust appeared, swirling around Arrow and twinkling with rainbow sparkles.
Suddenly, he appeared in his true form – a tiny fluffy pale-coffee-coloured bunny no longer, but a majestic rabbit the size of a large cat. His silky pure white fur was flecked with silver and his large ears had gleaming silver tips.
‘Arrow!’ Becky gasped. She had almost forgotten how glorious he was. ‘You … you’re leaving right now, aren’t you?’
He nodded. Rainbows glimmered in his big chocolate-brown eyes. ‘I must. Moonglow Meadow urgently needs more of the key’s magic.’
Becky’s throat felt tight as she tried to hold back tears. She knew she must be brave and not beg him to stay. ‘I’ll never forget you,’ she whispered brokenly. Rushing forward, she bent down and gathered the handsome white rabbit in her arms.
‘You have been a good friend, Becky. I will never forget you either.’ Arrow allowed her to give him one final cuddle and then moved away slowly. ‘Farewell, Becky. Remember always to follow your dreams,’ he said in a soft voice.
There was a final flash of light, and crystal dust showered down around Becky and tinkled like fairy bells as it hit the ground. Arrow faded and was gone.
Becky gave in to tears – she knew she was going to m
iss Arrow dreadfully.
Something lay on the grass by her feet. It was a single rainbow crystal drop. Wiping her eyes, Becky bent down and picked it up. The drop fizzed against her palm as it turned into a pure white pebble in the shape of a bunny.
Becky slipped it into her pocket. She would keep it as a reminder of the magic bunny and the wonderful adventure they had shared.
‘Becky!’
She looked up to see Leon running towards her.
‘I came to have one last look at the rabbits, before … you know,’ he said, chewing at his lip. ‘You weren’t in your bedroom, so I guessed you’d be here.’ He frowned as he saw she was smiling. ‘What?’
‘They’ve all gone!’ she said. ‘The warren’s empty. The rabbits must have left in the night!’
Leon looked puzzled. ‘I don’t get it.’ He went to investigate and then stood looking at the deserted hillside. ‘You’re right. It even feels different. I don’t know what happened, but it’s brilliant! I hope Smudge and the others have gone far away.’
‘They have,’ Becky assured him. ‘I mean … I’ve got a hunch that they’ve found somewhere even better to live.’
‘Me too!’ Leon beamed at her. ‘Maybe we could go and look for them? We’ve got the rest of the week.’
‘Fine by me!’ Becky said happily. She felt proud of what she and Arrow had achieved, even though she could never tell anyone about it.
I hope you get home safely. Take care of Moonglow Meadow, Arrow, she whispered under her breath.