Dodger watched from the vents; he watched these rabbits laugh and talk together, and he felt angry. He didn't have that. Not with his community. He wanted the same thing, but he knew he didn't fit in. He wasn't even supposed to be here. And yet...the sound of their laughter filled the vents and warmed him like a fire on a brisk winter evening, curling around him like a blanket. He wanted comfort. He wanted friendship. But more than anything, he wanted to get out of this place, and he knew using these rabbits was the only way to do so.

He'd lost his family. Nobody had cared. He hated this group for thinking they were something even remotely resembling a family, and yet...yet something about their closeness irked him to the point of wanting it for himself. But it was Gerry specifically that caught his attention. He noticed that Gerald was empathetic to a fault, and yet not likely to allow his emotions get in the way of his actions. In that regard, he reminded Dodger of his mate, Skeeter. She was a brown mouse, with large blue eyes and black ears, but she was so smart. When THEY had first brought his family here, and Dodger had come to seek them out, he thought that she'd be able to handle the tests no problem until he could find a way to free her.

But he could tell fairly quickly that she was cracking, and that underneath that easy going calm exterior was something darker. That her outside was a facade, and that under pressure...under pressure she was like a porcelin doll, almost breakable just by touch. He came and he tried to comfort her every single day and night, but he knew that he'd eventually be unable to fix what THEY had done to her. The morning he found her dead in the corner of the cage, the remains of their children nearby after she'd eaten them, he learned a fundamental truth about living creatures...

...no matter how they appear, they can only be pushed so far before they break. And he could use that to his advantage.

And he did. He did it with The Collective, he did it with Lorna, he did it with Minerva. Every single animal Dodger had encountered since his families death he'd done this, and now they were surrounding him, and he realized something else in that moment. He realized he'd done the exact thing he'd been proud of Gerry for not doing. Not letting his emotions get in the way. He'd actually come to genuinely appreciate him, because he reminded him so much of Skeeter, that he'd truly come to be attached, and now it was going to cost him everything. He'd let himself fall right into this trap.

And this time there was no way out.

                                                                                          ***

"Gerald," Dodger said, "Gerald, what're you talking about? We're gonna...we're gonna rescue the rabbits and then we're gonna leave, right?"

"What is going on?!" Kevin screamed, with Number Two finally stepping forward.

"That note Gerald left us, it wasn't him saying goodbye. It was just telling me it's time to carry this thing out. Stone, Minerva, Gerry and I planned this," Number Two said, "We only didn't tell you or the rest of the Collective for fear of it getting out somehow. Minerva woke everyone else once we were gone and lead them here. I'm sorry Kevin, we just had to be certain things would work and look, they did, and now we can put an end to all of this and-"

"Nobody says it's over until I say it's over," Gerry said sternly, taking Number Two by surprise, as he turned to look at Dodger, "Every single night since The Incident I have asked myself why you did what you did, and the only logical answer I could keep coming back to was that you just didn't care. But I know that's not true. You HAVE to care. You care about ME. That much I can tell for certain. So what was the reason then? You asked me in the vents if I would leave any of these rabbits behind, without them knowing, and go with you, and I said no. You told me that my quest for reverence would be my downfall, but look at what's going on right now."

"Gerry, I-"

"And then...I started to actually question if I was really needed here, and I realized when you showed me that THEY were bringing in new rabbits that yes, I was, and that you were only going to use me to use them like you used me to use us."

"We can work together! All of us! We can rescue the rabbits and get out of this wood once and for all!" Dodger said, trying to grasp any reason they would take to allow him to live, "We...we can work together, and I can go in and come back out virtually unnoticed and give you detailed information and-"

"And with nobody going with you, how would we know it was true? How would we know you weren't just sending us in to die?" Gerry asked, his eyes tearing up, "If we sent Salt in with you, she wouldn't come back out. You'd kill her in there and then blame THEM. No. No more lies, Dodger. No more false plans or bullshit. I know what you're capable of, as does Kevin and Number Two and Minerva. You're the only one who seemed to think you were untouchable. The only reason I let you live this long is because I didn't want to BE YOU. I could've stopped you ages ago if I wanted to, if I tried hard enough, but I didn't WANT to become you. But now...now you've given me no choice."

"Gerald, listen to me," Dodger said, grabbing at his fur but Gerry pulled his leg back and shook his head.

"No, Dodger. I am DONE listening to you," he said, "You are a bad bad animal. What we are doing is not just for the good of us, but for the good of everyone out here. How can we claim to be free of villainy if we allow it to live in our home? THEY are just like you. One and the same. Except you...you we can put a stop to."

Gerry turned and walked back to the treeline, glancing back out at the lab as Number Two snickered, and Dodger whipped his head around, snapping at him.

"What's so goddamned funny?!" he shouted.

"Just...the fact that the one of us who came up with this is Mipsy," Number Two said, "She went to Gerry and she gave him this idea and just...you got outsmarted by her. Gerald played a game of chess with you for so long, and in the end it was Mipsy who took you down. Who put all of this into motion."

"She did?" Kevin asked, looking at her, and Mipsy nodded.

"I ask Gerry why not do what he done to you? Lie. Use attachment to him to cover lie, and finish him finally?" Mipsy said, "Gerry already knew he could do this, but did not want to, but I pushed him."

Dodger backed himself up against the tree as he looked to his right and saw Minerva walking towards him.

"You left me to fall off a waterfall, presumably to die, and when I didn't and I got home...my cubs were slaughtered on the ground of my house. The place I'd worked so hard to make safe for them. You have done unspeakable things, and I don't think there's anyone here who would say otherwise," Minerva said, "Number Two and I spoke a lot on that walk back about what constitutes a family, and I think, in the end, what really constitutes a family is that a family would not do this sort of thing to one another. You are never going to be capable of being a part of something except the fear that you have created for and of yourself."

"That isn't true!" Dodger said, crying, "That....my wife and children were taken by THEM, just like so many of you! I saw her go mad from THEIR tests, and she...she cracked and she ate my children! I've lost what you've all lost!"

"And yet you continue to work hard to make us lose more," Gerry said, still looking out at the lab, "Despite all that pain, despite our similarities, you work so damn hard to make us lose more. Fern, Doug, Ellen, Minervas cubs, Lornas eggs...everyone that you have wronged, intentionally, and used for your own gain...and why? To make yourself feel better for what you've had to lose? That's ridiculous. You don't recover from pain by causing more on those around you."

"We could've all escaped and worked together to take them out ages ago," Number Two said, "But you killed that option when you first tried to kill us, and it's since then been pulled from the table. First we're going to kill you and then we're going to deal with THEM, and then we're going to leave this place."

"If you kill me then you're no better than me, or THEM!" Dodger said, thinking he'd found a loophole, grinning, but this joy was short lived.

"This might be true, but at a certain point you have to ask 'so what'. You have to recognize that only evil can defeat another varying degree of evil. There's no pure good. That's only in bedtime stories and fantasy tales. In this world it's just evil vs worse evil, and that's fact," Gerry said, finally turning to face Dodger again, tears rolling down his face, "So, sure, call us evil. But at least we're working to extinguish even worse evil, and I think that says something."

Dodger felt his heartbeat intensifying, his pulse quickening, his fur a wet mix of rain and sweat. He looked around to all the other rabbits, to Minerva and Dice, and then above to Lorna, and he thought of their conversation they'd had right after they'd left the lab. Something she'd said to him, "Seems the ones who cling to the survival of the fittest mindset are often the ones who find themselves surviving." How this was so funny to him now, considering she'd wound up being right. While the Collective had spent their time and energy on simply surviving, Dodger had felt he'd become untouchable. He'd considered himself smarter than them, and that was his ultimate downfall. He'd let himself get too relaxed. He looked at Number Two and he walked towards him.

"You realize this has no happy ending, right?" he asked, looking directly at Number Two before looking around at all the rabbits, "There's no ending to this entire situation, even after I'm gone, where you all wind up happy and safe. You do know that, right? You are rabbits. THEY are humans. You're never going to stop them. You really think that you can change anything? That anything you do will make the world a better place? The only place you could've done some good from was the place you left behind! You, and myself, are nothing out here, we are worthless! You think getting rid of one tiny, little mouse will stop all the cruelty and pain and unfairness?!"

He turned and looked back at Gerald, crying but still his eyes lit with fire.

"There's still hunters, predators, other labs! Even if you manage to stop THEM, you burn it down, THEY will just rebuild it and send more people! Getting rid of me won't do a damn thing, and you know it! In actuality, I am the least of your problems, so what can you really do?!"

Gerald and Dodger glared at one another, and Gerald couldn't help but feel an ounce of sympathy for what had happened to his family, and for the friendship he'd thought they'd once had and for the respect he knew Dodger genuinely held for him and him alone...but he shook his head and lowered his ears, turning and walking past the rest of The Collective.

"Do it," he said.

"Gerald, Gerald wait! We can-" Dodger started, as Lorna flew down from the tree branch overhead and landed in front of him. Dodger stumbled back and crawled up against the tree trunk, visibly shaking from fear as Lorna approached him. He stammered, looking around to everyone else, to anyone, for help, all while knowing full well that he'd never get it. Lorna approached him, her eyes growing angrier with each approaching step, her beak opening up. Dodger tried to grab onto the tree bark and climb, but the rain had made it hard to grab firmly, and he kept sliding down. Gerry, from a bit away from the clearing, could hear Dodger screaming his name, and he just sat in the mud, in the rain, and sobbed, knowing that Lorna was at that moment swallowing Dodger whole.

After she'd finished swallowing, she turned back and looked at Number Two, approaching him and flapping her wings. She nodded at him, and he nodded back at him, before she took flight into the night sky. Number Two walked into the clearing and cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry that we had to keep so many of you in the dark regarding this plan, but it had to be done in order to be done right," Number Two said, "I can only hope that you can forgive us and know that we did it so that we could finally rid ourselves of the mouse that ruined so much of our lives. With him gone, we can have some sort of closure, and we can now focus on THEM and rescuing the new rabbits that THEY have brought into the lab, knowing full well that nobody will betray us or mess up our plans. Follow Minerva and go back to the Hollow, I will be right behind you."

Number Two tried to pass Kevin, who stood in shock at what he'd just witnessed, but after a moment, Kevin turned and bounded up beside him.

"Wait, where are you-" Kevin started to asked, but Number Two kept walking faster.

"Don't ask questions. I have to do something," Number Two said, "Just go home Kevin."

Kevin shrugged and, along with Mipsy, headed with the rest of The Collective towards the Hollow. Number Two, meanwhile, was walking into the area Gerry had walked off to, only to find him lying in the mud and muck, soaking wet from the rain and crying. Number Two stood in front of him, before sitting in the mud as well. Number Two looked up at the rain coming down, before he looked back at Gerry, and laid his head on top of his.

"I was his friend," Gerry managed to say between sobs, "I was...his friend...and I did the same thing to him that he did to us, and-"

"No friend would've ever done what he did to begin with," Number Two said softly, placing one paw of Gerry's, "You did the right thing. You're a goddamned hero. You accomplished what we all thought was incapable of being done. Between you and Mipsy, god, he would've just kept making our lives miserable. You know that."

"I know," Gerry said, his voice softening as Number Two shut his eyes and buried his face against Geralds.

"It's okay," Number Two said quietly, "I've got you. It's over. You're safe now."

They stayed that way for a while, Number Two just letting Gerald cry while he comforted him, before they finally headed back to the Hollow. Gerald never knew that his real friend would be right in front of him the entire time. As they started walking back towards him, Gerry thought for a moment before finally asking Number Two something he'd been thinking of for a bit.

"Do you think he'd be proud of me?" Gerry asked.

Number Two smirked, nodding, "Yeah, I think he'd be proud as hell of you. That was conniving."

Gerald wasn't really sure why he needed Dodger's approval, even after he was gone, but it made him feel just a tiny bit better.

                                                                                                 ***

The vent opened and Dodger scurried out, quickly rushing up to Gerry's cage and rattling it gently to wake him. Gerald opened his eyes and looked at Dodger, happy his new friend was back. Gerry yawned and sat up, putting his face against the cage so they could whisper.

"What're you doing back?" Gerry asked.

"I know, it's late, but I just wanted to thank you for showing me where your food was kept. Myself and my friends were starving. It really means a lot to meet someone in here who's nice; who still has even the bare minimum of compassion."

"Well then, you're welcome," Gerry said, smiling, "I do my best."

"I have to get going, but I just wanted to stop in and say thanks," Dodger said, scurrying back to the vent and climbing in, looking back at Gerry before leaving, grinning, "You're a real friend!"

And with that, the mouse was gone.

Gerald smiled to himself and laid back down, shutting his eyes. A real friend? Yes. They would be real friends.

As he drifted off into sleep once more, Gerry wondered when he'd see Dodger again.

Kevin found himself sitting outside The Hollow, staring at a bird up in a tree and thinking "what a marvelous creature". Watching this bird twitter about and flit its wings, he sighed and looked down at his paws, covered in mud and blood and dirt and muck. The paws of a rabbit who'd orchestrated something terrible. Something horrid, but necessary. Suddenly he heard breathing beside him, and he shivered, surprised by Number Two's presence, who looked just as bad; his eyes bloodshot and his face scarred. They nodded, acknowledging one another, but not saying a word, choosing instead to both watch the bird. After a few moments, Number Two cleared his throat, his voice still hoarse from all the screaming, and he looked across the way, at Mipsy, who was asleep in a spot of sunlight.

"It hurts," he said softly, "Having to kill the ones you know. I never knew how deeply it could cut, but it cuts, and it cuts so deep that I doubt these scars will ever fade. None of us wanted that. But we did had to be done. He...couldn't be saved. I hope you know that."

"I know," Kevin said, calmly but coldly, "I know that. Just like Number Four, just like everyone else before us, it's never been my fault. Hell, I think you were more associated with him than I was. But still, you're right, it hurts. I feel like there's...there's this void inside of me now that was once filled with goodness that's now just a pit of tar, and I'm drowning in it, and I'm wondering if I can ever be rescued."

"We did the right thing, Kevin," Number Two said, "We have to move on. We have to move forward. We have dealt with him, and now we have to deal with THEM. We trusted him, and...it was always a lie. This was bound to happen eventually."

Number Two rested his head on Kevins shoulder and shut his eyes, enjoying the bird song. Kevin knew that he was right. He knew that it had to happen, and that they'd done the right thing, but that didn't make him feel much better. Actually, seemed like everytime he did the right thing, he felt worse and worse.

                                                                                          ***

Gerry hated sneaking off in the middle of the night, but it was time. He and Dodger had a plan set, and he wasn't about to deviate from that plan. He packed up his little satchel and he quietly began walking past the other sleeping rabbits, until he passed by the burrow Number Two was sleeping in, and he backed up. He stopped, and he walked in and he looked at him, and he smiled. He then slipped a small leaf with some charcoal scribbled on it next to him, before turning and exiting. Walking past the rabbits in the main burrow, he managed to only get barely out of the Hollow when he heard a voice behind him.

"Are you ready?" Dodger asked, with Gerry turning towards him in surprise, nodding silently.

Dodger climbed on top of him and the two started heading off into the treeline. Dodged sighed as he nestled into Geralds warm fur and he smiled.

"So, will there be a frenzy?" Dodger asked, "Will there be a surprise when they wake up and found you've gone with no prior warning?"

"I left a note," Gerry said, "But it doesn't say much. It just said 'It's Time', and I hope they know what that means."

"I certainly do," Dodger said, "I've waited a long time for this day, Gerald. For you to finally join me, and now together we can do amazing things. With you as the face and me as the brains, we'll be unstoppable, and we'll take whatever we want from whoever we want if and when we need it."

Gerry nodded, feeling sick in his stomach, knowing how this all could end, but he soldiered onward nonetheless.

                                                                                              ***

"Kevin," Number Two said in a hushed voice, "Kevin wake the fuck up."

Kevins eyes fluttered open and he looked up at Number Two from lying on his side, his ears flopping back.

"Wh-what? What's going on?" Kevin asked.

"Gerry's gone," Number Two said, "I heard him come into my room, and then leave. He left me this note that just said 'it's time'. I think he's leaving to be with Dodger. We have to find him, and stop him, before it's too late. Dodger could hurt him, or Gerry could help Dodger hurt us, and either way we have to avoid those situations."

"It's always something. It can never be 'hey Kevin, I made you a snack' or 'hey Kevin, here's a nice new comfortable bed', no, it's always something dramatic," Kevin said, groaning as he got up, his metal leg clicking and sticking before finally unclicking and wiring back into place. He looked at Number Two, who motioned with his head toward the front of The Hollow, and Kevin nodded, understanding. They started off and got outside, only a few years from the main entrance, when they heard a voice calling after them.

"Where going?" Mipsy asked.

"Mipsy, uh," Number Two said, seemingly unprepared for her to be awake, "Um, we...Gerry might have left us. We think he...we think he's going to meet with Dodger and run away with him, or help him in destroying us and...and we need to stop that."

"I come with," Mipsy said.

"Mipsy, there's no need for you to come with us, just go back to sleep and-" Kevin started, but Number Two interrupted.

"No, she's coming with us," he said, "She's earned that much."

Mipsy scampered to catch up with them and, together, the three of them headed into the cold dark night.

                                                                                               ***

Plodding along, the sound of the air whistling by them and through the leaves slightly unnerving him, Gerry couldn't help but feel ill. He knew what this decision was, and what it was leading to. He knew the consequences of walking out of The Hollow, but he knew it was what he had to do. It was the right thing to do after all. After a bit, Dodger tugged on his ear to get his attention.

"So," Dodger started, "How do you think they'll carry on without you? That's the only thing you asked for, was for them not to be bothered, and I'm giving it to you, but I have to admit I'm somewhat curious as to what they'll do without their faithful fearless leader."

"I don't know that I'm their leader anymore, let alone faithful or fearless," Gerry said quietly in response, his voice extremely monotone.

"Well, I think you're fearless," Dodger said, "I mean, you have the guts to do what has to be done, and that's what I've always admired about you. You weren't afraid to stay behind with them because you thought it was the right choice, and you weren't afraid to come with me because you thought it was the right choice. That's a good quality to have, Gerald, sticking to your morals and beliefs. I value that in you greatly."

Gerry suddenly wanted to throw up, tears swelling up in his eyes.

"I always hoped that you'd come to me one day," Dodger said, "But it seemed like you were fine going without me and doing whatever it took to keep them safe. Until, I guess, you realized they didn't need you anymore. You built Kevin up into this grandiose leader, and with Number Two by his side, well goddamn they'll be right as rain, really."

"Kevin, is a good leader, but Kevin also makes rash decisions, and sometimes doesn't have the stomach to do what has to be done," Gerry said.

"Wow. Didn't think I'd ever hear you criticize your own crew," Dodger said, sounding genuinely surprised, "But I suppose you're right. All the better he's got Number Two with him then, I suppose, eh? Being all logical and whatnot?"

"That's got its drawbacks too. You need a healthy combination. So yes, together the two will do fine, but apart they would be terrible," Gerry said, "They needed a middle. They needed me. I just realized they weren't ever going to admit it, unless I proved it."

"Well, maybe you leaving will prove it," Dodger said.

"That's the idea," Gerry replied, shivering again, but this time...not from the windchill.

                                                                                           ***

"How'd you get to be so good at tracking?" Kevin asked as Number Two led them through the darkened woods.

"Minerva. All that time spent with her down near the river, trying to find her way back home, that's how," Number Two said, "Plus, between our trips to the lab and back and gathering food, I'd say we know these woods pretty damn well by this point."

"I hear thing," Mipsy said softly, lowering her ears and looking back, "I think some one follow us."

"Nobody but us is out here," Number Two said, "And maybe owls."

Just then, that same clicking sound from earlier emitted from Kevins mechanical leg and he stopped dead in his tracks, annoyed. He kicked against it with his other foot, hoping to get it to work again, but to no avail.

"That's not good," Number Two said, "That could become a real problem."

"Become? It's ALREADY a real problem, in case you failed to notice," Kevin said.

"It's rust," a voice said, surprising them all, and from out of the darkness of the nearby bushes walked Richardson, as he continued, "It's wearing down. Sure, it'll hold up a while longer, but eventually that thing's going to break. Nothing in this world is completely salvageable."

Standing there, in the clearing with Number Two and Kevin, hot on the heels of Gerry and Dodger, Mipsy couldn't believe what she was seeing. There he was, in the flesh, right in front of her. Richardson. He was just standing there, looking all the worse for wear, but he was there. She locked eyes with him and walked forward, in front of Number Two and Kevin, and she glared at him, as he cowered under her.

"You a BAD rabbit," she said coldly, and he nodded.

"I know...I know, I'm so-" he started, but she interrupted.

"I have LOT to say to you," she said, "You lie to everyone, and...and you do it for sister, but not for other girl rabbits! We important, just like sister! I hope she doing well!"

"She's dead," Richardson said, taking the hot air out of Mipsy immediately, making her regret her statement as he looked at them, his eyes dark, like black holes swirling with galaxies of infinite sadness, "Um...I wasn't...I wasn't following you guys. I just was out here looking for something to eat and heard you, so I came to make sure it was you and not someone else. I wasn't even going to say anything, but your leg made me feel like-"

"Are you telling me," Number Two said, now stepping forward, "That after all we went through to get back into that lab, to get your little sister back, for all the pain I and my fox friends have endured, and at the cost of losing Number Four...that you couldn't even keep your little sister ALIVE?!" Number Two screamed, snarling at him in a fit of rage even Kevin had never seen from him, as he added, "IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?!"

"I tried," Richardson said, his voice cracking, starting to cry, "I did, I tried, but it...it's so hard out here without help and Kevin, understandably, told me to leave, so I did and...and I'm sorry."

"I don't give two shits if you're sorry! Do you have ANY idea the kind of misery you put everyone through you traitorous son of a bitch?! You're lucky that I-" Number Two started again, before Kevin interrupted him.

"I forgive you," Kevin said, surprising them all, and making Richardson look up at him.

"Wh....what?" he asked, his lips quivering.

"I forgive you. You were manipulated, like we've all been," Kevin said, "I know what it's like to lose someone you worked so hard to fight for and protect. I know how much that hurts you deep inside, and that you...you never REALLY recover from it. What happened?"

Richardson was in shock. He'd never expected this sort of behavior, especially not from these two, as both seemed extremely out of character, but he sighed and lowered his head, his ears flopping over his eyes, and he thought back...back to where it'd all gone wrong.

                                                                                                  ***

It wasn't like it'd gotten gradually worse either, it had started out terrible, and there was nothing, realistically, that he could've done to even prevent it from getting worse. He wasn't like Gerry or Kevin or Number Two. He didn't have the wits and the know how to survive in the wild, especially not while trying to protect his little sister. Soon after they'd gotten free of The Collective and were on their own, he found himself having to do all the work because she was still such a child, and he simply didn't know what to do or how to do it. She did what she could, helped how she could, but ultimately it was up to Richardson, and Richardson alone, to keep them alive.

He dug them their own little burrow with his own two paws, found and gathered food every single day for them to eat, always making sure that she had more than he did, and they always slept in the same area together so he could keep and eye on her. He didn't want to let anything happen to her again, as he still felt guilty from having left her in the lab during the escape.

But, despite their troubles, things went along fine. Or as close to fine as they could be. Richardson continued to teach her about the world, and they played together and every night he would tell her stories to help put her to sleep. She was his little sister, and he was going to make sure she knew just how much he loved her. Someone had to, since their parents weren't around.

But that sound. God, that sound never left his brain. That metal clink. The hinge squeaking. The sound of metallic snapping and Clara screaming. He could recall every detail, no matter how seemingly small and insignificant, in bright vivid imagery like it was happening in real time all the time. The blood gushing from her ankle down to her feet, her eyes filled with terror, and Richardson standing there, not sure what to do. How had they not seen the trap? How had he himself not walked across it first? She was begging for help, but Richardson was frozen, unsure how to help, and then, within a matter of seconds of the trap springing shut around her foot, three bullets whizzed through her neck, and it was over. Richardson was standing there, shock overtaking his entire nervous system despite his brain yelling at him to run or he'd be next. He only snapped out of it because he heard the human voice coming his way and quickly dove into a nearby bush.

From there, he watched, teary eyed and mouth agape, as two men walked into the woods and stood over her. One leaned down and opened the trap, stroking her fur, before he pulled out his knife. Richardson sat there, and he watched. He watched these men who'd killed his little sister skin her of her hide right there, because that was his punishment from keeping it from happening. After all was said and done, and they had left with her hide and her body, presumably to cook and eat, he stepped back out into the clearing from the bush and he looked at the trap. Blood smeared across the ground, across the leaves, and he noticed they'd reset it. He stared at it for moments before stepping forward and raising his front right paw, hovering it over the trap, almost bringing it down inside. It was only because he heard their voices again that he realized what he was doing, and that he turned and high tailed it out of the area.

For the next few weeks, Richardson would come and go from the spot, staring at the trap and thinking about Clara. About her cries for help, and all the blood, which by now had seeped into the surrounding soil. Whether it was storming or was ungodly hot, Richardson went out and he stood there and he stared at the trap. He thought about putting his face in first, and feeling the snap on the back of his skull, but he wasn't sure it would be painful enough to die from, and he wanted his death to really be worth what he'd allowed to have happened. It only ended when he went one day to see it, and the trap was no longer there. He didn't know what to do, so he left. And he never went back.

Since then, he'd scavenged for himself, slept in the same burrow he'd dug for them and thought, sometimes, late at night, that he could hear her crying for him. He'd saved her from the lab and she'd still died. Richardson had been wrong the whole time. Nowhere was safe, not even outside. The only safe place now was the cold envelopment of death, and he was glad Clara was there, never to be harmed again.

                                                                                               ***

"Richardson?" Kevin asked, "We really need to go, we have to catch Gerry. But, you should keep in mind, I forgive you, even if nobody else does. You're welcome back to The Collective if you want to come back."

"I don't deserve to be around anyone," Richardson said, sniffling, "Just make sure your leg doesn't break. If it does, you're gonna be in a lot more trouble than you already seem to be. And Mipsy..." he glanced at her as she put her ears down and looked at him glumly as he said, "...you're right. I'm bad. Everything was my fault and so many suffered for it. Now it's my turn to suffer. I want to help, but I...I don't know that I can. I'm so sorry. You too, Number Two, I'm so sorry."

"I forgive you," Mipsy said, "I sorry sister die."

"Thank you," Richardson said, slightly smiling, before nodding to Number Two and heading back into the woods, out of sight. The three of them stood around and couldn't believe they had just seen him, before they quickly remembered WHY they had come out here in the first place, and continued on their way.

                                                                                                    ***

Gerry and Dodger stopped at the treeline, staring at the lab. Dodger was getting a drink from a puddle while Gerry watched the lights in the lab blink brightly. Dodger wiped his mouth on his arm and walked over to Gerry, patting him on the leg.

"You okay?" he asked.

"We're gonna rescue them," Gerry said, "We're not leaving them behind. Only a monster would do that."

"I agree," Dodger said.

Gerry and Dodger turned and head back into the clearing, when he heard a twig snap and Dodger quickly whipped around to see a pair of bright green eyes staring at him from the darkness. From the darkness strode Minerva, and Dodger almost laughed.

"My god you frightened me!" he said, "What're you doing out here?"

"Fixing something," Minerva said, as Dice came out beside her, and Lorna landed in a tree above them. Dodger looked around and noticed every other rabbit was coming out of the woodwork, surrounding them. Dodger, now starting to feel somewhat worried, looked to Gerry and tugged on his fur.

"Get us out of here NOW," he said through gritted teeth, just as Number Two, Kevin and Mipsy came through the darkness and into the clearing.

"You son of a bitch!" Kevin shouted, heading towards Gerry, but Number Two held him back.

"No, don't," Number Two said, "It worked. Gerry, come over here and let's put an end to this, okay, like we planned."

"You PLANNED this?!" Kevin asked, shocked.

"I'm staying right here," Gerry said, flatly, as it started to thunder overheard and rain, "I'm not moving from this spot."

"Gerald, what's going on?" Dodger asked, looking up at him, and Gerry looked down at this tiny little mouse, the one that had caused him, caused everyone, so much pain and suffering; this mouse he'd long ago called his friend, and his eyes dimmed and his ears lowered, and his gut wrenched.

"I'm going to kill you Dodger, that's what's going on," he said, "I'm going to kill you now."

They'd finally done it. It had taken strategic planning and hushed voices, but The Collective had finally done the unthinkable, and outsmarted him. Staring at everyones faces surrounding him now, Dodger couldn't help but feel so very stupid, and he looked back at Gerry and he realized...

...it was over.

Mipsy didn't partake in planning. She rarely partook in discussions regarding decision making, and most of the time, she didn't even understand a lot of it. All she knew was that these were her friends, and that these rabbits, Kevin and Gerry and Number Two, that they'd been the reason any of them had gotten out to begin with, so she stuck by them because she knew they would protect her, and given her issues now, she needed protection, much as it pained her to admit it to herself. So Mipsy stood idly by and she listened, and she watched, but mostly she just was there. She was there because there was nowhere else for her to be, and nobody objected to her presence.

But none of that hurt the most. What hurt the most was that she'd not been like this before. Before THEM. Before the poorly executed experiment. She'd been able to think clearly, she'd been able to blink in unison, she'd been able to form coherent sentences instead of fragments. That's what hurt her the most, was not what she'd become, but what she had been.

Sitting outside and watching rain drip from the leaves of a bush, Mipsy couldn't help but feel like if only she were still who she'd been...maybe they'd...maybe they'd have more use for her. Maybe she could actually be of great help. She used to be smart. She used to be cunning, brilliant. After all, in her section of the lab, she had to be. She was one of the original Special Seven, after all.

                                                                                              ***

"We have the best spot in the lab," Meadow said, smiling as she looked over through her cage at Mipsy, who smiled back and nodded.

"Indeed we do," Mipsy said, "We get the big window, the bright warm morning sun. I don't know how the other sections live in the darkness and steel, but I'd go bonkers without this light. It helps me feel like I'm still really alive."

"It certainly cuts the dread," Richardson said, chiming in from across the table in his own cage, "You're not wrong about that. Makes things so much seem so much simpler, less menacing."

Mipsy smiled as she curled back up into a ball and laid her head back down, flopping her ears over her face as she drifted back off into a light early morning doze. She didn't have any experiments planned for today. She could sleep all day if she wanted to, or head over to see Richardsons sister and play some games with her when THEY weren't around. Yes, Mipsy was going to have an absolutely wonderful day.

                                                                                            ***

"Mipsy?" a voice asked, distracting her from the dripping leaves as she turned and spotted Number Two coming up behind her; he continued, "What're you doing out here? It's cold and wet. You should come inside before you get sick."

"I'm not child," she said coldly, and then, feeling bad, added, "Sorry. You...right, I just...want be....um...I like rain."

"I understand. It gets a bit cramped in there from time to time," Number Two said, shaking himself off as he sat near her and watched the leaves, "Rain is soothing. Rain is calming. I can understand why you'd like it. Are you okay?"

"...I am...stupid. Didn't use to be stupid, but I stupid now, and...hurts. Hurts me," Mipsy said, sniffling.

"You're not stupid, Mipsy, and even if you were, that isn't your fault, that's THEM," Number Two said, "Why do you think you're-"

"I used be able spell good," Mipsy said, tears welling up in her eyes, "I used...be one of...Specials."

"You were a Special Seven?" Number Two asked, genuinely surprised by this news, as she nodded and sniffled, rubbing her eyes with her paws, before touching the wire on her head with a paw and looking angry.

"Before this, I was special too, in other lab part, away from you guys," Mipsy said, "I was so smart."

"You're still smart," Number Two said, "Please don't think you're not. You've made it this far, that alone should be telling of your intelligence. You've managed to survive despite all odds, even before the escape."

"What THEY did to Number Four...THEY did to me, THEY monsters," Mipsy said, "THEY not kill Specials, but hurt us very bad. I miss..."

"You miss Number Four?" Number Two asked, as Mipsy started bawling.

"I miss me," she sobbed.

                                                                                        ***

When Mipsy awoke, eyes barely adjusted, she already knew she didn't recognize where she was. She stood up, wobbled and fell against the side of her cage. She glanced at the side to see a second cage beside her own, with another rabbit in it, a small rabbit, who looked very very young. She turned and looked at Mipsy, before looking back at the metal slab in the center of the room, covered in blood and fur. Mipsy began to regain consciousness a bit more now, and found herself startled by this visual.

"Where am I?" she asked, her speech almost slurred.

"I don't know," the smaller rabbit cried, "I don't know, I don't know but they killed him, they killed him!"

"Killed who?" Mipsy asked, staggering around her cage in an almost drunken stupor, realizing THEY must've drugged her to bring her here without her knowing or causing a fuss, to make her more maleable to work with, "Who killed who?"

"The rabbit, the one on the table, they killed him! He exploded!" the smaller younger rabbit cried, "He exploded!"

"He...exploded?" Mipsy asked, finally finding her footing, shaking her head, "What do you mean he exploded?"

"THEY blew him up!" the little rabbit cried, "THEY blew him up! I'm not...what'll they do to me?!"

"They're not going to do anything to you, okay? Just relax, you'll be alright, I promise," Mipsy said.

Just then the door opened back up and a janitor came in, wiping down the slab and mopping the floor. After that they sighed, shook their head and left. It was empty and quiet for a few moments, as Mipsy glanced around the room. She noticed there were no windows in this room. No sunlight. Somehow this made her feel even worse than she already did and she suddenly felt claustrophobic. She then heard the door re-open, and a pair of scientists walked in, holding a small metal device with a wire dangling from it.

Mipsy looked at the cage with the small rabbit in it, as one of the scientists picked the cage up and carried it away, with Mipsy looking on in terror, until she noticed the other scientist standing over her own cage now. THEY pulled the top hatch open, reached inside and grabbed her, taking her out and walking with her over to the table, where they strapped her down and attached the node with the wire to her head. She felt an incredible surge of pain coursing through her skull, and she began to thrash, best she could given being strapped down, until she finally blacked out.

When she awoke, she couldn't think clearly, her mind felt clouded. She looked around and noticed Richardson and Meadow talking, but she could barely parse what it was they were saying. Mipsy tried to stand, but she couldn't, and her legs just gave way. THEY had sedated her again, apparently. So she lay there, and she suddenly realized why she couldn't understand her friends. Because she literally couldn't understand them anymore. Whatever THEY had done to her had fried her brain so badly, and as she'd later learn, accidentally, that she'd forgotten how to speak.

Mipsy spent the next few months teaching herself to talk again, and trying to rebuild her friendships, but she never really felt the same. Especially not among the other Specials in her lab section. So she just tried to stay in the pack, completely ignored, until finally, someone took notice of her.

                                                                                          ***

"You know," Number Two said, pawing the ground they were sitting at, looking at his paws, his one full ear half lowered, "I used to be afraid of myself. I used to be afraid of the rabbit that I could've become if I let myself. I worked so hard to think logically, to negate any emotions and only use reason to get through things that it didn't really let me connect to anyone else. That may be fine for others, I don't know, but it turns out it wasn't fine for me. I needed to feel things. I didn't go back to the lab to save everyone, I mean, I knew everyone was in danger but..."

Mipsy cocked her head and sniffled, looking at him, tears in his own eyes now.

"I went because I hadn't seen him in so long, and I knew that he would be in danger the moment they hit the grass because of Dodger, and yeah, I was worried and I acted irrationally, but my irrationality saved Gerald, and it saved everyone else, and it nearly got me killed, but I...I think there's maybe something good about thinking differently. Thinking differently may not have worked for me, but...it works for others. You see things others don't see. You comprehend things other don't comprehend. You're able to problem solve in ways nobody else can because their brains are so restricted to their way of thinking. Just because of what THEY did to you, Mipsy, it doesn't make you any less of a Special, you'll ALWAYS be special, with or without THEIR label. Because you're Mipsy, and you think differently, and that...that is the greatest superpower you can EVER have."

Mipsy blushed and cuddled up to his side, the two of them sitting there watching the rain drip from the leaves. He was right. She WAS special. In fact, as they'd all soon learn, Mipsy may have been the most special rabbit of them all.

                                                                                       ***

                                                                          MERE DAYS LATER

Standing there, in the clearing with Number Two and Kevin, hot on the heels of Gerry and Dodger, Mipsy couldn't believe what she was seeing. There he was, in the flesh, right in front of her. Richardson. He was just standing there, looking all the worse for wear, but he was there. She locked eyes with him and walked forward, in front of Number Two and Kevin, and she glared at him, as he cowered under her.

"You a BAD rabbit," she said coldly, and he nodded.

"I know...I know, I'm so-" he started, but she interrupted.

"I have LOT to say to you," she said.

It had been storming pretty good, and a crack of thunder awoke Stone. Eyesight blurry, she got up and walked throughout the Hollow, heading towards the opening so she could see the rain for herself, but upon exiting the Hollow, she found Kevin already standing outside, soaked to the bone. Stone stopped, still under the overhang of the Hollow and cleared her throat so he'd turn and notice her, which he did.

"What're you doing?" she asked.

"Look," Kevin said, lifting a paw and pointing at a tree in the distance that had been caught on fire by the lightning. Stone stepped forward and, together, they stood there in the cool rain and watched the fire burn bright in the distance.

"That's what you want," Stone said.

"Yes."

"I don't know how you expect to figure out how to make fire," Stone said, "And if you do that, if you actually were to succeed, the consequences could be-"

"If I don't, the consequences of THEIR actions will continue forever," Kevin said, somewhat snapping at her, "THEY have left me no choice. THEY have to be stopped, and I'll do whatever it takes to achieve that. No other rabbits will be hurt because of THEM, or because I laid down and allowed it to happen. In the lab, they had these little metal sticks with a round piece on the end, I think they called them Flints, and they used them to light stuff on fire. If someone could get in there and get one, then-"

"You cannot be serious," Stone said, "After what happened the last time, you still want to-"

"I never said it'd be me," Kevin said, "No, it'd have to be someone small. Someone virtually undetectable. Someone like a mouse. Someone like Salt."

                                                                                           ***

Kevin knew her hangouts. He knew where to find her. The following morning, he and Stone headed out together before anyone else was awake, to check each of Salt's places of being. Walking along through the woods, dew on everything from the rain the night before, Stone couldn't help but feel that Kevin was hellbent on a suicide mission, and the only way to keep him from destroying himself was to be with him. She knew that losing Number Four was hard on him, and she knew that he wanted to see the ones who'd done that to her pay for their crimes, but she still worried.

"Do you think she'd actually agree to help you?" Stone asked.

"Yes, with no hesitation," Kevin replied, "Salt is the reason we're out here in the first place. She helped us find Steve's other feet to bury in the lab garden, and she's why we were even able to escape. She's everything Dodger promised but failed to be."

"That's good that you trust her that much," Stone said.

"It would be hard to be worse than Dodger," a voice said suddenly, scaring the both of them, as they glanced around until finally hearing the sound of wingflaps and a crow landed on the forest floor before them. It took Kevin a moment, but then he realized it.

"Lorna?" he asked, as she ruffled her feathers and nodded.

"Hello Kevin," she said, "I hear you're looking to attack the lab. A noble crusade, if I may say so myself. Are you willing to be as low as him though? Committing the mass murder of a species simply for personal gain?"

"We can all agree that THEY are not worthy of living," Kevin said, walking up to her and standing on his hind legs, bringing them up to eye level, "Morality is bullshit when the people you're going after don't believe in it to begin with. And I'm not doing this for my own gain. I'm doing this so THEY can't hurt others. I'm doing the thing Dodger LIED about doing."

Kevin and Lorna looked at one another before Kevin finally glanced back at Stone and jerked his head in a 'let's move' motion. As the two continued past him, they heard her call after them a few seconds later.

"He killed my eggs," Lorna said.

"Wh...what?" Kevin asked, looking back at Lorna now, "He what?"

"When I told him I couldn't protect him anymore, from other birds and whatnot, because I had laid eggs and would need to be a mother...he pushed them out of the nest," Lorna said, "He killed my unborn children. I'm not saying you're Dodger, Kevin, I just want you to acknowledge where this sort of road leads and what the consequences are."

"THEY need to be stopped," Kevin said, "But he needs to be stopped first. Number Two and the rest are planning a way to catch him and kill him, finish all of this once and for all, and I'm sure they'd appreciate any help you could give them. We just had a pair of foxes arrive who lost their cubs to him as well. He's a monster. He's a manipulator. Go to the Hollow, meet with Number Two and Gerry, and they'll bring you into their plan."

"That would be wise," Lorna said, "And Kevin, if you are given the chance to burn that place to nothing but ashes, then you take that chance. I want to see their charred remains on the ground, and eat from their corpses."

"Damn," Stone muttered.

After a moment passed, Lorna took flight into the trees again, as Kevin and Stone continued. After a bit more traipsing through the woods, they eventually came to a certain clearing that Kevin knew Salt preferred, thanks to its amount of shrubbery for hiding from birds and snakes. The two stopped and waited, as Kevin called out Salts name, but to no answer. He did it a few more times, also to no answer, before finally looking at Stone and shrugging.

"Now what do we do?" Stone asked.

"We wait," Kevin replied, "She'll come."

                                                                                       ***

Gerry was sitting outside in the shade, relaxing, when he felt the presence of someone else beside him. He opened one eye and spotted Number Two sitting beside him, exhaling. Gerry smiled and shut his eye again, continuing his rest as Number Two glanced around at the nature and beauty around them.

"It's still a weird feeling, isn't it?" Number Two asked, "Being out of the lab?"

"It really is. I never thought we'd actually get here, but we're here, and I'm gonna do what I can to make sure everyone stays out."

"Gerald," Number Two said, looking down at his paws digging into the dirt ever so slightly, "I'm sorry for yelling at you in the meeting. I just...it's been a rough few weeks for me, you have to understand. I worried I wouldn't make it to you all in time and then I nearly died making sure you guys made it past Dodger, then he left Minerva and I to fall off a waterfall, and somehow we survived. Then we spent days in the wilderness, trying to find her home, and when we finally did find it...her cubs were gone. I had to deal with her breakdown on the way back to the Hollow and-"

"You don't have to explain anything to me," Gerry said, "You have every right to be angry at me."

"I'm not...I'm not angry at you, Gerald, I was scared. I thought emotionally for the first time in my life and it terrified me, especially once I thought I might die, because there was so much I still didn't get to say or do or see. When I was in the woods with Minerva, she had to convince me that it wasn't bad to care about others, and consider you all family, and that thought absolutely terrified me. I never wanted to think of any of you as family, because if I allowed myself to become emotionally involved, it'd also mean allowing myself to be in tremendous pain if anything ever happened to anyone."

"That's the risk you take," Gerry said, smiling, "But it's worth it, trust me. I believed in Kevin, I told him he do all these great things and look at what he's managed to accomplish, and without me even being there to help him. You're the same way. But really, you're to me what I was to Kevin. I'm alive because you're logical and you kept me on task, on track, so thank you. I am happy to call you-"

"You're the bravest rabbit I've ever known. You and Kevin, but especially you. I think I got the courage to help Minerva and attack Dodger because of everything I've seen you and him do. That's what pissed me off back in the lab, was watching you get all dour and think things were impossible, because I knew nothing was impossible to you. That wasn't the Gerald I knew. The Gerald I knew could, and would, do anything," Number Two said.

Gerry and Number Two looked at one another, Gerry finally opened his eyes fully and turning his head to see him. The two sat there, staring at one another for a moment, with Number Twos whiskers twitching nervously in the cool breeze. Gerry understood, and he nodded. Just then, Lorna landed in front of them, and they both glanced up to see her.

"Holy shit," Gerry said, "It's you."

"I hear you are itching to kill the mouse," Lorna said softly, "I am itching to help you."

Right. Dodger...the plan to kill him. Gerry sadly had this reality crash back down on him. He hadn't told anyone that he'd met with Dodger a few times, that they'd made plans to leave together...but he ignored his guilt and shame, and instead he smiled and nodded back.

"Come with us into the Hollow, we'll talk in there," he said, leading Lorna behind him, leaving Number Two sitting under the tree, so very pleased with himself.

                                                                                         ***

Stone sighed and looked at a nearby tree with initials carved into it, before glancing back at Kevin, who was seated patiently on a nearby log stump. Stone rolled her eyes and approached him.

"How long are we gonna wait for this mouse?" she asked.

"She'll come," Kevin said.

"Kevin...I know you want to hurt these people, and I know they for certain deserve it, and I know that losing Ellen...that it decimated you deeply, but doing this isn't really going to get rid of that pain. I just want you to-"

"This is no longer about me and my pain," Kevin said, "This is about helping rabbits who don't deserve to be exposed to what we were exposed to. You know what it's like in there. You know the shit THEY do to you. Nobody helped us. Dodger lied, and Salt only came to help out of guilt of him lying, and, much as I appreciate it, that's the truth. These rabbits will have even less help. They might not get along like we did. This is about doing the right thing, the thing nobody would do for us."

Stone lowered her head and drooped her ears.

"You know," Kevin said, clearing his throat, sounding on the verge of tears, "Before I was in the lab I had a family. That family was ripped away from me because I failed to protect them, and there's nothing I can do about that. But I have a new family, and I cannot let myself fail twice. Nobody protected me, but I can assure you that I'm going to protect everyone else."

Just then, the bushes cleared, and Salt came running through, stopping in shock at the sight of them, only because she hadn't been expecting anyone.

"Holy god!" she shouted, starting to laugh, "Oh man, I...I didn't think anyone would be here! Don't do that to me!"

"It's good to see you," Kevin said, smiling, as she hugged his leg.

"It's good to see you too, Kevin," Salt replied, "What're you doing here?"

"I need your help. I need you to go into the lab and get me a device called a flint," Kevin said, "It's what they use to start fires. I know they have some, and I need you to bring that device back to me as quickly as you can."

"Why do you want to start a fire?" Salt asked, looking confused, her head darting back between the two rabbits, who glanced at one another and smiled.

"Because I'm gonna burn that fucking place to the ground," Kevin said.

Salt looked at them both for a moment, and then grinned.

"Alright, so how do we do this?" she asked happily.

Nobody said a word.

There was an eerie sense of both togetherness and hostility in Stone's room, as she, Nickle, Mipsy, Number Two, Number Six, Kevin and Gerald stood around in a circle, all watching one another. After a moment, Minerva and Dice entered the room as well, closing off the passage behind them with the piece of bark Stone used as a makeshift door. They took their seats within the circle, and yet, still, nobody said a word. After a moment, Stone cleared her throat and sighed.

"I guess we should say that we're happy you are alive and well," Stone said, looking at Number Two, sitting beside her, "Because everyone feared you dead, and they mourned you, but to have you just stroll on back in, perhaps a bit worse for wear, is wonderful. Welcome back Number Two."

Number Two wouldn't speak though, he was staring at the ground, his eyes squinting, clearly holding back tears. Stone continued.

"We are here because of news that Gerry has brought us," Stone said, "The news of the new rabbits at the lab is distressing, absolutely, and I think he's right in that we have to do something about this as soon as possible. I wanted to have this conversation more in private because of Number Two's return, but-"

"You fucking idiot," Number Two mumbled, still looking at the ground, everyone else now looking at him.

"What?" Stone asked, as he Number Two snapped his vision to her, snarling.

"Not you, HIM," he said, tears rolling down his face, glancing at Kevin, "You fucking idiot. Do you even realize what damage you caused? Your little medicine stunt destroyed entire families. Your decision to go back there and get that medicine caused so much pain, and you don't even know it."

"I...I-" Kevin stuttered.

"And for what?" Number Two asked, stepping forward, "Because you wanted to save Number Four, right? Well where is she, Kevin? Where's Number Four? Off recuperating somewhere? No? Let me guess, she's fucking dead, isn't she? So what did you really gain out of that outside of the remaining Collectives freedom? Nothing? Yeah, that's what I thought."

"Hey, there's no reason to be mean," Gerry said, as Kevin cowered a bit, backing up behind him, hiding from Number Two.

"No, he needs to hear this, Gerald, he needs to be aware, if he's going to be in some sort of leadership position, that the choices he makes have outcomes, good AND bad, and sometimes only good or only bad, and that sometimes they aren't worth making at all. Do you even really think it would've saved her? Honestly? She was so sick, all you would've done is prolonged things, and sure, you would've had more time with her, and that would've been nice, but you couldn't save her, you couldn't save anyone!"

Number Two stopped and sniffled, looking at Minerva, who was also crying.

"None of us could," he added, "Because of what you did, these foxes lost their children, because of what you did I nearly died, because of what you did everything was worse. You did it out of love, I get that, I...I understand caring about someone, but you really fucking screwed up."

"I'm sorry..." Kevin mumbled, now crying himself, still hiding behind Gerry, "I just...I loved her so much, and I-"

"I know. She was my friend, Kevin. We were part of the same team. She and I spent a lot of time together in that lab. She was crazy about you," Number Two said, "I want to admire you for trying, but I can't help but hate you for failing. What you did killed innocent fox cubs, and Number Four, and nearly killed me. And it isn't your fault entirely. All this blood is on Dodger's hands, which is what I'm here to talk about. I have had it with him. He's orchestrated two major murder attempts on us now, and I guarantee you he won't stop there, no, I guarantee you he's aiming for a third. He needs to be stopped, and he needs to be stopped, preferably, before he gets the chance to try again."

"I...I mean, has anyone even seen Dodger lately?" Six asked, "Because I sure as hell haven't, so."

Everyone shook their heads, including Gerry, who felt awful for lying.

"This isn't just about survival anymore," Number Two said, "This is no longer about us vs him trying to get out of a horrible place. He's systematically trying to kill us now, and he's going to kill everything else in his way until he achieves that goal unless we put our paws down and stop him once and for all."

"Number Two?" Mipsy asked, making Number Two look at her.

"Yes?"

"Um...I miss you," she said, "I...I glad...you is back."

Number Two smiled a little, nodding, "I missed you too, Mipsy. I'm glad to see you've been okay while I've been gone."

"Everything you said is true...", Kevin said, now finally stepping somewhat out from behind Gerry, "I messed up, and I'm so sorry," now glancing up at the foxes, "I'm so sorry, I didn't know he'd do anything to your family, I didn't...I didn't even know he...I'm so sorry. I lost my family too, and I would never wish that on anyone else. I'm so sorry."

"It isn't your fault," Minerva said calmly, surprising even even herself, "And if you are blaming yourself, at least take solace in the fact that I forgive you, so you should as well. As Paul said, your heart was in the right place, and we all do ridiculous things for the ones that we love and care for."

Everyone didn't speak for a few moments, the tension in the air now dissipating somewhat, everyone feeling like they could breath again without causing an emotional breakdown of someone nearby. After a few moments, Number Two looked at Gerry, sitting across from him.

"What should we do?" he asked, "What do we do about Dodger?"

"I think we need to worry about the other rabbits first," Gerry said, staring at anything other than Number Two, "Because that's...that's important. We will deal with Dodger later, and-"

"It's ALWAYS been later with you!" Number Two shouted, on the verge of tears again, continuing, "As I was falling off a goddamned waterfall, all I could think about was the fact that I'd never see you again, and still, even after what he tried to do to me, you're fine with trying to deal with him later?!"

"It's not like that, Number T-"

"MY NAME IS PAUL!" Number Two screamed, approaching Gerry quickly, sobbing, "Why don't you...why don't you ever say my name? My name is Paul. You've known me for years now, Gerald, why don't you say my name?"

The two rabbits stared at one another for a few moments, until Gerry shook it off and tried to react.

"I...I don't know, I guess...I just...I've known you as Number Two for so much longer that-"

"Of everyone, every single rabbit here, you're the only one I'd care about calling me by my name and you DON'T. FUCKING. DO IT. I trusted you, I trusted you in the beginning, I trusted you after his betrayal, I trusted you during the escape. Everything I've ever done has been for your benefit, for the sake of helping you, and I..." he glanced back at Minerva and Dice sitting beside one another, their bushy fox tails entwined, before looking back at Gerry, "...You're my best friend, and I care about you so much, and I thought I was going to die without ever getting to tell you that. I know that I've been....cold and emotionless in the past, but that's what the past is for, for pushing yourself towards a better future, and I just..."

Number Two shut his eyes and sobbed, his forehead to the floor, his half ear drooping by his face.

"i just want you to call me paul," he cried.

Gerry put his paw on Number Two's, but Number Two wouldn't look up.

"please gerald..." he continued in between tears, "please just help me kill him. help me stop it."

"I'll help you," Gerry said, "I'll help you Paul, okay? I will. And you have no idea how glad I am to see you. I was devastated when I thought you'd died. Seeing you walk back in here, just fuckin' roll on in, with two foxes at your side, nonetheless, only proves how much of a badass you really are. You're a survivor, and if we wanna keep surviving, you're right, we're going to have to kill Dodger."

"Thank you," Paul whispered, finally looking up at Gerry, smiling, "Thank you Gerald."

Gerry helped Number Two back up and then hugged him tightly. Number Two squeezed him back, still crying, unable to believe that he was even alive to be able to hug Gerry. After the hug broke, Six looked around at everyone and cleared her throat to gain their attention. Once everyone was looking at her, she grimaced and, in a lowered voice, spoke.

"So...how are we going to do this?" she asked, "How do we kill Dodger?"

Nobody said a word.

                                                                                             ***

He pushed the leaves out of his face and walked into the open clearing, waiting. After about five minutes, Gerry began to wonder if he should've even bothered coming, but after another minute or so, Dodger stumbled out from the darkness and into the moonlight splashed across the wooded ground. They looked at one another, and Gerry lowered his ears, speaking sullenly.

"They're going to kill you," he said softly.

"Let them try," Dodger replied, almost laughing, "If they haven't succeeded yet, what makes you think they will now? Besides, by the time they put any sort of plan together, much less in action, you and I will be long gone from here, so who cares."

"Yeah, I just thought you should know," Gerry said, "They want me to help."

"Good. You can throw them completely off the trail," Dodger said, "You're doing the right thing telling me this, Gerald. It's time we left. We can go somewhere else, find some other cause to live for, other animals to help."

"I know. I know you're right, it just...it hurts leaving them and lying to them."

"They left you. They left you in that shit hole of a lab for so much longer than they should've and I'm convinced the only reason you're out now is because they had to go back for Kevins girl," Dodger said, "They don't care about you, Gerald. I care about you. We'll leave and we'll never have to worry about any of this again, okay?"

"Okay," Gerry said, smiling a little, "I just didn't want them to make a move without me and take you by surprise."

"Well thank you for that then," Dodger said, patting his paw with his own tiny mouse paw, "You're the best friend I could have. Get your affairs in order, Gerald, we're leaving in a week, I'm hoping, if you're ready by then."

"I'll be ready, yeah," Gerry said.

"I need to go, it's not safe out here at night for me, birds and shit," Dodger said, turning and heading back into the bushes before stopping, glancing back over his shoulder, and adding, "Sleep good Gerry."

"You too."

And with that, both parties turned and headed back to their respective homes.

Minerva was laying on her side, her eyes plastered to the bodies of her children, her breathing shallow, while Number Two watched from afar. Standing there, he heard Dice come into the tree and the two locked eyes. She had tears streaming down her face as well, and she sat beside him. Number Two reached out and put his paw on hers, patting it gently.

"You helped her get home, so I'm eternally grateful to you. I just wish she could've come home to what she left," Dice said quietly.

"I know. It's not your fault," Number Two said, "This is...not your fault, okay? She's going to need you. She just lost all her children, and she's going to need you badly. You're gonna have to be there for her, even with how bad you feel."

"I knew she shouldn't trust him," Dice said, "That mouse, I knew she shouldn't trust him. I had the worst feeling in the pit of my stomach when she said she was leaving with him to help you guys."

"How did this happen?" Number Two asked, "I...I saw a bear outside, is that-"

"The bear came and said that the mouse would give him some rabbits to eat when we got back, and all he had to do was kill the cubs and Minerva when she got back, but when Minerva nor the mouse ever came back, and the bear had already killed the cubs as prepayment, they realized what they'd gotten themselves into and realized they weren't going to get anything out of it. They felt awful," Dice said.

"Paul..." Minerva called out from across the tree, "Paul..."

Number Two told Dice he'd be right back and he bounded across the tree interior over to Minerva as she just laid on her side, staring straight ahead at the carnage.

"What can I do?" Number Two asked.

"...why would he do this?" she managed to whimper, "Why...why would he...this is beyond cruel, this is just...evil. Someone needs to stop him before he gets away with it AGAIN. He can't...he can't do this again, please."

"I agree," Number Two said, "And I think we should head to my Hollow and gather the others, tell my friends what happened and make some sort of plan of some kind, alright?"

Number Two turned to go back to Dice when she called him back to her side. He turned, came back and sat down next to her, looking in her eyes. Minerva crooked her neck up and looked at him.

"Help me," she said, in between soft sobs, "Hel...help me...bury my children, please."

"Of...of course, whatever you need," Number Two said, before turning and heading back to Dice. When he reached her, they sort of glanced at one another before he just headed out of the tree and stood there, looking at the beautiful fall leaves, feeling sick to his stomach. He wanted to cry too. All this time, all this time what had kept him alive, was not getting involved emotionally. But now? Now he wanted to protect these foxes, get revenge for those pups and see Dodger destroyed in the worst way possible. But how...

After a few moments, Dice came out and sat next to Number Two. Neither one spoke, nor did they even dare to look at one another. They just sat there, staring at the treetops, feeling the cool fall air breeze against their fur. Together, they watched a small family of squirrels at a nearby tree gathering food and then scurrying back up the tree to their home. Dice finally sighed and cleared her throat.

"There was nothing I could do to stop it," she said softly.

"I know that," Number Two, "Nobody is going to blame you for their death. Dodger has...he's done some horrible things, but nothing like this. This is...this is beyond evil, this is just...sick. No matter what happens, I am going to find a way to stop that son of a bitch once and for all."

"I had to watch," Dice said, lowering her ears, "I had to watch them die, watch them be gutted and..."

"Hey, you don't have to talk about it," Number Two said, "Really, it's okay that-"

"No, I...I DO have to talk about it. Talking about it makes it real, instead of just a memory in my head like a nightmare I can't wake up from. I watched these little kids...be massacred and...and...there was nothing I could do, do you understand?"

"Surprisingly, I do," Number Two said, "I came from the lab. I've seen awful things. I've watched them torture other rabbits for the worst possible reasons. One friend had his leg torn off, another was blown up, and all under the guise of 'testing'. I've seen awful things, Dice, so you are NOT alone, okay? I am here for you two, alright?"

Dice looked at Number Two and nodded, as Minerva came out of the tree, holding one of her pups bodies in her jaw and dropping it on the ground before heading back into the tree for the others. Dice and Number Two looked at one another nervously as they watched her, one by one, bring out her dead pups. After all had been brought out, they took them to a spot nearby and Dice dug a hole while Number Two pushed them into it. Afterwards, Dice piled dirt back onto the hole, filling it up and together, the three of them sat around the new makeshift gravesite.

"I feel empty," Minerva said, looking down at the mound, "I feel like MY insides have been torn out of me bit by bit, and now there's nothing left. I told them I'd be back, because I didn't know that the last time I saw them would BE the LAST time. I just hope, if anything, that they knew how much I loved them, and that I didn't mean for this to happen. I hope they didn't think what happened to them was their mothers fault."

"They would never think that," Dice interjected, "You know that, Minerva, they would never ever blame you."

"I worked so hard to protect them from the awful things in these woods, and it turns out, I was the awful thing I should've protected them from. The most awful thing there was I lead right to our doorstep. I don't know how one does something like this and goes on living with themselves, but it isn't...it isn't fair," Minerva said, putting one paw on the mound and sighing, bowing her head, "Mommy loves you. Whether you're here or not, she'll always love you guys."

A loud crack exploded overhead, and rain started to plummet down. Minerva looked up at the sky, her eyes shut, letting the rain soak her. After a few moments, she stood up and she started walking. Number Two and Dice looked at one another before he finally called out to her.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"You're taking me to your Hollow," Minerva said, "There's no reason to stay here now. You take me there, and I'll help you kill Dodger."

Number Two didn't know exactly how far the walk back to The Hollow would be, but he knew it was their only option. He hesitated, wondering if he should ask if they should wait until morning, maybe she needed to sleep, but he knew that didn't matter now. She likely wouldn't be able to sleep anyhow. So, Number Two and Dice headed up with her, one on each side, on their way back to The Hollow.

After a few hours of walking in the rain, Dice finally stopped and stood under a large tree, simply to get out of the water for a bit. Number Two stopped with her, but Minerva kept going. Number Two looked at her walking ahead and looked back at Dice, but she merely shrugged. He grunted and ran up to Minerva, slipping in the mud in front of her.

"We need to stop!" he shouted, "This weather is intense and we're going to get sick or hurt, we need to rest!"

"I don't need anything," Minerva said, pushing past him.

"This isn't going to bring them back!" Number Two shouted, making her stop in her tracks. She turned back, snarling and lunged at him, snapping her jaw.

"How dare you even-" she started, but Dice walked in between them quickly.

"Stop it!" she shouted, "Just stop! He's right! Doing this to us, to yourself...it's not going to change what's happened! They're gone, and that is terrible and I am so sorry, you can't even imagine the guilt I feel, but pushing ourselves like this isn't going to fix that!"

"You don't....you don't even-" Minerva started, before collapsing into the mud and sobbing. Number Two walked up and put his paw on her head, gently stroking it.

"I know what it's like. You yourself said I have family, and...I was hesitant to admit it, but you were right. Those rabbits ARE my family...whether I like it or not, and I have to say, I like it. I'm lucky to be with them. Losing some of them the way we have, it's been awful, and you feel like you've lost a part of yourself, because in a way, you HAVE. Relationships with others create new parts of you, and when they go away, it feels like that part of you is gone too, but it ISN'T. That's the part of THEM that survives in YOU, Minerva," Number Two said, Minerva now looking up at him, her face caked in mud and tears as he continued, "I wanna help you. I wanna set this right. But pushing yourself like this isn't the way to start it. Do not let yourself become set on revenge, okay? It WILL destroy you."

Minerva nodded and looked from him to Dice, and Dice smiled gently. Minerva realized he was right, and she was lucky to still have Dice, and to have his friendship now as well. She stood back up, slipping in the mud and rain, before finally standing tall and walking with them over to a tree covering a patch of ground where they could sit and wait out the weather. After walking to the clearing, Minerva curled up, and Dice curled up beside her, and in between the two of them nestled Number Two, feeling safe in this new family.

In the morning, they woke and ate what they could find; drowned groundhogs and a dead bird, and some nearby berries for Number Two, before heading on their way towards The Hollow once again. What could Number Two possibly say to Gerry to get him to recognize what Dodger had done? He knew Gerry had a strange attachment to the mouse, and wouldn't want to kill him, but he had to convince him somehow that this bastard had to finally be put in his place. How would he also justify bringing two foxes, one of which everyone knew was the one Dodger had helped betray them with, to The Hollow? Number Two was going to have a LOT of explaining to do, including just the fact that he wasn't actually dead like everyone likely thought.

When they finally arrived at The Hollow, nobody was outside. Number Two told the foxes to follow him, and he let them all inside The Hollow. He lead them down the tunnel and into the halls, finally landing in the large open public space, finding everyone listening to Gerry. Everyone stopped and turned to see what had shut Gerald up. He was staring at the entrance to The Hollow, now lit up bright from the sun outside flooding in down the hall, as Number Two, followed by Minerva and Dice, entered the space, covered in dirt and blood.

"Number Two," Gerry said, a look of absolute shock on his face at seeing his friend alive after all, "Number Two! You're okay!?"

"We have a more pressing matter," Number Two said, shaking some of the dirt off his fur, his voice cold and flat, "Something that we should've dealt with a long time ago. And his name is Dodger."

Gerry stopped and looked at the foxes, who looked utterly defeated, and then back to Number Two.

"Come with me, we have a lot to discuss," Gerry said, before looking at Kevin and Six, adding, "You too, come with us. I think it's time we had a meeting."

Stone lead Kevin, Six and the foxes down a hall towards her personal chamber, while Number Two stopped Gerry in the hall and looked in his eyes.

"You look like hell," Gerry said.

"I've been better," Number Two said, "Gerry, I am telling you right now, because I don't care what reasons you may have, but once we get into that room and start talking, no matter what the outcome may be, with or without your help or agreement, I WILL be killing Dodger."

Gerry and Number Two stared at one another, until Number Two turned and walked into Stone's room, leaving Gerry alone in the hall with his thoughts before finally coming along inside as well.

Gerald had been questioning his place among The Collective for a while.

He hadn't been able to get everyone out of the lab, and he was no longer in charge, of his own Collective or the group at large; Kevin was the one who was essentially their leader now, while Stone held up her end of the group, and this made Gerald wonder where exactly it was he stood. On one hand, he'd pushed Kevin to become a leader because he knew he could, and he was so very proud of his friend, and what he'd managed to accomplish, but...on the other hand, Gerald now felt useless, tossed aside like he was somehow no longer needed or worthy. Standing near the entrance to The Hollow, he watched other rabbits enjoying their time outside. Children running and playing, families spending time together, or lovers talking walks. Gerald lowered his ears and sighed. He'd once been needed. He wanted to be needed again.

He turned and started to head through the nearby brush, over to Ellen's grave and stopped, looking at the small stone that marked her resting place. He thought of Kevin, and how Kevin, in actuality, had lost so much more than he ever had, and how he felt bad now for wanting to take his role back from Kevin. He sat down next to Ellen's grave and looked at the ground, pawing at it.

"I guess things change, huh," he said softly, "I have to say, I didn't expect any of what's happened to happen, up to and including ever actually escaping the lab. It's my fault you're dead. If I'd just stayed put, if I'd made us all just stay put, you would've been given your medicine and none of this would've happened. You wouldn't be gone, Number Two wouldn't be gone, and now Kevin's recovering from his bulletwound. Things just seem to get worse everytime we do something, or don't do something..."

"How insightful," a voice said from behind him, forcing Gerald to spin around and gasp as he spotted Dodger coming out of the woods.

"YOU," he said sternly.

"Hello Gerald," Dodger said, "You don't seem well, if I may speak candidly. What's on your mind?"

"What, now you're a therapist?" Gerry asked.

"I'm your friend, despite everything that's transpired between us. I've told you that again and again, that we're friends, that we're alike, and now look at us. Alone. Ostracized. Tossed aside. So what's going on?" Dodger asked, sitting down next to Gerry.

"I..." Gerry started, and then sighed, "I'm a horrible leader. Everything I've done to make everyones lives better has ended in tragedy. And you...we were friends, and you just...you left us there, in that air vent, after all that planning and-"

"I did not leave YOU there, I left THEM there, and YOU chose not to come with me," Dodger said, "If you'll recall, I gave you the option to come with me, remember? I said that you're better, more deserving than any of them, any of those other rabbits, and that you could come with me, and you chose to stay. Don't put that on me."

"...what do you want anyway?" Gerry asked.

"I admit I'm not here to make small talk, I actually have something to show you," Dodger said, "Follow me. You're gonna wanna see this."

                                                                                              ***

They could hear the sounds of truck engines, and the voices of THEM as Dodger and Gerald approached the treeline, peering out through the bushes to spot a handful of scientists unloading crates and cages from the backs of the trucks. Gerry furrowed his brow, his nose twitching, as he glanced from the sight back to Dodger.

"What is this?" he asked.

"THEY are bringing in new rabbits," Dodger said, "And those rabbits are going to befall the exact same fate as you all did, unless you do something, and soon."

"Why are you telling me this? How am I supposed to even believe you at this point? We lost two of our friends because of you recently! Why should I believe ANYTHING you say anymore?!" Gerald asked, pushing Dodger back up against a tree.

"Because I...I care about YOU, and I know you want to do the right thing," Dodger said, "And...I'm in need of some help myself. You slip a handful of them to me and take the rest back with you to The Hollow and we go our separate ways."

"Why do you want rabbits?" Gerry asked, confused.

"I need protection, and a community," Dodger said, "And those rabbits won't know about our history, so they won't judge me. I can't be alone anymore, Gerald, and I certainly can't go to your group. None of them want me. Understandably, after the things I've done."

Gerry looked back through the bushes and sighed. He knew Dodger was right about one thing...these poor new recruits would be given the worst treatment, especially after what The Collective had pulled. Gerry knew they didn't deserve that, and that it anyone was going to save them, it was going to have to be him and Dodger, and whoever else he could convince. Still...Dodger had pulled a fast one on Kevin, the most skeptical of all, next to Number Two, and that was no easy feat. Gerry was, for good reason, unsure of whether or not to trust him.

"How about this," Dodger said, "How about we do this. You tell The Hollow what I've told you. Bring them to see it, if you want to, if they really need that sort of proof, alright? Don't even mention my name, don't even bring me up at all, okay? You guys do your thing that you're so good at and then, afterwards, you convince a few rabbits to go with me and, like I said, we'll part ways. I won't bother you ever again. I'm sick too, man. I'm not doing as well as you all seem to think I am. I lost Minerva in that whole debacle, and now I have absolutely nobody."

"Where's Richardson?" Gerry asked sternly.

"Eh, god knows," Dodger said, shrugging, "He's somewhere on his own, with his sister. I haven't seen hide or hair of him, not to be cute."

Gerry smirked. He'd forgotten how much he'd missed Dodgers humor.

"Dodger," Gerry finally said, looking back to him from the bushes, "I realize why I'm hesitant to trust you, obviously, and for good measure. But...if you leave with these new rabbits, I want to go with you. I'm not needed at The Collective anymore."

"...re...really?" Dodger asked, his voice reflecting genuine surprise.

"Really," Gerry said, "So if we're gonna do this, I'm gonna need some assurance that this isn't a trick or a ploy or anything. You and I and these new rabbits, we'll just disappear into the night, alright? Because, really, you're right. In the end, we're not different at all. We're just...two outcasts who shouldn't be leaders, who would easily overthrow those around them purely for the hope of being important. You were right all along, I AM like you, Dodger. I see it now."

"Gerald, come on, you aren't-"

"No, I am," Gerry said, pacing, "I've been doing a lot of thinking about this lately. They have Kevin, they have Stone, they have all these other wonderfully brilliant rabbits. What do they need ME for? I got half of us out of the lab, sure, I put the fire under our feet, but in the end, I wasn't the one who made it out, who lead the charge to go back for the others, the one who lead them while they lived out here in the unknown. I'm the one who got stuck behind. You were right. I chose The Collective, and in turn, it left me in the lab, and I'm pretty convinced that the ONLY reason I'm out here now is because Kevin needed the medicine for Ellen but couldn't go back and not feel guilty without helping us in the process."

"Fair assessment," Dodger said.

"So yeah, you have a deal. We're gonna do this," Gerry said, "I'm with you, now, like you wanted."

Dodger smiled, and for the first time since the betrayal, Gerry felt it was sincere. Together they began to head back towards The Hollow, figuring out the logistics of the escape and the aftermath, and for the first time in a long, long time, Gerald felt like he was needed again.

                                                                                             ***

Gerry had Stone arrange a meeting that evening inside The Hollow, where Gerald could relay the information he'd discovered. As the other rabbits gathered around, rabbits from The Collective and rabbits not, Gerald felt a surge of true leadership again run through his veins. Stone got up on the mound and stood beside Gerry, on her hind legs for all to see.

"Excuse me, everyone! Hey, can everyone hear me?" she called, "Thank you for coming. Now, Gerald has some news he's expressed he wishes to share, and he'd like us all to hear it, okay? So please given Gerald your undivided attention!"

With that, Stone looked at Gerry, nodded, and then hopped off the mound. Gerald cleared this throat and also stood up on his hind legs.

"Can everyone see and hear me?" he called out, "Alright, good. Um, hello, my name is Gerald, and I'm part of The Collective that came from the lab. It took us multiple attempts, but we all obviously are here now, integrated fully into your wonderful community, and we couldn't be more thankful for it, obviously, so thank you for all your hospitality and your open arms! Today, I went for a walk, thinking about my place among this community, and I decided to head back to the lab where I came from, just to see what it looked like, get a sense of accomplishment having gotten away from it. What I saw there chilled me. Trucks, large vehicles, filled with cages and crates upon crates of new rabbits, being unloaded by THEM, the ones who work there, who hurt us. THEY were taking the rabbits into the lab, obviously to be treated just as badly as we had been."

A soft murmur began to spread across the crowd. Kevin, still somewhat limping from his gunshot wound, stumbled up to Six and Mipsy, looking confused, but listening nonetheless.

"I don't think it's fair to leave them to this fate. Nobody helped us, we had to do it on our own. I mean, we had a mouse named Salt, god bless her, but still, it was basically us helping us, and these rabbits could use our help to escape. We could bring them here, we could turn them loose, whatever you all think is best, but we need to do SOMETHING about this before it gets bad. Now, since they were just moved in, they likely won't be starting tests on them immediately. When THEY first bring you in, THEY give you a little while to become acclimated to your surroundings, you know, get your bearings. So I'd say we have a week or two, maybe three at best, before things really start to get gruesome for them. Also, I'm willing to bet that getting back in and out of that place won't be very easy, considering what we managed to do. I'm sure THEY weren't very happy with that. So we have to take that into consideration as well and plan for whatever may come up as a result. Now, if you're-"

Everyone stopped and turned to see what had shut Gerald up. He was staring at the entrance to The Hollow, now lit up bright from the sun outside flooding in down the hall, as Number Two, followed by Minerva and Dice, entered the space, covered in dirt and blood.

"Number Two," Gerry said, a look of absolute shock on his face at seeing his friend alive after all, "Number Two! You're okay!?"

"We have a more pressing matter," Number Two said, shaking some of the dirt off his fur, his voice cold and flat, "Something that we should've dealt with a long time ago. And his name is Dodger."

Kevin was standing behind a tree, his breathing slow and labored, a chilly breeze flowing through his fur. He shut his eyes tight and thought, did he really want to look? He had to. He had to acknowledge it, or it wouldn't be real. He opened his eyes and glanced down, seeing the blood coming from his right back haunch, where the bullet had entered. He groaned, wincing, as he peeked around the side of the tree, hoping to see where the hunter had gone. He couldn't see anything. He just knew that if he didn't make a move soon, he would be dead, and he wasn't going to let that happen.

Not yet. He still had work to do.

Kevin collected himself and thought about his escape route. He couldn't head towards The Hollow, that would lead the hunter directly to the rest of the Collective...so as an option, that was out. He could head towards the lab? THEY might tell the hunter to get off their property, and that distraction would protect Kevin enough to allow him to slip away, relatively unnoticed by either party. Kevin gathered up his strength, grit his teeth and bounded through the bushes, heading towards the lab.

                                                                                            ***

Gerry was standing outside The Hollow, looking up at the clouds, when he felt a presence nearby. He turned to see Stone sitting down beside him. She rarely left the Hollow, so this was a special treat. Gerry shook his head and continued looking up at the sky while Stone licked her paws.

"Don't see you out here often," Gerry said.

"Well," Stone replied, "I try and stay indoors. God forbid anything happened to me, what would you all do? What're you doing out here?"

"Just thinking. Thinking about Number Four, and...Number Two," Gerry said, "God, we lost them both, back to back, and that's crushing. Number Two was...he was our strategist, our logic, and I feel lost without him around. His sound decisions and precision planning is why we survived as long as we did, in or out, and now that he's gone-"

"You and Kevin seem to be able to make those decisions fairly well on your own," Stone said.

"Not the way Number Two did," Gerry said, "He was so detached and it made him the perfect candidate for that sort of thinking. He was rational. The rest of us...we think with emotions. That's why nobody questioned Richardson, that's why nobody questioned Dodger, that's why all the bad things that have happened HAVE happened, because our emotions allowed them to."

"I don't think that's very fair," Stone said.

"Maybe not, but it's pretty true," Gerry said, "...I think we should move. I think we should keep going further and further from THEM, from the lab, from this forest. The further away we are the less likely they are to ever find us. We need to put as much distance between us and THEM as is physically possible."

"I did have plans at one point to keep moving," Stone said, "But with how many rabbits we have now, and how many more could show up at any given moment, is it really worth it? Risking losing the ones we have, risking letting newcomers die alone? You call yourself a Collective, but to truly be a Collective you really need to account for any and all rabbits, not just the ones you know now, but the ones you may know in the future, however near or far that future may be."

Gerry looked at her and then back up at the clouds, knowing full well she was right. They'd called themselves a Collective, but had they ever truly collectively worked towards a singular goal together and accomplished it? Even when they'd finally gotten half the group out of the lab, it'd been with the outside help of Salt. When he looked back at her to respond, he found she had gone back inside, and he was left alone, again, with his thoughts.

                                                                                               ***

The lab couldn't be that much further away at this point, Kevin figured.

He stopped inside of a berry bush and caught his breath. He could hear the sound of sticks and fallen crisp leaves crunching underfoot. He knew the hunter was not far behind him. He knew he had to do something fast to gain some speed on him if he was ever going to make it to the lab safely. He looked back at his haunch, finally clotting a bit and no longer dribbling blood like it had been before, and he felt a bit more relieved, even if the pain was becoming too much to bear. He turned to continue running, but found he was face to face with a small nose and whiskers staring back at him from out the top of the bush, and, startled, he backed up a bit confused and frightened. When he finally regained composure, he realized it was Salt.

"What're you doing out here?" they asked one another in unison.

"Running for my life," Kevin replied, "What about you?"

"Looking for something to eat," Salt said, "What's going on? Do you need help?"

"There's a hunter out there," Kevin said, his voice lowering, "He's already shot me once, I'm trying to lead him back to the lab, cause if he tries to step foot on that property, especially with a weapon, he'll be turned away. Lab is closer than the Hollow, that's for sure."

"I think you're only maybe 5 or 10 minutes away," Salt said, glancing over her shoulder, "I swear I just saw it a bit ago."

"I am NOT getting killed by a hunter, after all this," Kevin said firmly, "No way no how. They take trophies, and my feet are NOT ending up like Steve's. That much I'm guaranteeing myself. My feet are dying WITH me, thank you very much."

"Not all of them," Salt said, nodding to his robotic leg, and he lowered his brow.

"Very funny," he replied, making her giggle.

"If you keep going this way, then take a right in about 3 minutes, you should be heading directly to the lab," Salt said, "I'll head to the Hollow just in case, to tell Gerry what's going on, and that way if you DON'T come back, he can at least go get your body."

"You know, you're a real burst of positivity," Kevin said.

"I do what I can," Salt said, shrugging, before disappearing back into the bush, only to reappear at the bottom, scurrying out and heading off into the woods. Kevin sighed and heard the footsteps once again. He shut his eyes, regained his composure and turned, darting off in the direction Salt had told him to head. He ran and ran, knowing the hunter was hot on his trail, and he just prayed to death that Salt had been right.

                                                                                           ***

"We never found his last foot," Kevin had said, months ago, when he and Number Two had been out for a walk, scouting for food. Number Two turned to him, his eyes dimmed, somewhat confused, as Kevin added, "Steve" and Number Two nodded, understanding now.

"Yeah," Number Two said, "...yeah that stings. I know he was your friend, I'm sorry. We found three of them, and that's pretty good, and they're buried there, in the garden now, so he's somewhat at rest."

"They should be buried out here. If I ever get the chance to go back in there, I'm taking those feet out and bringing them back here, burying them somewhere in the woods that he never got to see. He deserves that much."

"Well, if that time ever comes, I'll be happy to either help you or see it happen," Number Two said, "Nobody deserves to be ripped apart and carried around like a tchotchke, that's just sick. If anything ever happens to me, Kevin, and you know where my body is, please do the same. Bury me somewhere, anywhere, don't just let me lay where I fall."

"You got it, pal," Kevin said, the two of them smiling at one another before going back to their scavenging.

Kevin would not now, nor ever, allow himself to become a trophy.

                                                                                                 ***

Another shot whizzed past, and Kevin skidded behind a fallen tree trunk and waited a second or two before hearing another shot being fired off. This one broke through the dead tree and hit his robotic leg, bouncing off. Kevin realized how lucky he might actually be to have this thing attached to him, before he turned and shot off again into the woods, the hunter hot on his trail. His eyes glanced upwards, just over the treetops and he spotted the smoke coming from the lab chimney. He was there! He was almost there! Kevin continued and broke through the last of the brush only to come face to face with an enormous fallen tree in front of him. He panicked, because to go around would take too long, but to think about what to do would take even longer, and Kevin didn't have the luxury of time on his side right now.

He backed up and prepared to leap onto it, before realizing how much his back leg still hurt from the shot. He'd have to go around. He darted to the right and skidded in and out between other, skinnier trees in order to obfuscate the hunters view. He finally reached the end and turned sharply, feeling a branch catch him on his neck and scratch him deep, making him wince, but he didn't stop. He saw a car parked in front of the lab, and someone was getting out, holding a bag. Kevin tried hard as he could to run faster, finally getting right between the persons legs. Catching a quick glimpse, he realized they were wearing a white lab coat, as he darted underneath the car, confusing the scientist. Just as he skidded beneath the car, he heard a single gunshot, and then saw the scientist fall to the ground. He stared at them, their breathing shallow, as he heard the hunter scream and quickly run off.

Kevin climbed out from under the car and approached the scientist. He didn't have much time. The hunter might be coming back for help, or the gunshot would likely bring out other scientists. He'd have to leave now if he wanted a clean break. As Kevin stepped over them, he noticed something shiny in their hands. He looked closer and realized it was a set of keys, likely their car keys, and then his eyes widened, because attached to this set of keys was a keychain.

A keychain with a rabbits foot.

Kevin looked back at the scientist, who's eyes were now shut, and they were no longer breathing. The hunter must've mistaken the white coat for his fur, and shot on sight, killing this poor scientist. Kevin stood there, frozen in time, realizing that he'd inadvertently killed one of THEM, and in return, gotten his friends foot back. He heard shouting coming from the lab, and he nosed down, bit the metal ring on the keys and, gripping them in his teeth, took off back into the forest.

                                                                                             ***

Kevin was almost back at the Hollow, but he'd stopped in a nearby field of flowers and dug a small hole, where he then pawed the keys into the hole and looked down at the foot on the ring. He sighed and knew it was Steve's. He just knew. He thought about the garden, about where his other feet still were, and he thought about that conversation with Number Two, about how he swore that one day he'd go back and get the rest of Steve's feet so they could all be buried together. Kevin sighed. He knew that was unlikely. He knew that was probably impossible, and an overall ridiculous thing to risk returning there for. He had to take his small victories where he could, and this was indeed a small victory. His feet may have been split up, but they were all at rest now. Kevin sighed and filled the hole back up with dirt, afterwards setting one paw on the mound and smiling down at it.

"Looks like we get you out of the lab after all," Kevin said softly, "I'm sorry, Steve. I'm sorry what happened to you happened, but...I hope this sort of makes up for it. You were a good friend, and a good rabbit, and you didn't deserve what happened to you. I hope you can rest somewhat easier now at least."

Kevin backed away and looked at the mound, realizing the good that he had done, and almost all on his own. He felt a renewed sense of power and strength, and he vowed at that moment that, no matter what it took, he would find a way to burn that place to the ground. He turned and started to head back to the Hollow, only stopping once to glance back at the mound, before smiling, and continuing on home. He needed a nap, and he could finally rest somewhat easier, because Steve...

...Steve was finally at peace.

Number Two was standing atop a rock, his neck craned back as he peered up at a tree above him, through which little sunlight was breaking, splashing across his face, warming his fur; his eyes fixated upon a family of birds. Three little babies and a mother now feeding them, all happily chirping and flapping their wings. Number Two smiled and shut his eyes, listening closely to the sounds of baby birds singing and tried, even if just for a moment, to escape the reality he was in. When he opened his eyes, he noticed Minerva had taken a seat beside him and was also looking up at the birds.

"It's sweet, isn't it? To have a family to care for?" she asked, "There's nothing more in this world that I love than my family."

"Yeah..." Number Two said, thinking about the Collective, wondering if they qualified as a 'family'.

"Something about nurturing something, making them into a bright ray of hope in a desolate cold world...it makes you feel like you actually exist for a reason. Not that everyone wants a family, I get that, the stress involved can be horrendous, but for me...it really makes it all worth it."

"I don't really have a family, I guess," Number Two said.

"Nonsense, what about the other rabbits?"

"What about them?" Number Two replied, annoyed, "If I was part of their 'family', they would've come looking for me, wouldn't they?"

"They didn't even know where we ended up, Paul," Minerva said, "They likely think you are dead, and, if that is the case, likely grieving heavily over it. So please, do not think you are not part of a family, because if anyone has ever missed you, you are part of their family. People do not miss others that they don't care about."

Minerva trotted off the rock and licked her paw, rubbing her ear with it, letting Number Two think about that for a moment. After a few seconds, he joined her on the dirt and they began walking again. He didn't say anything. He just thought about all the things that he and the Collective had been through together, and wondered if, perhaps, they really WERE a family? He had to admit...they had cared for him a lot more than the people he'd been with before.

                                                                                            ***

Number Two had lived in a cage his entire life.

He'd been born in a cage, he was never taken out a cage to be played with, he just lived, forever, in a cage. The cage was in a big living room, but sometimes, for hours at a time, nobody was home, and he spent a lot of his time alone. He sat, in the darkness, the quiet stillness of the air unnerving him, just waiting...waiting for anyone to come home and notice him. But when someone finally came home, they still didn't notice him. They fed him, out of obligation, but they never looked at him, played with him, spoke to him, petted him. Number Two was a piece of furniture, and nothing more; just another knick knack to show off to guests.

He could remember the day THEY came over. He was a tall man, short brown hair, with oval glasses. He was wearing a light blue button down collared shirt and tan slacks. He had his hands in his pockets, bent over, looking into the cage at Number Two, smiling. Finally, Number Twos owner, a blonde woman, came in from another room, holding some drinks, handing one to the man.

"You really don't think you want him?" the man asked, taking the drink, turning to face the woman.

"I don't have the time, honestly," she replied, "Please, take him, because it's not fair to make him sit here like this. It's cruel."

The woman sat down on a couch, as the man turned and looked back at Number Two, shrugging.

"Alright, if you insist," he said, taking a sip of his drink.

This man...this well dressed, well groomed man...he'd come to save Number Two? Impossible! But that's what it sounded like! It sounded like Number Two was finally going to a good home, where he'd be cared for and spent time with, and oh, it sounded like a dream come true! But this man was not a savior. Not by a long shot.

                                                                                                 ***

Minerva was trotting along at a fine pace, with Number Two hopping along side by her, as they headed towards her home, trying to keep a good time during the day on their travel. For a bit they stopped so she could hunt for lunch and he could scrounge up some berries and nuts. After they stopped to eat, with no talking as it'd been days since they'd last eaten, they continued on their way, trying to make up for the time they spent eating.

"I'm sorry that Dodger pulled you into his web," Number Two finally said, "But, like I said, you're not alone. He's done it to everyone. He's charming. You just wanna believe him."

"What bothers me is how he gets everyone else to do things for him. He told me about a crow he'd met in the lab named Lorna, and then myself, and using Gerry and Kevin to get out of the lab...he's so small that he needs others to put his plans into motion, bring them to fruition, and that's what bothers me most. He cannot keep getting away with it."

"I'm sure your partner and pups are fine," Number Two said, "I'm sure they're just waiting for you."

"Paul..." Minerva started, and then stopped herself.

"What?" he asked.

"...how are we going to go about this? Last time the rest of your group was faced with him, Dodger tried to subdue Gerry into joining him. Is that going to be a problem?" Minerva asked, "I mean...I guess what I'm asking is...do you trust Gerry?"

"...yes, I do," Number Two finally said, "Gerry has enough to be angry at Dodger for that I don't think he'd ever join up with him. They used to be friends, it's true, but only because Gerry didn't know how sneaky and underhanded Dodger actually could be. Once that facade fell away, once he was revealed to be more rat than mouse, I think Gerry could never forgive him for that. Gerry takes his friendships seriously, so for someone to use him like that...that's not something he easily forgets."

"So you see, you ARE in fact a family," Minerva said, winking at him, making him smirk a bit.

Maybe Minerva was right...maybe the Collective was more a family than he'd ever allowed himself to believe. They had been there for one another, died for one another, fought for one another...god, the things they'd done together. They were much more than just a group of rabbits thrown together haphazardly. They really were a family of sorts, and Number Two was just going to have to finally accept that.

"So how do we get rid of Dodger?" Number Two, "I'm hoping you've got some ideas."

"I've got lots of ideas, some more cruel than others," Minerva said, "But...with that being said...it's much more your problem than mine. I will help you, but I don't want to be the one to have to actually kill him. I don't like to kill. That's why I hesitated killing any of you back at the lab. We're going to need someone who's going to actually be able to pull the trigger when that time comes."

"Yeah..." Number Two thought about Gerry, but he knew that he too lacked the ability it would take to take another creatures life, and he started to wonder who, exactly, it would be that could manage to take Dodger out.

"Let's not worry about it too much," Minerva said, "Let's focus on getting back to my home. We can rest there and discuss plans before heading to your group."

"Sounds like a good plan," Number Two said, "...you know...before I came to the lab, I was owned by this woman who was never home. I was always alone. Being in the lab, not being alone, it was something I had to get used to. I wasn't used to it one bit, because I'd been on my own for so long, but...but now...I can't fathom being alone. Now I feel like I need the other rabbits."

"Yeah," Minerva said, smiling, "Love will do that to you."

Love? Yes. Love. He loved them. Whether they were a family was debatable, but what wasn't debatable was the fact that he did, deep down, love those rabbits.

                                                                                            ***

He was moved in the middle of the day.

When he awoke, he found he was in a different cage, in a different place. He tried to stand, but he felt a little pain on his front left paw and looked down, spotting a small bandage covering a pinprick of blood. He felt confused...had he been drugged to come here? Was that why he hadn't awoken during the move? Why would someone drug him just to take him to a different home? Number Two forced himself to stand up and only then realized he was still out of it, stumbling in his cage as he crashed against the side of it. His eyes were blurry, but he managed to make out the face of a rabbit in a cage next to his.

"Are you okay?" the other rabbit asked, and he nodded best he could as she continued, "That's good. It'll wear off in a bit. THEY do it to all of us when THEY first bring us in. It's to make us easier to work with."

"Whe...where am...I?" Number Two finally asked.

"You're in a laboratory," the rabbit said, "It's okay, you have been assigned a number, the number Two, meaning you're part of the Special Seven. You aren't a normal rabbit, you're going to be treated much better than the rest of them. I'm Number Six, it's nice to meet you."

Number Two finally was able to stand without wobbling, his eyes finally clearing up more as well as he looked right at Number Six and cleared his throat. This wasn't a home. This wasn't a family. This was hell, and he'd been sent to it. Well, he thought, at least he'd have company.

                                                                                         ***

"You know," Number Two said, "you would think that a rabbit who's lived his entire life in cages would have gone willingly along with anyone who was trying to escape, but as it turns out, I was rather hesitant to the change. I figured, well, I'd lived outside the lab and ended up here, so the outside world can be just as bad as this lab can be."

"You didn't want to leave the lab?" Minerva asked.

"Not at first. I mean...I guess I shouldn't say I DIDN'T want to leave, and more that I was rather...timid...about the whole thing. It was much more that I had been on the outside, I had been treated poorly, and I knew that people could be rotten. I didn't want everyone else to get high hopes only to be dashed when faced with that reality."

"But you're out now," Minerva said, "You're seeing birds and you're feeling sun, and you've been swimming-" as Number Two interrupted her with laughter, herself laughing as well before she continued, "-so doesn't that mean you were wrong? Or are you one of those rabbits who can't admit when they've been wrong?"

"Please, I've got an ego, but it's not THAT big," Number Two said.

"You sure about that buddy?" Minerva asked, the both of them starting to crack up.

"I admit, in hindsight, I was wrong. It's nice outside. It's worse in there. But that doesn't mean I'm wrong about the outside still being cold and cruel."

"Certainly," Minerva said, "But I like to think there's more good than bad."

They stopped suddenly, looking up a small hill, spotting a big tree with a big hole in the front, and another fox sitting in front of it. Number Two looked up at Minerva and his one still full ear cocked up, he lowered his voice and asked, "Who is that?"

"That's her, that's Dice, my partner!" Minerva said, "We must've been closer than I thought!"

Minerva took off, sprinting up the hill towards Dice, who didn't appear to be moving. When she finally got to her, Dice was looking at the ground, and wouldn't look at her. Minerva pushed her head under Dice's chin, raising her face back up, but Dice quickly darted her eyes away from her, looking anywhere else but Minerva's face.

"Is...are you...what's going on?" Minerva asked, "I'm back! I survived!"

"I'm so sorry," Dice mumbled, on the verge of tears, as Minerva heard the sound of a loud creature coming from behind the tree. She looked and noticed a large black bear standing there, looking at her, also with a look of remorse on their face, before turning and heading off. Minerva looked back at Dice, and suddenly felt the pit of her stomach drop even further, as she rushed inside the tree. As Number Two got to the front of the tree, he heard the screams, the anguished, frantic wails, that Minerva was belting out. Number Two looked up at Dice, but she wouldn't look at him either, so he finally, cautiously, walked inside.

Minerva was there, looking at the carnage in front of her; all of her pups, ripped to shreds, covered in blood. Number Two walked up to her and rested his head on her shoulder as she wept, realizing now how lucky he himself had been, to not lose his family. Yes, his family. And now Minerva was part of that. Number Two made one silent promise to himself in that moment, and that was no matter what it took, no matter how they did it, he was going to make sure that SOMEONE killed Dodger.

The river was calm, cool, as it washed easily over the rocks and small bushes near the shore. The fish were swimming happily, minding their own business, when the water was broken by a wild splashing of black paws. They paddled more until a red head came over the water, a white rabbit caught in its teeth. Minerva paddled her way to shore, and laid Number Two down on the dirt, catching her breath, before shaking the water off her fur and rolling in the dirt a bit. When she finished, she looked at Number Two and nudged him with her nose. He wasn't moving. She sat and looked at his body, and then pawed at him, putting both her front paws, and the weight of her body, on his side, squishing him until he coughed up water. Number Two rolled over and kicked wildly, hacking up water onto the dirt. He finally opened his eyes and looked up at her sitting over him.

"...are we alive?" he asked.

"Well, I sure hope so, otherwise hell is beautiful," Minerva replied, making him smirk as he rolled onto his stomach and shook the water from his ears, she added, "Are you okay?"

"...I....I think I'm alright," he mumbled, "I can't believe we're alive. I thought...how did we get onto the shore?"

"I dragged you with my teeth," Minerva said, "It was only fair, considering you didn't leave me behind. Are you sure that you're okay?"

"I'll be alright," Number Two said, rubbing his half ear, sighing and blinking a few times to get his full vision back, "Oh my god. Oh god the air feels good."

He glanced at her as she looked at her paws on the dirt, and he sighed.

"Thank you," he said, "Thanks for making sure I didn't drown."

"Thanks for not letting me fall off a cliff alone," Minerva replied, smiling, "I have to get moving. I have to get back to my home. My partner and our pups will be waiting for me. I haven't been gone this long before, and I can't ensure that Dodger won't try something while I'm gone."

As he watched her start trotting off into the nearby thicket, he shook once more and then started hopping off after her. As he came to her side, together walking briskly, Number Two wasn't really sure what to say. He barely knew this fox, and she had betrayed him, even if she had saved his life now. He cleared his throat and sighed.

"I forgot  you had pups," Number Two.

"Well, it's not something I advertise, god forbid someone wants to do them harm," Minerva said, "But I think you aren't someone who's going to hurt innocent fox pups, so I feel fairly confident in telling you that."

"...why did you do that?" Number Two asked, and Minerva sighed, rolling her eyes.

"...because...we had a deal. I got to feed his mice and rats to my family, and I'd give him protection. I thought it was terrible of him to give over his own kind so easily for the safety of himself, but I had to make sure my family had food every day. I never thought he'd betray the one protecting him. He just...left me there, like I never mattered."

"Because nobody matters to Dodger except Dodger," Number Two said coldly, "But it's a mistake a lot of us have made. Gerald made it too, a long time ago. He trusted Dodger, and it nearly got us all killed. So don't hold that against yourself, because you're not the first one to be taken in by his charm and you certainly won't be the last."

"He needs to be dealt with," Minerva said, stopping Number Two cold in his tracks.

"What?" he asked, as she stopped and looked back at him over her shoulder.

"You heard me. I think it's time he's dealt with," she said.

"...I...couldn't agree more," Number Two said, catching back up with her.

                                                                                             ***

Minerva had been with a male fox, the one who'd sired her pups, but after he'd been shot and killed, she really wasn't interested in finding another partner. She kept to herself, took care of her pups and together they had a relatively safe and happy life together, alone. And then, one rainy afternoon, Minerva was out looking for food, and she stumbled through some brush, onto a trail, only to find another fox, with her leg caught in a trap. The two stood and stared at one another for a bit, until Minerva approached her cautiously.

"How can I help you?" she asked.

"I...I don't know," the other fox said, her voice shaky, broken, "I think...I think my ankle is broken."

"...I don't know how to open these," Minerva said, "I think you're going to have to lose your foot."

"Anything, just...please don't leave me here," the other fox cried, and Minerva nodded, kneeling down and sinking her teeth into the other foxes ankle. She chewed for a solid 20 minutes, her sharp teeth crunching through the busted bone, until finally the other fox was free. Laying on the dirt path now, she looked up at Minerva standing over her.

"You...should come with me," Minerva said, "I can let you heal at my place for a while, I can feed you."

The other fox smiled and, though struggling to stand, did get up and nodded, following Minerva out of the clearing. She took the other fox, who told Minerva her name was Dice, back to her humble home, much to the excitement of her pups, who were thrilled to have someone else there with them. As the days passed on, Dice and the pups got on together wonderfully, and Minerva kept her word, bringing home food and helping Dice clean her wounds.

Despite losing her foot, Dice felt like the luckiest fox in the world.

                                                                                           ***

Walking across a stream on a moss covered log, Number Two couldn't help but wonder what sort of plan Minerva might possibly have to take out Dodger. Whatever it was, it was going to have to be a good one, since he was crafty.

"The way I see it," Number Two said, "Dodger likely assumes we're dead. It's amazing we aren't."

"Certainly."

"So, he won't know that we're coming after him. That's an element of surprise that we have never had before. He's always been two steps ahead, but now he doesn't know we're alive and coming for him, so there's only so much he can prepare for."

"I'm thinking the same thing," Minerva said, "He doesn't know anything, and that's our best shot. We find my place, I make sure my pups and partner are okay and then all of us head to the Hollow, and we all group together and we figure out once and for all a plan to end this."

"He won't be the end, you know," Number Two, "I mean, certainly, perhaps for you, but not for us. It won't be over until THEY are gone. I know Gerry will never let what THEY have done go, nor would Kevin, especially after what THEY did to Number Four."

"What...what's with the numbering system?" Minerva asked, confused.

"We're part of a select group called The Special Seven. We're the rabbits THEY test things on that THEY think can withstand the pain. We're the ones THEY really torture. Not all of us are left. Number Six, myself, maybe Number Four if Kevin got back in time. Then there's the leader of the Hollow, Stone. She was a Special too."

"You rabbits have been through a lot," Minerva said.

"Lady, you have NO idea," Number Two replied, making them both laugh. It felt good to laugh again, for the both of them. They continued walking, not speaking, for a bit. Number Two thought about Dodger. About Richardson. About Kevin...god, poor Kevin. Who knew if Number Four was okay, but even if she was, everyone probably thought Number Two was dead, and that likely wasn't raising their spirits. He sighed and looked at Minerva.

"You know where all his hideouts are?" he asked.

"I know everything about him," Minerva replied.

"What makes you think Dodger won't just change everything?" Number Two asked.

"Because he thinks we're dead, remember?" Minerva asked, licking her lips, "Why be afraid of someone with all the information on you that you think is crushed at the bottom of a waterfall?"

"You make a strong point," Number Two said.

"Trust me. We'll finally make him pay," Minerva said, "I guarantee that to you."

                                                                                                ***

Dice became a regular fixture in Minerva's den after a while, almost like she'd always been there. The pups became accustomed to her being there, and even Minerva loved having her around. She enjoyed the company of someone that wasn't just yet another child howling at her for more food. After the pups were asleep, Minerva and Dice usually sat outside and talked; talked about Minerva's partner who'd left, and about how Dice had gotten caught in the trap.

One night, after even Minerva had fallen asleep, Dice woke her up gently and, smile dancing across her lips, she told Minerva to followed her. Minerva got up and followed Dice out of the tree, somewhere into the woods. After a while of walking, Minerva finally asked where Dice was taking her, and just as the question had left her mouth did they come through the brush and stop at a cliffside, overlooking a valley, and in the sky ahead of them was a meteor storm. Minerva sat, shocked at the beauty, as Dice sat beside her, smirking.

"This is amazing," Minerva finally said, "Why...why did you wanna show me this?"

"I thought you'd appreciate it," Dice said, "Uncontrolled beautiful chaos, something magical about that."

Dice rested her head on Minerva's shoulder, and Minerva licked Dice's cheek. Together, the two foxes sat there and watched the 'uncontrolled beautiful chaos' playing out in front of them. That was the night Minerva finally decided she wanted to love someone again.

                                                                                               ***

"How far to your place do you think it is?" Number Two asked, but Minerva didn't respond. He glanced at her and asked again, "Minerva? How far-"

"I don't know, just keep walking," Minerva said, "...my partner once used the phrase 'uncontrolled beautiful chaos' and I think that so rightly defines what's going on here. Dodger set everything in motion, didn't he? He told me it was his plan to escape the lab, that he used your group for his own benefit, that he was always planning to use you guys to help his group get out and then leaving you for dead?"

"I think he had it planned from the moment he knew we were in the lab," Number Two said, sighing, "And Gerald, stupid, naive Gerald, he believed him every single step of the way. But...I can't be too harsh on him for believing it. After all, who wouldn't want to escape? Dodger arrived through an air vent and promised us something anyone in our situation would've dreamed of; a chance to be free. Turns out he was just as bad as THEM."

"I will help you find him," Minerva said, "But it's up to you to kill him."

"Oh, don't worry, that'll be easy," Number Two said, "The only problem with that plan is deciding which one of us gets to do it. God knows we've all got our reasons to want to carry it out."

"Where will you all go once he's gone?" Minerva asked, "Will you move from the woods to somewhere else?"

"I don't think we're going to go anywhere," Number Two said, sighing and shaking his head, "If anything, Gerald and Kevin won't let us leave these woods until THEY'RE dealt with too."

"THEY?" Minerva asked.

"THEM, the people who put us into that lab, the people who did all these tests on us, the people who made us into what we are today," Number Two said, "And trust me when I say that whatever you think it is we're going to do to Dodger, what we're going to do to THEM is going to be a thousand times worse."

                                                                                            ***

Minerva was sitting at the front of the den, looking at her pups playing while she waited for Dodger to show up. Dice trotted over from the pups and sat beside her, watching with her for a moment before looking at her, cocking her head.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Dice said softly.

"Don't worry, he's nothing without my protection," Minerva said, "He won't let anything happen to me. We'll be back in a day or so at most. I promise."

Minerva licked Dice's nose and then rested her head against hers when she noticed Dodger finally sitting outside, waiting patiently. Minerva shut her eyes and whispered.

"I'll see you in a few days." Minerva said, before turning and trotting out to meet with Dodger, on their way to ambush the rabbits at the lab. Minerva had promised she'd be back.

She'd never break a promise.