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Prompt 7 (Snowbunnies): Winter seems to bring out the cutest of all rodents; this isn’t the first time that small, white rabbits have infested Destiny City. They’re small, rarely larger than a guinea pig, and have large eyes and wiggling noses. They are always pure white and seem to show up whenever there’s snow. They aren't menacing or evil, they're just everywhere. They seem strangely domesticated; they are sweet, curious, and friendly creatures that will eat anything you give them. They always seem cold to the touch, and when they shake, little snowflakes sprinkle off of them.
While they seem to be social creatures who seem to appreciate anything warm and will cuddle up to steal body heat, they are too skittish and fast to be kept for pets. They can show up just about anywhere, either alone or--often--in pairs. They tend to wander off on their own without any trouble, but if you surprise them or try to catch or hurt them, they may bite. Their little teeth are enough to break skin, but after one bite they run away. The bite itself isn’t bad, but the effects are a bit unpleasant: for roughly two days after the bite, the injury is cold and the victim will feel random, cold, shooting pains. Their core body temperature will drop and they will often be sent into random fits of shivering. No medicine seems to help, and no amounts of blankets or hot baths can soothe the chill. You're just going to have to deal with it and hope it gets better…
Most experiences with the bunnies are perfectly pleasant, you just have to worry about them burrowing. There are holes peppering Destiny City, and with the fresh fallen snow it can be impossible to tell where they are hiding. The holes range from small holes to several feet deep, so can be a minor inconvenience to a potential hazard. On the bright side, sometimes you wind up covered in bunnies looking for warmth from their sudden guest. On the other hand, there are a rising number of trips to the hospital for twists and sprains. The bunnies always leave with the snow, so best to enjoy them--or avoid them--for as long as you can.
While they seem to be social creatures who seem to appreciate anything warm and will cuddle up to steal body heat, they are too skittish and fast to be kept for pets. They can show up just about anywhere, either alone or--often--in pairs. They tend to wander off on their own without any trouble, but if you surprise them or try to catch or hurt them, they may bite. Their little teeth are enough to break skin, but after one bite they run away. The bite itself isn’t bad, but the effects are a bit unpleasant: for roughly two days after the bite, the injury is cold and the victim will feel random, cold, shooting pains. Their core body temperature will drop and they will often be sent into random fits of shivering. No medicine seems to help, and no amounts of blankets or hot baths can soothe the chill. You're just going to have to deal with it and hope it gets better…
Most experiences with the bunnies are perfectly pleasant, you just have to worry about them burrowing. There are holes peppering Destiny City, and with the fresh fallen snow it can be impossible to tell where they are hiding. The holes range from small holes to several feet deep, so can be a minor inconvenience to a potential hazard. On the bright side, sometimes you wind up covered in bunnies looking for warmth from their sudden guest. On the other hand, there are a rising number of trips to the hospital for twists and sprains. The bunnies always leave with the snow, so best to enjoy them--or avoid them--for as long as you can.
Matt had been outside enjoying the cool weather while juggling a soccer ball between his legs for the past half an hour. Originally it had just been because he had been feeling restless and in need of movement while also not wanting to leave the house vicinity just yet. Not when he was waiting on a call from Terry to go out together to go shopping anyway. While neither of the brothers celebrated any of the typical holidays, not really anyway, they did have a tradition in the family to give gifts on new years to those close to them. Of course over the years the amount of gifts had grown since the family had grown in return but that wasn't something any of them minded.
As he waited and bounced the ball, Matt's mind fluttered between different topics. The patrol he was planning on doing later in the evening, what types of gifts to get for different members of the family, what to have for dinner that night, and much more not pausing to stay on any one topic for very long. It was almost meditative for him when he did this, just letting his body go through the motions while not focusing on anything in particular. It was a good way to relax and sometimes it meant he ended up accidentally stumbling onto ideas to use for later or for solutions to problems he had recently been having.
Either way though it did mean that his attention had not been on his surroundings in the least at that time so when his ears picked up on a shuffling sound nearby it almost startled him enough to kick the soccer ball in the direction of the noise. Instead he turned around as he caught the ball with one hand in one smooth motion and held it like he could yeet it at any moment.
Matt paused however when he saw what it was that caused the sound in the first place, a small snow bunny. Now he had known they had shown up again and Terry had already given him warnings about what their bites did to a person. A chilling cold sensation that brings shivers and icy pains that lasts for several days of course did not sound pleasant so he kept his distance from the bunny even as he watched it hop too and fro the back yard.
His lips curled into a smile as it was joined by another bunny, both investigating a hibernating bush with their noses twitching. They were adorable and looked soft, but not worth the trouble of petting them in his opinion. When even more bunnies started to appear, he started to carefully head back into the house, not wanting to startle them and would rather just leave them be. Once inside he place the soccer ball down off to the side of the door and looked out the window at the small herd of bunnies. He spent several minutes enjoying their hopping before he heard the phone go off and he hurried off to answer.
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