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.
Along with every new year came another list of resolutions to eventually fall to the wayside, forgotten in a pile of recycled paper no more than a week later.
For Selena, the list was kept short and simple, and did not include going to the gym more since for one she didn’t have a car of her own, and two she didn’t have a job to pay for membership costs. Not that she was really concerned since even in the off season she still practiced gymnastics or went jogging to stay in shape.
However, this last year had been rather lonely with Bryia no longer on the team.
It went without saying that she did wrong by her friend. Rather than being there after the accident, after she had to relocate her whole life to move in with her aunt, after the guardian cat decided to awaken them both, Selena had turned the other way. Convinced herself it was too much and walked out of Arthur’s home and didn’t so much as call Bryia later that day.
She didn’t want magic, didn’t want to be involved in some war. All Selena wanted was to just be a simple student, a gymnast. To live her life where her fathers drunken abusive nature could not reach. To succeed in something that could hopefully provide a way for her mother to escape the toxic relationship the way her older sister had done.
Selena had her own problems to worry about that adding anything more was just too much, or so she had convinced herself.
It was a paltry excuse and it took a year for her to realize how wrong she’d been. Which is why she now stood outside the blue two-story house, with white door, snow up to her ankles with little bunnies and their beady black eyes watching her curiously in the front yard.
She stared at the doorbell but both arms felt like lead weights at her sides. Not from the cold but because of the shame she felt for taking so long to finally reach out. I should have called first. She probably doesn’t even want to see me… Not that Selena would have blamed her, she would have felt the same way if the roles were reversed.
“Not today…” She sighed, then turned to leave realizing that the courage she needed to admit her fault was not with her in this moment.
