FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Katya stalked through the bracken. Her sharp, kelly green eyes peered out of the Autumn-tinted leaves that disguised her ginger fur as she eyed the white and brown rabbit munching grass a short distance from the edge of the forest. A little bit farther and she could pounce. Her prey wouldn't have a chance to escape. Katya slipped forward into a patch of ferns, crouching low. She tensed her muscles for the powerful leap that would allow her to snatch her prey.

The rabbit's head turned, and her eyes met Katya's. Shit! Katya prepared to dash after the alerted prey, but to her utter amazement and confusion, the rabbit bounded over to the patch of ferns and peered in at her.

"Hiya!" the rabbit piped cheerfully. "My name's Farida! What's yours, kitty?"

Baffled by this strange, apparently suicidal, behavior, Katya slowly stood and blinked down at the rabbit, who gazed up at her with a friendly smile. After a moment's hesitation, Katya seized the rabbit tightly by the arm. She didn't know what this rabbit's deal was, but she was only prey. She'd fill Katya's belly whether she was crazy or suicidal or whatever. The rabbit glanced down at the hand on her arm bemusedly before smiling back up at Katya curiously.

"Hi kitty, haven't you met a rabbit before? You can look me over if you want to. I've never talked to a cat before. Do you understand me?"

"I understand," Katya replied awkwardly. "I, um, you realize I'm going to eat you, right?"

The rabbit's cheerful visage took on an expression of mild concern, "Eat me? Yeah, I guess I knew that. I'm glad you can understand me. I've never talked to a cat before."

"I've never talked to a rabbit," Katya admitted awkwardly. She didn't understand this rabbit. Didn't she care that she was going to die? "I'm Katya," she added embarrassedly.

The rabbit grinned, "Nice to meet you, Katya! Can I tell you you're very beautiful? Erk, I guess I just did."

"Um, thanks." This conversation was insane, not to mention a waste of time. Katya could simply pull the rabbit in and reach her jaws around her throat, but she had to know why she'd given herself to a predator so willingly. "Are you not afraid to die?" she pressed. "Why didn't you run when you saw me?"

"A little, but I know I'll see my loved ones again. I didn't run because I thought you looked nice. I know you're a predator, but that doesn't mean you're cruel. I understand you have to eat me, but if you're not hungry now, I'd like to talk to you longer."

Katya frowned, considering the rabbit's request. She was curious about this prey, and she didn't think she'd get away. But she was worried another predator might take her from her. "If you'll come home with me, we can talk more before it's time for dinner," she offered.

The rabbit beamed happily, "That sounds nice! I knew you were a nice kitty! Lead the way!"

Katya turned and pulled the rabbit with her into the woods. The rabbit followed willingly for a few steps but then stopped. Did her brain finally catch up with the fact that she's about to die? Katya turned back, prepared to deliver the killing blow.

"You're kind of squeezing my arm," the rabbit remarked. "Could you hold my hand instead?"

Bemusedly, Katya nodded. She released the rabbit's arm and took her hand firmly. The rabbit's smaller hand squeezed hers back, and she smiled up at Katya affably.

"Thanks, that's a lot better."

Katya turned to lead the rabbit on, but the rabbit bounded up to walk beside her. Katya glanced down at questioningly, and she smiled. With a mental shrug, Katya continued. They were about halfway through the the woods when the rabbit leaned her head against Katya's arm. Katya glanced down at her but decided not to mention it. This rabbit was weird, but she was still Katya's prey. She'd satisfy her curiosity, and then it would be dinner time. Even if she felt a little awkward and even a little sorry for this confused rabbit, she would still eat her. If she didn't, another predator would.

The rabbit let out a wistful sigh. "This is nice, Katya," she murmured. "It's almost romantic."

Katya glanced at the rabbit but didn't respond.

The rabbit looked up at her. For the first time, she looked a little sad, "It must be very intimate to eat someone. I'm sorry I won't be able to enjoy that with you."

Katya swallowed uncomfortably. "It's, um, not really like that. Prey are really just meat."

"Just meat?" the rabbit asked worriedly.

Katya looked at her embarrassedly, "I mean, um, right now you're a person, but once you're dead, you're my food. I don't really think about what the prey I eat were like when they were alive. I usually only get to see them alive for a minute or two, and they're always scared."

The rabbit gazed up at her sadly, "I'm sorry, Katya. It sounds hard to be a predator."

You're the one who's going to die. "I guess. It must be hard being a prey too."

The rabbit nodded, "It is, but you're making it a lot easier. Thank you, Katya. You're very kind."

I'm still going to eat you. "I'm glad I can make it easy."

"I hope I'm making it easier for you too. It must be hard to see your prey so afraid. You're just trying to survive."

Katya wasn't sure the rabbit was making it easier. It would probably be more difficult to kill someone after chatting with them, but she'd manage. "So are they. I don't blame them for being afraid."

"But it's better this way," the rabbit pressed. "It's better for me to go with you willingly. That way, we can have this time together."

"You might have escaped," Katya replied. "You had a chance if you'd run."

"If it wasn't you today, it would have been someone else another day."

"But you would have had another day," Katya pressed. "Don't you believe your life in precious? You can't want to be a predator's meal. can you?"

The rabbit regarded her curiously, "Do you think my life is precious?"

Katya turned away embarrassedly, "I can't control what I am. I have to eat prey."

The rabbit squeezed her hand, "Of course you do, kitty, because your life is precious too. Don't worry about me. I decided not to run, and that's that. It was my life to give."

They reached the edge of the forest, beyond which the predator village stretched.

"Stay close to me," Katya warned.

They navigated their way down the streets toward Katya's abode. They got some funny looks, but the rabbit stayed close by Katya's side, and no one tried to steal her. It wasn't likely to happen in town anyway, but there were predators who might have taken the opportunity to drag the rabbit into their house and "have some fun with her." Katya hoped no one thought she was going to do anything so horrible. She'd make the rabbit's death quick and as painless as she could manage. At last, she led the rabbit though her door, which she locked behind her.

"This is your house? It's very pretty, Katya!" the rabbit piped. She smiled at Katya fondly, "But not as pretty as you."

Katya blushed. "Um, would you like tea or something? We can talk more here before, you know."

"Tea sounds lovely! Thank you!"

"Come with me." Still holding the rabbit by the hand, Katya led her into the kitchen. "I'll get the water boiling. You won't run away if I let you go, will you?"

"Of course not. I'd never make it out of town anyway, would I?"

"I doubt it," Katya agreed awkwardly. She let the rabbit go and got the kettle started boiling on the stove.

She was watching the kettle, awkwardly avoiding eye contact with her waiting meal, when the rabbit's arms slipped around her middle from behind. Hugging Katya tightly, the rabbit pressed herself against her back and nuzzled her between the shoulders. Katya put her hands on the rabbit's to pry her off, but something stopped her. She let her hands drop.

"Can I hold you just a little while?" the rabbit murmured.

"Alright," Katya allowed.

The rabbit nuzzled her again, "I know this is strange, kitty. Thank you for indulging me."

Katya poured the how water into the tea pot and took this and a pair of mugs to the table in the other room. The rabbit clung to her all the while, but she allowed it. She would eat the rabbit soon; she might as well let her last hour be a happy one. Katya felt a twinge of guilt. Could she really take the life of this gentle soul? She set the mugs and pot on the table then paused.

"I think you need to let me go now, but I can hold you if you'd prefer," Katya offered.

"I'd like that," the rabbit murmured.

Katya lifted the rabbit under the arms then sat at the table with the rabbit in her lap. She gently wrapped her left arm across the rabbit's waist, using the other hand to pour the tea. They sat silently sipping their tea for a few minutes.

"After we're done, you're going to eat me," the rabbit stated calmly.

Katya hesitated a moment but then nodded, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, kitty. You've been very kind."

"I promise to make it quick," Katya added apologetically. "I hope it won't hurt too much."

"I'm sure you'll make it easy."

They sat a few minutes longer, Katya's stomach churning. She should have known it would be too hard after all this!

"I don't, I mean, I could let you go," Farida offered awkwardly.

"You don't need to do that."

"I mean I'd like to," Katya pressed. "I can always catch other prey. I know you too well now. I thought I could do it, but I can't."

"I don't want you to let me go."

"You mean you want to die! If you wanted to commit suicide, you should have just tripped or something!" Katya responded, upset.

"You don't understand. I don't want to die particularly. I want to be with you until the very end. The longer that is, the happier it would make me. I love you, Katya."

"You just met me! And I'm a cat!" Katya protested.

For the first time the rabbit sounded embarrassed, "I, um, I've actually been watching you for a while. I don't like other rabbits, only cats. I noticed you seemed kind, and you're so beautiful. So when I spotted you stalking me, I just couldn't help myself. I had to talk to you even if it only lasted a minute."

"You, you've been stalking me?" Katya asked disconcertedly.

"I'm sorry. Like I said, I only like cats. I knew I couldn't really be with one, but I liked to imagine, you know? So you see, you really should eat me. I'll just get myself killed by someone else, and they might not be as kind as you."

Maybe she should eat this rabbit after all. She was kind of a creep. On the other paw, Katya felt sorry for her. It must be hard having a feline fetish as a prey. "So I have to either kill you or keep you," Katya concluded.

"That sums it up. I'm ready. You must be hungry now."

"What if I'd rather keep you a while and see how much I like you? I can always eat you later if you won't try to get away."

"Are you serious?!" the rabbit gasped in joyful surprise. "You'd keep me!"

"I said I'd eat you if it doesn't work out," Katya replied amusedly.

"It will! I love you, Katya! I'll show you how much I do!"

"You understand I'll still have to eat other prey," Katya warned.

"I know, and I understand if one day it's me, even if you do like me. I don't expect you to starve for me, Katya."

Katya nuzzled the rabbit between the ears, "Well, lucky for you, I have some mice in the freezer. Not my favorite, but they'll do in a pinch. I'll catch something bigger tomorrow. We'll have to figure out how you're going to get food though."

"I could come out with you, and we'll meet before we come back home."

"That sounds dangerous," Katya replied concernedly.

"It's always dangerous being prey. For you, it's worth it. Could we stop by my burrow tomorrow and get my things?"

"You're not going to slip inside and stay there, are you?" Katya teased.

"Not as long as you're waiting outside. Besides, I'll show you a way you can get in too."

"Alright, tomorrow," Katya agreed.

Katya thawed the mice and had dinner. There was nothing for Farida to eat, but she said she'd had enough grass earlier. After dinner, they played cards together, and when it was time for bed, Farida followed Katya upstairs. Katya found her a fresh toothbrush, and they got ready for bed.

"Do you want me to get you some sheets for the couch?" Katya asked.

Farida blinked at her then looked away embarrassedly, "If you want to."

"I, um, I mean, we did just meet," Katya returned awkwardly.

"I understand."

"But I guess if you really want to-"

"Can I?!"

Katya nodded.

Farida let out a squeal of joy, "Oh thank you, Katya! I promise you won't regret it!"

Katya led Farida to the bedroom and climbed into bed. Farida scrambled in next to her and looked at her eagerly.

"We're just going to sleep," Katya stated embarrassedly.

"Alright." Farida quickly lay down on her back and shut her eyes. Katya lay next to her but, after a few minutes, opened her eyes again. She rolled over onto her side and pulled Farida in against her so that the doe's head was tucked under her chin with her nose to Katya's chest. Farida let out a joyful little sigh, and Katya shut her eyes again. Maybe she really would keep this rabbit forever.