Species Swap-Rita

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In this non-canon short story, the villainous Duchess is mysteriously turned into a rabbit whilst Ellie becomes an arctic fox. Jason prevents anything too terrible from happening to the now helpless murderess.


Ellie scowled at the vixen as she carried her upstairs. She didn't bother complaining about being carried again as being held by the murderous vixen was becoming a frequent intrusion. She supposed she should try to tolerate it until they could get away, but it wasn't easy being treated like a toy. The vixen took her into her bedroom and set her down.

"What was the station you listen to, Ellie?"

"Eighty-eight point nine."

The vixen nodded. She clicked on a walnut finished radio on top of the long dresser and tuned it to the jazz station, pausing to listen to the lively instrumental music a few moments. "Very nice," she commented. "Now, let's sit together and have a little discussion." She sat down on the thick maroon carpet, leaning against the pale pink blankets of the foot of the bed and patted the floor next to her.

Ellie sighed annoyedly and stepped over to crouch next to her, "What is it this time? You want to gloat?"

"About what, Ellie?" the vixen asked innocently though Ellie was certain she knew exactly what she meant. "I only wanted to discuss your place here, how I can help you adjust to your new life. As I'm sure you can see now, your friend is adjusting quite well. Is there something you need to make you more comfortable?"

"For you to turn yourself in," Ellie stated dryly.

"Let's not get into that again. You get along so well with your feline friend. Is there something I should do to make you more comfortable with me as a predator?"

"Seriously?" Ellie asked incredulously. "I assumed you were going out of your way to do the opposite."

"I have been having some fun teasing you, but I don't want you to feel you're in any real danger from me."

"What about when you told Jason you'd make him watch while you killed me?"

"Well, yes, but that is only if he misbehaves terribly. I don't think you need to worry about that."

Ellie wished it weren't the case, but she had to conclude the vixen was correct: barring hurting her, Jason could be relied on to do what the vixen wanted. "You could leave me alone," Ellie suggested grumpily, knowing already that this wouldn't be an option.

"I wouldn't be a very good host if I simply ignored you. Besides, if I can't have any fun with you, then you might as well live with Boots."

The vixen said this all lightly, but Ellie knew it was a threat. It might not be a good idea to keep giving answers she knew the vixen would reject lest she make the capricious fox angry.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your mouth off of me, and you could keep the 'jokes' about eating me to a minimum."

"I'll try," the vixen allowed.

"I don't suppose you'd stop picking me up," Ellie stated dryly.

The vixen shook her head, "I like to hold you."

"Could you at least tell me when you are going to?"

"I'll do my best with that. Anything else?"

Ellie couldn't think of anything else the vixen was likely to agree to. She was surprised she'd agreed to any of her requests as it was. She thought the point was to torment her as much as possible. At least not having fangs at her throat or being snatched up without warning would be an improvement. She shook her head.

The vixen smiled warmly, "I'm glad there was something I could do." She stood. "I'm going to pick you up now," she noted.

Ellie braced herself, and the vixen scooped her up and then hopped up on the bed, sitting with Ellie across her lap. She tucked Ellie up between her arms, which was rather undignified as Ellie ended up with her rear in the air.

The vixen looked down at her with gentle amusement, "Like I told your friend, there's something satisfying about having prey in your claws, but also, you are a cute little thing. If you were more accepting of my affection, I'd like to cuddle you. Your friend doesn't mind cuddling."

Ellie was happy to let Jason bear the brunt of the murderous vixen's 'cuddling'.

"Maybe you're a little shy to admit you like it," the vixen suggested. "Most people find foxes alluring. I won't tell your friend you like it if you do."

Ellie neither found foxes 'alluring' nor liked being handled by the vixen. She was going to tell the vixen as much, but then she remembered what Jason had said about trying to flatter the fox. "I, I do, Your Grace. I've been having trouble admitting it to myself because of what you do, but I do like it when you show me affection. Like you said, there's something alluring about foxes, something, um, mysterious."

Ellie's lie seemed to please the vixen immensely. She beamed down at her before pulling her up into a sitting position and hugging her tight.

"Now I understand why you've been so recalcitrant," the vixen crooned. "You've been trying to deny to yourself that you actually like being my toy. Let's not have any more of that silliness. We'll have a wonderful time together!"

Ellie wasn't sure the lie had been a good idea after all. She may have just condemned herself to more unwanted contact with the fox. She seemed happy, but again, that wasn't necessarily a good thing. Cutting people up made her happy. The vixen lay down with Ellie on top of her and turned onto her side, curling herself around Ellie and holding her close. She tucked her bushy tail up in front of Ellie, the end sticking in Ellie's face. Ellie would have pulled her head back, but it was already pressed to the vixen's chest. The vixen waved her tail, and the long fur tickled Ellie's nose. The vixen snickered softly.

"Cozy now, are we?"

Ellie could either admit she'd told a bald-faced lie in an attempt to manipulate the vixen, or she could accept the outcome of the vixen believing she found her mysterious and alluring. Somehow, she didn't think admitting she'd lied would turn out well for her. The vixen had been quite pleased to think Ellie liked her affection; might she not be enraged to now be told the opposite? "I am, Your Grace," Ellie murmured.

"Why don't you take a little nap? You're safe with me, your vulpine owner. I'll keep my bunny toy warm and secure."

Ellie had to fight against the urge to struggle at the thought of being wrapped by the vixen's body for who knew how long. Hours? There was no way she could sleep pressed against the vicious fox, her sickly musk all around her. The vixen sighed and squeezed Ellie tighter. Ellie held motionless, trying to think of what to say to convince the vixen to spend her afternoon some other way, but before she could think of a good excuse for getting up, she noticed the vixen's gentle rhythmic breathing. Shit, she's already asleep! This might have been a good time to try to escape, but the vixen was still holding her tightly. If she tried to get away, her struggling would undoubtedly waken the vixen, and then she'd have to explain why she'd been trying to get away. Escape wasn't an option. Ellie shifted slightly, and the vixen squeezed her tighter: it was getting uncomfortable. Ellie tried to hold perfectly still, hoping the vixen wouldn't have a dream about strangling someone, or otherwise mauling them. She listened to the still softly playing music, trying to take her mind off of her present predicament.

Ellie stretched out as she woke. She had eventually fallen asleep, unable to move and wrapped in the vixen's--she was reluctant to admit it--soothing body warmth. She could still feel the vixen pressed against her back, but at least she wasn't wrapped around her. Was she awake? Maybe this was an opportune time to slip away. Ellie carefully looked around behind her. A strangely colored, auburn rabbit was lying with her belly pressed to Ellie's back, her arms and legs attempting to wrap around Ellie's much larger body. Huh? Ellie's eyes scanned down her own body to, to a bushy white tail. She quickly held up her hand: sharp retractable claws? She peered down her nose and let out a little yelp at her long snout. Ellie shot up and looked in the mirror attached to the dresser: an arctic fox sat next to the auburn rabbit. Ellie raised her right hand, and the fox raised her left.

"Mmm, did you have a pleasant nap, Dear?" the rabbit murmured sleepily.

Ellie looked down at the rabbit, "Your Grace?" Ellie asked.

"Yes, Ellie?" The rabbit's eyes cracked open and then shot wide as she spotted the fox. "What?! Who are you? Ellie! Where's Ellie?! If you harmed her, I'll-"

"I'm touched, you're so concerned about me," Ellie cut in dryly. "Maybe you should be more worried about yourself."

"Huh?" The rabbit looked baffled.

Ellie turned over and grasped the rabbit's wrists. With ease, she pushed the rabbit's arms up on either side of her head, and shifted herself to loom over top of her. The rabbit struggled to get away.

"Let me go! Don't you know who I am?! Wolfgang and Johann with teach you a lesson for such impudence!" she reprimanded.

"I know exactly who you are, Your Grace. Do you know what you are?" Ellie taunted.

"What are you babbling about?!" she snapped.

Ellie sat up lifting the rabbit under the arms with her and held her up so that she could see herself in the mirror over Ellie's shoulder.

"Wha? I-I, I'm a, a-"

Ellie held her in front of her face and grinned, showing off her new dagger-like fangs, "A helpless little bunny. And look who's caught you."

The rabbit stared at her in horror, "N-no, please don't hurt me. Whoever you are, I'll pay. I'll make it worth your while."

"Who I am? Haven't you figured that out yet?" Ellie taunted. "Don't you remember who you took a nap with?"

The rabbit's wide amber eyes bulged in realization, "E-Ellie?!"

"That's right. Who's the toy now?" Ellie lay the rabbit back on the bed and again pushed her arms above her head. Leaning down she sniffed the rabbit's head. "Mmm, I guess we really do smell tasty when you're a fox. Maybe I ought to have a taste."

"No! I-I didn't hurt you, Ellie! I was trying to make you happy here!" she cried.

"You tried to make Jason eat me!" Ellie reminded harshly. She pressed her muzzle against the rabbit's neck and opened her mouth just a little to gently nip at her skin.

The rabbit cried out in fear. Ellie let out a growl of pleasure. She could smell her prey's fear, and it excited her. She could devour the rabbit, and there was no way she could stop her. Ellie opened her jaws wide to clamp them around the rabbit's throat, squeezing her fangs against the rabbit's skin, not hard enough to break the skin but plenty hard to hurt.

The rabbit sobbed. "P-please, Ellie," she whimpered. "Don't hurt me. I'm sorry for what I did. I care for you now. I-I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

Ellie let go and sat up, placing one hand on the rabbit's chest to keep her down. "I suppose I could let you live. Death might be too easy a punishment after all you've done. How would you like to be my slave?"

"S-slave?" she whined.

"That's right. Jason might like to do the housework, but I think he'd accept it if our bunny slave handled it, especially considering who she was."

"A-alright, Ellie, just please don't hurt me," she whined.

"And I'm sure we'll find other uses for you," Ellie added matter-of-factly. "Who knows? But I image we can make a helpless bunny toy do, well, just about anything."

The bunny whimpered.

Ellie picked her up and squeezed her tight to her chest, relishing the feeling of being able to crush the Duchess in her powerful arms. The rabbit whimpered.

"Shh, it's alright, Your Grace. We'll take good care of you," Ellie taunted. She held her away from her. "Although, I don't think a slave ought to go by a title like that. What did you say your name was?"

"R-Rita."

"Rita," Ellie repeated. "Do you like being a bunny so far, Rita?"

Rita shook her head.

"No?! I thought it was alright! It wasn't always easy when unscrupulous predators thought they could take advantage of you, but I'm sure you'll get used to that."

Ellie turned the rabbit around and sat her on her lap. Holding her around the waist with her left arm, she brought her right hand up to gently squeeze the rabbit's neck. The rabbit whimpered.

"Shh, don't worry bunny. I wouldn't want to break my new toy, would I?"

"I-I'm sorry, Ellie! I shouldn't have treated you like I did!"

"It's too late for that revelation now. I'm going to enjoy letting you know what it was like. You'll have your whole life to get used to it, so I'm sure you'll begin to enjoy it eventually."

The rabbit sobbed.

Ellie nuzzled her between the ears. "I can always eat you if you'd prefer," she stated mildly. "Maybe you'd like it in this warm belly." She took Rita's right hand with her left and pressed it to her own belly.

"N-no, I'll do what you say!"

"Good bunny. I can tell you're going to be a very obedient toy," Ellie teased.

"Y-yes, Ellie!"

Ellie reached her teeth around the rabbit's ear and gently gnawed it. The rabbit moaned and trembled in fear, but Ellie ignored her. She liked the feeling of her flesh between her jaws. She had to resist biting down to rip the ear off, to begin to devour the terrified prey. It would serve her right, but it would be too quick. The vixen turned rabbit deserved to suffer a long time, and Ellie was going to make sure she did just that.

Ellie let go of the ear but continued to hold Rita with her hand around her throat. Every so often, she squeezed, digging in her claws, which caused the rabbit to whimper. After several minutes of this torment, Ellie pushed the rabbit off her lap and hopped off the bed. She opened the middle drawer of the dresser to retrieve the metal collar and leash.

"Come here, Rita."

Rita fearfully slunk off the bed to stand in front of Ellie. Ellie fixed the ring around her neck. Taking up the leash, she took a few steps back and then drew the rabbit in.

"Now you really can't get away from me," she mocked.

The rabbit sobbed.

"Shh, don't be sad. Jason and I will take good care of you. If it were only me, you might have cause for fear, but Jason's far too kind to let anything bad happen to you. As long as you obey, you'll have all you need. So cheer up. Give me a little smile."

To Ellie's amusement, the rabbit forced a smile. Ellie stroked her head, and smiled down at her.

"That's better," Ellie crooned. "You'll be a good little toy, and we'll show you the mercy you don't really deserve."

The rabbit threw her arms around Ellie's waist, hugging her tight. "Th-thank you, Ellie. I know I've tormented you, tried to hurt you, but I know, I know you'll be better than that. Even though I was cruel, you're too kind to hurt me."

Ellie hugged her back, "As long as you obey, you don't need to be afraid, but disobey and you'll regret it a long time," she warned.

The rabbit pressed her head against Ellie's chest, "I won't disobey; I'll be good. Please treat me kindly, Ellie."

"The first thing you can do is show me where you've stashed all of our things: my tablet, bag, and gun; Jason's phone; all of it."

The rabbit broke away, "I'll show you, Ellie."

The rabbit led her to another bedroom and retrieved the things from a padlocked maple trunk at the foot of the bed. She handed them to Ellie.

"Thanks. Now we go find Jason and head to the car." She frowned. "I might be too big for my car now."

"C-can't we stay here? You're welcome to my home, Ellie. Think of it as your home if you like."

"Here with all your cronies? You think I'm an idiot? Just because you're a rabbit doesn't mean you won't have the upper hand with all of them around. Show me the keys for your car."

Reluctantly, the rabbit found the other set of keys in her bedroom dresser and gave them to Ellie. Ellie slipped them into her purse and withdrew her gun. She checked the clip to see that it was loaded, ejected the bullet from the chamber to put it back into the clip, snapped the clip in place, and cocked the gun. She put it to the rabbit's head.

"E-Ellie?!" she cried in fear.

"Hush, it's only a precaution. Lead the way to Jason."

The rabbit led her down to the living room. Jason was reading on the couch while Edgar was napping on the other end. Jason turned to look at them, and his sea green eyes shot wide.

"Who are you two?! What are you doing to her?! Let her go!"

"It's me, Jason, Ellie," Ellie answered quickly. "This is Her Grace. Come on, we're leaving."

Edgar had been awoken by Jason's yowl, and he gasped, "Your Grace?! Wha-how?"

"I don't know, and neither does she," Ellie stated. "It doesn't matter. We're getting out of here."

"Prove to me you're Ellie!" Jason demanded.

"Ask me something only I would know."

"What was the last movie we watched?"

"Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom."

"At your house!"

"The Thing."

"Ha! Ellie lives in an apartment!"

Ellie rubbed her nose. "You brought your DVD player, but we used mine. And then you forgot it, and I had to bring it to you at work the next day."

Jason frowned, "Ellie? Is it really you?"

"Yes. Look, I know it's strange, but we have to go."

Jason got up, and Ellie pulled Rita toward the front door.

"Wait! Take me too!" Edgar yelped.

Ellie turned to regard him cautiously. Could they trust him? Would he help the Duchess escape? "What makes you think I trust you? You're her toady. You'll help her escape justice."

"W-what are you going to do to her?"

"She made us her toys; now she's ours," Ellie stated matter-of-factly.

"Y-you aren't going to hurt her, are you?" Edgar whined.

"Not as long as she behaves."

Edgar nodded, "I won't help her escape, I promise."

"Swear it. Make me believe you."

"I-I swear it on, on my love for Her Grace. I want us to be a family. I'll make sure she behaves as she should."

Ellie nodded, "Alright, you can come."

Edgar scrambled off of the couch, and they all headed for the door. No one stopped them, as they stepped through the wooden portal, and Rita looked back desperately as Ellie led her toward the garage. In the garage, Ellie unlocked the black sedan and shoved the rabbit into the back seat.

"You watch her, Jason," she instructed.

"C-can I do it?" Edgar asked.

"No, sit in the front."

Edgar looked disappointed, but he got in the front passenger's seat. Jason climbed in after Rita and gently took her arm. Ellie handed him the leash and shut the door. She got into the driver's seat, started the car, and pulled out of the garage. Ellie slowly headed around the cul-de-sac and then sped up as she reached the straight part of the drive. She peered in the rearview mirror to see Rita turned to look out the back, watching her home disappear behind them. She let out a sob as it disappeared behind the trees and sat back down, looking at the floor.

"You're really Her Grace?" Jason inquired.

The rabbit nodded. "You can call me Rita now. Slaves don't have titles."

"Slaves?!" Jason yelped. "You're not a slave!"

"That's what Ellie said."

"Er, well, maybe you're just our guest who, uh, what were you going to do to her, Ellie?"

"Whatever I want, but nothing too painful so long as she obeys," Ellie told him.

"O-okay." Ellie peered back in the mirror again to see Jason stroking the rabbit's head, attempting to comfort her. "I'm sure you'll be alright. Ellie isn't mean. She gets angry sometimes, but she wouldn't hurt anyone who's helpless to fight back. She's not a bully."

"Don't forget who you're talking to, Jason. She tried to make you eat me!"

"I-I know, but she seems so helpless now. And she's afraid; I don't want her to be scared."

Ellie sighed. A little fear was nothing that the murderous Duchess didn't deserve, but she'd know from the start that Jason wouldn't see it that way. He was frustratingly kind sometimes.

"Th-thank you, Jason. I know what I did to you was terrible. I wish I could make it right somehow," Rita murmured.

"That's what you're doing. You're making it right by spending the rest of your life as our servant and toy," Ellie told her harshly.

The rabbit whimpered.

"It's okay," Jason whispered.

Ellie peeked back in the mirror to see him hugging her gently. She grunted her displeasure. She'd have to make sure the Duchess didn't get off too easy. If she left it all up to Jason, he'd probably be tending to her every whim rather than making her make amends. I'll make sure she's punished even if I'm the only one who does. Ellie smiled as they merged onto the freeway, heading back toward Maplesburg. They'd gotten away! And better yet, they were bringing the murderer to justice! Maybe it wasn't proper justice--she ought to be hanged--but it was justice nonetheless. She glanced back at the auburn rabbit again. The fun had only just begun.

* * *

Rita stared at the small two-story house as they pulled into the driveway. She didn't resist as Jason led her to the side door and inside. She looked around the at the wood floor, blue futon, tv stand, stairs, and kitchen area beyond. This small domicile might be her prison for the rest of her days. She looked behind her at the outside, and sobbed as Edgar closed the door behind him. She was trapped, trapped with these three larger predators, trapped in this helpless body. The arctic fox, Ellie, rummaged around in her bag before withdrawing a key. She stepped up to Rita who had to resist flinching away as the enormous fox approached. Rita stood still as Ellie unlocked the collar.

"I don't think you need that with three of us to watch you," Ellie commented. "Try to get away though, and I'll buy you a cage."

"I-I'll be good, Ellie," Rita whined nervously.

Ellie put the leash in the front closet and walked back over to Rita, snatching her up. Rita's heart leapt and she gave a squeak of fear at the sudden capture. Ellie grinned down at her, her white fangs glistening, as she held Rita across her arms.

"Welcome home, bunny!" she teased. "I'm sure you'll learn to love it here!"

"Can I hold her, Ellie?" Edgar inquired.

Ellie smirked, "Why not? She's your toy too, now."

She handed her to Edgar, who wasn't even twice her weight. He was obliged to quickly sit on the futon, but he continued to hold her on her back on his lap.

"Put me down, Edgar!" Rita reprimanded.

Edgar pulled her up into a sitting position and hugged her tight, "Don't worry, Your Grace. I'll take care of you. I love you more than anything."

Rita struggled to get away.

"Hold still, toy!" Ellie commanded. "You're to do whatever Edgar wants, understood? Or I'll make you wish you had."

Rita held still only to begin trembling as she felt the pine marten caressing her leg. What would Edgar make her do?!

"Don't worry, Your Grace," Edgar murmured. "I won't do anything to hurt you. We can, we can still, you know. I don't mind that you're a rabbit now."

Sex wasn't one of Rita's top priorities at the moment, and she felt uncomfortable about how vulnerable she'd be in bed with the carnivore.

Ellie snorted in amusement. "Seems things won't be all bad, eh, Your Grace. You got to keep your fucktoy though maybe you're the fucktoy now."

"I would never treat Her Grace like that!" Edgar shot back. "I love her! I'll do anything to please her!"

"For the moment, it would please me if you put me down," Rita told him.

"O-okay." Edgar let her go, and she slipped off of his lap and onto the floor.

Ellie caught her and hugged her tightly, too tightly, crushing Rita against her larger, more powerful body. Rita tried not to whimper. She didn't want to keep giving the fox the satisfaction of knowing she hurt her. Ellie squeezed her harder, and she couldn't stop herself from crying out in pain.

"Good bunny," Ellie crooned mockingly. She loosened her hold but brought one hand up to hold Rita's head to her chest. "Shh, that's my little morsel. I'm getting hungry. I'm looking forward to trying meat for the first time. Are you looking forward to your grass?"

Rita didn't think that sounded appetizing at all.

"If you're very good, I might let you have something else after a few days," Ellie told her. "But grass is good for bunnies. You have to eat lots of fiber for your digestion, and I'll help you recognize your caecotrophs. You'll have to get used to eating those too."

Rita felt queasy at the thought of having to eat her own poop, but she was a rabbit now. She didn't have a choice.

Ellie let her go, and she stumbled back. Jason caught her gently by the arms.

"Careful, you almost went for a tumble. Are you still getting used to your new feet? I always wondered how hard it was to walk with those."

"It's not," Ellie stated dryly.

Rita looked up at the cat. It was easy now that her eyes were on the sides of her head; she only needed to tilt her head to the side slightly. Jason smiled down at her reassuringly.

"Everything's okay," he soothed. "We won't hurt you." He stroked her head.

Rita whipped around and hugged him tight; he seemed taken by surprise, starting slightly, but then he hugged her back gently.

"You don't need to make her that comfortable," Ellie grumbled. "She's still a murderer."

"She's just a little bunny now," Jason returned. "She isn't going to hurt anyone anymore."

"She could still stab you easily enough," Ellie pointed out. "Give her here."

"I think you've done enough to her for today, Ellie," Jason scolded.

Ellie growled, "Don't forget I'm bigger than you too now, Jason! And I have sharp fangs and claws! If you want to fight over her, we'll see who wins."

"I don't want to fight you, Ellie!" he yelped.

"Then hand her over!"

"I'm sorry," he murmured. He gently turned Rita around and nudged her toward Ellie.

Ellie caught her and pulled her in again. Rita whimpered, waiting to be crushed in her arms, but Ellie didn't wrap her arms around her.

"Well? Where's my hug?" Ellie rebuked. "I seem to recall letting you live when I could have devoured you before you even knew what was going on."

Rita quickly wrapped her arms around the fox and squeezed her tight. Ellie hugged her back but not too hard this time.

"Th-thank you, Ellie! You've been more merciful than I deserve," Rita whined fervently.

Ellie stroked her head and back, "That's right, much more than you deserve. And you're going to show your gratitude, aren't you?"

"Yes, Ellie!" Rita pressed her nose into Ellie's soft chest fur and breathed the scent of her vulpine owner. She had to obey, to show her gratitude, to love her owner so that she'd love her too. She nuzzled Ellie's chest, and Ellie sighed in satisfaction.

"Why don't you make us dinner, Jason?" Ellie requested. "Like I said, I'm anxious to try meat for the first time. Edgar, go out in the yard and pick Rita a bowl of grass."

"Yes, Ellie!" Edgar squeaked obediently.

"I hope you'll like it now," Jason replied worriedly. "It wouldn't be good if you didn't."

"I assume my tastes have changed. Rita here smells delicious."

Rita tensed at the reminder that she was the perfect meal for Ellie now.

"Shh, don't worry. I won't eat you unless there's no other choice," Ellie soothed. It wasn't a very soothing promise.

Ellie let Rita go, took her tablet from her bag on the tv stand, and plopped down onto the couch. She pulled her feet up and sat back to begin reading.

"Do you want to come with me?" Jason asked Rita. "I don't know whether meat will smell bad to you now, but you can join me until the smell gets to you."

Rita looked to him and then to Ellie. She climbed up onto the futon. Jason shrugged and proceeded to the kitchen. Rita lay her head in Ellie's lap and pressed her nose into her belly. Ellie stopped reading to look down.

"That's a good bunny. You want to be my little pet, do you?"

Rita nodded. She nuzzled her nose deeper into Ellie's fur.

"Do you want me to read to you? I'm reading Lovecraft. You said you like horror right."

"Yes, please, Ellie," she murmured.

Ellie began to read aloud and Rita closed her eyes. She could feel the vixen's diaphragm rise and fall with her breaths, and the rhythmic motion combined with her pleasant voice slowly lulled Rita to sleep. It wouldn't be so bad being these three's pet. They were kind and good. Even the fierce Ellie would treat her kindly if she obeyed. As Rita drifted to sleep, she felt strangely content. Despite her captivity, she felt calm; she felt safe. In this sense of security, she drifted into peaceful slumber.

* * *

Rita was lying with her head and shoulders in Ellie's lap and her lower half in Jason's. At the far end on the futon, Edgar sat by her feet. She looked up at the vixen, and she grinned down toothily.

"Ready for your punishment?" Ellie growled.

Rita squirmed, but Ellie and Jason held her firmly. Ellie grabbed her hands in one of her much larger hands and pushed them down onto Rita's chest. Rita kicked, and Edgar took hold of her legs, pulling them out taut. Ellie wiggled the sharp-clawed fingers on her free hand, and then plunged it into Rita's belly.

"Eek, n-no!"

Elie wriggled her fingers, tickling Rita mercilessly.

"Eeheeheeheehee, eeheeheehee, s-stop! Eeheeheeheeheehee!" Rita giggled uncontrolablly.

Ellie didn't stop, and Edgar began to tickle her feet as well. Rita twisted and strained against the powerful predators' hold but to no avail. The tickling continued, and tears streamed down Rita's face.

"I-I, eeheeheehee, I'm going to pee! Eeheeheehee!"

Edgar stopped, but Ellie redoubled her efforts.

"You're going to pee, eh?" she taunted.

Rita's belly spasming at the irresistibly elating assault, she felt her bladder squeeze in protest, and a small amount of pee squirted out of her. Edgar yelped.

Ellie stopped tickling and giggled herself, "Heeheehee, oops, I guess you were going to pee."

"It got on me!" Edgar protested.

"I assumed you were used to her fluids," Ellie teased.

Edgar muttered something indecipherable under his breath. Ellie looked down amusedly at Rita, and Rita stretched up her, now free, arms. Taking her cue, Ellie picked her up under the shoulders and held her in front of her face. Rita reached her head forward to touch her nose to the fox's. Ellie brought her close to press their noses together, and Rita reached around behind Ellie's triangular ears to hold her close. They held each others' gazes affectionately for a few seconds. Then Ellie lowered Rita and hugged her close, snuggling Rita's head under her jaw. Rita nuzzled her neck and sighed in happy pleasure. Ellie lowered her down to lie on her lap again, tucking Rita up between her arms.

"Who would have thought you'd make such a nice little pet?" Ellie teased.

Rita turned her head to nuzzle the vixen's belly, "I have the kindest, most merciful owners in the whole world," she murmured. "I'm grateful everyday for how you've treated me. You could have tormented me, made my life Tartarus like I did yours, but you've treated me more kindly than I could ever deserve."

"Tormenting you would have gotten dull after a few months. We're going on two years now, and this is as gratifying as it ever was. Knowing that you've accepted your life as our pet and that we have you forever is better than seeing you suffer a few months before you'd probably die from the stress."

"I'm happy you be your pet, Ellie. I don't deserve this kindness, but I know you'll always treat me like this."

Ellie stroked Rita's head, and Jason reached over to rub Rita's belly. She sighed contentedly. In the beginning, she'd been afraid of these much larger predators and what they could do to her weak rabbit body. Now she felt perfectly at ease with their caresses, with being held tight in their arms. They were her kind owners, but also, they were her family. She had nothing to fear from them because she loved them, and in their own way, they also loved her.