FSE

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Jason stalked through the tall grass, listening, breathing the scents around him. His prey was nearby. Silently, he pushed forward, his stealthy movements barely rustling the grass. It could have been mistaken for a light breeze. His prey would never see him coming until it was too late.

Finally, Jason heard the sound of munching, his prey feeding on the very grass that hid him, that his prey thought hid it as well, but the grass couldn't hide it from Jason. Jason padded just a bit farther, and then he could see his prey's long white ears sticking up in the grass, swiveling to catch the slightest noise. But Jason didn't make any, and now he was within pouncing distance.

Jason crouched, and then he sprang. Flying over the grass, he stretched his claws wide to grab his prey. The rabbit's head shot up and her mouth opened in a squeal of terror, but it was too late. Jason had her. His arms wrapped around the rabbit, and she collapsed under his weight. He fell on top of her back, crushing her into the dirt, and reached his jaws for her neck to deliver the killing bite.

"J-Jason, stop! You got me! You're hurting me! Please!" she cried.

Jason jerked his head up to stare down at the rabbit in confusion, "How do you know my name?" he demanded.

"W-what do you mean? It's me, Ellie. W-we live together. We've been friends for years!" she whined.

Jason lowered his head, opening his jaws, "You're crazy, or you think I'm stupid. This is probably for the best. I'm sorry," he finished awkwardly. He wasn't used to chatting with his prey before he killed them. It was weird. He knew her name now, and it made him uncomfortable. There was something vaguely familiar about it and maybe her too, but what she'd said was absurd.

"W-wait! Please! I don't know what's going on, but something's wrong, Jason! Please wait! I-I'll try to prove it somehow. I love you! Don't let it end like this!" she cried.

Jason pushed himself up again, feeling even more uncomfortable. He'd had frantic or hysterical prey before but none who had told him they "loved" him. What if she does know me somehow? Could I have forgotten? Jason didn't remember the rabbit, but maybe it was possible they'd played together when they were young and innocent. It sometimes happened that young animals wandered away from home, and it was generally considered unethical to hunt young prey. They needed to grow up and produce more prey after all. Jason didn't remember it, but he didn't want to end up eating some forgotten childhood friend. She must know my name somehow. I'll find out how before I make any decision.

Jason grasped the rabbit's wrist tightly and stood, pulling her to her feet as well. She stared at him nervously as he examined her. There was something vaguely familiar about her, even her scent was familiar. Still, he couldn't place her.

"You said your name is Ellie?" he checked.

She nodded, "And you're Jason Brown. We know each other. Please try to remember, Jason."

Jason studied her, searching his memory, but he still only had a vague sense of familiarity. Bennett. The name appeared in his mind.

"That's right, Ellie Bennett."

Jason realized he'd spoken the name aloud, but he didn't think her affirmation meant much. She might have latched onto it even if it wasn't her name.

"I don't remember you," he stated.

The rabbit's ears drooped pitifully and tears began to glisten in her brown eyes.

"I-I'm not going to eat you yet!" Jason added quickly. "I don't know how you know my name, but I'm going to try to figure this out. If we've really met, I'll let you go."

The rabbit stepped closer to him until their fur was brushing. She stared up into his eyes sadly. Jason had to resist nervously stepping back. She was prey! He shouldn't be the nervous one!

"I know you're in there, Jason, my sweet kitty. I'll find a way to help you remember, just hold on," she murmured.

I'm the one who caught you. Jason didn't understand what this rabbit thought she could do to help him or why she would even want to. He started when her free arm wrapped around behind his back and she pressed herself close to him, hugging him as tightly as she could. Jason stood in stunned silence for a moment and then gently ran his free left hand over her laid-back ears and down her back. Rabbits had soft fur; he'd felt it many times. He'd never felt it while one was hugging him; none of his prey had ever done that.

"I'll take you home," Jason decided. "If you're telling the truth, I'll escort you back to your home later."

Jason led the rabbit through the meadow and then through the woods to the predator village. Unlike prey, who had to hide their homes, the carnivores built above ground and grouped together in multispecies communities. They agreed to hunt only prey and not each other, and so they lived in peace. Jason and the rabbit got some funny or even disapproving looks as he led her through town. Jason knew other predators probably thought he was going to do untoward or cruel things to her before he killed her, but he avoided their gazes and the desire to protest their judgement. He didn't know how to explain what he was actually doing. Besides, torturing prey wasn't illegal; like killing young prey, it was simply looked down upon.

Finally, Jason arrived at his two-story, white-sided abode. He led the rabbit in through the royal blue side door and locked it behind them. Inside the door, there was a small, cozy living room with with a big, brown armchair and a wrought iron wood stove. The embers had burned out whilst Jason had been hunting, but he would start it again when he had a chance. It was Fall, and it was getting chilly outside. Through the door on the far side there was a short hall leading to the stairs on the right, and across the hall was the butcher room and beyond that the kitchen and dining area. Jason had a large freezer stocked with meat, as he was storing up for the winter when both prey and predators tried to avoid venturing outside. He would be alright missing this one day of hunting, but it might mean some leaner days toward the end of winter. If she's lying, I can still slaughter her, he told himself; although, he wondered if he really would be able to after spending this much time with her. Jason's friends teased him about being soft, and it wasn't necessarily untrue. He knew what he had to do, but he still felt bad about killing prey sometimes. He always tried to make it quick.

"This is your house, huh?" the rabbit asked quietly.

"Yeah."

"It's different. Nothing is like I remember except you. I don't understand," she murmured sadly.

Jason didn't understand either, but he felt bad for her. Maybe she was insane and had merely overheard his name somehow. He didn't know when this could have been, but it was the best explanation he could come up with.

"We'll figure this out," Jason reassured. He wasn't sure why, but he needed to comfort her. "If you're just crazy or misremembering or something, I'll, um," he meant to finish that he'd kill her quickly, but he couldn't. "I'll figure something out," he finished lamely.

He led her over to the chair and let go of her wrist; she didn't try to dash away as he thought she might. He stared at her conflictedly a moment.

"I don't know what to do with you," he admitted. "Should I tie you up? Do you need anything?"

She shook her head, "I won't try to get away. I'm not going to give up on you, Jason. I'll make you remember, and we'll figure out what's going on together." She smiled warmly, "It's a new case, a new mystery. We'll figure it out like we always do."

Jason didn't know what she was talking about, but he couldn't resist smiling back. He liked her. She was scared, but she was determined. He found he believed she wouldn't run away.

"If you need a glass of water, the kitchen is through that door and through the next room across the hall, and the bathroom is up the stairs and to the left," he told her.

He left her standing by the armchair and got more kindling and logs from the bin, and soon he had a fire going in the black, rectangular wood stove. The flames cast an orangey glow across the stone wood floor from the limestone pallet where it stood. He turned around, still couching by the stove, to see the rabbit watching him intently, and he flushed with embarrassment.

"I know my memories are real, Jason," she murmured. "Whatever's changed, I know I can make you remember. I love you."

Butterflies fluttered in Jason's belly, and he turned back toward the stove. She'd told him she loved him again, and for some reason, that had tickled something inside him, feelings or at least memories of them. He wished he knew what they were. He felt a hand on his left shoulder, and turned his head to see the rabbit crouching behind him and to the left.

"Don't you remember that, Jason? Our feelings for each other. I love you, and you love me. Try to remember that."

Jason looked away embarrassedly. He felt hot and bothered by her hand on his shoulder. He'd never felt sexual urges toward prey, but now he felt something like that. His heart pumped fast; he did feel something for her, something powerful but buried. Maybe it was love, but how had he forgotten? He didn't understand.

"I'll take you home tomorrow morning," he murmured. "I don't remember, but I feel I know you somehow. Maybe we met when we were small, and maybe we said things I don't recall. A cat and a rabbit can't be together; I'm sorry."

Her little hand squeezed his shoulder, "We can! I don't want to leave! I don't even know where my home is in this world! Let me stay, Jason! I can't stop loving you, even if you don't remember me. We'll fall in love again!"

Jason turned his head to look at her uncomfortably, "I eat prey, Ellie. Even if I wouldn't eat you, how could you live with someone who eats people like you? How could you love me?"

Her face twisted in distress, and tears began to drip down her cheeks again, "I-I don't know! Everything's wrong, but I still love you! Please don't take this away from me too, Jason! If, if you have to eat prey then, then I, I'll," her voice trailed off, and she paused. After a moment, she shook her head vigorously, "If you have to eat prey, then I'll get used to it! I can't lose you too!"

"Did we really love each other?" Jason murmured embarrassedly.

"So much, Jason! I still love you! Please don't make me leave!"

"I, uh, I guess if you don't have anywhere to go, then you can stay," he mumbled.

Part of him wanted this uncomfortable issue to be over, but a bigger part couldn't deny the strong feelings awakening in him for this rabbit he'd only just met. Maybe she was right, and he'd forgotten somehow. Will I fall in love with her, and what will that mean? He'd certainly have to hide his relationship with the rabbit. Some rich predators kept prey as pets, and while Jason wasn't wealthy, he could pretend she was his pet. He certainly couldn't let people know he was in love with a rabbit if that's what this was. He wanted to deny it, but he felt more and more certain that she was special to him somehow.

Jason stood, and she stood too. He turned to face her, "I, um, I have to make dinner in a bit. I have some carrots, but not much else you can eat. I'll get more for you tomorrow while I'm out hunting. You'll have to stay in here and hide if anyone comes to the door, understand?"

She nodded, "I understand, Jason, thank you."

"Is there anything you need?" he asked again awkwardly. He really didn't know what to say to a rabbit, especially when his emotions were swirling like they were. He was so confused.

"Would you hold me?" she asked softly. "We could sit in the chair together and you could hold me. Maybe you'd remember then."

Jason's heart leapt into his throat, and he didn't know how to respond for a second. "Y-you want me to, uh, to?"

"Please, Jason. I want to be in your arms. I don't know what's happening, but I want to feel things will be alright."

Jason wanted to comfort her; he knew that much. He nodded, "Okay."

"Sit down, and I'll sit in your lap," she instructed.

Obediently, Jason sat in the soft recliner. The rabbit climbed up and turned around to sit in his lap, her soft rear on his thighs and her scut pressed against his belly. She leaned back against his chest and lifting one of his arms and then the other from the armrests, wrapped them across her lap. The top of her head and her long ears brushed his cheek, and her scent like sun-warmed marjoram filled his nose. She was pressed so close to him, her body flush with his, and yet she was so calm. Prey were always scared. Even she had been scared, but now she wasn't. It was strange, and yet it filled him with happiness. Gently, Jason hugged the rabbit to him, feeling her body secure in his arms, and she sighed contentedly and turned to nuzzle his neck.

"I want to keep you, Ellie," he murmured. "I don't remember what you do, but this feels right. I can keep you as my pet; people won't question that. If you belong to me, you'll be safe here."

"I don't want to be just a pet, Jason," she returned softly. "We're a couple, partners."

"I understand, but other predators wouldn't. You'll have to at least pretend to be my pet."

"As long as it's pretend," she agreed. "Only for when other predators are around."

Jason didn't disagree, but part of him felt funny about agreeing a prey would be his equal. He felt the need to point out this absurdity even if he could get used to it. "You are a rabbit," he noted. "And I caught you. I'm okay with trying to be equal, but what would you really do if I wasn't? You're more or less my prisoner. You'd be killed by another predator if you tried to escape. No matter how equal we feel, it will always be a reality that you're alive because I'm protecting you. That's inherently imbalanced."

"It's an imbalance predators created," she rejoined irritatedly. "I love you, Jason, but you're going to get it if you try to lord something like that over me."

Jason looked at the rabbit in amusement. She was only a third his size and more importantly prey. He'd been about to eat her only an hour ago.

"You have a lot of attitude for a rabbit who got caught by a cat an hour ago," he teased.

"Maybe I caught you," she returned heatedly. "I've moved into your house and made you my servant. How about that?"

Jason grinned and booped her nose with his right index finger, "Is that what happened? It sounds like your memory is different again. Suppose I decide you're too much trouble waiting on and have a bunny dinner after all."

"Empty threats!" she pronounced. "You like me to boss you around. I don't suspect that's changed either. You're the same you; it's the world that's different."

Jason didn't want to admit it to the rabbit, but he was already enjoying her dominant attitude. Maybe she had moved into his house and made him her servant. The idea tickled him in all the right ways. "So you're my pet when others are here, and I'm yours the rest of the time, huh?" he jested. "What happened to being equal?"

"We're equal in theory," Ellie returned slipperily. "I'm not forcing you to obey me; I just know that you will."

"Well, if you know it, then who am I to argue. I bow to your will, my bunny overlord," he teased

"Good," she returned satisfiedly. She lifted a hand and stroked his cheek, "You're a good kitty, Jason. I'm sorry this has happened to you. I know you must hate it."

"'Hate it?' Hate what?"

"Having to kill prey. Murdering us. You're a sweet kitty; I know you don't want to do that."

"I have to eat," he replied awkwardly. "And I'm an obligate carnivore. Do you remember me eating vegetables?"

Ellie shook her head, "Before, they grew meat in vats, no prey required. Everyone lived together in peace, more or less. There were conflicts, but mostly, we lived in harmony."

"That sounds nice, Ellie," Jason murmured. "I wish the world you remember were the one we were in."

"Maybe it will change back," she replied hopefully. "For now, we'll be happy together like this. I know you can't help what you are, but who you are is more important to me."

Jason nuzzled her between the ears. Her memories sounded fantastical, but whether they were real or not, this rabbit accepted him. However strange it was for him to feel this way about prey or for her to love a predator, their feeling for each other were what really mattered. Jason might not have caught dinner today, but he'd gotten his paws on something much more valuable.