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__________________________________ Lagomorphs Copyright © July, 2015, FurryWurry All rights reserved

Chapter 13 -- Cousins __________________________________

But it didn't happen. No sooner had he stretched out than someone was scratching at the main entry.

"Can we come in?" It was Sky, with three others behind him. One was Cloudy.

"Of course!" He sat up and waved them to sit beside him. "Please, join me." He felt a little uncomfortable in just his briefs, but it was too late to put on more. And the Rabs were wearing only breechclouts, after all.

"Thanks. This used to be Jumper's snug." Cloudy looked sad. "Do you like it?"

"I do. It's very comfortable. He was one of your friends, right, Sky? One that was lost today?"

"Yes. He was. I miss him. A lot." He seemed about to cry. "You know my sister Cloudy, of course: Watches-the-Clouds. This is my mate, Dances-in-Flowers, and Weaver-of-Garlands. Garland was Runner's mate." Both of the new does were heavily pregnant and slightly older than Sky. They looked enough alike to be sisters. Not flat-chested like Cloudy, each of them had six small furred breasts. They chose the stools instead of trying to get up on the platform with Sky and Cloudy, who sat on either side of Jeff. Warm presences.

"I'm still Runner's mate!" Garland was quite emphatic. "We don't know he's been Taken. You said yourself you didn't actually see it happen. He's probably still out there in the dark, cold and scared. He's just waiting for sunup to find his way home. I know it!"

"You could be right..." Sky started, but another scratching interrupted.

"Can we come in?" This time it came from the rear entrance.

They were two bucks about Sky's age but somewhat more muscular and with curly head fur. One of them Jeff recognized: he'd patted Jeff on the shoulder when he was leaving the audience hall. He was slightly darker than the others: blond, almost golden.

"Hi!" Sky lit up. A little. "Jeff, these are two of our widdershins cousins. Dives-for-Sparklies and his brother Swims-the-Lake. You'll have to keep an eye on them. They're still just youngsters and like to play pranks." Widdershins? A clan name? And didn't rabbits dislike water?

"We are not!" The darker one was quite emphatic. "Our litter is two days older than yours. Our Mam told us so! Jeff, don't believe a word Sky says. He just likes to get us in trouble." He stuck out his tongue at his younger cousin. Both newcomers hopped up on the bed. The darker one sprawled on his stomach and pushed his way in between Jeff and Cloudy, while his brother hung back, smiling shyly. Jeff had to move over a little, closer to Sky, which he didn't mind at all. Sky couldn't move much or he'd fall off the bed.

"Diver!" Cloudy glared at the newcomer, maybe for shoving her over, or maybe they had some history. He just grinned back impishly. Resting his chin on his palms, he asked "So what are we gonna do, Sky? Gran'Sir really wants Jeff out of the warren. I dunno why, though. I don't even know him and he seems fine to me." He rolled his brown eyes up at Jeff. "You are a friend, right? Not here to eat us all up or carry all the naughty Rabs off to the Lower Darkness?"

"Well, I don't know where the Lower Darkness is, so I don't think that'll happen. And you're all way too fuzzy to eat. Just the thought of all that fur sticking between my teeth makes me feel ill." Jeff tried to make light of things, but he really didn't want to leave his new friends so soon, not after he'd just met them.

"Good. That's settled, then. So what're we gonna do?" They all looked at Sky expectantly.

"Why are you looking at me? I want Jeff to stay, too, but Gran'Sir is our Grand. He's been around a long time, so he usually knows best. And he has lots of flunkies."

Jeff felt a warm nose push under has left hand. He absent-mindedly scratched thick fur at the bases of equally warm, furry ears.

"How soon do I have to leave? Tonight? Tomorrow? The day after?"

"The sooner, the better, I guess, but I don't think even Gran'Sir would force you out into the dark tonight. Maybe a day or two?" Sky shrugged.

"Suppose I offered to help with something? Do something useful for the warren? Would that make a difference?"

He could feel vibrations through his scratching fingers. Was Diver purring? That made him feel good. At least somebody liked having him around. He relaxed a little.

"I dunno. The Warren tunnels pretty much take care of themselves. The lights and water, too. The Makers built well."

"Sorry, I didn't mean for your home, I meant do something for you folk living in it."

Diver's purr faded as he gently pulled Jeff's hand down in front of his nose, sniffing at it.

"Like what? There are lots of Rabs taking care of the gardens already. We don't have to make clothes: the Warren provides them. And food pellets when we need them." Sky idly kicked the corner leg of the platform with his heel, trying to think of something.

"What about trying to find Runner?" Garland offered. Her blue eyes lit up. "You came from a long way away, didn't you? It wouldn't bother you to travel around some more, would it?"

Diver had stopped purring and now was licking his palm. It was very distracting. Everybody else seemed to be ignoring it, though, so Jeff was reluctant to make a scene. Not that he really wanted the Rab to stop just yet, it was too sensual. Maybe he should object before something embarrassingly involuntary happened, though.

"Well, maybe. Do Rabs go missing much? Suppose I go looking for more than just Runner? Would that make Gran'Sir happy, do you think?"

Diver was gently nibbling on his thumb. Jeff was beginning to suspect this might be one of his "pranks," trying to see how far he could go before Jeff complained.

"Yeah, it might. It really might." Sky nodded emphatically. "It'd get you out of the Warren for a while, too, which would help. If you bring home some Rabs I'm sure he'd let you back in. How about we wait a day, just to see if Runner comes back on his own. He might know where to search for others. And maybe some of us can come with you."

Now Diver was sucking on the thumb. He wasn't making any noise, but Jeff could feel the warm, wet tugs. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep from having to say something.

"Some of you? Are you sure? We'd probably have to stay out in the dark. That could be really dangerous, couldn't it?"

"Well, yeah, it would be, but I think we could do it. We'd be in a group together, so that'd help. We could dig some temporary snugs at night, too. Yeah. That could work. If that's what you want, I'll go talk to Gran'Sir about it."

"Would you? I'm willing to give it a try." Even though he'd only just gotten here. What's the worst that could happen? Well, yeah: predators. Really big ones. He really didn't like thinking about that possibility.

Now Diver was sucking really hard, starting to make some slurping noises.

"I'm sure Diver would be glad to help." Cloudy was glaring down at the culprit. "He'll probably go along with anything you suggest. Won't you, Diver?"

"Huh?" Diver looked up vaguely, drooling a little. Jeff's thumb suddenly felt cold as the spit started evaporating.

"You really didn't have to let him do that, Jeff. Sometimes he just needs a good hard swat upside the head." Cloudy matched her actions to her words as she hopped down off the bed.

"Ow! What was that for? He tastes good! Really good!"

All three does gave Jeff hugs as they left. Garland's was particularly tight. "Thank you," she whispered.

Diver looked grumpy as his brother pulled him out the back way, but Swimmer just rolled his eyes and mouthed "Sorry" as he waved goodbye. This probably wasn't the first time his brother had done something inappropriate.

Sky sighed and shook his head. "Cousins. Can't live with 'em and can't live without 'em. I'll see you later, OK? I'll go talk to Gran'Sir now."

"Sure. I'll try to wait up, but it's been a long day for me. Wake me if I'm asleep."

Jeff admired Sky's sleek back and firm rump as the buck left. He really did want to wake up to that.