A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME: Book Two: The Rabbit, The Fox and The Monster

By C.J Hannum

Join curious Cuniculus, a rabbit who ventures from her warren to feed in a dangerous part of the forest, where the sly fox, Vulpes, lays in wait. Their typical chase leads them to a strange and mysterious structure where a two-legged creature resides.

 

Captured by the monster, Cuniculus and Vulpes must decide whether they can p

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliant Books Literary
• Release date: Sep 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798889453413

C.J Hannum

C.J Hannum lives on her family farm and helps out when she's not at her full-time job, working as a machine operator. With the debut of her second book in her A Journey Through Time trilogy, she hopes continues to write and plans to release more books in the future.

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Copyright © 2023 by C.J Hannum. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Published in the United States of America

Brilliant Books Literary

137 Forest Park Lane Thomasville

North Carolina 27360 USA

ISBN:

Paperback: 979-8-88945-340-6

Ebook: 979-8-88945-341-3

For our four-legged friends,

who are far more than what we see.

I Run, You Chase - C.J Hannum

I see you through the tall grass,

Such a wonderful sight, it could not last,

Just like that, you’re long gone,

Far out of my reach,

You run like, the wind blows,

Where you go, only the Gods know,

I’ll be here waiting till tomorrow,

With my hidden sorrow.

You may be tall, I may be small,

I see nothing wrong at all,

How can it be a sin after where we’ve been,

After all we’ve seen,

‘Cause I run, you chase,

Yes, I run you chase,

No matter where, no matter how far.

Someday they’ll know they’re incorrect,

Fate brought us close, brought us here,

Just know you won’t face it alone,

It may be frightening, so hold tight to me,

Take my paw, let’s go,

We’ll show them they’re wrong,

You know I’m not far behind.

‘Cause, you run I chase, yes, I run you chase,

No matter where, no matter how far you go,

You run, I chase, (Yes, you run, I chase)

I don’t care what they think,

You run, I chase, I will chase, always,

I will be there, waiting for you,

I promise you, my friend, my other half,

Glance back over your shoulder, glance back over your shoulder,

There I’ll be forever.

Contents

Part One: Unnatural

1. The Rabbit 

2. The Fox 

3. The Chase 

4. The Creature 

5. The Captured Life 

6. The Fight 

Part Two: Forbidden Friends

7. Can Predator and Prey Get Along 

8. The Watches 

9. The Debate 

10. To Lie and Hide 

11. Hold Your Breath 

12. The Change 

Part Three: I Chose You

13. Tension 

14. The Secrets We Keep 

15. The Two-Legger’s Wrath 

16. The Aftermath 

17. The Gift Is My Heart 

18. Mates for Life 

Part One:

Unnatural

CHAPTER I:

The Rabbit

Animalia was a massive and beautiful continent that stretched from the Atlantica to the Pawcific. The waters were crystal clear blue, where aquatic life thrived in the depths below. Not a single vessel disturbed the surface; the sea creatures lived without any interference. Coral reefs remained brightly colored, and no single piece of plastic floated in the sea. Above, the skies had only fresh air to breathe, and no toxic chemicals poured from buildings. It was a pure world where primates and humans didn’t exist; untouched, untamed, unspoiled, and maybe, a bit unnatural. There were no houses, and deforestation was not a problem. However, a man from another world would come and change everything for our four-legged friends. This man was unlike any average human. Carrying within him a powerful gift called energy. Energy was a life force that existed between Aurora and her home planet, Prehistoria. Somehow, the Energy made it to the animal planet where it’d remain.

For now, there was only peace. At this time, in the woods, a warren of rabbits, lay hidden behind a hedgerow. Deep in a bunny burrow, a mother named Diana tended to her litter of kittens. Diana lay in a nest of grass and her fur, keeping the kittens warm. Eyes moist, she looked at her young. My beautiful babies, the Gods blessed me with yet another healthy litter.

A member who stood off to the side looked over the seven, noticing one seemed incomplete. Seems one is missing a front leg, ma’am.

And your point is?

Perhaps it’d be best to end it before it grows too much more.

Are you deaf?!? Barked Diana, frowning and pulling her kittens close, including the one he commented on. There have been plenty of bunnies born with missing limbs. They survived into adulthood. She will be no different, is a fighter, and will be treated as any other.

Yes, ma’am, as you say. I’ll leave you to tend to them and let the warren know of the good news. Leaving her burrow, the male hopped off to share the birth of the seven and that Diana was well. Alone with her young, Diana hummed and nuzzled each one, feeling them move around and latch on to feed.

Among the kittens, a tiny doe huddled next to her seven siblings, her pink nose twitching. She was blind, vulnerable, and unable to see until a few days later. For now, she was a furless little pink thing, wiggling up to latch onto a tit. Once the little doe called Cuniculus was big enough, she and her siblings left the burrow to graze with the adults. Outside, the kittens chased one another, bounding through the tall grass, for it was exciting to explore their great play area. One lagged behind, coming along after the group, being Cuniculus. All was well, but soon they’d learn there was danger in their beautiful land. One kitten wandered off and stood away from the group. The individual ate on a patch of clover, never noticing a shadow fly overhead.

Eyes to the sky! shouted a member who was on watch for danger.

Take cover! Called another.

Suddenly, a bird from above swooped down. Wings beating and legs stretching out, its taloned feet dug into the tiny kitten that screamed aloud. Scrambling, the kitten was unable to break away and was lifted off the ground, reaching his paws out for assistance. Mommy!

Son! Diana tried to reach him, but in the mad dash to take cover, she was pushed by the other members of the warren, who fled into the slack run. Sadly, it wasn’t the first or the last time a member of the warren succumbed to one of the many who hunted their kind, only enforcing their fear to protect the new kittens.

We have to help him! Cuniculus said, seeing her brother get nabbed, and carried far off into the sky.

I think he’d be far beyond saving. Added another, gazing up with wide eyes.

Children, come, hurry! Diana ordered, counting those that passed her by. One, two, three, four, five, six… When she noticed one was missing. Wait, where’s number seven? Cuniculus showed a bit of bravery, standing till Diana picked her up and carried her into the slack run that led down into the warren. Within the safety of the warren, Diana warned them to stay close, to pay attention when outside, to listen, look, and learn, that it would help them survive to live another day. Dear, if you don’t hide, you’ll be killed.

But-

No, buts, you will run and hide next time there is danger.

With a sigh, she nodded. Very well, I shall do as you ask, mother.

While all were asleep that evening, the curious Cuniculus crept around the slumbering rabbits and went up the slack run. There, she exited through the hole, looking at the sky. The moon was bright while the white dots sparkled, giving light to the dark. Before she could venture farther, Diana’s voice called. Darling! Diana hopped out of the warren, rushing to push her daughter back into the entrance. Come, it’s dangerous out here.

But mother, nothing bad happened. Besides, I wanted to see what it looked like once Solis set.

No more, Cuniculus. It’s time for sleep. Diana returned Cuniculus to her burrow, nuzzled Cuniculus, lying by her. How about I tell you a story, the Creation Story? It’ll help you sleep. Cuniculus leaned close to Diana, listening to the old fable that went back ages, before time itself.

Long, long ago, celestials known as the Great Mother Solis and Father Luna looked down upon the desolate earth. With erupting volcanos, flowing lava rivers, and dark skies of smoke, it was a harsh environment. One day Mother Solis and Father Luna had an idea, a plan for Animalia. They used their powers to make the land livable for life, growing plants and creating flowing rivers. Once the planet was set, Solis gave birth to the first animals: prey.

The prey enjoyed their peaceful lives, eating the greenest grass and drinking the freshest water. The land was new, and food was plentiful, provided by the Gods, to whom they were grateful to. Yet, with how the prey animal’s bodies were designed, it took too long to turn back to the earth. Thus, Solis gave birth to new animals: predators. To the predators, she gave one strict order: to eat only the deceased.

Like every fable, there was a villain and a hero. The hero was the prey, while the villain was a fox who betrayed Mother Solis’ command and carried out acts of violence against the prey. Solis saw the terrible situation and wanted to strike the fox down on the spot. Nevertheless, killing the fox would make the animals fear her, not love her. Instead, she chose to play by his rules and outwit him at his own game. One day she called all predators together to give them a special gift. She told them that thanks to the fox’s senseless killings, their world was going to change drastically. From that moment, all predators would have to hunt for their food. Earlier that day, all prey were given special skills to survive the new changes.

At her last words, the predator’s teeth