The Lion and The Bunny

We Have Each Other Now

Bunny stirred awake, she felt soft grass on her legs. She sat up and pricked her ears, looking around at the construction site. It was nighttime and the stars shone above her head. Broken concrete meant that surroundings were protected from wind and prying eyes. Her bones ached, her stomach ached, and there was a sharp pain in her shoulders where those cats' claws had dug in. She dragged herself to her feet groaning in pain.
A muffled voice meowed something indistinct, Bunny spun around- immediately feeling dizzy- to look at Lion. She had a fish in her jaws and its sweet scent made Bunny salivate. Lion placed it in front of her and Bunny snatched it quickly, consuming the slippery flesh within seconds. She sat in a sphinx position with her bobtail happily swaying. She licked her lips as she looked up at Lion.
'Thank you,' she meowed, then looked down at her paws as she thought of the events before she had blacked out, 'sorry about yesterday.'
'Sorry? For what?' Lion asked, her pale skin bright pink. Bunny took a moment to take in her beauty, her fluffy white coat was dusted with dirt, but she was still beautiful. She couldn't get over those eyes, pale blue irises- she knew they weren't natural, she'd seen blue eyes before- focused and shining. Lion looked away and Bunny blinked, realising how much she must have been staring, she licked her chest fur and pretended to groom her burning pelt.
'I- erm, I... Tried to steal your food,' Bunny replied, lowering her head ashamedly.
'Oh, well yeah, but you kind of saved my life by distracting those toms- so really I should say thank you!' Lion meowed, showing her shiny teeth in a smile.
Bunny stared in disbelief and silence fell for a few heartbeats.
'...I'm Lion, by the way,' Lion introduced herself. Bunny looked up.
'Oh. I'm Bunny,' Bunny meowed.
'We're both animals then,' Lion commented, chuckling sweetly.
『♦︎』
Bunny started awake, jumping onto her paws. it was daytime now, Lion had walked into Bunny's general area, stones tumbling from her paws. Bunny looked at the fish in the other molly's jaws greedily, then looked away. Lion looked at Bunny, her brows knitted.
'Sorry, did I- I didn't mean to scare you...,' Lion started, tumbling over her own words as she stepped back.
'ah, no... it's fine,' Bunny chuckled nervously, avoiding eye contact and instead looked up at the incoming storm clouds. Did this cat- walking on eggshells around me- seriously just kill that tom in the alley? She seems so soft now, hardly a killer... Bunny looked at Lion as the fluffy molly approached her, putting the fish down at Bunny's paws and sitting down a cat-length away.
Bunny sat down too and took a bite of the fish, forcing herself to eat slowly despite her still-rumbling belly.
'There's a storm incoming... In more ways than one...' Lion spoke. Bunny swallowed and looked at Lion, worry tying her stomach into knots. The rain she could smell, but what else did they have to worry about? Bunny's eyes widened with realisation.
'Oh! The alley cats... they'll want revenge?' Bunny asked, looking down at the fish carcass, suddenly not as hungry.
'Yes, well, more like they see us as a threat. They know me, but they'll recognise your scent from the scene too. Sorry for making you a target...' Lion's voice was low and heavy with shame. Bunny looked at her as she spoke. Lion's head was turned away, looking into the middle distance.
'Hey, it's fine, we have each other now... we'll get through this,' Bunny meowed, watching Lion closely. Lion turned to look at Bunny but quickly looked away. Bunny felt her heart leap when those eyes met hers. Bunny picked up the fish, walked over to Lion and placed it at her paws, then made her way back over to her spot.
Bunny watched Lion warily. She was still wondering whether to trust the fluffy white molly- she had killed that cat so easily, but she had given Bunny food and safety...
'I can feel your eyes in my skin, trying to burn a hole through me?' Lion quipped. Bunny blinked at her, realising she had seen her staring, her pelt burned with embarrassment. Lion chuffed with amusement, shaking her head slightly. 'Anyway, I know a cat that might be able to help us.'