Space Bunnies!

Chapter 1: Kai & Bodi

Today, the journey found them on some uninhabited rainforest planet, categorized by the Patrol Exploration Charter under the soulless designation 'Planitoid HJ-2.' This was perhaps one of the more vibrant-looking worlds Kai and his brother had traveled to in the last few years. Over their journey, they had been to 73 different planets, all varying in size, color, and composition, and all had a different story to tell. Some of them had inhabitants and various activities to partake in. Some of those activities included earning universal credit for funding their exploration, and some provided refuge in the event of...well...unfriendly locals(AKA pirates.) Kai was sure this was a reasonable place to take a break; being cramped up in the ship was no place for his little brother, who actively wanted to get out and stretch his legs and morphing powers. Kai tried to remind him not to show off too much. It was unwise to demonstrate their powers without warning. The best way to protect themselves was to conceal the abilities that made them unique in the eyes of others. Survival was more important than showing off.

 The sunrise was paired with abundant plants and animals, all vibrant in their natural ways. As the streaks of sunlight beamed through the roof-mounted windows, the wind whistled and filled the halls with natural harmony. During flight, the shutters that covered those windows would be closed; another advantage of being landed, they were allowed to be open. Much of this planet reminded Kai of Omeocoon. And he couldn't explore it stuck on the ship, but he would not start the day without some cleaning first. He slowly exited his bed, opening his eyes to examine the space around him. Looking around, he could see that Bodi was back at it again with the decor of their small ship; various pieces of the past littered the counters: photos of their parents and many other close friends who died in the massive forest fire on Omeocoon. 

He ensured his form was properly solidified before crossing the small space. Sometimes, he would melt a little after being asleep for the entire evening. Nothing a bit of focus couldn't fix. As he passed by his bunk and started heading over to Bodi's, he took a moment to pause at the sanctum in the middle of the room. An image of his parents stood at the center. As Kai approached the shrine, the memories flooded his mind again; he stopped for a minute in praying silence. It was now a ritual when he passed by the shrine; ignoring it would be disrespectful to the people he lost. After he was satisfied, he got himself together. Adventure gear included boots, shorts, and a utility belt. After checking himself in the mirror to confirm he looked alright, he inhaled deeply and bounced over to his brother's side of the room. He put a smile on his face. He nudged at the knots on the bed—assuming it was his brother still sleeping, "Bode—you up? Maybe we can catch the rest of the sunrise if you—" With no verbal response from inside the bucket, Kai immediately pulled the covers back. "Bodi?"  He wasn't there, so Kai glanced over to see if Bodi's boots and pack were gone—they were, and that only confirmed that Bodi was out there alone. He was always excited to see what was happening on the planets they visited. He wanted to be a writer, which was impressive. But dangerous because that meant he had to study almost everything he encountered. No doubt their 'adventure' was just adding fuel to the fire. His enthusiasm got them into trouble at one point or another. Kai backed out and proceeded down the corridor—quickly. The ship had accumulated dust from being inactive for several weeks. Kai was sure the small vessel appreciated the bit of rest.

"Bodi?" Kai asked the jungle, his voice echoing as he continued down the boarding ramp; the only response he got was the chirping from birds and the rustling of leaves as he made his way out. He made his way deeper into the lush rainforest of this world. The vibrant foliage surrounded him, its emerald hues blending with the symphony of exotic sounds. The air was thick with humidity, just like home. He couldn't resist stopping to inhale and examine the nature around him. But he continued on mission. "Boe!" Kai called out again. There was still no response. Concern gnawed at Kai now, knowing his brother's curiosity could lead him to trouble. Navigating through the undergrowth, Kai followed the path Bodi had likely taken. He noticed footprints in the soft soil, confirming his brother's presence. As he moved forward, the vibrant flora seemed to part, revealing a clearing ahead. The air was gentle on his body...for a generation two omeocoon, it was welcome.

A roar coming from the dense foliage made Kai's shoulders square. "B...Bodi..?" Kai asked the woods. And sure enough, a screaming pink bunny came bolting out of the foliage.

"Kaiii! We gotta go!" Bodi screeched as he ran toward Kai, breezing right past him.

"Bodi, what the hell are you doing!?" Kai yelled as Bodi shoulder-checked him, brushing right past the vegetation and heading to the ship. Kai turned back to the woods. He waited for a minute. Then, a massive creature covered in brown fur, running on four legs and poised with razor-sharp claws of terror, came running out of the forest and directly toward Kai. "Oh, Kyr!" He screamed as turned on a dime, running behind Bodi. The creature kept up with them, but Kai and Bodi were smaller and faster. Kai eventually caught up with Bodi and slapped the back of his head. "You idiot! I told you not to anger the indigenous life here; now we're being chased by a big...bear?"

Bodi furrowed his brows at Kai and scoffed as he rubbed the back of his head, "Well, we kind of landed our ship in the middle of its house; I'm not surprised it's attacking us. I just wanted to explore and feel the spirit of this place for my story," Bodi explained, his voice filled with awe. "It's like the planet itself invited me to join in its dance. I've never seen a river like this before. It's awesome! I need to see the rest of this place!"

"The only thing you need is a really good antipsychotic you—" Kai was cut off by the roar of the creature again. "That thing is gonna eat us!" Kai hissed at his brother...Kyr...if their parents knew that he was putting his little brother in danger...they were probably rolling in their graves. Kai was always trying to keep his brother safe.

"Do you think Omeocoon are tasty?" Bodi rubbed his chin as they reached the boarding ramp.

"Bodi!" Kai growled as he pushed Bodi onto the ship. He was quick to close the boarding ramp behind them...not particularly the start of the day he wanted...Kai put his back against the closed ramp, huffing in relief.