Zootopia- Forest of Secrets

{1} Jackrabbit

The striped hare raised his broad head and tenderly picked off a bright red raspberry off the bush with his teeth. Lowering his hackles, he returned to all fours and trotted towards his mate, who was waiting patiently with averted ears.

"This is for you, Love." He rumbled, nosing the berry towards the beautiful, gray doe. She blinked gratefully at him, a twitch of her soft, pink nose showing her affection. Then, she nibbled on the raspberry, her tail flicking with pleasure. "Thanks, Jack." She said, her voice coated with warmth as she pressed against the pale gray rabbit. He drew his tongue across her head in return.

"We have to start collecting twigs for when the kits come, Judy." Jack casually tried to bring up, already feeling his mate stiffen beside him. "I told you I'd take care of myself." She huffed angrily, her hind legs thumping against the soil. Indeed, Judy was very pregnant. The doe's belly was round with her litter, her soft underbelly brushing against the ground. She tried to shoot Jack an intimidating glare with her amethyst eyes, but he couldn't help but stifle a grunt.

"Nonsense. I'm here to help." He reminded, weaving himself around her smaller frame. His mate was dedicated to prove that she was stronger than most of the does around the forest. And she was, in fact, incredibly skilled. Her once slender body helped her slink past undergrowth and slide into tunnels. She has the long figure of a fighter and sharp claws that backed it up.

Judy honked furiously, throwing her head back to move away his muzzle and stomping away into the orchid bushes. Jack dismissed his hurt, knowing how hormonal expecting mothers get. Instead, he let her have some space and flicked his paws up to his face to groom stray tufts.

His peaceful moment was interrupted when he heard oak roots tearing off the thick grass. His ears immediately darted up, and he thumped his back legs frantically to warn those around him. He rushed to find Judy, and was relieved to see her already sprinting towards their burrow. The musky scent of fox filled his nostrils, the creature emitting a flurry of snarls as he chased after the two rabbits.

Just a bit more, Jack thought hopefully, the familiar patch of marigold flowers coming into view. Not far from there should his home appear, the safe sanctuary seeming beyond reach.

Suddenly, Judy, who was far ahead from him, came to an abrupt stop. Jack's blue eyes widened in horror as he bolted past her, his feet still flying past thickets of bramble. He stopped as he reached the entrance of the burrow. "Judy!" He cried out, but it was too late. The fox let out a ferocious growl as it tackled Jack's mate, Judy shrieking in terror. The pregnant rabbit writhed under the grasp of the predator, who had his unsheathed paws over her swollen body.

"No!"

A scream pierced the air. Judy was hoisted into the air, the canine biting her scruff with a malicious glint in its slitted eyes. He then cast a glance towards Jack and raced away into the towering oaks, his mate and unborn kits in his jaws.

Jack stared numbly at the place where he had just been. His heart was beating at a torturous rate, his ears pinned to the back of his head. 

Just like that, his family was gone.