Watership Down: Untold Legend [Fox!Reader]

Chapter Three: Trying

Like fading mist, your mind clears. Your heart is racing, but you don't snap awake, instead, the thick weight of sleep keeps you from even moving. Only the feel of your racing heart beat, gleams to the dark turn of your dream. You breath out and breath in the scent of your home— plant-life and your own foxy musk.

The aching pit that is your stomach makes itself known with a loud bubbly growl. A groan slips past your teeth and out of your muzzle. You're so freaking hungry.

You force your eyes open, they're heavy from the sleep that begs you to fall back into it.

The dirt and foliage underneath your body is warm and the fur on you body help hold in your own heat, it's so comfortable. But, you know as soon as you slink out of the earthy darkness, the cold morning air with sap away any heat you've managed to retain through the night. So, with that thought in mind, you wait and let yourself doze off a few moments longer. The nightmare is still present, but now that your awake, you simply hold onto it while your body relaxes.

Feathers, fur and dry plant life shifts with each breath.

'That dream...'

Whatever the fire meant— it could mean nothing— you choose to push the thought away. Right now, you barely have anything to work off of. You only know as much as your mind can remember. Which isn't a lot.

Still, there are two things you're sure of... One, you have to find that small rabbit... And two, wherever he'll be, there will be chaos. You're also sure that small rabbit won't be alone.

That grassy hill... the human ...now the rabbits...Everything... it's connected somehow...isn't it?

Your stomach growls and with it the empty feeling grows.

Your ears fall flat and you squeeze your eyes shut. You need to eat something...more. But— Treering's frightened face from that first day, flashes through your head— you can't! The berries...they aren't enough. Deep down, you know they will only take you so far.

A whine slips up and out your throat. Your eyes water.

A harsh rumble cries out from your stomach. With it, the empty feeling grows.

This isn't fair!

Y-you...! You don't want to—...!

"—Hello? Apple?"

Your mind blanks.

A shadow cast over your form. You look up yo see the silhouette of your only friend surrounded by the morning sun's ghostly illumination. His head is cocked to the side, brown fur a mess.

You blink.

He smiles calling out again, "Fire?"

—Fire...crackles and your eyes burn—

Shock runs down your spine and your hackles raise with tension. The dream is still fresh and vivid.

You motions doesn't go unnoticed. The small squirrel stills, straightening. He's watching you carefully.

When did you get up?

No ...wait.

I'm sorry, you think, but don't say it as guilt fills you. Instead, you force a foxy grin.

You won't mess this friendship up with a simple misunderstanding. It's just a dream and his words are just another nickname. You shake your head and relax. "Ah, Good morning, Treering." You bow your head, the action coming to you like an afterthought. Something about the action is familiar and you feel as if it's the right thing to do.

Treering takes a moment... and then a grin spreads across his face. The room brightens with it. "Today's the day, Red!" He steps closer, and you try not to move closer. "Ready to go on a little Dream Journey~?"

"A what...?" You grin back, amusement bouncing from your voice, "A Dream...Journey?"

Treering chirps, "Yeah! I'm calling it that cause we're doing this because of the dream you had~" He pauses and looks away, "I actually wonder...." He rubs at his twitching nose, "...if Frith—" He coughs "—or T'k-chi-rii has anything to do with this..."

His tail jerks once and his eyes land on you once again, "I spoke with my R'amiki-chi yesterday...! Ah, not about you though, told her it was my dream."

"Oh?"

He nods, "She said it might be a sign...that there may be some truth to it. That T'k-chi-rii works in mysterious ways..."

You...think you understand.

But Treering takes notice of your confused expression. He sighs and you feel guilty.

"Frith is...well as I've told you before, the once who made—" He waves his arms around, "—all of this! Eh, But T'k-chi-rii has other names...as other species have different languages." He straightens, "Huh... I wonder what your kind call 'im." He meets you gaze and the way he looks at you...like he expects you to suddenly know.

You roll your eyes, "I wouldn't know, Treering."

You walk past him and hear him sigh, "...Yeah, I should've known..."

You climb up and out of your burrow, aware of the little squirrel that hops up after you.

A rush of bright light hits your face and you duck your head squinting. You blink and look back up to see your forest tinted in soft blues and greens. The grass is overgrown and thriving while speckles of wildflowers decorate the land. The flat surface in front of you doesn't last, and stretched out only a few feet before meeting a dip and curve of the roaming slopes that make up the ground around your home. Past that, more trees stand tall, creating shadows that spread wide over the landscape. Only bits of the rising sun manage to break their way past the root of the forest.

"It's just..."

You can see the little guy at the corner of your vision. You sit and he stays standing, hands rubbing together.

"...I...never thought I'd ever be... this close to...one of your kind before."

"Oh." You wince, but nod in understanding, once again reminded of your fist meeting...You can't help but wilt. But... "Yeah..." You voice comes out quite, sincere, "I'm curious too ...about my kind." You look up and eye the sun hidden behind a white sky, "If I knew more, I would tell you...everything."

warm fur brushes against your own, and you turn to stone. You don't even look down, because you don't want to disturb the moment with your shock. It's been... a strange beginning. Ever since waking up in this world... with no memories and no one to turn to. You had at first thought of yourself to be some sorta loner.

Now? You have a friend. Your eyes glint as a fire ignites within you. You won't mess this friendship up!

You look down, and give a light laugh. "Let's get going Treering! Our Dream Journey starts today~" It sounds silly coming from your muzzle. But you don't regret it when Treering's eyes light up.

"Alright!"