The Rabbit's Den

The Old Rabbit

Kaleb had the strange metallic taste in his mouth from running. He was still dragging Lenora with him, her face was flushed red, and her hair was stuck to her face with sweat. His eyes scanned their surroundings as they came to the rocky hill. "In there." He huffed pushing her towards a shallow cave. Lenora was so out of breath she couldn't say anything. They had been running for a long while, past the point of exhaustion, they were running on adrenaline and the will to live.

Lenora was still panting heavily when she sat down. "Do you think they are looking for us?" Kaleb's heart was still pounding so hard he could feel it in the breaths he took in, he shook his head, "I'm not sure." He said breathlessly, "I don't want to find out." His plan was for them to rest just long enough that they could catch their breath, then continue. He figured if they did sporadic bouts of running, they may get far enough ahead of them to be out of danger. That was if anyone was coming after them at all. He told Lenora what he wanted them to do, she shook her head. "Kaleb I can't, I'm going to slow you down. You should just leave me behind."

The look that he gave her was one of confusion and shock, "I can't do that." She was still breathing heavy, where his had subsided. "That good heart is going to get you in trouble Kaleb, one day." His brows furrowed, "I'm not leaving you Lenora, end of discussion." Lenora sat trying to steady her breathing, knowing no matter what she said Kaleb wouldn't listen. She was going to slow them down, and if there were people after them, they would catch up.

"We will just stay here until dark, travel by night. And then we find shelter and hide by day while we rest." Kaleb was resolved with his statement; it could be seen on his face. Lenora stared hard at him, she wasn't going to be the reason that he lost his life, and the girls. "Okay, but if we get caught, you get out." He began to shake his head, but she interrupted him, "Kaleb, this is where you think of the girls. If we are in a position where it's you or me, you save yourself. The girls need you." His expression told her he understood, he slowly nodded not willing to say the words.

Slinging the back pack on to the floor she pulled out some of the deer jerky David had made, it was a meager meal. After eating what they could Kaleb ventured out, looking to see what direction they should travel when it grew dark. Every snap of twig and rattle of brush sent him reeling towards it in a panic. Stopping to listen for long drawn out times, waiting for the sound of nature to start back up. He was listening for the sounds of people, but never heard any. He wanted to get back to the road, onto the other side of it. Hopefully Shasta would think they would continue the way she had suggested; this way would be longer but safer.

As the sun was setting, Kaleb and Lenora emerged from their hiding place. They began to walk the route that Kaleb had planned when they heard it. It was a distinctive sound that couldn't be mistaken. Lenora had heard them before, throughout her younger years. Kaleb was not as familiar with them, but had some memories of them before the world went to hell. It was a dirt bike, powering through the darkening woods. Then there were more, from the sound three or four, coming in their direction. "We can't out run them." Lenora simply stated. "But if we run we might make it beyond the road before they spot us."

So they ran, blind in the dark with the whining of the bikes growing closer. The head lights could be seen for quite a distance, and the reality that the bikes had them sunk on Kaleb. They would be able to see them in the dark; they did not need to call off their search at night. Now they really were running scared. His mind went blank, no plan or strategy for this. When the first light hit Kaleb the bikes reeved up. Men were yelling back and forth from the bikes as they headed full throttle towards the two figures running in the trees.

In her panic Lenora was turning her head back watching the bikes close in, this is when she struck the low hanging branch. The impact immediately rendered her unconscious. Kaleb turned as she fell like a heavy sack; he stopped and went running towards her. As he grew closer to her one of the bikes began to slow down, headed straight for him. Before he could kneel down to her, the man on the bike hit Kaleb with a crudely fashioned club. The first blow knocked him down to his knees dazed, the second knocked him out.