“Woooooow! It’s just like what mama said!”
“Right?! I can’t wait for the main event today!”

Floppy and Pippet stood wide eyed in awe as they took in their first ever sights and smells of the Great Rabbit Spring Race Festival in the clearing of the Emerald  Forest where they lived. For all the rabbits in Hobbington Barrows, the Great Spring Race was an event where legends were made and some of the greatest rabbits of all time went down in history after winning it. It was to test the speed, endurance, smarts and heart of a rabbit to see if they truly deserved to take first place and the trophy home.

Many baby rabbits watched and cheered in awe, longing to reach their coming of age day before they were eligible to register and test their mettle.

“I’ve been training for this all my life! I’m definitely going to win the golden carrot cup!”
Floppy rolled her eyes. “Not ALL your life. You weren’t even interested until I started training 3 years ago, saying ‘girls can’t beat boys’. I’ll show you! I’ll show all of you!” She added defiantly.

In the 130 year history of Hobbington Barrows, there had only been one female rabbit who had won the Great Spring Race and became a legend known not only for being the first and only female to do so, but for also for inspiring many female rabbits to not be afraid to dream and chase goals to their heart’s desire, much to the consternation of the old rabbit council solely made up of males. Many songs and tales of Angelina the Great were passed down and Floppy will never forget when grandma Edna secretly told her stories of seeing Angelina run and win the race when she was a young bunny.

“So agile and full of energy and light she was! They all ridiculed her right up to the race but when she won, the silence and then cheers of her victory sent the barrows into a frenzy and all night partying. I’ll never forget the joys of many who had never seen anything like it but especially us doe rabbits. It was like a brand new world of possibilities just opened up and so one day Floppy dear, if you wish to try it yourself or peruse any dream, don’t let anyone stop you! Not even your parents, I’ll give your father a good telling to if he needs it!”
Sadly, Granny Edna passed away a few years after that, but Floppy never let the flame that was born from her times with her beloved grandma die within her.

While working hard at school or doing her chores at home, Floppy started training herself physically for the day she would come of age and join the race and happily that day was today. Nerves and excitement coursed through her but she was raring to go.

“Will all the contestants head towards the starting line. The race will commence in 10 minutes!”
“Looks like our time has come. Let’s do our best Pippet!”
“Yep! Enjoy the second place you’ll achieve when I make you eat my dust!”
Floppy feigned offense and they both headed to the start line with 18 other contestants.
The racing course spanned the diameter of Hobbington Barrows, through the Emerald Forest, around the Sapphire Lake and various other terrains of the barrows. The head of the rabbit council raised the loudspeaker to his mouth.

“Uh hem! Just before we begin, you understand there’s to be no pushing, shoving, tripping or any other mischief along the way. Council members will be watching you closely, so be sure to run a good and honest race! The course will span the diameter of the barrows, with various terrains to give you a run for your money, so not only speed is needed, but wits too.
That being said, let’s start!”

Floppy and Pippet had already got into starting position and held their breaths for the signal.
“At the ready, set, go!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I’m so sorry Floppy, it’s all my fault…”

Floppy was sprawled out on her tummy on the grassy bank, her large ears almost covering her face as she looked dejected into the lake ahead. It was dusk, the sun was radiating its faltering dark orange glow that the horizon was swiftly swallowing. Her parents would be expecting her for dinner soon, she knew she couldn’t mope all night outside as much as she’d like to.
Noting her silence but holding onto his desire to convey his feelings and regret to his dear friend, Pippet sat next to her, tucking his hind legs underneath him but resting his forelegs ahead of him.

“I was too cocky and placed too much confidence in my speed… and ego to think that I could just blitz through the course without analysing each terrain challenge properly. Had I done so, I’d have realised that the swamp rocks where in fact not rocks, but tortoise shells…”

Pippet and Floppy where in the top 4 when it came to the final terrain challenge of crossing a murky swamp with the stepping stones provided. The stones were scattered unevenly throughout the swamp at different sizes and distances. There were a few pathways they could take to clear the challenge but it required quick analysis, wit and caution for one’s safety, which Pippet had all but disregarded.

Floppy was one stepping stone away from reaching the grassy bank and racing to the finishing line, confident in being able to cinch first place when she heard a splash and looked back. Pippet had slipped and fallen into the marsh but she knew he couldn’t swim. She knew that the race judges would be watching and aid to his rescue, so she should win the trophy for the both of them while she was in the lead.

She knew.
She wanted to, but before she knew it, her body automatically backtracked and hopped onto the stepping stones she knew was safe to Pippet’s aid, a twinge of sadness stinging her as she saw her rivals hop to the bank and towards the finishing line, hearing the crowds’ excitement greet them. She focused on pulling Pippet out of the swamp slowly onto the big tortuous shell as to not agitate them to avoid being tossed back into the swamp.
As they both caught their breath, they looked ahead, seeing the celebratory streamers and hearing the trumpets sound off in joviality to congratulate the winners. Other contestants hopped past them and also dashed for the finishing line, trying to get as high a ranking as possible.

“I guess we’d better join them. Can you move?”
Pippet nodded forlornly but held onto his resolve to finish the race with his head held high.
He could tend to his shame later in private.

 “If only I had properly assessed the swamp, then you’d have won-”
“There’s no use lamenting over it now, it doesn’t change the past. Besides…” Floppy turned her gaze from the lake towards her long-time friend. “I don’t think I could have lived with myself to take home the trophy, having potentially scarified a friend in need. It wouldn’t have felt good… It wouldn’t have felt right. We can try again next year!” She added cheerily when she saw his head droop even more in guilt. He nodded and returned her smile with a gentle one of his own.
“Anyways, it’s getting dark…we’d better get back for dinner.”
Floppy nodded and returned her gaze to the lake. The tiniest of flickering lights could be seen from the reeds swaying in the cool breeze. Fireflies were about to dance for the night.
“I’m gonna stay here for just a little longer, but head back home. Oh a favour! Please tell my ma that I’ll be a little late for dinner but I’m relaxing here.”

Pippet sat up on his hind legs and nodded.
“Don’t stay out here too long. And…umm… thank you for being my friend… and saving me today.”
Embarrassed, he hopped off home before Floppy could reply but he knew that she knew she wouldn’t need to add any further words. There was a tension he’d never felt between them and a part of him was afraid that things would never be fun and carefree between them for quite some time, but he knew that in time, they’d bond again.
Maybe not now, but someday.

Floppy slowly exhaled, releasing the tension she knew Pippet felt and slumped her head on the bank once more, a sad tear rolling down her eye.
“I’m sorry grandma… I didn’t head to the finishing line to win the trophy and make your dream come true of becoming the second female rabbit to win and inspire many more adventurous rabbits like me, too…”

 She didn’t hear the footsteps as much as she felt them near her. Her ears perked up and she instantly sat up on her hind legs, looking behind her.

“I knew you were the one. Such amazing instincts and reflexes you have.”
“Who’s there?! Who are you?!”

The deepening dusk made it hard to see who was coming out of the shadow but Floppy bravely faced it on and waited, ready to kick and bite if necessary. She was not prepared to be absolutely stupefied and frozen in shock as her brain tried to process the rabbit in front of her. She had never heard her voice but she had read enough books and seen enough pictures from her grandma to know who was standing tall and proud ahead of her. The figure chuckled softly.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. It seems Edna has truly wired me into your mind and heart well, huh.”
“You… you…. You’re… Angelina?! THE Angelina?! But how? Why!? Huh?!”

Angelina moved closer until she could be fully seen by Floppy, the full moon aiding to illuminate her full, sinewy figure. She was strong in many meanings of the word, Floppy thought. She gazed in awe for seeing her long-time cherished heroine appear in front of her.

“I was watching the race today. You especially caught my interest at the final challenge, rather, your decision to rescue your friend, caught my attention today. It’s why I’m here.”
Floppy had lowered her head midway in guilt for throwing away her likely victory but looked up puzzled when she heard the rest of what Angelina had to say. She still didn’t trust her voice, so left the question in her eyes.

“I’ve been watching the races every year over the last 10 years. In secret of course,” she added with a wink and a smile. “You were the first young rabbit to display such selflessness, courage, wit and pride. You truly are a cut above the rest and I’d like to make you my apprentice.”

Floppy’s eyes widened.
Apprentice!? Her?! Apprentice of the greatest heroine ever known in Hobbington Barrows?!

“So I’d like you to-”
“Yes.”
Angelina raised an amused eyebrow. “You’ve yet to hear what I’m about to propose.” She tilted her head a little. “Or even questioned how I’m standing before you right-”
“Still yes. I’m ready.”

The seasoned heroine looked intently into the eyes of this young but highly driven rabbit. She smiled nostalgically, recalling the fire she once felt as a blaze that currently reflected in Floppy’s determined eyes. She extended her right paw.
“Are you ready to go on an adventure of a lifetime? It isn’t all roses and sunshine you know.”
Floppy placed her paw on top and grinned.
“I’m the one, you said earlier. Then I was born ready.”

Edna smiled from the lake, seeing them walk away from the lake. She caught Angelina’s backward glance, the unspoken question of ‘are you sure?’ Edna nodded before her spirit faded into the tiny flickers of fireflies to dance the night away under the light of the full moon.