In the mystical and magical lands of Carindale, there was a forest known to all as The Verdant Oak Expanse. Its trees stood taller than giants, were older than history itself could ever hope to record and possessed the most wonderous shades of greens even emerald gems paled in comparison. This forest was bountiful in both flora and fauna, offering sanctuary and sustenance to many lifeforms that thrived on the bountiful offerings.

And one of those many, was Hutch. He was a very small creature, never soaring into the great canopies that loomed above with feathered wings or venturing into the depths of flowing rivers with webbed feet. No, Hutch hopped around on the forest floor, forever spending his days nibbling away at the dry grasses, gnawing on shrubbery then squeezing down into his temporary burrow beneath a thick, old tree. In there he munched away on twigs or bark to settle his full tummy, before cuddling up into his own fur to sleep.

And when he awoke, he would continue his journey once more.

A journey? Had he been chosen by a God to fulfil an important destiny, or was he possibly in the employ of one of Carindale's famous Heroes, aiding them in charity or acting as a companion following along on a quest of epic, world-saving proportions?

Whatever it was, surely it must've been of the upmost importance for such a small and docile creature to risk their life so readily... right?

No. Not at all. Nary a many soul would have heard the reasoning for the little rabbit's risk-taking actions and not gaped at the absurdity- or questioned his sanity. To those many, it would seem such a small reason to take such large risks. But for little Hutch, this was a journey he had to take- risks and negative outcomes be damned. It was no laughing matter, and he certainly would not have appreciated his life's dream to be taken so lightly. Especially by those who very clearly did not understand.

You see, sweet little Hutch was on a journey for a Soul Companion. As wonderous, abundant and downright beautiful as The Verdant Oak Expanse was, he was terribly lonely. Chased out of the nest at only a week old by his father, he had left behind all he had known; many siblings, his mother and the grasslands he had been born into included.

Abandoned at such a young age, Hutch had been much too juvenile to fend for himself. In fact, his body had only just learned how to stop wriggling and how to start hopping. He knew nothing of the world around him, its inhabitants or its many dangers. Birds of monstrous sizes, beings of carnivorous hunger and folks of deceiving tongues; Hutch very well could have fallen prey to them all.

But, starving and laying among muddy puddles with sickness, the little rabbit had fallen into a dream. That was nothing new for him, seeing as he often got swept away by ideals and imaginations of a better, happier life. But then, in his lowest moments, came the bad dreams.

Only this time, he had not been alone in the nightmare.

As usual, it had begun with Hutch racing through a field of short grass, fear thundering through his small body until his poor heart ached at the strain. There was no where to hide, no tall grasses or shrubbery to offer protective covering.

What was he afraid of?

A Redbeak Eagle. It flew over head, talons longer than Hutch's entire body casting horrific shadows along the ground as it coasted above him, on the hunt for succulent rabbit flesh.

The bird of prey swooped down, talons extended and despite the excitement vibrating within, they would stay steady and focused- a true testament to avian predatory instincts. Those blades of keratin grazed little Hutch's rump, piercing just enough to lift his hind legs from the ground for one terrifying moment where, through the pain and blood of his fur and skin being skewered, the rabbit realised this was where his life ended.

It had been a short life, and one of immense loneliness, fear and suffering. But it had only just begun, only to never be given the chance to improve.

Now, usually this was close to where the nightmare ended. He would cry and whimper as the ground below became smaller and smaller, his body carried high into the air then dropped into a nest where ravenous eaglets ripped him apart and gobbled him into their bellies.

This time however, as he lay half dead and starved in a puddle lost to fever-induced nightmares, something changed.

He was not alone.

The talons pierced his hind, yes, and pain once again left his eyes weeping and mouth gaping on a cry, but after a brief moment he... was released. There was no time to wonder why, as from somewhere behind came a thunderous roar.

Soil quaked and trees trembled, animals fled and plants shrank from the sun to seek protection in the shadows. As whatever could have produced a roar filled with such fury, was surely a monstrous beast intent on doing harm.

And do harm it did.

Hutch had no need to turn his head to know that the thundering coming from behind was the beast; lumbering, running or cantering the rabbit could not be sure, only that it was aiming straight in his direction at tremendous speed for what was obviously a large body.

He did not try to flee, even as the eagle- bravely or foolishly- attempted to pick little Hutch up by his ears to carry home. He was so very tired. An eagle, fox, carnivorous plant or monstrous beast... what did it matter? Every day, it was something different but never something new;

He was always hunted, he was always injured and he was always scared. He always survived, but was never alive.

So he hunkered down, eyes squeezed shut so tight the tears bursting through stung, as he awaited death.

Only what he heard and felt more than saw, was a squawk of surprise followed by fear, the crunch of bones and dripping of blood, before feathers rained atop the violently trembling rabbit.

Huffs, growls and gnashing teeth sounded directly behind Hutch, yet he could not turn. Not even when hot breath stung his nose, the scent of thick fur coated his throat and a shadow that seemed to swallow all but the sun itself enveloped the small creature.

He awaited a crunch, the sharp pain of splintering bone, ripping flesh or the slipping feeling of being swallowed whole. To be devoured. Only, when something wet, unpainful and cold pressed against his rump, he jolted in shock.

Was that a... snout?

It probed him with astonishing gentleness, grumbling almost in apology when its exploration caused pain. And when what was undeniably a tongue swiped over the rabbit's rump, Hutch jolted again.

It's tasting me! I knew it, I'm going to be eaten! Ack, what is it doing now?!

But he was made no meal, not even sampled with a nibble or precursory bite, rather the tongue lapped at his wounds with a tenderness that seemed unfitting for what Hutch assumed to be a large, violent beast. He was still scared stiff, heart thump thump thumping, but as the beast behind him continued to lap, lick and essentially tend to the rabbit's wounds, that fear lessened.

Especially when whatever it was, whined. At every flinch, squeak and moan of pain from Hutch, the animal behind whimpered and whined as though in empathic agony. Each touch was soft, each lick gentle, each breath warm and slow. Hutch felt... he felt...

Comforted.

And as the shadow on the ground afore him shifted, a large body incredibly slowly settling around his own, a large, furry thing pressed against his side. When Hutch did not move, it tugged, encouraging him to close in on such a huge expanse of brown, dense and strong smelling fur that fear set back in. Should this creature suddenly turn hostile, he would have no escape.

But there was no denying that this animal exuded an incredible warmth and strangely enticing smell, drawing him closer and closer until his small grey nose pressed against it. He stilled, it stilled- all was still. Moments passed as each animal seemed startled at the sudden contact, as well as that it was initiated by Hutch. But gradually, the little rabbit grew exhausted, and simple gave into the urge to be comforted... even if it would result in his devouring.

So Hutch burrowed deep, hind legs kicking up grass and dirt as he forced himself deeper and deeper until his entire body was coated in brown fur and the scent of what was undeniably a predator. Yet, it was a smell that the rabbit found himself relishing, breathing out deep as a curious snout poked its way into the fur and poked the small creature hiding within.

And when a heavy head lay atop his back, mindful of the wounds recently inflicted, Hutch began to sniffle. He was warm, he was protected (for now), and he was not alone. It was a wonderous concoction of sensations that were also entirely new.

As he fell asleep with that creature, he awoke in the real world, rain thundering on his weakened body and soaking through his fur to freeze his skin. Hutch was terribly tired and saddened to realise it had all been just a dream, that he was still alone.

But... maybe he didn't have to be. Mayhap, he could find someone to keep him safe and warm, not in dream or nightmare, but reality. And in turn, he could make them happy, offer snacks of yummy vegetation and warm their bellies or snouts with his soft fur.

Big or small, scaly, feathered or furred, land or ocean he did not care. As if they could want him, he would love them. And follow them to the skies, caves or oceans so they would never need part from the other.

Thus began the little rabbit's journey to find the one thing he was missing: a Soulmate

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