Voila! Hope y'all like it! (And I REALLY hope my digital art app decides to work again, because its decided it doesn't want to cooperate. 🙄🙄) Blessings, A. R. ----------------------------------------------------------- Laurel involuntarily shivered as she crawled through the tunnel. Dylan had fallen strangely quiet after she had assured him everything would be fine. But as she followed him in the pitch black tunnel, she scolded herself. What is going on with you, Laurel? You always wanted to do something to stop this slavery under Morbin Blackhawk, but why do you keep having second thoughts about Dylan? Laurel scowled as she crawled forward, the cold stone floor numbing her hands and knees.      She thought of what she’d tell her mom. ‘Hey, I know dad died because of it, but I’ve joined up with a secret society that’s going to miraculously escape and fight for Jupiters heir. I could die, and I know this new friend could have me murdered, but why not?’ She almost laughed at the thought of speaking to her mother in such a manner, but her heart turned cold. How would she tell her mom? And would she support her, after all that’s happened? What would she think about Dylan befriending her? Or would Dylan use this friendship until his plans – whatever they were- followed through and then shun her?      Laurel realized now that she could have made a big mistake. In trusting Dylan. His story sounded compelling enough, and it matched so many other rabbits stories. But… what? Was he a little too over-excited about the Mended Wood? It was enough of a risk to be a fellow Herald while being in such a high rank of Morbin and the Longtreader Command; but to bring in someone else? He said he might get in trouble with the real commander, the leader of the resistance. But what about her?      Laurel came out of her thoughts as she saw a burst of light ahead. She couldn’t hear Dylan anymore. He must’ve reached a room. She crawled faster, realizing she couldn’t smell the fifth districts pungent scent anymore. That was a relief. But where was she, other than being underneath the city of Akolan? She soon felt something touch her face and she recoiled, ramming her head into the stone roof. She groaned and pressed her hands to her head, willing the aches to go away. She waited a few seconds for her head to stop spinning before fumbling forward. To her surprise, she found it was a curtain of some sort that had touched her. She rolled her eyes at her skittishness and pulled it aside.      Laurel couldn’t believe what she saw. She shuffled forward and stood to her feet and examined everything before her. There was so many rabbits here in this secret room, underneath the city, neither wearing a Prey mark and all sitting reverently in rows before a fire. They all waited solemnly for something; she wasn’t sure what, but she wanted to know. She looked around for Dylan and saw him standing near the back. He caught her eye and offered her a small smile, then motioned her to sit. She found an empty spot at the very end of the front bench next to a doe.      She slipped in next to her and waited, her heart pounding. The doe beside her caught her eye and smiled, motioning her to remove her scarf. Laurel wasted no time as she untied it and placed it in her pocket. She had never dared to do such a thing except in her own house. But doing it here with so many rabbits, it almost felt scandalous.      As she looked around, Laurel noticed that the front of the fire, sitting by himself, was an old buck. Even from this distance, Laurel could see he was very feeble and weak; his eyes were open, but they didn’t move or seem to comprehend anything. She wondered if he was blind. And to her surprise, he held a pickaxe in his lap.      Laurel felt so confused but excited. This was the secret society her father had been a part of! And she was here, and could become a part of it! But, she remembered with a tremor, that Dylan said this meeting could go two separate ways. She wondered if they would accept her. Then, realization dawned on her. They would either accept her, or reject her. What would happen if they didn’t let her join? Her heart began to pound as she remembered what Dylan had said in response to her question.      “Can something go wrong?” He nodded.      “And I hope it doesn’t; otherwise I couldn’t live with myself.”      Death. That was all she could think of as a result to being rejected. She could die here tonight, at the hand of those who so desperately wanted their freedom and a new king. Laurel swallowed as she thought of her mother and Patrick. Patrick would be moved undoubtedly to another home, or worse- be put in a program like Dylan had been. Her mother? She’d die of a broken heart. Or would she? She seemed hurt enough earlier that day.      Dylan? She looked up again and searched the other side of the room for the silver buck. She saw the tip of his ears and looked down. She met his gaze. Blue. They were watching her. She tried to smile, but looked down instead. “I couldn’t live with myself,” he said. Why? Other than bringing her to this hidden resistance like her father had been a part of, did he have something else to tell her? What did Dylan want to say?      Just then, Laurel noticed the rabbits sit up straighter. She looked around and saw the feeble buck rise to his feet. Staggering a little, he raised the pick axe and brought it down on the stone floor, a resounding crack echoing dully in the room. Everyone stood, and Laurel followed them. A wheezing breath was drawn, and the buck spoke.      “I am the Tunneler, and I am the Truth. Hear me and help me, and our children’s children shall be free.” The rabbits around her echoed back a response, almost like a chant.      “We will hear and help and free our heirs.” Laurel swallowed, her heart pounding in anticipation. She looked again for Dylan but saw him looking ahead to the old buck. She followed his gaze and to her shock, found the leader staring in her direction. His unseeing eyes were trained on her.      “Welcome to the Seventh District, Laurel Evergreen.”