EMBER

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Ember pulled back the canvas flap and stepped into the light of the secret room where the members of the Resistance were gathered. Her eyes adjusted to the light as she found an empty spot near Leeyo, a friendly and astute buck.

“Greetings, Ember,” he said, pausing from a conversation with someone else.

Ember nodded, smiling back. “Same to you.”

Ripping off her preymark, Ember inhaled deeply, then settled comfortably in her seat. At these nightly meetings which she managed to attend as often as she could, Ember always managed to come away feeling rejuvenated and inspired. Being in a room full of rabbits who shared the same passion for the Cause rekindled her fire and kept the spark alive. Ember smiled to herself. She hoped one day for Reid to join her here, for her father and mother to join her. For Jay and Joel to join her.

But not yet.

Ember was suddenly aware that Harmony was looking at her from the next row ahead, waiting for a reply. She raised her eyebrows. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”

“How is your family?” Harmony repeated, grinning slightly.

“Oh! Very good. I think so, at least,” Ember said, scratching her head in embarrassment. “How is the Old and Infirm Community scheme coming along for you and Bandt?”

Harmony shrugged and frowned. “Made some good progress yesterday. I just wish we could be doing more.”

Ember regarded her thoughtfully as Harmony twisted back to her seat, facing the Tunneler who sat in the middle of the room near a snapping fire. Sparks flickered up from it, dancing along minute currents of air, then disappearing. The Tunneler wheezed his way to a standing position and banged his pickaxe on the stone.

Ember rose with the rest and waited as the Tunneler called out, “I am the Tunneler, and I am the Truth. Hear me and help me, and our children’s children shall be free.”

“We will hear and help and free our heirs,” Ember chanted along with the gathered assembly. Then they sat, and the meeting began.

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Ember crept along the alleyways, jogging softly. The meeting had gone fine, although news hadn’t been of the best kind. Obstructions and hindrances were bound to come and frustrate their plans to liberate the rabbits of First Warren. But together, Ember hoped they would gain the upper hand and successfully bear the flame.

Pausing at the end of an alley, Ember slowly peeked around the corner. She caught her breath, freezing in place.

Glenn was right around the corner, dressed in uniform.

Ember held her breath as she slowly moved back and pushed herself into the side of the wall. So now they’re stationing guards around alleys? Great. Ember swallowed and heard Glenn’s clothes whisper against the perpendicular side of the wall as he shifted, claiming a more comfortable position.

Ember squeezed her hands together, wishing herself safe in her bed. I have to go. I can’t stay. Ember began to inch away from the corner, melting into the darkness. But just then one of her joints creaked. She froze again, closing her eyes as disappointment settled.

Glenn whipped around the corner in view of Ember, who spun around, instantly assuming an animated expression.

“Glenn!” she said, leaning forward. “How wonderful to see you! I was just coming home from one of Master Jenkins’ assignments - sorry I’m out after curfew. I can assure you it’s all quite unintentional.” Ember inwardly cringed at her lie.

Glenn didn’t appear to notice. “Why, Ember!” he said, guiding her out of the alley and into the comparative light. “I didn’t expect to see you here! As you can see, the administration has put me on guard duty. Apparently a broken arm won’t hinder my service in this respect.” He grinned disarmingly.

“Oh, apparently not!” Ember said with a jittery laugh. Not wanting him to notice how she was trembling, she pointed down the street. “I’d better hurry home. I don’t want to be late because of a work assignment, although I pretty much already am.”

“No problem at all.” Glenn took her arm and nodded toward the street. “I’ll escort you home.”

NO. NO. NO, Ember’s mind screamed as she began to walk alongside him. Why am I doing this? This can’t happen! “It’s fine, Glenn,” she said aloud. “I can just hurry home myself. I don’t want to get in your way.”

“I’m taking you home, and there’s no question about it,” Glenn said. “It’s a pleasure.”

Ember smiled for his sake, though she wanted to cry. There was no way out now. “This way,” she murmured in response to Glenn’s questioning gesture as they came upon a crossroads.

They walked along in a burning, dream-like silence. Ember sneaked a long look at Glenn’s face, shadowy, mysterious, and magnetic in the dim moonlight. She wondered what he saw in her that would cause him to pay such special attention to her. She was nothing, a nobody, just someone who had a passion for the truth. His eyes suddenly met hers and she looked down, then up again at the street.

Her home was ahead.

“Here, I’m home now,” she said, keeping her eyes on the street. Really anywhere other than Glenn.

“Where?” Glenn asked impossibly. Relentless - clueless, Ember thought, finding the bare amount of humor in the situation.

“Oh, uh, right up ahead.” Ember pointed.

Glenn nodded. “Okay.” He released her arm and smiled. “Have a good night, Ember. I hope to see you again soon. And try not to stay out so late,” he added with a wink.

Ember nodded. “Thanks, Glenn.” She hurried to the door of her house, placed a hand on the handle, then hesitated. She glanced behind her. Glenn was still standing there, his eyes seemingly taking in every little detail. Ember smiled again and opened the door, shutting it carefully behind her.

As if nothing could get worse, her sister Reid was standing there as she entered the front room, arms folded and head cocked.

“Reid,” Ember said in acknowledgement of her presence.

“I saw someone with you. Who was it, and where were you?”

Ember shrugged. “Just some guard I ran into along the way home from a late assignment. He was escorting me home.”

Reid stared at her, then shrugged too and walked away. Ember ran the opposite way, up the stairs and into her dark bedroom. She jumped onto her bed and screamed into her pillow.

Glenn knows where I live.

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Hope you enjoyed it!!! I would love feedback!!! (Also, did you notice that I used references from Ember Rising in the scene where Heather has her first meeting with the resistance? Harmony had mentioned that she had been working on "an Old and Infirm Community scheme along with Bandt" so I thought I'd add that, lol. And a buck named Leeyo is mentioned in that same scene as well, so I used him too.)