Hiii!!! Guess what the internet works today!! (I don't know why but if it gets to a slow enough connection it just can't load this site. :( I can usually get it to load other websites if I'm patient enough but this one always glitches up lol.) Anyways. I also have some more Weezie art I drew for the fanfic if anyone's interested in seeing it. XD

Here's the next bit!

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Together the two does washed and re-wrapped his wounds. Percy slept soundly throughout it all, with absolutely no reaction to the cold water as they rubbed the dirt and blood from his fur. Delia told Weezie of the life she had left behind. Of her father and younger sisters. How she had begged to be taken instead of her older brother, and how the administration had finally accepted. Of the work she had been doing at the hospital to become a nurse, and her sadness her training would never be completed. Weezie listened sympathetically, offering a few words of encouragement here and there, but mostly just listening. She had her own woes weighing heavily on her own heart, but with Delia so broken, pouring herself out to Weezie, she didn't feel it appropriate to burden her with her own problems. Delia had enough to worry about. Weezie could bear her's on her own.

After they had resettled Percy in the cart, they made their way together to their group's campfire. The moon had risen high in the sky, beginning its descent to the other side of the horizon. The shadows under the trees seemed dark and menacing, as though the firelight was all that was holding back the terrors of the night. Weezie was glad to step into its inviting light.

The rabbits were huddled together in little groups around the fire, warming their hands and watching the dancing flames despondently. Delia crouched down on the ground, accepting from one of the rabbits a piece of bread that she handed up to Weezie.

"We saved your portion for you," she said with her soft smile.

"Thank you," Weezie replied, truly grateful. Her stomach rumbled again in anticipation of the coming food. Everyone watched as she sat down among them and began eating, varying expressions on their hollow faces. Some had smiles, some held looks of tentative hope, while some seemed to relax a little their fears. Weezie didn't really like it- having so many eyes on her. That had always been Layra's job. Bossy Layra who didn't mind the attention. Weezie preferred working in the background supporting the people in charge, but these poor rabbits needed a leader, and she grimly accepted the responsibility. They all seemed to be far more at ease with Weezie among them, doing her best to stay cheerful and laugh and joke. Mother and Layra were now far away, but she wasn't about to abandon her calling- to brighten and cheer the lives around her. A few rabbits from other campfires even edged their way in, tentatively welcomed to the circle of light and laughter by the other slaves.

Weezie could see in the corners of darkness outside the firelight guards standing as sentinel over the camp.

"Do you think they really meant it?" A doe asked, breaking her out of her thoughts. Weezie turned to face her. "What?"

"Do you think they really meant it- about the wolves," she earnestly repeated.

"I don't know, what did they say about the wolves?" Weezie asked. She was tired from the longest day of her life, and really just wanted to curl up and fall asleep. The firelight reflected off the does wide, frightened eyes, while other rabbits turned their ears to the conversation.

"They said the woods are full of hungry wolves. That they might jump out and attack us if we got too far away from the campfires."

"Well then don't leave the campfires," Weezie said, getting to her feet. She wanted to go to sleep, but not here with all these rabbits who were watching her every move.

"I'm sure you'll be fine. Why would Morbin's wolves want to eat his slaves anyway?"

"If we follow the rules, we'll all be fine," one buck said, nodding his head. The other rabbits nodded their agreement.

Weezie turned to go. She had thought briefly about sleeping at a different campfire, but had quickly remembered Percy alone in the dark and decided she would sleep in the cart, just in case he woke up and was confused. The rabbits watched her in awe as she stepped out of the circle of light and began making her way to the wagon.

"Where do you think you're going?" It was Silas. He had detached himself from the shadows among the carts and planted himself firmly in front of her.

"I'm going to sleep in my assigned cart," she said, recovering quickly.

"You're going to sleep with the other slaves," he replied.

"Why?" Weezie was mad. She knew deep down it was wrong to challenge her superior like this. To lash out at the circumstance by lashing out at him, but she was tired and at the end of her rope, and it felt good to stoke the flame and release some of her frustration by rebelling.

"Because I said so," Silas said, taking a menacing step forward. "And I doubt you have a permit signed by the Governor's secretary to get you out of this one."

The what? Weezie was taken back for a moment. How did Whit get the signature of the Governor's secretary?

She had lost her moment for a witty comeback, so she glowered up at him instead. This was the last straw, and she wasn't about to hand it over just yet.

"There is absolutely no reason why I shouldn't be allowed to sleep in the cart." Weezie said, balling her fists and trying to keep her tone even. "There is an injured buck in there that needs cared for, and if I'm stuck by the fire I won't be able to do that. I doubt you are volunteering to take over my responsibility, Officer?" She glared up at him without lifting her head.

"I don't need to give you my reasons." His hand darted out, grabbing her tightly by the upper arm.

"Get back to the other slaves, now."

Silas roughly shoved her in the direction of the fire. "And if I catch you sneaking around again…" he let the sentence hang in the air unfinished.

Weezie almost obeyed. She almost walked away from the guard and back to the anxious, fearful rabbits. Almost. But the spark of hope had turned into a blaze of rebellion, and it wasn't going to be extinguished that easily.

"What, do you think I'm going to try and run away?" Weezie said, whirling around.

"I'm not going to go anywhere, I'm just trying to take care of him!"

"Your boyfriend is going to be fine through the night, but you-"

"He is not my boyfriend!" She shouted, interrupting him mid-sentence. If anything he felt more like a younger brother- a weak helpless buck that needed looked after. Nevermind she had watched him best three of Daggler's men in combat while mortally wounded, he needed her help now. She owed him that much for saving her life, and she needed something to cling to that would give that life purpose.

Silas growled, his patience about to snap.

"There's only one way I'm allowing you to join him," he said, drawing his sword. The firelight from the scattered campfires reflected off the steel blade as he leveled it threateningly in Weezie's direction. "Now get back to the campfire."

Weezie didn't know what to do. Submission was the last thing she wanted, but the voice in the back of her mind called out insistently to swallow her pride and obey. She slowly lowered her head, keeping her angry eyes on the soldier's face, and turned around. Before she could take more than two steps, something in her peripheral vision caught her eye. A large dark shape was moving noiselessly through the shadowy trees outside the firelight's reach. She drew her breath in with a sharp gasp as a jolt of instinctual fear ran down her spine.

"Well go on," Silas snarled. Weezie gasped, pointing across the clearing.

"No, look, there's something over there," Silas followed his gaze along her hand. Looking around, Weezie saw more and more shapes moving through the shadows. They were surrounded. With a growl that caused her fur to stand on end, one of them stepped into the light, fire and moonlight reflecting off its massive teeth and crazed eyes.

"Wolves!" Silas shouted at the top of his lungs, just as the clearing erupted in the chaos of screams, shouts, and snarling bloodthirsty beasts.