The ice had broken as she had chased after Amy. She had fallen. She was going to die. The cold snow pushed against her face and numbed her hands. She took a sharp breath and her lungs contracted painfully. The crystals of snow were sharp, like small knives digging into her skin. She struggled, pushing with her arms outward. But the snow had hardened, it was like blocks of ice were surrounding her. She dug into the ice with her nails, hoping it would help her. She let out a yell, hoping Amy wasn’t too far away to hear. “No no no no no” she whispered, trying to save her breath for when she needed it most. She kicked with her feet, pushing upward, but with no success. She heard a scream echo through the trees, though it was quiet to her. Amy.

It was too cold for her small body, she was going to freeze to death. Her teeth chattered violently and she couldn’t move her hands. Black was starting to cloud her vision and she blinked frantically. She knew she couldn’t stay conscious any longer, and she gave up. Letting herself slip into nothingness.

***

Rhys sat on an empty bed, fiddling with his hands. He didn’t know what to do with himself right now, now that Vell was gone he didn’t know what he would do. He had never come up with ideas, Vell had. And now that Vell was, well, dead Rhys didn’t know what to do with himself. He still felt broken, he was hurting from loss. But he needed to be strong, for Kat. Kat had treated very kindly and he had to say she was one of the best rabbits he knew. Now that Vell was gone he had her, and Amy. But Amy didn’t seem to like him for some reason, he didn’t understand why. Rhys inhaled shakily, his heart aching with grief. The other does had disappeared, they were taking Vell somewhere more “elegant” And Rhys was thankful. Vell deserved much more than what he had received in his short life. Maybelle was the first to return, removing her apron as soon as she was in the room. “Hey.” She said, her voice rough.

“Where did you put him?” Rhys questioned, sitting a bit straighter.

“By the large oak tree”

“Okay. thank you.”

“Of course. Have you seen Kat?” Maybelle asked, her eyes avoiding Rhys.

“No, have you seen Amy?”

Maybelles brow furrowed, “That Amy doe said that you knew she was leaving.”

“Wait, WHAT?!” Rhys jumped to his feet abruptly. Maybelle looked frightened, and she backed away into a corner.

“She didn’t tell you?” she mumbled.

“NO!” Rhys exclaimed, already out the door.

He needed to find Amy, and Kat. If he knew Kat, which he didn’t really, she would have gone with Amy. That would leave him alone. He stomped outside through the snow, and saw tracks leading to the forest. His heart was beating too fast to be healthy, he could feel it in his stomach along with a queasiness that he had since Vell’s death.

He followed the footprints until he came to deeper snow, it was too high for him to see over, but it was coated in a thin layer of ice. He would have to go around. Avoiding the trees he made it to the other side, he couldn’t risk falling into the snow. Rhys followed the tracks leading into the deeper woods.