I loved Sween Furrow. I loved her with every inch of my being. From the moment I met her, so many years ago, I knew she was the one for me. Her sweet smile and bright eyes always made my heart flutter, but it was her fighting spirit that I loved the most. But I don't understand why our story didn't have a happy ending. Where did we go astray?

I know she loved me back. There was so much understanding between us, so much chemistry! From the very beginning, it was as if we were made for each other. Both of us understood that life was bleak. We both had people in our lives who made it that way. But it felt like our friendship made every breath worthwhile, especially when times were hard.

It had been three days since we met in the forest and Sween was on the mend. Mum was so pleased to have her and Vicca too. Whittle's twin, my sister, always craved the friendship of other does her age, most likely because she lived in a household of brothers.

Those three days past without incident and full of fun. I would even go so far as to say they were the best of my life. It all ended when I found Sween crying on the porch steps.

"She doesn't want me back." Sween wiped the tears from her eyes but more flowed to replace them.

I studied the letter over her shoulder. It was short and blunt, not at all what I would have expected from a mother. The message was clear and sharp as a sword stroke.

I sighed and sat down next to Sween, not knowing what to say.

She sniffed. "I should've expected it." Her voice was hoarse. "I should've known she'd wouldn't miss me. I guess somewhere... deep inside... I thought that maybe..."

"If you ran away, she'd realize how much she loved you."

Sween looked up at me. "I want a family, Garten. A place to belong to. Is that too much to ask?"

"Of course not. In an ideal world, everyone belongs somewhere and people aren't cruel. That's just not the way life is."

Sween looked down at the tear-stained letter in her hand. "It shouldn't be that way."

I patted her hand. "Mum and Da say it won't always be like that. There's this thing... They call it the 'Mended Wood'. Soldiers like my Da think of it as a time when Natalia will be safe, every corner of it. Mum says it'll be a time of prosperity for rabbits everywhere. I think," I leaned over, lowering my voice so no one could hear but Sween, "it'll be a time when no one will be sad, ever. Families will stick together, friends will get along, and peace will reign over everyone."

Sween smiled weakly. "That sounds wonderful. I just... What do we do until then? I still have nowhere to go."

"Of course you do, dear! Don't you fret!"

We both turned to look at my Mum, who stood in the front doorway, hands on her hips.

"Mum!"

My mum clucked and glared at me. "Don't you worry, Garten, I only heard half of your conversation and a quarter of the whispering!" Her eyes twinkled. "Now come, dear, and dry your tears. Your mother will come to her senses one day and realize that she rejected a simply delightful young doe! Until then, I know of a young mother whose husband is off fighting King Goode's wars. She's just had a youngling, a feisty little buck named Emery, and needs a hand about the house. I'm sure she'd let you board if you agree to help her out."

Sween rose to her feet, leaning against the porch rail for support. "Where does she live?"

I looked at my Mum.

"Just up the road a ways, near Houndcric Road."

Vicca peered around my Mum's frilly skirt. "Why, that's perfect! Sween and I could go on being friends!" She clasped her auburn-furred hands. "That would be lovely, don't you think, Garten?"

"Lovely," I murmured, a thousand fantasies filling my mind as I stared at Sween's wide, blue eyes. Vicca giggled. I shook my head, fiercely clearing my throat. "I mean, that would be quite... convenient."

Mum rolled her eyes. "But what do you think, Sween, dear?"

Sween's eyes darted between Mum and me. "I think that would be... lovely." She smiled softly and winked at me.

Vicca shrieked in delight, retreating into the house. "Wilfred, Wilfred! Put down that dull old book and listen to this!"

Mum nodded to herself. "There, now that we've got that settled, why don't you be a gentleman, Garten, and help Sween to the supper table? We can visit Mrs. Dann and baby Emery in the morning."

I helped Sween up the stairs and into the kitchen, past Vicca, who was dancing circles around Wilfred, curled up in his favourite chair as always, and Whittle, who was sneaking a bite of Mum's pie. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I imagined my own future family in a home just like mine. Instead of Mum and Da, though, Sween and I ran the household.

#TheTraitorsLove #Swerten? #SwhittleForever! #ItWillNotBeSointheMendedWood

#MORETOCOME