The sun has hardly began to breathe life into the world when Catherine and Nathalie woke with a start. Something was tapping at the entrance of the shelter. A cinnamon colored eye peeked through a gap and they sighed in relief. It was Jacob, the robin carrier, with a message form their parents to inform them that the Gorm destroyed the warren and was last seen following footprints in between the two rivers. There was no time to lose. Nathalie checked the map with Jacob’s help and soon the group of rabbits set off through the fields, heading ever north.

Hopping through the fields, the land was silent. There was a lot of rain during the night and mud enveloped the fields, making walking harder. Leaves whirled to the ground, making it look like a mud cake with a couple of deformed sprinkles.

Nathalie knew that the Gorm could easily track the rabbits down with the intense smell of mother’s perfume they have taken as a memory, the aroma stayed on for hours. By midday, they were up on Rimbombee Hills and the rabbits came to a halt. Ahead, they could just make out the outline of a home. A hermit’s home. Perphaps we could hide there, thought Nathalie.

Several hours later, they found themselves walking up to the house, looking for an open window. The door was locked and none of them had any hair clips on hand. Trudging through the mud, Nathalie, Catherine and baby Maximilian went around the walls until they found an translucent window, probably leading to a bathroom, which was leaning forward. The darkness of the bathroom pressed in on them. Silently, they all tried to find the door but that wasn’t an easy task. When they found it, they crossed there paws and opened the door to find an old man watching the television. Fortunately, he didn’t notice them. They snuck upstairs into a bedroom which was being renovated. Catherine knew he wouldn’t come here in the night.

Scared, baby Maximillian leaped onto a mattress and was soon fast asleep. The bedroom had no wallpaper. Paintbrushes, paint rollers, trays, carpet samples and toolboxes cluttered the floor. Nathalie suggested that Catherine should go find some food since she is smaller. With these words, she crawled into the kitchen and manages to take a loaf of bread, butter, chocolate chip cookies, a cucumber, salt and a flagon of milk. At least they would not be hungry.

At that moment, there was a call from the living room, “What yer doin’ in m’ house?” A drunk ancient face stared at the kitchen. She climbed into a cupboard with the food, her heart racing. Catherine froze. The hermit was going towards the kitchen and he picked up a shovel and umbrella on the way.

Would Catherine ever go back to her siblings?