Page 14 of The Rabbit's Foot
“So do you think you can shift today?”
It had been three weeks, and the rabbit was looking much better. He was no longer a sack of bones, and the demands for more water chestnuts amused Mal to no end. At least he was eating. Lydia said she was honestly surprised at how good he looked. The strips of missing fur had filled in, making his coat all gray and glossy. His eyes had lost their haunted look and now were alight with what Mal could only call wonder as he hopped around the room.
It was obvious—to Mal, at least—that the healing shifters were renowned for had finally revved up again and was taking care of most of the worst damage. Except the missing foot. That would never heal, and it saddened Mal.
The rabbit sat up on his haunches and peered at Mal. He seemed to be… asking for something?
“Okay, you’ve already eaten twice, had a ton of water, and your poop seemed normal.”
The rabbit ducked his head, and if Mal didn’t know better, he’d swear the bunny was blushing.
He reached out and tapped him on the nose. “Don’t look like that. When I was in my First training, I had to deal with all manner of bodily excretions. They don’t embarrass me or gross me out. It tells me you’re getting healthier, and that makes me happy.”
The bunny sat up again and, Mal would swear, preened.
“Yeah, yeah. You’re a cute bunny.”
That seemed to make him insanely happy, as he dashed around in circles on the bed.
“Can I ask you something? Did you lose your paw a while ago?”
The bunny nodded.
“Yeah, I figured from how easy you could move without it. I’m still sorry it happened.”
The bunny rubbed against Mal, who absently stroked a hand over the soft fur. Then it came to him. The rabbit might not be able totellMal what he wanted, but there were other ways.
“Why don’t you show me what it is you want?”
The rabbit walked to the edge of the bed and appeared ready to jump down.
Mal snatched him up and put him gently on the floor. “You’re not healthy enough to jump off the bed, ya silly thing. Now go on. What is it you want?”
The rabbit stood and hopped toward the door. Then Mal got it. He’d been cooped up in the room for weeks, without having a chance to go out and see the sun. There was a lake not too far from the motel, and it gave Mal an idea.
“You want to go outside.”
The rabbit nodded, then turned his gaze back toward the door.
“What would you say to taking a ride down to the lake? You’d have to stay near me, but—”
Once again, the rabbit started spinning in circles. Mal had apparently made him happy with the suggestion.
“Fine, let’s go do that now, then.”
He stood and picked his jacket up from the back of the chair, then shrugged into it. Next, he picked up the rabbit off the floor and tried to figure out what to do with him. He wasn’t a normal rabbit, which was shown by his propensity for Chinese food, so Mal didn’t want to stuff him in the saddlebag again.
“Okay, if I put you in my jacket, do you promise not to move around? I don’t want us to have an accident, and sure as hell don’t want you slipping and falling.”
The rabbit’s eyes widened, but he nodded. Mal took him out to where the bike was parked, then proceeded to put the bunny in his jacket. He was surprised when it snuggled in, just his head up over the top of the leathers.
“I’ll go slow,” Mal promised, not wanting to scare the rabbit.
The rabbit seemed to have other ideas. He nudged Mal, then kinda bunny scowled at him.
“You want me to open it up? We can go pretty fast, so you need to be absolutely certain.”
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