We are creeping closer to the end! Oh, it will be the most terrifying event you will ever witness. 20 writers, the ones that are writing this chain flash fiction story, are warning you: pack your carrots, dry your cabbage leaves for a long winter, and burrow your sorry selves in deep holes. Chapter 15 is upon us. (Read how it started here.)

Please welcome our 15th author, Rosalind Nazilli, (aka @vixenfiction). Rosalind is a writer with the concentration span of a goldfish. She is also as mad as a box of frogs. How does she know this, you may wonder? Because she learned a very long time ago, after a huge part of her life was misspent, that it's the only way to survive.

Photo by Martine Roch

EASTER BUNNY APOCALYPSE

Chapter 15 by Rosalind Nazilli

With many wounded, and all very weary, the bunnies slowly trooped back inside the warren headquarters. They were greeted with pats on the back and congratulations from their fellow soldiers; and most of all, by Easter, who was mighty relieved to see that the attack was processing in a most promising way. The world would soon be his, one hop at a time, albeit, but they were heading in the right direction.

His thoughts were interrupted by a young runner who hovered before him waving a piece of paper and hopping from one foot to the other.  Easter snatched it up and let out a low groan.

Beatrix, his wife, had chosen this very moment to arrive at the warren and was waiting for clearance at the main gate.

“What the fuck is it with the females of this species?” he addressed no one in particular. “Doesn't she understand that this is a war zone and the last place I need her to be?”

“As a matter of fact, Easter, I know exactly what this is and I have come to assist you in the continuance of this plan because I know you and you are likely to sit back on your haunches after this recent success and let it go to your head.”

“Who cleared you? You should have been sent straight home.”

“It's of no matter now and I want you to pay attention to what I have to say.” She hopped up onto the ledge where he was sitting, pawed her face and bristled her whiskers, and looked him straight in the eye.

“You have many fine doe fighters here, Easter. Heroines who are prepared to fight to the death to achieve this life ambition of yours; they're dedicated to you and are foregoing all chances of having a normal life to achieve it. They are equal to the bucks in every way.  But I have something they don't.”

“What in the—” he started to say but his wife raised her paw.

“I am a mother, Easter. As such, I know that any mother, of any species, will do anything to protect her young. With this in mind, it's obvious to me—if not to you—that the way to move forward in this war is to penetrate the schools and separate the adults from the children. Kill them if you must; but with their offspring in danger, the humans will fall to their knees and be overcome with the greatest of ease.”

Commander Easter looked at his wife in astonishment, as did the group of foot soldiers who had overheard her speech.

“Good God, Beatrix. You could bloody well have something there. Where's Gorse? Is he back yet?”

The runner pointed Gorse out to Easter who looked across and watched his comrade pace up and down, his voice getting louder and louder as he spoke into the radio set attached to his ear.

“Come in Kit. Do you copy? Kit! Kit? Damn it!”

As the Sergeant Major started to realize that something was terribly wrong, his attention was diverted by the arrival of four Peeps, supporting a covered stretcher between them, at the entrance to the warren.

The largest, ugliest, and dirtiest of them addressed the whole gathering.

“You don't mess with our king. You failed him badly and he is a very firm believer in an eye for an eye. You did not replenish us with one of your own and so we took one ourselves.  One of your finest.”

P.S.: This is the 15th Chapter of EASTER BUNNY APOCALYPSE. Here are other Chapters: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, and Chapter 14. Of course, if we all survive, Chapter 16 will be published tomorrow.