SWC writing competition || Pre-Escape

Instructions

I woke up, cold of course. Peggy right by my side keeping warm. Her ears down and eyes shut. I stroked my hand down her body. She awoke and licked me. Our life is hard. Peggy is the only true friend I’ve ever had. Even if she is a rabbit, I love her and she loves me. She’s loyal, patient, loveable.. I can’t imagine life without her. Today is the day I keep telling myself. The day we leave the life of cold and sleep in caves and trees. A year of doing this has been enough. I packed, ready to go. (Not that there was much to pack) Peggy hopped to my side. Her white fur over a year has turned to a light gray. “Ready?” I asked her. Not expecting an answer I walked on. Did we know where we were going? No. Hours later.. Peggy got tired and I picked her up. In the distance we saw a faint building in the shape of a hut. Should we go? I didn’t want to intrude. “They’d understand.. Right?” I asked Peggy looking down, finding her sound asleep. “Okay..I got this.” I approached the buildings and noticed how deserted it looked. “What are you doing here?” A boy a bit older than I am asked. “Sorry I didn’t mean to intrude I-” The boy covered my mouth with his hand. “Follow me.” He said. Without question, I followed. “Why is no one here?” I whispered. “No one’s supposed to be out at this hour.” He said. “Why?” The boy hesitated. “It’s dusk, the hour of the lions.” I stayed silent not knowing what to say. He led me to a tiny hut. “So what were you doing out there?” I asked. “I wanna make a change around here, I don’t want to hide from the lions till morning, I want to befriend them.. But that’s not the point, why are you here?” He said pointing a stick toward my eyes. “We have been trying to find our way back to civilization, we were chased into the woods last year by a lion on a school field trip, I found Peggy here and we've been together since.” I gasped realizing I just told him everything. “Interesting story but okay, and, don’t worry I’m not gonna tell anyone your here.” He said. “I’m Koni.” I hesitated telling him my name, “I’m Maeve.” I say truthfully. Koni let us stay at his place for the night. It was weirdly comfortable despite sleeping on the floor. The next morning.. “Maeve! Wake up!” Koni said, shaking my shoulder. I sat up, rubbing my eyes, Peggy was still sound asleep. I picked her up and woke her. “Throw this on.” He said simply. I glared at the pile of clothes. I saw what looked like a long worn out brown pillow case (apparently it was a dress). I threw it on reluctantly. “Remind me why I have to wear this?” I ask. “So you blend in, the chief doesn’t like unfamiliar faces.” I gulped. “What about Peggy?” Peggy grunted. “Stuff him in here.” He held out a big brown purse.’ “Her.” I corrected. “Just keep a low profile.” He said. “Okay..” I say. “The village has a schedule, if we are to stay here we are to follow the agenda.” I nodded as we walked on the dirt paths surrounded by other citizens. “How are you today Koni?” A person asked. “Good.” He said with a panicked but cooled voice. She walked away and my heart softened. “Off topic but, what’s for breakfast?” My stomach grumbled. “Fish.” Okay not bad. We headed to the tables and Koni grabbed my dish. He placed it in front of me. “Thanks.” I say. Koni looked around to make sure no one was looking, his dark brown bangs flipped side to side as he turned. “When you leave can you take me with you?” He asked out of nowhere. “Um, why?” Another pause of him looking around. “I don't really like this village, the rules, schedule, there’s no freedom! I’m done with it.” I looked around us, there was order everywhere you looked, not much laughing or smiling, it was like robots, like they were controlled over someone. “I mean, what’s the plan to escape first of all?” I said unsure on what to say. “During the lion hunting hour, we’ll escape not even the guards are in action at the time, it’s the perfect time!” The plan seemed a bit vague and seemed like it would fail, is it worth the risk? “I’ll tell you more at dusk, we have to follow the schedule right now.” He said frantically. Dusk dawned on us and I was anxiously waiting to hear the plan. I stayed in Koni’s hut for the 2 hours before dusk, luckily the rest of the schedule was optional. Koni walked in. “Koni!” I said happily, I hugged him like a brother. Even through this past day, we’ve invented a relationship, a brother-sister relationship. I'm glad to have him by my side to escape. ... to be continued