Starbasin

It is said that every rabbit meets the incarnation of death before they die. It is also a common tale that those who do not believe they are dead demand of this black rabbit, “Who are you?” Rhizome was no exception. A weasel had opened up his gut before the rest of the warren drove it off. Despite the best efforts of the warren’s healer, Rhizome shifted on the ground of his burrow. As the pain of the fever gave way to delirium, Death appeared to him.

“Who are you?” The words were out of his mouth before he realized how ridiculous the question was.

The black rabbit narrowed his red eyes and gazed through Rhizo. “You know me. All who see me know what I am.”

Rhizo forced himself to shake his head. “I know what you are and what we call you. But, is that your name? Is that what you call yourself?”

“My name? My true name is not for mortals.” The rabbit’s fur grew darker and pulled the area into a shadow all its own. “Do you think my name will allay your fear?”

“Of course not, sir.” Rhizo sat up and left his body on the ground. He took a moment to look at his injuries, multiple gashes left by claws raked along his gut. Although, with the unremarkable tan fur of his chest covered with poultice, he mostly looked like he had fallen in the mud. He settled on his hindquarters. “You’ve come to take me and as much as I might pretend otherwise, I am terrified. This is just the numb acceptance that comes with being overwhelmed..”

“If not that, then what use could you have for my name? You are not a warrior, who might swear vengeance upon me. You are not a seer, who might seek me out in the visions of your next life. You are not an herbalist, who might mix an herb to keep me away. Why would a warren rabbit seek the name of an enemy?”

“I don’t believe in enemies. I’m not important enough.” The words were reflexive, a phrase Rhizo had repeated many times in his short life. “Besides, the weasel killed me. You’re here to make sure I get where I’m going.”

Death’s red eyes flared a moment. “Are you a trickster? Planning on using my name to bargain for your life?”

“That seems rude and unlikely to work.” Rhizo flattened his ears. “I thought I would simply tell you that I want to live. I’m not ready to die, so I have to try something. I thought using your name would make it sound less about me.”

Death closed his eyes for a moment. “It’s strange. I have no idea what you will do with my name.” He was silent for a long time. “The Sun and the Moon named me Erebus. As my sister, the one your kind calls Prince Twilight, is the mixture of both Night and Day; I am darkness, the absence of both Sun and Moon.”

“It is good to meet you, Erebus. My name is Rhizome. If it’s okay, I want to live.”

Erebus’ expression was impossible to make out, hidden among shadows too deep to see through. “Yet, what will you do with life? Are you merely a warren rabbit, content to eat grass and worry about being eaten? Concerned about what doe you may find in the spring, if you live that long?”

“I don’t know.” Rhizo’s spirit looked at the ground. “I’m no hero.”

“Are you sure of that?” He narrowed his eyes. “You have the ability to surprise me, but can you do it again?”

“Surprise you? How could I have surprised you?” Rhizo paused. “Again? Will I get a chance to surprise you again?”

The shadow rabbit laughed. “That was never my choice. It seems it is not your time, but that is problematic in its own way. I do not see the path your life might take if you survive. Usually, I have some sense of the absence or presence of death.”

“I could tell you about it.” Rhizo shivered, only somewhat aware of the significance of those words.

“We have an agreement then. But, a reminder that it cannot change my duty.”

Rhizo awoke with a start. He felt cold and shivered despite the warmth of the burrow. His stomach felt like it had landed repeatedly on a rock. Notch, the healer of the warren known as Brambledeep, was applying another round of bad smelling herbs to the wound.

“You lost a lot of blood,” Notch explained. The healer touched his nose to Rhizo’s brow. “Although, your fever broke. That’s good. Prince Twilight must be looking out for you. Maybe because of what you did earlier.”

Rhizo shook his head. “I think it was someone else.”

“It doesn’t matter. Get some rest. I’ll bring some grass for you. You got really lucky. It will take a few days, but you should be back to normal quickly.” He ducked out of the burrow.

Left by himself, Rhizo wondered if his earlier vision was real or had he merely been mad with fever. Almost in response, two red eyes looked at him from the darkness.

“I’m not looking out for you. I’m merely interested in what you are.” The eyes seemed to float by themselves. “Trusting you with my name does not make me your patron.”

Panic gripped Rhizo. The eyes were real and Death was in his burrow. “Of course, sir. Your trust is a great gift, and I wish to be worthy of it.”

The eyes moved closer, trailing a darker shadow that approached. “Do not worry. I will not take you until your time. While I cannot stop it from happening, I also cannot move it closer. I’m here to listen to your story. How were you injured?”

“I thought you’d be aware. Weren’t you here because of that injury?”

“I am aware when things will die. I was actually here for someone else.” He settled on the ground in front of Rhizo. “I want to know how you will explain what happened. Why were you the only one hurt?”

“I was grazing. Just, like every other rabbit. I happened to see the weasel. He was avoiding the watch’s gaze, but didn’t think the warren rabbits were a threat. I got lucky, just happened to look in the right place at the right time.” Rhizo flattened his ears to his head. “I could have run. I should have. Run or stamp was the choice, and I chose to stamp.”

“You warned the others instead of saving yourself?” Death asked. “He attacked you to get you to be quiet?”

“Yeah. It feels so foolish.” Rhizo flicked his ears uncomfortably. “I guess it was something heroic. Almost anyway. A hero wouldn’t have been clawed in the gut.”

Erebus seemed to smile. The chill of his presence eased slightly. “It’s still your first heroic act. You’re more than you were, yet no different. Most rabbits spend their lives without ever thinking beyond the moment. You’ve been outside that comfortable insignificance. What will you do with that knowledge? What happens when you are significant enough to have enemies?”

“I don’t know. I could never be like Notch or Stargazer, saving the warren every moon. Driving off predators.” Rhizo closed his eyes and pushed away the shame. Why had he survived? Could he live with the responsibility of saving others?

The black rabbit’s eyes flared slightly in the darkness. “After your recovery, begin with Stargazer. There’s a reason she has not noticed you before.” With that, the dark presence faded and left Rhizo to think and recover.