Noctisardor Bypass 1 "They're not as big as I thought they'd be."

Rabbit was ready to turn around and leave. Better to let the small thing find it's way, he thought, especially when there were places for him to be and a frightening, deepening night to deal with.

Grandmother saw the hesitation in him. She scoffed. With the aid of her stick she moved in to assist while shooting the rabbit a shrewd look. When the rabbit began to back towards the shadows and the hedges she quickly thrust the holly stick out to bar his passage.

《We are not done here!》 She hissed lowly at him. Grandmother was afraid too. They could not be caught here, but it was not right to leave the child unprotected.

《Have you lost your mind?! There could be more of them. They could be just around the corner, and these beasts won't be too happy to find us - save to eat us quick!》 Rabbit was not going to stick around for much longer. Let the beasts choke on elder bones while he made his escape, for all he cared!

While the rabbit made his jittery protest, Grandmother was moving in to help the helpless child. She could not quite bend and lift with her fine little arms, and so she grabbed her stick and levered it beneath the child's middle. It wouldn't be comfortable. As the rabbit wasn't being any help, Grandmother could only do so much.

《One would think, being of a prolific clan such as yours, your people would have more kindness and care for the young. Worthless little man.》 She grumbled.

The rabbit had abandoned her, though. Grandmother had managed to lift the cub over the edge of the den and was now holding the rest of them up with her spider-like fingers and tiny palms, trying to carefully push the child's bottom and slide them like a loaf of bread towards the dark warmth of the den.