Mother Rabbit

Mother Rabbit


Winter came early that year. Strong winds from the mountains swept across the hills, swirling and dancing around.

"Hmm…" said Mother Rabbit to her husband. I think we need to stock our food cupboard. It's time to close the doors for winter."

"Right, dear," said Father Rabbit. "Listen to the wind roaring… Never heard it so loud!

Mother Rabbit was on her way out to gather carrots before winter set in. The wind was cold and she ran quickly to the edge of the forest. Behind it lay the biggest garden in the valley.

The sky darkened. Heavy clouds were coming from the mountains and covered the sun. The forest looked gloomy, but Mother Rabbit knew a shortcut to the garden that was near the cemetery. The witch that hunted rabbits for their fur and ears was buried there.

Mother Rabbit reached the cemetery and looked for the fox hole. She used that hole before and hoped it wasn’t blocked. It went all the way to the garden, under the tomb stones. The Mole family had dug the tunnel years before, after Mr. Fox passed away. They could get from one side of the garden to the foot of the hills without having to cross the graveyard. Mother Rabbit didn't want to go in there either. It was spooky. She hurried down the Fox's hole. It was still open. She held the flashlight in her mouth and ran across the main den to where she knew the tunnel started.

It was blocked by a black rock and thinking she could move it, she pushed it with her front leg. Wrrrr… the sound came from under it. Mother Rabbit jumped back and looked carefully. It was smooth and reflected the light from her flashlight. She advanced again when suddenly it started to sway. It changed shape and became a tall pillar, then it collapsed and became flat as a floor tile. Mother Rabbit was amazed. She thought the rock creature was being polite to move out of her way. She thanked him and continued, jumping lightly over the flat living rock.

The Mole's tunnel was too small for Mother Rabbit. She had to crawl most of the way, even squeeze herself through some narrow passages. It took her longer than she thought. When she came out, a thunder storm had started and bright lightning played over the sky.

Walking out, she saw another rock-like creature by the exit. It was shaped like a snake and when she passed it, two burning orange eyes were looking at her. She couldn't help but stare back at those magnetic eyes and felt drawn to it by a mysterious power. She stepped forward and saw the snake lifting its head and moving toward her.

"Run, Mother," she thought. "Run before it strikes you!" She tried to move but her eyes were still locked with the snake’s. "Run!" she yelled and when her voice hit the air, the snake was surprised and moved his head. Mother Rabbit was released and jumped away. She ran to the trees and hid beneath some shrubs. "Fhew, that was close," she thought.

Ignoring the light rain that had started, she looked for the carrot bed in the garden.

A sudden noise came from the flowerbeds and Mother Rabbit leaped. She was not herself that night.

Another noise came from behind. Turning, she froze. A black wolf stood on the path, his eyes burning and his sharp teeth threatening. The wolf growled and started towards her. Her heart was hammering and she thought it was the end, but she couldn't let the wolf attack her! She knew that a jump to the right and running to the left would confuse him and then she would escape him.

The wolf kept growling, showing his teeth. Mother Rabbit jumped to the right and with a twist, turned left and ran. She didn't look back but heard the wolf behind. She ran faster and fell into a pit. Hitting the bottom, she lay still. Her head was sore and she lost her torch. It was dark and she couldn't get out.

“The wolf mustn’t find me,” she thought.

But he did. Jumping over the pit and not finding her, he came back following her smell. His nose picked her up down the pit, although he couldn't see her. Sitting on the edge of it and trying to reach his foreleg inside didn't do much good. The hole was too deep.

Mother Rabbit was shivering. She feared that the wolf would decide to jump in and catch her.

All sort of thought went through her mind: "I'm smarter than him. I could trick him and escape… I have my children to take care of…"

Cold, tired and still needing to get those carrots, Mother Rabbit thought of a plan, knowing the mean wolf would jump in sooner or later. She moved far away from the middle of the pit, trembling, but ready. Her plan was good.

"Grrr… Grrr…" The wolf growled and then jumped into the dark hole. As soon as his feet hit the ground, she leaped on his back and from there jumped outside and was gone. The wolf was stunned. He couldn’t believe he lost his catch again.

Mother Rabbit hurried to the garden, collected as many carrots and radishes as she could and headed back to the cemetery.

The snake was still guarding the tunnel. “I must walk through the cemetery,” she thought. The wolf was gone so she entered the dark graveyard, making small hops from one tombstone to another, checking around all the time.

At night, the place looked scary. The rain and wind made her wish she'd stayed home. It was impossible to see through the sheets of rain and nearing the old witch's tomb, a shiver went through her. " Those stories aren’t true," she thought. "The witch can't harm anyone anymore…"

She went around the witch's grave but suddenly, a light shone on her and she heard the most horrifying laughter coming from that grave. It was loud and mean. It rolled around the cemetery, echoing beneath the tombstones. Mother Rabbit stood still.

The laughter stopped and Mother Rabbit was about to run to the gate when she heard a hissing coming from behind. "It can't be that snake," But there he was, raising his ugly head and staring with his orange eyes. Turning to the right, Mother Rabbit froze. The other rock creature was there. Hoping he would let her pass she made a step forward and stopped. The friendly rock creature changed shape and became a black wolf with burning eyes. That was the end. She couldn’t escape both of them. The basket dropped to the ground and her eyes closed, waiting for the attack. She sent her thoughts to her family and was ready to die.

"Not yet, rabbit!" came a voice from above, a squeaky voice that sent needles through her body. THE WITCH! How on earth did she come out of her grave? And what does she want with me?

Mother Rabbit looked up, and there, sitting on her broomstick, was the ugly old witch. She had a long nose, hollow cheeks and her dirty hair was flying around her head. She was bone thin and her black gown was smeared with mud and other stuff Mother Rabbit didn’t want to think about.

"God, save me from the witch!" Mother Rabbit prayed silently.

The witch laughed as she flew down, got off her broom, and stood in front of Mother Rabbit.


"Enough games for one night," croaked the witch. "I need something from you and you can give it to me or you'll die and never see your children. If you refuse me, I'll kill you and go hunt for one of your children. The choice is yours!"

Mother Rabbit didn't dare look at the witch and curled into a ball to think. She knew the witch collected rabbit's ears. "What shall I do without my ears? I’ll never give her my ears!" But her children would be in danger if she refused. So what to do?

"It's my ears you want, isn't it?" Mother Rabbit felt sick to her stomach.

"Ah! Little rabbit has a voice!" The witch opened her black bag, and holding it upside down let everything in it fall out. Ears. Rabbits ears. Hundreds of them. Small and large. White and black. All smelling of death and pain. A terrible sight!

"Poor rabbits," she thought. The snake made a warning sound and Mother Rabbit knew there was no way out.

"Yes. You guessed well, clever little rabbit! But not both ears. I don’t need them both. One ear would do nicely. Not much to ask, is it?" The witch shook in a crazy burst of laughter.

"One ear!" thought Mother Rabbit. A small price to pay for her children.

"Why do I have to give you the ear?"

"Simple," said the witch. "I need a thousand rabbit ears to bring me back to life. I have 999 lovely ears. The last one needs to be given freely, or my spell won't work. If it won't be given, I'll be dead forever. You don’t want to see me dead forever? What would this place be like without one decent witch in it? Ha ha ha….. Hurry, I still have a long way to go to the land of the dead. It is where I shall claim my life back!"

Mother Rabbit had a plan. Sacrifice one ear and get rid of the witch! The world would indeed be better without her!

"Fine," she said. "Have my ear. But you'll never hunt for another rabbit as long as you live!"

The witch gave the rabbit a strange look. Such a small rabbit that makes brave demands was something she was not used to. But she needed the ear to be given, so she held her anger back and said, “I promise!"

The witch came to Mother Rabbit holding a sharp knife in her bony hand.

Mother Rabbit realized that her plan was going to work and she could get rid of her. It was a chance to save the children and rid the world of one vicious witch . It would cost her one ear, but that was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

The witch couldn't be trusted and her promises were not to be taken seriously, but making her believe the ear was going to be given freely was part of the plan.

"Now what?" asked Mother Rabbit.

“Wait,” said the witch and signaled the wolf and the snake to come closer. They stood in front of her and turned each to a rock. Then the two rocks moved towards each other and formed one big rock. The witch touched it and it change again, stretched and twisted until it became a long thin wire. The witch threw the wire into the pile of ears on the ground. The wire twisted and crawled among the ears and strung them like beads.

The witch smiled viciously and said, "You see, rabbit, I need the last ear to come from a brave rabbit that has a strong will to live. I've tested you all night. You have been very brave, and very clever. I've never met a braver little rabbit! And now my spell will work perfectly! I am really satisfied. Are you ready, dear? After your ear is cut off, you must say in a clear voice: 'Here is my ear, given to you Witch Blackheart - willingly'. Remember these words. You must say them. And once you have given me the ear, you’ll be free to go, dear. Free to go." The witch started to sing a tune. She was pleased but her voice sounded terrible. Mother Rabbit said nothing about it.

She was thinking about what the witch said. The witch was lying. She was never going to set her free. It was a risk she must take. Her family needed her… and for the price of one ear? She had to try.

Heart thumping, she closed her eyes and waited for the pain. The witch was still humming a tune and Mother Rabbit felt her kneeling beside her. Mother Rabbit didn't dare look at the witch. She didn't want to see the knife and her own blood.

Suddenly, she heard a voice calling out. A familiar voice. A rabbit's voice, but whose? Opening her eyes she saw the witch standing and calling out to her rocks, but they were transformed earlier into a wire and with the rabbit ears threaded on it, they couldn't get free. The witch started shouting when she saw six rabbits standing around her victim, all looking brave and ready to fight.

"Off with you, rabbits! I must have my last ear!" The witch was angry, but Mother Rabbit noticed fear in her voice. She was not surprised to see her husband and children arrive from nowhere. They came looking for her. Why was the witch suddenly scared?

The witch looked at the sky and murmured, "By night, I’ll be dead forever. Why couldn't I get my last ear? I was so close… I could be alive again… powerful. Stupid rabbits. I'll kill you all. The wizard had warned me not to try and get the last ear. I should have listened to him. Now I won’t be able to get out of my grave at night. I will be gone forever and ever. My powers, where are my powers? This is terrible." Her voice trembled, "Help me! I’m fading away! Weeee…" Her voice was fading, too.

Mother Rabbit wasn’t scared anymore. She ran towards her family, hugged them and they watched the wicked witch fade away, turning into dry bones which fell to the ground in a thump. Never again will the witch kill rabbits or harm anyone; She was gone forever. Mother Rabbit smiled gently at her family and said, "Let's go home. It's late and I'm tired."


Hanna © October 2003