LOST IN THE BURROW







By:
Plum

	Once upon a time there lived a bunny named Plum. Everyday felt the same and nothing ever changed. Plum lived in a burrow surrounded by a beautiful field full of flowers that always provided their every need. Nearby was a family of mice who they loved to play and dance with, the mice may as well have been family! Together they shared in the bounteous nature they were so blessed to be apart. One day plum entered the burrow as usual but being fed up with the same old routine decides to take a different pathway home “was this pathway always here?”  Plum said to themself.”This may be just what I needed, perhaps even a blessing from lady spring herself!” plum exclaims. And so off they went down the pathway, twisting and turning every which way. Plum felt no fear as they trusted their sense of direction. Eventually coming to yet another fork in the path, plum stopped to sniff as they carefully checked both passageways. Their little nose bounced in rhythm to their heart “The left is the path for me! I have no need for the right indeed!” plum suddenly remarks, putting a strong hope in their heart they bounded off to their left without hesitation!

The passage started to narrow causing plum to move more carefully. They hear water rushing somewhere in the distance and a cool breeze coming from deeper in the cave. Avoiding spiders and crickets, yet enjoying the occasional sight of a slippery salamander. Having more time to think, plums' brains turned devious. scenarios running through their head, remembering things once said. As the cave twists so does the mind , making up stories to fill in the blanks between memories, plum starts to frustrate. “how could my friend make such statements, clearly they must want me dead! All their love was a ruse, a fakery to feed ego, what a snake!” The passage twisting further instills dread “oh what sorrow plagues my bunny head how lonely I find myself i'll never love again! I'm better alone instead!” Suddenly plum stops , the roar of distant water filling every sense plum closes their eyes and starts to  cry. wondering what wrongs they committed to be so hated by all ..now wait one minute what is this! “Why, oh why do I rotate in my mind such thoughts, what spurred such hate, was it me? Did I make up such to fill the quiet space with something other than the cold dirt around my face? I did! I did indeed, none of that is real so why does it sting? There were many good times too I can't forget, playing in the flowers with the mice, sharing sunflower seeds. Perhaps my mundane life isn’t so bad. I should remember nice things.” Plum remembering the dancing and the singing brought such pleasure they were able to push forward, soon the small passage opened up to a larger room with space to breathe.. Or so it seemed…

	Suddenly the floor gives way! Plum tumbles down deeper quickly , yet managing to land intact rolling softly down a small decline to the ground below. The room they found themselves in was beautiful, columns from ceiling to floor from thousands of years of solidifying minerals into shining white crystals, stalactites and stalagmites dotted with blue and silver and the sound of distant water in the background. The ground is covered in waves of empty pools leaving a psychedelic illusion of ripples in solid stone. Most mysterious of all, what appeared to be metal machinery, man made metal objects that still shined, though aged, throughout the dark room. It was these that caught plum's eyes. The evidence of past residences of this strange room. Once plum got their wits from the fall they decided to investigate, recognizing quickly their nature. Instruments! A whole orchestra's worth of instruments stashed for reasons unknown, some stringed and without rust despite the humidity and cold! Lost in the moment and thinking that perhaps the noise would attract help, Plum decided to play these metal beasts. Bearing their soul they let loose a curious tune , filling the cave with their heart and lifting their spirits. The influence of twisting passages and bending mind vibrating from the instruments. Reflecting ,reverberating and bouncing off the walls into a warm embrace.

	It was not long until plum heard a noise, or so they thought. Their long ears perking up they quickly fall out of the trance they once were in. Plum scurried behind a glittering column and carefully looked every which way, hoping to get a glance before whatever cave creature- or thing- does first. It isn’t rare for a bobcat or mountain lion to make their home in a cave such as these, Plum neglected to consider this when distracted by the instruments most lovingly played. In the distance feet were heard scuttering about, quietly echoing from passage to passage mysteriously so. Plum sniffed, being cautious not to alert this questionable intruder. “Is it them that is the intruder or I?” Plum thought to themselves “Oh what a change this has brought indeed, time seemed to move at an unreal pace, without the sun guiding the way or the moon to give pause we are left only to guess how long it's been or when I’ll see the stars again”. It was then that plum heard a noise, almost familiar in tone. “A squeak..? Could It be? A mouse deep in the cave ? A harmless creature whose nostalgia inclines to love, what joy that would be!” Plum thought. Again a squeak! This time more clear! A mouse was here! Plum lost their fear and stepped into the clear announcing their presence with the most adorable sound “plooeeeeee!” plum squeed, almost accidently. They quickly cover their mouth and yell once more “ hello! I am a bunny known as plum. I heard your squeak, I am great friends with the mice above and would love to meet!” Then from out of the shadows appeared a friendly looking mouse, wearing a small straw hat and a backpack almost as large as them. They looked happily at plum and said “greetings! My name is Daisy the mouse and traveler. I have been in this cave for some time now. Never expected to see a bunny so deep, how did you get here anyways?" Daisy pondered “Excuse my interrogation, but there is no other way in but the way I came! It's very curious indeed!” Daisy said. “I fell from above, it seems an old wooden platform was covered in mud, rotted away and down I came!  luckily landing on an incline catching my fall. I got lost in the beauty of it all! I couldn't believe my eyes at the instruments, as I'm sure you heard!” plum said with a tinge of embarrassment . Daisy stood shocked, looking upward at the hole far above, her mouth agape. “You fell so far, I can’t believe you're ok, and thank goodness for it! Your talent brought fresh excitement. It had me quaking, although I will admit it was equal parts fear as it was beauty. To hear such haunting tunes in a cave That has yet been empty!” plum started to blush at the compliment while simultaneously feeling a tinge of guilt for striking fear in such a friendly little mouse. “You know, I play music too!” Daisy remarked “I grew up in a place dubbed broadway and many great musicians did too, they taught me a thing or two. I'd love to jingle o’ string with ya!” Daisy proceeds to pick up the nearest instrument and starts to  belt a miraculously silly melody, exactly what you'd imagine from such a funny mouse! Plum of course soon joined, playing in a way they never have. Cementing their friendship quickly and easily as if they had met in another life. The playful tune danced amongst the dripping stalactites. bringing joy to the once lonely cave. “It's a pleasure to meet you daisy! I thought I was going to be alone for good!Thank you for the tune. You play such fun melodies!” plum gleefully expressed. Daisy then gave plum a quick scruff on the head and brought them further into the cave, showing plum the many rooms already explored and the potential ways to go, what luck they both had with the natural growing mushrooms that came from the soft dirt with which food was abundant. Together they shared in that scrumptious joy and looked excitedly to what the future may bring…