#pillowtext

[laststopmart]

"snow in seabreeze, huh. I've never seen it before." There was a heaviness in pillow's voice.

"in seabreeze or ever?"

"ever. It's beautiful."

"it sure is. It's cold, though. And we don't know what else is waiting out there. Be so careful."

"I will, I promise"

A quick kiss, and a rabbit's first steps into fresh, crunchy snow. Cut to black, gunshot.

[laststopmart]

"so most of your story makes sense, but, ah, did you not see the SC-SEA reports about the cracks? It was all over the news for like, three weeks."

"no? Is it worse than I thought?"

"no dude! They sent a probe into the cracks, and it almost instantly hit another probe, one of theirs. The cracks have nothing to do with you, it was one of their so-called expeditions."

"but-"

"they said it was a scientific thing, but I have my doubts. Either way, doesn't that make more sense than space and time falling apart because You made a friend? Now c'mon, we need to get our next move figured out."

[laststopmart]

After a couple years in dustveil, pillow's friends are waiting back home. And so is a long, long road through the desert

[laststopmart]

Before the rabbits left, the girl pulled Pillow to the side, back to the blanket fort with her flickering CRT. She pounded on the screen, forcing the static to clear.

"You asked me about this, once. This is the one." She was quiet, voice shaking.

"Where?" Pillow couldn't pull their paw away from the screen, they couldn't stop staring at the image.

"In a place that's different and similar to your home. A city guarded by dozens of water towers. You'll save each other. At least, I think so."

Pillow pulled themself away from the television to hug the girl.

"We'll come back, we'll find a way to get you out of here. Kirbun, JD, me, and the rest. I promise."

"I'll keep an eye on everyone and do what I can, too."

"Thank you. I'm so glad we were finally able to understand each other."

[laststopmart]

This time of year is unbearable for pillow. Winter weather, but the solstice hasn't come to visit yet. The itch at the base of their antlers won't relent until then, when they fall off. Vain as they are though, pillow can't help but love being able to wear their winter jacket and have their fully grown antlers on display. Such is life.

[laststopmart]

"if it won't rot, maybe she's not dead? Maybe she's stuck in that nowhere place you were talking about."

"that's even worse. We were lucky to get out last time. But you're probably right."

[laststopmart]

"Well, happy first day of winter, everyone! We got a nice little cold snap today, with the low being a chilly fifty three degrees. Expect the weather to stay in the mid to high fifties for the next ten days, with a slight chance of rain on Thursday. Over to you, Kelly!"

Pillow rubbed their paw over the bloody spots where their antlers had been a moment prior. That explains the awful itch they had the last couple days. They sighed, wrapped their head in a thin layer of gauze, and continued packing.

"Thanks, Ross. Sounds like it's about time for me to start bundling up! And speaking of bundling up, channel 5 news has a reporter on the ground today, as the Southwest Coastal Space Exploration Association prepares to launch a probe into the cracks at 11 am today."

Pillow looked at the clock. Ten forty five. This had to be enough stuff.

They plodded to the door. JD hugged them, tightly.

"Don't die in there."

"I'll try not to."

Pillow covered their wounds with a bucket hat, hefted their backpack onto their shoulders, and opened the door.

And walked directly into the crack.

[laststopmart]

pillow belonged to leo. he didn't approve of their move and absolutely LOATHED jd for moving in with his pillow without his permission.

pillow fucking hated leo.

they feared that they would never get anything better. leo felt the same.

a collar can choke hard enough to make you dizzy and taste a fake freedom.

love and hate are very much the same.