The plain was still as the rabbit nibbled the grass, his eyes watchful for hidden threats. All seemed well, yet a sense of unease pervaded the scene.
Then it happened.
A twig snapped somewhere in the distance, the source hidden by the densely brush of foliage. Alarmed by this, the rabbit jumped, his feet carrying him away from the percieved danger before his mind had processed it.
'There were certain advantages to being a rabbit' he thought as he skipped down the dirt path that surrounded the lush field.
His self assured state would not last long. The rabbit was not a quarter of a mile up the road when -BOOM- thunder from an incoming storm set a tree alight, causing it to fall just as he was coming around the bend- not directly on top of the unfortunate creature- but just enough to pin the frazzled rabbit in place.
Smoke began to fill the small creature's lungs. He attempted to wrench himself free, but ended up getting himself even more entangled in the branches. Panic rising, he thrashed harder, butof course this got him even more trapped still.
The unfortunate creature was about to attempt the same fruitless exercise a third time when a noise stopped him. It was a small incredibly soft sound. Others might have missed it, yet to the keen ears of a rabbit it was impossible to miss- the ever gentle slithering of a snake.
'Maybe if I freeze and try really hard not to move, it won't notice me.' Half blind and attempting to stay very still at the same time, the rabbit peaked out from his vantage point. In the distance he spotted what he had heard: bright green scales contrasted sharply with the dullness of the earth beneath her.
For the rabbit time seemed to slow. He was sure his life was over, but then something happened that he never expected- the snake didn't go for him. No. Instead she slithered between the twisted branches, pulling them apart. Taking his chance while he had it, bolted out of the nature made trap and back to the clearing. Looking back, the rabbit thought the small snake would be trapped just as he had. Rabbit even warily considered going back to help, but before he could act on this impulse of good will, the slender snake slithered out of the burning tree with practiced ease. Cautiously, the rabbit approached his unlikely savior, though he was careful to keep his distance.
"You're not going to eat me?" Fear and skepticism laced his voice.
The snake looked like she was expected this. "Some snakes might, but not us garter snakes. We only eat insects."
"I thought snakes ate everything ," Rabbit replied.
The snake laughed humorously, "Best not to judge a book before you read it."