Story: Shenart Finds Rabbit Man
Story by: Gail Nobles © 2025
Art by: Gail Nobles
As the sun dipped low behind the trees, casting long shadows across the forest floor, Shenart the kangaroo watched quietly from behind a thicket of bushes. The rabbit man, a peculiar blend of rabbit and human, moved through the clearing with an air of melancholy, brushing leaves off his shaggy coat. The kangaroo’s heart ached for him, feeling the weight of the world pressing down both on his own shoulders and on the rabbit man’s.
Days ago, he had scorned the rabbit man, mocking his odd appearance and the strangeness of his existence. Now, remorse twisted in his stomach as he listened to the conversations drifting from the rabbit man’s hidden dwelling. The rabbit man spoke of family—of relatives who had been captured, taken from their home, and forced into the confines of a cage at the zoo. With each word, the kangaroo felt a pang of fear, envisioning the same fate for himself should anything ever happen to his kind owner, a gentle soul who had raised him when the world threatened to take him away.
“Listen, we need a plan,” a voice chimed in from the shadows. The rabbit man turned sharply, revealing wide, expressive eyes tinged with worry. It was a gray hare, a fellow creature of the forest, and they were deep in conversation about their dwindling numbers and the dangers lurking beyond the treetops. “They’re coming for us, you know. We can’t stay here much longer.”
The kangaroo’s mind raced. He yearned to step from his hiding place, to offer his help, and to protect the rabbit man who had endured so much. But how could he, a creature of the open plains, navigate this intricate network of forest life? Could he truly make a difference?
With a deep breath, he emerged from the thicket, startling both the rabbit man and the hare. “I—I’m sorry for how I treated you,” he stammered. “I didn’t understand your pain, but now I do. I want to help.”
The rabbit man eyed him warily at first, the suspicion of someone who had been betrayed weighing heavily on his heart. “Why would you help me? I’m nothing but a freak of nature,” he replied, his voice thick with remorse. “I’m cursed.”
“Maybe you’re not a freak at all,” the kangaroo said, stepping forward, his voice steady. “You’re unique, and that means something. If we work together, we could help each other find safety and perhaps bring back those who have been taken.”
The hare perked up, intrigued by the proposition. “We could create a network, gather the animals who feel the same. Perhaps we can even scare them off, those who threaten our way of life!”
Encouraged, the kangaroo extended his hand, the glimmer of hope dancing in his eyes. “Let’s form a team. We’ll protect your home, rescue your family, and ensure that no one else has to suffer alone. After all, a curse can only control you if you let it.”
The rabbit man studied the kangaroo’s earnest expression, the initial caution beginning to give way to something else—trust. Perhaps there was strength in unity, a flicker of resilience they could ignite together.
“Alright,” he sighed, brushing a hand through his thickening fur. “But it won’t be easy. The world beyond the trees is more dangerous than you think.”
With determination, Shenart the kangaroo nodded. “Then we’ll forge our path together. For every family member taken, we will bring two back.”
And so, a kangaroo and rabbit man, determined to reclaim hope from despair, their hearts entwined by a shared burden and a future they could shape together. ..
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