The Final Hop

The soft morning light filtered through the towering trees as Mister Hopper stretched out his long, lean legs, yawning lazily. His ears twitched to the sounds of the forest waking up around him, the calls of birds, the rustle of leaves, and the gentle breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers. Beside him, Mrs. Hopper nestled close, her fur warm against his, a reminder of the joy they’d just shared in their little burrow. Life was peaceful in their small corner of the forest.

“Time to gather some breakfast,” Mister Hopper murmured, nuzzling Mrs. Hopper gently before hopping out of the burrow.

The forest was familiar to him, the trails well-worn under his paws. He nimbly bounded between the bushes, scanning the undergrowth for clover patches and tender leaves. Every now and then, he paused to nibble on a particularly lush blade of grass, savoring the fresh dew clinging to it.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, something in the air felt… off. His instincts screamed at him to turn back, but hunger urged him forward. Just a few more hops, he thought, spotting a patch of bright green grass ahead.

Suddenly, the ground beneath him gave way. He felt a sharp tug around his leg, and before he could react, Mister Hopper was suspended mid-air, trapped in some kind of wire snare. Panic surged through him. His heart pounded in his chest as he struggled, his tiny body twisting in a futile attempt to free himself.

A shadow loomed over him.

“Private Butts, I got something!” A voice boomed, followed by loud footsteps.

Mister Hopper’s vision blurred with fear as two towering figures emerged from the trees — humans. One of them, with a grinning face and muscular build, leaned down to inspect him. His uniform was dirty, smeared with mud and leaves, a patch on his chest that read “Harden.”

“Oh, look at this little guy!” Private Harden said, nudging Mister Hopper with the butt of his rifle. “I reckon Sergeant Thalia will be proud of us.”

Private Butts, a lanky man with a nervous grin, stepped closer. “You think we should… you know, put him down?”

Mister Hopper froze, his breath quickening as he heard the cold words. The men’s laughter echoed in his ears, cruel and harsh against the peaceful backdrop of the forest. They didn’t see him as a living creature, a husband to Mrs. Hopper, just as a target in their training.

And that’s when he saw her — Mrs. Hopper — watching from a distance, her eyes wide with terror.

“Come on, let’s finish this quick,” Private Harden grunted, raising his rifle.

Mister Hopper’s last thoughts were of her, his beloved Mrs. Hopper, as the darkness closed in.

Mrs. Hopper’s heart raced as she crouched in the bushes, watching in horror. The soldiers — humans — towered over Mister Hopper, their cruel laughter filling the air. Her paws trembled beneath her as she watched Private Harden raise his rifle.

She had always feared the humans, ever since she was a young bunny. They were clumsy, loud, and careless, but today they weren’t just a distant threat — they were killers. She couldn’t move, frozen by the sight of Mister Hopper, her love, dangling helplessly in the snare.

“Mister Hopper,” she whispered under her breath, tears welling in her eyes.

Private Butts shifted uncomfortably, his nervous energy palpable. “Are we really doing this?”

Sergeant Thalia, a stern-looking Latina woman with piercing eyes, appeared behind the soldiers. Her uniform was immaculate despite the rough terrain, and she looked every bit the authority figure the soldiers feared. “Finish the job, Private Harden. This is survival training, not a petting zoo.”

Her words were final, cold, as though the life of a little rabbit meant nothing.

Mrs. Hopper wanted to run, to do something, but all she could do was watch. The crack of the rifle shattered the quiet forest, and her world fell apart. The love of her life, her companion, her Mister Hopper, was gone. His body fell limp to the ground, lifeless.

The soldiers didn’t linger. They dragged Mister Hopper’s small, broken body away as though it were a mere trophy, something to prove their survival skills.

Mrs. Hopper stayed hidden in the shadows, her body trembling with grief and anger. Her world had changed in an instant, the peaceful forest that was once their home now felt like a place of danger and sorrow. Slowly, she turned and hopped away, back to the burrow that would feel forever empty without him.

But even as she fled, one thought burned in her heart: the humans had taken everything from her. And now, alone in the forest, she would never forget.