Changes 1

Fuzzy was awake. It was dark, terribly dark.

"Hello again, you bastard."

Fuzzy focused on the form emerging from the darkness. A pudgy calico rabbit squatted at the edge of the circle of dim light. Fuzzy looked closely at him.

"Mossfoot, how are you?"
"Dead, but you knew that."
"Naturally, I killed you. You get to be first?"
"It wasn't easy. There was a lot of competition. You were very busy I see."
"And I have to face you all again, yes. Can we get on with it? I have an appointment."
"Not yet."
"What?"

Mossfoot's voice took on a pleading tone, almost wheedling.

"You stubborn thing. You have do die first. Why won't you die?"
"If I'm not dead, why am I here?"
"You're close. So very close. What finally got you?"
"Wyrmbun."

Mossfoot laughed, a rattling, raspy sound.

"Irony. I like that. It takes a monster to kill one."
"I'm not a monster."
"That isn't the consensus among the waiting."

Fuzzy leapt forward and skidded through Mossfoot's form.

"Fool. You need to die first."
"Worth a try."
"Why don't you let it go? It can't be pleasant, Wyrmbunny gnawing at your flesh. Not that I'm complaining. The knowledge of your suffering is the first pleasant thought I've had in years."

Mossfoot watched Fuzzy carefully. When the moment came, advantage would go to the first off the blocks. In the meantime though, distraction.

"I very nearly wasn't the first you know. The Colonel is waiting."
"Is she?"

Mossfoot seemed surprised, even a little shocked.

"You didn't think she would be?"
"I didn't have anything to do with her death."
"Of course you didn't. She is here though."
"I can't imagine what she left unfinished with me. The decisions were always hers."
"Even to have me killed?"
"You decided that yourself. Did you expect that nothing would happen?"

Mossfoot shrugged.

"I underestimated you, or I overestimated myself."
"I don't see how you thought the apes would help you."
"I was hoping they'd eliminate you. She needed you to stay in power."
"She would have found someone else quickly enough."
"I could have forced concessions during the transition though or failing that co-opted your successot."
"I can see why you're first."
"Why is that?"
"You obsessed over me. Very unhealthily I might add."

Mossfoot wriggled in frustration.

"Why don't you just die so we can get this over with?"
"You don't enjoy spending time with me?"

Around the two rabbits, the shadows began to solidify. Shapes of other rabbits formed in the gloom. Mossfoot licked his muzzle involuntarily. Then he saw the shape moving through the assembled throng. Shadows sliding to either side of the large dark form. Mossfoot wailed in rage.

"No! I get my chance first. You promised."

The form resolved itself into a large doe the color of a moonless night, sleek and predatory.

"You presume much."