Chapter 1 - Rabbit?

When I opened my eyes, all I saw was pitch black. I couldn't see anything.

Where am I? What happened to me?

My mind raced. Was I kidnapped? Locked up in some sicko's basement?

I tried to stand up, but something felt… off. My body wasn't moving the way it should. My limbs were all wrong? If that's the right word for it.

Panicking, I tried to grab my hand, only to realize I couldn't. My fingers wouldn't move. Instead, I felt something furry and soft brushing against me.

A paw.

Wait. What?!

Frantically, I looked around, squinting into the darkness. Then, just as I was about to spiral further into my confusion, I saw a faint light behind me. An opening—like the entrance to a cave.

I stumbled toward it, limbs awkward and unfamiliar, and stepped out into the sunlight. A gentle breeze hit me, and for a moment, I felt… calm. The sunlight warmed my body, and the fresh air from the surrounding greenery was oddly soothing.

Then I looked down.

Two small, white, fluffy paws stared back at me.

It took a second to sink in. No. No, no, no, no. This can't be.

I shuffled to a nearby puddle, peered into the reflection, and there it was. A bunny stared back at me.

Not just any bunny. A very cute bunny. My fur was as white as fresh snow, my ears drooped slightly at the sides, and my eyes were wide and shiny.

Sigh.

"So… I'm a rabbit now."

My memory came rushing back like one of those flashback portions that you commonly see in a movie. It's kinda weird but oh well, I guess I died. From what? An accident. A Fucking accident! A plane crash—specifically, a plane crashing into my house. Who even hears about stuff like that? If I hadn't been the victim, I wouldn't have believed it either.

Another sigh.

If there's a sigh counter this would probably be the time to start counting or make it into a drinking game because based on what happened, let me tell you that you'll be drunk in no time.

"Great. Just great. First, I got flattened by an airplane, and now I'm a rabbit. What's next? Am I going to end up on someone's dinner plate?"

What do rabbits even do anyway? Eat grass? Roll around the grass? Play with other rabbits? Sleep in burrows? Smoke grass? It isn't even possible for rabbits to smoke grass!

My stomach growled, snapping me out of my sulking. Right. I needed food. And considering I was now about as threatening as a plush toy, hunting was out of the question, considering that I'll be the one that's getting hunted instead. So… grass it is?

If a human saw me, what meal would they make me into? Grilled rabbit? Or perhaps Rabbit stew? Well, I guess I need to survive, and to survive I never thought that I will ever say this, but I need to act cute!

Maybe they will even take me home as a pet and live my life like a nouveau-riche rabbit and eat some tasty treats.

Considering that when some people from a certain country in Southeast Asia found out that the government was planning to turn rabbit meat into common food, some citizens even protested in anger. This means that cute is justice!

I glanced around. A patch of wild grass swayed gently nearby.

"Well, guess there's a first time for everything. Let's see if this meets my… godly palate."

Hopping over awkwardly, I nibbled at a blade of grass.

Gulp.

This taste, this aroma, and the flavors rushing into my palate made me imagine I am sitting on a throne of flowers, and below me is a paradise filled with all the finest grass in the world! I have reached foodgasm.

Nah, I'm just joking the taste wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly a gourmet meal either. Still, I wasn't about to complain. "Not bad," I muttered between bites. "Could use some seasoning, but I can live with it."

I kept munching until I was full, and as the sunlight warmed my fur, drowsiness started to set in. I hopped back to the cave—the closest thing I had to a home—and curled up in a cozy spot. Within seconds, I was out like a light.

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When I woke, the sun was still low in the sky. It must've been dawn. I remembered reading somewhere that rabbits are crepuscular animals—active during dusk and dawn to avoid predators.

Predators.

A chill ran down my spine. I tried not to think about wolves, foxes, or anything else that might turn me into a snack. Surely they wouldn't find me on my first day, right? Right?!

Well, I hope so, because I am only 1 day old since I reincarnated just earlier (Oh wait, I'm not even 1 day old), I still have more grasses to eat and maybe someday I will even have the chance to eat the legendary carrot only mentioned in the old legends passed down to me by my great great great great grandfather rabbit, who was said to have eaten the legendary carrot!

To calm my nerves, I hopped outside for some fresh air. As I chilled near the entrance of my burrow, I noticed something. Movement.

I turned my head and spotted it. A small green caterpillar, happily gnawing at my grass.

"Hey! Get off my lawn, you disgusting worm!"

Fueled by a ridiculous surge of territorial pride, I hopped toward it. The caterpillar didn't notice me at first, so I snuck closer, crouched low, and…

Pounce!

I bit down (gently, because ew, no way I was eating it!) and crushed it with my hind legs.

[Obtained 1 Exp.]

If you ask, why didn't I just bite it off, well I do not want to eat caterpillars and just the thought of its juices oozing and my tongue tasting it made me shudder.

Wait. What? Before I get sidetracked again, did I hear it correctly?

"Did I just… gain EXP"

Like those in the video games?!

Before I could process what happened, I heard movement again. Another caterpillar was munching away a few feet away.

Time for round two. I pounced again, squashing it just like before.

[Obtained 1 Exp.]

I blinked. This wasn't my imagination. I was gaining experience points.

"Wait, wait, wait—does this mean I can level up?"

This means that I might possibly level up and even evolve like what I have read in web novels! And what should I evolve into? I know, A bigger rabbit! I will be the biggest rabbit in town, the boss rabbit, the don of the rabbit mafia.

Well just kidding, it seems that it might be possible for me to escape my fate of being prey forever. But can I really evolve? What if I'm just stuck in this form forever? Never managing to escape my life of being hunted down by the big guys. Well, whatever, EXP is EXP!

Excitement bubbled inside me. I scanned the area, spotting more unsuspecting caterpillars. One after another, I went on a miniature rampage. By the time the sun fully rose, I'd squashed ten of them.

[Leveled Up! 1 → 2]

[Obtained [Skill] Bounce Lv. 1]

"YES!" I pumped my tiny paw in triumph. "Not bad for a rabbit's first day."

Curious about my new skill, I tried it out. When I used Bounce, my hind legs launched me farther and faster than before. It wasn't much, but it's honest work.

Exhausted but satisfied, I hopped back to my burrow and curled up again. For the first time since I woke up in this strange, fluffy body, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I wasn't doomed to be prey forever.

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As the rabbit drifts off to sleep, outside the burrow, where glowing eyes peer out from the bushes. Watching its surroundings with a vigilant aura. A shadowy figure steps into the clearing, sniffing the air.