In the magical realm of Trigorria, many families kept black rabbits and Ruby Eyed White rabbits in their homes as family members. In fact, adopting one after the passing of a loved ones was often seen as a blessing upon the house. When a white rabbit stands on its hind legs and stares towards nothing, it is often thought that the animal is welcoming a friendly spirit into the house. Meanwhile, the black rabbit would keep the family safe from any spirits that were not welcomed.

Below is a tale of a person attending the Spirit Festival of the Rabbits:

Nigel awoke with the dawn. He stood up from under his simple lean to, stretching and hearing his bones pop – a sound a nineteen-year-old shouldn’t be making. He didn’t like camping outside but there were no structures near the Spirit Woods. Looking about, he saw many others camped as well. Some had very ornate tents, others had nothing but a bed roll.

It was the end of the month of Octobré. The last two nights had a full moon, and this would be the third and final day and night of the Spirit Festival. So far, a Messenger hadn’t greeted him, but he would not give up hope. It had only been a half dozen months since the passing of Kayleigh – the thought causing his throat to close and his eyes begin to mist over. The trip had been long and helped clear his head of a lot of things, had him think over others and decide on the steps to take for a new path. But there was one thing he had to do now. And he refused to walk away from completing this chapter of his life.

He began to prepare. The simple wooden plate before him had wilted greens and browning vegetables from the previous offering. He dumped them aside, along with the other ignored offerings, wiping the plate clean. From his pack he withdrew what he had left. Some cast offs – cut tops of some radishes, a few leaves of lettuce and a sprig of mint he had left over from last night’s soup. It was a paltry offering, but it was all he could gather along the trip.

Placing the plate in front of his simple lean-to as he had the two days before. This time, he included a small bowl of water and used his pack to create a makeshift mini lean-to shading the area. His offering wasn’t as elaborate as most people about but again, beggars couldn’t be choosers. His mind floated to when he had been a beggar until Kayleigh found him.

He shook away the tears and settled in to wait, watching the Spirit woods once more.

Nigel tried not to watch the sun as it climbed into the sky, reached its zenith and then began to descend again. He tried not to feel envy or stare as Messengers greeted other groups lining the large forest. He simply had to believe. Had to believe that even a pauper, one that had often strayed from the path of right, could be chosen. He had to believe in love.

A sudden, small flash of white fur headed in his direction. It veered away for a moment, toward rather opulent display of greens by a small pavilion but suddenly leapt in the air, body twisting against nature, before landing on the ground and sprinting towards where Nigel sat, holding his breath. For his part, Nigel did his best to relax, letting out the breath and loosening his shoulders. Any sort of tension would be sensed by the approaching creature. As it came to a stop, Nigel smiled softly and said in a quiet tone, “Welcome, honored Messenger.”

The Messenger stood up on their hind legs, head twisted towards Nigel, their nose wiggling. Whether it was the words or the scent of the mint, Nigel felt a swell of gratitude as the Messenger hopped over to him and began to partake of the offering.

The Messenger was perhaps only a foot and a half long, their white fur a stark contrast to the green grass around them. They kept one ruby eye on Nigel while they ate the radish top and the mint leaf, then began to drink from the small bowl. Finished with the meal, the Messenger shook their head, turning back to regard Nigel fully and, after a moment, their ears swiveled towards him.

Nigel fought back a momentary feeling of inadequacy. He knew that the Messenger’s eyes and twitching nose was noting his scent and his aura, making sure they knew who he was – what paths of his life he had traveled - for good or ill - and could recognize him and those he loved from his spirit. One of their ears twitched in impatience and Nigel nodded.

“Kayeligh,” he began, “I am safe.” A tear began to roll down Nigel’s cheek, but his voice didn’t waiver. He had practiced the short message during the month’s trek to this place. “Everyone else made it out. I am keeping my promise to you, leaving that life behind. Without you, the danger is not worth it. I do not blame myself anymore for your passing and I promise I will find happiness again. You rescued me. You changed me for the better. I will miss you. I love you.” Only sixty words would the Messenger take. He could have made them more eloquent, but Kayleigh was never one for cultured words.

The Messenger folded their ears back – trapping Nigel’s message. They would head back into the Spirit Woods, where during this time of year the recently departed will be awaiting their final journey, and carry the message to Nigel’s beloved Kayliegh before she crossed over.

From the forest came an inhuman roar and the Messenger hopped quickly to Nigel’s side, putting their body against his leg. Nigel instinctively placed a caring yet protective hand upon the Messenger’s back and said, “Don’t worry, Messenger, your brothers and sisters will keep us safe.”

Unfortunately not all that awaited in the Spirit Woods were kind nor quiet. From the tree line burst forth dark shadows – wraiths of those tortured and evil souls who wished to escape their final judgment. They began to move towards those that camped outside of the woods and if they reached them, they could force themselves into their bodies, escaping death.

They would never make it.

Quick on their heels were the Guardians - Black rabbits that ran at a speed that was almost blinding. As they gained the heels of the wraiths, they would simply bound through them, their dark fur absorbing whatever they hit and crippling the wraith. The evil spirits would falter and fall and quickly the Guardians would bound into them, erasing them from the world.

One wraith had made it to within a dozen paces of Nigel but, despite his racing heart, he didn’t flinch nor flee. To do so would not only spur the wraith on faster, but it would be an insult to the Guardians. The creature reached out with a clawed arm as a Guardian leapt through its arm, severing the taloned limb and others quickly dispatched the monster.

As Nigel began breathing again, the Guardians began to clean themselves, washing away the darkness. “Thank you, honored Guardians,” Nigel said in that soft tone once more. “If you wish, please refresh yourself at the bowl.”

The Guardians cocked their heads at him in unison and a half dozen of the black rabbits came forward, partaking of the water before returning to their stalwart duties. The Messenger gave Nigel’s hand a quick lick and joined them on their journey back into the Spirit Woods.

Nigel gave a sigh as more tears began to streak his face. He watched the Messenger disappear back into the woods, his message on its way to Kayleigh’s spirit.

To the Guardians, the Messenger and Kayleigh he whispered, “Goodbye.”