>>1124798
Hm. There's a few ways he could know that name, can't shake the possibility he knows Lucy somehow. It's not strong enough to actually talk to him, though.

>>1124798
He know you by name, and he's not trying to shoot you, but this could be a trap. But then why isn't he attacking?

He might be trying to distract us. Someone could be sneaking up on you right now. Look around for anyone else nearby. And keep an eye on him in case he reaches for his gun.

If he wants to talk, tell him to talk, but also hide behind something so you can duck for cover if he starts shooting. And not just behind a lone tree where he could pin you down, somewhere that has an escspe route if you need to run away. And we'll need to strike a balance between talking quietly enough to avoid attention, but loudly enough so that you can hear each other from a safe distance.

>>1124840
Rudger's name was probably on the adoption/ownership paperwork Lucy signed, Gargill and its agents would have access to those.

if you are unhappy with the path that you are on, but cannot see any others, then perhaps it is worth the risk investigating even the most unlikely alternatives.

>>1124882
endangering a rebellion because of personal dissatisfaction isn't even an option here lol, fuck no to that

tippler 2026/05/05(Tue)19:40 No. 1126397 ID: f1368b
File 177801002856.png - (11.52KB , 500x500 , p67.png )

>Don’t let him get close
I take cover behind the nearest sturdy tree and glare at him from around the trunk. “Put your hands up and don’t get any closer!”

There aren’t any other reptiles close enough to hear me speak although there’s plenty of activity in the area, we are in the neighborhood during a warm day, after all. We should be able to have a conversation without anyone noticing.

The chameleon seems to be performing the same check. He raises his hands and shuffles a little closer.

“What do you want?” I say, not bothering to keep the hostility out of my voice. This is the enemy! Anything he says will be treated with great suspicion.

“Speaking on behalf of Gustave Gargill, we’d like to make a deal with you. The three other escapees I don’t think we have much hope for, but you lived with Lucy Green for a while and can understand us reptiles better. All we want is to produce food safely for our people.”

I motion impatiently for him to get to the point.

“You care about Lucy Green, who we currently have in prison. She is guilty of murder, and it would be trivial to keep her there for the rest of her life. But–if you cooperate with us and give up whatever attack or rebellion you’re planning, we’ll allow you to stay here with Lucy, as owner and pet. The other three can leave for the wilderness.”

Do a flip-the-bird dance. Even if you were selfish enough to take the deal, Gargill would renege their end of the bargain and then vivisect you just because they can.

Honestly, if you could get any assurances that they'll hold up their end, it's not a terrible deal. That's a pretty big If though.

Prod for further information, while trying to lure him closer to the trap. And hey, maybe downplay Lucy's involvement in your activities, just to make things a little easier on her.

Maybe something like "Why should I trust Gargill after he set up Lucy?" Deny any scheming on her end, and make it seem like your understanding of events is that Gustave wanted to get rid of Lucy to remove your protections and flush you out.

>>1126397
If we were doing this, the other two are a maybe, but that's really not gonna fly with Grass. Assuming Gargill could be trusted on this deal, Grass would likely go back on it and screw us over in the process.

>>1126399
I agree. This sort of truce only really works if both sides have something on the other.

Respond sympathetically first, say you understand that reptiles like Lucy need to eat. But that doesn't give you any reason to think he wouldn't stab you in the back if you follow through on your end.

We'd need something legal on paper with Lucy to confirm. That's how reptiles do things, right? Legally binding agreements?

...If we play this right, we could get Lucy in a better position to bust her out. Whatever that existence on the run would look like, it would be on the table.

But why would you believe him? Why would the company let any of you go when they could just eliminate you? Or if they didn't care, then why are they tracking you down?

We need proof

>>1126397
A hunter will try to trick you.
You are just a dumb bunny to him.

This offer is a seemingly clear escape route that ends in a net.
Tempting you with everything all of your side wants and a vague gesture towards their goals.
Its too good to be true...
Pretend to be considering it.

But.
Something occurs to me
This encounter had brought focus onto what it us cargill wants.
The status quo maintained.
And, if he has chosen to offer a deal, that tells you something important.
There is something within your power to do that can upset it.
You have to suspect by now that physical strikes are going to have minimal effect.
Theyre not afraid of your ability to cause physical damages.
Im beginning to think the thing they fear is...
Your voices.
youve been trained to think your voices have to be hidden from lizards.
But why?
Well, not all lizards would care, but im willing to bet a portion of them would be like lucy and balk at the idea of eating a creature smart enough to talk.
And that would hit his sales.
Just foid for thought... what if the biggest way to hurt cargill is to start talking to lizards who have had their consumption of you so sanitized they dont even see you moving, let alone realise youre sentient beings.
Not all will care, but if you find one in ten... then that is appreciable damage.

tippler 2026/05/07(Thu)19:52 No. 1126469 ID: f1368b
File 177818355949.png - (12.73KB , 500x500 , p68.png )

“I don’t think Gargill promises are worth squat. How come you’re the ones who arrested Lucy anyway? Sounds like you set her up after stalking her. How do I even know she’s okay and that you haven’t hurt her?” I snap.

“I assure you she’s very much alive. We left a picture of her in her cell at your burrow in front of her house.” the chameleon says blandly. “I guess you didn’t see it.”

“And what’s stopping you from arresting her again and killing me as soon as I agree? I don’t have any legal rights as a rabbit and she’s a war widow.”

The hunter shrugs. “You can’t be sure. I can’t be sure you’ll uphold your end of the deal either. This is an attempt for a truce before anyone else gets hurt.”

IMPORTANT CHOICE:
A. Pretend to agree, but continue with the pitfall trap and hostage plan (It will be hard to save Lucy this way)
B. Agree to the deal sincerely (How will you convince your brothers, especially Grass, to leave?)
C. Threaten to take rabbit intelligence to the public by talking to reptiles around town (Wildcard)

C) Go nuts.

B.
The life you had with Lucy was the best you've ever had and you know it. Get back together, then get the hell out of Dodge. Skip town together. You don't need to convince the others of anything, either. Your disappearance is all they need.

C is a bit silly. For one, why threaten them with your wildcard option? That just ruins the element of surprise and gives them time to figure out how to spin it.

Aside that... From Lucy's conversations at the library, your average reptile kind of knows but has been propagandized since childhood and chosen the healthier mental route of not caring. Not that Rudger knows that in-character. He does know it's a hick conservative town whose main industry is making us into food.

But can we really call it the ending to soapbox quest if we don't get up on a soapbox at some point? So I think if we don't announce it to the hunter's face, C could be an interesting way to end things.

On another hand, I don't see broaching B with the gang going any way except a fight to the death with Grass. Because you will be everything that he ever accused you of being: a sellout who gave up when it got hard for an easy life as a pet.

My proper vote is for A. We'll do our best for Lucy, but we've spent all this time preparing to put nuts to butts and we've got more than just our doomed Juliet to save.

IF C wins, I suggest we NOT announce our crazy Hail Mary plan to the enemy. Instead, we go to their school and start there. Show the kids to their faces that they're eating people who can talk, tell them about your horrible conditions. Maybe it'll get to a few teachers too. You'll probably accomplish nothing in the moment and risk getting caught, but you'll seed ideas in the future generation. Best case scenario, someone in the media comes salivating over a potential scandal and we can get a chance to get something even further out there.

A) there's no way to trust them

>>1126469
A, but C should be given more consideration. I like the idea of leaving rabbit-produced Literature around town, just revealing we're capable of language seemed to be enough to convince Lucy and I'm willing to bet she wasn't unique in this.

>>1126469
Thinking on it, c only has the drawback of not putting us any closer to getting lucy free.
Kept secret or not.

So, if hitting them with releasing the secret of rabbit sapience is the plan, keep it quiet and pretend compliance while preparing it.

I say A, but keep the pit trap in the back pocket. Dont use it just because we have it, but when we need it.

Even if knowing about bunny intelligence doesnt put as many as we would like in opposition to cargill, at the very least they should have to live with the knowledge of what they are doing rather than hide it behind cargills sanitizatikn of the process.

C, but in a more clandestine way, as has been suggested

tippler 2026/05/09(Sat)20:55 No. 1126536 ID: f1368b
File 177836010225.png - (13.41KB , 500x500 , p69.png )

>A, with C influence
It feels weird to be talking to an unfamiliar reptile like this, out in the open. With Lucy I took weeks to feel brave enough to speak to her in the privacy of the house, I didn’t want to talk to Violet at all, and now I’m negotiating with a man who wants to kill me and my brothers like it’s a chat in the backyard.

Being treated like a person instead of meat, because I have something they want. The bitterness burns the back of my throat. Was it really this easy the whole time? Should I have told Violet to stop when she was touching me?

I want to confront her. I want to scream at all the carnivores that they’re eating people and that they’re monsters and should be ashamed of themselves. I’ll go down in a blaze of defiant glory.

I’m the only one who can do this. Lucy prepared me–it’s not something I can ask for from my brothers. For now, I need to stick with the plan of rescuing at least one doe so that they can have their dream and that means acting like I’m going along with the deal.

“Okay. Yeah. The life I had with Lucy was the best I’d ever had and I’d do anything to get it back. What do you want me to do?”

“Tell the other three to leave. If anyone sees them in town again, we’ll know you lied. Meet us in front of Green’s house tomorrow morning so we can verify the location of your burrow, and afterwards we’ll retrieve the snake. Wear your collar.”

That sounds like the perfect opportunity to lead Gustave and the chameleon to the trap. “Fine. I’ll be there.”

The chameleon nods and walks away, back to the street. I feel empty. What should I tell my brothers this evening? They might be suspicious if I give the full truth.

>>1126536
Keeping secrets just gives Gustave or the chameleon ammo to sow discord later during a critical confrontation.

The chameleon spotted us and he tried to cut a deal for a truce. We're going to use that to draw him out, maybe even Gustave. They need to know this, so they know where you're going and who you're going to be luring back, and that there might be more than one. They need to be ready with both the pit and the gun.

Anything about Plan C, they don't need to know. Beyond that point, it's not their problem anymore, it's our own personal mission.

>>1126536
...This isn't smart. We're made, frankly, we've essentially confirmed the rebellion exists AND agreed to show up to what will almost assuredly be some kind of ambush. And for what, bait? He now got to set terms. He's not biting.

All we have now is a chance to book it and re-establish ourselves elsewhere...

...or. or, we could raid the factory during the meeting time. I think forces will be divided enough for it to be a good time for a left hook. Bolster ranks, cause a stir, find SOME way to truly strike these genocidal pricks where it hurts.

>>1126547
Sounds about right.

tippler 2026/05/23(Sat)23:05 No. 1127106 ID: f1368b
File 177957753061.png - (12.06KB , 500x500 , p70.png )

I’ll tell Root, Sky, and Grass everything I learned today and discuss the plan moving forward, except the part where I’m planning to stay behind. Even though Grass is an ass I think I’ve proved myself to him enough that he won’t question my loyalty.

I’m slow returning to the burrow as the adrenaline ebbs out of me. It’s still light out and hot and I stay in the shade as much as possible. My muscles hurt from working on the trap the past few days–the fresh forage doesn’t even taste sweet on my tongue as I mechanically fill my belly before ducking into the tunnel.

Everyone’s there resting in the cool darkness. I tell them my story.

“I’m not actually going to betray you guys.” I mutter into the barren silence.

“I didn’t say anything.” Grass sniffs. “I think this is great. We might even get that Gustave guy as our hostage.”

Sky raises his hand. “Should we try to raid the factory at the same time while they have their guard down?”

“No, we’ll need all of us here to use the gun and tie up a reptile.” Root says decisively. “Good job Rudger! Are you feeling any better?”

I shrug. I feel horrible. So what.

“And be really careful when you go to meet them tomorrow, we don’t want you to get ambushed. If you don’t see both of them out in the open I want you to run.” Root pats me on the shoulder. “How about you get some rest, we’ll make sure everything’s ready for tomorrow.”

I jerk and twitch every time I feel myself approaching sleep. I move to the corner of the nest so I don’t bother the others with my trouble.

>The next morning…
>Weather check (warm or wet): Wet
I leave the burrow early, in the dim damp dawn, eyelids aching. The leaf cloak keeps me dry as I go to Lucy’s house. There’s a damp bit of thick paper in the mouth of my burrow. As the sun rises behind the clouds, I get enough light to see an impression of Lucy, looking thin and scared behind metal bars.

A car rumbles down the street and stops in front of the house. A large crocodile and the chameleon emerge, both holding umbrellas.

>>1127106
The reptiles will be sluggish. Could be good, could be bad. They might not pursue if we try to lure them into a chase. But with our gang knowing what's up, we can bullshit these guys by pretending the other rabbits refused to give up on their plan. We can pretend-sell them out and offer to lead these two to the burrow to finish the job.

You don't even need to act to look despondent.

Stay on guard and let's see what they have to say.

You need to be ready. Gargill may be arrogant, but it's a corporation. They will have analysts and cubicle workers ready to analyze your every move.
You need to make the company trip on itself - figuratively and literally. Remind them that they're all in competition with each other.

>>1127106
The chameleon is bad enough, but something about that croc is just nasty.

Look flighty.
As if youll run should they get too close.

Got to use their assumptions about rabbits against them

And, find out more about lucy.
How're they gonna free her?
Hiw sre thry making the murder charge go away?
Then, timescales.
When?

tippler 2026/05/25(Mon)17:04 No. 1127169 ID: f1368b
File 177972864022.png - (14.07KB , 500x500 , p71.png )

>The rain will make them sluggish
True, as I watch from my hole the crocodile gives an enormous yawn, revealing his huge pink maw.

I leave the photo and slowly emerge from the dripping shrub and the reptiles immediately hone in on me and the crocodile bounds forward uncomfortably close. I dash away to maintain distance and thankfully he stops pursuing.

“Hello there Rudger! It’s wonderful to finally meet you–I’m Gustave Gargill and I spoke with your Lucy a good deal before her unfortunate lapse. I heard from Dave here that you’re going to show us your friends’ hiding spot and we should be able to get Lucy out of jail on a self-defense deal in a day or two. How does that sound? I hope you don’t think too poorly of me already.”

I think the chameleon has his handgun on his belt under his rain coat, but Gustave seems unarmed apart from his raw physical strength. It’s tough to keep my eyes on both of them at once.

“Yes, that sounds okay, I told my brothers to clear out otherwise you’d find them. Don’t get too close to me and don’t you dare take that gun out. I don’t really trust either of you, frankly. I’m doing this for Lucy.”

“Of course, of course, lead the way…”

I want the reptiles to approach from the west side, since that’s where the trap is. I take them along the road until we reach the field and start cutting across the damp grass, which soaks my legs and belly. Every few seconds I check over my shoulder to make sure they’re following.

I recognize our favorite feeding spot, the trap, and the dense bushes where hopefully Root, Sky, and Grass are primed and waiting.

“We have a tunnel near here–the burrow is a lot deeper into the jungle and I don’t think you can reach it. Here, you can see droppings and things.” I step over the trap, which supports my weight, to point at the base of the bushes.

>Random reptile trap check (Gustave or Dave): Dave
I turn back in time to see the chameleon take a long stride onto the trap and crash through. Gustave hops back in alarm as Dave flails and falls deeper into the trench. I duck into the bushes and find my brothers waiting, confused.

“What do we do? There’s two of them!” Grass whispers. We have the gun, the gun stand, a collection of knives and shivs, and some rope.

Take aim at Gargill and fire!

We need Gustave alive. He's got info. Dunno about Dave. Would his absence be noticed? Oh and we could take his gun from his corpse. Lastly have Gargill write a letter to the cops/lawyers dropping Lucy's charges "thanks to Dave's snooping". She's useful. Dropoff at an unmanned postal box should be covert and easy to pull off.

Start by shooting Gustave. Aim for the gut, to minimize the chances of missing. Then rope him in a way that puts pressure on the wound while binding his arms.
The rest of the rabbits should jump attack Dave until he surrenders or stops moving.

After that, situation check.

>>1127169
We want Gustave alive preferably, he's a more valuable hostage.

You and Grass, jump on Dave in the hole with your shivs. He's not at a good angle for shooting, but you can get him in close quarters with blades, and his gun is in an awkward spot for him to reach right now.

The other two, get the gun trained on Gustave and get him to freeze.

>>1127182
yeah gut shot could work. It won't kill him right away but it puts pressure on him to make a deal with you so he can get to a hospital

Addendum on the chameleon: Go for his wrist and ankle tendons if you can. Without those he's pretty much unable to do anything.

>>1127182
>>1127196
In this time period's medicine, I'm pretty sure a gut shot is a death sentence.

tippler 2026/05/29(Fri)22:28 No. 1127333 ID: f1368b
File 178009372664.png - (16.41KB , 500x500 , p72.png )

>Shoot Gustave, attack Dave
“Sky and Root, aim for the big guy while me and Grass try to kill the chameleon!” I grab a glass knife and jump out of my skin when a deafening BANG rips through the air and the gun jerks in Sky’s arms.

>1st time gun use aim check (base 30%+10% Gustave size bonus): Failure
Did they hit Gustave? The crocodile, after recovering from the shock from the sound of the gun, turns tail and begins to run, leaving Dave to fend for himself.

>2nd time gun use aim check (base 40%-10% moving target-10% Gustave further away): Failure
Sky shoots again but the beast doesn’t stop zig-zagging across the field, making the shot increasingly unfeasible.

“Hold fire!” I gasp. My heart is hammering in my chest and I drag Grass out of the bush so we can actually deal with Dave. Grass leaps onto the chameleon’s neck and clings to the thrashing, desperate lizard, all the while jabbing his shiv into the man’s vulnerable eyes. I launch myself forward and get slugged and fall on my side at the edge of the trench. My diaphragm struggles to move as the rain pours into my ears and open mouth.

>Gustave honor check: Success
Wait–wait–Gustave’s curving around and coming back! He’s down on all fours, headed for the bush where Sky and Root and the gun are. He’s huge and terrifying and fast, teeth and claws. I have to do something!

>>1127333
Mud in the eyes. Crocs can deal with murky water, but he ain't in the water, and mud'll stick where dirt'll get cleared out by his membranes.

>>1127333
Thump your leg so they know the direction of the danger,then distract gustav to give them a last shot.

Oh god, they don't know how to aim down sights! Do the mud-in-eyes thing, then take over and remember to line up the three pieces of metal sticking on top of the gun so they're all straight, without any holes, and the top is a flat surface right in front of Gustave's face!

tippler 2026/05/31(Sun)20:11 No. 1127394 ID: f1368b
File 178025827220.png - (19.00KB , 500x500 , p73.png )

>They don’t know how to aim
We never had a chance to practice! With only eight bullets it’s not like we can waste shots–the noise is also way louder than I thought it would be, my ears are still ringing. I don’t blame Sky for missing.

>Throw mud in Gustave’s face
My ribs ache and I’m short of breath but I grab one of the loose clumps of grass with dirt still in the roots that was dislodged by the trap and fling it as hard as I can at the incoming crocodile, aiming for his beady eyes.

>Blinding check: Failure
He closes his eyes and ducks his head just in time so that my attack bounces off of him. I scream and thump the ground as hard as I can to try and warn Sky and Grass before he crashes into the bushes. Dave is yelling in pain behind me.

>Sky survival check: Success
>Root survival check: Failure
I get to my feet, fur cold and smeared with mud, and scramble after Gustave. If I can reach the gun I can try to shoot him myself! I have to stop him somehow–Grass and the trap are handling Dave, I’m pretty sure, the crocodile is the biggest threat.

Sky bursts out of the wet leaves, gun clutched to his chest. “He got Root! Rudger, the gun doesn’t work, we need to run now!”

A. Take the gun from Sky and stay
B. Prioritize survival

A. It’s do or die

A) "You put the safety on, idiot! Gimmie that!"

A) have to end this here

A.
Need to save root if theres any chance at all.

A. All in. Do or die.

tippler 2026/06/03(Wed)00:03 No. 1127549 ID: f1368b
File 178044500063.png - (15.79KB , 500x500 , p74.png )

>A
“We have to end this Sky, give me the gun!”

He hesitates and I grab it from him roughly. I lift it so the top of the barrel is eye-level and aim for the shaking bushes. The faint tang of blood reaches my nose. The smell isn’t strong because of the heavy rain. Sky backs away from me but doesn’t run.

>Aim check: Failure
The moments slow down. My whole body is shaking from the stress and the cold and the nights of bad sleep and I can’t hold the gun steady. Through the leaves I see there’s crimson stained down Gustave’s shirt, black tie lost in the struggle. He’s coming.

The metal flinches in my hands as I squeeze the trigger and then I’m flung to the side as Sky pushes me out of the way of the charging crocodile. I’m gripping the gun so hard that it fires again at nothing as jaws snap shut and crush my brother’s skull.

>Four aim checks (20% success each): One Success
I scream and fire the remaining four shots from where I am on the ground. A red spot blooms on Gustave’s broad back, but he doesn’t flinch as he reaches to pull Dave out of the pit. Maybe he can’t tell he was shot with how much adrenaline he’s feeling.

Grass swipes at Gustave’s hand with his knife, caught in the battle frenzy…I can’t lose Grass too, can I?

Damnit.

Scream "Tell Lucy I love her," and then grab your remaining knife and stab Gustave right where you opened up his back. Twist and pull at the wound, over and over. Do NOT stop carving even if he stops moving.

You can't miss if you shoot him from right next to him. barrel in the eye. Or you're all dead.

At this point, mud clod in the eyes one more time and hope to god that Gustav can be blinded.

After that, slap Grass across the face to have him come to his senses. Beg, cry, scream, WHATEVER you can do to make him let this go.

Whether or not Grass can come to his senses, you need to RUN. GET OUT OF THERE, RUDGER.

>>1127549
For lucy, rudger.
Move the gun closer to gustaves blinded side.
Aim for the neck or head. It'll be still because hes helping dave.
Its sneaky, but its what your people are good at.
"Be cunning and full of tricks and your people will never be destroyed"

Tricks, rudger.
Theyre the only thing that have worked consistantly.
Which is why you tell the chameleon there and then, as cold as you can
"It looks like you brought your boss out into the woods and killed him.
No one will ever believe a bunch of bunnys shot him.
Free lucy, before our runner drops off the note with directions saying dave did something very bad here."

Keep yourself together prince with a thousand enemies.
Grieve later.
Anger later.
Right now, make this trick work for lucy and more.
Make it work and you have dave, blackmailed into helping.
That could free more of your people.
Including does.

Push Grass out of the way, sacrifice yourself for him to run away.