A handsome and swift as the wind Rabbit lived in an enormous dense forest. The grey Rabbit lived alone in his little burrow and dreamed of meeting his beloved.
Every day the Rabbit would leave his home in search of food, and on weekends he would venture out to the meadow, where other rabbits often gathered to have a good time and enjoy themselves.
The meadow was absolutely beautiful. Flowers grew everywhere, their fragrance spreading throughout the forest, and the tall green grass protected the rabbits from the hot sun.
One day, the Rabbit set off to the meadow once again on a Sunday. He lay down under the tall grass, picking a few flowers to enjoy their wonderful scent.
The Rabbit lay there daydreaming about meeting a beautiful female Rabbit. And suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, something soft and warm fell on top of him. The Rabbit jumped up and saw that a female Rabbit was lying on the grass.
Have you lost your mind? Can't you see that respectable rabbits are resting here?
The Rabbit asked cautiously.
I'm so sorry. I was so mesmerised by that flower over there that I didn't notice you in the tall grass.
The female Rabbit hurried to apologise.
Well, never mind then. You're not heavy at all, I'm perfectly fine! Perhaps we could admire the flowers on the meadow together, and then go for a walk. The sun is so hot, I'm worried my ears might get burnt and that would hurt terribly.
I'd like that.
The female Rabbit was delighted. She clearly liked the Rabbit. And no wonder, as he was the most handsome in the entire forest.
Together the female Rabbit and the Rabbit strolled across the meadow, admired the flowers, and then went for a walk along a shaded path to protect their ears from the sun. And so they walked together every day. The Rabbit gave the female Rabbit bouquets of carrots and cabbage, and then he finally plucked up the courage and confessed that he had fallen in love.
You are the most beautiful Rabbit in the world! I love you!
The Rabbit called out joyfully at almost every step.
But the female Rabbit had never said such a thing to the Rabbit before. She was afraid that the Rabbit was just imagining things, and that he wasn't really in love at all.
Well, Rabbit, you can certainly say whatever you like. But I'm not entirely convinced that you really love me!
The Rabbit became upset and said nothing. He felt so hurt that he couldn't even think of a reply. They walked silently across the meadow, stopping by each beautiful flower, and didn't notice how the sun came to be directly overhead. And when the Rabbit walked the female Rabbit home, he suddenly saw that her ears had turned burgundy, like cherries.
Female Rabbit, what's wrong with your ears?
The Rabbit asked in alarm.
The female Rabbit tried to touch her ear with her paw, but it hurt so much that she cried out.
The Rabbit touched the female Rabbit's forehead and his eyes became as round as coins.
You have a fever! You need to get treatment urgently, and your ears need to be covered with some sort of cream.
The female Rabbit was in so much pain that she didn't even hear what the Rabbit was saying. Her vision darkened, and she collapsed.
Opening her eyes, the female Rabbit began to remember what had happened to her. Now she was lying in her soft, cosy bed, and on a small table beside her was a bouquet of carrots.
The female Rabbit tried to touch her ears and immediately noticed that it didn't hurt at all. Her temperature was gone, and she felt very well.
And then she heard careful footsteps, and the Rabbit's head appeared in the doorway.
Female Rabbit, my dear, you've finally woken up!
My ears don't hurt at all anymore, and I don't seem to have a fever. But how did you get here and where did this wonderful bouquet of carrots on my table come from?
Well, where else! I wanted you to wake up and be happy straight away and have something to eat. I love you so much and I was so worried about you.
And the female Rabbit understood that the Rabbit truly loved her very much. After all, only those who are in love are willing to help and rescue someone in their time of need! He had saved her, and now they would live long and happily ever after! And a few weeks later, the female Rabbit and the Rabbit got married, and very soon they had a whole bunch of little fluffy baby rabbits!
