Once a creature has come to rest, their essence transfers to Underland in a warped and deadened form, their memories similarly warped and deadened too. Taxis (she/her) is no different from her fellow Underlanders in this regard, though she is set apart by her status as a swift messenger for Underland’s White Order, the military cult that rules in regency of the prophesied Queen of Underland, and who does battle with the horrible forces of the Underwocky Queen. Taxis bears this distinction with no small amount of pride and haughtiness.

She is running through the Hollow Mountains now—the most dangerous of routes given to messengers, as it goes right around the nest of the reddened underwocks. She is running on wooden legs, for she came to Underland with her old legs shattered in their velvety hide, crushed instantly beneath a gravedigger’s car tires as his child cried for the rabbit he loved. She is running with no knowledge of this.

She may never remember that which lays dead and curled in her mind still.