Hiding The Rabbit
Why Magicians Pull Rabbits From Hats…
One evening at dusk, a magician was wandering at the outskirts of a market, looking for that evening’s dinner, and maybe some company...
Out of the nearby woods, a white rabbit came speeding out of the trees. He ran right up to the magician, seeing his blue flowing robes with stars on them. He said to the great wizard, “Sir, I’m being chased by a mighty hunter and his two dogs. Please hide me, I’m afraid that you're the only one who might understand me and be able to help.”
Before the wizard could even respond, he heard a rustling and barking coming from the woods. Without hesitation, the wizard put down the bucket he was carrying for the items he would buy at the market, and placed the rabbit gently inside to hide. Not a second later, the great hunter and his two giant dogs came out of the woods in search of the little creature. Looking around, they seemed to have lost it, but his dogs quickly picked up on the scent of the little rabbit. They trailed it along, with it taking them right up to the market until they finally stopped at the magician.
Orion, the famous sportsman, instantly recognized the man and held the opinion of him that he was somewhat of a troublemaker and a trickster. “Sir,” said the giant man to the wizard, “I have caught the most exotic game ever to exist. From the rarest and most unattainable deer to monsters that even caused havoc for the gods. This bow, my sword, and these dogs are undefeated in the chase, and it would seem ridiculous that our current prey, a little rabbit, is giving us so much trouble. My hounds seem to believe that he may have approached you.”
The wizard thought about his predicament. He certainly didn’t want any harm to befall the little white bunny, and decided to keep this giant oaf busy for a while until he could come up with a plan. “My, you must be Orion. I’ve heard of your amazing skill as a hunter. That must be quite the bow.” Orion was slightly taken aback. He was used to the flattery bestowed to him from the reputation of his hunt, but he wasn’t sure if the wizard understood his talent. “You are quite correct, sir, my bow is quite a piece of craftsmanship, but it’s only as capable as the hands that hold it and the eye that takes its aim. I’m also just as skilled with my sword, or any sword, for that matter. I’m a master warrior and hunter, you see, and I am attempting to impress my love, Artemis, by bringing her the pelt of this white rabbit for her winter wardrobe.”
“Wow,” said the magi, “You must really care for her. But white in winter? Surely you would want something more colorful. Perhaps some of the fabric of my robes and its many stars. It would surely be more decorative.” The hunter was becoming frustrated. “That’s just the point,” he said, “She is queen and goddess of the hunt. This white pelt would provide her with the perfect camouflage to blend in with the snow for winter.” The hunter had set up the magician just right.
“Ah, I see! So, you are a more talented hunter, offering the Goddess of hunting your help. Quite noble. I hope she doesn’t take it as an insult. You know, needing your help and all. These gods can be quite emotional.” The hunter hadn’t thought about this. He responded with, “Well, who knows who’s better? I never said that. I just meant to give her a gift that she could use, and I need to get back on his trail. My dogs have sniffed out his scent to this spot.”
“What makes you think that it’s a male rabbit? If you were able to check, why didn’t you just capture it then, either with your sword or your bow?” The magician had to admit, this was starting to become fun. Orion was not amused and was holding back a great fury in order to get back to finding the rabbit. “It could very well be female”, he said, “it would make no difference. Now, have you seen it or not?” This put the magician in an awkward position. He didn’t like to lie and the poor rabbit, who he had given his word to hide without even saying anything, was still hiding in his bucket. “I have seen many rabbits in my time, and quite possibly the one you saw today. But again, are you sure that you wouldn't rather have my fabric of the stars? It’s quite rare and sure to impress the goddess. It might be just what you’re looking for.”
“No, I do not want the fabric from your filthy robes! Now where is my rabbit?”, Orion screamed.
At this instant, one of Orion’s dogs began to bark at the bucket, indicating to Orion that something might be hiding in there. “What’s in the bucket?”, asked Orion. The magician picked it up and reached in, allowing the rabbit to crawl up the wide sleeve of his robe, “Nothing, you see. I’m hoping to collect my dinner for the evening, and maybe a few other items”, said the magician, now telling the truth since the rabbit wasn’t any longer in the bucket. “I’m tired of these games!”, yelled Orion. “Either you know something, or that rabbit vanished into thin air!” That gave the clever old man an idea. He said, “Yes, that must be exactly what happened. The rabbit must have vanished! They’re known to be very tricky.” At that instant in history, without anyone noticing, the stars in the sky had slightly shifted. Shooting stars typically go by unnoticed, and you must be a very lucky person with fate working in your favor to actually see one.
The great hunter stormed off infuriated, and desperate to find a new target to hunt that might impress his love, Artemis. The rabbit was so grateful to the magician, as he was now hidden in plain sight in the night sky. It turned out that the great wizard’s sleeve on a robe filled with stars was the perfect hiding spot.
It wasn’t long before Orion figured out what happened. One night, while traveling and tracking his path by the night sky, he noticed a new figure among the constellations. It was that rabbit! And to think that he had refused to take that old man’s robe made of stars. Months went by, and Orion never saw the wizard again, but ever since that time, a magician’s sleeves have been untrustworthy and under constant suspicion. He tried and tried, but couldn’t think of a way to reach the rabbit up among the stars in the night sky.
But one night while Orion was swimming through a lake to catch a fish, Artemis accidentally shot him with an arrow after her jealous twin brother, Apollo, tricked her into using him as a target. Holding him in her arms, Orion asked Artemis for one wish. She said that she would grant any wish he wanted in exchange to be forgiven for this horrible tragedy. Orion asked to be placed among the stars, so that he could spend the afterlife chasing the one animal who managed to escape him. Artemis assurely agreed and with the wind of his last breath, she placed Orion among the stars with his bow, sword, and two dogs to continue their chase for the rabbit.
Just then, in a far away land, the magician was in another market, trying to find dinner, and noticed the shift in the stars. He looked at his robes and up at the sky and saw Orion chasing his rabbit friend. He knew that the rabbit was fast and would put up a good chase for all of time, but everyone needs a break, and somewhere to hide. So, casting a simple piece of magic, he reached into his bucket, and created a door for the little bunny where he could go when he needed a rest from running from the hunter Orion and his two hounds. As the tradition of magic was passed on through the generations, the magician had taught those who followed him to look out for the rabbit. A bucket was always carried by those in the lineage of that great magician, but as styles and habits changed, so did the bucket, with hats being much more convenient to carry around. Many items have been used as the door that lets the rabbit escape from the stars, where he forever gives the legendary hunter and his dogs a great chase in the sky for eternity.
