Pinpricks of light punctured the darkness surrounding Oliver. He groaned, lifting his head and blinking his eyes. His body felt like it had been trampled by a mob.
He was lying at the base of a large hill that rose up on his left in a nearly sheer wall. The morning sun was stretching luxuriously above the horizon, painting the dew-dappled grass around him in golden light. A patch of grass nearby rustled, then parted to reveal a dusty-furred rabbit.
It hopped forward a few uncertain feet, but froze as soon as it caught sight of Oliver. Its watery brown eyes burrowed deep into him. Then it turned and bounded quickly away, disappearing once more into the concealing grass.
Oliver pushed himself up onto his knees. Even that small movement made his head swim. He swallowed and winced. His t
