The ones who could have gotten away
The first animals the Terrible Things came from were the birds, perched on the tops of trees. While they could have decided to fly away, they decided against it and they let themselves be captured by the Terrible Things. This element is presented as being slightly ironic as the animals who had the biggest chance of escaping were the ones that were caught the first.
The little one
After the birds were taken away, the rest of the animals tried to excuse their behavior by claiming that the birds weren’t any good anyway. The only animal who decided to stand up and ask why the birds were taken away was the little bunny. This element is ironic because the other animals who could have symbolized adults all decided to remain quiet and only the smallest and most vulnerable one decided to stand up and ask questions.
The last one standing
The only remaining creature in the clearing was the Little Rabbit who somehow managed to hide by some rocks and was mistaken by being a rock himself. This element is ironic because the Little Rabbit was the only creature who dared to ask why the Terrible Things were doing the things they were doing. Big Rabbit was concerned that Little Rabbit’s questions will get him killed but in the end that proved to be the complete opposite.
We are safe
When Little Rabbit insisted that they leave the clearing after every other animal was taken away, Big Rabbit refused, insisting that the clearing was their home and that nothing bad could happen to them. Ironically, that proved to be far from the truth as the Big Rabbit and the other rabbits in the clearing were abducted by the Terrible Things.
No one left to save them from
When the Terrible Things finally came for the rabbits, they all tried to get away, screaming and looking for help. Unfortunately, no one was left in the clearing to help them because the other animals have been taken away by the Terrible Things. Ironically, the ones who were so sure they were safe ended up just like those before them and because they were not willing to help those before them, they suffered the same fate.
