The team listened, as they glanced over at Tobi. Piecing together the puzzle and fearful expression he bore. With Scotts intuition and Tobi’s fear, what in the world was coming. In hushed tones, Ben and Mr Major exchanged insights, their voices laced with desperation and urgency, "This area has to be a nesting ground for these eggs, right?”

Lacking definitive proof, the group conjectured that the eggs, presently rupturing around them, likely belonged to the bunny-rabbit-like spider creature before them.

Turning to Ben and Scott, Timmon spoke softly, desperation evident in his words. "Given your knowledge of Earth's creatures, how might a spider or rabbit, as predators, track and capture us?”

A brief pause followed as the two pondered. Ben theorized spiders might employ vibrations, while Scott proposed rabbits could rely on their sense of smell, their voices heavy with the same sense of desperate urgency.

Timmon contemplated the information. Scott seized the moment to propose that Mr Major, armed with defence and survival training, might offer their best chance of survival. He believed Mr Major possessed the skills to confront the creature alone, with the possibility of the team providing support if necessary. Timmon absorbed Scott's suggestion, acknowledging its logic. However, a latent resistance surged within him once again. He yearned to lead the expedition, the dependable figure his team should be able to rely on. Leaning towards Mr. Major as a solution felt akin to challenging his own leadership, stirring a defiant sentiment within him.

In this internal turmoil, a dense quiet descended as Timmon and his team confronted their grim reality. They stood at an impasse, no escape in sight, and Tobi by their side. Fear's grip tightened.

Detecting their unease, Mr. Major stepped to the fore and, commandingly, said, "Form a circle and prepare to engage. At this rate we need to do something, or something might be done to us.”

Tobi, his voice trembling with fear, interjected, "This is insane! I didn't sign up for this "shit." Are we really going to fight these… these monsters? Please! I can not do this. No! Not just me. We can not do this!”

Fear had a firm grip on Tobi's mind, each thought echoing with dread. He questioned the sanity of their situation, his legs were itching, and his heart was racing as he looked at the approaching creatures.

Timmon, struggling to contain his own anxiety, replied, "We have no choice, Tobi. It's fight or be overwhelmed. We need to stay together and be ready for anything.”

Tobi: Stay?! We need to run! Split up! Do anything but fight! We have no tools! No weapons! No guaranties!”

Timmon: Listen to me. We don’t know what the bunny thingy is capable of? You seem confident in your feet ability to escape from a situation but we don’t know what the endurance, speed or agileness of that creature. Together we have a higher chance surviving than being picked off one by one while on the run. If you want to run off on your own, then I can’t stop you, but if they chase the easier pray, don’t expect us to put ourselves back in danger for your sake!”

Tobi: We can not fight these things! Listen to me! We need to leave.

Scott: Its too late to try and run! Making any moves now could be it for us. We have to wait for an opening, and from the feeling I’m getting its damn near impossible.

Timmon: Right now these creatures are seeing us as the danger. We are standing in their nursery right now as their babies are starting to hatch. They have all right to attack first and worry about the consequences later. We need to find a way to put distance between the nesting area. But which direction should we go in?

As the team stood their ground, a perception of distortion seemed to alter their visual space, causing once-tranquil shadows to stir. Gradually, eerie forms materialized from the depths of those shadows, dancing among the leaves of the encircling trees. The bunny spider creatures, their bizarre blend of fluffy bodies and spindly limbs, stealthily advanced toward the perplexed group. Fear and uncertainty thickened the air.

In an instant, Tobi yielded to panic, his senses engulfed by the surreal events unfolding before him. His vision blurred, and he surrendered to an overwhelming sense of dread, collapsing unconscious as his body was angled in a position to make a run for it.

Now confronted by these enigmatic, menacing beings, the team encountered a surge of trepidation. Guided by scant evidence, they assumed the creatures were herbivores. Yet, an unspoken awareness spread among them, acknowledging the potentially sinister Nature hidden beneath their seemingly harmless exterior. Observing the rabbits' slow, anticipatory movements amid the trees, their twitching legs hinting at concealed aggression, which underscored their imminent threat, poised to strike with lethal intent.

Among the group, Scott remained the most vigilant and apprehensive. Throughout the ordeal, he hardly moved, his motions measured, and his voice subdued, a bastion of calm and composure.

However, an abrupt shift seized Scott. His typically steady demeanour shattered as his trembling hand grasped Mr Major's wrist. In a hushed, urgent tone, he conveyed instructions to the others, urging them to remain composed, maintain silence, and place unwavering trust in him.

In the midst of the hushed murmurs of whispered discussions and plans, the faint sounds of popping and cracking began to increase as the eggs beneath the moss were softly shifting against one another, joining in with the surrounding ambience. However, before another utterance could escape, a succession of cracks and popping sounds pierced the air. Several eggs quivered and splintered, triggering a surge of alarm within the team. The truth became clear—the eggs were beginning to hatch.

A strange blend of wonder and dread permeated the atmosphere as the first eggshell split open, revealing a minuscule, spindly creature with dewy, oversized eyes. Its limbs twitched, emitting an eerie, high-pitched sound reminiscent of countless insect feet scuttling on tiled floors. One eggshell broke, then another, as if triggering a cascade. The forest floor seemed to pulse with vitality as an increasing number of creatures emerged, their nascent forms coated in a translucent, sticky membrane.

Ben: “Fuck! What now?”

The team's hearts pounded in synchrony, a symphony of anxious beats, as they braced for the imminent onslaught. The previously concealed multitude of bunny rabbit spiders now unveiled themselves. Popping and cracking sounds reverberated from the ground, amplifying the tension in the air. In a surge of protectiveness, the bunny spiders lunged towards the team, their movements both swift and aggressive.

Just when hope teetered on the brink of dissolution, an unexpected, resounding howl rent the darkness, echoing through the forest. Several wolves materialized from the shadows, anticipating the bunny creatures attack on the team. Their sudden appearance propelled the assumed predators deeper into the woods.

Scott: “This is our window! It’s now or never!”

Involuntarily shuffling back, Team Uno gripped whatever dry section of clothes they could on Tobi, and hauled him with them. Taking this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they retreated further into the enveloping darkness just before collapsing, their bodies quaking with fear and fatigue; the ground beneath the moss shifted and crackled. The sound radiated outward once more, signalling further egg hatching.

The forest seemed to hold its breath, its auditory landscape dominated by the eerie sounds of birth from the emerging creatures which were still hatching, and the distant wind that carried the howls of wolves.

The baby spider bunny-like beings, their true identity now revealed, scurried on spindly legs—quick, erratic movements beneath the moss.

As the spider bunnies began to explore their new world beneath the moss, some even breaking out to the surface of the moss, venturing along the boulders and trees. Their minuscule footfalls composed an eerie symphony resonating through the clearing. A sensation of bugs skittering across tiled surfaces reverberated within the team's minds, eliciting spine-chilling shivers.

The once tranquil forest had shape-shifted into a tableau of suspenseful uncertainty as the ground beneath their feet pulsed with vitality, birthing these enigmatic creatures. Then, mere seconds later, silence descended—a void as though the myriad of newly hatched creatures had evaporated.

Timmon's voice broke the oppressive silence like a pebble's ripple in a still pond as he commanded, "Remain vigilant.”

Fear had etched itself onto Timmon's face, his mind racing to devise a plan. He wasn't a soldier or a hunter, but he recognized that once the wolves were done repelling the bunny spiders, the latter would likely return to them, their newfound food source. The team's trail wouldn't prove difficult for them to follow, spelling doom. unless a viable plan or some miraculous access to firearms appeared.

Fervently scouring the ground for large enough items to counter the relentless creatures, which they anticipated encountering further in the forest, they were left crestfallen. The area yielded only twig remnants and modest stones, a realization that sunk their spirits.

Ben exclaimed, "We're fucking dead! What kind of forest doesn't have decent variants of sticks in it?”

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Mr Major tried to reassure them, "It's alright. The weapons we have must be sufficient; we're left with no other choice.”

Ben replied, "Speak for yourself. I'm not sure when it was that you got weapons, but as you can see, we only have our fists. Fuck you mean the weapons we have.”

Scott chimed in, "This must've been a nesting ground for the bunny rabbit spiders. They likely cleared the area of potential threats to their offspring.”

"Yeah, fuck this, Ms. Frizzle energy having ass field trip!" Ben cursed. "I detest this forest. We endured the hatching of hundreds of those things. The popping and bursting of the egg sacks and the crackling of their newly formed exoskeleton-like legs are seared into my mind. The scraping sound their legs make when they brush against each other sends shivers down my spine. Hearing you talk about these creatures like some scientist on a magical field trip is giving sacrifice energy.”

Timmon shared, "I felt those creatures scurrying beneath my feet when the wolves intervened. It was akin to a sea of roaches as the moss undulated. Look at the ground; it's still in motion. These bunny spiders could become problematic with such prolific reproduction and growth.”

Ben quickly interjected, "Also, can we settle on a name for these creatures? I can't keep switching between bunny, rabbit, and spider.”

"How about 'Bidider'? Or perhaps 'Spunny'?"

Hearing the options, Mr Major suggested. "Spunny sounds cute and clever. I'm on board," Ben agreed.

Timmon couldn't believe his ears, exclaiming, "I can't believe what I'm hearing right now! This is reality! Remember the speech you just gave, Mr Major? Let's concentrate. You're doing the same thing we were mocking earlier. Plus, did you forget those wolves might return to finish what the Spunnies didn't? Because I haven’t."

As gaps opened in the canopy, casting light onto the disappointed Timmon, Mr Major noticed a dried, unusually sharp branch wedged into the base of a tree root. If he didn’t know any better he would have sworn he saw it glint in the light. He attempted to break the stick in half to use as daggers. Applying as much force as his muscle could manage to break the stick, it only slightly bent within his hands. While manoeuvring the sturdy stick Mr Major caught a glimpse of its cross-section, almost dropping it in astonishment. Quickly, he showed the branch to Ben for a second opinion, seeking confirmation that this was indeed reality. Lost on an alien planet, surrounded by a mysterious forest, strange discoveries shouldn't be surprising, right?

"Hey, call me crazy, but Ben, is this what I think it is?" Mr Major questioned.

Ben's eyes zeroed in on the cross-section of that small, sturdy branch, illuminated by a sliver of light sneaking through the canopy. The realization dawned on him, a flicker of hope igniting within his eyes. This stick, found by Mr. Major, might just be their salvation. A grin crept across his face as he examined the bark, looking for the telltale signs that marked its potential.

"Running around searching for ideal weapons isn't feasible right now. Let's take a moment to collect some lengthy sticks with reach and thickness. If stick and stones can’t break some bones? Then these mother fuckers will. Look out for branches or sticks showing greyish or blackish rings within their cross-section. If you can’t tell they should be almost unbreakable at most flexible. They could be valuable if they are what I think they are," Ben advised, his mind racing to make sense of their dire situation.

As if on command Tobi, woke up half consciously, and chimed in with a humorous note in his voice, singing "A superstar? Then have no fear. The camera's here. And the microphones. And they wanna know. Oooooh. Ooooooh. Oooooooh.”

With urgency in his tone, Scott whispered loudly. "Shut up, Tobi!”

Despite the tense circumstances, Scott and Tobi found a brief moment to laugh, a temporary respite from the fear and anxiety that loomed over them. Meanwhile, the rest of the team stayed focused, diligently scanning the uneven ground for potential weapons.

Moving away from the wolf encounter zone, they scoured the forest for young plants with suitable stems, collecting vines along the way. With makeshift weapons in their hands, fashioned from the found branches and vines, they braced themselves for what lay ahead, the determination to survive evident in their eyes.

In the dark recesses of the forest, they trod cautiously, every sense heightened, clutching their improvised weapons tightly. Tobi, though struggling to maintain consciousness, was resolute, determined not to succumb. It was a battle for survival, and they were all in it together.

Ben examined the stick fragment, peeling away layers of bark in awe. The natural carbon fibre structure within fascinated him, hinting at an understanding beyond the ordinary. It was a marvel, a mystery unfolding within the heart of the alien forest.

Their journey took a sudden turn when Scott, keenly perceptive, halted, and on instinct Mr. Major in turn quieted Ben mid-sentence, a serious urgency in his voice. "Form a circle. The wolves are back right?.” Only a silent nod came from Scott as his eyes scanned the surroundings.

As the wolves emerged from the shadows, scarred and hungry, Mr. Major held his two makeshift weapons, drawn and held X-like before him, ready to fight and intimidate. However, a sudden, unsteady movement to throw his arms down to his sides off-balanced him, causing him to stumble outside the protective circle they created, a perilous moment in their already desperate struggle.

Without missing the opportunity, the wolves lunged forward from behind the trees and boulders, teeth gleaming and claws poised to strike. Timmon and Scott reacted swiftly, pulling Mr Major back within the protective circle, thwarting the assault and countering with their makeshift weapons, which failed to hit their mark as the wolves jumped back to evade.

Just from the sudden movements, the team was out of breath, sweating almost as if they were taking part in a marathon.

There bodies tense while eyes darted back and forth from wolf to wolf, tracking their movements as they weave between the trees in a circular motion around them.

With the initial failed counterattack, the team slowly began to retreat, navigating around the protruding slimy-hatched eggs that were concealed beneath the mossy forest floor.

With their feet feeling out if the ground behind them was safe and eggless to step on, and their eyes doing their best not to fall for the wolves confusing hunting tactics, Timmon noticed the wolves' revulsion towards the eggs, and they slowly pressured them backwards. It was in that moment that a revelation sparked an audacious idea – could these creatures be repelled by the solid egg sacks scattered around them? Right then, he felt a surge of inspiration; it was a bold, almost insane notion, but in this dire situation, they had to try anything.

As Timmon cautiously eased one of his sock off his foot, his hands trembled as he wrapped the sock around the long stick he held as a spear, sweat forming on his brow despite the cool forest air. Every nerve in his body screamed caution, but he knew this was their only chance – a sink-or-swim moment in this alien world.

Initially baffled by his movements, the team and the wolves seemed to sense his nervousness. This caused most of the wolves to stop as they tilted their heads, ears perked up in an almost comical display of confusion. His heart pounded in his chest as he held the slime-coated stick pointed towards the two wolves closest to him. Mirroring the desperate hunger he saw in their gaze, Timmon stepped out of the defensive circle they formed, slowly inching forward to the wolves using the spear as a staff to help his shaking body to keep balanced. While trying his best to mask his fear, he was also trying his best to keep the slime covered cloth above his head and on the spear from falling on him.

His team, paralyzed by shock and fear, dared not move or make a sound. They understood the gravity of the dumb ass situation their teammates were in; any added commotion might spook the wolves into attacking Timmon prematurely before he got into the ideal position for whatever he had planned. Their wide eyes remained fixed on the unfolding drama, each breath held in anticipation.

As Timmon took his next cautious step closer, which placed the wolves in his range, the wolves' behaviour shifted from curiosity to something darker in an instant, more dangerous than ever before. They no longer tilted their heads in confusion but arced forward low to the ground, giving the impression of a track star at the ready; their eyes narrowed, and their teeth bared in a menacing display of aggression. Each growl was low and harmonizing, making the surrounding leaves on the ground vibrate to life. And also caused Ben, Mr Major and Scott to tense. The switch was as if the wolves had finally decided to see that these human intruders were a threat that needed to be eliminated, especially the one that dared to approach.

The tension in the air became palpable. The forest seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the outcome of this daring experiment. Timmon's own breaths were shallow and rapid, his palms sweaty as he fought to maintain control of the slime-coated stick.

As Timmon drew closer to one of the wolves, he hesitated briefly before attempting to place the slime-covered stick above its head. In that fraction of a moment, the wolves seized the opportunity, springing into action.

Caught in this perilous situation, Mr. Major and Scott grappled with a difficult decision. Racing to Timmon's aid might expose Tobi or Ben to an attack, and the nuances of the situation were unclear. The wolves' aversion to the eggs remained a mystery to them, but Timmon might have figured it out. From the way he was using the slime on the stick, it could be messing with their senses, or maybe it was something simple like an allergy or poison.

In the heat of the moment, as Timmon tilted his spear, the wolf before him sprang into action with breathtaking speed. Muscles coiled like springs, and in the blink of an eye, the creature lunged forward, launching itself off the forest floor. Its jaws clamped down on the spear, sending splinters of bark flying in all directions.

Timmon's instincts kicked in. With lightning reflexes, he thrust the spear forward, directing it straight into the gaping maw of the attacking wolf. The clash of forces was like a collision of titans, a battle between survival and savagery.

But as Timmon grappled with one adversary, he couldn't ignore the threat from the left. Another wolf was shifting its weight, preparing to join the fray. Timmon's mind raced as he realized the precariousness of his situation.

Removing the slime-covered stick buried in the first wolf's throat was out of the question. It would risk dislodging the cloth, and worse, it might free the still-capable but injured and likely dying wolf on his spear, creating a deadly pincer attack.

In the midst of this harrowing decision, with the weight of the attacking wolf bearing down on his spear, Timmon's quick thinking kicked in. He pivoted the other end of his spear into the mossy ground, using it as a fulcrum to leverage the wolf's weight over his shoulder. In one fluid motion, he flicked an egg from beneath the moss, sending it sailing through the air.

With two wolves affected by the egg slime, Timmon's confidence surged. However, the wolves' howls signalled a shift in their tactics. They diverted their attention from Timmon, seemingly waiting for another member of the group to break away.

Timmon: “What the fuck are they doing now? I just injured two of them and now they are ignoring me? I can’t be that much of a threat. They must think I’m stupid! But i can’t blame them this must be their first time seeing a human or humanoid.”

Understanding the possibility of this being a ruse to lure someone else out of safety. Timmon knew that the egg slime's effect on the wolves was evident, but their loyalty to the pack could override their aversion to the slime. Nevertheless, Timmon remained committed – he had come too far to turn back now, even as the gravity of their situation weighed heavily on him.

As the encircling wolves closed in on the team's position, weaving sinuously among the trees in a menacing circle, the first wolf that Timmon injured, compounded by the effects of the slime, succumbed to its fate. Laying motionless on the forest floor, life extinguished. Its companion, also affected by the viscous slime, grovelled on the ground in their direction, its eyes never wavering from the team as it struggled to get the slime off its fur.

The wolves, with their hunger and aggression still smouldering, occasionally darted forward, probing for any opening, their calculated movements betraying their heightened intelligence. It was an unsettling standoff, and Mr. Major could sense that it was only a matter of time before they made their move, driven by their relentless instinct to kill.

These alien wolves bore distinctive traits that set them apart from their Earthly counterparts. Their seeming intelligence was evident in the way they strategized and circled, their formidable size adding to their menacing presence. What truly set them apart were the four distinct mouths that adorned their bodies, capable of producing a cacophony of growls and howls.

The largest mouth, positioned at their neck and chest, spoke of their formidable Nature. Covered in thick, navy-blue fur, these wolves bore salamander-like external gills along their ribcages, an enigmatic adaptation that only added to their otherworldly aura.

Timmon, with a deep, slow breath, orchestrated their next move.

Instructing the others to smear egg slime onto their clothing, he emphasized the need for them to avoid skin contact with the mysterious substance as its effect was so deadly to the wolves. Without hesitation, the team removed pieces of clothing and meticulously coated their attire with the slime. Mr Major, while preparing was driven by an urgent curiosity—did the eggs affect the wolves' senses, act as a repellent, or perhaps just a strong poison?

The uncertainty of Tobi's condition gnawed at his mind, and the unknown duration of the slime's effects hung like a looming shadow. He couldn’t help but wonder if the smile had different effect on different species, because if not, things weren’t looking good for the team.

With their makeshift weapons in hand and clothes adorned with the slime, they embarked on a slow and deliberate retreat deeper into the forest, where the ground was blanketed with the remnants of hatched eggshells. Their hope was that this repellent would keep the relentless wolves at bay.

The journey through the dark forest was far from a run; it resembled a cautious, almost reverent, backward march. Each step was a delicate negotiation with the uneven terrain, their feet searching for secure ground. The plan was to lead the wolves further into the area strewn with eggshell remnants, hoping that the forest's own defence mechanism would deter their pursuers. Whatever the eggs were doing to their senses or life, it should create some distance and opportunity for the team. This window of opportunity would have been missed if things played out differently.