The servants, beasts that were at the bottom of the social hierarchy, were extremely jealous. The rabbit was one of the most common and straightforward bloodlines available, almost at the level where some considered them mere animals, and yet one had risen to an unprecedented level.

Instead of joy or happiness at one of their kind throwing off the shackles of their fate, the servants bitterly resented and despised the rabbit, often openly defying or making trouble for her at the most opportune moments.

Her growth wasn't the only shocking thing about the rabbit. It had somehow managed to evolve into a monster.

While not as strong as a natural born monster, the difference between a rank ten beast and a rank one evolved monster was like comparing the heavens and the earth.

This event resulted in increased conflict with the humans. Not only were they offended that a beast had reached the monster stage, something which most would find challenging to face in a fair fight, but the creature had surpassed their own bonded, all with superior bloodlines, ancestry and resources.

If it had been any other master than Mark, they would have thought this was an intentional ploy to make them lose face and would have reacted more violently but as it was him, they were forced to act through their bonded.

Mark was the leader of this camp, a small sect dedicated to scouting and rapid response missions for the clan. Not only that but he had always championed fairness and comradeship, often coming to figurative blows with the young nobles of the family but endearing himself with the majority of commoners and minor nobles.

Helen walked along the barren path that weaved between the various types of training areas and started whistling while she digested all of the information she had gathered.

The rabbit was extraordinarily anti-social and single-mindedly pursued strength. Combined with the rabbit's status, this put her at odds with everyone in the camp and had lead to what most would believe miserable existence.

However, even as the pressure the rabbit was put under mounted, increasingly difficult conditions or situations, she always seemed to come out on top. Not only that but it was easy to see that without this pressure, the rabbit might not have evolved yet.

Helen shuddered.

Most would consider this kind of life a living hell, but the rabbit not only survived but thrived. It was as if she sought out these situations to prove herself.

After mercilessly crushing those who stood against her, human, combatant or servant, the bullying had finally ended, at least openly. Everyone had distanced themselves from what they considered a freak of nature, fearful of the relentless creature that seemingly held no fear or mercy.

Some even started to admire her, the wolves in particular and attempted to draw her over into their camp yet; it seemed that the rabbit was not only single-minded but held onto a grudge.

Helen chuckled, thankful that while she and Mark hadn't helped the rabbit, they hadn't hindered her either, remaining neutral through their ignorance of the situation at hand.

Night had already fallen, and the illumination from the glow stones made the camp seem somewhat enchanting yet with innate Helen's vision, the contrast of light and dark ruined its effectiveness, and so she stepped off the path and into the darkness, heading towards the loud thuds in the distance.

The tempo of the sounds changed, sometimes rapid and aggressive, sometimes slow and methodical but it was clear to any that frequented the training ground that the noise represented someone duelling with one of the many training dummies.

Helen wondered why, with the persecution the rabbit had faced, she still persevered. It wouldn't have been surprised if she had given up or joined one of the other beast packs, small, unofficial groups that fulfilled the instinctual need for a hierarchy between them and provided some level of protection for their members.

The rabbit species, including the snow sub-species the rabbit belonged to, were notoriously weak-willed and docile only adding further confusion.

If it weren't for the fact that, no matter how you looked at it, she was a rabbit, Helen would suspect the creature was an entirely different species.

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The rare few rabbits who grew enough to gain their human form, around the fourth beast core rank, were often used as servants and pets for the upper classes, a position that some of their species held as the pinnacle of life.

But this rabbit was different on so many levels, continually breaking what many considered to be common sense as it stayed true to its path.

She used every hardship and challenge thrown at her to temper her strength and resolved and it wasn't a lie to say that even those of various high-level beast bloodlines cringed when they were selected to be her sparring partner.

At the start, the rabbit was almost simple-minded, using her fists to resolve any issues or problems she encountered but very quickly, discovered and adapted strategies and tactics. It was as if she had been bred for war and conflict.

As long as it increased her strength or ability to fight, the rabbit would study and practice any subject or technique without restraint, often falling due to exhaustion only to stagger back to her feet and resume.

Any opponents she faced, no matter who they were, were eventually crushed mercilessly. This attitude applied in the training grounds, on missions and even during their recreational time and was the sole reason the bullying ended. While those at the top could still consistently beat her, they feared the response of such an action.

The rabbit was a tiger amongst dogs, especially in her human form.

While the downside to the human form was that a beasts innate strengths were limited and their abilities somewhat repressed, the advantages that could be employed, especially when trained, armed and armoured, were lethal.

After a couple of dozen minutes, the subject of Helen's thoughts came into view, throwing combinations of punches and kicks in a seemingly inconstant pattern, at a training dummy.

Every now and again, a part of the dummy would explode under the onslaught of attacks; however, within moments, it would repair itself as if it had never been damaged.

Helen prided herself on her abilities, so she was shocked that the moment when she had set eyes upon her target, the rabbit in her humanoid form stopped attacking and backed away from her motionless opponent, undoubtedly aware of the fox's presence.

To Helen, it was a shock but to the rabbit, it was only natural. How could a fox that wasn't trying to be stealthy on a moonlight night compare to the horrors the rabbit had faced in the cave.

The rabbit shuddered at the memories, some still giving her nightmares in the darkest moments of the night, as she turned to face the visitor.

Her cropped top and tight shorts were drenched in sweat, a faint sheen of vapour, evaporating from her skin in the cooling night, though those aspects were unnoticeable under the glare she threw at Helen with her single, sky-blue eye.

If it wasn't for the scar covering her missing eye, and the multiple areas of burnt skin that still looked extremely painful, she would be considered a minor beauty. Instead, with the wounds that covered her body and her muscles, she appeared savage and dangerous.

The fact that her fists were bleeding, along with a few lacerations on her shins, only added to this effect.

'A monster in a beast's skin,' mused Helen. 'Probably what attracts the wolves so much.'

Without showing any signs of discomfort, the rabbit started tying up her long, snow-white hair, which had come loose in her last confrontation with the magically enhanced, wooden dummy, while continuing to watch Helen approach.

While she looked relaxed, Helen knew that it, given the slightest provocation, the rabbit would react.

"Hello, rabbit. Long time no see," said Helen, smiling though she wasn't sure how genuine it would appear.

The rabbit had spoken a few words, mainly yes or no after being compelled by the bond, since she had been tamed and so, they still didn't have a name for her. The nickname one-eye had stuck yet Helen didn't like using it in front of the rabbit's face.

While she would complain to Mark, often using quite original descriptions and insults, Helen was quite fond of the creature. She respected the fact that it was only willing to submit, even when threatened with death when its nemesis was used as leverage.

Mark had, through a pure stroke of genius, shown the rabbit the visual collected from the mountainside and said that if she submitted, then she would have a chance to meet the creature again otherwise, it would win as she would be dead.

By the rabbit's reaction, it was apparent that their meeting would be anything but peaceful but, in the end, after attempting to escape more than seven times and discovering she was too injured, the rabbit seemed to feel like its freedom was a price it was willing to pay.

Whether that was to live or to confront her foe, Helen and Mark did not know.

"You have done well, obeying our master's wishes and grown in strength and intelligence," said Helen slowly as she came to a stop, a few meters away. "The hunt approaches and, if you are cooperative, you will be at the forefront."

The rabbit naturally ignored the false praise of Helen but her second statement caused her pupil to dilate rapidly and breathing to increase slightly.

"But first, I require your name." Striking while the iron was hot, Helen delivered her request in a no-nonsense, non-negotiable manner. While she had been tasked with gaining the rabbits true name, Helen knew that if she started off with that, it would be like climbing a mountain with a boulder strapped to her back. "If we are to be working together, I must know what to call you and I know you ignore all names that have been given to date."

A frown appeared on the rabbit's face as her head tilted to the side and her single, predatory blue eye analysed Helen from top to bottom.

Helen felt as if her body and secrets were laid bare before the distant, yet piercing gaze and her breath stuck in her chest.

It was only when the rabbit nodded once, seemingly finding no reason to refuse the request and started to study the surroundings as if she was expecting to be ambushed at any moment, that Helen could breathe.

"Mira," responded the rabbit. "When?"