The doors of the guild swing wide, each of us walking in with purpose and poise.
We march towards the attendant, final slimes prepared, ready to take on the horned rabbit quest.
Sarah looks up, catching sight of us, a smile emerging on her face. She stands, straightening her clothes, adopting a professional air.
Stopping at the counter, Ash taps her bracelet against the tablet Sarah has laid out. Each of us follows in turn.
Sarah picks up the tablet, inspects it, a produces a quick nod.
“Congratulations, you have now completed the minimum requirement to qualify for the silver rank-up quest. Do you have any questions?”
Ash gives a small shake of her head, “Thank you, but I think we revived enough in our last visits. I think it’s time for us to get on with it.”
Sarah smiles, “Understood. I’ll await your timely return.”
Quest now complete, we turn and walk to the quest board, quickly searching for and finding the quest. For throuness, we tap our rings against it, allowing it to read aloud.
[Horned Rabbits Culling.]
[Kill 10 Horned Rabbits and retrieve their horns.]
[In the plains of Zandria, there is a nesting ground of Horned Rabbits. Scouts have discovered that they are reaching overpopulation and need to be culled. Killing 10 adults will rectify the issue.]
[Reward: 25 copper]
I turn to leave, followed by the rest of my party. We make for Silkys door.
✧ ✧ ✧
A portal appears on the wall of the circular room. As it stabilizes, a vast plain comes into focus. Small rolling hills are dotted throughout, the ground covered in short, wheat-like grass.
Ash walks through, each of us following, granting me the feeling of the warn sun beating down, the smell of the rich grain smell of the grass, and the refreshing breeze of the light wind blowing past.
We walk, searching for the nesting ground described in the quest. After the quests we’ve done, I’ve found that the objective is normally within a 10 minuted walk… as long as you walk in the right direction.
As such, it is no surprise when, after walking straight from the portal for around 7 minutes—from atop a hill—Silky notices that way over in nearly the opposite direction is what appeares to be a horned rabbit in a clearing.
Each of us look over, but we can’t seem to spot it. Nevertheless, She has proven time and again that she has great eyesight, so we take her word for it.
Unsurprisingly, we crest a hill near where she thought to have spotted on and find a clearing with many horned rabbits wandering around.
Ash surveys the scene quickly before turning back to us, “Ok, I think we’ll take the same formation as the last quest, though we’ll spread out slightly more make it easier to dodge the rabbits. Sound good?”
I, too, survey the nesting ground to make my own opinion. The plain is flat, with a few small hills outlining it. Rabbits roam, though sparse, seeming to patrol the grounds. I fall into thought, analyzing my findings. I can see 10 burrows… probably more… spread pretty widely… may be able to only aggro a few rather than the whole lot… do they dig with their horns… probably 2 adults per burrow minimum… Yeah ok. ‘Seems like the best option is to slowly approach down from flat ground—I don’t really want to deal with slopes. Ash’s formation will work—just need to make sure to take it slow.’
“I like the formation, but I think we should slowly approach from over there,” I say, pointing to the right to a flat section with only a few rabbits roaming, “That way we may be able to strategically aggro at our own pace. Plus, we won’t need to worry about slopes or elevation change.”
Seconds pass, LionsBlaze taping his staff, and Silky resting her head on her hand. Soon. a nod comes from LionsBlaze, approving the plan. Silky, however, shakes her head.
“No, I think we invert the formation. The reason for having the middle lead is to have the slimes break around them, giving ample opportunity for the wings to take them out. This time, we’re trying to take on one or two opponents at a time, meaning we want to give more opportunities to strike the singular opponent. If we have the middle hang back, we will allow us all to strike as the rabbit passes through the center of the formation. Plus it will make it easier to surround it after a charge.”
Immediately, LionsBlaze slaps his forehead, “Welp, I’m dumb.”
Meanwhile, I shake my head, “Yeah, that makes sense,” while giving Silky a thumbs up.
Finally, Ash just nods.
✧ ✧ ✧
We approach slowly. The grass around us is flat, easily revealing the three rabbits ahead. One is very close—around 15 strides—the other two are respectively twice and two and a half times the distance.
At around 13 strides distance, the rabbit happens to catch sight of us.
*Shriek*
The other 2 rabbits turn, focusing on us. Fortunately, none of the more distant rabbits seem to have turned… Yet.
The first rabbit hops in our direction, quickly gaining speed. It quickly becomes apparent that it’s charging Silky—the left wing.
In response, Silky shuffles further left—making space for it to fly by—Ash remains where she is while LionsBlaze moves up. All the while, I rush behind them from the right wing, positioning myself furthest down on the rabbit’s path, hopefully where it will stop its charge.
The rabbit rushes by Silky—her stab missed, as does the rabbit’s. Past LionsBlze and Ash it charges—Ash nicking it and LionsBlaze going wide—yet again inflicting no injury. Its charge slows, its energy spent. The rabbit prepares to end it’s flight to recover, speeds reaching manageable—I strike.
A gash opens along the rabbit's flank—movement in the last second saving its life. It hops arround—left right, up and back—ensuring its survival till the next charge.
Before we can move to surround it for the next charge—
“Second one incoming,” Silky calls.
Looking over my shoulder, another rabbit is charging, this one aiming for LionsBlaze.
LionsBlaze steps back and to the right, Ash up and to the left, Silky to the right, and I remain where I am, ready for it to pass by again.
In its charge, Silky strikes out—another miss—before she turns to make for the first rabbit. LionsBlaze steps out of the way once it’s 3 stride away while Ash strokes for it. After it passes by, it stops just behind them, requiring me to lounge for it.
It hops away, evading my strike. Ash and LionsBlaze turn, each thrusting. The rabbit hops, it lands, it—I thrust. The spear pierces the pelt cleanly, hitting internal organs. In the next second, Ash stabs it in the head, ending its life.
I remove my spear—
“Incoming!” Lionsblaze calls.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Unable to confirm the direction, I step back and to the right before looking up to analyze the situation.
It’s charging for Ash. She remains, LionsBlaze moves right, I store the rabbit, and Silky continues to engage the first rabbit.
It passes by both of them unharmed, before escaping me as well. It stops 3 paces away from me, far out of reach.
Before I can even ponder my next move—
“He’s coming for you, Blue,” Silky says.
I turn to her, seeing the Horned rabbit rushing me from only 6 paces off. I lower into my stance, spear held forward. 5… 4… 3… 2—I dodge left…1—I stab. It rushes by unharmed.
Behind me, a squeal sounds as one of them get a hit. Silky jogs over as I turn to re-engage. The Rabbit has a small gash on its leg—its jumps smaller than the previous rabbit.
Within seconds LionsBlaze manages a hit—the rabbit overwhelmed by the overlapping strikes. I take a breath, turning to check on the other—I dive to the right.
“Dodge!” I yell.
“Fuck!” LionsBlaze screams
I roll, pop up to my feet, and look over to find LionsBlaze rolling on the ground, grasping his right leg. With him still being indistinct, no damage or blood was visible.
Ash leans over him, “Where’d it get you?”
“It got the back of m—Fuck—my calf.”
With Ash handling the situation, I locate the rabbit.
Ten paces beyond us, it’s hopping around, its horn still pristine. ‘Well, I guess we don’t bleed… In any case, seems we’re gonna have to get this ine while it’s moving, as it doesn’t seem keen on giving us a free shot.’
“Silky, come with me. I’ve got an idea.”
I set us up with Silky and me next to each other, an arm's length away, a few paces ahead of Ash and LionsBlaze. We stair down the rabbit, ready for its charge.
Its hopping slows, and its head lasers in on me. After a second, it charges.
Following my idea, we stay in position, Silky focusing on her hands, while I focus on my feet. Our eyes follow the rabbit. We follow it from 7 paces, to 5, to 2—I step right, to 1—silky strikes, to 0—I strike. The rabbit stops, dead in its tracks.
A wound streches along its right side, crossing its leg. On my side, a spear enters, piercing a lung and the heart.
I turn to Silky with a smile, “It worked!”
We return to Ash and Lionsblaze after stowing the corpse.
“How’s he doing?” I ask.
“Better, It seems that the wound is healing rapidly. He’ll probably be good in a few minutes.”
“That’s good. In the meantime, I think I’ve got a new plan.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, I think we keep Silky’s formation, but when a rabbit comes, we need a plan of action. I think what we should do is this: If it’s coming for the wings, then the wing and the closest middle pair up. If it’s going for one of the middle two, the middle pairs up. From there, you act as Silky and I did, with the one being charged acting as the bait. Meanwhile, the other 2 are not a part of this at all. If another rabbit is charging, they will set up for it if one of them is being charged, or intercept if not. If there isn’t another rabbit, they will move beyond the baiting team, and chase down the rabbit if they don’t get it.”
✧ ✧ ✧
In another spot, we again approach slowly. We managed to find a rabbit that is hopefully far enough to not be able to call reinforcements.
It spots us at 15 paces, turning to charge. After a second, it becomes clear it’s going for Ash, so she and LionsBlaze remain where they are.
Meanwhile, Silky and I look around to make sure that its shriek didn’t alert any other rabbits. Once we determine that we’re good, we look over at each other to confirm. Silky gives a thumbs up, as do I.
We both turn and dash. We form up a few paces behind Ash and LionsBlaze, ready to catch the rabbit if they don’t.
Looking forward, I see Ash step to the left, revealing the rabbit just before LionsBlaze strikes for it. As she settles, she also strikes out… they both miss.
The rabbit continues its charge, however, its pace begins to slow. It catches sight of us, and increases its efforts to slow. It manages to come to a halt 3 paces from us.
I take a step forward and lunge, followed by Silky. It dodges my thrust, and it's grazed by Silky’s. It lands, focused on us, hopping back and forth. We advance, striking at it all the while, inflicting shallow wounds.
It continues, dodging left, right, forward, and back—A spear pierces its spine. Holding the spear, Ash relaxes her stance as the rabbit's movements halt.
The second the rabbit had passed them they had passed them, they had turned and followed. Silky and I had been keeping its focus to allow for the sneak attack.
I smile, “It worked!”
Ash pats my back, “It did indeed.”
“four down, six to go,” LionsBlaze says.
“True, but now we have a plan of action.”
✧ ✧ ✧
With our new formation, the rabbits’ threat reduces dramatically. Our next encounter has three rabbits, but now we are prepared.
The rabbits charge me, so LionsBlaze and I form up. At the same time, the next rabbit charges for Ash, and the final rabbit is charging for LionsBlaze. Each is separated by about 5 paces.
The rabbit passes us, LionsBlaze barely scratching it while I score a nasty gash on the leg. I turn, seeing Silky already there behind us, ready for the rabbit. I move swiftly, flanking the rabbit to try and finish it off before the next one comes. LionsBlaze remains, forming up with Ash for the next 2.
Silky and I trade scratches on it, slowing it down more and more. Unfortunately, it isn’t finished off before we hear—”Next!”—be called by Ash.
I turn, sighting another rabbit rushing past them, largely unharmed. I take a few steps forward to escape the range of the first slime, where I’m soon met by Silky. I chose the spot where it looked to be stopping, allowing us to take it out in the first exchange.
I turn to Silky, “We won’t be able to take out the first one in time. Watch it while I prepare for the next one.”
With that, I look forward, returning to a ready first guard.
Seconds later, Ash calls out, “Next!”
Lionsblaze dodges right, Ash thrusts, He thrusts, the leg is wounded. I judge that I’m in the right place. It approaches. I watch. Silky joins me. I watch. It approaches. I strike low. It hops high. Silky skewers it.
I swing my head around and locate the first rabbit. It’s charging. I turn. It approaches. I enter first stance. “It’s coming,” I warn. Silky turns. It charges. Silky enters her combat stance. It lowers its horn. Silky thrusts low. The spear gouges it. The rabbit stops. I stab its throat.
“Everyone good?”
“Yup!”
“All good!”
“Yeah.”
“...”
“Welp, regroup. Let's return to the hill and scout out our next target,” Ash says.
✧ ✧ ✧
It takes us 3 more groups to finish. The first is a group of 2. It takes three engagements to finish them. The next is a group of one. It takes 2 engagements. The final group, despite only needing 1 more, is made up of 3.
A plain expands beyond me. A rabbit charges ahead of me. Ash stands to the left of me. A rabbit dead behind me. A spear in my hand.
Its horn is down, prepared to stab. My spear is down, prepared to strike. Its legs strike the ground with great speed, accelerating the rabbit towards me. I bounce on my toes, remaining in place. It watches my feet, keeping its horn pointed ahead. My eyes follow its movement, spear primed at my side.
It hops. Ash thrusts. It jumps. My spear pierces its throat. It dies.
My shoulders relax as my spear falls, “Done here.”
*Shree*
“Done here too,” Silky responds.
I store the rabbit at the end of my spear as the others collect the remaining two. I look over the clearing, a feeling pride swelling within me as I gaze upon it. I see flashes of the battle—scenes where I seamlessly cover for one of my allies—I skewer a rabbit as it hops through the air—I juke a rabbit out, leaving it wide open for my allies.
My gaze returns to my allies, a smile eched onto my face, a warmth sufsing my body.
“Lets go back to the guild.” I say, my smile radiating through my words.
Ash turns to me, the same warth radiating from her, “Yeah, lets.”