It was a strange world. The vegetation appeared much more vibrant and colourful, growing with unorthodox shapes and sizes. Tall flowers with mouth shaped petals that outgrew a normal human could be seen in one place, while an extremely short tree with strange purplish wooden bark and crimson leaves could be found in another. Its height could not even reach a human's knee. Additionally, feet shaped wood replaced the area where it's root should have grown.
Just like the unusual vegetation, the creatures wandering around were equally strange, and unique. In one place, some unusual, brightly coloured birds flocked around a massive tree, long and thin needle-like structures protruding from their non-existent tails. On another, a primate-like creature had four arms on its body, hanging down a tree branch with two of them while vigorously feasting on a juicy fruit with the remaining ones.
In one unexplored region, a giant mountain moved through the ground, albeit very, very slowly. Its speed would not reach more than a few inches per month and only after getting a bird's eye view from far above, could one notice the massive head in it's front, confirming that it was a single organism. It resembled a ginormous tortoise, one so big that it carried an entire ecosystem on it's back, filled with exotic plants, animals, and other strange beings.
All in all, such unusual creatures that broke the very norm of evolution, existed throughout this strange world. And, very rightly, all of them had been designated under one term by the world's many intelligent inhabitants, Monsters!
----------------------------------------
The sky held a reddish tinge when the silence of the forest was broken by cries of various insects. If one could see from above the tall and luscious trees that laced the gaping valleys between the hills, they could see the crimson star on the horizon that was on the verge of disappearing, signaling a usual but lonely sunset.
A plump white rabbit, much larger than the ones found on earth, paid no heed to its changing surroundings, as it was currently enamored by a handful of yellow berries some distance away. If one looked carefully, they could find a reddish horn growing from its forehead, along with long sharp fangs from the corner of its mouth, indicating that it would not mind feasting on some juicy meat. It slowly and cautiously made its way towards the berries, that seemed as if they were purposefully placed at the back of a small passage between two overgrown thickets.
Barely any sound could be heard other than the insect noises and the swaying of leaves, as the monster slowly closed the distance to its food. For the rabbit to get to the berries, it could either circle the thicket or jump over it. Or it could walk through the suspicious small passage between. Unfortunately, monsters have never prided themselves with intelligence and they always chose the easiest route during any form of locomotion.
whoosh!
As soon as the rabbit stepped on a bunch of leaves while crossing the thicket, a sturdy rope instantly tightened upon the hind legs as if it were the gaping jaw of a predator. The agitated monster struggled vigorously in fear for its life. Unfortunately, its efforts to break free only resulted in the ropes grip growing tighter.
On seeing its attempt being fruitless, the rabbit then opened its jaws wide, displaying a set of menacing fangs dripping with drool, as it bit down ferociously on the rope. The teeth sunk deep into the fiber, almost severing it in one go. But just before the rope was completely cut off, an arrow suddenly whizzed past the trees from a distance, slicing through the air with a loud screech, as it flew over accurately targeting the trapped creature.
screeech! pssh!
"Kiiiiiik!"
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The metal head sunk deep into the fatty body with a spurt of resplendent red blood as the rabbit's struggle got even more violent with a painful growl escaping from its throat. In normal situations, such an attack could not even graze it's skin as it would have easily evaded it. But unfortunately, the uncanny agility that its species was famous for, had been greatly restricted as of now.
swish!
Right at that moment, a shadow flew over with unbelievable speed and before the struggling creature could react any further, a dagger was instantly plunged into its throat with another vicious spurt of blood. The rabbit's body convulsed a few times before the light in its pupils got dim and it's life force leaked out like water in a perforated container. It was not long after, that it lay dead on the ground within a pool of blood.
Two sharp eyes observed the dead Horned Rabbit with an abnormal gleam, as the figure crouched down to pull out the arrow. He was a fairly young boy in terms of age, but the maturity radiating out from his face could not be concealed, as he silently and skillfully examined the valuable white fur of the monster to make sure it wasn't damaged heavily.
He wore a light green tunic to camouflage in the bushes, a bow, and a quiver full of arrows were strapped onto his back. A somewhat rusty dagger with strange patterns could be seen in one of his hands that had traces of blood on it, and another two similar rabbits could be found hanging dead from his waist.
"Finally caught it," the boy muttered with a heavy sigh. He had been waiting still beside this trap for hours with no success, unlike the two set up at other places. His patience had almost run dry and his body ached with slight pain. The feeling of relief finally settled into his burning muscles, as he strapped the monster corpse on his belt, before getting ready to return. Just then...
rustle!
The faint rustling of the bushes nearby did not escape his sharp ears, making his body tense with caution as he lowered his waist, getting ready to pounce at the opportunity. From in between the lush vegetation just slightly far ahead of the trap, a pair of small red eyes glowed in the woods that were turning dark with each passing instance. The eyes carefully observed the delicious berries on the ground before it saw the bloody corpses hanging from the human's waist and, instantly disappeared from the spot.
zoom!
"!!!" The boy who had been as taut as a bowstring, dashed forwards in that same instant, chasing the agitated creature through the shrubs and trees. It was yet another Horned Rabbit, one that was much fatter and large than the boy's hunts.
He seemed troubled at the situation, his brows furrowing in displeasure as his speed decreased ever so slightly. The sun was already on the verge of setting, and the woods had already turned fairly dark. Should he give chase? Many dangerous monsters get active at night, turning the seemingly peaceful woods into a dreadful and nightmarish one. He had already acquired some good amount of meat and that fact made his determination falter.
Looking at the rabbit far ahead in the distance, nimbly moving through the vegetation, the boy noticed an abnormality. Although to any normal person it would be something barely visible, a skilled hunter's eyes could not miss it. The monster was large, probably with as much meat as three or more of it's kind normally have, making it far too slow in comparison.
Would he get another chance like this? The boy gritted his teeth as if making a decision, before the sharp gleam returned to his eyes as he bolted forwards with frightening velocity, almost reaching the prey in an instant. The rabbit too had not survived this harsh environment with ease, as it abruptly changed it's direction, just before a dagger sliced past the air in that spot. The rabbit used a similar style over and over again, displaying the special ability as it tried to falter its pursuer.
But the boy strangely remained on the creature's tail with similar agility as he twisted and turned his body, slipping through the branches and plants, not deviating from the path in the slightest. The gap between the two kept on decreasing ever so slightly, as they dashed through the forests, constantly changing directions, moving around in a random zig-zag manner as if they were mosquitoes.
"KiiiKK! KIIkkH!"
It was not long before the monster got exhausted, it's breathing had turned rough, emitting shrill screeches out of desperation. It suddenly turned around with absolute control before launching into the air like a bullet, while baring its huge fangs at the human that was right behind it. The boy did not evade the creature, rushing into its charge head-on.
pssssh!
The fierce encounter of the human and the monster dyed the surrounding plants red, as a massive spurt of blood landed on the ground.