The only sound was Jacobs footfall, as they walked among the trees, the occasional twig breaking under his feet. It could have been a peaceful nature hike if not for the weaponry and grim atmosphere. Eyes darting between ground and treetops, he couldn't get the thought of various woodland critters sneaking up on them out of his head. Forcing himself to stay calm and focused on where they were going, he mentally went over what to do in different situations. Most of them consisted of trying to get a barrier of air up in time. To buy them moments in which to respond to whatever the threat was.

After a few hundred meters Lisa held up her hand and stopped.

“My implants have highlighted some tracks. Something big.”

“Shit, something dangerous?”

She just gave him a 'are you stupid?' look.

“If friggin squirrels almost overran us, what do you think something larger would do?”

“... Good point. Still though. Could you find it? I much prefer us getting the drop on it than the other way around.”

Turning back to the tracks she pointed to their right.

“I don't know exactly what species it is. If it even is an earth-animal. But I can tell it has hooves.”

“Well, good to know it's not a bear at least.”

Lisa seemed to have no trouble following the tracks as they slowly walked forwards, trying not to alert anything to their whereabouts. Trying to keep both an eye on their surroundings, while also avoiding stepping on something, Jacob crept forwards, following Lisa.

They'd been proceeding forwards for quite some time when Lisa once again held up her hand. Stopping, Jacob tried to spot whatever had made her halt. Noticing this she tapped her ear, making him focus on what he was hearing instead.

Barely audible he thought he could hear something. Something almost like static. Raising a quizzical eyebrow at Lisa, she softly whispered back. “Flowing water.”

Slowly they continued on. Stealthily making their way forwards, until they could spot a small stream. The clear water making its way to some unknown destination. Rocky ground on either side of it as there was a break in the trees.

Whatever sight they expected the tracks to lead them to, it was not what they encountered. Which was a cow with it's muzzle buried deep in the carcass of a deer. Happily chewing away at its innards. They crouched behind trees, as they watched the bovine predator lift its head and with a vacant look in its eyes, chew with blood running down its its neck, staining its brown hide.

It was telling of what they'd gone through, that the fact that a cow was in the woods, was more surprising to Jacob than the fact that it was munching on an unfortunate animal. Careful not to make any noise, lest he find himself its next meal, he mimed lifting and firing a weapon.

Lisa slowly nodded and raised her crossbow. Taking her time to aim and letting out her breath, she squeezed the trigger. The limbs of the crossbow snapped forwards, propelling the metal bolt forwards. Smashing into the flank of the creature, it penetrated a handswidth into the flesh, sending ripples through its side.

The cows mouth opened in a shocked moo, as its brain tried to process what had just happened. When a second bolt hit the base of its neck, it seemed to get what was going on. Jumping over the stream in a shockingly graceful leap, it sped up in their direction.

Headed straight for the place Lisa was crouched, it rapidly closed the distance. Desperately firing another bolt, which narrowly missed their foe, She stared at her approaching demise. Crossbow string automatically being pulled back, it was doubtful if the weapon would be ready to fire before the cow was upon her.

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Self-preservation instincts kicking in, she scrambled backwards. With a bloodcurling moo the cow leapt, sailing through the air, straight at the defenseless woman. Its murderous pounce though did not go as planned. As Jacob impacted it shoulder first. Forcing all the kinetic energy he could muster into the cow, it got deflected sideways, crashing headfirst into the tree Lisa had hid behind.

The tree shook as with a loud thud the animal got spun sideways, skidding along the forest floor, forcing the bolts in further as its massive weight came to bear upon them. Stunned, the creature laid there as Jacob leaped up on his feet.

“Shoot it damn it!”

Mustering his strength he rushed forwards, putting his momentum and powers into a swing, reinforcing the cohesion of the bat and adding kinetic force. The bat struck the knee of the downed cow with a crunching sound. Bending it at an unnatural angle. System flooded with adrenaline, he brought down his bat again and again on the prone creature.

One of its good legs lashed out towards him at an angle he thought impossible. It would have hit his groin and dashed any hopes for future children, if he hadn't been able to get a barrier up in time. Instead he felt the force of the kick disperse over him, as the barrier slammed into him before shattering, throwing him backwards and down on the ground.

“Jacob!”

“I'm okay.” Struggling to get his breath back he answered Lisa. Unsteadily getting back on his feet he could see the cow attempt the same thing. Pushing itself up against the tree and getting its legs under it.

Another bolt suddenly sprouted from its jaw, shattering the jawbone, causing it to hang open grotesquely as the bolt went straight through it. The pained cow managed to get up, and started making its way unsteadily towards Lisa who was waiting for a new bolt to reload. As soon as it did she fired, hitting the creature straight between its eyes. Contrary to what you'd expect from such a bulls-eye hit though the cow didn't stop. Instead it continued its menacing approach towards the one who'd hurt it so.

The string pulled back and she pulled the trigger. Though the string snapped forwards, no projectile was launched. Pulling the trigger several more times did nothing, as no new bolt was loaded from its internal storage.

With blood streaming from the mangled remains of its mouth and with a mad look in its eyes, it prepared to pounce once again. Bending its good legs it was prepared to take out its hated enemy. When Jacob appeared, throwing one arm around its neck, while the other one grabbed the bolt stuck in its forehead. With a great scream and straining muscles, he focused his new mysterious powers. With a wet crunching sound the bolt slid further into the cow. Aided by adrenaline-fueled strength and so much ascendant energy that he felt like he'd burst, the bolt pierced the bovine brain, making the pounce turn into a limp fall.

Getting pulled along in the fall, Jacob ended up exhausted and panting, on top of the bloody remains of what used to be a living, breathing animal. Entire body aching and sore he remained on top of the carcass, a throbbing headache growing with every heartbeat.

He felt someone grip his shoulder and winced. Not having the energy to struggle he was turned over. Looking up he saw the worried face of his friend.

“Hey...”

“Hey.”

“That was one hell of a fight, wasn't it.”

“Yeah, I'm udderly spent. I don't think I can moo-ve at all.”

“... Are you. I don't.. I can't even right now.”

Jacob let out a low chuckle at his friends exasperation, feeling some of the tension of the fight leave him. The laughing turned into a groan, as a lance of pain from his headache shot through him. Eyes squeezed tight shut he bore the pain. Not paying attention to anything else for what felt like an eternity.

Eventually his eyes opened as the pain gradually lessened. Still laying on the cooling cow he propped himself up on his elbows, taking in his environment. It felt like a miracle that nothing had attacked him while he was incapacitated, then he saw Lisa and understood why it was. Leaning against a tree, she looked like a mess. Crossbow clutched in her hands and baseball-bat next to her, her face was covered in blood as she had a long gash across her forehead. Her pants were torn, some place only a few layers, while in other spots blood had soaked through the pants, as whatever had caused the damages had reached through her protective layers and into her flesh.

He discovered what must have been responsible for the injuries as he noticed several hares with antlers and fangs lay scattered around them. Two with bolts sticking out of them, while three other were crushed and battered.

Noticing his movements, a pained smile formed on her face. And she spoke with a strained voice.

“So sleeping beauty decides to join me again, you missed out on half the fun.”

“Shit, what happened?”

“God-damned jackalopes is what happened.”

“I thought they were a myth?”

“Well, they hurt a fucking lot for being a myth.”

“Sorry.”

“It's fine. Though you did pick the worst time for a nap.”

“I'll try not to do it again. Thanks for keeping me safe.”

“It's nothing, without you I'd have been cow-food after all.

Jacob grunted in response

“Come on now. Help me retrieve these bolts and then get going, The sun is about to set.

Struggling back on his feet he began the bloody task as Lisa stood guard. Having something to focus on other than the pain helped, as his headache gradually receded. Retrieving the bolts from the jackalopes and the one that they had killed the mad cow, he handed them to her. Putting them into her Fabricator-quiver for reprocessing she stepped away from the tree awkwardly, putting her weight on one leg.

They gave up on the bolts in the cows side. As they were currently under it and neither of them had the strength or motivation to turn the heavy carcass over. Going over to help support his friend they made their slow,limping way back towards the ship.