“Huh, this one is more explicitly a team game… which is a bit strange” said Trina “Sure the other one could be a team game, but they hid that. What’s different this time”

Aife shrugged “I’m not sure. Perhaps that is the theme for this next set of five? The first one was mostly singular. Sure, you and me sort of fought together but it was a lot more like being dropped into a combat zone.

“This time, they are actively encouraging cooperation. I wonder if that is something, they want to continue with… or is it just for the next five?” said Aife

“Hmm, you might be right Aife, or perhaps they test something different in each lot of five? The first was combat skill and this is teamwork, or perhaps the ability to make friends?” said Trina

Sui shared a look with Ito but shook her head “I believe they are merely trying to ensure that any groups already formed do not completely fall apart. Trina, you have shown that in such a stressful situation people start to act differently.

“This might be their way of calming everything down once the adrenaline from combat wears off. Really I think it’s perhaps them trying to ensure that nobody is attacking anyone else simply to ensure they have enough space for the game” said Sui with Ito nodding along.

Trina frowned, ready to comment but was interrupted by a popping sound. All of a sudden, in the large open field before the group a massive fence appeared. Right next to them, a small but elaborate… building? appeared.

It was a miniature house, that looked like it was based on a children’s drawing. It had an upside-down V for a roof, with two windows on the front and a large one on either side, with a door leading from the centre. It was lifted off the ground slightly, and was about as tall as Sui with a ramp allowing access from the ground.

On the top the roof there was a large metal hinge making it clear that either side of the structure could be lifted up. This was further reinforced by the fact, that the roof continued a considerable amount past the edge of the structure.

Well, this is even stranger than the metal.

Before Sui could ponder it too much though, the system came through with a message.

Welcome to Wave 7, in 0:10 minutes the field will begin to populate with rabbits. As a team you will be required to catch them. Your final score will be the combination of every team members catches divided by three. You have 20 minutes

Well, that doesn’t seem too bad. The biggest issue with catching rabbits is their propensity to sneak into burrows or hide in shrubs. The grass here is quite well maintained despite the apocalypse. It is a little out of sorts, but nothing too bad.

The biggest concern is the fences. They have massive holes in them by rabbit standards. I’m not sure that they can actually contain them at all. Though maybe it’s just for show? Might be like when I was fighting that wolf, and it’s more to tell us where we can catch them and where we can’t?

Sui’s thoughts were interrupted by another series of rapid popping sounds. Before her eyes hundreds, maybe even thousands of rabbits started to populate every inch of the available space. They all seemed distinctly different than the previous ones she had attack her.

While before they were white coated, and still extremely fluffy, these new rabbits where grey, and much less so. Oh sure, they were still cute, but they had short close-cut fur and where exceptionally small.

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Ito was large for a spider, and appeared to be around the same size as the new army of rabbits. If you properly included all of Ito’s legs she might even be larger. Each rabbit could easily fit within Sui’s hands, maybe two to a palm if she was careful.

To any normal person, it was an adorable sight, that would stun anyone who saw it. Sui was not that normal person. She was already marching forward towards the rabbits without hesitation. As Sui went to step over the fence, it split open for her. Shrugging she walked through ready to catch some rabbits.

Hmm, poor colour fur. It’s only a light grey, which while a nice colour to my eyes is rather unpopular. Not dark enough to prevent stains showing clearly, and not light enough to really go with many other colours.

Short fur as well, so even skinning them would likely not result in anything useful. Plus, even with my new abilities it would be a bit too hard to move them all together. Sui reached down, snatching a rabbit off the floor without so much as hesitating. The poor thing yelped in surprise but Sui took no notice.

Hmm, decently soft, but nothing particularly spectacular. I don’t think it can be worth it really. Ito what do you think? When Ito left Sui’s skin from her wrist the poor rabbit fainted. Unprepared for the ‘giant’ spider beside it.

Huh, seems they start easy, I wonder if we can use that. I doubt it, as I imagine most would just run away… still I’ll keep it in mind. Reaching down and snatching a second rabbit from the ground Sui started to head back to the hutch to deposit her prize, hardly noticing the rabbits slowly inching away from the path she took.

When she got back to the hutch, Sui opened the roof, and saw a dark void on the inside, with a sign on the wall that said ‘do not touch’ written on it. Sui shrugged and threw the rabbits in and they vanished.

She was about to go and grab some more when she noticed that Trina and Aife were standing next to the fence. Leaning against it. Not really moving. What are those pair doing? Strategizing or something?

Sui made her way next to them and found the fence opening the way for her. This caused Sui to frown deeply. Ok, clearly something is strange. “Hey you two what’s up?” asked Sui

“Nothing” said Aife

“Yea” said Trina

Sui looked at Ito and gave her ‘Am I acting crazy’ look. Ito crossed both feet in front of her. A firm denial, that in this situation at least, Sui was not the one acting strangely.

“Hey guys, shouldn’t we be catching the rabbits?” asked Sui

Trina turned to Sui looking horrified “How could we ever catch something so cute?”

Sui stared at her mouth agape. What the hell is she talking about? I mean sure they are somewhat cute, and I have to admit turning them into a plush toy might work well, and be a good test of my sewing abilities, but I don’t see how that should have any affect here?

We were given a task, so should we not simply be doing it? If you really think they are so cute recruit them the same way I did Ito. “Trina, we are on a time limit. You should be catching them” said Sui

Trina shrugged and let out a long breath “But, aren’t they just adorable? Can’t we let them be? The world needs more cute things I think” said Trina

Sui narrowed her eyes. Ok, so has Trina gone crazy or… is there something more to these rabbits? I thought it was strange they don’t even try to run away. “Aife what about you?” asked Sui trying another angle “Surely you could catch a whole bunch”

Aife turned to Sui and frowned “Yeah but if Trina doesn’t want to catch them why should I? I mean they are really cute”

There is definitely something going on here. Ito what do I do? Do I like, slap them or something? That works in some of the books Trina has forced me to read… but I don’t know I could survive if Aife slapped me back. Her strength is simply too high at this point

Ito put one foot to her mouth as if she was considering, then started to form a bit of thread between her feet. She then pulled it over her eyes before gesturing at the other two, ‘blindfold them and see’.

Sui nodded and Ito dismissed the summoned thread. Sui put her hand on Trina’s shoulder, and she didn’t react. Sui took thread from the edges of the outfit, making sure to restitch the clothing as she was going to ensure it wasn’t going to fall apart.

Once this was done Sui moved it to her hand, before placing said hand on the back of Trina’s head. Just as she was about to turn around Sui commanded the thread to snake around Trina’s eyes and blind her.

Trina froze. “Sui why am I blindfolded?”

Sui bit her lips. Now the question is. Can I even mention the rabbits without something going horribly wrong?