The dark skies have brightened into a light cyan blue with the sun inching its way up, signaling dawn has approached. The two allies have already awoken from their slumber once the light hit their eyes and forced them open. With the fire dead and their belongings packed, the rabbit and kobold vacate the area and continue along their journey. As they travel, Berc unveils a map of the entire region, pinpointing their location, while Haya has her eyes forward.
“What’s our plan now, Haya?” asks Berc, keeping his eyes on the map. “Where do we go from here?”
“We have to avoid any territory owned by the Black Lotus,” she remarks. “Find a nice town to settle in and get work. Once the coin is flowing, we’ll be set. Whatever settlement you pick better have plenty of bounties in it.”
“Is this why they call you the ‘Ronin Rabbit’? How many bounties have you taken on?”
Haya refuses to disclose the contents of the title. She shifts the subject to their navigation issue. “Where are we now?”
“Hm…” Berc scans the diagram in his clutches. “Well… We just came from… and when we fled, we went… So, we should be-” A dark figure rushes down from the trees above and lands in front of the allies, catching them off-guard and causing them to halt in place. The silhouette is shrouded in a cloak with a hood, much like Berc’s, but in a dark green shade. The appearance of the mysterious shape has made Berc release the map and drop it. “Whoa! Goodness!”
The shadow pulls out a dagger and aims the blade at them. “Hand over everything you own and you will not be harmed!” The kobold motions closer to the pink bunny, threatened by the bandit’s weapon.
Haya remains still, unimpressed by the actions. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“What does it look like, Bunny Girl? Now, give me all of your goods!”
“Haya, do something,” Berc says, sticking nearest to his rabbit companion.
Haya keeps her expression. “If you think I’m intimidated, you are wrong to assume that, Stranger. Back down now, or there will be trouble.”
“Y-yeah,” utters Berc, scared slightly as he keeps close to Haya. “You sure don’t want to start trouble with the Ronin Rabbit.”
“Ronin Rabbit you say?” the thief responds. “Well, once I’m done with you, the Black Lotus will pay me handsomely.”
“You’ll have to beat me first. If you can keep up, that is.” The cloaked figure juts forward to attempt a stab, but the bunny shifts to the right quickly. Another try for a quick jab at her causes Haya to dodge left. The robber then goes to swing the blade, but the rabbit ducks, then punches the crook to knock him back. “Your moves are weak, like that of a child. You sure you’re a thief? You would’ve robbed me already.”
“No dumb rabbit’s going to outsmart me!” The hooded criminal charges toward her with their weapon.
Haya pulls out her blade out quick to block the attack. “Fool, do you think you have what it takes to take me down?” The crook takes the blade back and swings again, but Haya hinders his move again. “That all you’ve got?” Tired of being taunted, the crook charges at her again. Haya assumes the defensive and holds them in place as she grips her blade. “My turn.” The rabbit pushes against the thief, forcing him back before striking. The hooded shape evades her fast attacks by dodging. They manage to be successful to block some of her swings. Other strikes she’s made nearly nick their robes.
“You’re a quick one,” utters the robber. “But I bet your friend isn’t!” They go to attack Berc, who stands there, helplessly. His wide-eyed, open-mouthed expression shows fear in his face. Just as the thief prepares their assault, Haya, who has jumped up, lands down in front of them with quick slash of her sword to cut them off. The bunny then dashes to-and-fro, knocking the criminal off balance and causing them to fall backwards onto the ground and drop their blade.
Haya lands before them, standing over the startled crook. She kicks away the knife and aims her katana at the mugger. “You have failed. You are no thief. If I were you, I’d give up and come back once I’ve bettered myself.” She turns around to Berc, who walks up to her. “Well? What is it?”
“Oh nothing,” Berc tells her. “Your moves amaze me.”
“Let us not stay here any longer. We must get moving.” The crook reaches for their weapon with speed, grabbing it tightly and getting ready to strike.
Berc takes notice of the thief’s moves. “Haya!” Haya turns around to see the crook shoot up to attack. Before she can react, she’s pushed aside by Berc, who receives a slash by his gut underneath his breast. Both companions land in the dirt on their knees. The kobold clutches at his side, wincing with pain. Behind them, the criminal raises their blade in the air, getting ready to send it down and make their mark. Just as their arm’s halfway on descent, Haya swings around with her katana with great speed, slicing through the limb in a clean cut. The hooded being curses and stumbles back in shock, grasping at their missing arm, which has dropped on the ground. As the rabbit points her weapon at them, they make a hasty retreat away to vacate the area.
Haya turns back to her groaning companion. “Berc, what were you thinking?! Are you out of your mind?! You could’ve got us killed!”
Berc grunts in between each section of sentence as he speaks, still clutching his open cut as blood seeps through his fingers. “T-they were going… to stab you… I didn’t… want you… to get…”
“I sensed he would pull that dirty trick,” Haya interrupts. “You didn’t need to do anything. Yet, you got in the way, and they would’ve killed us if you hadn’t made me lose focus.”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t want… you to get… hurt… or worse…”
“I already told you I can look out after myself!” Berc turns his head away in shame. Haya lets out a sigh. “Well, we better find where the closest town is and get you help.”
The kobold turns to her. “Haya, can you help me…? I don’t think I can… stand well…”
“You’re such a wimp! It’s just a little gash. Get up, you’ll be fine!”
“But the pain… It hurts…”
“Just walk it off, you big baby kobold.”
As Haya sheaths her weapon, Berc slowly stands with the help of a nearby beech tree trunk. He takes a couple steps forward before nearly stumbling into another tree trunk. Haya is already a foot away from him. “Haya, wait! I can’t do it…! It hurts… too much…! Help…!”
Haya stops, lets out a sigh, then turns around. “Do you really need help…?” The kobold nods, still bearing a frown. “Hold up…” The rabbit walks back, takes his arm to put around the back of her neck, then lifts him up. She presses on with Berc by her side. “Don’t get used to this.”
