63 Floof (1/2)

Wind swept through the glade, flattening the grass and dislodging leaves from the trees, fluttering down to join the growing mass of vegetation that was now floating in the brook. Lowering his hand, Eric smiled. His new spell had been a success, even if it had taken him most of the night to create. Even now, the sun could be seen rising above the trees, illuminating the ruin he'd brought to the once peaceful clearing.

I guess I should head back now, Eric decided. He still had to hit up the general store before he could head to bed for a few hours. Grabbing his sabre, he left the glade, headed once more for Tonbura Village.

The forest was quiet in the early morning hours. This far north, the sun rose early, bathing the world in light well before the residents were ready to awaken. Even the players were mostly absent, most likely sleeping given the early hour. Making his way along the path, Eric suddenly came to a stop, pricking his ears and dropping to a crouch as he readied a Wind Dart.

With an explosion of colour, a small form burst from the undergrowth to the side of the path just in front of where he stood. Seeing him, the form turned, running headlong towards his position. Preparing to kick the small Demonic Rabbit that was charging at him, Eric's attention was suddenly drawn to a blur of red that burst out from behind the rabbit, scrabbling to a halt as it noticed the half-elf.

Taking advantage of this moment of indecision, the Demonic Rabbit scurried past Eric, hiding behind his legs as it gazed fearfully towards the Red-maned Wolf that had been following it. Looking down at the rabbit in bemusement, Eric's eyes went back to the Red-maned Wolf, meeting the creature's gaze as its lips pulled back with a low snarl. Looking back at the bunny, Eric gave it an awkward smile.

”Normally I'd let nature take its course, but I suppose I can't just ignore you if you're going to rely on my for safety, now can I?” he asked the rabbit rhetorically, before turning back to the wolf. ”Sorry fella, but you're going to have to find another meal. I'm not going to kick this little guy over just so you can eat him, I'm not that heartless.”

Baring its teeth, the wolf stepped forward, snarling at the half-elf in defiance.

Eric frowned. ”Oi. Don't think that just because you won't give me any experience that doesn't mean I'll hesitate to kill you if you want to fight.”

As the forest went silent once more, Eric let out a low sigh. He generally tried to avoid killing low level monsters these days. As long as they stayed away from Novanalban settlements and travellers, he was willing to let them live their own lives. Unfortunately, there were many that were only too willing to attack anything that intruded upon their domains. To these, Eric showed no mercy. He wasn't naive enough to believe that a monster he'd shown mercy would recant its evil ways, and he wasn't willing to be the reason that a villager or fellow adventurer fell at the claws of one that he'd set free.

A nudge at his legs brought Eric out of his reverie. Looking down, his deep green eyes met an enormous pair of amber ones, looking up at him tearfully as the rabbit rubbed against his leg..

”Are you trying to say thanks?” Eric asked the Demonic Rabbit. ”You'd better not grow up to be like that wolf there. I don't want to hear that a creature I saved decided to attack someone.”

Even if the likely result if you do that is you dying, Eric tacked on silently. Leaning down, he gave the rabbit a quick pat before heading over to loot the wolf's body. Finishing that, he set off once more, only to feel yet another nudge at his leg, this time from behind. Turning around, he noticed with some amusement that the rabbit had followed him and was staring pitifully towards him.

”What do you want? I already saved you,” Eric told it. Looking back at the wolf's corpse, an idea struck him. ”Are you hungry? I think I might have an apple in here somewhere, hold on.”

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Reaching into his storage pouch, Eric fumbled around for a second before drawing out an apple he'd nabbed from Moira's tavern the day before. Leaning down, he offered it to the rabbit who stared at it distrustfully for a moment before staring back at him.

”Really? You're going to say no to a snack after I save you from becoming one?” Eric asked incredulously. ”It's fine, look,” saying that, he took a bite of the apple, the sweet juices running over his chin as he savoured the fruit. ”See? Not poisoned.”

Offering the apple to the rabbit once more, this time Eric was rewarded as it hopped forward and nibbled cautiously at the apple. Having done this, the rabbit's eyes widened, its mouth opening wide as it began to gobble the apple down. Removing his fingers hastily before they could become an unintended part of the snack, Eric watched as the tiny creature devoured the snack, its tiny mouth doing its best to fit as much of the apple inside as it could.

Watching the rabbit, Eric's gaze softened. While he'd been partially responsible for the recent Demonic Rabbit genocide that had occurred since the otherworlder's arrival, and he still bore a slight grudge towards them for being the first creature in Fate to wound him, that didn't mean that he couldn't find them cute. And this tiny fellow was downright adorable. The horn on its head was still small, only a tiny nub compared to the foot long daggers that larger rabbits bore. Its small paws which grasped the apple were oversized compared to the rest of its body, which was covered in a fine grey fur, flecked with gold. Reaching forward, Eric slowly began to pet the rabbits head, gently running his fingers through the fur as it finished off the apple.

[Would you like to make the Infant Demonic Rabbit your pet?]