In case you haven't figured it out by now, I don't own Monster Rancher.
Again, this is part FOUR of Hare's Secret, and once again I advise you to read the first three parts before reading this, or -trust me- you will completely lost. I would also like to remind my readers that I enjoy getting feedback on my work, and would love to see your opinions of it. Please review this once you've finished! Thank you.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hare took to his heels the instant he heard the growl behind him. Something black as midnight lunged at him, but he twisted away from their snapping jaws and darted back into the slight cover of the trees. The howls of the Terror Dogs filled his ears, betraying how close they were. Hare didn't dare look back; he didn't need to: he could hear them panting as their sleek bodies crashed into the underbrush after him.
Branches whipped into his face, and he threw his arms in front of him, running blindly through the forest. His heart pounded wildly, and he could barely breathe, but he couldn't stop -or they would have him!
Aaahhhooooo! One of the Terror Dogs erupted from the underbrush with an explosion of leaves and twigs, leaping at his back. Hare felt the wolf monster's hot breath on his neck, felt sharp teeth graze his fur, and screamed as he ducked away and thrashed into a thorn bush. The dog fell away, crying as thorns dug into its flesh. Stifling his own cry of pain as the sharp bristles tore into his own fur, Hare broke free of the bush and kept running, not bothering to see what had happened to the other monster.
I can't run much longer, he thought grimly. If they catch up again, I'll have to stand and fight. I'd rather die than be taken ba-
"AAH!" Hare suddenly found himself screaming as the ground under his foot gave way, and he tumbled down. He landed hard, and a sharp crack sounded as white-hot pain lanced up his side. Groaning, the rabbit shook his head and stared up at the small opening a few feet above his head.
Of all the rotten times to run into a pit! This just hasn't been my day. Hare tried to move around, and his worst fears were realized as he felt pain erupt up his side. His left leg was bent at an awkward angle, and he couldn't move it without feeling intense agony. Biting back a scream, Hare glanced up at the opening above him. He couldn't see any of his pursuers waiting at the top of the pit for him, and that gave him something positive to focus on even as he looked back at his useless leg.
Well, I'd better take care of this before they do find me. Hare placed both paws against his broken leg, ignoring the pain that contact caused. He closed his eyes and began to concentrate.
Under his kerchief, something began to glow with a faint red light.
* * *
"Sir Velvet, please...help me..."
Velvet ignored the pathetic whimpering of the Terror Dog he had found caught up in a thorn bush, glaring at the injured monster with flashing crimson eyes. "Silence!" he howled. "How dare you let our quarry escape you?"
"Sir Velvet, I beg of you..."
"LIGHTNING!"
The death howl hung over the forest for a moment before slowly fading away.
"My warriors never beg," Velvet growled at the lost disc still caught in the thorn bush. Without another word, he whirled away, glaring at the other Terror Dogs. Some of them glanced over at the lost disc, but they quickly turned away and followed after their leader. Velvet sniffed at the air, trying to catch the scent of his prey once more. After a few moments, he turned and nodded for his pack to follow him.
The pack slunk deeper into the forest, soon coming upon a gaping pit. Velvet paused, signaling his warriors to halt. Nose twitching, he crept up to the edge of the pit and peered in.
Sure enough, his quarry was there, sprawled out at the bottom of the hole. Velvet could smell blood, and figured that the rabbit had probably injured himself when he had fallen. A stroke of luck for him and his warriors, Velvet told himself.
Still, the wolf monster was in a bad mood. Night Flyer had claimed that their target was traveling with the rebels who had killed Moo, and his troops had been looking forward to killing those fools. But when they had found the rabbit, he had been alone, with no sign of the rebels anywhere. Since their orders specifically stated that the rabbit was to be brought to Master Naga alive, there was no way for his men to satisfy their lust for blood.
Peering into the hole once more, Velvet was about to spring in and drag the rabbit out when something made him stop. A strange aura had suddenly formed around the small monster's body, and he seemed to be concentrating hard. His paws gently brushed up against his obviously broken leg, and Velvet felt his eyes widen in surprise as he watched a glow form around the rabbit's paws.
It...can't be. It's impossible!
The glow faded, and the rabbit got shakily to his feet. Velvet stepped back from the edge of the pit, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.
The rabbit...had somehow healed his own wounds. He was standing on the same leg that should have been hanging limply beside him, useless. Somehow, he'd been able to mend the broken bones and his other wounds. No wonder Master Naga wants him alive.
Velvet backed away from the edge of the hole, crimson eyes narrowing as he decided how best to deal with this new information. He signaled to his pack again, quietly ordering them to hide themselves nearby. Secreting himself in the shadows, Velvet watched the pit and waited for the rabbit to emerge from the hole. That was when the rabbit would be most off his guard: when he and his pack would strike.
* * *
"Hare! Hare, where are you?" Genki called, looking around him.
"Come on, please answer!" Holly pleaded.
Suezo scanned the trees, hoping that he would catch a glimpse of the rabbit. Or one of Tiger of the Wind, for that matter. The eyeball monster didn't want to let the others know, but Tiger's absence from the group bothered him almost as much as Hare's sudden disappearance. It was no secret that the blue-furred monster wasn't particularly fond of the rabbit, and Suezo feared what might happen if he found Hare before the others could. He could tell that Golem could sense his fear, and that the towering rock monster was just as worried by that possibility as he was.
"Do you see anything-chi?" Mocchi asked. Suezo whirled to look at the younger monster, startled to realize that he had been watching the eyeball monster the whole time.
"Uh...no," Suezo admitted, wincing to himself as he watched the pink monster's eager face fall with disappointment.
"Oh." Mocchi turned away and gazed off into the surrounding trees, obviously upset.
"Hare! Hare, come on and say something!" Genki cried out again. The boy led the others deeper into the woods, still calling the rabbit's name.
* * *
Tiger of the Wind glanced over in the direction where Genki's voice was coming from. The boy and the others had to be nearby; they sounded like they were only a few miles away. Tiger snorted; even when he wasn't traveling with them, he couldn't get rid of that boy.
Turning away from the sound, he brought his full attention back to the task at hand. He had managed to find Hare's scent a few minutes after leaving the group, and had been following it for some time. The rabbit must have spent most of the day walking; the sun was already low in the sky, yet he hadn't caught up to Hare. Still, the rabbit was probably tiring by now, and would have to stop for the night. That would be when Tiger would catch up to him.
And what then?
That was the part Tiger hadn't quite figured out yet. While part of him wanted to tear the annoying rabbit limb from limb, another part held him back, telling him to wait. He couldn't understand it: Hare was a complete annoyance, a worthless con artist who'd tricked him and the others before, a possible traitor who might work for Moo...If the rabbit died, it would be no big loss for them.
So why was it that he couldn't shake the final image he had of the rabbit, right before he'd fled from the others? Hare's face had been completely pale, and the sorrow Tiger had seen in those wide eyes had taken him off guard.
"I'm sorry, Genki."
Sorry for what? Tiger wondered. What could you possibly be sorry for? For betraying the group? Or is it something else?
And...why do I care?
* * *
Nobody seems to be around, Hare thought as he carefully peeked out from the pit. His sharp eyes darted from tree to tree, trying to see anything out of the ordinary, and his ears twitched as he listened for any sort of noises. After a few moments, he carefully pulled himself out of the hole. Brushing the dirt from his fur, he glanced around one final time before turning to leave.
A low growl rumbled from behind him, and Hare froze. As he whirled around, he caught a glimpse of midnight fur as a shadow surged toward him. Screaming, Hare lashed out with his foot, catching the monster right in shiny white teeth he didn't want to think about. As it sprawled out, he turned to flee, heart beginning to race again.
Something heavy and ebony-furred slammed into his back and pinned him to the dirt, and Hare screamed again, the cry cut short by the force of his hitting the ground. Hot breath washed over his face and he stared up into sharp fangs and glowing crimson eyes. He managed to scream one final time before darkness took him.
* * *
Tiger of the Wind froze as the terrified shriek came to his ears. At the same moment, he caught a whiff of other scents on the air: more monsters, and the stench of blood. The wolf monster surged into the forest, howling a battle cry.
* * *
Not far away, Genki also darted toward the cry, legs pumping as he skated deeper into the forest. Somewhere behind him, Holly screamed for him to slow down and Mocchi called his name, but he didn't pay any attention to them. He could hear Golem come crashing into the trees after him, and hoped that the others would be able to keep up, because there was no way he was going to slow down now.
* * *
Velvet leered down at the rabbit pinned beneath him, amused by his fear. He couldn't blame the thing for being frightened; that was why his kind was called Terror Dogs, was it not? The sound of the rabbit's screams sent thrills through him: it had been far too long since he had heard a victim cry out in fear. Hopefully Master Naga would be pleased enough with his pack's success to assign them more missions.
Hare stared up at Velvet, his breath coming in short gasps. One of his paws tightened around his kerchief, and the Terror Dog's eyes narrowed. Suddenly the wolf monster lashed out, catching the side of Hare's head with his paw. The rabbit slumped down, knocked out by the blow.
Velvet looked once more at the rabbit sprawled out beneath him. He still wasn't quite certain what he had witnessed earlier when he had looked into the pit, and he wasn't entirely sure that he wanted to know. All that mattered to him was the fact that his mission was successful, and that he could report back to Naga confidant that the reptilian would be satisfied. Smirking, he stepped off of the unconscious rabbit's chest and signaled his pack to get ready to depart.
Suddenly Velvet heard one of his warriors cry out. He whirled just in time to see one of the guards near the forest collapse, electric energy pulsing around his charred form. The other Terror Dogs looked around wildly, scattering away from their fallen comrade so as not to fall victim to the hidden assailant. A growl rumbled from Velvet's throat as he scanned the underbrush.
"Come out!" he ordered, energy already forming around his horns as he tensed for battle.
A howl pealed out of the forest in reply, and a blue blur erupted from the trees into the clearing. Lightning coursed out from the streak, and another warrior yelped as they stumbled to the ground. The blue streak dashed straight toward Velvet, and the Terror Dog unleashed his own lightning bolt upon it.
It connected. Velvet felt a rush of excitement as he heard a sharp cry, and the streak fell off course, slowing down enough for him to recognize it. The black-furred wolf grinned as he realized just who the attacker was.
Tiger of the Wind; rebel, thief, and elder brother to Master Grey Wolf himself. Velvet's leering grin grew wider. How convenient: not only would his troops get the fight they longed for, but they would be also getting revenge on Grey Wolf in a sense.
"Kill him," he ordered his pack, moving toward the blue-furred monster even as he spoke. His warriors eagerly followed, spreading out in a circle around Tiger.
Tiger grimaced. He could feel something warm trickling down his back; that attack had done more damage than he had thought. It was painfully obvious to him just how bad things were: the Terror Dogs were out for blood, and far outnumbered him. Even if he managed to take out some of them, the others would swarm over his body.
He risked a quick glance to his side. He could just make out Hare's crumpled form lying a few feet away. A few of the Terror Dogs had positioned themselves nearby the rabbit, showing an unusual common sense. After all, it wouldn't do to kill Tiger, only to have their real target escape. Not that it looked like Hare would be doing any escaping. The rabbit was unconscious, and Tiger quickly gave up on the notion that he might receive any help from him.
Tiger dropped into a battle crouch, a low growl rumbling in his throat. If this was the end for him, then he was going to go out fighting. With an odd feeling of detachment, he found himself wondering how many of the Terror Dogs he could take down before he would be overwhelmed...
Velvet moved first, springing toward Tiger with jaw gaping wide. Tiger leaped away, but he could feel the other's claws rake across his side as he flashed past. Whirling around, the warrior of the wind called out for his lightning. Ebony fur sizzled, and three of the Terror Dogs yelped as they dodged backwards.
Fangs dug into Tiger's tail; without hesitation he whirled and struck the attacker hard across the face, drawing blood. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the others pressing in. He lashed out again and again, driving them back, but for each monster he forced away, three more moved in. He could smell the heavy stench of their sweat soaked fur; could sense their longing for his blood. The wound on his back throbbed with each move he made, a reminder of the limits of his body. As the Terror Dogs pressed in again, Tiger summoned his blizzard and knocked another wave backward for a few precious seconds.
"LIGHTNING!"
Tiger had not called that attack, and he cried out involuntarily as it ripped into his body. His front left leg took the full force of the blow, and it folded painfully beneath him, driving him to the ground. As the Terror Dogs surged forward, howling triumphantly, Tiger steeled himself for the killing blow.
"CHERRY BLOSSOM BLIZZARD-CHI!"
A curtain of soft pink petals swirled around the wolf monsters, blinding them. Tiger instantly recognized the voice and, despite the pain in his leg, grinned to himself. The Terror Dogs gazed around at the fluttering blossoms, all wearing the same expression of utter confusion.
"What the heck?" one of them asked. Velvet didn't bother to answer his warrior; he was too busy scanning the forest for the attacker.
Something small and pink suddenly came at him and smashed into his face. Velvet yelped and shook it off, forcing his eyes open again, and he sent his lightning after a tiny pink monster as it rolled into a ball and bounced away.
"I'm in the zone!" a loud voice called out, and hard wheels collided with Velvet's face, sending him sprawling backwards. A young boy skated away from him and into the middle of his pack, calling, "Tiger!"
"I'm fine!" Tiger growled, crawling to his feet, ignoring the pain coursing through his leg. "You worry about yourself!"
Velvet whirled around and spotted a huge rock monster hovering over a young girl and an eyeball monster. The girl was on her knees next to the rabbit -near his captive! Howling in outrage, Velvet surged toward them, a few of his scattered warriors following after him. Most of his pack, however, was trying to deal with that kid and the pink monster, as well as trying to get away from the enraged Tiger.
"Holly, look out!" Suezo warned as he spotted the monsters racing toward them. The eyeball monster summoned his courage and leapt to intercept them, calling out, "Tail Attack!"
Velvet ignored Suezo's assault, meeting the eyeball's attack with his own Torpedo. Holly shrieked as she saw her friend knocked backwards, and Velvet began to laugh at her. Sneering, the leader of the Terror Dogs motioned for the warriors behind him to break off and go deal with the injured eyeball.
"Suezo!" Genki cried, seeing the eyeball monster's danger. The boy pivoted on his heel and skated toward him, Mocchi bouncing along beside him.
"Watch yourself!" Tiger warned, his lightning vaporizing a Terror Dog as it leaped to intercept the boy. His injured leg folded beneath him again, and he collapsed.
"Tiger!" Genki yelled, turning in time to see the blue-furred wolf stumble. "Suezo..." and he whirled to glance at the eyeball monster again as the Terror Dogs slowly closed in. The boy hesitated, not certain which of his friends needed his help more. Not far away, he could see the leader of the black-furred wolves slowly closing in on Holly, as Golem moved to intercept him.
Mocchi pressed close to Genki's side, gazing up at his friend for guidance. There was no doubt in the little monster's mind that his trainer knew how to save all of their friends from the baddies.
"Genki!" Holly cried out from behind Golem. "Help Suezo, please!"
Genki looked at her and nodded. With one last glance over at Tiger to assure himself that the blue wolf would be okay, he darted toward where Suezo lay unconscious. The boy slammed his fist into the gaping jaws of the Terror Dog closest to Suezo, and the others whirled to face him. Genki counted at least eight or nine of the monsters around the eyeball monster, a small part of the entire pack.
"Mocchi, use your blizzard!" he ordered. The young monster complied, and as the Terror Dogs tried to see through the swirling petals, he stumbled over to Suezo's side. The eyeball monster was bleeding from a few wounds on his eyelid and knocked unconscious, but his breathing was steady and he was alive.
A yelp distracted Genki, and he spun around just in time to see Tiger of the Wind stumble to the ground again as the Terror Dogs swarmed over him. Genki screamed the blue wolf's name, tears springing to his eyes, and he started striking back at the black-furred monsters blindly. Mocchi was beside him again, and the two struggled to hold back the baddies as they swarmed around them, trying to keep them away from the helpless Suezo.
Holly and Golem had seen Tiger fall too, and the girl stared over at the spot in blank horror. Golem pulled her and the unconscious Hare into his strong arms, lifting them away from the battle and immediate danger, but some of the Terror Dogs already snapped at his ankles, leaping up at his friends.
"Mocchi! Genki!" Holly screamed as the boy kicked away another attacker. She could tell that Genki and Mocchi were beginning to weaken under the ruthless assault, and Golem was already struggling to make his way over to them. Holly stared back at the spot where she had seen Tiger fall: she couldn't make out his form under the Terror Dogs, but at least she didn't see a mystery disc.
Genki cried out, and Holly whirled to look at him. One of the baddies had struck his arm, and she could see that the wound had reopened. The boy winced as blood began to seep from the gash once more, but refused to acknowledge just how much pain it put him in. Instead, Genki gritted his teeth and brought his fist down hard on another monster's muzzle. Suezo needed his help now: he wouldn't let his friend down!
"Genki!" Holly screamed again, almost falling out of Golem's arms. The rock monster grunted and stumbled backwards, nearly collapsing under the continued assault from the Terror Dogs.
Too many... there's just too many, Holly thought dully, clutching to the unconscious Hare to keep him from falling out of the temporary safety of Golem's arms. As the monsters pressed in again, the girl bowed her head and waited for the end.
"...ly...Holly?"
The weak voice snapped Holly out of her despair, and she stared down at Hare as he stirred beside her. His eyes fluttered open, and he repeated her name softly, disbelieving.
"...Holly?"
"It's me," Holly answered, reaching over to brush his cheek gently with her hand, relieved to see that he was at least conscious again.
Genki cried out again, and Hare's eyes snapped wide. The rabbit struggled to sit up, trying to see over Golem's thick arms. Holly reached out to steady him, glancing worriedly over to where Genki and Mocchi were still fighting.
"No..." Hare breathed, seeing Suezo's crumpled form behind the two. He looked over at Holly with wide eyes and said, "Tiger...Where's Tiger?"
"Hare..." Holly started slowly, her gaze drifting against her will to where she had seen Tiger collapse. Hare stared at her uncomprehendingly for a moment, then tried to right himself again, slumping against Golem's supporting hands. Holly reached out for him again, saying, "Don't...you're hurt..."
"Holly, forget about me," Hare said, a sudden steeliness coming into his voice that Holly had never heard before. "Let me do this, or they'll die."
Taken aback, Holly stepped backward, and both she and Golem stared blankly at the rabbit as he got to his feet. Hare looked at them for a moment, and Holly got the strange feeling that he was asking them to forgive him. Then he turned his back on them, and made a strange movement with his paws.
Something flashed an intense red under his kerchief, and a blazing crimson aura flared up around him. Holly and Golem stared at the sight, completely spellbound.
"What?" Velvet howled, whirling to stare at the rabbit. All around him, his warriors stopped fighting and gazed over at Hare.
Genki felt Mocchi grab onto his hand, and glanced down at the little monster. He looked absolutely horrified: this blazing monster bore little resemblance to their friend. The boy returned the tight grip and stared over with a mixed sense of wonder and terror.
From within the blazing red aura, Hare smirked sadly to himself. Looks like they ended up learning about my little secret after all. He raised his arms and gave a silent command, then the crimson blaze swept over the entire area in a flash of red flame.
Genki shielded his eyes from the intense light with his injured arm, still clinging to Mocchi's hand. The light flashed as brightly as the sun for a few moments, then faded to a warm glow. Genki slowly moved his arm away from his face and stared around the clearing, stunned to silence.
All of the Terror Dogs were gone, transformed into lost discs. Mocchi clung to his hand, staring around in astonishment. Behind him, Suezo groaned softly and opened his eye. A few paces away, he could see Tiger of the Wind slowly getting to his feet, golden eyes betraying his surprise at surviving the assault. Holly and Golem were looking at Hare in quiet awe.
The aura around Hare dimmed, fading to a soft glow from beneath his kerchief. The rabbit seemed to look directly at Genki for a moment, then gasped and collapsed, his energy spent. Golem jerked forward and carefully supported Hare's limp body, lifting him from the ground and taking him gently in his arms. The rock monster looked at the others, and they exchanged wondering glances. Genki stared at Hare's unconscious body, suddenly frightened.
To be continued...
Again, this is part FOUR of Hare's Secret, and once again I advise you to read the first three parts before reading this, or -trust me- you will completely lost. I would also like to remind my readers that I enjoy getting feedback on my work, and would love to see your opinions of it. Please review this once you've finished! Thank you.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hare took to his heels the instant he heard the growl behind him. Something black as midnight lunged at him, but he twisted away from their snapping jaws and darted back into the slight cover of the trees. The howls of the Terror Dogs filled his ears, betraying how close they were. Hare didn't dare look back; he didn't need to: he could hear them panting as their sleek bodies crashed into the underbrush after him.
Branches whipped into his face, and he threw his arms in front of him, running blindly through the forest. His heart pounded wildly, and he could barely breathe, but he couldn't stop -or they would have him!
Aaahhhooooo! One of the Terror Dogs erupted from the underbrush with an explosion of leaves and twigs, leaping at his back. Hare felt the wolf monster's hot breath on his neck, felt sharp teeth graze his fur, and screamed as he ducked away and thrashed into a thorn bush. The dog fell away, crying as thorns dug into its flesh. Stifling his own cry of pain as the sharp bristles tore into his own fur, Hare broke free of the bush and kept running, not bothering to see what had happened to the other monster.
I can't run much longer, he thought grimly. If they catch up again, I'll have to stand and fight. I'd rather die than be taken ba-
"AAH!" Hare suddenly found himself screaming as the ground under his foot gave way, and he tumbled down. He landed hard, and a sharp crack sounded as white-hot pain lanced up his side. Groaning, the rabbit shook his head and stared up at the small opening a few feet above his head.
Of all the rotten times to run into a pit! This just hasn't been my day. Hare tried to move around, and his worst fears were realized as he felt pain erupt up his side. His left leg was bent at an awkward angle, and he couldn't move it without feeling intense agony. Biting back a scream, Hare glanced up at the opening above him. He couldn't see any of his pursuers waiting at the top of the pit for him, and that gave him something positive to focus on even as he looked back at his useless leg.
Well, I'd better take care of this before they do find me. Hare placed both paws against his broken leg, ignoring the pain that contact caused. He closed his eyes and began to concentrate.
Under his kerchief, something began to glow with a faint red light.
* * *
"Sir Velvet, please...help me..."
Velvet ignored the pathetic whimpering of the Terror Dog he had found caught up in a thorn bush, glaring at the injured monster with flashing crimson eyes. "Silence!" he howled. "How dare you let our quarry escape you?"
"Sir Velvet, I beg of you..."
"LIGHTNING!"
The death howl hung over the forest for a moment before slowly fading away.
"My warriors never beg," Velvet growled at the lost disc still caught in the thorn bush. Without another word, he whirled away, glaring at the other Terror Dogs. Some of them glanced over at the lost disc, but they quickly turned away and followed after their leader. Velvet sniffed at the air, trying to catch the scent of his prey once more. After a few moments, he turned and nodded for his pack to follow him.
The pack slunk deeper into the forest, soon coming upon a gaping pit. Velvet paused, signaling his warriors to halt. Nose twitching, he crept up to the edge of the pit and peered in.
Sure enough, his quarry was there, sprawled out at the bottom of the hole. Velvet could smell blood, and figured that the rabbit had probably injured himself when he had fallen. A stroke of luck for him and his warriors, Velvet told himself.
Still, the wolf monster was in a bad mood. Night Flyer had claimed that their target was traveling with the rebels who had killed Moo, and his troops had been looking forward to killing those fools. But when they had found the rabbit, he had been alone, with no sign of the rebels anywhere. Since their orders specifically stated that the rabbit was to be brought to Master Naga alive, there was no way for his men to satisfy their lust for blood.
Peering into the hole once more, Velvet was about to spring in and drag the rabbit out when something made him stop. A strange aura had suddenly formed around the small monster's body, and he seemed to be concentrating hard. His paws gently brushed up against his obviously broken leg, and Velvet felt his eyes widen in surprise as he watched a glow form around the rabbit's paws.
It...can't be. It's impossible!
The glow faded, and the rabbit got shakily to his feet. Velvet stepped back from the edge of the pit, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.
The rabbit...had somehow healed his own wounds. He was standing on the same leg that should have been hanging limply beside him, useless. Somehow, he'd been able to mend the broken bones and his other wounds. No wonder Master Naga wants him alive.
Velvet backed away from the edge of the hole, crimson eyes narrowing as he decided how best to deal with this new information. He signaled to his pack again, quietly ordering them to hide themselves nearby. Secreting himself in the shadows, Velvet watched the pit and waited for the rabbit to emerge from the hole. That was when the rabbit would be most off his guard: when he and his pack would strike.
* * *
"Hare! Hare, where are you?" Genki called, looking around him.
"Come on, please answer!" Holly pleaded.
Suezo scanned the trees, hoping that he would catch a glimpse of the rabbit. Or one of Tiger of the Wind, for that matter. The eyeball monster didn't want to let the others know, but Tiger's absence from the group bothered him almost as much as Hare's sudden disappearance. It was no secret that the blue-furred monster wasn't particularly fond of the rabbit, and Suezo feared what might happen if he found Hare before the others could. He could tell that Golem could sense his fear, and that the towering rock monster was just as worried by that possibility as he was.
"Do you see anything-chi?" Mocchi asked. Suezo whirled to look at the younger monster, startled to realize that he had been watching the eyeball monster the whole time.
"Uh...no," Suezo admitted, wincing to himself as he watched the pink monster's eager face fall with disappointment.
"Oh." Mocchi turned away and gazed off into the surrounding trees, obviously upset.
"Hare! Hare, come on and say something!" Genki cried out again. The boy led the others deeper into the woods, still calling the rabbit's name.
* * *
Tiger of the Wind glanced over in the direction where Genki's voice was coming from. The boy and the others had to be nearby; they sounded like they were only a few miles away. Tiger snorted; even when he wasn't traveling with them, he couldn't get rid of that boy.
Turning away from the sound, he brought his full attention back to the task at hand. He had managed to find Hare's scent a few minutes after leaving the group, and had been following it for some time. The rabbit must have spent most of the day walking; the sun was already low in the sky, yet he hadn't caught up to Hare. Still, the rabbit was probably tiring by now, and would have to stop for the night. That would be when Tiger would catch up to him.
And what then?
That was the part Tiger hadn't quite figured out yet. While part of him wanted to tear the annoying rabbit limb from limb, another part held him back, telling him to wait. He couldn't understand it: Hare was a complete annoyance, a worthless con artist who'd tricked him and the others before, a possible traitor who might work for Moo...If the rabbit died, it would be no big loss for them.
So why was it that he couldn't shake the final image he had of the rabbit, right before he'd fled from the others? Hare's face had been completely pale, and the sorrow Tiger had seen in those wide eyes had taken him off guard.
"I'm sorry, Genki."
Sorry for what? Tiger wondered. What could you possibly be sorry for? For betraying the group? Or is it something else?
And...why do I care?
* * *
Nobody seems to be around, Hare thought as he carefully peeked out from the pit. His sharp eyes darted from tree to tree, trying to see anything out of the ordinary, and his ears twitched as he listened for any sort of noises. After a few moments, he carefully pulled himself out of the hole. Brushing the dirt from his fur, he glanced around one final time before turning to leave.
A low growl rumbled from behind him, and Hare froze. As he whirled around, he caught a glimpse of midnight fur as a shadow surged toward him. Screaming, Hare lashed out with his foot, catching the monster right in shiny white teeth he didn't want to think about. As it sprawled out, he turned to flee, heart beginning to race again.
Something heavy and ebony-furred slammed into his back and pinned him to the dirt, and Hare screamed again, the cry cut short by the force of his hitting the ground. Hot breath washed over his face and he stared up into sharp fangs and glowing crimson eyes. He managed to scream one final time before darkness took him.
* * *
Tiger of the Wind froze as the terrified shriek came to his ears. At the same moment, he caught a whiff of other scents on the air: more monsters, and the stench of blood. The wolf monster surged into the forest, howling a battle cry.
* * *
Not far away, Genki also darted toward the cry, legs pumping as he skated deeper into the forest. Somewhere behind him, Holly screamed for him to slow down and Mocchi called his name, but he didn't pay any attention to them. He could hear Golem come crashing into the trees after him, and hoped that the others would be able to keep up, because there was no way he was going to slow down now.
* * *
Velvet leered down at the rabbit pinned beneath him, amused by his fear. He couldn't blame the thing for being frightened; that was why his kind was called Terror Dogs, was it not? The sound of the rabbit's screams sent thrills through him: it had been far too long since he had heard a victim cry out in fear. Hopefully Master Naga would be pleased enough with his pack's success to assign them more missions.
Hare stared up at Velvet, his breath coming in short gasps. One of his paws tightened around his kerchief, and the Terror Dog's eyes narrowed. Suddenly the wolf monster lashed out, catching the side of Hare's head with his paw. The rabbit slumped down, knocked out by the blow.
Velvet looked once more at the rabbit sprawled out beneath him. He still wasn't quite certain what he had witnessed earlier when he had looked into the pit, and he wasn't entirely sure that he wanted to know. All that mattered to him was the fact that his mission was successful, and that he could report back to Naga confidant that the reptilian would be satisfied. Smirking, he stepped off of the unconscious rabbit's chest and signaled his pack to get ready to depart.
Suddenly Velvet heard one of his warriors cry out. He whirled just in time to see one of the guards near the forest collapse, electric energy pulsing around his charred form. The other Terror Dogs looked around wildly, scattering away from their fallen comrade so as not to fall victim to the hidden assailant. A growl rumbled from Velvet's throat as he scanned the underbrush.
"Come out!" he ordered, energy already forming around his horns as he tensed for battle.
A howl pealed out of the forest in reply, and a blue blur erupted from the trees into the clearing. Lightning coursed out from the streak, and another warrior yelped as they stumbled to the ground. The blue streak dashed straight toward Velvet, and the Terror Dog unleashed his own lightning bolt upon it.
It connected. Velvet felt a rush of excitement as he heard a sharp cry, and the streak fell off course, slowing down enough for him to recognize it. The black-furred wolf grinned as he realized just who the attacker was.
Tiger of the Wind; rebel, thief, and elder brother to Master Grey Wolf himself. Velvet's leering grin grew wider. How convenient: not only would his troops get the fight they longed for, but they would be also getting revenge on Grey Wolf in a sense.
"Kill him," he ordered his pack, moving toward the blue-furred monster even as he spoke. His warriors eagerly followed, spreading out in a circle around Tiger.
Tiger grimaced. He could feel something warm trickling down his back; that attack had done more damage than he had thought. It was painfully obvious to him just how bad things were: the Terror Dogs were out for blood, and far outnumbered him. Even if he managed to take out some of them, the others would swarm over his body.
He risked a quick glance to his side. He could just make out Hare's crumpled form lying a few feet away. A few of the Terror Dogs had positioned themselves nearby the rabbit, showing an unusual common sense. After all, it wouldn't do to kill Tiger, only to have their real target escape. Not that it looked like Hare would be doing any escaping. The rabbit was unconscious, and Tiger quickly gave up on the notion that he might receive any help from him.
Tiger dropped into a battle crouch, a low growl rumbling in his throat. If this was the end for him, then he was going to go out fighting. With an odd feeling of detachment, he found himself wondering how many of the Terror Dogs he could take down before he would be overwhelmed...
Velvet moved first, springing toward Tiger with jaw gaping wide. Tiger leaped away, but he could feel the other's claws rake across his side as he flashed past. Whirling around, the warrior of the wind called out for his lightning. Ebony fur sizzled, and three of the Terror Dogs yelped as they dodged backwards.
Fangs dug into Tiger's tail; without hesitation he whirled and struck the attacker hard across the face, drawing blood. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the others pressing in. He lashed out again and again, driving them back, but for each monster he forced away, three more moved in. He could smell the heavy stench of their sweat soaked fur; could sense their longing for his blood. The wound on his back throbbed with each move he made, a reminder of the limits of his body. As the Terror Dogs pressed in again, Tiger summoned his blizzard and knocked another wave backward for a few precious seconds.
"LIGHTNING!"
Tiger had not called that attack, and he cried out involuntarily as it ripped into his body. His front left leg took the full force of the blow, and it folded painfully beneath him, driving him to the ground. As the Terror Dogs surged forward, howling triumphantly, Tiger steeled himself for the killing blow.
"CHERRY BLOSSOM BLIZZARD-CHI!"
A curtain of soft pink petals swirled around the wolf monsters, blinding them. Tiger instantly recognized the voice and, despite the pain in his leg, grinned to himself. The Terror Dogs gazed around at the fluttering blossoms, all wearing the same expression of utter confusion.
"What the heck?" one of them asked. Velvet didn't bother to answer his warrior; he was too busy scanning the forest for the attacker.
Something small and pink suddenly came at him and smashed into his face. Velvet yelped and shook it off, forcing his eyes open again, and he sent his lightning after a tiny pink monster as it rolled into a ball and bounced away.
"I'm in the zone!" a loud voice called out, and hard wheels collided with Velvet's face, sending him sprawling backwards. A young boy skated away from him and into the middle of his pack, calling, "Tiger!"
"I'm fine!" Tiger growled, crawling to his feet, ignoring the pain coursing through his leg. "You worry about yourself!"
Velvet whirled around and spotted a huge rock monster hovering over a young girl and an eyeball monster. The girl was on her knees next to the rabbit -near his captive! Howling in outrage, Velvet surged toward them, a few of his scattered warriors following after him. Most of his pack, however, was trying to deal with that kid and the pink monster, as well as trying to get away from the enraged Tiger.
"Holly, look out!" Suezo warned as he spotted the monsters racing toward them. The eyeball monster summoned his courage and leapt to intercept them, calling out, "Tail Attack!"
Velvet ignored Suezo's assault, meeting the eyeball's attack with his own Torpedo. Holly shrieked as she saw her friend knocked backwards, and Velvet began to laugh at her. Sneering, the leader of the Terror Dogs motioned for the warriors behind him to break off and go deal with the injured eyeball.
"Suezo!" Genki cried, seeing the eyeball monster's danger. The boy pivoted on his heel and skated toward him, Mocchi bouncing along beside him.
"Watch yourself!" Tiger warned, his lightning vaporizing a Terror Dog as it leaped to intercept the boy. His injured leg folded beneath him again, and he collapsed.
"Tiger!" Genki yelled, turning in time to see the blue-furred wolf stumble. "Suezo..." and he whirled to glance at the eyeball monster again as the Terror Dogs slowly closed in. The boy hesitated, not certain which of his friends needed his help more. Not far away, he could see the leader of the black-furred wolves slowly closing in on Holly, as Golem moved to intercept him.
Mocchi pressed close to Genki's side, gazing up at his friend for guidance. There was no doubt in the little monster's mind that his trainer knew how to save all of their friends from the baddies.
"Genki!" Holly cried out from behind Golem. "Help Suezo, please!"
Genki looked at her and nodded. With one last glance over at Tiger to assure himself that the blue wolf would be okay, he darted toward where Suezo lay unconscious. The boy slammed his fist into the gaping jaws of the Terror Dog closest to Suezo, and the others whirled to face him. Genki counted at least eight or nine of the monsters around the eyeball monster, a small part of the entire pack.
"Mocchi, use your blizzard!" he ordered. The young monster complied, and as the Terror Dogs tried to see through the swirling petals, he stumbled over to Suezo's side. The eyeball monster was bleeding from a few wounds on his eyelid and knocked unconscious, but his breathing was steady and he was alive.
A yelp distracted Genki, and he spun around just in time to see Tiger of the Wind stumble to the ground again as the Terror Dogs swarmed over him. Genki screamed the blue wolf's name, tears springing to his eyes, and he started striking back at the black-furred monsters blindly. Mocchi was beside him again, and the two struggled to hold back the baddies as they swarmed around them, trying to keep them away from the helpless Suezo.
Holly and Golem had seen Tiger fall too, and the girl stared over at the spot in blank horror. Golem pulled her and the unconscious Hare into his strong arms, lifting them away from the battle and immediate danger, but some of the Terror Dogs already snapped at his ankles, leaping up at his friends.
"Mocchi! Genki!" Holly screamed as the boy kicked away another attacker. She could tell that Genki and Mocchi were beginning to weaken under the ruthless assault, and Golem was already struggling to make his way over to them. Holly stared back at the spot where she had seen Tiger fall: she couldn't make out his form under the Terror Dogs, but at least she didn't see a mystery disc.
Genki cried out, and Holly whirled to look at him. One of the baddies had struck his arm, and she could see that the wound had reopened. The boy winced as blood began to seep from the gash once more, but refused to acknowledge just how much pain it put him in. Instead, Genki gritted his teeth and brought his fist down hard on another monster's muzzle. Suezo needed his help now: he wouldn't let his friend down!
"Genki!" Holly screamed again, almost falling out of Golem's arms. The rock monster grunted and stumbled backwards, nearly collapsing under the continued assault from the Terror Dogs.
Too many... there's just too many, Holly thought dully, clutching to the unconscious Hare to keep him from falling out of the temporary safety of Golem's arms. As the monsters pressed in again, the girl bowed her head and waited for the end.
"...ly...Holly?"
The weak voice snapped Holly out of her despair, and she stared down at Hare as he stirred beside her. His eyes fluttered open, and he repeated her name softly, disbelieving.
"...Holly?"
"It's me," Holly answered, reaching over to brush his cheek gently with her hand, relieved to see that he was at least conscious again.
Genki cried out again, and Hare's eyes snapped wide. The rabbit struggled to sit up, trying to see over Golem's thick arms. Holly reached out to steady him, glancing worriedly over to where Genki and Mocchi were still fighting.
"No..." Hare breathed, seeing Suezo's crumpled form behind the two. He looked over at Holly with wide eyes and said, "Tiger...Where's Tiger?"
"Hare..." Holly started slowly, her gaze drifting against her will to where she had seen Tiger collapse. Hare stared at her uncomprehendingly for a moment, then tried to right himself again, slumping against Golem's supporting hands. Holly reached out for him again, saying, "Don't...you're hurt..."
"Holly, forget about me," Hare said, a sudden steeliness coming into his voice that Holly had never heard before. "Let me do this, or they'll die."
Taken aback, Holly stepped backward, and both she and Golem stared blankly at the rabbit as he got to his feet. Hare looked at them for a moment, and Holly got the strange feeling that he was asking them to forgive him. Then he turned his back on them, and made a strange movement with his paws.
Something flashed an intense red under his kerchief, and a blazing crimson aura flared up around him. Holly and Golem stared at the sight, completely spellbound.
"What?" Velvet howled, whirling to stare at the rabbit. All around him, his warriors stopped fighting and gazed over at Hare.
Genki felt Mocchi grab onto his hand, and glanced down at the little monster. He looked absolutely horrified: this blazing monster bore little resemblance to their friend. The boy returned the tight grip and stared over with a mixed sense of wonder and terror.
From within the blazing red aura, Hare smirked sadly to himself. Looks like they ended up learning about my little secret after all. He raised his arms and gave a silent command, then the crimson blaze swept over the entire area in a flash of red flame.
Genki shielded his eyes from the intense light with his injured arm, still clinging to Mocchi's hand. The light flashed as brightly as the sun for a few moments, then faded to a warm glow. Genki slowly moved his arm away from his face and stared around the clearing, stunned to silence.
All of the Terror Dogs were gone, transformed into lost discs. Mocchi clung to his hand, staring around in astonishment. Behind him, Suezo groaned softly and opened his eye. A few paces away, he could see Tiger of the Wind slowly getting to his feet, golden eyes betraying his surprise at surviving the assault. Holly and Golem were looking at Hare in quiet awe.
The aura around Hare dimmed, fading to a soft glow from beneath his kerchief. The rabbit seemed to look directly at Genki for a moment, then gasped and collapsed, his energy spent. Golem jerked forward and carefully supported Hare's limp body, lifting him from the ground and taking him gently in his arms. The rock monster looked at the others, and they exchanged wondering glances. Genki stared at Hare's unconscious body, suddenly frightened.
To be continued...