With the sudden given distraction, Eula's paw shot straight for the rapier at her side. She hadn't counted on her opponent reacting so swiftly. Before she could close her paw around the hilt, her arm was wrenched behind her back and she was pushed roughly to the ground.
Her dominant paw being held by the fox and a sharp blade being pressed against her throat, Eula was at a loss. The sudden fall to the ground had dazed her. Now she lay blinking, trying to bring the situation back into focus.
Something was wrong. She couldn't see any frantic fighting, nor hear any shouts of battle. When her vision cleared, she raised her eyes, seeing another hare holding the fat rat against a tree with his sword. She heard a short exchange before the rat went sliding to the ground, unconscious.
The hare turned now to Eula and the fox pinning her to the ground. A deep feeling of shame and utter embarrassment engulfed her. It was Daikon. She would be so lucky.
"Let her go," Daikon demanded in a calm voice, yet his eyes were cold and dangerous. When the fox didn't answer, Daikon sheathed his blade and held his arms out disarmingly. "Think of it this way, chap. Flamin' well got nothin' to gain by killing her, because I'd kill you. Your other bush-tailed mate over here thought he'd fight - doesn't jolly well look like he'll be gettin' up again soon, wot."
Eula's free paw clenched as she felt the sharp blade press deeper, cutting at her flesh. She had no other choice but to trust Daikon with her life now.
"An' then that rotund rat yonder - well, he'll wake up suffering no more than a headache. Your two skinny friends up and ran - the rest of our group shall, of course, find them. Who's to know if they're as nice as I am?"
"If I let your eavesdropping little girlfriend go, what's gonna stop you two ganging up on me?" The fox asked casually, claws digging into Eula's wrist.
"I've no interest in condemning you, fox," Daikon said, and a note of anger crept into his voice. "Only of looking after a comrade and saving those Dibbuns from your filthy clutches."
There was a long pause, in which the fox seemed to be considering his options. Eula felt the claws dig deeper into her wrist as the fox got up and demanded Eula to do the same, still holding the dagger to her throat. "You can take the brats and do with them what you wish, I'm taking your friend. One wrong move, and she's dead, hear?"
Daikon sighed, shaking his head despairingly at the vermin. "Just once I wish you low-lives could think of an interesting, more original bargain."
Eula knew she was in a much better position now, and the fox was far too busy wondering if Daikon would be the one to strike. With her footpaws planted firmly beneath her, and the dizziness subsided, she felt much more calm. She had a moment of wishing Daikon wouldn't insult the fox while she had a dagger to her throat. However, he sent her a surreptitious glance, and Eula realized the time to make her move was now or never.
Taking a quick breath, she brought her leg up and then brought it back forcefully, kicking the fox in the shin. She moved sideways in the same moment, avoiding the dagger as it came backwards. Caught off guard, the fox released his hold on Eula long enough for the haremaid to turn about and pull her rapier free. In a short spree of luck, Eula also noticed the fox had lost his dagger and was scrambling for it. Eula swept her blade up, but before she could bring it down, she heard a shout behind her.
"No, don't!" Daikon grabbed her arms as they came up, stopping her from bringing the weapon down. It wouldn't have been hard for Eula to continue with her downward swipe, but the sudden order from Daikon, and the urgency in his voice stayed her paws. She whirled her head and shot him a challenging glance.
Daikon's attention was over Eula's shoulder, where the fox stayed on the ground, clutching the dagger. He'd apparently decided against attacking the two regiment hares standing over him. Daikon continued to hold Eula's wrists back, even when her grasp slackened.
"Now, shall we try this again you witless wretch?" Daikon began in a low, fierce growl. "You bolt with your life, or make another stupid move and see what happens, eh?"
The fox's sharp, calculating gaze swept over them as he weighed his choices. He slipped his dagger back into its sheath and pushed up a bit before standing. He walked slowly off, keeping his eyes on the hares. Once he felt a safe distance, he took off at top speed.
Daikon released his hold on Eula and stood calm, looking down at her almost expectantly.
Eula scowled. "You let him go, you fool! What's wrong with you? Why did you stop me?"
Before Daikon could answer, they both heard crying coming from nearby. They turned to see the two small mouse Dibbuns lashed to the tree sobbing. Daikon nodded in their direction. "That's why," he replied quietly.
-
The return journey was considerably slower, and began taxing severely on Eula's patience. They'd agreed to each take a Dibbun apiece to hold. Eula ended up picking the inquisitive, squirmy one. The one in Daikon's arms had long since fallen asleep during the trip, little arms slumped over the hare's shoulders in exhaustion.
"So since I'm just so insufferably incompetent, you found it necessary to follow me on my run?" Eula asked coolly, staring straight ahead.
Daikon half-smiled, shaking his head. "It's customary. Everybeast gets a spotter of sorts on their first run."
Eula smiled cynically. "An' lo, I was lucky enough t'get you! Quite the flippin' joke, that. Have fun tattling on me to the Lieutenant." She added bitterly.
There was a few moments of silence before Daikon spoke again. "It's also customary to… y'know… not report what the runners did wrong."
Eula turned her head and raised a brow at the older hare. "Y'mean you aren't going to tell him?"
He caught her glance sideways. "Who am I t'break tradition?"
Eula was silent for a few beats, considering. "This changes nothing between us."
"Understood."
-
A/N Yay! Up later than I'd hoped, but with my schedule currently, I'm lucky I got it up at all. Please review! I have some action coming up soon that I can't wait to get into.