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Chapter 21: Predators and preys

Bunny and Jack each leaped from the beast's way, while Merida, who's bear form is quite heavy, immediately shifted to a golden eagle and flow out of the way. The beast didn't stop, as soon as it's clawed hand touched the ground its turned to the grounded prey. With one powerful jump it made its way towards Jack. The monster was too fast, but before it could reach the winter spirit turned wolf, Merida attacked the beast's head with her newly acquired sharp beak and talons. The beast roared in pain and raised its clawed hand in an attempt to strike the summer queen. The monster managed to hit Merida with the back of its hand. With a painful cry Merida fell hard on the forest floor, the beast may have not used its claws, but its strength was enough to do some damage.

Jack's white fur rose up in rage. His pupils turn to slits. A deep feral growl escaped his throat. Before the beast could make its way to the fallen spirit turned bird, Jack's sharp canine teeth dug themselves to the beast's long arm. The monster let out a cry of pain and started to shake its hand to get rid of the angered wolf, but Jack only dug his teeth further. When the beast saw that it was of no use it raised it free hand to strike Jack. Bunny acted quickly and threw his boomerang at the beast's free hand. Jack let go of the beast and stood next to bunny.

"you go check on your sister mate, I'll distract it" said bunny

Jack nodded and ran towards Merida. He immediately checked her feathery form for an kind of injury. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when he found out none. The summer spirit was only regaining her lost breath, it got knock out by the monsters blow. Jack lowered his head and started to nuzzle Merida's little head with his wet wolfish nose, showing his concern threw the gesture since he couldn't speak in this form. Sensing his concern, Merida stood on her feet and rubbed her head on Jack's furry head and neck, assuring him that she is alright.

The siblings looked back at bunny and the monster. Bunny was having a bit of hard time avoiding the monster's slashes, other than that he seems okay. Using the beast distraction to her advantage Merida changed back to a bear and ran as fast as she can towards the fighting duo and rammed her large body to the monster. The beast was knocked a few feet away, but the force didn't damage it much, as it got up quickly to its feet. It seems that the body slam made the monster angrier as it roared with fury at Merida. The summer queen however, was not intimidated and roared back at the beast. The monster started to move back and away from the three and into the forest. it retreated till his body completely disappeared from sight. The group kept their guard up till they were sure that the beast isn't coming back anytime soon. They waited patiently for a few minutes then lowered their guard.

"phew" said bunny "I'm not looking forward to meet our mate anytime soon"

The opposite pair nodded in agreement with bunny. Unfortunately the group did not notice the pair of angry, hungry yellow orbs behind them, its owner waiting patiently for the right moment to strike. When the monster saw the group relaxed and lowered their guard, it knew it was the moment it was waiting for. Slowly and stealthily the beast walked towards the group, using its long limbs to avoid the bushed so it won't catch the attention of the group. When it closed enough distance, the beast crouched down, with a push from his strong hind legs he leaped to his three preys. The group noticed the monster to late and with one swish it sharp claw collided with jack's side. The boy turned wolf was throw a few feet away and landed with a painful whimper. On his side rested 3 deep scarlet scratches that contrasted greatly with Jack's white fur.

"Jaaaaaaack!" yelled Bunny eyeing the boy with worried eyes

The beast wasn't done yet. hearing the pooka's yell, the monster used bunny's lack of attention and hit the rabbit hard on the face. Bunny's back collided with a nearby tree knocking his breath out of him. the Easter guardian felt something liquid seeping from his nose to his face and made its way to his mouth. It tasted like copper. his nose is bleeding. He raised his paw in order to wipe the blood off his face and try to stop its flow. 'damn' bunny thought ' that monster is smarter than it appears. Using his dark green skin in a dark forest as camouflage, snuck quietly behind them and waited patiently for the perfect opportunity'

Bunny let out a frustrated growl at this. his is a warrior pooka for crying out loud, he should have seen this coming, anticipated it. But instead he fell right to the monster's trap. The Easter guardian thought about using one of North's snow globe to call back up, then remembered that only animal are able to enter the forest, Merida's summer spirits and Jack's winter spirits could get hurt if they come through the portal, he remembered that Jack once told about his shape shifting powers and that only the kings and queens can shift, the beast could use this to his advantage and kill the weakened spirits that if they didn't die from the spell binding the forest. Bunny raised his head and saw the beast locked together with Merida in a match of strength, both are standing on their hind legs, trying to hit the other with their front clawed paw while avoiding being slashed. bunny long sensitive ears suddenly twitched when he heard a pitiful whine, the rabbit followed the direction of the sound and saw Jack struggling to stand up. Bunny quickly stood on all four and darted towards Jack.

"easy, easy there snowflake" cooed bunny

Jack's snow white fur was crimson red on his wounded side. bunny tried to put pressure on the wounds but he only succeeded at causing Jack pain.

"sorry frostbite" apologized bunny "but you have to sit down I need to stop the blood flow"

Suddenly in front bunny's eye's ice began to form on the wounds, sealing them completely and stopping the blood flow. Bunny looked at the wolf boy with astonishment, he could've sworn that the boy was grinning. It's not like they couldn't use their powers when they shift, they can but it's limited and unlike their human form using their powers when shifted could drain them out of energy so they only use them in emergencies.

Then in front of bunny, Jack shifted from wolf to owl. It was weird to see feathers mixed with fur in a single being when jack began changing, as well as a beak and a snout on the same face. When the change was complete Jack shook his wings and took flight towards the battle. He raised his sharp talons and struck the beast's yellow eyes. The beast yelled in pain and raised his hands towards his eyes. Bunny used this opportunity to open a small hole behind the beast causing it to trip and fall on its back. Merida then dashed forward and slammed her strong front paws on the beast's chest. The beast yelled in pain again, but took a hold of both Merida's arms held them tightly and dug its sharp claws inside them. Merida tried shake its hands of her but the beast held tightly and slowly stood to its feet. Jack saw this and attempted to blind the beast again, but the beast saw this coming and it would certainly not fall for the same trick twice. With all of its inhuman strength it lifted Merida's body of the ground and rammed it to Jack's small owlish body. The beast let go of Merida when it rammed her to Jack, Merida collided with a tree and she could've sworn than she heard her bone crack, while jack met with the forest floor.

Bunny throw his boomerang as hard and as fast as he can at the beast. The beast noticed this and caught the curved wood between his teeth and broke it. With no other choice, bunny ran towards the beast, jumped and kicked it with both his feet and flipped back. The beast almost lost its balance and stepped back a few times to regain it, bunny took this chance and kicked the side of the beast's face and it stumbled back again. Bunny was ready to kick the beast's stomach, but the beast got him by the throat and pinned bunny to the ground with all its might. Bunny could hardly breath, he felt some of his bones crack maybe even broke. The beast tightened its hold around bunny's throat, its claws digging the their way through causing some blood to spill. The lack of oxygen was taking a toll on bunny. He couldn't focus, black spots started to cover his vision. He would be losing conscious soon if does not do something. So he bit the monsters hand and it yelled in pain. The beast lifted bunny from the ground and thrown him like a weightless ball at the trees across Merida and Jack. The beast was furious about being bitten and was seeking revenge it slowly made its way towards the fallen pooka. Bunny tried to get up, but a sharp pain in his left thigh prevented him he looked down and saw a piece of wood protruding threw his flesh. That must have happened when that monster threw him to the trees. Bunny can only helplessly watch as the beast came closer.

The beast came so close its shadow loomed over bunny. It looked at the rabbit with the eyes of a hungry predator. Bunny shivered at that, no matter how many times he denies it he couldn't help but be afraid. He is a rabbit after all a prey animal. His instincts urged him to run far far away.

Panting….. panting….panting

He was pushed like this before. he never felt so exhausted in a fight before. his vision is blurry. His ear is ringing. His body aches. That thing that monster because that what is best to describe it a monster. It didn't even flinch. It doesn't look tired.

But he won't give up, he is the guardian of hope. He won't ever give up.

Then as if his prayers were answered another shadow comes from the heaven. It was Jack's head owl Minia, the same owl that carried him here and the same owl that waited for them outside. He never thought that he would be happy to see the bird, but right now she is the most pleasant thing bunny have ever seen. Like the silent predators owls are known to be, Minia snuck behind the beast and dug her talons with all her might in the beast's back. The said beast roared in pain, it tried to slap and hit whatever was attach to its back. But the beast couldn't. just then Jack in wolf form jumped and bitten the beast's neck. The monster yelled again and tried to push jack away but was held still by Merida. The beast's struggle became weaker and weaker till finally it stopped struggling all together and fallen dead to the ground. Jack released the beast's neck, his muzzle and teeth were crimson red, blood was dripping from the boy turned wolf mouth. His fur was standing up, and he was panting heavily and the moon light reflected ominously from his blooded side and mouth. In shorts, jack current form was terrifying.

Merida walked slowly towards jack and nuzzled his temple with her wet nose and licked the side of his face, which wasn't covered in blood. This seemed to calm Jack down, he returned the gesture and to rub the top of his head against Merida's chin. Bunny watched the scene in front of him with a warm smile, forgetting his pain at the moment. Something caught the corner of his eye and he turned his head towards it. One of the beast's eyes seem to faintly shine, bunny tried to stand up, but the pain in his thigh came rushing back to him and almost fell face first if Jack and Merida didn't help him and stood beside him.

"oh dear" said Minai "Mr. bunnymund you are hurt you shouldn't walk around"

" don't worry Sheila, I'm tough to break." Replied bunny "frostbite, sunburn, can you take me to that thing, I want to check something"

Both sibling helped bunny walk towards the fallen monster, not before Merida growled at bunny for the nickname. The pooka sat down next to the beast and examined its eye. The other three noticed the eye as well and Jack's ears perked up in anticipation.

"do you think that this is the key?" asked Minai.

" I think so" answered bunny "but how are we suppose to get it out".

Minai crept closer and started to poke the beast's eye in order to get it out. Bunny couldn't help but be sick so he turned his head away, Merida and Jack seemed okay about it and kept watching. Minai got the eye out and handed it to bunny since he is the only that can hold it even though he is absolutely disgusted about it.

"how did your parents turn the beast's eye into one of the keys" wondered bunny.

Since jack and Merida couldn't talk, Minai answered for them.

"the eye is not the key Mr. bunnymund, it's what inside the that matters. The same goes for the blue pearl. It's not the key but the pearl houses it inside itself"

"this kötülük must be really dangerous if mother and nature and father time went this far to hide them." Said bunny then lied down on his back.

Jack and Merida lied down as well, their injuries finally taking a toll on them after adrenaline stopped coursing through their veins. Bunny held the eye above his face studying it and smiled. 'tooth will freak out when she sees us like this' thought bunny.

Then out of the blue a giant humanoid dived towards bunny and snatched the eye out of his paw. Minia immediately started to pursuit the bat. Merida and Jack wanted to shift to their bird form and pursuit the giant bat as well, but they were too exhausted. The three could only wait for the return of the wise bird and hope that she has the eye with her. After a few moments the group heard the flapping of wings. But sadly Minia didn't carry the yellow orb with her.

"I'm sorry your highness" said Minia with shame and sadness in her voice "I have lost it"

The group looked down at the ground with sadness. After all they've been through they lost the key to kötülük and Minerva.

I regret nothing. I'm sorry about the grammar mistakes like I mentioned before English is not my native language.

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