Enter the Horde

I walked through the Tear and felt the sensation of driving fast over a huge hill, you know, the feeling of your stomach lifting up almost like it was weightless? That odd and slightly queasy feeling? Well that's how it feels to cross through Tears. But I crossed over and saw as Barton was busy checking over the multiple guns that he brought along with him aswell as sharpening the sides of a angular shield that seemed to reflect light along the edges. He looked at me but only scoffed at the equipment I brought along before shaking his head and returning to his inspection.

"I'll be leaving to start the fight. You can stay here." That was all I said before starting towards the funnel still left over from the last attempt. Before I could take more than a few steps he jumps in front of me and stops me.

"Are you insane? If you start the horde without anyway to reduce the number of incoming combatants than you will get overrun and eaten in no time. I hate to admit this, but I think you and me... and you're pet... should hold up here and take multiple excursions outside the base and slowly lower the number of rabbits around here. It will take awhile but the risk would be lower aswell."

He did have a point and even if it did take longer, I was more inclined to survive then an all out fight from the start. I just wasn't thinking since I was told how he wanted to complete this first and lord over me.

I breathed in deep and exhaled slowly as I forced myself to calm down and I nodded to him before sitting down across from him with Merida in my lap.

"Ok, so how do you propose we go about these 'excursions' as you call them? Do we just hop into a hole and hope it's not overflowing with rabbits? What about the bigger holes dug into the ground? Those rabbits are atleast the size of bulls if not bigger, and way faster to whenever they hop."

"You're saying stuff I already know, But I brought along a few dozen grenades that are filled with fire crystals that can absord the energy from the Tear itself and keep unleashing a flame in the immediate area of impact. I say we block off some of the entrances and even try and cut down a few of those huge trees aswell, and then use these grenades to form zones of death that the rabbits would be forced to either try and overcome or be consumed by. We wouldn't gain any of the corpses and their crystals but I think survival would be worth it."

I could only nod as his plan didn't have to many holes to poke. If they were as intelligent as normal rabbits then this plan could work, hell it could damn near eradicate the rabbits without us putting up much effort at all... But what I'm worried about was the fact of how easily the stronger rabbits forced the weaker ones to become basically meat shields to douse the flames and then trampled on the dead bodies like a bridge to cross.

"What about the stronger rabbits forcing the weaker ones to take the flames on headfirst and douse them?" I asked the question knowing that it would be easier to just take the weaker ones out first but I wanted to see if the mighty alpha thought so aswell, just chalk it up to me being petty at losing the fight.

"Simple, we kill the weaker ones first."

Damn....

"So when do we head out? And are we taking shifts or going together? Since I have Merida, we could probably take turns that way one of us can take a break and rest for a few minutes in between."

He took a look at Merida before closing his eyes as if to think about it, He was silent for a few minutes but ultimately agreed saying how that would be for the best. In return he would have control over the grenades while my focus would be to try and close up or topple trees. His excursions would be trap building/killing, while mine would be killing and closing up the holes and cutting down the trees. It was a good division of labor from my POV so I didn't think twice before I headed out while Barton took up a post on the the wall to watch out for me.

I started by walking up to the closest tree that was atleast as wide as I was tall. It had a hole about a couple feet above the ground and if I listened closely I could hear faint movement from inside the hole. I was wondering if it was just best to start chopping or if I should try and get rid of the rabbits within first....

"Merida, can you go and get me a few small twigs and some brush or grass? I have a plan and want to see if it works."

Merida squeeked before running off and within a couple minutes she had brought back and piled up a pile of various twigs and more than a couple handfulls of dead grass. I gave her a head rub before I focused on my hand and focused on making the reddish ember fur appear on it.

I rubbed my hands together and small embers started to fall from the friction. This was the experiment and the result I was hoping for. If I could use the fire myslef to either smoke our of incapacitate the rabbits, then that would give me a buffer and more time to deal with the many exit points for the Horde to use.

It took me a few tries but after a literal shower of embers, the bundle of kindling finally ignited and I placed it arm deep within the hole. I quickly placed a few more bundles on top of it to keep it going and hopefully catch the tree itself on fire. I didn't care about the tree itself since I would just be using it to block holes with. If it was charcoal than so what.

Soon after I heard as squeeks of panic erupted from the inside of the tree. I was waiting for the first rabbit to appear when Merida suddenly took off into the smoke and fire.

"MERIDA!!!" I yelled but it was too late as she disappeared. I stayed near the hole hoping she would come out soon but all I could hear was the panic as the I saw orange flicks start to appear more and more. I could feel as the heat started rising in the tree and soon flames started to appear and flicker outside of the hole.

I started to panic but soon smiled as I felt through my connection with her that she was ok and that she was currently killing the rabbits inside. She basically told me that she got bored and decided to risk the flames and get straight to the action. I chuckled before sighing and I just waited but soon the heat was getting unbearable and I had to back away further and further.

After a few more minutes Merida leapt out of the hole with nothing but a fresh coat of red covering her but no burn marks or anything like that. She had some soot in places but when I asked her if she got burned she just shook her head and then placed her paw directly into a flame and I swear I saw her smirk.

"Oh you arrogant little girl. So this whole time you have been resistance to fire? I didn't know if you were or not but what a way to tell me jesus christ!"

I was happy she was safe but damn if she was going to be a cheeky little thing. I laughed and soon me and her left to start on the next nearest tree. It had only been maybe an hour with this tree so I figured I would do another one before swapping with Barton. The next tree was a few inches bigger around and the hole leading in was bigger aswell so I told Merida to hold on and not to jump in aimlessly no matter how bored she got. She sent me a mental huff and pouted like some kind of moody teenager but soon just sat down and watched as I gathered a small pile in front of the hole and like usual I created the fire and shoved it into the hole as quickly as I could.

Almost rinse and repeat of the last tree as soon panic squeeks came from inside but nothing came out through the fire. I thought for a moment I heard what sounded like some kind of scraping or scratching coming from the tree but I was distracted by a louder more guttural squeek coming from behind me. I turned to see as a huge rabbit the size of a bull was hopping towards me followed by a group of 5 smaller rabbits. The big one was a dull grey color but had a pair of sharp looking teeth that hung out in plain view alongside a pair of bloodshot eyes that screamed anger.

I quickly dodged but not enough as I felt my side get clipped by something as one of the smaller rabbits rushed past me. I jumped up from a roll and brandished my hand axe just in time to block another headbutt from another smaller rabbit. I shoved it back but was forced on the defensive by the other 3 rabbits. I had a quick glance to my left and saw as Merida was fighting against the huge grey rabbit. I was shocked because there she is, barely coming up to my shin and she is over there fighting like an acrobat and jumping around attacking the huge thing like it was childsplay, while I'm over here being bullied by small rabbits..... UGH!