Chapter 12

"Shhiiiiiiiiitttttt!!!!"

"Don't scream you idiot! You're telling the whole f*cking forest where we are!"

"F*ck! Why the hell are rabbits dangerous?! Aren't they supposed to be cute and fluffy?!"

"Don't stop running! And shut up already! If you get caught, I won't be stopping to help your sorry ass!"

Having ran a few miles, Nemitz is almost losing his breath, only adrenaline and the fear of getting devoured is what keeps him from stopping. And as stupid as it is, he was hoping to meet some of those bandits searching for them, he might get enslaved, but it's better to be alive and not die to some rabbits, and where the f*ck have those bastards been searching?!

As if fate is toying with him, distracted by his own thoughts he bumped into one of them, as these group of bandits also got caught by surprise that their targets actually ran into them, didn't even notice the few dozens of mutated rabbits following at their target's heels just a few meters away, but before they could even give a snarky remark, the couple, as if not minding for their lives just ran past them… Again! Getting ready to teach the arrogant couple the meaning of fear, they finally notice the mutated rabbits, already at range readying for their famous lunge.

Getting a glimpse in his peripheral vision, Nemitz can't help but to shiver from the chill of having witness how those supposed 'cute' 'fluffy' creatures be so vicious in killing those poor unwary bandits. Their lunge is so fast that one of them bandits didn't even have time to blink, much less enough time to lift his weapon. He only saw something charging at him like a shadow passing through him and blood was already spurting out from his neck, following by getting devoured by a dozen of those critters like the darkness of the night just swallowing him whole, he didn't even have time to scream along with his other buddies already scrambling and panicking but just ended the same as he was.

….

*pant *pant *pant

"….Ok, I think this is far enough."

"Good! I thought I was about to become rabbit food or just die of exhaustion right there!..*phew…let's hope those poor bastards will be enough to distract those little monsters for a while."

"Let's just catch our breaths and continue; staying outside at this ungodly hour is just too dangerous out here, we need somewhere to hide. Mutated rabbits is just the least of our problems right now."

"Least of our problems?! Besides bandits, I don't think anything worse than getting eaten by those rabbits turned piranhas! But ok, sure boss! Just lead the way and I'll follow!"

"Shut up already you spineless idiot! You're the man here! You're supposed to take charge!!!"

"Shiiiittt!!!"

Trying to calm his nerves down a little, Nemitz could only lament this miserable existence of his.

After exhaling and inhaling deeply a few times, regaining a bit of composure of himself, he tried figuring out a way of their current situation, but they don't exactly have much of a choice. If they go back to where the dead bandits are to get some of those weapons, there's a big chance that those mutated rabbits are still there. If they continue travelling, with only the moon lighting their surroundings, getting lost is the least of their problems. Staying out here is also not an option.

Seeing the miserable expression on Nemitz face, Meredith understood the hopeless situation they've been thrown into. And she, little by little is also falling into despair. But suddenly, feeling a warm hand on her shoulder, squeezing her gently as if assuring her that everything's going to be alright. Looking at him again, instead of seeing the misery earlier, she could only see resolution on his face.

"Sorry about earlier, I couldn't help freaking out. You know me, I'm a nervous wreck. Anyway, there's nothing we could do about our current situation but move forward. Let's just do our best, and if we die, so be it."

"So what do we do?"

"You still know the way to Grimmaw?"

"Sorry, But I think we're already lost"

"Right. It's dark anyway… So… Let's try circling back, at least to where the bandits are. After all, we still need a weapon to defend ourselves. I just hope those damn rabbits are full and gone when we get there".

"I hope so…"

…

Just a few meters away from a gruesome massacre, two pairs of eyes in the bushes are scanning their surroundings very carefully, making sure that not a single mutated rabbit is not in sight.

After a few minutes of tense deliberation, Nemitz decided to move slowly near to one of them fresh corpses; taking a few careful silent steps and stopping to check his surroundings, he couldn't stop his mind from imagining the worst, sweating of the dread that something might be lurking in one of those dark corners and just lunge at him when he's in range, suppressing that feeling and psyching himself up, he continued moving again once his sure that the area is clear of any anomalies.

Finally, arriving in front of the dead body and checking again if the area is safe. He can finally inspect the corpse more clearly or what's left of it, he could only swallow the chill on what he saw, it's only dried blood and bones.

~Wow, guess those mutated rabbits knows what they're doing. Not even a single tissue is left. Very efficient.

"Hey! I think the area is safe, you can come out now!"

"Shhh! Could you at least lower your voice…"

"Sorry but I ain't shouting, y'know"

"Whatever, Let's just take what we need and let's go, before some other predator come sniffing around"

"Sure but is this normal? I thought after finishing here, those critters would continue chasing after us?"

"I'm not sure. But from what I've heard those things are very cautious, they always hunt in packs, and they don't hunt too far from their own territory."

"But with their lunge and numbers I thought there wouldn't be much of a threat to them?"

"Look I'm no monster expert, alright? But those things aren't the only predators roaming around at night. Let's just count ourselves lucky especially you. If those things are as dumb as any, even when at the time you saw a lone rabbit, it could've killed you in a heartbeat. And without this bastards offering themselves up, giving us just enough time to run away it would be us lying here right now instead of them"

"Alright, but I think we got everything. We now have guns, ammunition, food, and water that would last us a few days if we ration properly, and better clothes that definitely needs of washing"

"So what next?"

"We have no choice but to continue to Grimmaw but let's try going around it. I just hope we wouldn't get any more surprises"

---------------

"Hahahaha! What a surprise! The loser that's tied up and barely alive was actually you! I didn't know you we're as stupid as you look Jacob!"

"Whatever Krag, I just didn't think they would have the courage to do what they did. I thought I already broke that bitch's will, and the scrawny bastard isn't much of a threat."

"You're just lucky we're the ones who found you! Or you'd be someone's bitch right about now…hahaha!"

"I'll make sure those shits regret of them even being born!"

"Don't worry… my guys are already searching for them and might've already found them as we speak. Anyway, have you told the red head bitch about her family, that we're the ones who actually did it?hahaha!"

"No… I thought being the guy saving the damsel would've swept her off her feet, but I guess she's just no better than being a slave to my crotch! I wouldn't make that mistake again"

---------------

"You know Mere, our situation is really messed up, don't you think?"

"Yeah, or maybe this is just your born talent, bringing us to stupid situations such as this!"

Scratching his head from the comment and can't help denying that it might be true…

"C'mon it's not too much of a coincidence, if you think about carefully, I mean this isn't too far from where they blocked us, maybe an about few miles; and also it ain't too far from where those bandits got themselves killed."

"Right… but this kind of shitty luck of yours to actually be bringing us to the f*cking bandit encampment! And you idiot is forgetting something very important, the forest is f*cking HUGE! Of all the shitty places we could've cross, we actually found ourselves in front of the guys that we're supposedly running from!"

"Ok, ok I understand you being agitated but isn't this also a golden opportunity for us, don't you think? They wouldn't even think that we are actually hiding just right under their noses. And I'm sure right about now, they might even be thinking that we're on our way to Grimmaw…"

"So what? You don't think there wouldn't be any guards roaming around at this kind of place you dumb idiot?!"

"I know, I'm not saying we'd be just charging there… I'll think of a plan, don't worry…"

Having no confidence on whatever Nemitz is planning, Meredith could only hope that they'll make it through the night.