The sun sank lower, its golden glow stretching across the sky in slow, dying strokes. Wisps of deep orange melted into streaks of crimson, their light casting long, trembling shadows through the forest. The trees swayed gently in the cool breeze, their leaves rustling with the hushed whispers of farewell to the fading day.
The world exhaled.
Between the swaying branches, where thick foliage met the wild underbrush, a lone figure lay sprawled atop a dense bush, her body limp, half-hidden by the leaves. Syl's chest rose and fell in slow, shallow breaths. Dirt smudged her cheeks, stray strands of blonde hair clung to her damp skin, and faint cuts marred her arms, remnants of battle.
The forest, for a moment, seemed to watch her.
Then—soft, rhythmic thumps against the grass.
From the undergrowth, two small figures emerged.
Rabbits.
Their fur barely caught the fading sunlight, their tiny ears flicking as they hopped cautiously into view. The first one—smaller, more hesitant—paused just beyond the bush, its round eyes blinking as it twitched its nose, sniffing the air.
The second rabbit—slightly larger, more assertive—hopped a step ahead, its gaze fixed on the unconscious girl.
They studied her in silence.
Then, a small chattering sound.
The larger rabbit turned its head, making a quick, sharp noise at the smaller one.
The smaller rabbit immediately flicked its ears back, giving a short, high-pitched squeak in return.
A disagreement.
The large rabbit stomped its tiny foot.
The small one flinched, then shook its head violently, its tiny paws shifting in place.
Another stomp.
Another defiant squeak.
The argument continued in tiny, urgent sounds—one pushing forward, the other resisting. It was as if the smaller one was uncertain, wary of getting too close to the strange figure before them.
The larger rabbit, however, was undeterred. It twitched its nose with finality, then took a bold hop forward.
The smaller one hesitated—then begrudgingly followed, staying just a step behind.
They moved carefully, their tiny paws barely making a sound against the soft earth.
Closer.
Closer.
The hesitant rabbit paused again, glancing between the unconscious girl and its companion, as if silently questioning: Are you sure?
The larger one ignored it, hopping directly to Syl's face. It tilted its head, studied her for a moment—then leaned in.
A single lick against her nose.
Syl stirred slightly, her body shifting against the bush. A quiet, groggy moan slipped past her lips.
Another lick.
She frowned but didn't open her eyes, her voice coming out in a sleepy, breathy mumble. "Mmh… not now, Kibo… at least take me to dinner first…"
The rabbit licked again.
Syl let out a small giggle, her lips curling into a lazy smirk. "Mmm~ so eager… but if you keep licking me like that, I might start getting ideas…"
The licking continued.
She shuddered. "Ohhh~ feisty, aren't we? … Fine, but be gentle, okay? I'm still sore from last time…"
Another firm lick.
Syl's brows furrowed. Then—
Slurp.
Her eyes snapped open.
She jerked up with a startled yell. "Kibo, I swear if you're—!"
The rabbit on her face let out a startled squeak as it was launched into the air.
It flailed mid-flight before crashing onto the ground with a pathetic little thud, rolling over itself before coming to a dizzy stop.
The smaller rabbit gasped—actually gasped—and immediately rushed to its fallen companion, nudging it frantically as if checking for injuries.
Syl blinked, her pulse still racing. Reality slammed into her like a bucket of cold water.
No Kibo.
No Lily.
Just… two rabbits.
The one she'd flung twitched on the ground, eyes spiraling in confusion. The smaller rabbit sat beside it, looking between her and its dazed friend like it had just witnessed a murder.
Syl blinked rapidly, her breathing uneven. "What the—?" Then pain flared across her body.
"Agh…!" She clenched her teeth as soreness pulsed through her limbs, every muscle screaming in protest. Her ribs ached, her legs felt like lead, and a deep, throbbing pain settled in her arms. She could still feel where Aunt Sora had slammed her.
She hugged herself as the cold evening air brushed against her skin. How long was I out?
The world around her remained eerily still, the rustling of leaves the only sound accompanying her ragged breathing.
"Kibo? Lily?" Her voice barely carried beyond the trees.
Silence.
Her stomach twisted.
Syl groaned, shifting her aching limbs as she forced herself upright. Pain shot through her body like a series of sharp, burning needles. She grit her teeth. "Shit… I feel like I got tossed off a cliff…"
Her legs wobbled as she steadied herself, her battered muscles protesting every movement.
A small, chittering noise caught her attention.
She looked down.
The larger rabbit had finally pulled itself together, shaking off the daze from its unexpected flight. It twitched its nose aggressively, as if insulted. The smaller one, still beside it, let out a few frantic noises, nudging the bigger rabbit like it was fussing over an injured sibling.
Syl blinked at them, then exhaled a short, breathy chuckle. "Sigh… That was your fault, cutie. Who told you to climb on my face?"
The larger rabbit froze, its ears twitching.
The smaller one let out a high-pitched chattering sound—like it was scolding her.
Syl tilted her head. "Hah? You mad at me?"
Both rabbits stared at her.
She stared back.
A long silence stretched between them before she sighed, shaking her head. "Alright, alright, whatever. Come here."
She lowered herself slowly, wincing as her sore body protested. The rabbits twitched but didn't move away. They just sat there, watching, cautious but curious.
Syl extended a hand, her fingers brushing against their fur. Soft. Warm.
For some reason, the simple sensation made her chest feel lighter.
"Thanks… I guess," she muttered. "For waking me up. Even if your method was really questionable."
She ruffled their fur lightly before pulling her hand back. A deep sigh left her lips. "Damn… What now?"
Her mind was still foggy, but the moment she thought about her next move, realization hit her like a slap.
Her blades.
Her eyes widened slightly. "Wait… where the hell are my weapons?"
Her gaze darted around, but the thick forest offered no hints.
As if on cue, the bigger rabbit suddenly perked up. It chattered something to the smaller one before turning, bouncing toward the trees.
Syl frowned. "Huh?"
The little one immediately followed.
Syl's brows furrowed. "Hey—where are you going?"
The rabbits didn't answer, only pausing a few feet ahead, glancing back at her expectantly.
Syl stared for a moment. Then realization dawned.
"...Are you leading me somewhere?"
They twitched their noses.
Her lips curled slightly. "Tch. Figures."
Ignoring the throbbing pain in her body, she pushed herself to her feet, cracking her neck. "Alright, let's see where this goes."
She trudged after them, forcing her battered body to move. Every step sent a new jolt of pain through her muscles, but she clenched her jaw and pushed forward.
The forest thickened as she walked, the evening light filtering through the trees in thin, golden streaks. The rabbits led her deeper into the woods, moving quickly despite their tiny frames.
Syl sighed, rolling her shoulders as she trailed after the rabbits. Her body still ached, but at this point, she was too deep into this ridiculous situation to back out.
"I really must be insane," she muttered under her breath. "Following random forest animals like some clueless idiot in a fairy tale? Lily will really love to snuggle you up."
The rabbits didn't seem to care about her inner crisis. They kept bouncing ahead, their tiny paws barely making a sound against the forest floor.
Syl exhaled sharply, shifting her stance as she kept moving. "You know, I'd at least like a hint about where we're going. A sign. A dramatic prophecy. Anything?"
Silence.
"Figures."
After several minutes, the rabbits suddenly stopped near a dense bush.
Syl slowed her steps, rubbing the back of her neck. "What now?"
The larger rabbit hopped toward the bush, nudging at something beneath the leaves.
Syl narrowed her eyes, taking a careful step closer. Her knees ached as she crouched, one hand steadying herself against the ground.
The leaves rustled as she brushed them aside—
Her breath hitched.
Nestled in the grass lay her dual blades.
For a second, she just stared, a strange relief flooding her chest.
She exhaled, running a hand over the hilts before picking them up. The familiar weight settled against her palms, grounding her in a way she hadn't realized she needed.
"Oh, you little geniuses," she muttered, gripping the weapons tightly. She slowly got to her feet, wincing as a dull ache shot through her legs.
She sheathed the blades at her sides, rolling her shoulders. "Alright. That's one problem solved. Now what?"
The rabbits twitched their noses.
Syl tilted her head, crossing her arms. "Wait… don't tell me that's it."
The larger rabbit wiggled its ears.
The smaller one chattered something that sounded suspiciously like a complaint.
Syl snorted. "Sigh. Figures. Guess I shouldn't expect too much."
She flexed her fingers, rolling her neck. "Well… as much as I hate to admit it, you two actually helped me out. So, uh… thanks, I guess."
The rabbits stared at her.
Then, without hesitation, they turned and hopped away, vanishing into the darkness.
Syl blinked.
"…Rude."
But she smiled, pressing a hand over her blades. At least I have these back.
The wind howled, making her shiver. The sky had darkened completely now, the first stars blinking into view.
"Great," she muttered. "Now I have to set up camp alone. I hope Lily and Kibo are okay?"
The night stretched endlessly around her.
Dark silhouettes of trees towered over the clearing, their twisted branches clawing at the sky. The wind weaved through the leaves with a low, haunting whisper, and the distant cries of unseen creatures echoed from the depths of the forest.
Syl shivered. The cold seeped into her skin, clinging to her like a second layer of exhaustion.
With trembling fingers, she gathered dry branches into a pile. Her arms ached with every movement, her body screaming in protest. It took several failed strikes of her flint before sparks finally caught, flickering against the brittle wood.
She slumped beside the weak fire, hugging her knees, letting the faint warmth lick at her skin. But it barely fought off the chill.
Her entire body hurt.
Syl groaned, rolling her shoulders with a wince. "Ugh… damn it, everything hurts." She exhaled sharply, running a hand through her tangled hair. "Aunt Sora really didn't hold back, huh?"
Every breath felt like knives scraping against her ribs. Her muscles throbbed with deep, unrelenting pain.
She let her head fall back against the tree, staring at the vast night sky. A few faint stars peeked through the thick forest canopy, distant and unreachable.
Her jaw clenched.
Why didn't my ability work?
She should've use it, even if only slightly. But her body was still wrecked. Every bruise, every cut—nothing was fading.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "Guess I'm still not there yet…"
She smirked weakly.
If Kibo were here, he'd be shaking his head. He'd say something dumb like, 'Guess you need more practice, huh?' Then he'd space out, lost in his own head.
Syl sighed, shaking her head. "He's such a weirdo sometimes…"
And Lily…
Lily would've sat beside me, offering quiet words of encouragement. She always knew what to say, even if it made no sense.
"She'd probably tell me not to push myself too hard," Syl muttered, a ghost of a smile on her lips. "Then immediately support me no matter what I decided…"
Her fingers curled into fists.
I need to find them.
But where the hell should she start? She didn't even know where she was.
Syl exhaled, resting her forehead on her knees.
Do I move now? Risk getting lost in the dark? Or do I wait till morning and waste time?
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
She hated feeling this useless.
A rustling sound made her tense.
Her fingers twitched toward her blades, muscles coiling despite the pain.
Then—
Soft hops.
Her eyes widened slightly.
The same two rabbits—or at least, ones that looked identical—stood a few feet away, staring at her. Their small bodies were illuminated by the firelight, their big round eyes reflecting the glow.
Syl exhaled, shaking her head. "You two again?" she muttered, rubbing her temple. "Or are you just a couple of lookalikes?"
The bolder rabbit took a few hops closer, tilting its head. The other followed, watching her silently.
Syl scoffed weakly. "Tch… You sure you're not following me on purpose?"
The rabbits twitched their noses but didn't answer—not that she expected them to.
After a moment, they turned and hopped off into the darkness, vanishing into the underbrush.
Syl watched them go, an uneasy feeling creeping into her chest.
She couldn't shake the thought—were they really the same ones? Or was something else at play?
A gust of wind made the fire flicker, sending shadows dancing across the trees.
Syl hugged her arms, shivering, her sore body barely holding on.
"I need to find them by morning," she whispered, her voice laced with exhaustion. "No matter what."
She remained upright, her gaze locked on the fire, her mind racing. Sleep was not an option.
Somewhere in the distance, a faint rustling echoed once more.
Circling.
Watching.