Dawn- An age of Darkness

"What about Ven? Did he get eaten already?"

"He's not here. Maybe they threw him ahead of us." I didn't know if Lianne was cracking jokes or just trying to be funny, but whatever this was, it wasn't funny. 

I gulped. 

Seriously?

Yawn! The sound came from my left. It was Alisa. Wasn't she a bunny girl? Shouldn't she be able to do something?

"Umm… Alisa, do you mind talking things out with them or something?" I cleared my throat. "Aren't they your family or something? Wait, you could even be their god!" I might have been a bit too groggy as I was uttering more cringe than even I could handle.

But more importantly, I needed her to act all-important because I was going crazy. 

"What?" She was still yawning. A moment later her grogginess disappeared as she glared at the bunnies, and stared back at me with a face full of despair.

"Please tell me, you can at least understand them?" My voice was stale and devoid of emotion. The good emotions.

Please tell me, you can at least do something!?

She flashed a faint smile and looked away. "I kind of can but…"

"I always wanted to be surrounded by bunnies, but not like this!" It was almost like all the nightmares from that island kept coming back. Yes, I didn't have a geezer this time to save me and laugh at me, but still, this just seemed more than just sad.

Actually, being saved by the geezer didn't sound that bad anymore. 

Wait, what about my ring?

  I still had my ring. I tried to send mana but it wasn't working. 

What the hell?

"Lianne, can't you use flames or anything?" I tried to chuckle but nothing came out. 

"If I could, we wouldn't be here." She smiled but grounded her teeth. "There was probably some other element in that incense too. Something which inhibits mana."

Since when did bunnies become so damn intelligent?

"Um, Daarc, ar-are you seeing that?" Alisa's voice stuttered. 

I followed Alisa's gaze and met utter horror. Two muscular bunnies, the size of polar bears were coming our way with machetes. "Yup, I am now."

Dick and Servesta both were in ZZZ land. Since when did bunnies become so smart as to knock us out and inhibit our mana? More importantly, were these things even bunnies?

I wanted to think no, but those damn fluffy ears were always giving me a bad case of an anxiety attack. 

"You two, how about we make a deal? I get us out of the ropes, and you guys help me get out of here. Fair?" The mercenary among us apparently had plans.

"Well, it wouldn't be much of anything even if we were to get out if we didn't have anything to fight with." My thoughts escaped my lips.

"Would you rather go down fighting or be eaten without?" He fired back.

"Alright Merc, you have my attention." I didn't like his style, but that didn't mean I disagreed with him either. 

"Now then, the deal's struck!" the rope around us fell. And I finally could feel my arm. Just what- he had a knife in his hands. 

No wonder.

"Always keep an extra just in case." He flashed a grin. The guy knew how to piss me off, no doubt. In that regard, he almost seemed to resemble a certain geezer I knew. 

"Suppose that's fair enough." I tried to manipulate my mana, but I couldn't even feel mana anymore. "This might be tricky." Very tricky.

The big bunnies didn't like our escape. They howled and slowly walked towards us. 

They were slower than I thought they'd be. 

"Free them and then run." 

"You don't have to tell me twice." The mercenary grinned and moved swiftly. 

"Lianne left or right?" I didn't know if she could fight bear handed or not, but we didn't have a choice.

"You're letting me choose? How courteous! Left it is." Something was definitely wrong with this elf. Since when did she start to become funny?

We didn't have any weapons. The bunnies must have seized everything when they captured us. To think I'd be robbed by bunnies. 

But we did have experience. 

And I kind of counted on that. I really, really hoped it would have been enough. 

***

The bunnies came swinging. I didn't expect the big things to be so fast. They were as large hobgoblins but much faster. Their walking speed was slow but their swinging speed was abnormally high. But I was faster than before as well. 

My heart raced and my body followed suit. I dodged the first swing and ambushed the bunny from the back. I gave him a chop. Hitting him with my hand didn't do anything. The bunny chuckled and gave me a horizontal slash. I jumped back. It wasn't working. The other bunnies had us fully circled. 

"Are you trying to hit them or make them angrier?" Lianne hissed. 

I didn't actually have an answer. I never fought barehanded. Just what did she expect from me?

"As per deal, I'll be running away now. Let's get a drink if you survive," the merc yelled. He sure knew how to do business. As we were in the forefront, he took his chance and climbed up the steep hill. 

I had no idea how he did that. 

I didn't expect him to stay either. But he'd done enough. 

Dick and the others were free. But there was a problem.

Servesta did wake up but Dick was still knocked out solid. Our OP protagonist was out of the count. Alisa couldn't do much without mana. And Servesta didn't have his axe. Meaning, things didn't really change. 

Damn! 

My back hit Lianne's. We were both cornered. Things weren't looking good. To think not being able to use mana would be so devastating.

"Umm, can't we solve this without bloodshed?" I tried to talk with the bunny but it just chuckled and came after us. Negotiations were out of the count.

The bunny in front of us swung its machete hard. I dodged to the right. My leg cramped up. I hadn't had the luxury to do some proper stretching in the morning: I was too busy being tied to the tree. And now my leg had to give up at the very last moment. 

Lianne was pinned on the other side as well. But at least she was doing better than me. 

The giant machete came down in full swing. I rolled. Rolled, and rolled again. It was fast and strong at the same time. Honestly, I began to get seconds thoughts about loving bunnies. Maybe I should have switched to cats?

No! My love of bunnies is infinite! I will not be killed by one of them!

I stood up on my cramped up leg. It hurt. I didn't care. I glared at the bunny in front. It was taller than me. Another horizontal slash. But this time I squatted and dodged. I sprang back up and hit its jaws so hard that I felt my knuckles crack. It stung like being stabbed but I kept going. "Give me back my image of pure bunnies!" I screamed and punched the guy on his stomach. The bunny fell on the hard floor.

Punching and maintaining my balance with just one arm was a lot harder than I thought, but it wasn't impossible.

Lianne was panting but she was done as well.

And then the true horror began as every single one of the bunnies came towards us with knives and forks.

Servesta and Alisa had their own problems. 

"Did I forget to mention I actually always hated Rabbits?" Lianne panted.

"No, that's the first time I'm hearing it. But I'm beginning to consider switching my affections as well." Honestly, loving cats might just have been much better than this. At least my image of pure lovable bunnies wouldn't have been destroyed.

And then there was a squeak. A squeak of glory. A squeak of salvation. Biteria had returned. And she'd brought help.

"To think all of you would be captured while I was taking a piss." Our draconic teammate just had to take a piss and let us be captured. He descended from the sky and stood behind me and Lianne.

Why does everyone have to take a piss during all the important times?

"That's it! No more leaks during the night! Even if someone has to wet themselves just stay put! I'd be damn sure to set up this rule!" Needless to say, I was going crazy.

"Anyway, catch!" He threw a knife in my way. 

Everyone totally ignored me. 

I was about to pick up the machete. But I guess the knife was definitely more of a better choice to me.

Lianne did pick up a machete though. She probably knew how to use one too. And the way, she swung it, both the bunnies and I was scared, no doubt about that. It reminded me of that night when she skinned the deer all over again.

"Our situation has improved but it'll be difficult without mana."

"I agree."

"Should I just burn them all in that case?" Ven began.

"I guess that's an option. But can't we just settle this without bloodshed?" Lianne said.

"…"  I thought for a second. "Bunnies! Is there anyone among you willing to negotiate!? We will leave without making a fuss. So do you mind returning our things and moving out of the way?"

"Are you negotiating or making demands?" Lianne murmured.

The bunnies didn't seem to waver. They were even more furious. 

"Guess there's no choice." Ven transformed partially and growled. But before he could release his fire, Biteria jumped in front of us and squeaked again. As she squeaked, the other bunnies squeaked as well. "Are they having a conversation?"