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Fiasco tightend his grip on the wrench as he interposed himself between the mind slave and his friends. The mind slave fell head first into a tree but was only still for a moment. It got back up with a strength that wasn't quite it's own. It's vague human like form shambled to it's feet then stopped dead. It's arms fell to it's side as it fell on it's knees, then face first into the wet earth. Nary a moment passed before a black form leapt from Fiasco's periphreal vision and in front of the mind slave. It raised a blade still wet with blood.

"Stay your blade, Siegard!" A voice from behind the group called. "His master lay dead."

It was hard to tell what the creature in front of Fiasco was, but it's four foot tall frame wore a black coat. It turned to regard the voice.

"You think that enough reason to sway my hand?" His voice promised violence, as did his eyes, not that Fiasco nor anyone else could tell.

Another four foot tall being emerged from the darkness. Fiasco almost swore it was a rabbit at first. Then, at second glance, it was quite obvious that a four foot tall white rabbit wearing armor adressed the creature. Who, in fact, was also a rabbit. A four foot tall rabbit wearing armor and carrying a sword. Fiasco could only stare at the newcomers. Not surprised. Not yet. The white rabbit walked on two feet, and was hunched over slightly. He too carried a crimson stained sword. "Harm him, and by the Queen, I'll have you court marshaled." His tone carried with it the weight of promise.

Siegard stood there, seemingly contemplating the words of the rabbit who could only be described as his commanding officer. He took a step back then swung his blade towards the ground, blood flying from the blade. "So be it." At this, he turned to regard the group of humans. "Goodness, dear Cat, you've returned."

The Cat stared at Siegard from Khyn's protective arms. "I see my time gone as not learned you any manners." Sarcasom flowed off the Cat's tongue.

Siegard's eyes flared with murderous intent. "You spend your days flitting through other realms searching for new soldiers to a fight a war that is doomed to end in favor of Her Majesty's nightmares, yet you lecture me on how to get a job done?!" He took a step towards the cat only to find Fiasco sidestepping in his way. He stopped and looked at Fiasco. "Did he tell you, boy?" He asked, his wounding tone trying to make Fiasco lash out. "Are you prepared for the darkness ahead?" He raised his sword up towards Fiasco's throat.

Fiasco, didn't budge. Not even showing the slieghtest hint of fear. He tried desperately to not raise the wrench.

"If your not prepared for violence," Siegard warned as he dropped the balde to his saide. "then you can hardly call yourself prepared."

"Fall in line Siegard" The white rabbit spoke, "the council will wish to see them."

Traci sighed. She really should've picked up on that Japanese.

Oh! But hey, in her backpack she always carried around her Japanese coursebook. A-ha-ha. Wasn't that great?

With a quick glance at Ryu, trying to convey her promise to break the language barrier between them, Traci turned back to the strange humongous rabbit things. The mind slave was really ugly; it actually scared her a little. And the rabbits actually weren't much better. Why couldn't they be cute and fluffy and poofy?

She stared quietly, with wide eyes, taking everything in, finally starting to understand a little bit.

But wait...soldiers? Nuh-uh. Well, maybe if she showed them how totally useless she was they wouldn't make her do anything. Of course, if they didn't take to well to her uselessness...

Meh, she was thinking too much. Time to talk some more.

"Yes, please, let's hurry up," she said, at normal volume for once, "I'm really sick of not knowing what the crap is going on."

The white rabbit lookep upon Ryu "You question not bears made of purple crystal, yet you call a civalized race of rabbits a halucination? Clearly you have not been here long." He turned to Siegard. "You shall be rear guard for our trip home."

Siegard nodded, barely hiding his contempt for the older rabbit. "I suppose you'll also have me find the steam hare that was supposed to have our flanks?"

"Just go." The white rabbit said, who upon closer inspection appeared to be grey with age.

The black rabbit, without blinking, walked behind the group and further into the darkness. He walked hunched over, and his gait was almost comical. But how else would a rabbit walk on two feet?

Fiasco could only stand there as the exchange happened. He turned to Khyn breifly and nodded his thanks for her support. Her pressance added to his courage. He noted that Siegard's black fur was plastered to his body from the rain as he walked away. The armor that the rabbits wore, wasn't so much a suit as it was a chest plate, a shoulder guard, a helmet, and two pieces of metal strapped to their shins. It was clear that they favored speed. Go figure. It was about now that Fiasco realized that Ryu had spoken japanese, but the rabbit responded in english. "You understand Japanese?" Fiasco queried the grey rabbit.

He looked at Fiasco, confusion evident in his posture "What's japanese?"

Fiasco shook his head "Nevermind." He looked at the mind slave. It took him a moment to realize "He's human." Fiasco stated flatly. He was ugly, sure. Scars ran across what was left of his face, his clothes were a tattered mess, and he had a beard that was filthy with dirt and food. But he was human.

The grey rabbit helped the freed slave to his feet. "Was human is more apt. Whatever it it is the mind slavers do to them turns them into something less." He motioned to the slaves eyes. "No shine. Nothing going on up stairs right now. Strangely, we've only seen human slaves. I mean, you can't capture a live rabbit. It's just not possible. In a group, we're fearless, but alone, we can be quite fearful. To the point of exausting are hearts. But other races? Never seen turtles, or cats, hounds or foxes." He handed the slave over to another rabbit to care for. "In any case, you must be freezing. Let us be on our way."

Fiasco nodded his head and wiped freezing rain from his eyes with his wrench hand. He turned to Traci, "Keep talking Trace. And for God's sake, stay under the umbrella." He turned to the grey rabbit "Lead the way." He then did his best to hide his shivering. Fortunately, the cold slowed the bleeding of his arm and numbed the pain.

The grey rabbit nodded, and made a hand gesture. The other rabbits, quickly and without question, fanned out. He led the small group of high schoolers deeper into the forest. He had the same hunched movement and comical gait as Seigard. Fiasco refrained from finding this funny.

Traci felt a rush of envy. No fair! They could understand her! How sweet was that? They should like, translate or something. How did that work anyway? Why would they reply in English? Ah, whatever.

She shook her head and smiled. "Why should I keep talking? Why do I have to go under the umbrella? That's no fun."

A song lyric came into her head, and of course she had to sing it. ""

Traci got a little closer to the group under the umbrella. There wasn't any room under there anyway. So she'd stay out of it unless she was directly ordered.

She skipped a little. For some reason she was in too good a mood to feel more than a little scared, or frustrated with lack of info.

""

((WB can go to hell for killing me.))