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Josh waited near the mouth of the forest impatiently. His mind was a cornucopia of distress, frustration, and shame. How could he let LuLu get lost?! Was she okay? Was she hurt? Was she de-

The boy shuffled away that line of thoughts before his last threads of composure snapped. The last thing he needed was to be a blubbering pile of emotions on the venture.

The boy shifted uncomfortably against the hood of his car. He could almost feel the cold steel through his jacket. He zipped the thick coat a bit higher to fend of the chill.

Josh breathed in short, nervous puffs. His breath was forming a light fog in front of his face. Auburn eyes scanned the horizon distractedly as he awaited the arrival of the only guardian that had answered his called to action. Kinsey.

Josh’s breath caught in his throat as he saw the long awaited duo approached. One was bundled up in four layers of clothing like a human sized burrito while the other was stripped down to his birthday suit. The boy choked down the horrific view and strained to speak. “I-it is okay!” His eyes fluttered away from Varun’s bare chest in embarrassment. “I am just glad you two showed up.”

Josh was content with not looking at the leviathan for the entire day; however, the impatient redhead demanded attention. The boy’s eyes shot up quickly to avoid catching sight of pale flesh. Frail auburn met piercing teal as they locked stares. Josh’s voice was distant and came out as a hurt squeak, “I do not know.” Worry weighed down his words heavily. He tore his face away from the frei’s and shot up from the hood of his truck. “Let’s get started then.” With that the boy began to meander blindly into the woods. He had no idea where they would go. The only thing he was sure of was that he would not leave until he had found LuLu.

Josh was about to step into the vine laden threshold of the forest. However, before he could make it past the first wiry cedar, two powerful arms had wrapped around his sides. The boy fought the urge to scream as he was lifted up from the ground. The shrill cry threatened to break free from his throat with a jagged edge. Luckily, he bit back the sudden desire and held himself stiffly in Varun's grasp. A quiet metronome played in his head.

Putmedown.Putmedown.Putmedown.

Josh spoke. A tinge of fear laced his voice, "F-fine. W-we will make a plan first." He was almost shocked at how pathetic he sounded. The superfluous stutters and wavering tone seemed foreign to Josh as if it was not his voice escaping his lips. He sighed and laced his fingers in his hair lethargically. Losing LuLu had done a number on his nerves after all. Now he took the time to notice that his feet still dangled helplessly below him. Just when was Varun going to let him go?

He spoke to soon.

With a graceless 'thunk' his booty met the wet, mulch layered ground. He hissed in pain but quickly recovered from the unwarranted posterior punishment. As he climb to his feet and brushed the last traces of leafs from his jeans, he noticed the leviathan disappearing into the woods. He smiled at Kinsey weakly and gave her a slight shrug. "His plan is about as good as mine. Maybe he has some idea where he is going." The boy stepped briskly after the frei. His eyes wandered back to make sure Varun's guardian was following them too.

Josh had been following diligently after the faint flashes of yellow and peach in front of him. The boy paused only to look back and pay some mind to Kinsey's impassioned rant. He listened halfheartedly to her spiel. Part of his attention was absorbed her words while the other part was on the look out for any signs of LuLu. It was a bad move. With devided attention, he had managed to quickly loose Varun amongst the vines and thickets. The boy halted abruptly and spun around cluelessly in the dense woods.

Freakin' Great. He had lost another one.

Josh was about to call out with Kinsey when two familiar limbs wrapped tightly around the girl like twin, albino boas. The boy mused. Varun must do that a lot after all. He was about to bark some snide comment when the frei put a stop his unsaid words. Josh shot the leviathan a shocked look. His head then darted around as if trying to find just what the raevan was referring too.

LuLu glared at the trio from her hiding spot. Their faces where all familiar yet held no importance to her, like a far off memory. She prowled quietly amongst the shrubs, or as silently as she could, until she was in front of the small group. She cooed to herself. Just who were they and why were they invading HER forest? She remained rooted among the green leafs around her. Her eyes flicked around constantly as she waited and observed. She hoped that her questions would soon be answered.

LuLu bent away from Varun’s prying eyes. Her partially formed back formed a graceful arch as she tried to put distance between them. They were only a few inches away. The veil of yellowing foliage was the only thing separating them. LuLu cringed. Could he see her?

The rabbit frei’s limbs went rigid as she prepared to run off. The raevan would eagerly take the opportunity if the need arose, she had done it before. LuLu was determined not to fall headfirst in another trap. She had done that with Vyn and it had cost her two brothers and the trust of her ‘family’. Now she was exiled and the only goal on her mind was to prove her usefulness to her team again. They were wrong. Now it was her job to show the other rabbits that she was meant to be their leader… whether or not they liked it. It was absurd to believe that SHE was the weakest link of their tribe. LuLu fought back the urge to huff. She was agitated but she did not need to completely give away her already sloppily hidden location. No, being found was not part of her plans. That would serve no use in regaining her title among her peers.

Josh paused and followed Varun’s orders. He listened closely to the forest surrounding him. Birds chirped. Leafs crackled. A wayward squirrel scurried up a tree. There was nothing out of the norm in his book. However, the leviathan did not drop his guard. He could not help but tense up along with the male raevan. The boy ’s eyes trailed after the, once again, retreating frei. Auburn orbs darted a bit further ahead towards the bush Varun was approaching.

Josh’s heart flew into his throat and he nearly choked on his own heartbeat.

Two yellow ear tips were poking out of the shrub. The delicate appendages were hidden messily in the golden-green sea surrounding them. The boy immediately darted forward. The bush shook dangerously at his advance. The two ear tips disappeared into the makeshift fort. He stopped. His words came out as a hoarse whisper, “LuLu?”

Sure enough the girl’s head popped out from the bush. Yet, it quickly vanished as she dashed further into the woods. Josh cried out and he ran after her, “LuLu!”

Josh made quick work of the limbs and roots. It was at times like this that he enjoyed the fact he had kept up with his athletic nature even after he had been banned from his job as a tennis instructor. Yet, even with this advantage, LuLu would still be a challenge to catch. Josh saw the rabbit's shape shrinking in front of him.

LuLu was escaping.

He would not allow it.

The boy stepped over stray rock and picked up his pace. He throttled after his raevan like a blur of lightning. At one point, Varun even seemed to fall behind the sprinting teenager. The boy took little notice of this fact though. All his focus was on the frantically fleeing body a few paces ahead of him. The boy sped up once more. His legs ached and burned. His voice was long gone due to the tired pants smothering it. However, despite his pain, he continued onward. Only one thought fueled his actions. Josh had to catch her!

On the other hand, LuLu had a completely different mission. Her mind went blank. It was overwhelmed by the action of running. The raevan had no idea where she was going so long as it was away from the trio behind her. She dove deeper into the forest. She whizzed by trees that she had never seen before with little regard. Even as the shrubbery became unusually dense and foreign, she continued forward. Old wounds, now caked with dirt, stung and reopened like filthy red banners.

The girl flinched as she heard a familiar voice bellow a few yards to her rear. The creature's name was long forgotten; nevertheless, LuLu could not help it when her eyes trailed backward. Lavender orbs moved shakily until they fell on Varun's exposed fangs and sour expression. His features were startling and attention grabbing. The rabbit's focus fully shifted to the disgruntled leviathan. As LuLu's head snapped to face him, she gave a startled gasp. It was only a few seconds before she slammed face first into a tree.

It seemed that LuLu was not good at running away either.

Josh snapped up the chance offered to him eagerly. He slid across the ground until he was near enough that he could get a solid grasp on his raevan. LuLu groaned meekly and gave only a mild protest. Luckily, she was still off guard due to her impromptu run in with a rather solid tree trunk.

Josh flinched as lithe fingers wrapped around his arm. The iron clutch suddenly jerked him away from his charge. The boy only had only a few seconds to blurt out a wayward expletive before he fell gracelessly into a pile of leaves. A few shreds of foliage scattered into the air like a colorful explosion of confetti.

The rabbit watched the two males with frightened eyes. Her ears twitched feebly as she attempted to back away from Varun. The female raevan retreated quietly until her shoulders had pressed firmly against the tree behind her. The frei did not have time to notice the moment of softness that graced the leviathan's eyes. She let out a squeal as the other frei lifted her up harshly by the forearm. He quickly examined the faded scrapes along her body. LuLu shifted uncomfortably. The thought that she was being examined like a piece of property rather than a person crossed her mind.

Josh gave a short snarl of curses before he climbed back onto his feet. His seething glare locked on Varun. "I can see that!" He spat out the words rather indignantly almost forgetting that he was addressing a 'child'. He smoothed over his nerves and ignored Varun's admonishing gaze. Josh tried to hide the fact he was a scorned father, an emotional wreck, and on the verge of a mental breakdown. A calm mask quickly slipped over his face. "I am to blame for it." The boy hissed out the statement. He did a near perfect impression of Varun. Josh would have been impressed with himself any other time. The last letters trickled from his lips with a low roll that ended in a soft growl. Wait. A growl?

That was not Josh.

The boy looked to his left and noticed the subtle sway of bushes. A gentle rumbling erupted from the shrubs. LuLu's nostrils flared slightly. Her ears stood at full attention. The girl's body even melted against Varun's as though she sought protection. Apparently, what laid beyond that thin line of vegetation scared her more than any unwanted attention Varun would give her.