Heh heh. Don't worry, I won't make people cry... yet. Here's the next part! I realize that never posting new editions isn't the greatest way to build a fan base, and I'll try to do better in the future!


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next morning…
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The morning light flooded the cave, sending rays of yellow streaming through the rabbits’ eyelids and waking those that were sleeping. Jonas stirred and woke up. He stretched his arms and glared at them with his crystal blue eyes. They still didn’t have any muscle in them! No matter how hard he tried his arms never expanded like all the other teenage rabbits. Sighing, he stood up and began to roll up his heavy blanket that served as a bed. The rabbits around him were also putting away their bedrolls, and the females had already begun to prepare breakfast. Jonas’ stomach rumbled at the thought of food. Ever since the second week of the journey the rations had been getting smaller. Most of the people who sacrificed their meals were the leaders, but a few of the young male rabbits had decided to be “heroic” and eat less.

After a light breakfast the refugees left the cave very warily, watching the sky closely for any signs of birds.

That night the rabbits reached the border of Skybridge. A tall wooden barricade surrounded the country, guarding the land from the night creatures that prowled the forest, and only the sheer number of the refugees had prevented any attack from wild animals.

“Ho!” shouted the guard from on top of the wall. “Who goes?”

“The rabbits of Moorden, sir!” replied Stephen in forced politeness.

“Say, there’s quite a few of you, isn’t there?” asked the guard as he raised the heavy gate.

“How very observant of you,” muttered Stephen under his breath. He was not happy about this whole business, no, not happy at all.

After passing through the gates they continued down Sky Path, the main highway that ran through Skybridge. The road was made of sturdy oak, and every mile a burning torch lit the sky. On the sides of the road was a dark forest, but the comfort of being in friendly territory made the forest less forbidding.

Jonas shook his head to clear the fog from his eyes. He had been walking all day and his little sister had already fallen asleep in his father’s arms. However, Jonas was determined not to fall asleep like a young child, and defiantly dared sleep to try and overtake him. Try as he might, his eyes began to get heavy again, and he forced them open. Looking up at the sky he stared at the two moons and squinted. His father had taught him to tell the time by finding where the moon was. He guessed it was almost midnight, and he turned his eyes back to the road as the group slowly passed another torch. Jonas knew Stephen was determined to reach Windhall, the capital of Skybridge, quickly, and he also knew from overhearing conversations that they would be walking until dawn at least. On and on they continued to walk, Jonas’ eyes drooping more with each step. He remembered hearing rabbits move into the forest before he fell asleep.

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meanwhile…
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Jax chuckled inwardly to himself. This is going to be just too easy, he thought as he swung from a tree branch to land softly on the ground. Continuing to run through the forest he dodged a fallen trunk, then slowed to a halt. His three companions came silently up behind him, and he heard Drey in his head over the thought-link.

(I see them up ahead)

(Okay, let’s do it) responded Jax with a wicked grin. He loved his job as a Reaper.

The four elite assassins continued towards there prey with ease, making no noise. As they came within twenty feet of their target, Jax heard a soft thud behind him and whirled. Rance was slumped on the ground, dead. Years of training had hardened the assassins and they no longer cringed at the site of death.

(Gaff, find whoever did that and kill him.)

Gaff turned and disappeared into the shadows. Taking one more look at the body of his dead companion, Jax turned back to Drey.

(Ignoring that setback, we’ll continue our…)

Jax cut his thought short. Drey was leaning against a tree, a long knife sticking out of the back of his furry neck. He slowly slid to the forest floor before dying completely. Without thinking twice, Jax slipped into the dark, determined not to fail the mission. Pulling a gem-explosive out of his belt he set the timer for ten seconds and hurled it over the trees. Satisfied with himself, he ran away to the assassin’s wind beast, slightly disappointed at the lack of bloodshed. Just then, something landed in front of him. Before he could pick it up, it exploded. His burning body hurled through the air and collided with a tree that was much more solid than him.

The refugees began yelling with fear when they heard and saw the explosion rip through the forest nearby. Although badly frightened, no one was hurt. During the panic, Tyler and Kevin ran out of the forest and up to Stephen.

“It’s finished,” Tyler said simply. Stephen nodded with approval.

“Good,” he said, “We are safe.” Although he didn’t say it out loud, he added the words “for now” in his head.

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TBC
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Hope ya'll like it!

-The March Hare