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_ Purity _
The night was here once more as I stepped underneath its stars, checking spots for where rabbits might be. They weren't there as everything seems peaceful for the most part. I smiled before turning back to the shack, feeling the cold aura right beside me. "Such a shady place a fool would be in. Carla, you stay out here and keep guard for those rabbits. We must not let those rabolks know a thing about what happened tonight." Winter ordered.
Carla, in her lioness form, nodded without a word, standing on the sidelines as she walked around the edges of the tall grass. Winter turned to me and gave me a silent nod as I walked forward. I quietly stepped into the shack as I stared at the man who slept in his sleeping bag. I turned over to his bag and went for it. I grabbed it carefully and pulled it away as Winter stepped in and glared at him. Something deep down was telling me otherwise and to stop this entire mess. Everything about this ... felt so wrong, but it feels so right in the end. Why am I, all of a sudden, going to regret this?
I won't. The man deserves it!
I watched Winter stomp her foot on the ground as ice spikes rose from the ground and headed straight for him. I turned my head away and immediately headed out of the doorway. I did hear a shriek but I didn't turn back. I couldn't stand there and watch her kill him. I knew she would, I just ... I just can't watch it. But at least I got his things. I lifted up the bag and glanced down at it before feeling someone watch me. I lifted my head up and gazed around, seeing no one.
I narrowed my eyes and walked over to where we stepped in from as the lioness approach me, "... I think ... this is wrong Purity."
"You think a man harming me is wrong?" I asked, glaring at her.
"No! No ... I just ... I don't know." Carla drooped her ears, turning her head away. "Anyone harming someone is wrong, but ... coming back to ... kill him? I ... I don't like the idea."
"Well, it's too late to protest, Carla." I turned my head over at Winter who was walking back over to us. "I've already killed the bastard."
Carla growled quietly before dropping it, "... I don't think killing him was the right-"
"It's too late, Carla. It's done." Winter interrupted her, turning towards me. "And since he's dead, we can take his stuff as we lost ours in the humis ambush."
"Tyler wouldn't like this at all, Winter," Carla said, glaring at her. Her pins were pinned down against her head as she made a hostile stance. "He wouldn't do this at all."
"Well, I am not him. And when he's not around, I am in charge." Winter glared at her back with her cold gaze. "Besides, this was the right choice since the man already did a number on Purity. You don't like backing up your sister, Carla?"
Carla lifted her head up slowly, perking her ears up as she frowned, "... It's ... it's just my opinion that we shouldn't go and kill him. And since he wasn't a humi- why are we killing each other anyway?"
"It doesn't matter, it's bad regardless." Winter hissed.
"... But ..." Carla frowned, turning her head away as she shook her head. "Okay ... fine, I guess it's bad." Winter glared at her before releasing a cold breath of a sigh. I sighed quietly and turned to the bag. At least we got this.
Winter turned towards the bushes, narrowing her eyes, "And you! I know you're there Castit. Come out where we can see you fully this time- instead of spying on us as you did before." I widened my eyes and turned my head over at the bushes. The bushes shook before the figure slowly stepped out with a nervous expression. My brother, was all anxious before it disappeared off of his face. He looked like he was about to say something to our conversation, however, Winter beat him to it.
"... Nice to see you're still alive, too bad there's no room for you to return to us." Winter glared at him. Wait a minute, he ... spied on us?! When?!
"I ... heard." My brother said, glancing at me with a half-stern look. He looked displeased and hurt about the conversation earlier today he apparently spied on. I don't even know how he did it. I glanced down at the bag, gripping it tightly as I lifted my gaze up at him.
"How or when did you spy on us?" I asked. At this point, I'm kind of glad he got kicked out for that. I saw Winter walking forward as I followed behind. I spotted Carla looking sad before following behind.
I assumed my brother did the same when he spoke the next line of his, "... Winter calls it spying ... I was going ... to join but ... when I heard you guys ... saying that I wasn't a part of the group ... I guess I eavesdropped a little more than I intended to do."
"That is still called spying, either way or the other." Winter hissed.
"... Of course it is to you." He mumbled, sounding quiet and sad. Don't make me feel sorry about you because I don't care about you- even if ... I feel like I still do.
"Off you go, on your own." Winter stated coldly as she turned her head at him, "You're not needed here anymore."
I turned back to my brother who was slowing down his pacing to follow us. I felt a slight pain in my chest as I turned away, shaking my head. I won't miss him. Never I will miss that weak excuse. I glanced down at the bag, smiling with glee as all of the medicine was here for us to use. We entered the mini vine shield, padding over to the placements of leaves that were in the center. Earlier, Carla decided to make temporary leave beds for us and volunteered to go back and get their stuff if it's still there. I told her off, saying that there might be traps there and we'll just have to deal with the ground.
Carla didn't like that idea but she never left before we headed over to the shack. So, that is good she didn't leave.
I sat down on the ground and set the bag down. I opened it up as I saw Winter sit to the left of me while Carla stood to the right of me. She stood inches away from me as I lifted my head over at her. She had a discontent expression as her ears were still pulled back. She really doesn't like this idea. Oh well. I turned my gaze back down as I grabbed the book, throwing it out as I grabbed one of the medicine bottles.
"Medicine?"
"Yep. The man had a lot." I said, pulling it out as I stared at it. It read: "Kill the Pain! Relief it Away!" I looked confused as I squint my eyes at the information on it. It was used to treat headaches and other pains around the head. Why ... why does he needs this? I narrowed my eyes, lowering my hand to the bag as I turned my head to the left.
I groaned quietly, seeing my brother at the entrance of the mini vine shield. I'm saying mini because we're in a giant vine shield that surrounds the vined forest. "Didn't you hear Winter?"
Winter glanced over and glared at him, "Why are you here?!"
"... Did you really go out and kill some random person for Purity's lie?" Castit asked, slowly stepping forward. I widened my eyes and stared at him, confused as to how he knew it was a lie. How did you know I lied about that man hurting me?
"Purity didn't lie, Castit." Winter hissed, getting up to her feet. "Is that what you came all the way here for?"
I put the medicine bottle back in the bag as I stood up, stepping away from it and glaring at my brother.
He gazed over at the book I'd thrown near the entrance apparently. He picked it up and stared at it before looking up at us. "Leave, Castit." Winter hissed, making her cold aura release around the area, making the vine freeze a little.
"... I was also going to say something important if ... I joined back in the group-"
"Oh, now you have something important to say? After all of this time?" Winter cut him off. "I don't think so."
"Castit ... please go, before she hurts you." Carla whimpered slightly, making me turn over to her. She gazed at me, drooping her ears as her tail was between her legs. She padded to me, whispering, "I don't like this."
"It's okay, Carla. It will be all over when he leaves." I whispered to her, giving her a smile.
"No ... it's not him leaving ... it's ... it's you two." She whispered to me.
I looked puzzled, "Us two? Why?"
"... I-" She jumped as I was shoved harshly out of the way. I widened my eyes at the touch as I quickly turn my head to see Winter was also pushed out of the way. I appeared puzzled, wondering what the hell happen before turning my head to the right. Past Carla, there was my brother who has his back facing us in the back of the vine shield. His wings were spread out as if he took off and used them from what happened just a second ago. He slowly turned towards us, holding a bag in his hands as I blinked. I turned to the ground, noticing it was gone and it made me furious immediately.
I glared at him, wanting to move but I guess part of my mind was still in shock that he managed to go against us and steal what was important to us. Carla was shocked too as her limbs were frozen, same with Winter. However, she snapped out of it quickly and blasted ice shards in his direction, "Give us back the bag, Castit! You don't want to make a powerful enemy from doing this!"
Castit didn't respond when he swiftly leaped to the side. He looked hurt from something physically affecting him before using his legs to dart towards the entrance of the vine shield. He spread out his wings once more and lifted himself off of the ground when he arrived. But, as he did so, Winter blasted part of his wings, causing him to collapse onto the ground. I immediately bolted after him, watching him get up quickly, and ran into the forest. I halted as I crushed my hands into fists. "You little shit! I didn't expect this from him."
"He took our supplies!" Winter shouted, appearing right beside me.
"Don't worry, we are not allowing him to keep them that easily." I hissed, spreading out my wings before darting forward. However, I halted when I heard Winter yelping behind me. I turned and saw Carla standing over her as she lifted up her head at me, "Let him go. We shouldn't even have those supplies in the first place!"
"Carla! Don't get on his side now!" I shouted at her, giving her a glare. "You're making a wrong move."
"Purity go! I can take care of Carla for now." Winter shouted, glaring up at the lioness.
"... Don't..." Carla was shaking as she had a horrified expression. She shook her head slowly as she spoke, "Don't go running after him... please."
I shook my head, turned, and continued to run as I heard ice blasting behind me. I turned my head over my shoulder, seeing Carla particularly frozen as Winter got up and was about to teach her a lesson. I turned my head back forward, losing sight of my brother. Damnit. Don't worry, I think I know where he went. I continued on foot, scanning the nature around us as many different plants came into view. I didn't notice them at all when I entered the forest. I slowed my pacing and stared at one glowing flower, capturing my attention as I tilted my head.
I padded over to it before realizing someone was luring me into a trap. I immediately continue running forward, ignoring all of the different kinds of flowers there were. Why are they showing up all of a sudden? The Nature Elementals should be sleeping right now since they're all rabolks. Don't tell me they were smart enough to know about our plan.
I clenched my teeth, seeing the shack from afar as it looked weird. I squint my eyes at it, spotting vines all over it. Don't tell me they really knew our plan from the start. I was nearing the shack as I tripped and fell onto my face from something. I groaned and pushed myself up, only to realize one of my legs was slightly off of the ground. I turned my head over, seeing a vine that had a hold of my ankle before I was immediately carried off.
"AHH!" I screamed before getting tossed into the tall grass. The vine let go of me as I glared and quickly got up, turning to see rabbits on plants that planted themselves in the ground and stood taller than the tall grass. All of their ears were drooped as I turned around, seeing my brother next to the shack. I narrowed my eyes and stepped forward, only to get halted by a vine that pulled me back. As it did, I fell flat onto my face.
"HEY! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!" I hissed, turning towards the rabbits who stared down at me.
"... Why did you attack Sutato in our forest?" One of the rabbits asked. I turned over to it, recognizing it to be the leader rabbit.
"I did not attack him!" I hissed, slowly getting up to my feet.
"Well ... either way, you helped in on his attacker." The leader rabbit spoke, standing on a taller plant that was higher than the others.
"I didn't help either way!" I snapped, growing frustrated before letting it all out. "How did you know that I was with the attacker?!"
"... That is where our Feaolk comes in." The leader rabbit said, turning and pointing their nose towards Castit. I widened my eyes, confusion spread across my face as I watched my brother walk over to us without the bag in his hand. He ... he ... what? How ...- I don't understand. He halted right beside the rabbit and turned towards me, "... I can explain how all of this ... went down, sister."
" ... I ... please ... explain because ... I don't see you siding with these ... rabolks at all," I said, almost snarling as I glared at him. He frowned before nodding, opening his mouth to begin.
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_ Castit _
"Get away while you still can!" I winced in pain as I turned over to the voice of Tyler, seeing him struggle with a human on top of him, pinning him down to the ground. "Hurry! Tell the others!"
I spotted two other humans from the tree line, stepping out as they were heading for Tyler. I froze up, hesitated to run or to come back to him and free him. I turned my head at the forest in front of me, telling me my freedom before hearing Tyler yelp behind me. I clenched my teeth, slowly getting up to my feet. I grabbed the spear that was on the ground as I curled a wing in front of me. I turned and ran over to the human that had him pinned down. I rammed it off of him as I spread out my wings quickly, glaring at it. I begin to point the spear in a rather shaking matter, causing me to frown at the sight.
"Castit!"
"I don't want to leave you behind, Tyler," I said, turning my head down to him as he was getting up to his feet.
"... That's ..." He sighed, looking a little disappointed as I frowned. I yelped from something shooting through my wing as I stumbled over onto the ground. "I know you don't but go now, I don't want to lose any of my members! Even if it means taking my own life to save the others." Tyler grabbed me and helped me up to my feet, giving me my spear and pushing me towards the forest. "Now go this time, please!" He hissed at me.
I frowned at him, lowering my wings as I stepped back into the forest. His expression changed from anger to sadness, "... I knew you weren't useless... never once we met I never thought about that of you, unlike the others." He spoke. As soon those words hit me, I saw his eyes roll back as he suddenly collapsed to the ground. I saw a dart on him as I widened my eyes and turned. I bolted into the forest, running as fast as I can with my wings closed. I winched from the pain in my injury wing as I never stop my pacing.
... Thank you, Tyler. My mind said before going back to prevent anything else to slip out.
I passed some lining of vines as I slowed my pacing, turning back over at the wall of vines. They soon closed up the pathway that I previously ran in. I blinked and tilted my head before flinching from some squeaks in the trees. I kept my guard up, pointing the spear all around as I glared at it. I huddled my wings close to myself as I waited for the enemy to jump out. "It's okay, Feaolk!" I turned to the tiny voice.
"We're not going to hurt you!" Another spoke, making me confused for a moment.
"But we do want to treat you ... if you allow us." Another said. I narrowed my eyes as I looked down at the three rabbits sitting in front of me.
"... Talking rabbits?" I asked, lowering my spear with confusion placed on my face.
"... We're- ... well, we are!" The tiny voice said.
"But we're Rabolks!" The other rabbit responded. "Every rabbit- well no- almost all rabbits in this forest are rabolks!"
"Yeah!" The tiny voice chirped.
I blinked my eyes in confusion before flinching from the voices from behind. I stared over at the wall of vines, stepping back from it as I could see figures walking on the other side.
"Come with us, Feaolk! We can show you a place to heal." The rabbits said. I ... I don't know if I should trust them but it's my only option for now. I turned towards them and nodded. The three rabbits soon turned and hopped forward as I followed behind. I shivered from the stares that I felt, glancing over at the trees, the bushes, everything that was here. I hate having this ability. The rabbits led me to a cave that had even more rabbits at the entrance, making me confused for a moment.
... I don't know much about rabbits but ... I'm sure they don't live in caves.
I halted when two of the rabbits stop as one bolted over to the others. I begin to feel the nervousness rise within me as I crouched down, feeling much better down here. I glanced around the place, spotting some holes that were positioned next to the entrance of the cave. Maybe ... that's where they live? But ... these rabbits treating me with their tiny paws? Also, about the cave- it wasn't large, a medium-size where only one person can stand at its entry point, I bet it's not even that big inside due to its entrance size.
I turned my gaze down at one big rabbit following the same rabbit that lead me here over to me. The bigger rabbit stopped and looked up at me, tilting its head. "A Feaolk here at this time of the year? What are you doing so far away from your flock?"
I stared at it in confusion as I had no idea what it was talking about. Flocks ... are like ... groups of birds flying together, right?
"He's also injury, leader." The smaller rabbit whispered.
"Oh? Where? Did you get shot out of the sky?" The bigger rabbit asked, already hoping to my wings as I pulled them back and kept them closed, wincing slightly from the pain erupting again. The bigger rabbit took notice and drooped its ears, "I'm not going to hurt you, Feaolk. I just want to know what you are doing in our forest."
"... I ... I was chased by humans," I answered quietly.
"Humis?!" The bigger rabbit widened its eyes before turning its head towards its subjects, "Rabbits! Check the outskirts of the forest! Make sure there is no humis left nearby!"
"Yes, leader!" A group of them voiced before bouncing off into the forest. Others did the same, leaving only a small group of rabbits here, surrounding me. The bigger rabbit turned towards me, "We can have Paradise treat you, Feaolk."
"Uh ... is it fair if I ask what you guys are?" I asked.
"I'm not so entirely sure. I can tell you we're rabolks, that is all." The leader said before turning, "Come on, she's in the- They're in the cave." They begin to hop forward as I slowly nodded. It'll be fair since they don't trust me. I stood up slowly and followed the leader with careful steps. I made sure I didn't step on the other rabbits that were watching in awe. I guess ... they never saw my kind- like hell I know what my kind does.
I stared at the cave entrance, slowly stepping inside as I kept my wings closed tightly, which further the pain in my wound. I groaned quietly before noticing the torches in the cave and how big it was. To be honest, looking at it from the outside, it was in a ditch where bushes surrounded it almost. It's sort of underground but not quite. I spotted the large rabbit and continue to follow them into one of the chambers. I turned and spotted a humanoid who had rabbit traits: rabbit legs, rabbit ears, and a tail of them as well.
But what backed me out of the chamber was them having no clothes on. However, I realized that none of these rabbits would know what it felt like to have some on or know what it was, I forced myself into the chamber once again. Just don't pay any attention to it at all, you're just here to get healed so you can report to the others. I told myself.
The bigger rabbit stopped as the humanoid turned towards them, "Hi mot- oh, we have another patient?" They spoke, looking at me with a surprised expression. "A Feaolk? I thought they were flying south?"
"I thought they were too, but ... I feel like this one isn't from the flock we saw flying above us before." The leader spoke, turning towards me. "You're not, aren't you?"
"I do- Yeah, I'm not." I nodded. So ... feaolks fly in flocks ... nice I suppose.
"Thought so. Then ... were you alone?" The leader asked, pointing their nose to the bedding. I slowly inched over to the moss bedding as I sat down in it, feeling a bit uncomfortable but I didn't complain.
"No. I was a part of a group with other races." I answered, opening my wings out slowly before letting them spread out completely. I turned over to my injury wing, lifting it up slightly as I winced.
"Oh. Where did you guys get attacked by the humis?" The leader asked as the humanoid rabolk walked over to me and touched my wing. I immediately pulled it away on instinct as I stared at them with wide eyes. "Paradise isn't going to hurt you, Feaolk, they're just checking your wings."
"... Sorry ... It's ... a habit when someone- ... never mind." I stopped myself from speaking anymore. I spread out the injury wing once more, watching their every move.
"I will be gentle. I promise." Paradise gave me a soft smile before turning towards my wing. They grabbed my wing and felt the area where the wound was in. I glanced over at the leader, remembering their question from before. "Yes. We were ambushed by the humais, it ... was near the Vined Forest so ... I guess you guys maybe ... expecting to see them soon."
The leader nodded their head slowly, "Alright. I hope when my rabbits get back, they'll let you know when they found your group members."
I frowned, remembering what Tyler told me before he was captured. "... Maybe just three of them since ... our leader was captured trying to ... save me."
"Awww... I swear, the humis are just ... nasty creatures." I heard Paradise say, flinching when I felt them pulling out something. "There we go! Got the metal bolt from your wing."
"... It's called a bullet," I said, turning towards them.
"Oh. That's what they're called. Huh." They slowly nodded their head before getting up to get their medical supplies.
271Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhYLYKzQXz
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I turned my head back to the leader as they watched in silence. They turned their head back to me, tilting them before speaking the next, "We are called Nature Elementals. Creatures that protect each forest we claim as our home."
I widened my eyes slowly, blinking them in surprise. N-Nature Elementals? Didn't my sister tell me those were rare to come across? I tilted my head as the leader lowered their head, "I assume you never heard of us."
"I heard you guys from my sister but ... never saw one of you guys. I thought you guys would be gods- Mother Natures of all sorts. Not ... races of our own." I said, spotting Paradise sitting back down with the medical supplies to treat my wing.
"Hold still." They said as I obeyed.
The leader chuckled quietly, "That's a common stereotype along with us. Though some do act like gods by becoming as ancient as they'll ever be. Some of us elemental will be born as animalic folks- or ... in the other categories of folks. But most of us are usually some form of animalic folk. Such as us! Rabolks."
"Oh, that's interesting." I nodded my head.
"I'm glad you think of us so friendly! Most ... folk don't since we're one of the weaker races." The leader said, drooping their ears.
"You're elementals, you could easily kick their asses if you wanted to." I said, "Also ... I believe that rabolks have other ways of protecting their own without the use of powers. Even if I don't know ... a lot about them."
The leader perked their ears back up, "Thank you, Feaolk." They sounded happy as I gave a small smile. "You sure act differently than the other feaolks we have visited here once before. They're always-"
"Always so proud and loud of themselves!" Paradise grumbled, finishing the wound up before wrapping it up. "They are also one of the races where they think bonding with any other race is a dangerous thing to their precious folk!"
"Focus, dear." The leader spoke, shaking their head. "But yes ... that is what we are told or seen whenever we see a feaolk."
"Is that why you didn't trust me the first time? I understand you didn't." I said, looking disgusted at the description of my kind. I don't want to meet any more of them.
"Sort of ... we don't trust strangers right away on the first greeting." The leader nodded their head slowly. "We always tell them we're rabolks so they can leave right away. You may never know if you run across folk who is working for either the humis or for themselves that may use our powers for bad intentions."
I nodded my head, understanding the issue. "Annnnd, done! All finished." I heard Paradise say, releasing my wing as they turned towards me. "I believe it's in a spot where you are unable to fly so ... it's best to stay with us until you are ready to leave on your own."
"... I'm in a group."
"Or with your group! But ... I still want to check on your wounds in case ... it gets infected." They said, lowering their rabbit ears.
"Okay." I nodded my head as they perked their ears up. They stood up and took their medical supplies back over to the other supply. I turned back over to the leader who stared at me, "Do you have a name, Feaolk?"
"... It's ... Castit," I said slowly.
"Odd. I thought it would be something that would apply to ... how feaolks named themselves. I am Philia, leader of the Nature Elemental Rabolks Colony." The leader introduced.
"... Yeah ... let's not talk about my name anymore." I turned my head away.
"My apologies then," Philia spoke before turning towards the chamber entrance. "Is he allowed to exit the caves, Paradise?"
"He is! As long as he stays within the Vined Forest, he is!" Paradise called before going back to sorting the herbs. Now that I think about it, they used herbs to treat my wing rather than the medicine we used to find from the humans' side. Then again, I think other races do the same. Unless we have some form of medicine we use in our own way.
"Alright. Come with me, Castit." Philia said, hopping over to the entrance. I nodded and stood up, following after them. We headed out of the cave and into the forest to the left of the cave. A couple of rabbits followed us as I assumed they were the three rabbits that showed me the cave. "He can be trusted." The leader rabbit spoke to the others.
Yay!" One of the tiny voices chirped, "Does he also knows we're elementals?"
"I've already told him."
"Ooooo good! Because I want to show him something!" The voice continued, making me look over at the rabbit who was riding on a vine right beside me. I widened my eyes as vines grew to be platforms for the rabbit to hope on. "See? See what I can do? Isn't it cool?!"
"Yeah..." I nodded, giving a small smile. "It's cool alright."
"Thank you! It's a new move I've developed over a couple of days!" The small rabbit chirped.
"Be careful up there, Bambi!"
"I am, Daisy! Jeez." Bambi spoke, shaking their head.
I gave a soft chuckle before looking forward at the swarm of rabbits on tall plants above the tall grass in front of a shack. I looked puzzled, wondering why there were rabbits on plants that looked to take the form of a platform. "What is going on?!" Philia shouted, watching them ride on vines as plants made a way of their pathway towards the others. I rushed over as the three rabbits behind me did the same thing as Philia did.
"Another feaolk entered the forest injured!" One of the rabbits reported.
"Some rabbits were injury in the process of trying to calm her down." Said another.
"Injured?!" Philia shouted, hearing the anger in their voice. "Why would a feaolk injury one of our own?!"
"She was injured by the humis! She must be freaked out and imagine us like them." Another answered.
"... Is this another member of your group, Castit?" Phila turned towards me while on their plant that stood taller than the other rabbit.
"... Yes ... I think. Did she have lilac coloring?" I asked.
"Yes." One of the rabbits answered.
"Then yes she is." I nodded.
"I won't ... trust her right away or any of your group members like how I did with you," Philia told me.
"Quite understandable." I nodded before spotting an odd-looking humanoid exiting the shack's entrance and turning towards me. I narrowed my eyes at his appearance, becoming wary of him.
"Oh, don't worry about him, Castit. He's friendly, even if ... he looks like one of those demon creatures." Philia told me weirdly.
"... I'm still not trusting him until he proves he is trustworthy to me," I said. Just because he is friendly to you guys doesn't mean he will be friendly to me.
"Fair enough."
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- End of Chapter 3
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