Grey was hopping north through the swamp he knew he was close a few more days away almost a week ahead of the promised time.
Grey was moving forward when the closer he got the more the sky seemed to grey. Rain slowly getting heavier making the ground more muddy.
"HEY YOU, puny rabbit! Stay away this place is really dangerous right now" Came a shout from a wild hare more than double the size of grey came from the tree tops.
'A Hare? they are barbarians that live outside in the wild not trusting the carrot council and choose the hardships over safety. They are like winter strong and big rabbits that have good instincts.' Grey quickly thought to himself.
"Hello great warrior of the lands, I'm just passing through for I'm on a mission of great importance could please tell me of the dangers ahead for I must go."
The hare just stared down at grey from the trees judging him silently. Before letting out a deep sigh "I have no right to stop a young warrior on a mission just be warned. The local thunderbird has made a huge storm to protect her nest on a small nearby mountain. The flooding and storms will only get worse."
He jumped down revealing himself as a tall and sturdy brown Hare with ink markings all over his fur.
Seeing the ink markings grey remembered what winter told him about hare's markings they were meant to boost a warrior's chances during a hunt.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt your hunt." Grey said sadly
The hare just laughed loudly. "Don't worry young warrior the names harry and don't worry for it's the duty of the old to look after the young no matter what." He said proudly.
"You seem to know a lot about us hares for a city rabbit? Why is that, I thought the council called us barbarians because we refuse to bow to them." Harry asked curiously.
"They do but an injuried hare came to my small village and my mother took care of her so I got to know more about your people and culture. So I know more about the hares than anyone else as she is my best friend she may be a bit shy but her and my friend Karma like each other but are way too awkward." Grey said happy to talk about home.
"That is a said tale she might be a survivor of a fallen tribe if she hasn't returned home. Just remember do not trust the council for the care not for the lives below them. We hares care deeply for the lives of the young so we could never help them." He said seriously.
Grey was curious "what exactly did they do for every Hare tribe to leave and stay away to this day."
Harry looked at grey with pity "The leaders of the council will trade the lives of weaker villages who don't provide enough to predators for more power. There was once 15 burrows under their command but one ran out of ores to supply them with wealth."
Greys smile slowly disappeared as his yellow eyes slowly started turning red releasing a faint glow.
"Hmm" harry noticed the Change in grey an the faint energy he released
Through gritted teeth grey said "There are now thirteen burrows and soon to be ten if what the fox said is true."
Harry sighed deeply while patting greys back trying to confort him. "judging by your look more burrows have fallen because of a lack of resources. I hope your mission is worth It young warrior please do be careful."
With that Harry jumped back into the treetops giving grey one final look before he left.
Grey just stood there eyes still red he felt nothing but a primal rage his body was slowly consumed with a red hue fuled by pure hate.
He realized that the foxes wouldn't attack a territory under the carrot council unprovoked let alone on a full moon when all children have a chance to awaken a rune.
It could only mean they were sold out karmas home was given away like tribute. And the fox scarlet said other burrows were next. Which meant at this exact moment the thirteenth or twelfth burrow could be under attack for the greed of others.
Before he could spiral into madness and hate he started to feel dizzy and slumped against the ground his whole body felt weak.
"DAMMIT? Useless weak body we're almost there don't give up on me now, i need this I can't just sit back this time. No this time I'll make them all pay!"
Grey forced his body up and continued north although he was still wobbly. He knew he had to face the storm head on to make it so teddy can help his family.
As he was getting showered in heavy rain all he could hear was water falling everywhere so his ears were not very helpful.
Grey instincts went wild for a second so he jumped backwards. Seeing the spot he was at earlier be attacked by five otters all carrying small blades.
Grey stared them down before summoning his golden haze in his paws. It slowly started to hum as he vibrated it with his rune.
With a deep sigh "look I've had a very chaotic day so far and the last thing I want to see is you otter scum so leave before I turn you into worm food!" Grey said irritated.
The middle otter with black fur came forward a poison rune on his chest glow slightly. "Poor little rabbit so far from home, why don't you join us for dinner my brothers and I haven't had rabbit meat in so long." He said full of malice.
"That's it you're dying last and painfully." Grey said as he threw the vibrating disc in his hand
Cut through the stomachs of the brothers on the right cleanly as grey hopped left calling it back as it flew to his palm cutting through the backs of the otters to the left before landing in his paws.
The leader was still staring at his brothers on the right watching as the light left their eyes slowly. He turned to grey full of rage but was already in his face with a vibrating fist.
The next thing the otter knew he was waking up to the same grey rabbit beating his face into the mud he couldn't feel his face and everything was blurry he could feel his conscious fading again.
Grey was on top punching the otters face for a while lost in his rage when suddenly he felt a scratch on his thigh. He stopped for second to look at the otter who passed out again his face completely rearranged.
Grey got up his face and paws covered in blood "dammit not again!" He just stared at his paws in fear.
A few hours later a Red flying eyeball flew through the air searching the area.
"Where is it! Where was that energy from earlier? It could be the key to the future I must find it or mistress will be mad."
It kept looking around the swamp like a parent who lost their child.