E̶̻̘͒͋Ṗ̸̦̬͠Ĩ̵̯͚̈́L̶̢̀O̶͙͛G̶͎̳̉Ù̷̳̚E̸̩̋
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Akmong's blood continued to fall from Murder Bunny's reddened mace as he watched Akmong whimper out his last breaths. Every drop of blood clapped like thunder in his floppy ears.
He had finally won...so why did he feel so empty?
Murder Bunny went through the motions in the whirlwind of events that followed. Receiving the King's ransom, the hero's welcome in the town square, and of course, drinks at The Mellow Canary. He was quiet, but not in the sinister way he usually was, but more just...sad.
The Yin Yang Yang had brief quiet moment to themselves in between all the congratulations from townies and adventurers alike. Sandro and Calius seemed to notice the shift in their "friend's" demeanor.
"What's wrong my hare friend? Now is the time for celebration!" Calius smiled.
Murder Bunny just stared down at his tankard, lost in thought.
"Oh! I got this for you. Picked fresh this morning!" Calius continued as he rolled a black apple across the table towards him.
Murder Bunny briefly looked up from his drink, as he picked up the apple and stared down at it blankly.
"Th...thanks. Truth be told...this murdering business--and this is crazy to say out loud--it really might finally be taking a toll on me. I just...I just don't know anymore." he said forlornly, seemingly talking directly to the apple.
Sandro raised one of his arms up and gently grabbed Murder Bunny's other paw, which briefly startled him.
"We are all weary in our own ways, my friend. And if you ever need to talk to someone, I know a few...individuals...who might be able to help you out." he winked as he began to rifle around for a pamphlet with one of his other arms.
SIX WEEKS LATER
Drip. Drip. Drip.
A small hare was awoken by the sound of fresh rainwater dripping from above his hovel. He smiled and outstretched his paw, catching the next few drops and taking a drink. It had been a long, wet night but the sun was finally starting to peek through the grey clouds.
He emerged from his hole and stretched his limbs, giving out a satisfied squeak as he did so.
Six weeks...had it really been that long? The quest for Lockhart's gold already seemed like almost a lifetime ago. What seemed so crucial at the time hardly seemed to matter anymore. Even the gold was of little value to him anymore, he mused to himself as he dug up a fresh carrot. What good is gold when you can simply live off the land?
But yet, it simply would be a boldfaced lie to say none of it mattered. Nay, what he learned was invaluable. The treachery, the murder, the infighting...that's not what mattered. What he carried home with him was much deeper than that. Simply put, he had learned the power of friendship. Perhaps someday he'd reunite with some of his fellow adventurers...but in the meantime, that mattered little, as he carried a piece of them with him wherever he went. And not even in the literal sense, like the Murder Bunny of old might have.
"Well, I'm back." Fluffy smiled peacefully as he chomped down on the carrot and hopped his way through the meadow, ready for his next (non-murdery) adventure.
🥕 THE END 🥕
