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--- Alnus Community ---

May 20th, 2026

A lone hooded figure makes her way down a now lone road. Alnus, usually buzzing with the laughter of children and the commotions of everyday life, is now silent as the sun has yet broken the Dunes Mountains. Too early for most folk to be up and about but it didn’t stop this lone figure with her ears propping out from her hood. Malena, filled with excitement, is heading towards the main entrance into Alnus to head for a hunt. Since she and her companions arrived in Alnus, there really hasn’t been a need to practice their skills, but she couldn’t have hers dulling.

Malena wore a cloak that covered most of her body, leaving mostly her ears and face visible. With her traditional hunting armor underneath, she would surely draw the attention of others. As she moves, nearing her destination, she stops to look behind to see if her companions were keeping up only to realize she was by herself.

“Oh, right,” she says to herself with a hint of sadness in her tone. Before Alnus, her companions and her would always spend all the time together, especially for early hunting trips. She wishes her companions could have joined her but they were each busy with their own distractions. Aldon is looking forward to seeing the new Elven nation, Sebille volunteering at the school, while Kryuune and Nelia are wanting to look at a new sweets shop that is making a grand opening. Malena just grins, glad that everyone has found something to smile about once more.

As she nears the exit, she notices a small shop with interesting items for sale. She approaches the stand outside, displaying weapons of varying sizes and uses. Intrigued, she leans over, carefully examining the throwing daggers. One with an exotic design etched on the handle really stood out to her as she imagined the different uses the weapon could be useful for. From the window she could see more items inside that peaked her interest.

‘No harm in just taking a look,’ she thinks to herself as she opens the door to enter.

She quickly goes through the aisles but the longer she looks, the more she feels eyes staring at her; the shopkeeper has been keeping an eye on her as soon as she entered. He watches her intently as she strolls but it was an all too familiar feeling, especially with her being a Warrior Bunny. Warrior Bunnies were looked down upon, seen as a barbaric race, and it only got worse as they were conquered. Now they were mostly seen as a slave race, one primarily used for either protection or pleasure.

Normally, Malena would’ve taken her business elsewhere but she couldn’t blame the owner this time with how she was dressed. She hadn’t really seen much of that same discrimination as she made her home in Alnus. However, here, she wore a cloak that covered most of her body and head; only her ears were visible as they protruded from holes on top of her hood. ‘Being cautious is only natural in this case,’ she thinks to herself.

As Malena continues to browse the items here, she can hear the door open once more but she didn’t turn around as she minded her own business. One of her ears slightly turns to face the entrance as she can hear a set of footsteps approaching her. Malena is still facing forward not turning to look at the person as she picks up a type of throwing dagger on display. The unknown person stood there, hesitantly trying to get her attention but it would be Malena who would break this awkward silence.

“Do you need something?” Malena asks sternly as she turns to face the stranger. She raises an eyebrow as she sees a silver-haired warrior bunny with ruby eyes standing in front of her.

— — a few minutes earlier — —

“And you are sure about this?” Tyuule asks Delilah as they casually stroll around the small town.

“Yes. If you want to carve out a home somewhere for all of us Bunnies, you will need to start interacting with more of them. Help convince them to rally behind you, my queen,” Delilah responds encouragingly.

With the help of the United States, Tyuule, former queen of the Warrior Bunnies, had escaped from bondage and has been living with them for quite some time now. The more she stayed here, the more she began to trust them so she has helped them with some of the threats that Falmart had posed. More so, with the prompt rise of an Elven nation by the US, she began to envision a place where all Warrior Bunnies could one day call home. A dream she had once given up once enslaved.

“But what if they refuse to hear me. Many still blame me for what happened as they should. I should have never taken that deal,” Tyuule says.

“You should let that go and focus on the future. Most do still blame and resent you, and might not even give you a chance to explain,” Delilah responds as Tyuule droops her ears just a bit. “But as their queen, it is still your responsibility to try.”

Tyuule breathes in and lets out a deep sigh; her ears now propping up as she holds herself up in her usual proud manor. “I know, Delilah. I know. I have been out of practice for some time now. How would I even approach them? What would I say?”

“Well first introduce yourself. Let them know who you are if they do not already,” she says with a smile. “And try to explain what happened if you can. Maybe listen to them, hear their struggles, and provide some comforting wor-,” she says as she’s interrupted by a slight kick. She rubs her now swollen belly with a smile. She is nearing the end of her pregnancy and is extremely nervous to finally be a mother.

“Don’t worry, you will do just fine,” Tyuule reassures her as she places her hand on Delilah’s belly. “They will be just adorable and you will do just fine, do not worry.”

“I know they will be, and I am glad that Bailey’s here to help as well. Honestly, he can feel smothering at times, but I don’t know what I would do without him.”

“So you are glad that he is putting in this much effort, hmmm?” Tyuule questions her as Delilah’s face turns red. She continues to smile at Delilah as she finds someone to divert Tyuule’s attention towards.

“Look there. Here is your chance,” she says as she points to another Bunny walking into a shop. “Well let us go to her. Once inside I will watch you but if you look like you need help I’ll come to you.”

“Alright,” Tyuule responds as she holds herself up while walking towards the shop and enters. Once inside, she quickly sees the other Warrior Bunny admiring some weapons and goes to her as Delilah waits. She stops just next to the browsing Bunny and raises one hand to tap her. She hesitates as her hand shakes a bit but begins to get her composure back. She clears her mind and opens her mouth to speak, “uhh-.”

“Do you need something?” The Warrior Bunny asks Tyuule sternly as she turns to face her.

— — present time — —

Tyuule stands there a bit surprised as she faces Malena. She notices strange tribal markings painted on her face, not unlike the same battle markings her own Warrior Bunnies would paint on themselves.

“Did you need something?” Malena asks once more, prompting Tyuule to regain focus.

This stern attitude was something she was expecting but it would not deter her. “Hello, I can tell by your attitude towards me that you already know who I am.”

“I do.”

“Well let me first say that whatever you heard about what had happened is false; I would never betray my own people. But I do apologize for the horrific treatment you might have endured because of it,” Tyuule finishes, expecting a type of negative reaction but was confused to see only confusion on Malena’s face.

“I know what happened to you and your tribe, but what does that have to do with me,” Malena asks puzzlingly as one of her ears angles a bit to show her confusion.

“Were you not taken and enslaved or ran when the Empire struck at us?” Tyuule asks.

“No, I was never a part of your tribe,” she replied. Seeing the bewildering look on her face hasn’t subsided, Malena continues. “My grandmother belonged to your tribe, but she was taken long ago. In servitude to her master, she birthed my mother who birthed me. After she had escaped and had me, she told me where we were supposed to belong.”

Hearing this shocks Tyuule but another question pops into her head. “But then why didn’t you return to us? We would have accepted you with open arms, we-“

“Because it was your kind who rejected us for not being born within the tribe. You refused to accept us and casted us out. My mother, with no better option, became a prostitute and died that way. I was orphaned and if not for the mercy of my clan… my party. If not for my party, I would be in those same streets selling myself or dead. So whatever happened to you and your people is of no concern to me. My loyalties lie with my party, my family,” Malena finishes calmly but sternly as Tyuule’s ear twitches a bit from that last part.

Tyuule is left speechless. What can she say to her? She didn’t remember this happening at all, but she can definitely see her mother doing this. She begins to try and mutter some words as she opens her mouth but nothing seems to come out. Delilah places her hand on Tyuule’s shoulder and smiles at her.

She turns to face her and says, “Delilah. I didn’t hear you walk up.”

“I know, I figured you would be busy talking to your new friend.”

“Uhh, not exactly.”

“I know,” Delilah chuckles. “Can you go a little easier on my friend here?” She asks Malena. “She is really trying, you know. I am Delilah by the way.”

“Malena,” the cloaked Warrior Bunny responds while now facing Delilah’s noticeable pregnant belly. “May I?”

Delilah nods as Malena begins to rub her belly and smiles a bit. She looks back up and looks over to Tyuule.

“Don’t feel bad or apologize. I don’t harbor any resentment towards you or your people. Life can be cruel, but everyone has to find their own way in it, and my upbringing served to make me stronger,” she finishes as she smiles at them both.

“Tyuule.” Malena begins again, “there is nothing you can do about the past and I know you didn’t betray your people so I do not see why you need to apologize to me or anyone else about it. Instead, learn from it so that something like that never happens again. Improve and adapt. Promise security to your estranged people. Comfort them with words of a better future that’s to come.”

“I see what you are meaning and thank you. Those were words I didn’t think I needed to hear. But that’s ok with you? How things ended up for you,” Tyuule responds.

“Life is cruel, but you make the best of what you have,” Malena answers reassuringly.

“Sounds like something Bailey has said before,” Delilah interjects. “ ‘You just have to deal with the cards you’ve been dealt.’ I believe it was.”

“Wise words,” Tyuule says as something catches her eye; something she hadn’t noticed before. “And thank you once more for your words, Malena. Now, on a different note, if you do not mind me asking. Why are you in a shop like this with those tribal markings on you?”

“Yes, I’m curious. Not up to anything bad, I hope,” Delilah teases.

“What?” Malena says as she remembers how she was dressed before and why she came out today. She pulls down her hood, to reveal a part of her armor head piece. “Oh, I plan to hunt. I haven’t really had much need to hone my skills but I cannot have them dulling. Hmmm, I am curious about something now.”

“What’s that?” Tyuule asks.

“Come with me Tyuule. Show me what you can do and lead the party. Maybe you can change my opinion of you,” she finishes with a smirk.

“Is that a challenge then? Alright, but I need time to change.”

“Well I’m not done looking here so go.”

“Well I guess that means, I have to come along as well. Can’t have you two having all the fun,” Delilah chimes in.

“But you are with a child. Isn’t that reckless?” Malena asks while Delilah just rolls her eyes.

“Now you sound like Bailey.”

Tyuule giggles as she adds, “do not worry, she can handle herself and besides, the way she is now makes her more capable than even us.”

Not really understanding what Tyuule meant, Malena shrugs. “Okay. Then I’ll wait here.”

— — some time later — —

Three hooded figures make their way outside of the Alnus community and into a nearby forest. They stop by the edge and begin removing their cloaks, revealing three armored Warrior Bunnies; Tribal marking covering their bodies. Malena wore her traditional hunting armor while Tyuule and Delilah had their warring armor, though Delilah’s was slightly modified to fit with the recent changes to her body.

“Strange looking outfit,” Tyuule points out to Malena.

“And yet I’m not the one trying to fit into something not made for a swollen belly,” she teases back towards Delilah.

“Hey, it still fits,” Delilah defends as they all giggle and begin to head deep into the forest.

After heading towards the center for a while, Malena stops to look around. “Alright this seems far enough. Go ahead.” She motions towards Tyuule.

“Alright then, what is it that we are hunting?” Tyuule asks.

“You tell us huntsman, this is your hunt,” Malena responds.

“Alright. Then let’s see what we can find.” Tyuule finishes as she begins to scan for anything out of the ordinary. She looks and notices some disturbed brushes. She makes her way over to it, trying to pick anything up. “Here, I see some tracks.”

“Okay, what are they?” Malena asks.

Delilah uses her ears to scan in multiple directions until she picks up something peculiar. ‘I hear a squeal, a few snorts, and grunts. Pigs? No, I hear boars.’ She says to herself.

“Looks like there might be boars there in that direction. Three, maybe four,” Delilah tells them as Malena faces her both surprised and impressed.

“You were able to get that from a few footprints? Impressive,” Malena commends her.

“No, I can’t tell what those prints are. I just heard them.”

“Heard them?” Malena asks as she attempts to hear as well but picks up nothing. “But I don’t hear anything.”

“I told you. In that state, she might be more capable than both of us. It’s the heat,” Tyuule adds.

“The heat?” Malena asks puzzlingly.

“I’ll explain later. For now, it looks like we have our targets.”

They all nod and begin moving towards the pigs. Quickly moving to where the sounds were coming from, according to Delilah. Eventually they all could begin hearing the same sounds that Delilah had picked up. They stop, as Malena speaks.

“I’m going up to get a better vantage point.” Malena begins to rapidly ascend upon one of the trees, her equipment making it easier for her to scale upward. She begins to move in closer as both Tyuule and Delilah just watch her, impressed. She signals to them, pointing out three boars and their locations. Tyuule nods and tells Delilah to head in one direction as she went the other way.

They begin circling them as Malena watches from up above. Tyuule points out Delilah’s target and Malena hers as she focuses on it. They begin moving in sync as they get closer and closer towards them when one suddenly lets out a loud squeal. One boar begins charging towards Delilah as she quickly dashes out of its way and unsheathes her blade.

Before they could all focus on her, Tyuule lunges towards her boar and jabs her blade into it. The boar squeals loudly and begins to run, taking Tyuule’s weapon with it. “Dammit!” She shouts as she brings out a smaller blade from her side.

Malena watches from above, focusing only on her target. She needs to get its attention off of the other two so she grabs her side axe and throws it. Her boar begins charging towards Delilah but her axe strikes it first, diverting its path. She leaps down as she draws her spear; her boar running back around, stopping a few feet in front of her.

Delilah stares down her boar with a blade in her right hand. She unsheathes a small knife from her side and holds it in her left hand. She was taken off the field due to her pregnancy so she missed this feeling; her blood pumping from excitement. “Come on!” She shouts at her target.

Tyuule watches as her boar runs around sporadically until it finally heads back towards her, charging at full speed. She crouches down, ready to pounce with her knife firmly gripped in her hand. As the boar approaches, she lunges forward barely missing it and strikes at its feet. It tumbles forward as Tyuule quickly turns and follows it. As it laid there squealing, she rams her blade deep into the boar's neck until its struggle subsides little by little, eventually ceasing for good.

Malena rolls to one side and then another as her boar keeps charging towards her. Every time it would miss, it would come back around and charge again. Malena just keeps dodging, just watching its movements, waiting for an opening. When she is comfortable with its movements, she readies herself. She gets ready to launch her spear as the boar makes one last round towards her. “I have you,” she says as she throws her spear towards it. The spear strikes it in one of its eyes as the boar’s body falls, sliding towards Malena. She merely moves slightly to the side as the boar slides past her.

The final boar stumbles to both Tyuule and Malena with a large laceration on one of its sides, blood drenching the ground where it walks until it keels over. It still kicks as Delilah walks over and uses her blade to finish off her kill. “Honestly, I thought they would put up more of a fight,” she says with a smile.

Malena just smirks. “I like you two. You both show great promise as hunters, you know.”

“Well I am glad we could live up to your expectations,” Tyuule responds with a smile.

Delilah walks over to Malena’s kill, picking up the axe she had thrown at it. “This is a beautiful looking axe, would you mind if I borrowed it for a moment?” She asks Malena.

“Thank you and sure but why—“ she begins to say but was interrupted as one last boar charges to them. Delilah, reacting quickly, throws the axe at it, striking its head. The boar begins to slow and move to the side as it squeals in pain, the axe lodged deeply in its skull.

Delilah leaps on the back of the boar, using the axe as something to grip on while she uses her small knife to jab into its shoulder blade. The boar begins bucking and kicking as Delilah attempts to dislodge the axe. Tyuule and Malena panic a bit as their companion rides this beast, attempting to bring it down. “Stay back, this one is mine,” she reassures them with a smile.

She manages to dislodge the axe and strike it back down on its skull where it had once been lodged. This time, the boar stops bucking and its legs give out as it drops down. No longer moving, Delilah dismounts the slain beast. Malena stands in shock at what she had witnessed. ‘Delilah is pregnant; how could she put herself into that kind of danger,’ she thinks to herself. She is about to scold her but stops herself as she remembers what Tyuule had told her.

“The heat, you said it was?” Malena asks Tyuule as she just nods. “That was something. Most hunters usually get caught off guard by the Hogus boars; they get close before some careless hunters can react. Fine job, striking it down.”

“It was no problem,” Delilah says as she feels a slight pain on her leg. There was a small laceration with some blood. Her eyes widen as she looks at both of them. “Don’t tell Bailey, I will never hear the end of it. If he asks, I stumbled.”

“Well I don’t know Bailey so I don’t think I can tell him anything,” Malena responds.

“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe,” Tyuule reassures her.

Malena just smiles. “The otherworlders have influenced you, your highness,” Malena teases with a smirk at Tyuule’s annoyance. “Well let’s wrap this up. I would love to continue this hunt but no reason to let these go to waste. Let’s secure them and then get help bringing them back.”

They move all four boars together as they decide which one of them to go back for assistance. Delilah happily volunteers, as the remaining two Bunnies are left to guard their kills. As they wait, Malena walks over to the boars that Delilah had killed and begins doing something to their corpse. After a good while passes, Malena turns to face Tyuule. “So what else did you want to know? I’m assuming that’s why she left us here.”

“Well about what we talked about earlier.”

“If you mean about being casted out, then do not worry. I’ve already made peace with it. Besides, if I hadn’t I never would have met the family I have now,” Malena finishes with a quick smile.

“That’s good to hear. You found a place where you belong,” Tyuule says, giving a warm smile. She then sits up straight, indicating now she is getting serious. “But then what brought you to Alnus? I noticed something you said when we spoke earlier. Your loyalty being towards your new family but not the Americans? The ones providing you refuge. I’m curious about what your actual intentions are; not hostile, I hope.”

Malena sighs as she begins to sit up straight to match the same serious demeanor Tyuule is displaying. “Sebille, Aldon, Kryuune, and Nelia are my family, or at least what’s left of them. All we have is each other now, and they look to me to guide them, to lead them. I cannot let my guard down again. So yes, my loyalty is with them, but with these Americans, I haven’t decided yet.”

Tyuule simply nods, understanding all too well this feeling of loss. “I’m not fully convinced of these Other Worlder’s intentions either. But from what I’ve seen so far they, unlike the Empire, honor their word. It can be seen with how they treat everyone who comes here to Alnus looking for a new start. Their arms are open, if you’re looking for a new place to call home, I’d say take advantage of it.”

“I will see. I mean with what I hear, Sharpe is starting to sound like an attractive option.”

“Hmm,” Tyuule smirks. “Better not let Sarah hear that unless you’re intentionally looking for a fight. I mean they are bonded romantically.”

Malena looks at her with confusion until she realizes what she had meant and begins to turn red. “No! No, no, not like that!”

Tyuule merely laughs at Malena’s annoyance. “You owed me for that one,” she says with a chuckle. “I don’t know your entire journey but I guess I can understand your situation. I hope you find what you are looking for, truly. And if that doesn’t happen, you and your family are welcomed with us once we have a land we can call our own.”

Malena looks down while hiding a smile. She hands Tyuule two sets of tusks. “These are for your friend; she didn’t say but I could tell this was her first hunt so tell her to treasure these.”

“Thank you, I’m sure she’ll appreciate these.”

“And thank you for your words,” Malena finishes as they see a group of people with Delilah heading towards them.

“Well I hope we can hunt again after this, Malena,” Tyuule tells her.

“I hope so too,” she responds with a smile. “And Mal. My friends call me Mal.”

“Understood then, Mal,” Tyuule finishes, matching her smile.