When Rose finally opened her eyes the bloody creature before her was some kind of gorlash on a stick. She winced at the sight of it still twitching, with rock horns projecting from its body in dozens of places that they did not use to. Blood seeped from all these locations and down around the base where it was rooted to the ground. Its outstretched hand was only a couple feet from her face. It was a horror show and she had to look away. Her sister Lilly was passed out sitting beside her. She reached out to touch her, but her hand was stopped by some sort of energy field. She was completely surrounded by its light blue aura and not even the wind seemed able to penetrate it. Inside the sphere the silence was absolute except for her own ragged breathing and the thunder of her heartbeat in her ears. The bubble's faint blue glow tinted everything around her, making the blood on the gorlash look almost black. Her own breath felt trapped and humid, fogging the invisible wall in tiny bursts. Rose's eyes darted around worriedly as she tried to look for the source of such savagery. Then her eyes widened as she saw her aunt's motionless, rag-doll form floating up from the edge of the cliff. She screamed out to her, but the echo of her own voice was deafening inside the sphere. She beat against the inside of the shell and stabbed at it with her dagger, but nothing was effective. Venus's lifeless body floated over to her slowly until it was laid inside the wagon behind her. Next her mother rose up from the ground like a broken corpse and similarly floated over to her and was laid down inside the wagon. Then, something pushed the gorlash kabob off the cliff. A stone golem rose from the ground where the gorlash had stood, and unhitched the dead mule. Before too long, it too followed the gorlash over the edge. Rose wondered if this stone creature was her captor, and what it would do with her. She struggled to be free, but her 4'7" form seemed trapped inside a 5' diameter sphere, from which she could not escape. Wisps of snow began to dance around and weave together a horse-like phantom. It was beautiful, with a white head, body, mane and tail. Its hooves were insubstantial smoke, as it now stood where the mule had been. The golem placed the yoke and harness onto the creature and it tried to pull the wagon, which was frozen in place. Next Lilly's unconscious body floated effortlessly into the back of the wagon to be stacked with the other bodies like laundry. The golem moved into a position to push the wagon from behind as all the snow and ice began to melt around them. Then someone, or something climbed into the wagon, as it leaned under the new weight, and picked up the reins. Like a ghost that might now steer them off the cliff. Rose wept in fear, looking back at her family members stacked like cord wood in the back of the wagon. From out of nowhere a huge six foot diameter ball of fire appeared before the phantom steed. It began to move forward slowly, incinerating all the snow in their path, down to the dry bare rock. The steed pulled, the golem pushed and they were once again moving up the trail, but Rose was confused as to how or why. Or where they were going, but it only took a few minutes to reach the resting area. There Rose was amazed at a huge square hole cut into the side of the mountain. The flaming sphere burned a dry path to it, water bubbling and steaming up into the air as the storm clouds closed in. In another hour it would be upon them, fiercely. The wagon pulled up to the gaping mountain hole and stopped.

  Suddenly the bubble around Rose burst, and the cold air assaulted her face and invaded her lungs. Beside her sat a handsome olive-skinned half-elf male with a striking ethereal presence. His sharp angular features with high cheekbones, a straight narrow nose, and intense, piercing dark eyes. His expression was calm and composed, almost aloof, with a slight hint of a smirk. His long straight jet-black hair fell well past his shoulders in a sleek cascade framing his face dramatically in the light. His delicate elven-like ears protruded clearly from his hair. He was tall, as tall as a human, but lean with an athletic elven physique. Draped in a luxurious, floor-length midnight blue cloak with intricate silver embroidery. He was clearly a mage, and obviously very powerful. He was marvelous. Rose was speechless. Maybe it was the sudden cold air, but tears rolled down her face from her unblinking eyes. He reached out and wiped her tears away and pulled her close into him. His warmth was intoxicating, his voice rumbled from his chest as he spoke with her head pressed against him.

  "You're safe now," he explained in a calming and charming tone, "You're going to be ok. Everyone... Everyone is going to be ok, you're ALL safe now." It was then that the real tears started. She hugged him back, not wanting to let go. Somehow he had saved them all from certain death. She was shaking, the whole thing had been a lot to handle. She couldn't stop crying and thought she might pass out when he said, "I think you should rest now." She opened her mouth to protest, but her eyelids fluttered shut almost instantly, the exhaustion and shock helping to pull her under. Hadofi stepped down from the wagon and gently lifted Rose in his arms, and flew down into his cavern below. There he summoned his two small cabin combo and placed her to rest in the bedroom. She was adorable and strong he thought. "A shame you missed that last shot, you almost killed it without my help." He said, bending down to kiss her forehead. In turn he brought each of them down. Placing Daisy and Venus in Life Cocoons and casting various healing spells to help mend their wounds and speed their recovery. The translucent green cocoons pulsed with magic as they joined bones and sealed lesions. As the unseen servants began lighting fires in both the cabins, Hadofi settled at his writing desk to examine further a few of the many books he had collected. One of the invisible butlers brought him a tray of hot stew, warm bread, and herbal tea. The air filled with the savory smell of simmering meat and fresh-baked dough. The other waited in the bedroom, to oversee the sleeping beauties. He searched through the books, for any clue of the rabbit clan. Which gods they followed, and if they had divine guidance, or knowledge of the spirit world.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  One chapter in one tome caught his attention, and he marked the page. The rabbits worshiped Selveina, goddess of nature's quiet cycles, fertility, and growth. She was depicted as a gentle figure crowned in white blossoms, her presence felt more in the rustle of leaves than in thunderous miracles. Males were rare, treasured within the clan, protected fiercely by the warrior women who formed the tribe's backbone. Every rabbit bore the names of flowers. Spring brought the females into heat, a powerful urge that drove them to seek mates beyond the tribe since males were so scarce. At times, even driven to the den of wolves. They traded rare herbs, mushrooms, and alchemical reagents harvested from the forests of the mountain valleys. Large families were prized above all else, dance and poetry celebrated nightly around the village, music woven into every ritual. Hadofi closed the book, mind turning. If Mars had merged with one of them, her presence might show in subtle signs: unusual dreams, a faint otherworldly grace, or a sudden pull toward certain songs.

  Rose woke first. The bedroom ceiling arched high above her, lit by soft glowing candle light. She blinked, disoriented. The air inside the bedroom was warm and dry, scented with burning pine logs from the fireplace crackling nearby. The flames snapped and popped, sending tiny sparks drifting upward. Out the window the darkness of the cavern was dimly lit by glowing mana crystals. From the next room drifted the rich, comforting aroma of stew and fresh bread, mingling with the faint herbal note of tea. Lilly lay beside her on the wide bed, breathing steadily, cheeks flushed with life. Soft white wolf pelts covered them both, their thick fur warm against hers. On either side of the bed, stone cocoons lay silently on the floor, their surfaces pulsing with faint green light. Rose could see the vague shapes inside and knew instantly they must contain her mother and aunt. She slipped from the bed, careful not to wake Lilly, and padded barefoot across the cool stone floor. She silently went to each cocoon, pressing her palm to its warm surface. The green glow brightened slightly at her touch. Inside, her mother and aunt were sleeping quietly. The healing magic was strong, far beyond anything she had seen by the tribe's own clerics. Rose exhaled in quiet awe, a small smile touching her lips for the first time since the attack.

  She turned back to the bed and gently brushed a strand of fur from Lilly's cheek. Her sister's skin was soft and warm under her fingertips. Rose traced the line of Lilly's jaw, then smoothed her long white hair behind one ear. The gesture was tender, protective. She leaned down and pressed a light kiss to Lilly's forehead, whispering, "Sleep, little songbird. You're safe here." Satisfied Lilly was resting peacefully, Rose straightened and ran her fingers through her own tangled white hair, smoothing it as best she could. She adjusted her blouse, unbuttoning one extra button so the soft swell of her breasts showed more invitingly, then tugged the fabric to sit just right. She knew the mage in the next room was very handsome and powerful. No woman of the tribe would face him looking anything less than her best. She took a slow breath, squared her shoulders, and stepped toward the door. It opened by itself as she approached.

  Hadofi sat at a desk, studying an open tome. A large black raven perched on the back of a his chair, its glossy feathers catching the firelight, bright eyes fixed on her with quiet curiosity. The bird tilted its head, cawed once softly, then tapped the half-elf gently on the shoulder. Rose froze in the doorway, instinctively shifting her stance into a seductive pose, one hip cocked, ears perked forward. Hadofi rose slowly, expression calm but curious. An unseen servant glided forward with a tray of food: stew, bread, and herbal tea. The aroma made her stomach growl. Hadofi gestured to the chairs at the main table, and they sat.

  "I am Hadofi Deicide," he explained. "You are safe here in my cavern cabin."

  Rose cleared her throat. "I... thank you, my lord. For saving us." She paused, gathering herself, feeling flustered. "My name is Rose Rabbit, I am a ranger of the White Rabbit Tribe. My twin sister is Lilly, a bard. My mother is Rose a cleric of Selveina, and my aunt Venus is the warrior champion of our village." Of course, that was it. Mars... Venus... the dream made sense now, how it was so urgent.

  "I caught her just in time," he said aloud without thinking. Hadofi's eyes softened. He nodded to himself. It had to be her.

  Rose sensed the shift in his mood, the way his gaze lingered on nothing for a moment. She leaned forward slightly, voice soft. "You know something about Venus... don't you?"

  Hadofi hesitated, then met her eyes. "I have been searching for a lost soul. A woman from my world, hidden inside a host by divine hands. The signs match Venus."

  Rose's ears twitched. "Venus has always been... different. We call her ugly in the tribe. She is half-human. Her breasts, hands, feet, and tummy are flesh, not fur. She wears gloves when others do not, boots when others go barefoot. She covers her skin to look more like us. But her face is human-ish, with lips and a head shape that is not pure rabbit. She is taller than any of us too." Rose's voice dropped. "But she has always been like this. Since birth. If Mars needed a vessel... Venus would be perfect. She has never fit in. But she has always been kind. Stronger than any of us."

  Hadofi's hand rested on the book. "Then we wait for her to wake. If she is Mars... I will find out."

  Rose's fingers brushed his on the table. The firelight danced across her open blouse. "And if she is this Mars... what will you do?"

  Hadofi's smirk faded into something quieter. "I will welcome her home."

  Rose batted her eyes, voice dropping to a playful whisper. "I'm a good girl. I can help you get close to her... you help me too, right?" She snuggled closer, her hip brushing his thigh under the table. "I can be very... useful."

  Hadofi's expression remained calm, his blood stirred, but his eyes darkened slightly. "We will see."

  Rose's smile grew wide, almost evil. She had a hook. "You'll need me, my lord. She hates elves..."

  Great Cat add +1 Str, -2 Cha (Tiger, Lion, Leppard, Cougar, Jaguar)

  Blind Fighting, Hunting   Panther add Reading Lips, Hiding and Trail Signs

  Jumping, Claws, Fur   Cheetah add Bribery, Running and Trail Signs

  Rabbit add -1 Str, +1 Cha, +1 Com, Running and Persuasion

  Wolf add Endurance, Signaling and Disguise

  Danger Sense, Hunting  Fox add -1 Str, +1 Dex, +1 Com, Bribery and Persuasion

  Tracking, Eating, Fur   Jackal add Intimidation, Crowd Working and

  Coyote add -1 Str, +1 Int, Forgery & Information Gathering

  Aquatic add Swimming and Water Breathing

  Scales, Eating, Claws   Chameleon add Camouflage, Defensive Tactics and Hiding

  Slow Respiration     Draconian add +1 Str, -1 Dex, Ancient History, Debate and Hypnotism

  Frogman add +1 Dex, -1 Str, climb walls, jumping, but no claws and no scales