GRAVEYARD | h.p.

𝖝𝖎. THE BUNNY RABBIT OF DOOM

LOOK, I CALL MYSELF A CHASER FOR A REASON.

My aim is immaculate, and my reflexes are faster than the speed of light. So obviously, when I throw that huge boulder at the hooded figure's face, it collides with a huge bang! The figure falls to the shadows, and I grin, almost certain that I've killed it. Because, believe it or not, having a huge rock thrown at your face might break your skull into bits. But I can't be more wrong when the figure slithers on up. Its hood is not black anymore, but red from its blood. From under the hood, I can see the figure's eyes turn the same color as it glares at me, slowly creeping closer and closer and closer.

The red eyes hypnotize me as I feel a sharp pang in my head that's echoing out all over my brain. But just as quickly as it comes, the pain goes away, and the figure's eyes melt back into the darkness of its hood.

But it still determinedly marches towards me. I gasp, too terrified to run, and slowly back into a tree, closing my teary eyes tight. I'm getting ready to die because I'm certain that the figure will strike me down and eat me up, just as it did with that unicorn.

I fill up with deep sadness, crying freely. I wonder how my parents will feel when they figure out that I've died. Sad? Or will they not care? What about Connor? Well, I know that he certainly won't mind. This only makes me sob harder since I wish that he regards me as his sister—just once! Elenara, well, I already know that she'll be depressed when she hears the news.

(It's ironic that I hate the only family member who cares for me.)

But I hear the sound of faint galloping that's only getting louder and louder. I squint my eyes open and see a half-horse, half-man charge at the figure. In fear, the hooded figure slithers away without sparing me another glance.

I'm safe.

I breathe out a sigh of relief and cry out in joy. In less than five seconds, my sobbing has turned into a faint sniffling, and thirty seconds later, I'm sure it's impossible to tell that I was afraid that I was going to die a few minutes prior.

Once my heartbeat returns to normal, I see a strange creature staring down at me. It has the body of a man but the feet of a horse. A centaur, yet another useless creature Elenara raved about.

"Are you alright?" the centaur asks.

I give it a quiet nod, trying not to be disrespectful since the beast saved my life. Still, when it turns towards Potter, I glare at the back of its head.

Once the centaur helps Potter to his feet, Potter asks, "What was that?"

The centaur only responds with, "You are the Potter boy."

I scoff. Even barbaric brutes living in the forest know who Potter is? Sure, why not. Next, you'll tell me that Potter gives autographs to penguins!

"You two had better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time — especially for you, Potter," the centaur adds, turning in such a way it can see both Potter and me. "Can you two ride? It will be quicker this way."

I let out another, louder scoff, all thoughts of gratitude and respect forgotten. "I'm not going to ride on you."

The centaur only bends down so that Potter can sit on it. It glances at me again and simply says, "So walk."

I make a face but nod.

"My name is Firenze," it introduces itself. "And you are?" it asks me.

I'm truly offended that it knows someone as pathetic as Potter and not me, but I answer. "Olivara Lyra Libson."