The Last Colony

Part 11

Mark didn't alert Sean to their pursuer. He just kept moving. He didn't want to cause a panic and trigger it into attacking them. They weren't in a position to outrun it or even attack it. The horses or even Chica would get hurt trying. So, he tried to remain calm. He knew they were on a time limit. From what he had observed; Hunters tended to stalk prey until they were hungry again. Which with how fast this killer bunny moved... He guessed it would be hungry in little less than an hour. Up ahead, Sean pointed to the large wooden RV campsite sign. Mark was only slightly relieved. Sean shifted in the saddle to make sure he was still following, when his eyes widened in horror. Mark quickly raised a hand to keep him from saying anything. He had been watching it for a while now and it was drawing closer. Sean shrugged at him and Mark gestured for him to slow the horses. While the horses were pulled to a stop, Mark wrapped Chica's leash to the bike's handlebars. Lowering the kickstand, he removed Becky and slowly turned around.

The bunny stopped mid-step, cocking its head to stare at him with alert lifeless looking eyes. Mark cautiously stepped toward it. He didn't know how he was going to kill it, but he couldn't risk it following them any farther. Gripping Becky tighter, he tensed his muscles. The bunny began pacing in a straight line across the road, watching him with narrowed eyes. He recognized this behavior. It was acting like a cornered animal that was carefully planning its next move. Mark froze for a second. It was thinking? He had always imagined that zombies would be stupid and driven by instinct... but this thing was thinking like a predator. Assessing just how to kill him without sustaining injury. Mark took a single step back, reconsidering his options. The bunny took notice and instantly stopped pacing to flash him his canine teeth in a menacing grin. Mark's heart skipped. He had fucked up. The bunny started growling and creeping toward him with its hackles raised. Mark continued to back up only a step or two more.

The bunny sprang in place to try spooking him into a run. It had almost worked! The bunny's claws kneaded the dirt road as it crept forward. Even as Chica started barking and whining, the bunny didn't flinch or blink. Mark tried to read the bunny's every move as Sean uttered anxiously out over Chica's whining. "Mark...? What are you doing...?" Mark didn't have the ability to answer. He was too focused on the bunny. The bunny then stopped moving and growling, its little fluffy tail twitching in short bursts. Its long ears slowly fell back across its back and Mark held his breath. In a blur of moment the bunny dashed straight for him, causing Mark jump back and swing Becky wildly toward the ground. Mark barely saw the arrow whiz out of the woods to impale the bunny into the dirt with a swift shocked squeal. Becky scuffed the dirt where the bunny would have been, but Mark's eyes were now on the squirming bunny. The arrow had pinned the bunny right where its heart was... but the bunny was still alive and thrashing to get free. Behind him, Sean blurted out startled. "What the fuck?!" The horses snorted as leaves and twigs snapped nearby.

Mark straightened up, raising Becky to his defense. Chica barked at the woods now as two people emerged into view. One was tall and holding a bow above his head in surrender. While the other was much shorter and holding a katana tightly in her hands with the blade pointed out at her side in a defensive position. The man cautiously moved closer, telling him aloud. "You guys alright?" Mark refused to lower Becky as he retorted a bit coldly. "Depends on who's asking. What do you want?" The man lowered his hands with a small chuckle, answering smugly. "We should be asking you that. You're the ones coming into our camp. Do you mind though...?" The man gestured to the rabbit, adding out seriously. "We need to finish him, or he'll start chewing himself free." Mark jerked his head toward the rabbit, muttering out. "Be my guest... but don't try anything. I'm warning you." The man gestured for the girl to go to it, telling her nicely. "Mari, you're up." Mari nodded without saying a word, her face half hidden beneath her fluffy forest green turtleneck sweater as if it was a mask.