Chapter Text
Not knowing where he was, the bunny kept walking, hoping to find someone to help him lead the way.
The pain in his body only increased as he got further, but a growing curiosity urged him forward.
The bunny was fascinated by the big trees, and their huge leaves that made him forget what was eating up his guts a little.,
Being confined to the manor since childhood, Encroached had longed to do more than merely observe and care for the house from the lofty windows. The expansive world beyond the manor's walls had ignited his curiosity, and he yearned to venture out and explore the wonders that lay beyond.
Quinlan hoped to have a conversation with Encroached, but since the rabbit awoke, the sweet creature couldn't stop excitedly describing all the colors and flowers he observed along the way.
He coughs violently, but that didn't stop him from going on, his eyes sparkling with delight, babbling like a child playing with a toy, occasionally pausing to regain his breath, but his enthusiasm never dimmed.
He probably never had someone to talk to, so he took the chance to share every thought that came to his mind, unsure if the bat was listening. But Quinlan found it all quite endearing, his bright red eyes sparkling with wonder and pure joy under the mask.
But Quinlan didn’t mind at all, he found the bunny's enthusiasm and innocent curiosity quite endearing, resting on his shoulder, leaning on the soft fur.
Encroached has been sheltered all his life, he heard all the terrifying stories of giants, trolls, and other dangerous creatures roaming the woods that surrounded the manor, so the beauty of the natural world outside the windows was completely new to him.
He gets scared easily by the loud noises and unfamiliar sights, jumping in fright when a bird suddenly takes flight.
Quinlan chuckled softly, amused by the rabbit's skittish reactions, but he gently soothed the frightened creature, assuring him that there was nothing to fear. He explained that the birds and other small creatures were harmless.
Quinlan patiently showed him the wonders of the outside world, from the vibrant wildflowers dotting the forest floor to the towering trees reaching up to the sky.
The bunny gazed around in awe, his fluffy ear perked up, eyes wide with wonder. He reached out to touch the soft petals of the flowers, giggling with delight at the tickling sensation.
“I remember the old story of the little girl lost in the woods,” he said, as Encroached walked through the green paths. “You know the one where the wolf eats her, she got distracted by a field of pretty flowers! just like you are right now. Encroached froze, his ears drooping in fear and his shoulders tensing up.
“But don’t worry, I don’t think we’ll face any big wolves around here." he couldn't help but chuckle at Encroached "This forest is much safer than those old tales, I promise I will keep you safe." Looking at the bunny with the side of his gaze, holding his giggle back, he’s sure that the bunny will believe whatever he says.
He took the bat in his trembling hands. “How will you keep me safe when you’re this tiny?” Though the mask covered his face, the bat could see his eyes were filled with worry.
"Well, you might be surprised how strong a little bat can be!" Quinlan replied with a confident smile, flexing his small arms to demonstrate his strength.
"I'm pretty sure the only thing a small bat can do is to get eaten," the bunny said with a nervous chuckle, his eyes downcast.
“You forgot the part were i got out of a magical ring," he said with a playful wink. “I may seem small, but there's more to me than meets the eye," he said, puffing out his chest slightly. "And I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, little one."
He held the bat closer. “Listen to me, you're the little one around here. If anything happens, I want you to promise me to fly away and leave me be.” The bat can feel Encroached’s hot breath hit him as the hands under him quivered. Quinlan blinked up at him in surprise.
It was the bloody red eyes that tapped him. He gazed into them with his heart beating fast. "I…" Quinlan swallowed hard, struggling to find the words.
Although he had no intention of abandoning Encroached, he acquiesced to the rabbit's request, responding, "Very well, if that is what you wish."
He gave the trembling creature a gentle pat on the nose and a reassuring smile,
Though it was their first day together, the bunny already seemed to care about him deeply, which Quinlan found to be quite touching.
As the road smoothed out and they began to approach the city, Encroached's excitement grew, his eyes widening at the sight of the grand buildings and bustling streets. He watched in amusement as the rabbit's head darted from side to side, taking in every new sight and sound, the once frightened creature now brimming with curiosity.
Standing by a sweets shop, a delicious aroma wafted through the air, making Encroached's nose twitch.
"That smells simply divine!" He exclaimed, his gaze fixed on the shop's enticing display of pastries and confections. Quinlan chuckled, "Well, then we simply must venture inside and indulge your sweet tooth, my dear."
He followed the scent with eagerness, as he jumped, rushing into the shop, Quinlan had to swiftly catch his hair before he got thrown off his shoulder. Once inside, Encroached's eyes grew wide as he took in the dazzling array of treats.
His eyes are literally like a child seeing a sweet shop for the first time. From the flaky, golden-brown croissants to the glistening fruit tarts, the display was a feast for the senses.
Pointing at one of the tiny and colorful ones, he had never seen so much variety in one place, his little hands trembling with excitement, “Should we get this? They look nice.”
Quinlan smiled, amused by the rabbit's enthusiasm.
“Hmm, those do look quite delightful, but you haven’t eaten anything yet,” the bat replied. "Perhaps we should start with an actual meal first, to ensure your delicate stomach can handle it."
His face fell slightly. “We could still get a little one to try, though, yes?" Being used to taking orders, he looked up tentatively, hoping Quinlan would agree.
Quinlan chuckled, rubbing his head on the soft fur. "Of course, my dear, we can certainly get a small treat to sample.
Before he could hand the lady in the red apron what she owed, some gold coins fell to the ground. He quickly gathered them up, apologizing profusely, flustered by the mishap.
Quinlan couldn't ignore the lady's amused expression as she inspected the bag in his hand. She then handed him a small paper bag containing a pastry, saying, "Don't worry about it, dear.”
Quinlan could see how the bunnys breath wasn't catching up to how much they walked, but the excitement of the town seemed to override any fatigue. He glanced at the buildings around, trying to see where they could rest and get a proper meal.
“I have been meaning to ask, where precisely are we headed, dear?"
The fluffy creature with a warm smile admitted, “There will be a festival happening in less than a week that I would love to visit," his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
He nodded. "Ah, a festival! That sounds delightful." He matched the bunny's enthusiasm, genuinely looking forward to experiencing the event together.
“I have always wanted to see the fireworks, they're supposed to be magnificent!" his ear perked up excitedly. “Have you ever visited a festival before?" he asked inquisitively.
Quinlan admits, "It's been a while since I’ve attended one.” He paused for a moment. "I do remember the lights, the music, and the crowds, quite enchanting, I must confess.”
He placed a small portion of the pastry in the bat’s tiny hands, saying, “Here, try this,” wanting to taste it together
Quinlan gladly accepted the offering, taking a small bite of the delicate pastry. A rich, buttery flavor burst in his mouth, complemented by a hint of sweetness from the filling.
“That is quite delectable! It does remind me of the time I was in Pumpkin City for their annual harvest festival. It was fascinating," he said with a contented look, his taste buds relishing the treat.
“Ohh, Pumpkin City must be wonderful, I wish I had the chance to travel too!” "Encroached," he said wistfully, his crimson eyes shining with wonder.
"Well then, my dear, I do believe this is the perfect opportunity for you to experience your first festival!" Quinlan declared with enthusiasm.
"I hope it wouldn’t be my last either," Encroached replied with a sad smile. He grew quiet, his gaze dropping to the ground, nothing other than the uncontrollable coughs escaping him.
It wasn’t like Quinlan didn’t notice how sick the other was getting, he surely could see the other swallowing a pill from time to time, or how his eyes sometimes seemed to get dull and foggy. But he also didn't want to pressure the bunny into talking about it, he surmised it must be a sensitive topic.
"You know, encroached, I would be delighted to take you to many more festivals if you'd allow me. There is so much beauty and wonder to discover in this world, and I would be honored to explore it, and I would be honored to discover it alongside you." After all, the bat had no choice but to stay by his side.
"Alongside me? I don't think that's possible," the bunny responded anxiously. "Looking at your small size, the only place for you would be on my shoulder."
Blinking at the unexpected response, he chuckled softly, "Then on your shoulder, it shall be," brushing his cheek to encroach softly. "I wouldn't have it any other way, my dear."
Thinking nothing could ruin the moment, Quinlan’s eyes drew to a small figure that darted through the bustling crowd, wearing a hat bigger than his whole body, and the longest beard swaying behind comically with each hurried step. If you looked closer, you would see him barely holding the big pile of paper, sliding off his hands and flying away with the wind, but most fell under the crowds' busy feet. As the small guy ran, leaving it behind, Quinlan jumped to grab one of what seemed like commercial flyers before it was trampled, his agile fingers snatching it from the path of a stomping boot.
He placed it into Encroached’s eager palm—a seer's bold advertisement. The all-seeing eye was emblazoned across the top. “The Seer of Whispering Woods, offering glimpses into futures, pasts, and the hidden currents of destiny,” Quinlan read aloud, his voice tinged with a mix of skepticism and intrigue
“It looks quite fun, doesn’t it?” Encroached's ears twitched with interest.
"A seer? I don’t know if I should trust such things," Quinlan countered, a playful glint in his eye, "but think of the blusters and exaggerations one might encounter, not to mention the potential for amusingly vague predictions. “Encroached, however, remained undeterred, his gaze fixed on the flyer with an unshakeable curiosity.
“Are you implying that all seers are frauds, Mr. Quin?” he challenged, a mischievous glint in his eye.
“Not all, perhaps he’s an authentic one, but meeting my fair share of charlatans and tricksters has made me somewhat… discerning, shall we say?” he responded with a wry smile.
“Can we use your sacred knowledge to discern if he is an authentic seer or not?” Encroached blinked his crimson eyes under the wooden mask, knowing farewell that the bat would come wherever he went, and Quinlan, appreciating the veiled challenge, nodded with an almost imperceptible smirk, “Indeed, we shall test the veracity of this ‘Seer of Whispering Woods.' " After all, they don’t have anything better to do!
They had to ask directions to find the seer’s tent, which was nestled somewhat alone in a dark corner, the purple tent full of bird symbols. Its entrance was shrouded in heavy, velvet drapes, hinting at the mysteries contained within, while a faint, ethereal glow emanated from the seams of the fabric.
Pushing the fabric aside, they stepped in, inhaling the heavy, odd aroma of incense and dried herbs that permeated the air. The candlelit interior was creeping the poor bunny’s hands. Starting to regret his decision, he wanted to walk out but didn’t want to show his weak feelings. Instead, He focused on the flickering light flying out of the candles, the walk wasn't long so much as creepy. He pushed the last piece of velvet aside to reveal a small, dimly lit chamber where a table stood center, a man was seated, eyes covered, his hands resting on a crystal ball, emanating a soft, pulsating light rising above his head, as if sensing their presence even without sight.
“Welcome,” lowering his voice to a resonant murmur, “I have been expecting you.” He gestured towards the two empty seats opposite him.
Pointing a hand to a small pot, “Five coins for a reading,” his voice firm, “A bit steep for a mere glimpse into the unknown, wouldn't you say?”
Encroashed wanted to retort, but the bat on his shoulder jumped on the table. “Indeed, and for that price we expect more than mere glimpses.”
Smiling at their audacity, the Seer’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smirk. “Careful, Mr. Duncan, your curiosity might just lead you to truths you're not ready to face.”
The crimson eyes kept switching between both the seer and the bat as the seer continued, "And you, little one," he addressed Encroached, "the scents of fear and destiny cling to you like mist to a winter tree."
Quinlan was silenced when the other called him by the name he never wanted to be tied to, as the bunny placed the wanted coins in the pot.
He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the crystal, its interior swirling with an opalescent, luminating haze. “Hands on the crystal,” he instructed.
Encroached hesitantly complied, his trembling fingers brushing against the cool, smooth surface of the orb.
As he did so, Quinlan noticed a peculiar shift in the crystal. “Perhaps, we shouldn’t push our luck, “ he whispered to his companion, receiving no response, looking back he realized Encroached was entirely transfixed, his eyes wide and fully white, and his consiossniss doent seem to be present within his body.
“Bunny? Can you hear me?” Quinlan’s voice, though a mere whisper, cut through the oppressive silence, about to push away the hands from the orb. The seer’s voice, now sharper and devoid of its previous geniality, sliced through the air, "Touch not the artifact, lest you tamper with the fabric of his perception."
Quinlan froze, his hand hovering mere inches from Encroached, a sudden chill prickling his skin. “What have you done? This isn’t a simple reading, is it?”
The seer's smile widened. “You asked for it, did you not?”
A faint whimper escaped Encroached’s lips, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably. "Stop it…" he pleaded, gaze worried, the words barely audible. “I cannot,” the Seer replied, removing his hands from the ball. "We have gone too far and must wait for him to return.”
Patience wasn’t in Quinlan’s vocabulary when red poured from Encroached’s wide eyes, tears of blood streaking down his cheeks as a guttural sound, not his own, began to emanate from his throat.
Having to do something, the bat changed forms to grab the others' wrists, pulling them forcibly from the crystal ball. With a sharp intake of breath, Encroached collapsed back into the chair, his body still hollow, and his eyes remained white.
“This will have repercussions,” the Seer stated.
“You said not to touch the ball, but I can’t let him touch the ball any longer." Throwing his hat on the table, Quinlan sat on the floor, in front of the bunny’s chair, holding the now fragile hands of Encroached in his, his own face a mask of concern.
“Touching him in such a state, Mr. Duncan, will result in both destinies intertwining," the seer elaborated, his voice now carrying an unsettling weight, “a consequence not easily undone, intertwining fates that were never meant to cross for all eternity." Standing up in slow motion, he walked to the back of the tent. "Perhaps some tea to ease your unsettled nerves?”
“He is bleeding!” Taking the bunny's face in both hands, he wiped away the sanguine tears. "A minor side effect of witnessing the unvarnished truth," the Seer remarked, his tone betraying no particular urgency as he continued to prepare the tea.
Quinlan’s brow furrowed. The seer doesn’t know when to stop, does he? “I'll give you two options either you stop this charade and fix what you have done to him, or I will dismantle this tent piece by piece and ensure no one else falls prey to your deceptive visions.” The voice was straining with barely contained rage, leaving Encroached to face the other’s covered gaze.
“Such threats, Mr. Duncan, are as transparent as the glass orb itself …"
“Stop Calling Me That!” unfazing the seer poured some water into a delicate porcelain cup.
“Poor those who never got the chance to meet their mothers. How was the tea that day? Did you take the last sip beside the well with her?“
A creeping silence broke through the air as Quinlan felt a stone stuck in his throat, eyes as wide as the sun that day.
Sadness, anger, and anguish washed over him. His hand moved to the orb, but his head wasn’t in the right place. His touch, however, was immediate, grabbing the crystal and causing it to shatter. It wasn’t hard for him to break the thing, the shards scattering across the table, some breaking his skin. “You have made a grave mistake, young man.”
The loud whimpers coming out of Encroached finally broke through Quinlan’s shocked state. Wanting to hold him closer, Encroached looked panicked, his eyes darting around the room, then back at the human man he had never seen.
Scared, Encroached recoiled from Quinlan’s touch, feeling sick to his stomach, he pushed everything around him, leaving him behind.
Running behind him, he called out, but to no use, the bunny was already lost in the bustling market. If Quinlan couldn’t detect him using the ring, he would have lost him for hours.
He was shaking, coiling in the fetal position, hidden in an alley, away from all eyes except his. Before touching him, Quinlan remembered the fact that the bunny had never seen him,
his true form. Fearing that the bunny would be even more terrified, he kept his distance for a while before shifting back to the small flying creature. The familiar light. When he changed, he grabbed the bunny's attention. Looking at him with a bloody face, his eyes still wide with terror, his lips trembling as tears continued to flow freely.
But quickly, he covered his eyes, holding himself from the worst sight. “It’s me,” he said, standing before him. "You're okay, everything is going to be alright now,” he murmured, his voice low and calming. "It was all an illusion, a trick, it was never real, bun." He couldn’t explain any other lie to comfort him, listening to the trembling breath and the small choked sobs.
“It hurt so much,” Encroached whispered, finally looking at the other. Blood was wiped away from his cheeks, his left eye had black veins spiderwebbing around it. Though the mask covered most of it, the lines still extended to a part of his lips.
He was in pain, and Quinlan’s heart stopped for a second. “It’s okay! We can fix this, all we have to do is go back and fix this.” He did this to the bunny! If he didn’t break the ball, he thought, then none of this would have happened, but how could he have known what the seer was capable of? He let his anger lead him to this stupid mistake, causing the innocent to get harmed.
“Come on, little bun, we need to go back and convince him to reverse whatever hex he has put on you,” he pleaded, his voice desperate, reaching his hands to Encroached, However he didn’t get the response he hoped for. Instead, he recoiled further, as if the smaller’s touch was the source of his pain.
“Shh… Breathe." Jumping on his head, Quinlan gently stroked his hair. “It’s just me. Come on, you’re safe with me.” The giant beneath him moved his head to look up, trying to catch a glimpse of the small creature on top of him, hiccups getting less frequent, wiping his tears with the back of his hand.
“I apologize….” Still hurting, he tried to explain, his voice raspy from crying, "I don't know what came over me."
“It’s alright,” he reassured him, stroking his fur gently. “How about we go back to see if we can get to the bottom of this?"
Nodding slowly, he allowed Quinlan to stand on his palms, moving him closer to his face. The bat wished he could wipe the blood off, but with this form, he couldn't his small hands weren't big enough.
………………………………………………..
There was nothing left, they stood on the ground of the supposed tent, merely a bare patch of earth where it once stood.