I finish my meal while feeling like a pathetic loser and head outside to go for a run. It's still early morning, and the kids normally show up in about an hour, so I decide to run to the edge of the woods. The cold air is like knives digging into my lungs. I work my way through the thick vegetation by dodging between the trunks of the trees. Using the flash step makes the run much more exciting, as any misstep will end with a collision. I concentrate and make it to my destination in record time. I can hear the rustling of leaves from other adventurer parties around the area. More and more people have been emboldened to step foot into the woods lately. I'm a bit concerned for their safety, but I have yet to hear of any incidents, so I guess it's fine. A tall shrub rustles nearby, and a man walks out next to me. Much to my dismay, the man is Martin the Warrior. He's carrying an unreasonably large sword that can't even be used in this dense vegetation.
"A boy!" He cries.
"A douche!" I respond. He frowns, but I can see his two sidekicks holding in a chuckle which is encouraging.
"What are you doing out in the woods by yourself?" It seems he doesn't know who I am, as most adventurers in the guild have just accepted that I live in the forest now.
"Jogging, it's good to get the blood flowing in the morning.
"I find that hard to believe. Come with me to the guild so we can sort this out." He demands. The self-important attitude he held at the guild doesn't seem to have faded. The mild annoyance I'm still feeling from this morning finds a convenient outlet.
"I've got a better idea. Why don't you take that sword you use to compensate for your inadequacy and shove it up your ass." His face turns bright red as the girls on either side stifle their laughs.
"Shut up! Peaches, capture him!" All the emotion falls from the bunny girl's face as she leaps at me. I dodge back into the underbrush, but she's hot on my heels.
[This will make for an interesting cardio session.]
I active Flash Step and put some distance between us. I don't know how much experience she has moving through the woods, but I do this all the time, so it's likely I have an advantage. I find an opening to glance back and see her charging at me with grim determination.
[Is she going to kill me if she captures me?]
A chill runs down my spine, and I pick up the pace. Again, I glance back and see her falling behind. It appears I won't have to push myself too hard to win this game of tag. We continue the chase for another ten minutes until she starts slowing down. I can hear her gasping for breath. I slow down to give her some motivation to keep trying, and she catches her second wind. The mad rabbit sprints with bloodshot eyes for another five minutes until she collapses on the ground. I slow to a trot and wheel around to check on her. She's lying face down on the frozen ground, panting heavily. I like seeing people push themselves, but this felt a bit maniacal. It's as if she's going to suffer some dire consequences if she doesn't complete her task. As if on cue, she starts sobbing.
"Bwwaaahh!"
[I'm such a sucker.]
"What's the matter?" I ask in a monotone voice, resigned to my fate. She gasps out a response through her tears.
"If I don't bring you back, Martin will be really mean to me and call me names!"
[That's a lot less dramatic than what I was envisioning. I don't really have any reason not to go to the guild. Let's help her out.]
"Oh, okay. Why don't we head back, and you can say you captured me?"
"Really?!" She shoots up as if the tears were all a lie.
"Um, sure. Whatever."
"Yay!" She grabs my arm and drags me back to the edge of the forest. I quickly shake my arm free.
"I can walk there just fine on my own."
"But, he won't believe I captured you if you walk up by yourself!"
"He'll believe whatever he wants to believe. Either way, I'm not going to be dragged anywhere." She puffs up her cheeks and pouts, which is actually pretty adorable.
[Hold your ground, me. We can do this. Don't fall for the act.]
"Fine!" She folds he arms and walks away. I let out a breath in my mind and follow her.
The forest has a frigid majesty about it this time of year. It's as if the plants are holding strong just to spite the weather. The snow-laden leaves are drooping, allowing more sunlight to fall to the ground. The normally twilit forest feels open. There's not the oppressive air about us as per usual. I look around at the plants that are lit up brightly. The warm colors of the woods fight to dig themselves out from the blanket of snow. Eventually, my eyes fall on the girl in front of me. She seems to be in her early twenties. Her long green bunny ears point straight to the sky and fade into her leaf-green hair. Her clothes are also light-colored, which contrasts with her tanned shin. While looking at her, I notice she is ill-equipped to handle the cold weather. Her beige shorts and yellow shirt do little to cover her body.
"Aren't you cold?" I ask.
"No, Martin got me a talistone that keeps me warm, so I don't have to wear heavy clothes in the winter."
[So, instead of getting her a stone that protects her, he gets one that allows her to wear skimpier clothes? This guy is an asshole.]
I keep quiet for the rest of the journey, and Peaches is more than happy to do the same. I can hear her humming a tune to herself as she trots. When we finally make it back, Martin and the other member of their party are cutting up some fungus. It looks like they managed to keep themselves busy.
"Martin! I captured him!"
"I knew you could do it! Great job, Peaches." She runs over to him, and he pats her on the head. She closes her eyes and smiles broadly as his hand rests on her hair. I can see her little bunny tail shaking around excitedly.
[Well, that's not what I was expecting, but whatever.]
Martin doesn't seem to care much that I'm just standing off to the side, unrestrained. The three adventurers start talking about the chase and their experience gathering fungus as if I'm not even here.
[Are they stupid?]