Huǐ Yuān awoke with the dawn, his tiny body still coiled around the tree branch. The faint warmth from the frog he'd eaten the night before had faded, leaving him hollow and restless. His scales glinted faintly in the morning light as he scanned the forest floor below, searching for prey.
*Something small. Something weak.*
The forest was alive with the sounds of morning—birds chirping, insects buzzing, and the occasional rustle of leaves as small creatures moved through the undergrowth. Huǐ Yuān's tongue flicked out, tasting the air. The scent of damp earth and fresh vegetation filled his senses, but beneath it, something else lingered—a faint metallic tang that made his instincts prickle.
*Blood.*
A rustle in the bushes caught his attention. A small creature hopped into view—a rabbit, its fur snow-white and eyes glinting like shards of glass. It moved with an unnatural grace, its paws leaving faint imprints in the soil.
Huǐ Yuān's tongue flicked out again, confirming the scent. The rabbit radiated no threat, no aura of danger. *Perfect.*
He slithered down the tree, his movements silent. The rabbit was crouched over something, its head bobbing rhythmically. As Huǐ Yuān drew closer, he froze.
The rabbit wasn't nibbling on grass.
It was tearing into the carcass of a small bird, its teeth stained red with blood. The bird's feathers were scattered around it, and its entrails glistened in the morning light. The rabbit's eyes glowed faintly, a sickly yellow light that sent a shiver down Huǐ Yuān's spine.
*What… is this?*
The rabbit's head snapped up, its bloodied muzzle twisting into a grotesque snarl. Its eyes locked onto Huǐ Yuān, and for a moment, the forest seemed to hold its breath.
*Run.*
Huǐ Yuān's instincts screamed at him to flee, but it was too late. The rabbit lunged, its movements impossibly fast. He barely dodged, the rabbit's claws scraping against his scales as it flew past him.
The rabbit landed and spun around, its eyes blazing with a feral hunger. It charged again, its teeth bared and claws extended. Huǐ Yuān struck back, his fangs sinking into the rabbit's ear, but the creature barely flinched. It shook him off like a ragdoll, sending him crashing into a tree.
Pain exploded through his body as he hit the ground. The rabbit was on him in an instant, its claws raking across his back. Huǐ Yuān twisted and struck again, his venom flooding the rabbit's bloodstream, but the creature didn't slow.
*Why isn't it working?*
The rabbit's eyes glowed brighter, its movements growing even more frenzied. It was as if the venom only fueled its rage. Huǐ Yuān barely dodged another swipe, his body screaming in protest as he slithered away.
*I need to lose it!*
The rabbit gave chase, its claws tearing through the undergrowth as it pursued him. Huǐ Yuān's heart pounded as he wove through the trees, his tiny body barely keeping ahead of the monstrous hare.
*Think, think!*
He spotted a fallen log and darted beneath it, hoping to lose the rabbit in the shadows. But the creature was relentless, its claws shredding the wood as it dug after him. Huǐ Yuān burst out the other side, his body aching with every movement.
*I can't keep this up.*
The rabbit lunged again, its teeth snapping inches from his tail. Huǐ Yuān twisted sharply, using a tree root to launch himself into the air. He landed on a low branch, but the rabbit was already leaping after him.
*No!*
He dropped to the ground just as the rabbit's claws tore through the branch. The impact sent splinters flying, and Huǐ Yuān used the distraction to slither away.
*There!*
A small hole in the ground, partially hidden by roots and moss, caught his eye. Without thinking, he dove into it, his body scraping against the rough stone as he tumbled deeper into the earth.
The rabbit's claws scraped against the entrance, but it was too large to follow. Its enraged screeches echoed after him as he slithered further into the darkness.
Huǐ Yuān's body ached, his scales torn and bleeding. He collapsed onto the cold stone floor, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The faint light from the entrance illuminated the walls of the cave, revealing nothing but damp stone and the occasional patch of moss.
At the far end of the cave, a small pool of water shimmered faintly, its surface still and undisturbed.
*Safe. For now.*
As the rabbit's screeches faded into the distance, Huǐ Yuān curled up in the darkness, his body trembling with exhaustion.
*What was that thing?*
The memory of the rabbit's glowing eyes and bloodied muzzle sent a shiver through him. It wasn't just a predator—it was something more, something unnatural.
*I need to get stronger. I can't let something like that catch me again.*
He glanced at the pool of water, his reflection rippling faintly in the dim light. His scales were torn, his body battered, but he was alive.
*I'll survive. One way or another.*