Hare of Misfortune

She and Nia sat on the ground, the last tree pincered between them with an endless graveyard of pumpkins, oversized grapes, scarecrows, and cackling jack-o’-lanterns closing in on the rejected monster, shunned from the pack. Cracked with blackened wood and filled with a fit of terrified anger, its Creeping Forest guardian fallen, all the Hateful Heartwood could do was wail as it was torn to splinters while they watched its destruction.

Rachel didn’t know how much time had passed as she bid the Harvest Moon goodbye with her fellow monsters; it had been fun, and the slow strangulation of their shared prey had been a good bonding experience.

Unlike an average moon, a themed or singular moon could last as long as its hunger was met, so she couldn’t say how long this trial had lasted. Long enough for Nia to get fat on the energy, filling an entire pool.

Nia smacked her lips. ”I can’t explain it, Major. Don’t you feel...what’s the word—satisfied?”

”I am,” she whispered. The haunting laughter of Hallow’s Eve faded as the world vanished, leaving them in the middle of the extravagant stadium under the frigid stare of Dionysus; cheers came from the audience, which was all that mattered.

Rachel’s shimmering vermilion-eclipsed gaze centered on the lesser god. ”I hope you enjoyed the screams. Who knew monsters could fall so far?”

”Is that so?” Dionysus mused, leaning against the side of the chair he now sat on while appraising her. He hid what bubbled underneath well behind a cold exterior, sipping on his wine. Conner was up, and the Greek god was no longer supporting him, yet the man still tried to put on a show as Dionysus passively tossed his die. ”I look forward to seeing you demonstrate that in the next round. In fact...”

He lifted his hand to the sky, making Conner’s eyes widen as the Challenge Rating went up to 2. ”Interesting thing is...once you accept it once, I can return to it whenever I want. Isn’t that fun?”

Rachel rolled around her neck, her hair returning to its normal glow as Nia sucked out her Lunar Pool to fill it back up with the white moon she’d slowly extracted; with the Harvest Moon’s light gone, her fear-induced love slipped away, yet her smile did not. Nia was proving to be quite the item, capable of storing her Black, Blood, and Harvest Moon—Nia’s choice in expanding the amount of Pools was critical—energy for later.

”Wonderful! It means we’ll get better rewards. Playing right into my hand again, Dionysus. What will it be, Conner?”

Nia huffed as she was pushed off to Eostre’s side to be out of the limelight, so she went to check on the woman. ”Yikes, uh...his vines are slowly going to some not-so-nice places, Rach! She needs our help if we’re going to save her from some trauma.”

Hmm. Rachel tossed her own die, the lesser god not even hyping up the crowd anymore. He was now looking at her as a true threat, which meant she had to drop his feet out and let him hang by her next contest. We need to help Conner now if we’re going to survive this. We just need to distract him. If we focus on Eostre, it will only make it worse for her.

She smirked as they landed.

Conner: 12

Rachel: 15

Dionysus: 14

Crowd: 7

Searching through the options, she came to her choice, recalling the lessons she learned as a child from her mother. ”Location: Gaia’s hallowed sanctuary with the blessed water of...Neptune. Wait, are Greek and Roman pantheons the same?”

Dionysus’ fingernails dug into his chair, splitting the wood as Conner looked at her as if she were crazy. ”Being smart, are we? No, shockingly, there is a division between the Greek and Roman pantheons that has caused...problems. You continue to vex me. Monster: The Magma Dragon.”

”Can I do another Item Selector?” Conner mumbled, looking for permission.

The lesser god showed a savage gaze. ”Sure!”

”Cheaters,” Nia huffed.

”Item Selection: The companion constellation Delphinus.” Rachel could feel the pressure mounting as Conner’s fingers trembled, staring at his former sponsor. ”I will win.”

A pink-furred cat yawned and rubbed her eyes, fixing her witch’s hat before looking up at the options. ”Mmm... Restriction: Five minutes of use.”

”Dammit!” Conner snarled, yet he was already transported into the fight without warning. ”Haha! Okay. I’ll do it in four! Let’s go, Delphin—”

Rachel sat on the edge of the VIP box, observing the lesser god. His cold eyes were fixed on her, or perhaps on Nike within her outfit. Nia took the opposite side, studying Eostre’s trembling fingers, the vines creeping up her legs, into her dress, and down her throat. Neither of them was too intent on watching Conner’s unironically gripping fight.

”Hey, Rach,” Nia whispered. ”If I don’t make it out of this. I just wanted to say thank you for saving me. And you know what I mean, so don’t go downplaying what you did. I can’t believe you’ve actually stepped up to a lesser god... No, I can see it; I’d do it in your position.”

Rachel’s chest shook with silent laughter, holding a knee to her chest while her other dangled off the edge. I feel something special coming for our dear friend Dionysus. Much like that story about the boy who got too close to the sun, he is playing with forces he doesn’t understand.

She turned to give Moongmor an encouraging smile as he appeared on his mistress’ lap, ears pulled back and looking up at the tulpa, the woman trying to show a brave face. Eostre had tried her best to support her, going so far as to send her private messages that could get her in trouble; there was steel in her underneath the frightened exterior that Rachel recognized.

A sadistic spike pricked her heart as she turned back to leer at the Greek deity. Next challenge, everything comes to a point. Every string of misfortune and careful manipulation I’ve tugged will either snap around his golden throat, and we’re all dead, or... I will have killed a lesser god.

Nia’s ears pulled back in an impressed stare and prompted Rachel to clarify. ”What’s gonna happen?”

Well, I don’t know, and ’I’ am not going to kill him, but my contributions to things in that general direction will make something happen. Everyone helped. I just had to make the proper tweaks I could see. I don’t quite fully understand it myself.

The bunny’s fist balled up before giving her a thumbs up. ”Glad to know I’m helpful, Boss. We definitely are going shopping after all this, though. I need to stress eat.”

Finding a certain satisfaction in how things had progressed, Rachel could feel victory nearing. And maybe much of this had been Nike’s support from the shadows, calling out for help. She was a derelict of war without Athena and needed to find a new home.

You’ve got yourself a deal.