Jumping over an obstacle, Seven kept right behind the rabbit.
Ever since he left the plain and entered the buildings, he had been following it closely, though never close enough to leap on it.
"Damn it! Not again!"
Whenever he tried to get closer, the animal would slip between the plants and obstacles in its path, always managing to keep the distance.
If things keep going like this… Looking back, he spotted Leon.
The gap between the two of them was a little wider than the one between Seven and the rabbit, since Leon was having more trouble keeping up and dodging the obstacles.
With heavy, increasingly dry breaths, Leon gradually fell behind as exhaustion took over. But, impressively, even with the physical differences and the thick clothes, backpack, and boots he was wearing, he managed to keep a steady pace.
Seeing that effort, Seven felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
I'm going to lose it again? Even so, he knew that if things continued like this, the rabbit would escape.
It wasn't the first time they had chased it—in fact, they had already lost count of how many times they had tried, always with the same pure white fur that stayed that way all year round, and because it always stayed nearby, following them to find the fruits they harvested around the city.
Besides that, even after so many attempts to catch it, the rabbit never seemed to care about keeping a greater distance or hiding better. It acted with complete naturalness.
That irritated Seven a little.
Shaking his head to push those thoughts away, he called out:
"Can you keep going a little longer?"
Struggling to answer, Leon gasped for air between words.
"Just… a little… more…"
I need to find a spot without obstacles or anything it can use to hide… and fast. Looking ahead, he tried to find a place to close the gap.
Surrounded by tall buildings and piles of rubble blocking the ground floor, they were running down a straight street with no side exits, and besides a few scattered plants like bushes and vines, or concrete blocks, there was nothing else in the way.
That was when Seven saw his chance. Just ahead there was a clear stretch, with nothing it could use—neither plants nor debris—to slow them down.
"Leon, now!" Giving everything they had one last time, they began to close in.
Realizing this, the rabbit started running faster too, but it was also exhausted from its wounds and fatigue. It couldn't pull away, only slow their approach a little, while desperately searching for something to use to delay its pursuers—but it found nothing.
Getting close to the animal, Seven saw his opportunity and leaped on it—
Eh?
—when the rabbit suddenly veered sideways, darting into a street that intersected the one they were on.
Falling to the ground, Seven rolled for a moment before finally stopping.
"Brother!"
Worried, Leon ran up to check if he was okay—but he was startled when Seven suddenly sprang up from the ground, shouting:
"It's not over yet!"
Without wasting a second, he headed into the street the rabbit had entered. It wasn't very long, but it led to an open area between the buildings.
"I don't see it…" he said, clicking his tongue. "…let's go, Leon!"
Reaching the end of the street, they entered the open space, which looked like a large square between the buildings. But with huge chunks of concrete fallen from the nearby structures and filled with rebar and twisted metal structures that had lost their shape, the place was completely chaotic.
It couldn't have gone far!
Passing the street and the piles of rusted metal that resembled cars, they stepped into the square.
Climbing onto a large piece of a fallen building, more than three meters high, Seven lay down and took the binoculars from his backpack, beginning his search.
It's tired, but it must have tried to get as far away as possible…
Meanwhile, Leon threw himself down beside him, lying on his back, and—still breathing heavily—remained silent for a few moments until he caught his breath.
"Did… you find it??"
"Not yet…"
Since he didn't know where it had gone, Seven had no idea where to start looking. All he could do was search for any movement.
"It… must have escaped?"
Even though he said that, Leon was still speaking in murmurs.
"No, it must still be nearby."
It must be wounded and tired. It couldn't have gone that far… After shaking us off, it probably ran into some hole to hide.
"Let's wait a bit, hoping it feels safe and starts moving again."
Leon, whose breathing was now more controlled, also picked up a pair of binoculars.
"Are you sure? Do we have time for this?"
Feeling a tightness in his chest, Seven glanced anxiously at the sky.
Phew… —but he felt relieved when he saw the position of the sun— the chase was faster than it felt, but…
"Not much…"
Turning his attention back down, they continued their search in absolute silence, while a light breeze passed between the buildings and across the square, refreshing Leon.
However, the seconds soon turned into minutes, and they still found nothing.
Feeling the shadow of a building beginning to cover him, Seven sighed — It's time to head back… —and slowly started to get up.
Another defeat… even after getting so close…
"Let's go, Leon."
On his knees, he called to his brother, who was still using the binoculars.
"We don't have any more—"
"—There!"
The moment he heard it, Seven dropped to the ground and aimed his binoculars where his brother pointed, spotting it.
Slowly, in the space between some rubble, Seven saw two large ears appear as it cautiously checked its surroundings.
This!!
"I'm going after it." Covering his head with camouflage cloth, he began preparing.
This time you're not getting away.
Emptying the plants from his backpack, he removed his quiver and a few other items, carrying only the backpack, knife, one arrow, and the bow.
Looking at the metal bow, Seven smiled.
It was old—older than Seven—covered in scratches, dents, and worn spots, but with a thin layer of grease on the metal and still completely functional.
"I'm coming with you!" Excited, Leon started to move, but was quickly stopped.
"No, stay here and rest. You've already pushed yourself hard, and we still have the way back after I catch it."
"But what if you start chasing it again? And end up going too far?"
"Well… if that happens… if the rabbit gets too far ahead, I'll give up, so you can stay here."
"Got it…"
Descending the pile, Seven entered the square.
Using the vegetation and debris as cover, he advanced carefully—choosing spots where the concrete was exposed so the sound of branches and leaves wouldn't give him away—while periodically checking the target's position with his brother.
Found you.
Stopping near a bush, he began drawing the bowstring.
On the other side, behind the foliage, a few meters away, the rabbit had already left its hole and found a bush with small bluish fruits.
Standing on its hind legs, it used its mouth to grab the fruit hanging among the leaves of the loaded plant and knock it to the ground.
As soon as it finished eating, it looked for another.
After a few hops, it moved under the next one and stretched up to reach it, but the fruit was higher than the others, making it difficult.
Meanwhile, Seven slowly pulled the bowstring, when—Crik—the bow produced a faint metallic creak.
Damn it!
The animal stopped eating and looked in his direction, ears pointed toward him.
Under its gaze, to avoid making any more noise that might alert it further, he stopped drawing the string and remained completely still, trusting that his camouflage would keep him hidden behind the bush.
After a few minutes in that situation, Seven felt his arms beginning to tire from holding the string; little by little, they started to tremble. On top of that, the rabbit, still fixated on the bush hiding him, wouldn't allow him to take any action.
Just a little longer… In that situation, he knew he could do nothing but endure, because any movement risked making more noise.
Under the animal's gaze, he remained motionless, pushing himself to the limit, until finally the rabbit gave up and turned its attention back to the fruits.
Now!
Filling his lungs, using the last of his strength, no longer caring about making noise, he pulled the string to its maximum—Crrrick—aimed quickly, and released the arrow.
The rabbit noticed the sound and tried to react, but it had no time. It was struck squarely by the arrow, which knocked its small body sideways, but…
"Damn it!"
He hadn't killed it.
Frustrated, he watched the rabbit run away after surviving for the second time, the arrow still embedded in its body.
How?! I hit it dead center!!
With no time to waste, he dropped the bow and started chasing it again.
Running between the plants and concrete blocks, just like before, the rabbit tried with all its might to slow him down, but leaping over some and dodging others, Seven stayed right behind it.
He wasn't the only one who rested!
Without either of them noticing, they gradually left the open area, heading toward the buildings that surrounded them. They crossed a street and entered an abandoned building with its entire front open.
Passing through a once-rich entrance hall—with a marble floor and a long reception desk, now decadent and covered in debris and dirt—they dodged a large fallen chandelier and crystals scattered across the floor, continuing deeper into the building.
Entering a corridor, Seven noticed something: the rabbit was starting to pull away from him. Maybe out of desperation or because it was a straight line, but it was gradually gaining distance.
I need to push harder! Giving everything he had, Seven gave one final burst to catch up, but his legs went numb—he was nearing his limit.
Losing speed, he watched the rabbit pull ahead, passing several side doors along the corridor until it darted into one of them.
No… Believing the rabbit had found an exit, he tasted defeat—but suddenly he saw it emerge from inside, reigniting his hope.
Though it had only been a short time, it was enough for him to close the distance for one last attempt.
Without missing the chance, he leaped on it.
"Got you!"
Struggling, the rabbit began squealing, twisting, and biting at anything in front of it in an attempt to break free. But, drawing a knife from his waist, Seven stabbed it in one swift motion, finally ending its movements.
"Yes!"
Removing the cloth that covered his head, he wore a huge smile as he sheathed the knife and then took off his backpack to tie the rabbit to it.
Feeling calmer, he let all the accumulated exhaustion hit his body, but he didn't care.
Finally… after so many attempts, I finally got it…
With some difficulty, trying to control his trembling hands and heavy breathing, he tied up the animal.
Once finished, he slung the backpack onto his back again and began to rise slowly, supporting himself on his knee, when he heard a sound nearby.
Coming from behind him, it was slow, steady, and gradually growing louder, as if something was approaching.
Feeling a chill run down his entire spine, he turned toward the source, his heart racing as he froze in fear.
A slender being, over two meters tall, with skin as white as snow where its bones were perfectly visible beneath, stood just a few meters away, advancing toward him.
A… a wanderer!
With each step it took, marked by the sound of bare feet meeting the cold marble floor, it drew closer and closer.
Unable to stay calm, in a whirlwind of emotions—from tremendous joy to absolute terror, with a chill enveloping his entire body—he remained frozen before it.
But steadily, it continued approaching, step by step.
In a moment of lucidity, perhaps awakened by his own screaming instinct, using what strength he had left, he drew the knife again and pointed it at the creature.
It wouldn't make the slightest difference. He knew that. It was no greater threat than a twig to the creature, because it was something he could neither fight nor had any chance of facing.
Dad…