RUMBLE!
The sounds of pursuit from behind grew louder, a relentless cacophony of snapping trees and grinding stone!
The Armored Rhinoceros had clearly lost all reason. Following the scent of its cubs and Raylo's group, it was in frenzied pursuit!
"Ahead! Into that Chaotic Stone Forest!"
Bolin shouted, pointing toward an area ahead, a complex terrain of towering boulders.
It was the place he had chosen in advance—the only spot that might temporarily hinder the Armored Rhinoceros's chase!
The three of them pushed themselves to their limits, finally spurring their horses into the Chaotic Stone Forest at the last possible moment before being overtaken.
BOOM!
Barely a second after they rushed in, the Armored Rhinoceros's massive body slammed into the edge of the Chaotic Stone Forest, instantly pulverizing several huge boulders!
But the complex terrain ultimately impeded its charge, preventing it from rampaging as recklessly as it could on open ground.
"GRAAAH! GRAAAAH—!"
Outside the Chaotic Stone Forest, the Armored Rhinoceros roared and charged in a frenzy, sending huge boulders flying in its attempt to break in, but for the moment, the complex terrain held it at bay.
"Go! Don't stop!"
Using the boulders for cover, the group continued their retreat toward Black Stone Town.
Behind them, the Armored Rhinoceros's frustrated, frenzied roars echoed, accompanied by the constant sound of shattering rock.
The entire river valley was plunged into chaos by the Tier Three Magical Beast's rage. Many unfortunate smaller Magical Beasts perished in the ensuing pandemonium.
The trio didn't dare slow their pace until they were far away, well beyond the sound of the roars.
They didn't dare stop, pressing onward until the faint outline of Black Stone Town appeared on the horizon. Only then did they finally let out a collective sigh of relief.
The three looked at one another. They were all covered in grime, their clothes in tatters.
"Hahahaha…"
Looking at each other's pathetic states, they all erupted in laughter.
The outline of Black Stone Town grew clearer in the twilight, and the trio's taut nerves finally began to relax.
Their wild laughter, a release after cheating death, had drained much of their energy. All that remained was exhaustion and satisfaction.
"We're finally back."
Bolin wiped the grime from his face, his voice raspy.
The little rhino on his shoulders was still squirming restlessly, making soft grunting sounds.
The one on Ed's shoulder was the heaviest, weighing him down so much that his steps faltered, but his face was alight with excitement.
"Sir, these little guys are a real handful!"
By the time they walked into Black Stone Town, the sky had grown completely dark.
Sparse lights flickered in the night wind.
Instead of heading straight for his quarters, Raylo led the other two to the stables.
It was reasonably spacious, a suitable place to stash these two "hot potatoes."
"Ed, you stay here and watch over them."
Inside the stable, the two small rhinos huddled together, nuzzling each other. They seemed to have settled down quite a bit.
"Get them some clean hay and water. These little things may not look like much, but they're surprisingly strong."
"Don't worry, Sir."
Ed shooed the two small rhinos into a corner, patting his chest in assurance.
"Leave it to me! I'll make sure they grow up big and plump... er, wait, I mean dark and brawny!"
He looked at the small rhinos' dark hides and couldn't help but chuckle at his own words.
Raylo nodded.
Ed was loyal and reliable. Raylo intended for him to be the one to form a pact with the rhino cubs, so he wanted Ed to start building a bond with them.
Raylo set off alone, not immediately going to find Old Mayor Buck.
He circled the outskirts of Black Stone Town, checking on some small traps he had quietly set before entering earlier in the day.
Sure enough, in the bushes near the edge of town, several simple tripwire traps made from tough vines and sticks had caught something.
Caught in the traps, several plump, sand-colored creatures were struggling futilely.
They bore a slight resemblance to gophers, about the same size, with plump bodies, short little legs, and beady black eyes that darted about, giving them a goofy air. They weren't aggressive; their legs were simply tangled in the vines, and they were letting out little whimpers.
These were sand rats, a common type of Demon in the Black Stone Mountain Range.
Raylo was about to collect his quarry from the traps when a silver-white shadow suddenly shot past him like a phantom.
"Moonlight?" Raylo raised an eyebrow. Considering the danger of stealing the Armored Rhinoceros cubs, he had left Moonlight behind in Black Stone Town.
Like a flowing ribbon of moonlight, Moonlight weaved and leaped nimbly through the town's dim corners.
Moonlight landed lightly on a low wall, its ears pricked, seeming to listen for something.
The next second, it shot forward.
Quick as lightning!
Its claws scrabbled at the dirt, and it snatched a sand rat that was trying to scramble back into its burrow, tossing it aside.
The sand rat was dizzy and disoriented. Before it could react, Moonlight pinned it under a paw, rendering it immobile.
Moonlight seemed to never tire of this "hunting game."
It wasn't in a hurry to kill its prey. Instead, like a cat toying with a mouse, it "swept" through the town.
Wherever it detected the stir of a sand rat, it would pounce like lightning, precisely yanking out every single one that had emerged to forage or dig in the night.
Before long, a pile of a dozen or so sand rats subdued by Moonlight had accumulated near the area of Raylo's traps. They lay paralyzed on the ground like a heap of round potatoes.
Raylo watched Moonlight's efficient "work" and couldn't help but smile.
Just then, Old Buck ambled over, carrying an oil lamp.
"What do you plan to do with these sand rats, Mayor?" Raylo asked.
"Sand rats, eh…"
Old Buck stroked his beard, a glimmer flashing in his murky eyes. He leaned in closer and prodded the fattest sand rat with his cane.
"These things might not look like much, but the meat's firm, with none of that earthy taste. Especially when you slow-roast them over fruitwood and the fat sizzles out… Ah, that flavor… it's truly unique!"
Raylo's interest was piqued. After a busy day and a hair-raising escape, his stomach was completely empty.
He looked at the pile of plump sand rats and could almost smell the aroma of roasting meat.
The fire was built, the meat put to roast.
Before long, the aroma of roasting meat, mixed with the fresh scent of fruitwood, filled the night sky of Black Stone Town.
As the aroma wafted through the air, Moonlight began to drool.
Raylo, Ed, and Bolin sat around the campfire, each holding a sand rat roasted to a golden brown and taking large bites.
Old Buck had been right. The sand rat meat had a unique flavor all its own. The skin was crisp, while the meat inside was firm and springy, with the faint, smoky aroma of fruitwood. It was much more delicious than they could have imagined.
Moonlight crouched nearby, enjoying its own spoils.
Ever since it started following Raylo, Moonlight only ate cooked food. Despite having caught so many sand rats just moments ago, it hadn't touched any of them.
Now, it held a roasted sand rat in its two furry paws and ate with great relish, a contented purr rumbling in its throat.
The night deepened, the bonfire crackling.
From the distant stables, the occasional, restless whimper of the small rhinos could be heard.