Four years later…
209Please respect copyright.PENANAOfnYlquife
Eleo—now twelve years old—sat at the kitchen table, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. Across from him, Abby and Lucy stared at him in complete shock.
209Please respect copyright.PENANARTPhtuDuWv
“I’m leaving,” he said flatly, like he was announcing the weather.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAtQYcnw61nh
Silence.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA3TiPZfUe0C
Then—SMACK!
209Please respect copyright.PENANARhgfGBt9sV
Lucy slapped her hands on the table. “ELEO! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAKRpE0Xbg9I
Abby’s ears drooped. “But… why?”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAhPMD36j9HL
Eleo stretched and yawned. “I don’t wanna stay on this island forever. I wanna see the world. Get stronger.” He crossed his arms with a proud nod. “And besides, I’ve already spent my whole life here!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANA18ZFfH95iK
Lucy pinched the bridge of her nose. “Eleo… you’re twelve. That’s not a whole life. That’s, like… a long lunch break in adult years.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAtdCVrn3Joj
Abby looked down, gripping her sleeves. “But what about me…? We’re best friends.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAzVYozH4wjk
Eleo sighed. “I know, Abby… but c’mon. I’m pretty sure you can make other friends.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4HwMJ1iqH
Abby’s fists clenched. “You’re my only friend, Eleo… my best friend.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANA3hx6z2akhX
That hit Eleo like a punch to the gut. He opened his mouth, then closed it again.
209Please respect copyright.PENANALMBds7TS3H
Abby’s voice trembled. “I remember when we first met… it was snowing. We were five. And that jerk Nico…”
209Please respect copyright.PENANApChFCItlkN
Flashback:
209Please respect copyright.PENANAM9WYi9iKRz
The snow fell gently from a pale gray sky.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAxaQIMraB41
A small Abby stood alone, shivering. A group of laughing kids circled her, led by Nico—a young wolf kid with a smug grin.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA8XO3BzAeVu
“Look at her,” he sneered. “Guess no one wants to be friends with a weakling!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANA2SLZQJEcXf
The others laughed.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA6FaLnd6dec
Abby’s ears folded back. She looked down, eyes stinging.
209Please respect copyright.PENANASMxuKCZamC
Then—SMACK!
209Please respect copyright.PENANAxbEVJtmv08
A snowball slammed into Nico’s face.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAavRENJFg4g
Silence.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAx5bRxDkrFc
Everyone turned.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAE3ZL6uXkIV
Standing a few feet away was a short, scruffy bunny kid—fur messy, fists trembling, eyes burning with fury.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAgLEBzYb1ph
“HEY! LEAVE HER ALONE!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAlZUdZLW32f
Nico wiped snow off his snout. “Oh, you wanna be a hero?”
209Please respect copyright.PENANA8PfI2NsO97
He cracked his knuckles. “GET HIM.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAE2qBthOPCb
Eleo’s eyes widened. “…Oh no.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAvAZyPtFzym
BAM! SMACK! THUD!
209Please respect copyright.PENANA75SwfLzgVi
The bullies beat him senseless. When they walked off, Nico snorted, “These two losers deserve each other.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAyHSSxkhnRR
Abby stared at the bruised, face-down bunny lying in the snow. Slowly, she knelt and rolled him over.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAJgeKgpGQyI
Tears welled up in her eyes.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAYhAr2XXXLz
“Why…?” she whispered. “Why did you help me?”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAJs3wWHZteO
She thought he was unconscious.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAWNzP5ORQKs
“It’s my fault… If I wasn’t weak…”
209Please respect copyright.PENANA1LMIRH5boa
Then—
209Please respect copyright.PENANARrJLWPOIUT
Eleo suddenly shot up and screamed, “BECAUSE I THINK YOU’RE COOL~!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAyzJctxbk78
And then instantly collapsed again.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAPeAX4f0i0V
Abby stared, stunned.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAmU7dSww7Qc
Then she laughed—really laughed.
209Please respect copyright.PENANADITBSmUBs8
For the first time that day… she felt warm.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAruuytbxCLU
209Please respect copyright.PENANAcdFidjO3KL
Abby wiped her eyes, smiling through her tears. “That was the day we became friends. You were a total idiot… but you were my idiot.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAWYFPPDhoKT
Eleo scratched the back of his head. “…Still am.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAT28GIgQMpv
Lucy exhaled, softer this time. “At least you’re self-aware.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANALgdMJgPjGf
Abby looked up. “Eleo… do you really have to go?”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAzEYCIvRGNm
Eleo stood, putting on his best confident grin. “Yeah. But don’t worry—I’ll come back someday!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANA87HSOTfWNg
“Promise?” Abby whispered.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAlfcKmiXQqC
Eleo held up his pinky. “Pinky swear.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAg9FsCfKPbK
She stared at him… then linked hers with his.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAKP4RhULQKd
“Fine,” she muttered. “But if you die, I will find a way to bring you back just to kill you again.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAkKkF1HPWkD
Lucy smiled gently. “And I’ll help her.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAnQ9nNa1u0l
Eleo laughed. “Haha! I like the spirit!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAuyxjLIJq60
But as he turned toward the door, that smile dimmed—just a little.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAtRQyjww0FA
This was it.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAaQPdEBR5hc
His journey was beginning.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAiAXxZenc85
209Please respect copyright.PENANASuZU8O0OuJ
“WAIT, ELEO!” Abby ran after him as he stepped onto his tiny wooden boat.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA3vG2gwvBOT
He blinked. “Huh? Did I forget my bag? My carrots?! MY EARS?! OH MY GOSH, ARE THEY GONE?!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAJwnkrJixsp
SMACK!
209Please respect copyright.PENANA0hsBY2u2RR
Lucy flicked the back of his head. “Your ears are literally right there, you goofball.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAgySDPqECIx
Eleo sighed with relief. “Whew. That was close.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAZDTxjj6c1k
Abby chuckled, then pulled out a small necklace.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAjuRlUrYLFQ
“Here. I want you to have this.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAnSp5wGZ8VI
Eleo tilted his head. “Is it food?”
209Please respect copyright.PENANApq0yb4Z1Xh
Lucy groaned. “It’s a necklace.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANALYfwyzENZG
Abby smiled. “It has a little carving of me on it. So you won’t forget.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAjrAPNTf49G
Eleo grinned wide and tossed it around his neck. “Cool! Now I have a mini-Abby! I’ll never be alone again!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAvU1KgTKsDT
Abby looked away, blinking back tears. “Please don’t forget me, Eleo.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAZycNNkOWqR
Eleo gave her a thumbs-up. “Pfft. Like I could forget you.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAof2xYjBSZM
“Just don’t do anything stupid out there.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAFPSQh5lvWY
Lucy sighed. “Yeah… good luck with that.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAkeLsxRcjv5
Eleo climbed into his boat and pushed off.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAhce5ziPaMN
“BYE, LUCY! BYE, ABBY! BYE, EVERYONE!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANA1HXc2u5rDq
The villagers waved as his little boat drifted off into the endless blue sea.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAs5jg5TzAVQ
Abby whispered, “Be safe, you dumb bunny…”
209Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZIaDMDvvL
209Please respect copyright.PENANABNBJeuoCRI
The sun was high. The breeze was nice.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAnz5duW2HPn
Eleo sat cross-legged in his boat, arms folded, looking serious.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAg58reeRLZ1
“Alright,” he said. “Time to begin my journey and become the stro—uh…”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAczDiMs6cCp
Pause.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAwZBDCPHb4H
“…Wait. Where am I even going?”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAulmPrpOesX
He scratched his head. Then nodded confidently.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAZZ8OdveeUd
“MEH. I’LL JUST GO STRAIGHT. THAT ALWAYS WORKS.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANA5piEWqmY0W
His stomach growled.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAKLr8j9DJgi
“Good thing I packed my carrot stash!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANApQsXdSByTK
He reached into a sack stuffed with carrots, pulled one out, and took a huge bite.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAaP1ZBk5SDy
“Yup. I’m a genius.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAhd4V84SwmE
Then—
209Please respect copyright.PENANAoURm5BPJwE
SPLASH.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAwsriVEaMrR
A dark fin cut through the water beside the boat.
209Please respect copyright.PENANANZvWQSsvaF
Eleo’s chewing slowed.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA8tQfmlbbNt
“…Uh oh.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANApBppG3hv6C
The fin circled him. Slowly. Menacingly.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAjhERCeDJ7J
Eleo’s eyes widened. “W-Wait… is that…?”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAOk5sgbeTTE
RAAAWR!!!
209Please respect copyright.PENANANvqJBlDTiG
A massive Bear Shark leapt from the water—shark head, bear arms, sheer nightmare fuel.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAfMV6LnKWXh
Eleo’s eyes sparkled.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAWRKZGlmRzL
“COOL!! I’VE NEVER SEEN ONE SO CLOSE BEFORE!!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAhIGsFtjqLg
The beast roared and lunged.
209Please respect copyright.PENANANnvJRJ0xJG
Eleo stood up, fists clenched.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAmp0omyQgK0
“TIME TO TEST MY POWERS!!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAlBHixfOKaG
INK BARRAGE!!!
209Please respect copyright.PENANAQB6x8k94Ut
He flailed his fists wildly—like a rabid blender.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA78NFpvMAen
WHAM! BAM! SPLAT!
209Please respect copyright.PENANA81QNNHmCuc
Ink exploded from his punches, pummeling the bear shark’s face.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAWeNwb8UJE6
BOOOOM!!!
209Please respect copyright.PENANAENvRAqoCDQ
The monster went flying—Team Rocket-style—into the clouds.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAGWd8wAbFMW
Eleo stood triumphant, fists steaming.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAbL86Ckympw
“YEAH! That’s what you get, fishy freak!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAioVgBUvYya
He dusted off his hands and nodded to himself.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAJTrjrVlXoY
“…Welp. That takes care of that.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAcorX8EWFFv
He leaned back, grinning at the sky.
“Now… I shall let the sea take me… while I eat me carrots. Hehe~”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAUJYHLXyOzI
He opened his sack and peeked inside. His eyes sparkled.
Rows and rows of bright orange carrots.
His mouth watered instantly.
209Please respect copyright.PENANApYQbhDuYaj
“Breakfast, lunch, dinner, second dinner, and dessert~!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANACZNkDSt12z
He devoured them one by one like a machine—crunch! chomp! chew! gulp!
209Please respect copyright.PENANAXfEjBMl7yY
🌙 One Day and One Night Later…
209Please respect copyright.PENANA3XgL5UghTg
Eleo lay on his back in the boat, snoring loud enough to scare birds out of the sky. His stomach had expanded like a balloon, round and wobbling. A huge snot bubble grew and shrank with every breath.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA8DCxn4wBJ4
Somehow, against all logic, no sea monsters had dared to attack.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAxxxAWw4nFb
SPLOOSH!
209Please respect copyright.PENANALiUOE8SLTT
A sudden splash nearby popped his snot bubble.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAfYigE5UXQJ
Eleo blinked awake, groggy.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA3fQV7hCcb7
“Mmgh… wha… huh? Is that a bear shark? Or… or was that just my imagination…”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAU9qodA5FcW
He sat up, looked around at the empty sea, and shrugged.
“Meh. Time to go back to sleep.”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAD5LPM9Uy1h
TWANG!
209Please respect copyright.PENANARekCTrPxui
A huge arrow zipped past his face, slicing the air and embedding itself into the deck beside
209Please respect copyright.PENANAy5oMa7JmPK
him.
209Please respect copyright.PENANALWToTTH9qg
Eleo’s eyes shot wide open.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA6vH4dRIDzC
“WHAT THE HELL?!”
209Please respect copyright.PENANAUqwgZ62u0h
He looked around, spinning in circles—only to realize he couldn’t see anything.
209Please respect copyright.PENANAyecwbRaUj8
Thick, swirling fog had crept in all around the boat.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA8MImJQpfaF
Eleo’s ears twitched.
209Please respect copyright.PENANA7CcIiG4rXq
“…What the hell? I can’t see anything.”
ns216.73.216.206da2