The rabbit sat perched in the palm of the massive troll, his small body trembling slightly as the hulking creature carried him through the village. The troll's hand was rough like stone, each finger thicker than his entire body, but it held him carefully, as though he were some precious treasure.
All around them, the village stirred. Dozens of glowing eyes turned toward him, piercing the shadows like lanterns. The trolls stopped whatever they had been doing—stacking crude stones, sharpening jagged weapons, roasting meat over open fires—and they all dropped to one knee. Their heavy forms bent low, foreheads pressing against the ground in a show of respect.
The rabbit's ears twitched nervously. He had never seen so many towering monsters in one place, and the way they all bowed sent a shiver down his spine. His tiny paws clenched against the troll's palm as he thought: They're all bowing to me… but why? I'm just… a rabbit.
Inside his mind, the lion's deep voice rumbled, calm and commanding. "Power attracts power. When you hatched, the force of your awakening spread across this land. These creatures felt it. To them, you are no longer prey—you are a higher being. Whether you understand it or not, little one, they see you as their chieftain now."
"Chieftain?" the rabbit whispered aloud, his voice small and squeaky. Me? I don't even know how to lead myself, let alone anyone else.
The troll carrying him rumbled in its throat and slowed. Before them rose the largest hut in the village. Unlike the others made of wood and scraps, this one was built from blackened stone and reinforced with the bones of beasts, their sharp ends jutting outward like fangs. Two crude totems stood at its entrance, carved into twisted shapes that seemed to leer at all who passed by.
The troll lowered its hand and carefully set the rabbit down before the hut. The others crowded around in a wide circle, dozens of hulking bodies crouching low, their heavy breathing mixing with the crackle of fire. They said nothing, but their silence carried a weight that made the rabbit's fur bristle.
The rabbit stood frozen, tiny paws sinking into the dirt. He had no idea what to say, no words that could possibly match the gravity of the moment. Yet every troll bent lower, pressing their faces into the ground as if his very presence demanded it.
"Do not cower," the lion's voice echoed again, firmer this time. "Even if your tongue cannot form their words, they will feel your intent. Speak, little one. Show them that you accept their loyalty."
The rabbit hesitated. He wasn't brave—he was still the same timid creature who had trembled before the lion's dying body. But he remembered how the voice had told him that monsters followed strength, and for some reason, they believed he was strong. If he faltered now, he might lose them all.
His ears straightened, and he puffed out his small chest. His voice quivered at first, but he forced the words out anyway. "I… will not harm you. If you follow me, I'll protect you."
The circle of trolls rumbled in response, a deep chorus of approval. They slammed their fists into the ground in unison, the impact shaking the earth. The sound was like thunder rolling across the wasteland. The rabbit flinched, startled by the noise, but inside his chest, a strange warmth bloomed.
For the first time since breaking from his cocoon, he felt something new—belonging. These monsters, who could have crushed him with a single blow, were lowering themselves before him. Not out of fear alone, but out of reverence.
The lion's voice spoke once more, quiet and steady. "Good. This is the first step, little one. Remember this feeling. Power alone may frighten, but respect… respect will make them follow you to the ends of the earth."
The rabbit swallowed and nodded, though no one but the lion's soul could see.
The trolls slowly rose from their kneeling positions. Some returned to their work, though their glowing eyes continued to glance toward him as if seeking reassurance. Others stayed close, keeping watch over their new "chieftain." The massive troll who had first carried him let out a low grunt, pointing toward the larger hut.
The meaning was clear enough: this place was his now.
The rabbit hopped forward cautiously, stepping inside. The hut was crude, with a dirt floor and walls of black stone, but it was larger than the others, filled with furs, bones, and strange trinkets. A faint scent of smoke and iron lingered in the air.
It wasn't much… but it was shelter. A place to begin.
The rabbit sat down in the middle of the hut, his tiny body sinking into a pile of rough furs. His ears twitched as the sounds of the village echoed outside—grunts, growls, and the steady beat of drums that had started after his speech. Somehow, the trolls were celebrating.
The rabbit let out a long breath. Everything had happened so quickly: the lion's death, the pact, his transformation, and now an entire village bowing to him. He didn't understand why fate had chosen him, but deep down, something inside told him this was only the beginning.
Far beyond the village, in the barren wastelands, a distant roar split the air. It was not a roar of reverence, but of challenge. Other monsters had felt the shockwave of his birth too. And not all of them would bow.
The rabbit's ears twitched, and the lion's voice echoed once more. "Rest tonight, little one. For tomorrow, you will see that power does not go untested."
The rabbit shivered, curling into the furs. He did not know what awaited him… only that his journey as more than a rabbit had truly begun