Sniper danger

Eleo and Chiyo sat slumped behind the rock, both breathing heavily. Their foreheads glistened with sweat, hearts still pounding from the near-death moment.

"ELEO! CHIYO!" Timmy shouted as he scurried over. "Are you two okay?!"

Eleo gave a shaky thumbs-up. "Y-Yeah… thanks to Olorun. Come here and hug me—I need love."

Eleo flung his arms around Olorun in a tight, overdramatic hug. Chiyo joined in from the other side, squeezing them both.

"Thank you, Olorun," she said, her voice soft but still proud. "My dear lightning god."

Olorun scratched the back of his head with a laugh. "Well, y'know... I couldn't have done it without my amazing reflexes."

But in his mind…

"Honestly… I don't know what the hell that was. Did I see something before it happened? Or… did the others see me move first? Wait—what did I even do?! Whatever. I'm glad it worked."

Meanwhile, Kenji carefully peeked around the rock, eyes scanning the landscape. A shot fired instantly—he flinched and jerked back behind cover.

"Tch—!"

Tony whipped around. "Kenji! Did you spot where the bastard is?!"

Kenji grunted. "No. Couldn't be out there for more than a second—he's fast."

Tony cursed. "Shit. That means we're pinned down. Can't even move without eating a bullet."

Kawai waddled over to the left side, joining Tony and Kenji. With the boldest courage his stubby body could muster, he raised his flipper just slightly past cover.

POP-POP!

A bullet barely missed it—Kawai yelped, flailing and hopping in place.

"MEEP MEEP MEEP!!"

Kenji exhaled sharply. "Yeah… we're stuck here. Unless that guy runs out of ammo."

Tony shook his head. "No chance. He's using an Ascendant's weapon. Custom enchanted—those things don't run out."

Chiyo snapped. "So how the hell do we beat someone we can't even see?"

Tony leaned back against the rock, thinking. "Unless one of us risks peeking out fast enough to scan his position…"

Eleo raised a hand like a student. "Wait a sec! Tony, you're a skeleton, right?"

Tony turned, suspicious. "Yes, my dear, genius leader. I am a skeleton."

Eleo grinned. "So you can take a bullet to the face, right?"

Tony blinked. "Technically, yes. But more than one and my beautiful bone face might get a crack—imagine the horror."

Kenji rolled his eyes and unsheathed one of his swords. "Forget risking heads."

He slowly extended the flat side of his blade past the rock, angling it just right. Through the reflection, he caught a faint glint of metal—a silhouette perched on a high ridge.

BANG!

Kenji pulled the blade back instantly. "Got him. Big rock. West side."

Olorun smirked. "Nice job, Swordboy."

Kenji gave him a sideways look. "Anytime, Lightning Boy."

High above, the sniper crouched low, pulling the bolt back on his weapon with a soft click-clack. His eyes narrowed.

"…That sword trick…" he muttered, watching the party from afar. "He used the reflection."

He exhaled, slowly backing away from the ridge.

"No matter. You found me once—but now I move."

He slid down the rock wall with silent precision, boots barely making a sound as they touched sand. The wind caught his dark, wild hair, and the glint from his earrings shimmered in the light.

"Alright, swordsman…" he whispered, smirking as he chambered a fresh round."Let's play."

Back behind cover, Kenji clenched his fists, jaw tight.

"God damn it. I want to rush him, but I'll just get shot the moment I step out."

Eleo rubbed his chin dramatically. "Mmm… maybe I can use my Ink Bubble Shield!"

Chiyo raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that break instantly?"

Timmy piped up, adjusting his leafy satchel. "Yeah, uh… Ascendant weapons can destroy diamonds. Even an Ink shield wouldn't last a second."

Olorun's eyes lit up. "Yo, I need one of those."

Eleo sighed and flopped back into the sand. "Welp. I'm out of ideas. We're doomed."

Tony glanced over—and squinted. "Hey… what the hell are you drawing?"

Kawai, in his own world, was huddled in the sand with a stick. He turned it around proudly, revealing a surprisingly good drawing of himself flying heroically, with a cape, sparkles, and hearts all around.

Timmy gasped. "Ohhh… I get it now! He wants us to throw him into the air, distract the sniper, and then one of us can move in while he's focused on Kawai!"

Kenji blinked. "That's… actually kind of smart. I guess."

Kawai tilted his head. "Meep?"

Tony laughed. "Man, I always knew you had it in you. Little genius."

Kawai shook his head frantically—clearly not what he meant at all.

Eleo marched over, squatting beside him. "Kawai, you're so smart… and brave!"

Chiyo smiled. "And big. And strong."

Olorun gave a lazy salute. "And the coolest."

Timmy added with a grin, "And super smart too!"

Kawai got so flustered, he spun in place and gave a proud flipper thumbs-up, cheeks puffed out.

Tony clapped. "Alright, team. Now—who's going to actually attack the sniper while Kawai's putting on the firework show?"

Kenji stepped forward. "I will. I was the one who spotted him first."

Olorun scoffed. "Nah, hell no. I just saved Eleo and Chiyo—I should go."

Chiyo crossed her arms. "Actually, we should go. Me or Eleo. We almost got sniped."

Eleo nodded with pure confidence. "Yup. And I'm feeling powerful right now."

Tony raised his bony finger. "Why don't you all just play rock-paper-scissors?"

All four paused.

"…Good idea, Tony," they said in perfect unison.

Timmy blinked. "Wait, aren't you playing too?"

Tony waved it off. "Nah, nah. I'm just here for the fun. I'm the one throwing Kawai the Missile."

Kawai's eyes widened. "MEEP?! MEEP MEEP!?"

Eleo cracked his knuckles. "Okay, let's go! Everyone ready?"

Olorun sighed. "Fine…"

Together, all four chanted:

"Rock, paper, scissors—

—SHOOT!"

Olorun: ✋

Kenji: ✋

Chiyo: ✋

Eleo: ✌️

Eleo shot up, fists raised. "YAHOOO! I WIN!"

Chiyo groaned. "God damn it."

Kenji shrugged. "I already knew I wasn't gonna win."

Olorun slumped. "Yeah… same. I could feel it."

Tony spun around, triumphant. "Welp! That's settled."

He bent down, picked up Kawai, who was visibly trembling now, his round face pale with panic.

"Don't give me that cute face," Tony snorted. "Sorry, my furry little panic-ball. That ain't gonna work on me."

Suddenly—

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The group froze.

Timmy looked around. "Wait… what's that sound?"

Eleo, hands still in the air, smiled. "Oh, maybe it's an alarm congratulating me for winning the game!"

BOOOOOOOM!!!

A deafening explosion ripped through the dunes, shaking the ground and blasting a wave of sand and debris over the group.

The light vanished. Smoke filled the air.

Eleo groaned, eyes blinking open as his body twitched from the impact. Sand clung to his fur, and heat pulsed around him.

He looked up and saw the once-sturdy rock wall now half-destroyed, jagged and crumbling, barely shielding anyone.

All around him, his teammates lay unconscious, dusted in sand and debris.

Everyone… except Tony and Kawai.

"Ugh… what happened…?" Eleo mumbled, pushing himself onto shaky paws.

Tony knelt beside him, looking relieved. "Oh thank the bone gods. You're up."

He motioned behind him. "Everyone's okay—I dragged their unconscious bodies back into cover before the shockwave hit full force."

Tony wiped his brow dramatically. "I even had to carry Kenji. Ugh. He's heavier than he looks."

Eleo blinked, still dazed. "Huh?"

Tony stood tall and slapped Eleo lightly on the cheeks. "Focus, carrot-brain. I need you to go after him the moment I throw Kawai. Got it?"

Eleo looked around again, dazed.

Tony grabbed him by the shoulders and lifted him up. "ELEO! Did you hear me?!"

Eleo blinked. "…Huh?"

Tony exhaled through his nonexistent nose. "I said: The moment I throw Kawai, you charge the bastard. Got it?"

Eleo gave a confused nod. "Ohhhh. Okay!"

Tony grinned, glancing down at Kawai.

"And you, my brave little fluffball—are you ready?"

Kawai gulped, visibly trembling, but gave a brave thumbs-up flipper.

"Meep."

Tony took a deep breath. "Alright then... Showtime."

He stepped back, cracked his neck, and gripped Kawai like a quarterback lining up for a game-winning touchdown.

"Set… HUT!!"

He launched Kawai into the sky.

Kawai flailed wildly midair, clearly unable to fly, his body spinning like a wobbly plush missile.

The sniper sat still, adjusting his scope calmly—until a fuzzy projectile shot into the sky.

"…Huh?"

He squinted. "What in the—?"

He realigned his sights. "Is that… a flying penguin or something…?"

Before he could react, a foot slammed directly into his face, snapping his head back as he was launched into a nearby boulder, dust and stone flying.

He coughed, pushing himself up, blood trailing from his lip.

Standing in front of him was a fur-covered blur with big ears, a fierce stare, and zero patience.

Eleo.

"You…" the sniper smirked, wiping his mouth. "So you're the bunny kid they've been talking about."

Eleo cracked his knuckles, his ears twitching with heat.

"Yeah. And I'm about seven steps away from kicking your ass for shooting at my friends."

The sniper stood, tilting his head with an amused grin. His heterochromia eyes gleamed—green and red, both now focused on Eleo.

He reached to his sides and pulled out two sleek black pistols, one for each hand.

"Well then… bring it, Bunny."