Four years later…
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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.
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“I’m leaving,” he said flatly, like he was announcing the weather.
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Silence.
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Then—SMACK!
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Lucy slapped her hands on the table. “ELEO! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”
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Abby’s ears drooped. “But… why?”
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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!”
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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.”
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Abby looked down, gripping her sleeves. “But what about me…? We’re best friends.”
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Eleo sighed. “I know, Abby… but c’mon. I’m pretty sure you can make other friends.”
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Abby’s fists clenched. “You’re my only friend, Eleo… my best friend.”
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That hit Eleo like a punch to the gut. He opened his mouth, then closed it again.
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Abby’s voice trembled. “I remember when we first met… it was snowing. We were five. And that jerk Nico…”
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Flashback:
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The snow fell gently from a pale gray sky.
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A small Abby stood alone, shivering. A group of laughing kids circled her, led by Nico—a young wolf kid with a smug grin.
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“Look at her,” he sneered. “Guess no one wants to be friends with a weakling!”
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The others laughed.
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Abby’s ears folded back. She looked down, eyes stinging.
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Then—SMACK!
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A snowball slammed into Nico’s face.
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Silence.
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Everyone turned.
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Standing a few feet away was a short, scruffy bunny kid—fur messy, fists trembling, eyes burning with fury.
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“HEY! LEAVE HER ALONE!”
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Nico wiped snow off his snout. “Oh, you wanna be a hero?”
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He cracked his knuckles. “GET HIM.”
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Eleo’s eyes widened. “…Oh no.”
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BAM! SMACK! THUD!
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The bullies beat him senseless. When they walked off, Nico snorted, “These two losers deserve each other.”
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Abby stared at the bruised, face-down bunny lying in the snow. Slowly, she knelt and rolled him over.
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Tears welled up in her eyes.
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“Why…?” she whispered. “Why did you help me?”
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She thought he was unconscious.
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“It’s my fault… If I wasn’t weak…”
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Then—
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Eleo suddenly shot up and screamed, “BECAUSE I THINK YOU’RE COOL~!”
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And then instantly collapsed again.
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Abby stared, stunned.
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Then she laughed—really laughed.
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For the first time that day… she felt warm.
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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.”
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Eleo scratched the back of his head. “…Still am.”
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Lucy exhaled, softer this time. “At least you’re self-aware.”
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Abby looked up. “Eleo… do you really have to go?”
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Eleo stood, putting on his best confident grin. “Yeah. But don’t worry—I’ll come back someday!”
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“Promise?” Abby whispered.
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Eleo held up his pinky. “Pinky swear.”
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She stared at him… then linked hers with his.
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“Fine,” she muttered. “But if you die, I will find a way to bring you back just to kill you again.”
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Lucy smiled gently. “And I’ll help her.”
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Eleo laughed. “Haha! I like the spirit!”
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But as he turned toward the door, that smile dimmed—just a little.
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This was it.
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His journey was beginning.
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“WAIT, ELEO!” Abby ran after him as he stepped onto his tiny wooden boat.
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He blinked. “Huh? Did I forget my bag? My carrots?! MY EARS?! OH MY GOSH, ARE THEY GONE?!”
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SMACK!
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Lucy flicked the back of his head. “Your ears are literally right there, you goofball.”
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Eleo sighed with relief. “Whew. That was close.”
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Abby chuckled, then pulled out a small necklace.
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“Here. I want you to have this.”
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Eleo tilted his head. “Is it food?”
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Lucy groaned. “It’s a necklace.”
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Abby smiled. “It has a little carving of me on it. So you won’t forget.”
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Eleo grinned wide and tossed it around his neck. “Cool! Now I have a mini-Abby! I’ll never be alone again!”
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Abby looked away, blinking back tears. “Please don’t forget me, Eleo.”
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Eleo gave her a thumbs-up. “Pfft. Like I could forget you.”
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“Just don’t do anything stupid out there.”
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Lucy sighed. “Yeah… good luck with that.”
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Eleo climbed into his boat and pushed off.
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“BYE, LUCY! BYE, ABBY! BYE, EVERYONE!”
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The villagers waved as his little boat drifted off into the endless blue sea.
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Abby whispered, “Be safe, you dumb bunny…”
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The sun was high. The breeze was nice.
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Eleo sat cross-legged in his boat, arms folded, looking serious.
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“Alright,” he said. “Time to begin my journey and become the stro—uh…”
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Pause.
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“…Wait. Where am I even going?”
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He scratched his head. Then nodded confidently.
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“MEH. I’LL JUST GO STRAIGHT. THAT ALWAYS WORKS.”
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His stomach growled.
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“Good thing I packed my carrot stash!”
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He reached into a sack stuffed with carrots, pulled one out, and took a huge bite.
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“Yup. I’m a genius.”
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Then—
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SPLASH.
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A dark fin cut through the water beside the boat.
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Eleo’s chewing slowed.
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“…Uh oh.”
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The fin circled him. Slowly. Menacingly.
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Eleo’s eyes widened. “W-Wait… is that…?”
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RAAAWR!!!
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A massive Bear Shark leapt from the water—shark head, bear arms, sheer nightmare fuel.
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Eleo’s eyes sparkled.
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“COOL!! I’VE NEVER SEEN ONE SO CLOSE BEFORE!!”
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The beast roared and lunged.
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Eleo stood up, fists clenched.
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“TIME TO TEST MY POWERS!!”
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INK BARRAGE!!!
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He flailed his fists wildly—like a rabid blender.
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WHAM! BAM! SPLAT!
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Ink exploded from his punches, pummeling the bear shark’s face.
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BOOOOM!!!
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The monster went flying—Team Rocket-style—into the clouds.
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Eleo stood triumphant, fists steaming.
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“YEAH! That’s what you get, fishy freak!”
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He dusted off his hands and nodded to himself.
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“…Welp. That takes care of that.”
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He leaned back, grinning at the sky.
“Now… I shall let the sea take me… while I eat me carrots. Hehe~”
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He opened his sack and peeked inside. His eyes sparkled.
Rows and rows of bright orange carrots.
His mouth watered instantly.
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“Breakfast, lunch, dinner, second dinner, and dessert~!”
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He devoured them one by one like a machine—crunch! chomp! chew! gulp!
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🌙 One Day and One Night Later…
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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.
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Somehow, against all logic, no sea monsters had dared to attack.
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SPLOOSH!
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A sudden splash nearby popped his snot bubble.
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Eleo blinked awake, groggy.
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“Mmgh… wha… huh? Is that a bear shark? Or… or was that just my imagination…”
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He sat up, looked around at the empty sea, and shrugged.
“Meh. Time to go back to sleep.”
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TWANG!
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A huge arrow zipped past his face, slicing the air and embedding itself into the deck beside
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him.
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Eleo’s eyes shot wide open.
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“WHAT THE HELL?!”
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He looked around, spinning in circles—only to realize he couldn’t see anything.
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Thick, swirling fog had crept in all around the boat.
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Eleo’s ears twitched.
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“…What the hell? I can’t see anything.”
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