Lapin!

Howard shifted as he sat in the grass. Fingers testing the point of the crudely sharpened stick he had been working on for the past hour. A small pile of similarly sharpened branches lay next to him. A visual representation of his progress for his latest project.

After participating in the Hunter's guild class, he had decided to dig a trench around his land. Then fill it with sharpened branches. His plan based off the trap pits used by hunters when catching prey. Sure it seemed a bit dramatic to build what is essentially a dry moat, but hey he had been robbed!

He was also living a bit far from the relative safety the village provided. Howard had been lucky so far that no monsters had come out to prey on his new goats. Hopefully the pointy hole will keep the beasts away, and prevent people from wandering onto his land. Well, the soon to be defense anyways. Right now it was just a hole. A wide trench like hole.

It had taken Howard a few days to dig out the moat along his new wooden fence. The goats and Dog watching in interest as he slowly made progress. Howard knew it would be impossible to finish the project quickly. Especially with only him working on it. It was going to have to be a long term project. Something that he would no doubt always be working on. Thankfully there was no reason to rush. He could just slowly make the pointy sticks and place them as he went. plus it was nice to have something to do while he left the goats to graze.

Slowly he stretched his hands over his head popping his back. Whittling knife placed back on his belt to be used later. Today was officially the start of his life as a goat herder! As dawn had broken over the horizon, Howard and Dog had herded the goat out the gate and to a wonderful grassland just behind his house. It was important to let the goats graze in different places. Especially if he wanted to keep any plants on his land.

This was also the first time Dog's skills were truly being tested. Sure Howard thought Dog could handle it without any problems, but it was still important to test. If Dog was only able to heard the wooden cut outs and failed with the Mountain Goats then Howard would have a problem. Thankfully Dog was doing great. He was able to follow along with Howards commands and lead the goats as needed. It was truly exceptional and Howard was trying to come up with a suitable gift for his cousin as a thank you.

Unfortunately that would have to wait until he either had money or was able to process one of the goats. After all his stuff had been stolen. Howard had to spend the last of his money on household items. He is now officially broke. He didn't even have money to buy bread! Well that wasn't true. He did have some money, but it was for when he was truly desperate. Hidden away in the kitchen in case of emergency.

The only good thing about this was that Dog liked to hunt the bigger rats in the area, and had a tendency to bring them back. While he wouldn't starve thanks to this. Rat was not the most delicious thing to eat. The meat was often a little stiff and the flavor containing a weird tang. Not that he would ever say no to Dog. He just wished there was something a bit more appetizing. There was also the problem of the coming winter.

Howard leaned back resting against the base of the tree while afternoon sun filtering through the leaves. The sun gently warmed the ground with a wonderfully cool breeze keeping it from getting to hot. With a sigh Howard closed his eye and drifted to sleep trusting Dog with the goats.

A sharp bark woke him not even an hour later. The noise harsh against the calm grassland. Swiftly Howard got to his feet and homed in on the commotion. Dog in all his pitch black fuzzy glory was bounding across the field after several small white dots. The group was swiftly making its way to him and away from the frightened goats.

Before Howard could truly understand what was happening the fist of the high speed white balls barreled behind him. Attempting to and succeeding in using him as a meat shield. The first was swiftly followed by six more balls. Dog pulled back as the creatures huddled at his feet somehow clutching onto his clothes despite the lack of hands.

Confused Howard crouched down to get a better look at the creatures. The white balls turned out to be very fuzzy with some of the softest looking fur Howard had ever seen. Cautiously he reached down and ran his fingers over one of the beasts. Two extremely long ears popped up and twitched at the touch. Slowly the creature's head turned up to show an adorable little face. They were rabbits!

Nice, cute, fluffy, juicy rabbits! Howard looked back at Dog with great appreciation. If he took these back home then he could raise some to act as emergency food! Sure now he could live off of the rats that Dog was hunting, but come winter it was unlikely Dog will be able to hunt anything. He also had no wish to cull one of his brand new goats. At least not until after breeding season. Having a group of rabbits quickly solves that problem. They also seemed pretty tame for some reason. Wild rabbits usually shying away from touch.

Howard picked up the one he was petting and looked it over. The animal was pretty clean and calm. Only gazing at Dog when he moved. The other rabbits got closer as if trying to climb up him to get away. With a hum he looked back down at the relatively small creatures. They must be young. He would be able to carry them all back if he placed most of them in his bag.

Crouching down he did just that. Worn leather soft as he placed the creatures inside managing to get all but one in. With a whistle he sent Dog on the task of rounding up the goats. Dog watched the rabbit for a second before barked happily and bounded off herding the frightened creatures back to the house.

It didn't take long for the group of one human, one 'dog', sixteen sheep, and seven baby rabbits to make it back. Having only been about a thirty minutes walk from his land to begin with. Howard opened the gate and waited for all the animals to get in before shutting it. His house exactly as he left it. Much to his relief. Not that he thought anything would happen while he was so close by.

Quickly he carried the rabbits to his house and set them loose. Intending to keep them here while he build a housing area for them. The rabbits hopped around inspecting the small house. Their little noses poking into all the small spaces they could find. Happy with this new turn of events Howard opened the cabinet containing his emergency money. He would have to buy wood and nails to build the new pin. Which will cut

the emergency money in half at least, but was worth it.

The door swung open on quiet hinges showing off the skill of the Mudtrap blacksmith. Howard reached in searching for the cloth holding the coins only to freeze. Panicked he groped around the cabinet pulling out pots and pans as he went. It was gone! The money was gone! Howard swept his eyes around the house taking in where everything was. Making sure nothing else was missing.

How? He thought desperately clutching at his short brown hair. How did someone know where he kept his money? Why would they break into his home and take it! There was nothing here to show that he even had money! In despair he collapsed onto the floor. A desperate sound making its way out of his mouth as he tried to grapple with the situation.

Due to his despair Howard never noticed one of the bunnies hopping closer. Teeth sharp with slight drool escaping. The sweet innocent hopping changing to an almost cat like crawl across the ground. Making the creature go from rhythmic thumping to silent. Eyes locked onto its prey. The others took their cue getting ready to jump the unsuspecting human.

Just before the pounce Dog materialized. Its body molding into existence as the shadows gathered. With a flash of teeth the 'rabbits' backed down and returned to their former cute appearance. For all the world looking like innocent little balls of fluff instead of the viscous predators they were. Dog huffed, but turned to comfort its destressed Master. Whining and nudging the man to try and cheer him up.

That night Howard slept with Dog on the bed surrounded by fluffy little rabbits. He soaked in the comfort their presents provided. This was unacceptable. He was going to have to come up with some form of locked box to hold his money. maybe even burry it! For now he will have to carry any money he makes on him until the situation is resolved!

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Far away, deep in a forest lived a wizard. An intricate summoning circle filling the chamber. In the middle of the circle sat a beat up canvas bag. A couple of coins having fallen out onto the stone floor showing it to be a money bag.

The Wizard looked at the bag in confusion. Why was there a bag of money in the middle? Where did it come from? What went wrong with the ritual?