Falling Jade Plate

Dusk, the setting sun.

With a sudden whoosh, a round ball zipped across the field path.

Within the woods, four eyes shifted restlessly amidst the tall grass.

“What was that?”

“No idea...”

“Looked like a ball of flesh…”

“Mmm…”

A flickering white dot, a rolling sphere, birds darting here and there—all flashed across the fields.

“The one ahead must be a rabbit!”

“……”

“And the one behind…”

The abrupt silence tightened the air.

As the dust settled, a chubby boy trudged toward the woods, clutching a small white rabbit. He was panting, every bit of his plump body quivering with exertion. The four eyes in the grass widened even further.

“…It’s a fat kid…”

“…Yeah…he runs…damn…fast…”

“Let’s just leave…”

“No, let’s take him!”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, a blaze shot skyward. The chubby boy, unable to hold back, had already placed the rabbit over the campfire.

“Such cruelty…”

“Who cares!”

“…Smells so good…” A rumbling stomach sounded from the grass.

When patience ends, action begins.

Two shadowy figures sprang out. Under the old tree, before the chubby boy could react, his mouth was stuffed and he was swiftly bound hand and foot. A burlap sack was pulled over his head.

“Oh no, my rabbit!” The chubby boy was shocked; his freshly roasted rabbit snatched away! He struggled desperately to escape, but it was futile. Outside the sack, familiar munching sounds echoed.

After the agony subsided, the chubby boy drifted into a muddled sleep. He had no idea