Art by  genesisw, creator of the webcomic Little Tales!

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Ivan stared at Tank for a moment before he spoke. "How did you know my roommate was male?"

Tank kept his eyes on the road ahead. "You don't seem the type to have a female roomie. Now, what the hell was that thing back there, and why do you look like the survivor of a horror film?"

Ivan certainly felt like a horror victim. He still hurt all over from falling on the asphalt, and he could only imagine how his face looked with the dried blood. "It is long story. I am confused by many parts of it."

"Just try me, Ivan," Tank said as he stopped at a red light. Ivan almost wanted to scream at him to keep on going, but certainly they were far away enough from the Once Iggy that they could afford this brief pause.

So Ivan told Tank everything that happened. From Iggy's death to her mysterious resurrection to the attack on Hopper and the subsequent possession. The lapine didn't interrupt with any questions during Ivan's story, nor did he look at the snow leopard. When the light turned green, Tank eased the truck forward, getting into the turn lane for I-80 West and continued to listen.

"So your roomie is possessed."

"Yes."

"And he wants this egg that somehow appeared in your bedroom."

"Yes."

"This egg was in Russia before."

"Yes." Ivan wished Tank would stop asking questions he clearly knew the answer to, but he kept silent on the matter. The rabbit saved his life. He owed him.

"I think this problem is bigger than what I can handle." Tank glanced at Ivan as they merged onto the freeway. "We gotta get some help."

Ivan felt gratitude swell in his heart. Tank was going to help him. There was hope after all. "Vhere are we going?"

"First of all, we have to go to these two guys I know. They're brothers. You'd like them if the circumstances weren't so drastic."

Ivan's ears twitched. "Drastic?"

Tank nodded. "Yeah, this thing that possessed your roomie and turned the dead pet into a monster...you don't think that's the limit of its power, do you? Who says it can't do more stuff?"

Ivan had not considered it in his haste to escape the monster. "So I am still in danger?"

"Not just you, Ivan. I helped you out, so I might as well assume I'm in trouble with you." He reached over to pat the snow leopard's thigh. "But you couldn't have picked a better guy to help you. I got rabbit's feet, and you know how lucky they are, right? After all, they got that monster off your back?" He winked over at Ivan and grinned widely.

Ivan looked away, watching the lights of Reno grow closer. "I did not mean to put you in danger."

"I know you didn't, but I'm not the type to turn people away when they need help."

Ivan's reply was swallowed up by an unearthly shriek behind them.

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