The Queen of Scrolls never admits defeat

After some time, just as she was considering whether to change locations, she heard a very faint rustling sound coming from the bushes on her right.

A plump gray rabbit cautiously peeked out, its long ears twitching nimbly.

It seemed to sense something, paused for a moment, and then began to move cautiously along a grassy path toward the first lasso trap that Moran had set up.

Moran's heart leaped into her throat. Her fingers lightly gripped the bowstring, but she didn't move immediately. She remembered the Ranger's rule: prioritize the use of traps and minimize unnecessary chasing and disturbance.

The gray rabbit approached the trap step by step... and stepped into the trigger zone!

Whoosh! Snapped!
The shrub suddenly sprang up, and the vine lasso tightened instantly, precisely ensnaring the gray rabbit's hind leg and lifting it off the ground! The rabbit was startled and struggled fiercely, but the lasso was very secure.

Become!

Moran immediately slid down from the tree and approached quickly but lightly.

The gray rabbit, which was hanging there, struggled even more violently when it saw someone approaching, and let out a terrified cry.

Moran did not hesitate; giving the prey a final act of respect and minimizing its suffering is a rule that rangers must follow.

She swiftly drew a hunting arrow, aimed at the gray rabbit's vital points at extremely close range, and steadily released the bowstring.

The arrow pierced the target precisely, and the struggle quickly ceased.

Moran stepped forward, carefully untied the noose, placed the still-warm gray rabbit carcass on the ground, drew the dagger from his waist, and skillfully peeled off the rabbit skin intact.

Next, she killed two more gray rabbits in the same way.

She carefully rolled up and stored the three soft rabbit skins she had peeled, intending to take them back to make rabbit fur gloves; there would be more than enough to make five pairs.

As for the remaining rabbit meat, she only took a small amount of the freshest parts as proof of her ritual "harvest".

She gathered the remaining parts together and placed them in the small clearing she had made. Then, facing the grove of shrubs that had given her her prey, she solemnly swore the oath of a ranger:

"I hereby swear to become nature's eyes and ears, and its sharp blade. I will hone my skills, familiarize myself with the woodlands, protect nature, and drive away threats. I will respect the lives of my prey, taking them only when necessary and using them sparingly. May my arrows forever point at threats, and may my steps forever protect the forest."

She then buried the remains of the gray rabbit on the ground. The ranger would only take what he needed from each hunt, and the rest would be returned to nature as a sacrifice.

As she turned to leave, the Ranger's profession mark appeared in the magic network space.

Before the last rays of the setting sun had fully painted the sky red, Moran's figure appeared at the edge of the grove. Her steps were light, the prey hanging from her waist and the soft rabbit pelt rolled up in her hand silently proclaiming her success.

Polly, Celine, and Dominic, who had been waiting anxiously outside the grove of trees since she left, rushed over to her as soon as they saw her.

"Molan! You're back so soon? We were just wondering if you'd be able to come back today!"

Polly was the first to rush to her side, and when she saw her return, she breathed a genuine sigh of relief.

"Are you alright? Is everything alright?" Celine followed closely behind, her gaze sweeping over Moran with concern.

Dominic immediately spotted the rolled-up rabbit skin and the rabbit meat wrapped inside, his eyes lighting up: "Look at this haul! The trap must have worked! Tell us about it!" Moran smiled and nodded: "Yes! It went smoothly; the trap caught three gray rabbits. I processed the prey according to the rules and swore an oath; I've successfully become a Ranger."

She waved what she was holding, "Look, the rabbit skin I promised you, and... the celebratory dinner tonight!"

"Wow, that's great!"

"Molan, you're amazing!"

"I knew you could do it!"

The three little elves cheered and surrounded Moran, asking him all sorts of questions. Moran also enthusiastically shared some small details from the hunt.

"To celebrate my successful inauguration as Ranger, and to thank you all for your help, I'd like to invite you, and Grandma Mathilde, to my treehouse platform tonight to enjoy some fresh rabbit meat together, how about it?" Moran invited.

“Yes, yes!” Polly immediately raised both hands in agreement.

“Yes, I’d love to,” Celine nodded with a smile, but added softly, “but… could I bring some berries and mushrooms wrapped in curly leaves to bake with me? I… don’t really like meat.” She smiled a little sheepishly.

"Of course I'll go if there's meat to eat!" Dominic answered most decisively and loudly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

He actually kept a little secret to himself that he hadn't told any of the elves—the main reason he chose to become a Ranger, besides his love for running freely in the forest, was that he just so, so, so much loved the sizzling sound of fat and the aroma of roasting meat!
The four little elves returned to the center of the tribe, chatting and laughing, and found Chief Matilda discussing matters with several elders under the Tree of Life.

Upon hearing that Moran had not only returned safely but also successfully completed his inauguration ceremony as Ranger and invited her to celebrate, Mathilde smiled with relief and readily accepted the invitation.

As the sun sets and night falls, the Emerald Forest is enveloped in tranquil moonlight.

On Moran's treehouse platform, glowing moss and a few small fluorite lamps provide soft light.

The main course was rabbit meat cooked by Moran herself.

She cut the tender rabbit meat into small pieces, marinated it with several kinds of wild herbs that she had collected that day, which had a refreshing and deodorizing effect, and a little tree salt. Then she skewered it on clean, thin branches, placed it on a specially built small stone stove, and slowly roasted it over fruitwood charcoal.

During the baking process, she also brushed on a layer of raspberry sauce, a gift from Polly, which had a unique floral and fruity sweetness.

The roasted rabbit skewers have a slightly charred exterior and a tender, juicy interior, with a wonderful aroma of herbs and a hint of sweetness from the raspberry sauce.

Moran also gave it a name full of elfin flair: "Forest Whispers Roasted Rabbit".

In addition to the main course, there was a fresh berry platter and vegetarian skewers brought by Celine, cookies baked with nuts and honey contributed by Polly, and a richer liqueur generously provided by Dominic once again.

Grandma Mathilde brought a small jar of her homemade floral dew, made from a variety of forest flowers and morning dew, for everyone to enjoy after the meal.

The roasted rabbit from Forest Whispers is perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a savory aroma complemented by a hint of fruitwood smoke and the subtle sweetness of raspberry sauce. Celine's curly-leaf-wrapped vegetables are refreshing and crisp, preserving the original flavor of the ingredients to the fullest extent.

The stars twinkled, a gentle evening breeze blew, and the aroma of food mingled with laughter, filling the small treehouse platform with joyful sounds. (End of Chapter)