Rumpelstiltskin's expression becomes briefly, fleetingly annoyed for an instant as the rabbit bolts. Her counterpart has made the wise choice to remain, straining their bond and truly making the situation much easier to resolve. Grizelda twists and spits, claws raking out after the thing, but it darts between them. He suppresses a spike of frustration with his scalier self for allowing it to slip between its claws, but a twitch of hand restores the situation to its former balance. Magic ripples up and around the rabbit, engulfing it in shimmering purple for but a moment - but in that moment, it is become immobilized in its tracks. Grizelda catches it between her claws more firmly, pinning it, and with noticeable flair Rumpelstiltskin releases the little trapped thing.

Perhaps that is the indicator of his power they have all been waiting to see.

"You think you're the only one with a curse?" he says softly, almost partially to himself as his hand lowers to rest over the curved handle of his cane again. "You think you're the only one with darkness inside you?"

He looks back at the man against the tree with a predatory edge that was not altogether present before.

"Perhaps it's time you knew who it was you're dealing with," continues Rumpelstiltskin, abruptly amused again. "Hmm?"