Banished Pt. 12

"Aww, I was expecting something raunchier. I mean, she's not your grandmother," she chided, and I swatted her playfully as we settled into our sleeping bags.

As she snuggled into my arm, and rested her head against my chest, she let out a wistful sigh.

"This feels so surreal," she said, and I stroked her hair comfortingly, as I studied her.

"How so?"

"You've been in actual mortal peril at least twice today, and we're just... lying here, and going off to sleep like it's nothing," she said.

"For the time being, this might be the new normal," I said, and she made a dissatisfied sound in response.

"Makes you wonder, though; even if we deal with Palancar, and that monster out there that's hunting us... what if another threat just pops up?"

"Then we deal with it," I suggested, and she sighed.

"What if it just never stops?"

"Well, that would be a pain in the ass. And I really, really, hope that that's not gonna be the case, but... if I can get to end those days by coming back here, and going off to sleep with you in my arms? Then, maybe it's not so bad."

"Oh~? Guess you better make sure you never lose me, then," she said.

I wiggled her nose affectionately and we said our goodnights, but as I drifted off to sleep that night, those words seemed to resound in my head.

***

Food, glorious food!

~Gobble it all up, before it eats me~.

That last meal was barely a snack, but I can now digest an adult core in less than twenty minutes.

Beat that, Zera!

Wait... who's Zera?

Never mind that, time to hunt the food!

There!

I see one, but is it a tasty?

Bah, a little one.

Barely worth the effort, but... master has suggestion?

Yes, snatch the little one, and let it squeal.

Then the tasty ones will come!

Swoop in, but watch the claws.

It's so easy to slice up a little one when I can't see the claws.

*Success*

Now squeal little piggy, squeal!

.

.

.

Huh?

That's strange.

The tasty went quiet... both of them.

And there's these strange creatures.

"Hey, you! What have you done to the tasty?"

They look like tasties, but smell like master... like me.

What are they saying?

"It's a mindless fucking beast, man. What do we need it for?"

"Shut the fuck up, Caleb. You're not in charge anymore."

So rude... talking amongst themselves while claiming the tasty.

That was my tasty!

Mine!

Maybe I can snatch it from... uh-oh!

"Oh? You want this? Why don't you come and get it?"

I eye the strange thing...

It looks like a tasty, but I can sense it.

A core like mine, and master's.

Better to be careful.

I leap up to the tree, then swing but-

My hand!

What did it do?

My hand is stuck!

What is this... webbing?

Now I'm surrounded.

Ahhhh!

This is so frustrating.

Master would have swatted these puny things like flies!

But I am not strong enough yet.

"You want this, don't you?"

It dangles the blue orb, and I feel my stomach growl.

"This core can be yours, and many others. But this is worthless. You need cores with some real strength. We'll show you how... and much, much more. Just submit to me."

Submit, huh?

Guess there is no choice, since I can't beat them anyway... but, maybe this can be useful indeed.

***