This is for a tryout, please don't post ^^
By me
By me
Leaves danced in the swirling wind causing speckles of light to flicker on the forest floor. Light fog hovered lazily above the decaying leaves, drifting aside as a Viscet walked along. Two squirrels chattered loudly as they chased each other up a tree, pausing only to watch the Viscet pass before carrying on with their game. A wood pecker rattled the bark of a tree, slowly drilling a hole into the tough trunk to form its nest. A fox padded quietly along the ground, stoping and staring at the Viscet before fleeing rapidly. A Cape Sugarbird hovered over the Viscet, cocking its head left to right as it studied the viscets shoulder before diving down and landing perfectly. It wiggled slightly and tucked its head down, giving itself the appearance of a simple lump of feathers. The Viscet gazed around with wonder shimmering in his eyes, a necklace of feathers swaying hypnotically from his neck. Leaves crunched beneath his weight and a twig cracked and snapped as he passed it. A flash of light froze a snake as the silver tag locked onto his foot reflected the golden-white rays of the sun at it.
Zìyóu walked patiently passed the lush green life above and below. His ears flicked up and swiveled about, searching for any sound. He studied things as he passed, mumbling curious words of description and admiration. He often glanced at the small bird on his shoulder, smiling at it and talking about the world around him, only to revive an unamused glare from the bird.
Zìyóu froze and stared ahead at a stag that grazed quietly. Instantly, he dropped to the ground, startling the little bird on his shoulder. He gazed ahead at the beast, watching with an erie intensity. "Look at that.... I've never seen one..." He looked at the small bird, who glared at him in response. "It's amazing..." Zìyóu's eyes returned to the stag, who now stood with its head raised and ears pricked up as it surveyed the area. It hesitated momentarily before determining that the area was too risky and bounded away. Zìyóu stood with a frustrated sigh and watched where the stag had gone. His ears dropped slightly and he turned around to carry on with his journey, only to be thrown off of his feet by a body his size. A snarl ripped through the air as the two bodies tumbled over, Teeki shooting up into the air and flapping above the two. Zìyóu slammed his paws into the ground and skid, feeling the body tumble past him as he stopped. He rose onto all fours and stared at the creature in slight fear, his mane fluffed up to make him appear bigger. Before him, a silvery Viscet with golden horns stood and shook her head, candle flames streaking after the horns as she did so. She turned her stone cold gaze to him and growled a bit, clearly frustrated. "Who are you and what do you think your doing?!" She began to walk towards him, her forepaws flexing and her mane rising in aggression. "That stag was mine, and you scared it off! What kind of idiot are you?!"
"A stag?... That's what it's called?"
The silvery Viscet froze and pondered a moment before relaxing and leaning back slightly, glaring at Zìyóu in annoyance. "Your clearly dumber than I thought."
"Wait, what do you mean it was yours? It didn't have a collar or tag on it."
The silver Viscet shook its head and made a slight hissing noise. "I don't own it, it is mine as in my kill. My prey. My target!"
"You were going to kill that creature?! It could be the last of its kind!"
The silver Viscet laughed coldly. "Last of its kind! That is the best joke I've heard in weeks! There's hundreds of those things around here." She laughed again and shook her head solemnly. "Last of its kind."
Zìyóu laid his ears back, unhappy at being mocked by a stranger and determined to change the subject. "I'm Zìyóu. I'm not from around here, I actually-"
"It shows. I'm Ahkema. I'm from around here, born and raised. So, where are you from?"
"Heilongjiang, China." Zìyóu raised his head proudly, ignoring Teeki as he landed and snuggled up on his shoulder again.
"Wow, that's pretty far."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Like, across the world. Your in America now."
Zìyóu's ears leaned back and he narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling as though she were teasing him again. "America?"
"Yes."
"That's a real place?"
"Yes."
"That we are in right now?.."
"Yes."
Zìyóu paused and studied Ahkema, who glared at him in annoyance. "Okay.... Are you sure?"
"Goodbye." Ahkema turned sharply and jogged away, unaware of Zìyóu who followed her curiously. They traveled through the woods toward the edge where the trees weren't so compact and the sunlight came through in large patches. Ahkema hopped over some bushes with ease and padded onward into her pack, stopping when she heard the thud of Zìyóu hitting the ground after failing to jump high enough. Her ears leaned back and she growled at him. "What's your problem?!"
Zìyóu got up and shook the dust from his fur. "Bushes apparently..." His ears flicked up and he watched as several other viscets, eleven to be precise, exited dens and trees and walked towards him, forming a broad half circle. He studied each quietly, watching out for any aggression his eyes lingered on one, a dark grey and white Viscet with red swirls and, what stood out to him the most, and incredibly short tail.
"Who's this?" A brown one with black markings and horns on its head walked over. Upon closer inspection, Zìyóu noticed odd red symbols that decorated her body.
"He's called Zìyóu. I met him after he scared off my stag, and apparently he doesn't understand what goodbye means." Ahkema snarled at him, her mane rising again.
"Well, calm down. He was probably just curious..." A pale pinkish-orange Viscet with a pattern that reminded him of a snake he had seen sometime back. A sweet one with pink eyes that didn't seem interested in bitting him as much as exploring his mane, though Teeki wasn't a fan of it. Around the viscets neck rested a rich blue serpent with a vibrant orange head and Zìyóu's mental sirens blared as he recognized it to be laced with lethal poison.
"I suppose curious is one way to see it, but I think he's a stalker." A brown Viscet with white markings raised her nose and stepped in front of an orangish one with a tail that resembled a fox, who glared at her grumpily.
Suddenly, the viscets began talking all at once, all except for the one with the oddly short tail that is. She studied him quietly, her eyes neither accusing or welcoming, but rather stoic and emotionless. She didn't react when the others shouted near or at her, and remained silent through the entire argument, simply watching him. When she finally spoke up, all arguments stopped and the others gazed at her. "I say let him stay."
"What?!" Ahkema lashed her tail in anger and snapped at the Viscet, who didn't even glance her way.
"He's a wanderer, so he doesn't have a home. Let him stay as long as he wishes, and have him hunt to repay the stag he scared off, though we all know you aren't the best hunter, Ahkema.
Ahkema bristled and glared at the Viscet before turning sharply and walking away. The brown Viscet with straight horns pondered before speaking up. "Well, your normally right about most things, Xuikcho. I'll trust you here." She turned her gaze to Zìyóu, who stood awkwardly the entire time. "You may stay as long as you wish, though you must retrieve enough food to make up for the stag."
"Ah, well, thank you, but... I don't think I would like to stay in one place for too long... I will make up for the stag and-"
"Then you may come and go as you wish."
Zìyóu's ears flicked up as he gazed at the brown Viscet with horns. "I...no, I couldn't-"
"We always have room for more, and how could we reject a wanderer? Don't worry about inconveniences or spacing, as that is not an issue."
Zìyóu hesitated, uncertain of if he should accept or decline. Having an anchor sounded nice, ensuring a place to sleep, but he did not want to become a bother. Eventually, he accepted out of politeness and the need for sleep. The viscets introduced themselves, all except for Ahkema and the brown and white Viscet, who he found out was named Haiyra. The Viscet that had gazed at him for some time, named Xuikcho, stayed after the others returned to their dens and chores and spoke with him.
"Where were you from again?"
"Heilongjiang, China."
"That sounds pretty. What did it look like?"
"Well, there were millions of trees, all bearing broad leaves that held rain water for three days after it rained. Flowers were abundant everywhere and there was wildlife everywhere you turned, all with bright and luminous colors. There was this village nearby filled with the sweetest people you will ever meet. That's how I got this!" He held up his necklace slightly with a proud smile. "Every feather has its own meaning. Er, at least I gave it its own meeting. I like to set goals for myself an this is one of the ways how I can-"
"And the tag?"
"Oh... That wasn't from the villagers. There were these people who came in and took me... They gave me this thing and I haven't been able to take it off..." Zìyóu looked down and shook the leg that bore the silver tag.
"Oh. Did they hurt you?"
"No, no I don't think so."
"Ah. So why did you come here?"
"It was more of an accident." Zìyóu chuckled slightly. "After the humans that took me set me free, I ran and found this big boat and got on to explore... Then I got my head stuck under something trying to get a cookie and the ship set sail..."
Xuikcho paused for a moment before breaking out into a light, bubbly laugh. Zìyóu smiled slightly and returned the laugh, remembering how stupid he must have looked with his head jammed under a cooler.
After the two stopped laughing, Xuikcho smiled at him before she turned her eyes to Teeki, who sat fluffed up on Zìyóu's shoulder. "Who's that?"
"Ah! This is Teeki. He's a Cape Sugarbird from Africa."
"Africa? You've been there?"
"Well... No, not yet. He was a pet near where I lived and escaped. We found each other when I was a viscling and he's never left my side since."
"That's amazing." Xuikcho smiled at the small bird, who fluffed a little more in response.
"Sorry, he's kind of a grouch."
"No worries."
"Xuikcho!" The two viscets looked behind Xuikcho at Kazim who was calling her daughter to her.
"I should get going. You can pick any of the empty dens, we keep them filled with moss beds incase any travelers come along. Good night." She turned and jogged away before he could respond, leaving him standing alone with Teeki as the sun dipped slowly below the trees.
"Well... Let's pick a den, shall we, Teeki?"
"Leaving so soon?" Amaris jogged up to Zìyóu, who was fixing the bed of moss.
"Ah, yes." He straightened and smiled sheepishly at her. "I want to be able to see everything here and want to start as soon as I can. I will return though, with food of course."
Amaris nodded slightly. "Alright, just stay safe. Would you like me to send a guide with you?"
"No, I will be fine. Thank you, though."
"Any time. Safe travels!" Amaris jogged back to her mate, who was scolding their kid for diving head-first into a pile of leaves.
Zìyóu gazed at the pack, alive with morning life and illuminated by the pink-orange of the sunrise. Teeki looked up at him curiously until Zìyóu met his gaze. "What? I've never had a home before." Teeki rolled his eyes and Zìyóu chuckled, padding away from the pack into the woods, carefully stepping over the bushes that marked the border. "We came in from the east last night, so let's head north!" Teeki churred in annoyance and fluffed up a little more. "Oh, you'll be fine you big baby!" Zìyóu broke out into a trot as he traveled north toward a new area.
"It's starting to get cold... How are you holding up?" Zìyóu looked at the shivering Teeki who had resorted to to curling up in his mane. "Not good, huh?... Maybe we can find something to warm you up..."
"How about this?"
Zìyóu's ears shot up and he turned sharply to come face to face with Xuikcho, who held a torn scarf on her nose. "This should warm him up."
"What are you doing here?"
"Exploring." She walked up to him and began wrapping Teeki up in the cloth.
"Did your parents approve?"
"Why should that matter? I'm grown up now."
"Did you at least tell your alpha?"
"She won't worry about me."
"Xuikcho! You can't just go off after others!"
"Why not? It's just exploring."
"Because you have a family and people who care about you."
"Don't you?"
"No. The only family I have is Teeki and the ones who care for me know where I am going. I don't just abandon others."
"I'm not abandoning them. I'm coming back."
"Do they know that?"
"Hey! If I didn't come along then Teeki might have frozen to death!"
Zìyóu clenched his jaw, which caused the joint on the right side to lock up. He opened his jaw crookedly and popped it, which made Xuikcho's ears to flick up.
"What was that?"
"Temporo mandibular joint dysfunction, or TMJ. It's where my jaw locks up, cracks, and pops a lot. It's no big deal."
"Really?"
"Yes. It barely even hurts." Zìyóu padded ahead, glancing at Xuikcho when she jogged up beside him. "I'm not happy with what you did."
"I'm aware."
They walked in silence for a while, the only sounds being that of a very happy and warm Teeki. Eventually, the trees were replaced by rocks and the grass became coated in snow as they neared Canada. "Wow... Would you look at this place.." Xuikcho looked around with a broad smile. "It's stunning!"
"I've never seen this stuff before..." Zìyóu paused and gazed at a mound of shimmering snow before carrying on.
"Hey, what's that?" Xuikcho raised her head and Zìyóu peered in the direction she was looking at.
"What's what?"
"That. There's smoke or something... Come on." She began to trot ahead and Zìyóu followed closely.
"Be careful Xuikcho, we don't know what it is..."
"I will be." Xuikcho picked up the pace her ears raised in curiosity. She began climbing a hill and stopped at the top. She started to call out to Zìyóu, but was cut off by an ear shattering sound that tore through the peace of the cold air. Zìyóu's ears rose and he stared at Xuikcho as she seemed to fall in slow motion, collapsing into a heap on the ground while red leaked down her forearm, creating another red marking that didn't quite fit. Zìyóu felt his lips move as he screamed her name, though he heard nothing but the blood roaring in his ears. He sprinted foreword, stumbling at first but quickly regaining his balance. As his head neared the top, another ear splitting sound erupted and a sharp pain burned on his cheek as the bullet grazed the skin. Zìyóu ducked and panted heavily, staring at Xuikcho in fright, wondering how he was going to get both of them out alive. If she hadn't gone, he could have just ran. If she hadn't gone, she would be safe. If she hadn't gone, he wouldn't be scared. If she hadn't gone... He would be dead.
Zìyóu clenched his jaw, ignoring the stiff feeling when it locked up, and dug his hind legs into the snow. He counted down in his head and launched himself foreword, snagging Xuikcho by the leg and coming face to face with a human. The two stared at each other for moments before the human fumbled their gun. Zìyóu, not knowing what they were doing but not wanting to take any chances, stumbled to his feet and whipped his tail, hitting the human hard on the side with his muscular tail and throwing them several feet aside, causing them to drop the gun which was swallowed up by the snow. Zìyóu shoved his head under Xuikcho's back and wiggled until she was on his neck. "Teeki! Move!" He felt the small weight leave his back and forced himself up, sliding Xuikcho down onto his back. Teeki returned to his scruff, the torn scarf in his beak, and turned several times before nestling up again. Zìyóu looked at the human, who was fumbling for the gun, and took off down the hill, struggling to keep Xuikcho on his back.
"Xuikcho."
No response.
"Xuikcho!"
No response.
"Xuikcho! Please if your awake try to help me! We're going to fall!"
No response.
"Xuikcho, I'm sorry. Please, please try to help!"
A slight groan escaped her and he felt her claws grip his sides weakly. He sighed in relief and ran faster, his ears laying back as he plowed through the snow and stone.
"Hey, can you hear me?..." Zìyóu lowered his head and peered at the flickering eyelids of Xuikcho.
"Yeah..." Her response was quiet but strong.
"Good... They missed any vitals. I think it went straight through..."
"Where'd they hit me?..."
"Arm." He moved his foreleg over and pressed his nose against the spot just below the shoulder blade. "Right around here."
"Ah...poor shots."
Zìyóu nodded. "The shock knocked you out cold, though."
Xuikcho groaned and grinned at him crookedly. "Couldn't just leave that part out, huh?" She looked around them. "Where are we?"
"A day's journey from the pack."
"Oh..." She tried to sit up and sucked in a breath of air, hissing through her teeth. "Yep... That won't work..."
"It's okay. I'm going to carry you again."
"Zìyóu, I was shot in the arm not the leg. I can walk."
"I'd rather you not."
"I'll be fine. I'll just need some help getting up."
Zìyóu sighed and looked away from her, watching Teeki as he preened his feathers. Xuikcho followed his gaze and smiled slightly.
"How's he holding up?"
"Good. He's not a fan of how cold it was, but seems content with the temperature now."
"That's good. He's rather pretty."
Zìyóu nodded quietly.
"Is he your favorite animal?"
"What?"
"Is a Cape Sugarbird your favorite animal?"
"To be honest, third favorite. My first favorite is the fennec fox."
"And your second?"
"Wolves."
"Ah."
"How about you?"
"Wolf, leopard seal, horse. In that order."
"Leopard seal, huh?"
"Yup."
"I used to have a stuffed animal of one of those."
"Really? What happened to it?"
"I don't remember... I just remember curling up with it when things got scary, and believing that it would protect me from the creatures that were bigger than me."
"Didn't you have your parents to do that?"
"No... They left me when I was an egg."
"What? How are you alive?!" Xuikcho's eyes widened when she realized what she said. "I'm sorry, that was rude."
"No, no. Don't worry about. I wonder that a lot too. I think I just got lucky. Figured things out on my own, managed to find enough berries to live, and met Teeki, who taught me about hiding and eating."
"Wow... I'm impressed."
"No need to be. It was luck. Just like how it was luck that you didn't die."
"Yeah..."
They sat for a while, watching Teeki preen his feathers until the small bird noticed and made an angry chirp before flying to Zìyóu's shoulder and nestling up for bed. Xuikcho chuckled lightly and turned her gaze to the stars while Zìyóu watched her quietly. She had left her home to pursue him, took a bullet, nearly froze, and yet she still trusted and followed him. Zìyóu curled his tail around him and began to study the silver tag on his leg. She was either the best good luck charm he has ever met, or the worst. Either way, he found it hard to deny him wanting her around. Her company seemed to help him feel as though he were not alone, but simply one of millions other forming a beautiful portrait that he simply was unable to see yet. Eventually, he rested his head on his tail and let his eyelids close, succumbing to sleep moments later.
Zìyóu was awoken by a gentle peck from Teeki on the cheek. He squinted at the small bird, who was preoccupied in picking small stones out of the cut on Zìyóu's cheek. Zìyóu sucked in a breath when Teeki accidentally missed, and raised his head, causing the little bird to take flight and land in front of him. "Thanks Teeki, but I'll just wash out the rest." Teeki grumbled quietly and turned away, fluttering to Xuikcho and pecking at the snarls in her fur. Zìyóu watched her quietly. She seemed so peaceful and content in her sleep that it was hard to remember that she had been shot less than a day ago. Zìyóu turned his eyes to the wound on her should, watching it quietly with a frown. At this rate, it was bound to get infected if there wasn't a cover over it soon. Slowly, his eyes turned to the torn scarf discarded by a warm Teeki. His mind slowly connected the dots and he picked up the small scarf before carefully wrapping it around her wound, careful not to wake her. After he had bandaged the wound he stood and padded to a creek that traveled lazily through the small clearing and proceeded to wash out the small cut on his cheek. At one point, he accidentally reopened the wound and felt the warm blood that began to trickle down. He grunted in frustration and washed away the blood.
"Zìyóu?" He turned around and looked at Xuikcho, who was watching him with half closed eyes. She yawned slightly and raised her head, her eyes still refusing to open fully. "Did you do this?" She tilted her head toward the scarf that was wrapped around her arm.
"Yeah. I didn't want it to get infected."
"Oh. Thank you." She looked at Teeki, who was still pecking at the snarls contently. "What's he doing?"
"Grooming you. He's a clean freak."
"Oh. Well thank you very much, Teeki." Teeki ignored her and continued pecking fervently at the small snarls in her fur. "What's the plan now?"
"We get you back home."
"And you?"
"I will probably stay a bit longer." Zìyóu stood up and padded over to her. "Let's get you up." He lowered to all fours and she put her good arm on his head before using him as a sort of launching pad and stumbling to her feet.
"There, perfect."
"Your sure you don't want me to carry you?"
"Positive." She glared at him slightly before turning away and looking around. "Which way?"
"South."
"And south is...?"
"Just follow me." Zìyóu turned and padded along the path in his mind, heading south towards Amaris's pack with Xuikcho padding beside him.
"How do you know your directions so well?"
"After growing up alone, knowing where to go became everything. I have a mental compass in my head now. Be it night or day I can always find my way."
"Is that your motto?"
"No."
"What is?"
"I don't really have one. Haven't thought too much on it."
"Ah. Well it should be your motto."
"I'll think about it."
"Be it night or day I can always find my way... It sounds nice."
"Do you have a motto?"
"No..."
"How about, who need rules?"
Xuikcho glared coldly at him.
"Or maybe, go your own way."
She paused. "That might be good."
"It was a joke."
"No, seriously... I kind of like that... Go your own way..."
Zìyóu chuckled slightly and began to pick up the pace a bit. Xuikcho followed suit, pondering the phrase as the traveled.
"Hey, stop." Zìyóu slowed down and flicked his ears up, scanning the area nervously.
"What is it?"
"Somethings off."
"What do you mean?"
"Something smells weird..." He lowered himself slightly and studied the area closely, sniffing on occasions as he tried to pick out the source of the odd scent. Xuikcho remained as she was, tense and slightly nervous, gazing at the area ahead with wide, alert eyes.
"Do you smell it?"
"Yes.. But I don't know-"
A cracking noise shot through the air and Zìyóu turned his head sharply to face Xuikcho, who had ducked to the ground and was snarling. "I'm fine!" Her small tail moved side to side sharply and her mane rose in aggression.
"Teeki, get her out of here!"
Teeki gave out a sharp whistling noise and tugged on Xuikcho's mane until she began to follow him, running low to the ground and as quickly as she could. Another cracking noise burst from Zìyóu's left and the tree beside Xuikcho splintered. Zìyóu bared his fangs and rushed rapidly to the source of the sound, colliding with the armed human before another shot rang out. The two tumbled and Zìyóu slammed his paws into the ground, rolling over before regaining his balance and snarling at the human in a crouched position. The human scrambled up and pulls out a metal object with a wicked point, hunching their shoulders slightly and narrowing their eyes.
Zìyóu hissed venomously and rushed them, twisting his body when the human lunged and smashing his hip against them. The human lost their balance and fell back, colliding with a tree and making a loud thunk. They laid there, breathing with wide, frightened eyes, but unmoving. Zìyóu approached them, his fangs bared and gleaming in the speckled sunlight, and looked down at the human. He planted a paw on their stomach and leaned down slightly until he was able to gaze into their frightened eyes. They remained frozen like that, Zìyóu snarling fiercely and the human trembling in fear below him, until something changed. Zìyóu slid his lips back over his teeth and stepped off of the human that had, just moments ago, tried to kill him. He glared at them for a moment before turning away and running after Xuikcho. The human took unsteady gasping breaths and staggered to their feet, staring after the viscets with wide eyes.
"Teeki, wait! We can't just leave him!" Xuikcho stopped and gazed sternly at the little bird ahead of her.
"Why'd you stop?" Zìyóu padded up to her and cocked his head. "What? Did you not trust that I would make it out alive?"
Xuikcho's ears flew up and she stared at him before baring her fangs and snapping at him. "Never do that again! I'm able to fight, I'm not some useless stuffed toy! I could have stayed back and helped!"
"Between us, it was for Teeki. The poor little guy was scared senseless, and I knew you would be able to calm him down." It was a lie, of course. Teeki feared nothing. Zìyóu feared Xuikcho getting shot again.
"Oh....sorry then...."
"Don't worry about it."
"Did you kill them?..."
Zìyóu froze and stared at her. "No. No, I would never do that..."
"Good... I was worried that you did..."
Xuikcho kept walking, her eyes locked on the ground, and Zìyóu followed at a slight distance. He noticed the bushes just before Xuikcho tripped over them and toppled into the pack grounds. Zìyóu stepped over them and went to help her up, but was beaten to it by her mother, who practically threw herself into her child. Kazim began to talk rapidly about different things, from scolding her, to coning her, to obsessing over her wound. Zìyóu watched quietly as Kazim led her daughter to Naien, who knew the most about healing and human weapon. Amaris jogged up to him and gazed at the wound on his cheek. "Alright, tell me everything that happened."
"Then we came here and Xuikcho tripped over the boundary bush." By this time, most of the pack had gathered to hear the story, including Haiyra and Ahkema.
"Well then. Thank you for protecting her, I'm sure Kazim and Noah are extremely grateful."
Zìyóu nodded. "I would want the same if it were my kid."
Ahkema stepped foreword and approached him, her ears raised along with her head. Zìyóu tensed slightly, bracing himself for another cruel lecture. "Good work, Zìyóu.. I'm glad your here."
Zìyóu's ears flicked up and he smiled. "Thank you. It means a lot to hear that from you."
"Don't think too much of it."
"And she's back."
Ahkema rolled her eyes and walked away from him, trying to hold back a small smirk.
"Well. Now that everyone's back, perhaps you can get us some food now?" Haiyra glared at him with a slight smirk.
"No, I think he should rest." Amaris watched Zìyóu, expecting him to agree.
"No, it's okay. I kind of want to try hunting anyway. I'll be back with some food later, okay?"
"Alright..." Amaris turned and jogged toward Naien and Xuikcho to see how things were going while Haiyra glared coldly at Zìyóu, who turned away and successfully leapt over the hedge, jogging out to try and catch some prey.
"Hey."
Zìyóu's ears flicked up and he rose from his crouched position, watching the rabbit flee for a moment before turning to face Xuikchi. "Hey. How's it feeling?"
"Better. Naien sure knows what she's doing." She moved her wounded arm a bit to prove that it was healing nicely.
"That's good. So, what's up?"
She shrugged slightly. "I just wanted to see how your doing."
"Pretty good. I've caught three rabbits now."
"Two."
"No, three."
"One wasn't dead."
Zìyóu cocked his head and looked at the pole just in time to see a small rabbit bound away into the bushes. "Ah, come on!"
Xuikcho chuckled lightly while Zìyóu stamped his foot and huffed in anger. "Don't worry, you'll catch more."
"I guess... Hey, you know Haiyra? Why does she hate me?"
"She doesn't hate you. Entirely.... She just gets like this whenever new comers enter. It'll wear off soon, don't worry too much about it."
"Alright... And Ahkema?"
"She doesn't hate you either. She's just... Strict. Doesn't like things not going how they're supposed to."
"Ah.."
"Squirrel on your left."
Zìyóu turned just as the small tan body flung itself from the tree and landed before him. Zìyóu slammed his paws down and snagged the rodent before it could escape and picked it up proudly. "Good eye!"
"Thanks. A lot of the creatures around here will leap right in front of you."
"They're not the brightest, are they?"
"Not really. Why don't you just hung a deer? You'll pay off the debt faster then."
Zìyóu shook his head firmly. "No. I will never harm one of those majestic creatures as long as I live."
"Fair enough. So, when's your next adventure?"
"I'm not sure yet. I never know when one will pop up."
"I'm going with you, you know."
Zìyóu chuckled slightly. "No your not."
"Yes I am. You can't stop me."
Zìyóu shook his head with a slight smirk. "You really are one persistent little bug, aren't you?"
Xuikcho raise her head and wiggled her tail, a motion that he imagined would be a tail flick if it wasn't so short.
"Oh, I forgot to ask. What happened to your tail?"
"My tail?"
"Yeah... Why's it so short?"
"Oh. I was born with it like that. I like it."
"I wasn't saying that I didn't, it's just... There's another one with an odd tail too, Hollow I think?"
Xuikcho nodded. "It's just a mutation. It doesn't affect us very much."
"Oh... That's cool."
"I guess..."
"What do you mean?"
Xuikcho shrugged, her eyes watching the dead squirrel in his paws. "As a kid I got either teased or was fawned over. Obsessively." She shrugged again and her tail wiggled slightly. "I put up with it, and I don't mind it as much now... But..."
"It still bothers you, huh?"
"On occasions. I've learned to ignore it though. How about you? Did anyone tease or fawn over you when you were a viscling?"
Zìyóu shook his head. "I was the only one in the forest. Looking back on it, that must be why those humans put this tag on me... Back there, we must be endangered..."
"That's sad..."
"Yeah... Sometimes I think of what would have happened if I didn't get on the ship..."
"You would be home." Zìyóu nodded. "You would be alone." A slower nod this time. "And you wouldn't have met us." No response, just a solemn gaze ahead at nothing.
"So it's a good thing I left, then."
"In a way."
Zìyóu frowned slightly and turned away to drop the squirrel in the small pile. "Three..."
"What about trying to hunt a goat? They're a bit bigger and not as big as a deer, but they will help out with your payment."
Zìyóu paused a moment, pondering the offer. "Alright. Do you know where they are?"
"Yup! Just follow me." She picked up a dead rabbit and took off. Zìyóu paused for a moment before snatching the last rabbit and squirrel and following after her. They ran for a while, exiting the forest and traveling through an area of rolling hills and tall grass that swayed peacefully in the soft wind. Small white, wooden fences began appearing, stretching out for a mile or so before turning sharply and continuing the pattern until a rectangle was formed. Xuikcho slowed to a stop near one and dropped her rabbit, which was soon joined by another rabbit and a squirrel as Zìyóu walked up beside her.
"Here?"
"Yup. You just have to be careful."
"Okay..." Zìyóu stepped foreword and sniffed the fence cautiously. He looked passed it and gazed at the smallish bodies that roamed lazily about. Small horns budded from their heads and odd bleating noises burst from their throats time to time.
Zìyóu hopped the fence and landed in a crouched position before moving slowly and remaining low toward the goats. He paused and studied one, a fat brown one with slightly longer horns. His mane rose slightly and he waited for the telltale moment of opportunity. When it came, he launched foreword and smashed into the creature, gripping it and tumbling with the smaller creature while trying to bite it. The goat bleated and bucked wildly until it broke free of his grip and bounded away. Zìyóu stumbled to his feet, his breath coming out in frustrated huffs. He heard Xuikcho chuckle from the distance and laid his ears back.
Zìyóu's ears flicked up at the sound of several bleating goats. He stared at the swarm of about twenty smallish bodies that rushed toward him, bleating wildly and colliding with each other from time to time. Behind them, a grey-blue figure tore through the grass and began snapping at them, not trying to injure them as much as scare them. The blue-grey Viscet looked up at Zìyóu and cocked his head, raising an eyebrow and twisting his lips in confusion. A moment later, his eyes locked onto something behind Zìyóu and a massive grin broke out onto his face and he tore past him, hitting Zìyóu's side and sending him sprawling onto the ground as he sprinted to Xuikcho. "Xuikcho!"
"Pilot! Long time no see!"
Zìyóu got up and shook the grass out of his fur, glaring at a goat that stood in front of him, gnawing on grass leisurely. He turned and looked at the two who were hopping about each other happily and talking at the same time. Zìyóu padded over and rested his paws on the fence, watching them for a moment. Xuikcho seemed to remember his existence and stopped her excited prance. "Oh, right! Pilot, this is Zìyóu. He's a traveler. Zìyóu, this is Pilot. We grew up together."
"Oh! Hello Zìyóu! Sorry about that, I saw Xuikcho and just had to say hi." Pilot laughed lightly and flashed a smile at him.
"No worries. It's nice to meet you." Zìyóu returned the smile and watched as the two broke out in excited conversations about other viscets he hadn't heard of before. Flame, Nanook, Paw, Space, Reyes, Nabi...
Pilot turned to Zìyóu suddenly with a large smile. "Can I come?!"
"Wait, what? I'm sorry I wasn't listening.."
"With you and Xuikcho on your adventures!"
"I...um... Xuikcho and I aren't going on an adventure... We're just hunting..."
"That's not what Xuikcho said!"
"Oh really, now?" Zìyóu raised an eyebrow at Xuikcho who gave him a massive grin in return. He chuckled slightly and shook his head. "Alright, alright. But I have rules. I'm in the front. If danger comes, you two run to safety with Teeki. If you don't listen to me, you go back him." Zìyóu paused, trying to think of anything he was forgetting. "Oh! And you need parental permission."
"Cool! Let's go to my pack and I'll get the okay from my mom!" Pilot turned and began to run off. Zìyóu hesitated a moment, thinking of leaving, but decided to follow Pilot anyway. The three ran to a small border that marked the entrance to a pack. Zìyóu paused outside the barrier and watched as Pilot rushed to a blue and white Viscet and asked her something excitedly. The Viscet paused and pondered the request before looking at Xuikcho and nodding. Pilot leapt into the air and pressed his head against his moms neck in gratitude before running over. "She said yes!"
Xuikcho grinned at her friend. "I knew she would! Let's go!" They turned to Zìyóu who was watching the two with a smile.
"Alright. Let's see what's out there."
