This story features the death of an animal as well as the use of guns, but there is no graphic content otherwise. Please enjoy!

Please do not repost any of my content without my permission. I do not profit from any of the stories I write.


Vash looked up into the dry branches of a desert tree. Sitting on one of them was a beautiful white bird, bending back it's long neck to preen it's glittering wings. He had watched from behind a rock as it perched itself on the branch, and he tried not to make a sound. Right at this moment, he was considering how delicious the animal's tender, white meat would taste.

Vash considered his options. On one hand, no one had the right to take the life of another, and animals were alive like humans were. What if this bird was going back to a nest? He wouldn't want any other creature to experience what it felt like to lose it's family.

On the other hand, he hadn't eaten in what felt like days. He had trawled the previous towns for any odd jobs, but had either been refused or not able to find work. What little money he had was to be used for essentials only. Bird meat wasn't quite as good as a donut, but it could suffice. Besides, Rem probably wasn't thinking about animals when she was reciting her ideologies, right?

He felt his stomach rumble. It was decided. Vash loaded his gun, aimed it at the target, and shakily put his finger on the trigger.

I'm sorry, friend, he thought sadly as the bullet flew from the barrel. Sometimes, a guy just has to eat.


Vash sat at one of the round tables of the run-down saloon. When he didn't have anything else to do, he would drink and people watch, and a bar was the ideal place to do just that. He usually tried to stay under the radar, but was just about ready to leave town and decided to refuel before he headed out in the morning.

"Still doing good over here?"

His thoughts were interrupted by his waitress coming over to check on his table. "Are you sure you're not hungry? We have a great deal tonight on our tomas prime rib."

Vash smiled at the woman. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm a vegetarian. It's just that I'd hate for any of our animal friends to get hurt for my personal pleasure, you know?"

The waitress shrugged. "Suit yourself," she said, turning back towards the kitchen.

Vash took a long gulp of his drink. He thought about the slices of dried tomas meat that he had in his hotel room and felt a pang of guilt in his side. However, imagining the smoky taste seemed to silence those thoughts pretty quickly.

He sighed to himself. Well, he decided, looking into the bottom of his cup. "I guess as long as I'm not the one who kills them..."