"What matters most is how well you walk through the fire."
- Charles Bukowski
Chapter 5
"This bitch ass mother fu-"
"Ookay!"
Gouhin swiftly lifted Sienna up effortlessly with a large arm around her slender waist, shifting her away with a sharp turn from the slowly-gaining-his-bearings dark green crocodile that had tried to hit on her with Disgusting sentences of propositioning alongside his reptilian friends that were at first laughing mockingly, but now looking just as baffled at the rather aggressive response from a herbivore. She swore under her breath at the whiplash movement, not that it halted her words or her piercing hot glare at the angered and confused reptilian male despite the change of position.
Hopefully they wouldn't hear her rather spirited words spoken in a vehement tone though thankfully not yelling-
"-er and I'll boil you alive and strangle you with your own damn skin you fucktard-", not that it was any better.
"Alright there missy, that's enough." It was a testament to how much Sienna respected him that her mouth clicked shut right after, narrowed large dark eyes saying everything with their intensity glaring testily at the group, the one who uttered those repulsive things getting the burnt of the blazing scowl. With a flinch, the crocodile at the front took a step back unconsciously, bumping into his huffing angered friends behind him. The giant panda would think the reaction strange if it weren't for how ready the smaller herbivore looked as if she was one step away from pouncing on the carnivore... to bite his head off with her blunt teeth.
He never thought he would have that kind of thought about a herbivore before.
But so far, from what he's learned of the little missy, he can't say he's too surprised.
Gouhin hummed thoughtfully, a small smirk of amusement appearing before vanishing just as fast. "Let's just go on our own ways, as if this situation didn't happen at all." The tense words were worded as a polite request, though anyone within hearing distance could sense the distinct hard command underneath.
And there were a few bystanders passing by and glancing constantly at what was occurring, though no one stayed to stare for too long, especially as they were very near the Black Market. Practically a building away.
Sienna only watched with harsh narrowed eyes, dangling from Gouhin's hold against his stomach laying her arms over his. How fucking Dare they treat her like- like a slap of Ham! She lifted her mouth in a wordless snarl, baring teeth, if they get within an Inch of her, she's gonna rip off that crocodiles lower jaw with her Teeth.
The first crocodile that had approached her with that- that ridiculous proposition ("You look like you could use a set of teeth to help you lower all that meat. Those thighs would sell for-") was being nudged back and forth by his four friends behind him that now looked a bit more cautious from how Gouhin was standing straight and looming over them with an oppressive stance.
She thinks maybe for them, it has something to do with Instincts coming into play. For the giant panda still holding her like a doll with only an arm merely lifted an upper lip and growled deep within his throat (she found the sensation of feeling that vibration weirdly calming from where she was dangling safely in his arm), and the young reptilians acted tough with a bit of sputtering scoffing and grumbling, but the flinch they simultaneously made at the sound and threatening warning look of the much more muscular and larger panda had them scurrying back from where their original designation was, where Gouhin and Sienna were just leaving, the Black Market.
But just before turning back to leave after his friends, the first crocodile that had tried to buy a piece of her freaking body turned his head back to her a bit to give her a dirty hateful menacing glare- who the Hell he think he is, trying to act as if he's in right to be sending her that look!
The anger that was shimmering down rose so sharply she thinks she hissed with widened outraged eyes, ears standing erect and stiff. She did feel Gouhin press her tighter against him as she used his arm around her to raise herself by her shaking hands, using her strength to try to- she didn't know!
Gritting her teeth, she could Feel the heat of her aggravation surrounding her and rose a hand directly at the crocodile that was still giving her that look as his friends were nudging him towards them, giving him the middle finger as if in salute.
Sienna had No idea if here in this world the action was the same but- based on their open mouthed anger and incredulous scaly faces, yes it did.
Perfect.
"Fuck you too!" And yes, she ignored the gaping mouths around them and animals that just froze as Gouhin tried, and somehow failed to place his other free hand over her mouth since she kept moving her head to another direction at the last second with surprising dexterity, his grumbled curses falling on death ears.
"You're lucky humans don't exist here! Otherwise they'd wear you as a damn coat!"
And she scoffed, narrowed eyes watching as they looked between themselves with looks that meant they ran into one crazy herbivore, but she was viciously pleased at their unsettled expressions and just stared after them with dark eyes, breathing through her nose calmly, accepting Gouhins palm over her snout.
She said what she wanted, hmpt.
"Nmf mof nnn."
"Do I have to buy a muzzle for you?" Gouhin seemed more exasperated and irritated than anything.
She rolled her eyes, tapping his arm with her hands in a gesture to let her talk.
"This is why I still need to watch over you. A normal herbivore wouldn't have dared talked that way to a carnivore, and that all on its own is a dangerous thing." He lifted his hand off her mouth and walked while carrying her in the same position, away from the widened eyed bystanders that began talking between themselves over what just happened and giving Sienna glances of confusion and weariness.
She had a feeling she was used to ignoring all kinds of stares or talking of her, which is what she implemented now over the bystanders thinning in numbers the farther they moved away from the scene.
"Did you hear? Sienna got a new commercial offer."
"Uh huh. and of Course, shes gonna get a free pass to miss class because of that, like always."
"Do you think shes sleeping with those producers to get the offers?"
"Haha oh my god, I wouldn't be surprised actually, she Is always wearing something new on her!"
"I can pay you for a good time, Sienna."
"What the hell, you fucking bitch! Did you just Bite my Dick!?"
"...When a woman says No, she means No, you fucking asshole."
Sienna only huffed a bit indignantly from what he said, no she was Not pouting.
Just filing away that sudden memory to the back of her head with a flicker of her ear, humans were animals as well, there wasn't that much of a difference, she realized with an epiphany.
Maybe that's why despite all the little details she's remembering from when she was human, deep down the fundamental part of a living being wasn't different...
"I don't need a muzzle. Besides, I was defending myself. My rights as a living being, Not as a carnivore or a herbivore."
He gently set her down, allowing her to use his arm to stabilize her legs that were free of their jeans and had on just a pair of light jean shorts- she glanced back up at Gouhin to not stare too much down at her legs (it still felt odd having to see her legs full of fur and swallowing the urge to shave off all that fur).
But he had on that tense frown he usually had when he was contemplating and puzzling over her words, in a way she was so very grateful he was always taking her seriously ever since the start.
"I understand your point. However rare such words are here." He sent her a small smirk, she sighed out in relief, "-that doesn't mean I forgot that you were about ready to jump him." He gave her a look. She sagged down with a low groan, letting herself be led by his hand on her back towards the rather empty back of a building in the afternoon warm light.
"I assume that's not normal either?" Sienna said with an exhale, patiently waiting for Gouhin to stop them, leaning against the wall with her hands behind her back when they did.
She got So incensed with what that animal had said that she completely forgot about her original goal.
Curiosity over how animals here are. Their talk. Dress. Fur.
"Of course not. A herbivore would Never react like that with a carnivore, their instincts wouldn't allow it. This is why I want to know what's wrong with your instincts. You don't react like your species does, should, when faced in certain situations."
Oh, that's right! And maybe try to remember anything that would help her in her current case.
A downward tug of her lips, "I am remembering bits and pieces of when I was a human, but nothing of as I am now. Maybe I don't have those instincts that high tuned because I used to be a human?"
He only hummed thoughtfully, "Perhaps. There's too many variables we don't know", a frown on his snout.
"Speaking of-" She's not going to feel guilty over something she can't even control, hmpt, "-what did you mean back there, with what you last told that young carnivore?"
Sienna just wrinkled her nose at Gouhin, not comprehending. Which one? She had said so many things, she doesn't know which he meant...
Apparently he was fluent in Sienna by now, since he understood her expressions and repeated with more details, "when you stated quite confidently that humans would wear that crocodile as a coat."
Her face smoothed into a practiced blankness she didn't realize she was portraying, and she just gazed at a now slightly more rigidly standing panda who's crossed arms slightly tightened their grip, muscles bulging out at the motion.
"When I said that, it was in a fit of anger, so I would say I'm not sure.. but I did remember some more details on when I was a human these days and... I think it's best if this conversation be at home. Since I don't think you'd like the details very much." She gave a somewhat ashamed looking smile, ears flickering downward and staying in that position. It said something, and she didn't know what, that she would risk being alone with him in close quarters while giving him such sensitive information, unknowing of how he would react.
Maybe that's her instinct coming into play? That she knew for some reason he would never harm her? Or was there some kind of knowledge she had about him but didn't know?
...
Humans were actually the alpha hunters and basically the prime species where she was from, they practically ruled everything.
Now, if that was a good or a bad thing, would depend on who you would ask.
But she didn't think the giant panda would be too pleased to know that humans ate both herbivores And hunted carnivores.
Or the Zoos. Aquariums. Hunting sports. Having pets bought by money.
Yeah... that conversation will be a long grim one.
Not that there wasn't good humans as well. Who would try to save animals with their lives, that would adopt animals with no homes, veterinarians, and multiple others.
(An image of having adopted these two black baby poodle pups that were abused by their previous owner, they were her babies from then on.)
So.. it was a double edged sword really. Either way, she was going to get pricked since she remembers enjoying a Lot on chicken and sometimes steak. Might as well inwardly fortify her mind for that eventful conversation.
She hasn't eaten any meat since she woke up here, however interesting and fascinating the foods she was eating were, she kinda missed eating her breaded chicken and chicken nuggets. Sienna mentally ponders what that said about her, now breathing between Walking and Talking animals?
Hmm...
Gouhin silently analyzed her with dark eyes, after a few seconds of the intense stare off where she didn't avert her gaze even once, "Alright."
Her body loosened from how stiffly she was holding herself anticipating his response, and she gave him a relieved smile, thankful for his comprehending trait.
He let out a snort at her reaction, and the atmosphere lightened a bit more when she just stuck her tongue out at him childishly.
"I still want to explore a bit though." Beaming black doe eyes, ears flickering atop her head, and the tail she mentally denies having wagging in excitement from behind her.
Gouhin groans loudly and gives her an incredulous look, "You barely got out of an argument with a carnivore, which I had to put a stop to by the way, and you want to Continue?" She raised both her eyebrows (or where they would be on this face).
"Of course! As if something like that will stop me. I still need to see if there's anything else that will help make me remember more things."
Plus I want to see more fluffy animals.
She didn't voice out that last thought though.
"Let's continue, let's continue." Sienna softly urged Gouhin, unabashed to take hold of one of his wrists with both of her hands and pulling back towards the opening from where they entered, laughing beneath her breath when he obviously indulged her with a slightly irritated sigh and allowed her meager strength to pull him out with her.
"Control yourself more next time, since you have no instincts to stop you from acting out. In a way that'll bring attention to you or us and that won't be a good outcome."
To his serious rebuking words, she only turned her head up to glance a him with an equally solemn gaze as they entered the sidewalk, animals of all types walking past them talking between themselves or busily going somewhere.
"If I need to defend myself, then I will, be it who it may be. What they may be."
And he halted immediately at those words spoken with a promise, Sienna being tugged to a stop alongside him since she still had a hand circling his wrist, those passing by only sparing them a glance since they had stopped near the building but still within distance of the busy sidewalk.
Gouhin gazed down at her with a pensive look, eyebrows knit together. "That's fine, don't get defensive little missy." She wasn't being defensive! But that tone that he used had that hint of patronizing she honestly Detested to hear. "I meant you need to be more careful, especially as you don't have those instincts that would have allowed you to sense danger more easily. Not every animal is as kind as those you've met so far."
Meaning Gouhin himself, and those crocodiles basically. She frowned, face blanking thoughtfully.
Meaning that not every animal shes going to meet will allow for the way shes responded so far, won't allow her to react in certain ways because of the role of Herbivore that she has in this world.
My god, it's like back in her world when women had no rights. Except here she was a Herbivore, which, from what shes understanding so far, shes screwed whether she was a male or female.
The roles of Herbivore and Carnivore had so much Weight here. Irritation at that thought spiked through her, and it only increased as she kept recalling everything Gouhin explained to her and what shes witnessed so far here.
Was it the fucking law? What? So Carnivores can talk whatever they want because they're so called the 'superior' species, but herbivores had to act out a certain way just because they were Herbivores? The hell, plus they only sell Herbivore meat, why not sell carnivore meat too huh? How hypocritical.
And she had sometimes wanted for humans to not exist just so that animals could roam freely, but if this is how a world without humans was like, then what the fuck difference does it make?
She snorted to herself in bemusement.
What an enlightenment, regardless.
"Guess I need to adopt a baby gun or something then." A quick innocent grin up at the unimpressed looking giant panda. "Oh? And where will you get it from?"
A blink up at him.
A snort in response, "I don't think so. I trust you with a weapon as much as I trust a feral carnivore on my bed."
A gasp in true offense, how dare he! She was a fast learner!
"Maybe later on." Her ears perked up at that, Yes!
"That wasn't a no, then, just a pending status." He only sent her a weary half smirk, giving a shake of the head.
Totally not a no. Right now at least not yet, but later on I Will have my baby gun. Just in case some animal here doesn't take no for an answer, it would be in rightful self defense.
And since she has less rights here than in her world, why the hell not?
Well then!
"Now that we've established that!" She clapped both hands together in a bright display of matter settled, "I want to see more fluffy animals!"
And promptly coughed when she realized, oh shit- "Yes, have your full on that." Sienna knew he was amused by her honest request, and she had a feeling he also knew that was one of her priorities to come to the city- based on that full smirk he had on.
Sienna just sent him a glance of amusement herself, okay fine yes. So she wanted to see more fluffy animals. (Faithfully denying that she herself is one.)
"I love you very much Gouhin, It's not you, it's me."
She snickered as he chuckled deep in his throat, placing his hand on her upper back and moving her along beside him with the crowds more leisure pace.
"I appreciate you very much, but I just need to see more fluffy animals." He snorted at her for that, giving her a side glance down in mirth.
Gasp, oh my god is that a poodle?
Wide doe eyes watched a female poodle walking close by on the opposite direction wearing a long sundress with a small blue purse to the side, white poodle ears drooping down and awww.
So Cuuute!
It reminded her of her baby poodles that she had-
A long lean (familiar, familiar?) slouching form walked by her at a leisure pace, and she caught the tip of a fluffy grey tail in the corner of her eyes as the figure passed by in the opposite direction.
Huh..?
Unknowingly freezing in the middle of the sidewalk, hearing in her trembling ears the thundering piercing noise of her heart- yes she's familiar with it by now unfortunately.
Thump. Thump.
Thump. Thump.
And her head snapped to turn behind her, where she could See that (familiar!) back, the slouching form distinctively male and that low fluffy grey tail!
"...oshi..?" She didn't know that she had whispered something, but she knew the word by the motion of her snout, No- she knew that Name.
Important! This animal is Important! Sad, sAd, SaD.
Sad but so Gentle.
Too gentle.
Too important.
What even..? The pounding within her head was distracting her from the shaking-her-shoulder Gouhin was doing to get her attention from Sienna's strange actions, but- something inside of her was crucially urging her to follow that (Wolf!) male animal to-
He needed to know!
But..what does he need to know?
So he can stop it from happening, please let it not have happened yet!
What are you Talking about?!
She felt like her head was splitting in two from her own voice responding back and forth-
TELL HIM!
Oh my Fucking god, Fine!
Taking a deep breath to momentarily clear her head from how fuzzy it was, Sienna followed what her body was insistently trying to make her do- taking a step towards the wolf she could see getting further away slowly- Can't let that happen! I can't let him go without telling him!
A faster step and once more until she was practically running at full speed, missing a loudly cursing Gouhins fingers by an inch, not that she knew that with how focused her mind was now on that tall willowy sad figure that looked to be getting closer and closer to her.
No. She was the one getting closer with how fast she sprinted.
She wasn't supposed to know the name of some unknown animal but-
"Legoshi!"
The name came out from her and she knew that name!
Sienna saw the full body flinch the taller form had at his name being shouted, rapidly turning around with widened eyes that held total confusion, shock and a bit of fear when he noticed her nonstop sprint directly towards him.
She would have been proud to say that she at least made his figure tumble a bit backwards before he quickly caught his balance naturally just as he caught her form around her waist to hold her up, quickly bringing her down and taking off his hands abruptly as if burned- which she admits she would have found amusing since she still had her arms tightly circled around his neck, if her mind wasn't full of what he needed to know before it happened- please let it not have happened yet!
"Legoshi!" Feeling the flinch he gave again at his name being abruptly stated in such a commanding tone from her close form, she gave no mind to that nor his stuttering words as she lowered herself slightly away so she now could see his confused and panicking face just a few inches away from her own intense one. Her arms loosened their hold and she slid them down to rest her palms against his furry cheeks- (dark blue grey fur surrounding a narrow heart shaped cream colored face, Legoshi!) and she knew that she was holding him to near her level by only the palms holding his cheeks now, but this was important!
Awkward first impressions later!
(She wasn't going to think on how easily he could rip her off him with his strength- and why he hasn't done that yet to this seemingly crazy herbivore hogging him past personal space.)
"Do you know Tem?"
Hopefully he could understand her panting words, at least hear them correctly since she was That close to his widened eyed panicking face.
No sadness, change of expression, or stiffness.
Did that mean...?
She could only Hope.
"Legoshi!" The word may have been shouted for the flinch he gave again at how she said his name softly this time, almost whispering, but she was determined and persistent to receive a more concrete answer despite not knowing Why.
"Do. You. Know. Tem?" She articulated a bit slower, keeping his completely confused gaze locked onto her solemn one. When he nodded rapidly under her palms, she continued, "how is he?" and she wasn't ashamed to admit she held her breath as she waited for his response, keenly observing his expression to her question because it would give a clue on-
"H-He's fine? C-could you please let go of me?"
Always so polite, always so gentle.
Too gentle.
Her intense expression softened as she whispered an apology to him, but before she let go she had to tell him. He had to know! It hasn't happened yet!
"Please protect Tem, Legoshi." She let him hear the urgency in her soft voice, seeing his form slowly calming and ears twitched upwards in attention at the words.
He opened his longer snout to say something, but she continued, pressing her palms a bit more closer against his cheeks, ignoring the warmth being emitted by the taller form.
"Someone is going to kill him, and I don't know when or how or who, but please try to prevent that." And with that, his snout dropped open in blatant horror, face paling from how red (it can get Red? How even?) it was before and this time she felt when he pressed his large clawed hands against her shoulders, pressing her away from him abruptly and so easily but she didn't let go of his face, nonplussed when his claws accidentally grasped slightly against her shoulder blades behind her dark blue plain t-shirt.
Sienna didn't lose her solemn but gentle expression as she gazed up at the horrified but still confused wolf that was now asking how she even knew that and if it was a joke and so on.
How the hell could she answer him Those questions when she didn't even know Herself?
At least that desperation she felt from before when she Had to tell the wolf those things disappeared now, just a spike of confusion and irritation from herself left over.
"Legoshi."
And he still flinched when she softly said his name, ears flickering straight upwards and staying in that position. She would be offended at his flinching if she cared enough but she now after such an emotional roller-coaster, she just honestly wanted to go home.
Gouhin and she could see more fluffiness some other day.
"Just-," exhaling a bit to loosen her rigid body, and letting off a bit on the pressure she had holding his cheeks, she gave them a soft pat, smiling tiredly at his startled blink from the almost affectionate action, feeling how he let go of his hands over her shoulders hurriedly.
"Try to make sure Tem isn't alone with anyone he thinks are friends."
Oh my god, no. What the Hell?!
She had no control over what was coming out of her mouth, and can only watch helplessly as Legoshi (for apparently that is this wolf males name) narrows his eyes, letting go of his face slowly when she feels him tilt his head.
"Whats going on? How do you know this? Who are you?" He was looming over her now, Sienna having to tilt her head back to keep her sight locked to his straight forwardly so he can sense her honesty. It made her want to smile at how protective he was over those he thought of as friends, it was really sweet.
"My name is Sienna. And if I knew how I knew that information, I would tell you that", she explained with a more softer tone than the intense one of before, but not any less honest.
Sienna really felt bad at how confused and scared the taller wolf looked at the moment, but he had to know!
And later on when she was alone, she would revisit her mind to think over what the hell just happened.
But right now, she had a kind of rightfully frightened and unnerved wolf to calm down that appeared as if he was two seconds away from grabbing her again.
"I finally catch up, and I find you in another situation? I'm starting to rethink that muzzle option. With a leash."
Perfect.
Just what she needed!
That incredibly irritated and vexed voice sounded right behind her and she didn't have to look behind to know who it was, shoulders dropping from her tension and ears drooping down from how exasperated she felt as she saw Legoshi raise his head at the voice and unconsciously straightening his form a bit from how threatening she can imagine the furious aura Gouhin was letting off and his stiff crossed arms form.
She didn't even need to see it to know that was how he was looked.
A whimper of weariness came out, though she ignored how Legoshi's attention was briefly brought back to her at that pitiful sound.
Is this what it meant to be stuck between a hard wall and a sword? There was a phrase similar that popped into her head at her current circumstance.
Oh crap. Did I just break canon?
...What the hell was canon?
Another thing to think about, when she wasn't stuck where she is now.
AN: Thank you Puffgirl1952 the 2nd, TheGooSeer, AnimeLover229, Bri (guest), TRASHKIING, Moonlight puppet, yummychii, okomila5, sassybrownie3 for reviewing!
Glad everyone's enjoying the story so far!
Thank you to those that have foll/fav this story!
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter as well!