Chapter 2

Gosha understood Yafya's expression since he too reacted the same way at the eyeless sphinx cat. Never in his life he had encountered someone like Hershel, who was suspicious when they first met until his ears perked up at the sound of car tyres.

Lou on the other hand, was approachable and overall friendly. For a Komodo dragon like him, a friendly reptile that was open to others were quite rare. Most of the time, cold-blooded animals were recluse to the max. He met the both of them near the park, trying to find a hotel to stay but knowing them, this city was not to be trifled with.

CCTV cameras were everywhere to spot any carnivores committing anything offensive, which included a few arguments with herbivores. Wanting to know more about them, Gosha decided to lend them a hand, clearly knowing that foreigners new to the city will be eaten up before they could take another step.

The stay will be temporary until the both of them could find who they were looking for. Apparently, they were visiting a few old friends and family but they needed a place to stay since their destination were further than they anticipated.

Plus, they also want to explore the town.

'I thought they would want a direct route,' Gosha thought to himself. He was getting on in age despite being in his late 50s. Despite his cold-blooded nature, the Komodo dragon was fond of other species whether they were carnivore or herbivore. Of course, he couldn't go anywhere without discrimination from either side since Komodo dragons were considered as monsters and other unholy names in their eyes.

However, he was thankful that Legosi found himself a right path, even when he was with that rabbit girl. He never underestimated that pup to be more like him than his mother or grandmother. Fur or scales, their blood were the same.

Back to the present, Yafya was still shocked at Hershel's appearance. The sphinx cat was wearing two layers of a shirt and cardigan sweater to keep his furless body warm. At the umbrella stand near his door was Hershel's walking cane. It was the one most blind animals would used. He remembered his grandson telling him about his old classmate being a blind bat.

Could this be...

"If you don't mind, I'd like to rest up for the night and we will be out of your sight by tomorrow," Hershel meowed. Gosha blinked at the cat's statement. He laid a gentle claw on him, a disinfectant in his other hand. Hershel purred when he swiped disinfectant over his furless paws and his sweater.

"Oh, no, I insist," he assured the cat, praying Yafya would cooperate with the situation he had dragged his friend into. When Hershel turned to his direction, it unnerved him to even look into the cat's eyes.

Most blind animals would have cloudy films that covered the eye but in this case, it was as if someone had scooped out both of Hershel's eyeballs with a spoon, leaving him with two hollow holes that reminded him of the dark caves at night.

"Unnerving, isn't it?" Gosha was about to say something but Yafya gestured him to shut up. "I wasn't always this hollow. Like you and your pony over here, I used to be young and reckless, but I'm not as spry as I was in my 60s."

With that, the cat bids them goodnight with a bow before entering the room to where his companion was. Now it was just the two old friends, who were wondering what just happened. Yafya glared at him. "Gosha, if they harmed you, it's your funeral. You brought yourself onto this and I hope you don't repeat the same mistake like before..."

The Komodo dragon's eyes narrowed, causing the stallion to smirk. "There's the vicious dragon I know. I'm only testing you to see if you understand that this could be serious. You know we don't invite foreigners into our homes that easily. Then again, hotels aren't going to accept freaks like them."

"You don't even know them," Gosha pointed out quietly, squashing his rage if he wanted peace. Yafya threw his head back as he stretched his body. "Well, I better go. I'll come back tomorrow to check if you are still alive with something about those two."

Once Yafya left, Gosha brought his fingers to his nostrils, pinching them. He might as well lived a thousand years before his death. So many things had happened after he had casted away his youth at a very young age and now...

He hoped he'd get to know more about his two guests.

...

The next morning, Gosha caught a scent of something sweet and appetising. He may not have sharp hearing but he heard sizzling noises at his kitchen. Giving himself a wide yawn, he got up to investigate.

There, his alligator guest was already up, humming an unknown tune as he fried something in the pan. It looked like squared doughnuts with their yeast-like smell. "Mornin' there. Ah was hopin' ya be around fer mah way of sayin' thanks."

All his life, he had never heard anyone talked like that before.

"Oh, it's no problem at laugh," he laughed, praying his venom doesn't drip down. "What are you making, Lou?"

"Beignets! A fine way to start the day," Lou announced proudly. "Hersh will get ya some sugar and honey to eat with it. Coffee?"

"Sure, but please, let me get some plates for this. I have separate ones for me and guests since-"

"Aw, don't be like that!" Lou clapped Gosha's back heartily. "Little spit won't kill me. Hersh and Ah have survived worst. And Ah mean a lot worse."

This was the first time Gosha had ever have someone serve him, let alone in his own house. The sphinx cat Hershel was putting some honey in a bowl and powdered sugar in another. If he's got time, he will research on whatever these 'beignets' were.

He watched as his two guests were speaking as they made breakfast. The alligator had a rough twang in his voice while the cat sounded crisp yet seasoned with age. He could tell that the both of them were close friends.

"So, were you two schoolmates?"

It was Hershel who lets out a mrrow of laughter. "Oh, no. I met Lou during the Great War with a few friends. Poor scrap could barely make it out alive if it weren't for a miracle. At that time, I could remember what he looked like..."

Now this was interesting. No one in this city talked about the Great War in detail, let alone have someone who survived that era. Gosha was somehow honoured to be meeting and having two veterans as his guests.

"Ain't a pretty memory," Lou said it cheerfully as he scooped up the batches of fried beignets and plopped them into a paper towel bowl. "Though, Ah remember a few...a few..."

He was lost in thought when Yafya entered the apartment with the spare key the Komodo dragon had given him. After the whole ordeal at the Black Market, the both of them had rekindled their friendship.

"I can see that you're in one p-"

Again, the stallion was stunned to speak, causing both of the veterans to turned at their direction. Lou greeted him with his crocodilian grin. "Mornin' to ya. This yer friend, Gosha?"

Before the Komodo dragon could answer, Yafya had pulled him by the tail into the other room before slamming the door shut. He was concerned by his friend's paranoia.

"Gosha, why didn't you tell me that the other one is an albino with metallic legs?"

If you are curious about how I came up with Lou and Hershel, they were based on characters from the game L.A. Noire and about WW2 from British documentaries and animation