[Side Story] VS Margay

Back then, at that moment.

Margay was doing maintenance on the Waterfront Area's show stage in preparation for PPP's performance.

"Alright, the spotlight should be fine at this angle."

Margay, having become PPP's manager that she always dreamt of after meeting with Kaban and co, studied as much as she could about idols and concerts, and dedicated herself to things like directing PPP's performances and setting up the stage. For the girl, whose base animal would live scaling large trees, climbing the stage's scaffolding to adjust the lights' position was easy. Moving swiftly on top of the scaffolding, Margay overlooked the stage.

She thought that the stage was perfect, and the view was wonderful. Aside from the Lucky Beast controlling the Waterfront Area that watched in silence, purposely not saying anything, there was no audience present, as there was still quite some time till the concert. She couldn't stop being excited about the large crowd that would gather during the performance.

"Heheh… Can't wait."

While lovingly stroking the scaffolding, Margay cast her gaze upon the cabin where PPP had temporarily moved their practice sessions to. Although she wanted to go take a peek, as their manager and ascended fan, Margay felt like saving that excitement for the live performance.

"...Maybe I should adjust the set a bit more?"

She decided to get moving to calm down her excited heart. Margay straightened her back and rubbed her hands to get off the comfortable scaffolding. In the corner of her eye, she saw a Lucky Beast's eyes and ears flashing red.

――At that moment, it was the wind.

―The wind front had blown through the stage, coming from behind.

Then, reflexively, Margay turned her head towards the direction from which the wind blew.

What came into her view was a bizarre sight that she has never seen in her life. Crossing over the Snowy Mountains Area, while being the antithesis to the beautiful silver mountains, was an advancing dark something. There was no time to wonder if what she was seeing was reality. "It" was approaching at a dreadful velocity, and instantly the Waterfront Area, the show stage―

Margay has been engulfed.

…

"Whoah! What's going on!?"

The members of PPP, who have all gathered in the cabin, have noticed the strange event. The sunlight from the window had been abruptly cut off, engulfing the room in darkness, Rockhopper Penguin― Iwabi, had raised her voice in surprise.

"Oh? Is it nighttime already?" That was Humboldt Penguin, referred to as Hululu, going at her own pace in a time like this.

Ignoring her, Emperor Penguin― Emperor ran up to the window to check the situation.

"What is this?... Looks like a black fog… Could that be Sandstar?"

"Was Sandstar always that color? And besides, there's so much of it…"

Gentoo Penguin, known as Gean, had also taken a look outside like Emperor.

"Hold on, that… Isn't normal. …I wonder if Margay is safe."

Royal Penguin, known as Princess, immediately didn't like the scene unfolding. She was worried about Margay, who had been working outside.

"Would it be safe to take a look outside?"

"B-But it might actually be better if we stayed inside the cabin for the time being…"

Seeing as Princess was overcome with worry, Emperor and Gean's expressions began to gloom.

"...Well, since it's Margay we're talking about, she'll be fine I think."

Patting Hululu, who didn't seem to be all that caught up with the situation, on the head, Iwabi put on a smile to increase everyone's morale.

…

The black storm― the Sandstar Raw wave had passed. Sensing that the reverberating whistling of the wind had abated, the curled up Margay opened her tightly shut eyes.

Before her was the sight of a completely changed stage from mere moments ago. The Lucky Beast running around with its eyes and ears flashing red lights made her worried. While the lights had their orientation shifted due to the wind, it didn't seem like there was any great damage. Margay let out a sigh, wondering just what had happened. It was a strange incident unlike anything else she had experienced, and to her astonishment, she seemed stressed.

She felt hot blood flowing through her whole body. Her heart beating heavily in her chest.

(...Is PPP safe?...)

Margay jumped off the scaffolding and landed on the ground, turning towards the cabin where PPP had hidden. It seemed like the storm wasn't strong enough to blow anything away. However, it could've had an effect on the performing girls' condition. She quickly went to check, as she had to clear her worries.

…

…

―My body… Feels hot.

As for me, with the concert right around the corner… I'm excited…

I first have to calm down, then I must… Check up on them…

If they don't… Perform at the top of their condition… Then it'll be all for nothing.

…

…

"It looks like it has passed."

"Just what was that…?"

Sunlight has once again shone through the window.

"Night? Day? Which is it?"

Seeing Hululu having no idea of what was going on, Gean and Emperor, who were observing the situation through the window, had loosened up a little. Coming in between those two, Iwabi had also looked out the window.

"Oh, hey. Good news, Margay seems to be doing fine."

She saw Margay's figure walking towards the cabin. Hearing that, Princess, who had been worried about Margay's safety, breathed in deeply, and ran towards the exit.

"Margay! Is she alright!?"

She opened the door.

…

ahh… thats good… everyones safe…

…as always, the pepapu is amazing…

after all, everyones so kind… so cute… so lovely… so perfect―

―so tasty

…

"..."

Margay was staring at Princess, who came out to see her, with empty eyes.

"Margay…?"

Princess became perplexed at her uncharacteristic behavior. Sensing that something was wrong from Princess' voice, Emperor and Iwabi came up watching from behind Princess to check on Margay.

At that moment…

"―NYAUUUUUuu…!"

Margay's hollow eyes suddenly lit up in Wild Release, and she arched her back letting out a cry no one's heard before.

"Wha―"

Princess froze on the spot. Emperor and Iwabi had their breath taken away. And then, Margay, with her fangs and claws out.

"Huh? No, hey, hold on, what are y…"

She paid no heed to Emperor, as she put on a forced smile, talking as if it was a joke. Margay frantically broke into a run, her bare claws glittering. Staring into those wildly glowing eyes was the stiffened Princess.

"Princess!"

Iwabi tightly gripped the frozen Princess' hand, and forcefully pulled her. Due to the abruptness, Princess' legs got tangled up, and both of them fell to the ground. There, where Princess had just stood, Margay's claws flew by.

"Kyahh!"

"Huh? Huh? What's up? Margay, are you grumpy?"

Gean raised her voice, while Hululu was lost. Margay glared at the two, breathing through her teeth.

"What are you doing, Margay!? Stop it!"

"Margay…!"

Iwabi and Princess, who had fallen, were regaining their posture while calling out, but received no answer. As black Sandstar overflowed from her palms, Margay arched her back once again.

"―Emperor!"

"G-Got it!"

Although they didn't know what was going on, Gean and Hululu had a bad feeling. And so did Iwabi and Emperor, as they approached Margay from behind and did a full nelson.

"Nyauu! Huuuuu!"

"Come on, settle down!"

"The claws! Look out!"

To not get scratched by the violently lashing out Margay, Iwabi and Emperor had made callouts to each other. While originally margays prided themselves in hunting small animals on treetops, expectantly she was unable to showcase her hunting abilities on the ground, being no match to the bigger Emperor in strength. Having both of her hands bound behind her, Margay, who was unable to swing her claws, let out scream-like words in an awfully strange tone, while frantically thrashing her body.

"Now what…? What's going on…?"

Emperor groaned as she applied strength to her flippers to bind Margay's hands, never letting go despite the chaos.

"Margay, get it toge―"

"GYAUUUUH!"

Trying to communicate, Princess' voice only drew out a raised strange voice from Margay. Cringing from her sharp animal-like voice, Gean covered her ears with her headphones.

"I don't get it…" Iwabi let out a tearful voice in resignation.

"...Just, what can we do… With Margay?" Princess asked Emperor, while keeping her eyes directly on Margay as she bare her fangs.

"...For now, let's use the storage room at the back of the cabin and put her in there for her to calm down. I don't know why… but we can't talk with her like that."

"Huh…? We're gonna lock up Margay…? But that feels somewhat cruel…"

"I don't wanna do that either. But―"

Bringing Margay to the cabin, Emperor almost stopped upon Hululu's words, but decided that it was the only way. Seeing Emperor's cloudy expression, Hululu shut her mouth. Everyone else also couldn't say anything.

Emperor pushed Margay into the storage room, and to not let her open the door from the inside, everyone moved the objects within the room in front of the door. They felt a pain in their chest hearing animal cries from the other side of the door and the unpleasant sound of claws being dragged across walls, but they were unable to do anything.

…

A little later, a Lucky Beast, which has been observing the situation inside the cabin through the window, had communicated with Boss, who was investigating the Park from the Lodge.

When will the PPP realize, that it's not just Margay who became strange, but the entire park?―

Hello, this is PoGu. Sincere apologies for the very long delay. Admittedly, my discipline isn't the greatest.

This series doesn't have a lot of side story chapters, only three in total (five if you count the two post-epilogue chapters). Also, it won't be until the very end that we'll see another one of those.

Oh, and a small TL note: In Japanese, the PPP is pronounced "pepapu", and it was written as such in hiragana when Margay was thinking as she was losing herself in the original.

Anyway, since FF doesn't like any kind of link anywhere, I'll instead leave directions on how to find the original work.

First method is to search for "「けもの」の本能" and find the link that leads you to a Japanese site called "kakuyomu".

Alternatively, you can go to the kakuyomu site and add "/works/1177354054882921926" to the domain.