VS Lucky Beast, Part 3

Having got on the bus, Kaban and co departed, leaving the injured Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey and Giraffe, as well as African Wild Dog and Gray Wolf nursing them, behind at the Lodge. They couldn't stop worrying about the state of Friends that they've passed through up till now. Having taken a detour to stop by them prior to arriving at the Lodge, they wanted to find out what happened in the Waterfront and Snowy Mountains Areas. However, Kaban knew fully well that they don't have the time to spare for that. In order to save everyone, they had to prioritize finding out the cause of the outbreak.

"Please take us to the Library by the shortest route." Peering into the driver's seat, Kaban called out to Boss.

[Leave it to me. Deviating from the regular park touring course. Due to the road lacking maintenance, we may get shaken at times, so take care.]

Raising her eyes, Kaban looked outside from the driver's windows. The park's state didn't feel like it had changed from what she's seen up till now, save for the dark clouds covering the sky. The concentration of Sandstar Raw being higher than Sandstar, just what does that entail? As opposed to the Friends around her, Kaban, who didn't know how Sandstar is used, didn't fully comprehend it.

"Mmmh…"

"Arai-san's nervous noda―"

"Yeaaah…"

However, Serval and the others seemed to have felt something off in the air, as they've been restless ever since they've left the Lodge.

"Are you alright, everyone?"

taking a step back from the driver's seat, Kaban sat down. Serval was muttering into her curled up hands.

"Umya… There's just this one thing that worries me… But I'm fine."

"We gotta do something about this quick, or we won't be able to sleep well~"

Twitching her large ears, Fennec crossed her arms.

"A-Arai-san is only slightly worried, it's no big deal noda!"

Common Raccoon put on a false bravado, but the fur on her tail was all bristled. Kaban set her bag down and took out a Japari Bun.

"At times like these, eating is the best way to cheer up."

"Yaaay!"

"Let's eat noda!"

…

For how long have they been driving since then?

Before anyone had realized it, the Sun had already set, and the surroundings became dark. Common Raccoon had laid down with a pale face huddling her tail on the bed made by Beaver, having said "I don feel sho goot noda". Perhaps it was due to the unmaintained road shaking the bus, or her not being used to riding it. Fennec, whose facial expression was as laid back as ever, stroked Common Raccoon's head.

"Arai-san, you alive~?"

"Livin noda…"

At the time, Kaban and Serval were watching the two's exchanges with a bitter smile.

*Screech*

"Uwah!"

As the bus came to a screeching halt, Kaban reacted in time to catch Serval, who fell forward.

"L-Lucky-san! What happened?"

[We were able to get all the way to the forest by the Library, but the path ahead has been barricaded.]

Having got off the bus together with Serval, Kaban investigated what's ahead of the bus. There stood a wall made out of various piled up things, like tree branches and planks, with a large board that had an arrow drawn on it. This had brought back some memories for the two.

"These are… the same kind of walls that Professor-san and Assistant-san have made for the maze that we had gone through."

"In that case we won't be able to go by bus! What do we do now…?"

Leaning on Fennec's shoulder, Common Raccoon got off the bus. Boss, who stepped out of the bus with them, came up to the wall and gazed at it as if to gauge its rigidity.

[It appears to be quite sturdy. Taking it down would be too time consuming. We will have to leave the bus here and scale this wall. Since I don't know what is lurking in the forest, be careful.]

And so, they marched through the dark forest. Kaban subconsciously swallowed her saliva and tightly held onto Serval.

"Don't worry! I'll protect you, Kaban-chan!"

"Serval-chan…"

The heat spreading from Kaban's palms gave Serval the courage to step forward.

"―Let's go…"

"R-Right nanoda…! We've gotta protect Kaban-san noda…!"

"Before that, I feel like you should protect yourself~"

Kaban and Serval began walking, while the limping Common Raccoon and the seemingly tired Fennec followed behind.

…

Having climbed over a wall like how Serval taught her, Kaban had once again set her eyes on the forest trail leading to the Library. Due to the cloudy night sky, the reliable moonlight was absent, and the density of the trees made the area darker.

[Activating lights.]

Having said so, beams of lights similar to the bus' shone from Boss' eyes, giving light to what's underneath their feet.

"Boss, you're amazing! This is so cool!"

"Alright… Let's hurry."

Now that Common Raccoon had finally recovered and was waiting for the others to get over the wall, Kaban and co could begin to make progress. Being led by Boss, the four advanced through the forest with hurried steps. Hurrying to settle the outbreak down as fast as possible, they feared the forest at night, as they were worried about something possibly attacking them. In the awfully quiet forest the only sounds were the four's footsteps and Boss' mechanical sounds.

…

[Not too far from here, we will exit into the Library's open space.] The leading Boss spoke while illuminating the path ahead.

When Boss suddenly started talking during the tense silent walk, everyone straightened up in shock.

"Y-You surprised me…"

"Since we need to steel ourselves from now on~, we ought to be a bit more careful~"

Kaban brought her hands to her chest and breathed deeply, while Fennec puffed out her cheeks and complained. Behind them, Common Raccoon's tail had once again become bristled.

"P-P-P-Please don't scare Arai-san like this noda! For goodness' sake!"

"You're exaggerating, Arai-san~"

"No can do noda! Anyone would be surprised by―"

"Shush!" Interrupting everyone's tense speech was Serval.

With a seemingly never before seen serious expression, she was still as her index finger was brought up to her lips.

"Fweh…?"

Fennec had immediately covered Common Raccoon's mouth as they let out a dumbfounded sound. Staying motionless, Serval's eyes were moving left and right. Her large ears on top of her head meanwhile were fidgeting restlessly. Left and right, the ears moved sporadically, and in reaction to the sound of a twig getting snapped, they've both instantly turned towards its direction.

"Kaban-chan!"

Kicking off the ground with her prided leg strength, Serval sent Kaban flying.

"Uwah!"

Having tumbled onto the ground, Kaban had a confused look on her face as she adjusted her hat. What came into her view was―

"Nghh…"

Serval holding onto her right arm and a shadow silently fluttering in the air and perching onto a nearby tree's branch. The shadow positioned itself on top of the branch, facing the party. A pair of red glowing eyes glaring at them.

"Th-There they are noda…! A Friend that attacks Friends nanoda!"

"...Serval-chan!"

Kaban rushed towards Serval, whose face contorted in agony as she got down. Within the darkness, Kaban had realized to her dismay that blood was slowly dripping from the arm that Serval was holding on to. The constricting sensation within her throat was fighting against Kaban as beads of sweat formed on her skin.

"Ser… val… cha―"

"Kaban-chan, are you alright!? Are you hurt!? Sorry for shoving you like that…!"

Holding onto her wound, Serval gazed at Kaban with a worried look. Kaban, who was beginning to lose consciousness due to the unbelievable scenario of Serval being injured, snapped back to her senses hearing her voice.

"Th-Thanks to you I'm alright. Thank you… seriously. But, right now―"

"Brace yourself noda, Kaban-san! It's coming again noda!"

She snappily turned her head at Common Raccoon's high-pitched voice. The shadow on the tree was looking at them in a low stance as if it were making evaluations. Rather than moving its eyes, it would turn its neck. Common Raccoon had strained her eyes and gritted her teeth at that eerie movement.

"J-J-Just who are you nanoda!?"

Boss looked up at the tree, illuminating the shadow with its lights.

*Hoot*

The identity of the attacker, who narrowed her eyes and let out a small sound, and had Serval's blood on their talons, was the Professor's Assistant, Eurasian Eagle-Owl.

Hello, this is PoGu. Don't worry, you're not the only one who thought that this arc was called weird.

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.