VS Sandstar Raw, Part 2
Silence befell within the Library. The ones who began to speak had the most surprised expression, with their mouths agape and eyes blinking.
"Huh… what… was that…?"
"Just as I thought…"
Overlooking the confused Serval's state, Gray Wolf grated her fangs. Kaban, whose heart in her chest was beating so hard that it seemed like something was about to come out of her mouth, even though she was afraid to ask, she timidly started speaking.
"Did something happen… at the Lodge? Did something happen… to Serval-chan…!?" Her voice was so shaky that even she was surprised.
African Wild Dog tightly shut her eyes as if to shake something off and answered.
"After you guys left the Lodge, Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey and Giraffe's wounds did heal… With the power of Sandstar."
Professor's arms twitched.
"However, their states have only worsened. Although their wounds were getting better, their expressions were getting worse and their breathing heavier…"
"We didn't know just what we should do, but we couldn't just sit by idly. ―And then, a surprise. Without warning, Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey lost her mind, and became restless just like Flicker-san."
Everyone was lost for words. Even the pinned down Serval. A chill ran down her spine.
"Tha- wha- …But during that black storm, Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey was with us inside the bus―"
"Giraffe followed soon after. She too lost her mind in the same way." Declared Gray Wolf, interrupting Kaban, as she began rebutting, unable to believe.
"There was nothing we could've done. We've locked them up in rooms similar to the one that Flicker-san was in, and then left the Lodge to catch up to you to warn you."
"Though… It seems like we were a bit too late…"
African Wild Dog's Arm, which was pinning down Serval, tensed up. Common Raccoon looked at the pale as a ghost Kaban, then at the Pinned Serval, and then at Professor, who looked like she couldn't bear it.
"Pr-Professor! What does it mean nanoda?! Aren't only those friends who've been engulfed by that black Sandstar supposed to be turning weird noda?!"
As Common Raccoon looked at Professor's face, she witnessed a never before seen feeble expression. Anxiety and Despair were showing through. Her small body seemed even tinier.
"A situation that's even more severe than my hypothesized worst-case scenario, it is…" Having muttered under her breath, Professor put on her regular expressionless face. "Certainly, when a Friend gets injured, they can heal back up by absorbing Sandstar. However, according to Kaban with whom I've been discussing, the amount of Sandstar in the air is lower than Sandstar Raw." Professor furrowed her eyebrows and then continued. "Currently, if a Friend becomes injured, then it won't be just Sandstar… Sandstar Raw will also enter their bodies. In other words―"
"That would mean that… Any Friend who becomes injured will become aggressive like Brown Bear-san…"
Professor nodded in agreement at African Wild Dog's words. Wolf and African Wild Dog felt as Serval became silent and her body stiffened. Kaban stumbled as she felt lightheaded. Fennec supported her from behind, staying silent.
"Th-This can't… This can't be…"
"Impossible…"
The eyes of Kaban and Serval have met. Kaban's breath was taken away as she looked at Serval.
"Forgetting about Kaban-chan and everyone else… It's scary!"
Serval raised her grieving voice. However, what followed was contrary to her words, probably against her will. Strength was gathering in her arm pinned by African Wild Dog, sharp claws jutting out of her fingertips.
"UWAAAHHh!"
[Danger, danger. Get away.]
"Calm down, Serval!"
Common Raccoon let out a scream from the depths of her throat as she grabbed her own arms, while Fennec distanced herself from Serval. Even Boss, who's been keeping silent, let out warning sounds. Gray Wolf and African Wild Dog would call out to the aggressive Serval as they continued to pin her down, ensuring to not let go. Kaban did not move. She couldn't move. What was the best thing to do for the current Serval?
Even though up till now she could always come up with an idea when confronted with something, sadly, she couldn't think of anything.
"Serval-chan…! Serval-chan…!"
All she could do was to call out her name.
"Kaban… chan…!"
Serval was reacting as if she was being wrung out while she struggled. Her sharp claws scraped against the Library's floor. Black Sandstar would slowly, but surely, ooze out of her arm.
"―…! If I could use that thing…!"
Seeing that, Professor opened her wings and sprung up into the air as if she realized something. She moved over to the front of a bookshelf on the upper levels in a glide-like fashion, pulling out from it something that looked like a rectangular box, and hurriedly returned to Kaban's side.
"You should try using this!"
Professor turned over the box she retrieved. A few beautiful cerulean crystal-like stones fell on the floor with a hard sound. Kaban recognized them from somewhere.
"Are those…"
"Those are fragments of the Celliens' rocks that we've successfully secured through trial and error, indeed. With these I've been studying Celliens and Sandstar Raw, in fact. Celliens use them as their core, developing as they absorb Sandstar Raw, as it turns out."
As Professor quickly explained as if she had a motormouth, she handed one stone to Kaban.
"...In other words, these stones should be able to suck up Sandstar Raw. If this works out smoothly, it should keep Serval's condition at bay, I believe. You should try touching Serval's body with it."
Among all the despair, a little bit of hope. Tightly holding onto the stone, Kaban ran up to Serval's side. However,
*Huff huff*
When her eyes met with Serval's, whose breathing was rough, she froze on the spot. She was looking at her with her usual warm gaze, but her eyes had a piercing golden glow.
"Kaban! Give it to me!"
Gray Wolf extended her arm towards Kaban, either out of worry for her, or because there was no time.
"..."
Kaban tightly gripped the stone and tossed the stone towards the opened hand. Gray Wolf was able to catch the stone with her hand somewhat awkwardly.
"Although I doubt if this stone can really do anything… Whatever, we'll just see how it goes…!"
Gray Wolf pressed the stone against Serval's back. It felt as if the stone in Wolf's hand emitted a faint cerulean light.
"Myaa!"
"Whoa!"
Serval was resisting and made short sounds, as if she didn't like it. Gray Wolf tried to keep her balance as she was being shaken off. African Wild Dog also tried to desperately keep her balance as she continued pinning Serval, while also looking over to Wolf.
"Does that reaction mean that it's working!? Or maybe it's getting worse!?"
"All we can do is pray that we won't get hurt!"
While Gray Wolf turned to the concerned African Wild Dog, she didn't relax her hand holding the stone. The stone was the only thing that touched.
"Myah! Ahh!"
Although Serval wanted to flee, she couldn't move due to having her arms and legs pinned down, so she scratched the floor with her fingers. Sandstar Raw would lightly ooze out of her claws, similarly to how it happened with others. It was being sucked up by the stone held by Gray Wolf, which Common Raccoon did not miss.
"That black Sandstar is getting sucked up noda!"
"It's effective…!"
Everyone became more assured about the stone at Common Raccoon and Fennec's words. Now it was all about whether or not Gray Wolf and African Wild Dog could hold out until Serval calms down. Beads of sweat would occasionally roll down Gray Wolf and African Wild Dog's faces as they could not afford to relax for a moment while Serval was struggling with all her strength. In terms of pure strength, the two could've definitely overpowered her, but they were exhausted from their long-distance travel.
"Serval-chan…"
As if to push away the thought of averting her eyes, Kaban called out her friend's name. She felt so miserable, pitiful, and frustrated for having stopped involuntarily earlier.
I can't extend my hand towards my suffering close friend. She was forced to reveal her inner side against her will and I'm frozen in fear from it. When have I become so heartless? I've become such an insensitive person. I'm doing nothing but observing in silence.
"I absolutely hate it…!"
She quietly muttered to herself in determination. Her legs, having been stopped by Serval's piercing eyes, were in motion once again.
"Wh-What are you doing, Kaban?! Step back!"
"Kaban, take caution, seriously!"
[It is dangerous, Kaban!]
When they realized that Kaban was approaching the struggling Serval, African Wild Dog and Professor became anxious. Even with Boss telling her to stay still, Kaban did not stop. She crouched in front of Serval as she laid face down and put her hand on top of Serval's, as it was scraping the floor.
"―Serval-chan, it'll be fine. It'll be fine. That stone will help you."
*Huff huff*
"It may be painful and unpleasant… But please, endure it for now…"
*Huff huff* "Kaban… chan…"
Kaban saw Serval's face as she called out her name. The piercing light from her eyes was disappearing from her eyes wet with tears. She felt underneath her palm as the power had gone away from Serval's hand, which was scratching the floor. As unbelievable as it was from her struggling up till then, all of her strength had disappeared. While Gray Wolf and African Wild Dog were still not letting go of her body, nevertheless she showed no signs of struggle. Kaban continued holding onto Serval's hand as she closed her eyes, letting the stone absorb the Sandstar Raw.
Hello, this is PoGu. I'm not even gonna comment on the delay.
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.