VS Sandstar Raw, Part 4

The prolonged silence in the Library has been broken by a rushing sound outside. Everyone raised their heads at it, looking through a large hole in the wall. An innumerable amount of water droplets poured down from the pitch black sky. It seemed like it began to rain.

"―Good timing. Although there are still many things that I wanted to confirm and discuss, the night is already coming and everyone's too tired. So, to be prepared for later, let's rest." Proposed Professor to break up the heavy atmosphere.

Indeed, with all of the commotion to happen that day continuously wearing down body and soul, everyone's exhaustion has reached its peak.

"Although usually I'd stay awake for longer, I'm completely drained today, so I'll just doze off."

Professor opened her wings and flew up parallel to the big tree, up to a hole in the trunk at a considerable height.

"...The rain should conceal our scent. With the frenzied Friends not sensing our whereabouts, it's our chance to rest without worry. …I'm worn out for today too, so I'll go ahead and sleep…" Continuing from Professor, African Wild Dog moved her way to the corner of the room and laid down. Starting from the battle with the Black Cellien, even though she had lost two of her precious friends, she had chased it this far, and she probably was the most physically and mentally worn out member of the group.

"...It's the same with manga, it's best to take a nap when at an impasse. After waking up, a good idea may pop into your head." Continuing from African Wild Dog, Gray Wolf gently put her hand on Kaban's head.

"―It's just as Professor said, we have to rest while we can."

Kaban's worries were piling up. Maybe they don't have the time to spare to rest. On the other hand, becoming unable to move would be the end. Kaban took off her hat and looked over to Common Raccoon.

"A-Arai-san… feels like sleeping in a narrower space nanoda."

"...Right, there're large holes in that tree's trunk~. Why don't we sleep there~?"

Within the spacious Library Common Raccoon could not calm down from nervousness. To soothe her, Fennec led her to the trunk surrounded by bookshelves while gently stroking her back. The only ones left were Kaban and Serval. Serval felt awkward, hesitantly averting her eyes. While Kaban was still bewildered by the girl's recent change from her usual self, she concluded that it's better to not pry at her. And so, she tried to at least behave like she always had. Kaban set her bag on the floor and laid down, putting her head on it. Boss drew closer without saying anything, snuggling up to her. Kaban gently stroke the floor next to her on the side without Boss, as if to invite Serval to lay down beside her.

"Serval-chan, how about we sleep together? I know that you're nocturnal… but you must be tired, right?"

Serval's large ears jolted up, before slightly folding. Although she didn't return the gaze, as her eyes were drifting,

"Y-Yeah… I'll sleep too." She responded to the invitation.

Serval laid face down on the floor next to Kaban, and after rubbing her face a few times, curled up and fell asleep. Although previously Serval would sleep on trees a lot, ever since they began traveling together, they've been sleeping side-to-side like this. Nothing was unusual there. It was Serval as she had always been. Kaban, who became slightly relieved, laid the same way and slowly fell into slumber, feeling the warmth of Serval's back on her own.

…

*wrrrrrrrr*

She was awoken by a strange sound that she had never heard before. She tried to get up to check what it was, but she was unable to move due to a strange feeling of pressure. She opened her eyes, the only part that she could move. Before her…

*wrrrrrrr*

was Serval's figure, pressing down on her as it laid on top of her. She bared her fangs and her throat quivered, making an unheard of sound that didn't fit her.

"Serval… chan…?"

Kaban couldn't figure out if something had happened. As the glaring glowing golden eyes stared down at her, she felt as if not only was her body frozen in place, but so was her breathing.

"..." Serval slowly opened her mouth. Her pointed canines were clearly visible.

(Ah, I'm about to get eaten by her.) Thought Kaban.

She finally understood the situation, as if it was someone else's problem.

(I've got to scream out for help.) She thought.

Although she opened her mouth, she couldn't say anything as if her throat was blocked.

"―P-Please don't…"

She was barely able to squeeze out a word. Serval leaned forward, sticking her fangs out towards the exposed white neck.

In between her short ragged breaths, Kaban breathed in somewhat deep, and tried again.

"Please don't eat me!"

…

She woke up jolting upright. ―She was able to get up.

"Hah… haah… hah…"

With the immobilizing pressure unbelievably gone, Kaban put her hand on her chest to steady her breathing and surveyed the area. It was pitch-black in the library. Straining her eyes, she could barely notice African Wild Dog and Gray Wolf limply fast asleep from exhaustion in a distant spot. The only sound that was coming into her ears was the rushing sound of the continuing rain.

"...A dream…?"

Her voice, that she subconsciously let out, was blurred after having woken up. Staying motionless, as she felt the unpleasant sweat running down her neck, she realized that that scene she witnessed earlier wasn't real. From the looks of things, it didn't seem like a lot of time had passed since she fell asleep.

"Haaah… I'm gla-"

She noticed something the instant she set her hands on the floor for support as her body wanted to crash back down from exhaustion. Serval, who should've been sleeping next to her, was gone.

"...Huh?"

Kaban had once again looked around, thinking that maybe she had changed her sleeping spot, and noticed that the Library's front door was wide open. She recalled that something like that had happened back at the Lodge. Since she was nocturnal, maybe she had gone out without going to sleep in search of japari buns, she guessed. But going out was a bad idea. The frenzied Assistant could be nearby.

(If Serval's outside then I'll have to quickly call out to her.)

Kaban left her hat and bag behind and ran out the front door and looked around. Boss reacted to Kaban's movement, following her with tiny steps.

"Where did Serval-chan go?"

With how strong the rain was, she was already soaked despite being out for only a short moment.

(Did Serval really go out in such circumstances? She's most likely still inside, she just changed her spot.)

Thinking that she didn't check well enough in a hurry, she went to go back to the Library. At that moment,

[There is a figure up ahead.] Boss said a short message as it gazed at the surrounding forest.

Following its sight, Kaban's breath was taken away.

"―Serval-chan…!?"

Within the darkness without moonlight, Kaban did not miss the familiar lightly-colored ears and tail as they disappeared behind the distant thicket.

"No… way…! Hold on… Where are you going, Serval-chan!?"

Kaban instinctively ran after her. Boss did so too with its quick hops. Thoughts of 'the darkness is scary', 'we may get attacked', or 'why?' weren't present at all. Usually, her method was to calmly think it through, coming up with the best course of action, before performing it. However, this time all that she could think was 'I can't lose sight of her'. That if she were to get lost and stop, she would never see her again. Kaban desperately and recklessly chased after the bright golden yellow color disappearing into the darkness of the night.

She would have never guessed that her actions were both correct and wrong―

Hello, this is PoGu. I've decided to start using Twitter as my main hub for any of my translation updates. It's P0GGu2

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.