VS Lion, Part 11

"…Is Lion alright…? …She isn't dead, right…?"

Having taken a long breath, Kaban sat down on the ground. A little later, Moose, who didn't know anything, asked her that while watching Lion. Her expression showed a mix of various emotions such as worry or bewilderment.

"—She'll be fine. She's still breathing. She only lost consciousness."

African Wild Dog was the one to answer, having just come up to where Lion was to check on her.

"Seems like she couldn't bear the painful feeling of having Sandstar Raw sucked out of her."

"It was only a short moment for me, and yet it felt tortuous. Lion must've suffered a lot, I think." Shuddering at the mere recollection of that time, Serval expressed her thoughts while massaging her body.

The Amulet Stone attached to the belt on the faint Lion's neck was still shining. She was currently sleeping, occasionally grumbling and her face contorting in anguish.

"Once she wakes up, she'll return to her usual self. So please don't worry."

"…I see."

Seemingly calming down from Kaban's comment, Moose took a sudden deep breath and smiled. She turned on her heel, disregarded everyone else, and advanced towards the deep of the forest.

"W-Wait. Moose, where're you going?"

Serval, who called out to her, got startled by a putrid smell that hit her nose. A stream of blood flowing from the large wound on Moose's left shoulder covered her whole arm and dripped down on the ground.

"Wounded Friends will meet the same fate as Lion… Was it?"

The smile put on by Moose as she looked over her shoulder was the weakest she had ever given.

"You have to get away from me, so I'm getting out of here. When I go feral, you won't be able to match my body's strength."

Serval bit her lips and cast her eyes down. They've spent all this effort on getting Lion back, and now they're gonna lose Moose? As if looking for help, Serval turned towards Kaban. However, Kaban's face was just as pale.

"I'm… Sorry… Because I asked you to do such a dangerous strategy…"

"What are you apologising for? I did exactly as you wished, to stop Lion. If anything, this wound is my punishment for breaking my promise with you, and it's my responsibility to bear. Don't mind it."

She spoke in an exceedingly kind tone. Kaban gulped down her saliva, as if swallowing her upcoming tears. If only they had been closer to the Library, then she could've treated her with a first-aid kit.

…Right. Wouldn't it be possible to delay the feral transformation by wearing an Amulet Stone, even when having an exposed wound? If the rate at which the Amulet Stone absorbs Sandstar Raw exceeds that of the body's, then wouldn't there be a chance? However, if it so happens that it's the opposite—

As Kaban came to a logical stalemate, despair began to spread in her heart. At that moment…

"What're you talking about? I've received an order from everyone at the Library to safely return everyone."

African Wild Dog's words cut through Kaban's thoughts.

"Kaban. Open it up."

African Wild Dog pointed at the bag she delivered from the Library. Doing just as she was told, Kaban opened the ultimately unused bag, and was utterly shocked.

"This is…!"

Alongside other objects, a first-aid kit was crammed inside of it.

"I thought that it'd be useful, so I put it in while waiting at the Library. The only one who can use it is you, Kaban. —Now, hurry up."

"Thank you very much! African Wild Dog-san!"

Holding onto the first-aid kit, Kaban was grateful from the bottom of her heart. African Wild Dog, who had been fighting tough battles all day, smiled earnestly, as if those words and that smile were helpful to her.

…

After moving under a large tree together with Moose to avoid either the tools or their bodies getting wet, Kaban had once again scanned over the manual that African Wild Dog had stuffed together with the first-aid kit to learn how to apply the bandage on a shoulder. Serval and African Wild Dog meanwhile lifted up the sleeping Lion's body and carried her under the same tree.

Having finished studying the manual, Kaban moved on to covering the wound. Even though she was feeling sorry when looking at the grievous wound straight on, she had no time for hesitation, so she resolutely began treatment.

"Mghh…"

"S-Sorry…"

Even though Moose still appeared imposing in spite of her laceration, touching it was still painful for her. She would occasionally knit her eyebrows and groan whenever the bandage was tightly pulled over her wound.

"No, it's alright. You know, you're amazing, Kaban. No matter how much I look at this, I'm not getting anything at all."

Moose looked down at the manual that Kaban had studied, and besides the fact that she couldn't read, she couldn't understand what you were supposed to do by looking at the pictures. Then again, neither she or anyone else ever had to think about bandaging wounds.

"…By the way, is there any reason to cover up the wound?"

"Putting it on protects your body from absorbing Sandstar Raw through the wound!" Serval answered in Kaban's stead, proudly showing off her own bandage.

"Sandstar Raw… Is it that black Sandstar that you told me about?" Moose asked Kaban with a displeased expression.

Just when Kaban had opened her mouth to give a simple explanation and to talk about the Park's incident, she was interrupted by something else.

"Mghhh…"

Groaning quietly, Lion's body stirred. African Wild Dog, who had been by her side, monitoring her, immediately restrained her. She was taking no chances. Serval stood up in front of Kaban, who wasn't done with the treatment, and Moose to protect them, and waited for Lion's move.

"—Ah… Ghh…"

Lion, having regained consciousness, slowly opened her eyelids. Her eyes were no longer shining with the intense wild light.

"Huh…? Where… am I…?"

Lying face down, Lion raised just her head and looked around. It took her a good few moments to notice African Wild Dog pressing her down.

"Wh-What's your deal!?"

"Ah.. Uhh.. Excuse me."

African Wild Dog, seemingly not being able to believe seeing Lion act as if the trials and tribulations from not too long ago never happened, was in an absentminded state, and stepped away in confusion. Peeking at Lion's neck after she stood up showed that the collar was no longer emanating light, meaning that the Sandstar Raw from her body had been completely siphoned out.

"Owowow… My body feels all painful. Is that your fault?"

"Huh!? Ah… Umm…"

Although she was hurt from all of the attacks she received during the battle, Lion had no recollection of it, and turned to question African Wild Dog who had pinned her down when she woke up. While African Wild Dog was flustered trying to come up with an answer, Moose, who had her mouth wide open and was at a loss of words both from astonishment and relief, finally spoke.

"L-Lion… Are you really… back…!?"

Her ears jolting slightly in reaction to the familiar voice, Lion turned her head.

"Ah, Moose! So you were here too, huh?"

Having no memory of how she got here or what happened, Lion smiled seemingly out of relief upon seeing the figure of her friend. That smile was without a doubt one of meeting a worthy rival to spar with. Moose, who had leaned forward a little while still sitting down, leaned back against the tree as if she became disinterested. Kaban, who wasn't done bandaging the wound, panicked seeing Moose lose her balance. Serval, who was poised with her claws and her fur on her tail standing on its end, sat down.

"Oh? Kaban and Serval? What are you doing here…? Gah, this is no good. I just have no idea what happened…"

Roughly ruffling her mane, Lion noticed something really off, and took a deep breath through her nose.

"The smell… of blood…?"

While reflexively speaking those words, Lion was turning her head pondering what smelled like that, and her attention turned to Moose. Taking another look at the figure of her friend in the darkness, Lion opened her eyes wide at something she hadn't noticed the first time. Something white was coiled over Moose's body. It was wrapped especially tightly around her left shoulder. Underneath it, her arm was dyed bright red all the way to her fingers.

Lion's consciousness, which was still hazy, suddenly fully awoke. With that, she realized another uncomfortable thing.

There was still some putrid metallic taste left in her mouth.

"—!"

Wiping her mouth with a sudden motion, Lion curled up and began speaking in a low tone.

"…Please, tell me, just what had happened…?"

She then corrected herself, brushing her fangs against her arm.

"—Or rather, just what have I done to you…?"

Hello, this is PoGu. Apologies for the delay. University's getting in the way as always.

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.