VS Lion, Part 12

Her recollection completely nonexistent, her whole body aching, tired, as well as being restrained, Moose being wounded, and the faint taste of iron in her mouth. Lion was slowly growing restless trying to deduce from the scattered information what happened, like trying to connect dots.

"I'd love to tell you everything, but… we first have to report to everyone waiting at the Library that we're safe. We'll tell you the details when we get back. Is that alright?" Kaban calmly replied to the lively Lion as she tightly wrapped the bandage around Moose's body.

Moose also had to be filled in on the details. But, more worrying than the rain draining physical strength was how everyone at the Library was doing.

"…" Casting her eyes down while covering her mouth with her arm, Lion became silent once again. "…I don't really get it, but if you'll tell me in the end, then it's fine." She said in her usual tone after 2 or 3 deep breaths. However, her expression remained as stern as ever.

"Sorry… And thanks. —I wonder how he's doing, Lucky-san that is…"

With how things are, they need to quickly return to the Library. And for that, they have to return to Boss. Kaban looked around while Serval cut the bandage once again. Seeing Kaban's worried expression, Serval brought her hands up to her mouth like a cone and took a deep breath.

"BOOOOSS! CAN YOU HEAR MEEEEE!? WE'RE FINE NOOOW! WHERE ARE YOUUUUU!?"

A high-pitched voice reverberated through the silent forest. Surprised, Kaban and African Wild Dog turned their eyes to Serval, who had unexpectedly shouted.

"S-Serval, could you not scare—"

"Shush!" Commanding African Wild Dog to stop her complaints, Serval straightened her ears with a twitch. "—There!"

As soon as she shouted, Serval leaped high up onto a tree and disappeared into the darkness, jumping between trees.

"Huh!? S-Serval-chan!?"

Kaban stood up in panic witnessing Serval's absurd actions.

"He's here!"

Serval's upbeat voice, unaware of Kaban's worry, could be heard from a place not too far away. Returning while pushing aside the thicket, she was carrying Boss in her arms.

"Seems like he was on his way back! As it turns out, he really does speak even when Kaban-chan isn't around! He answered me!"

[Serval, since there may be enemies in the near vicinity, you have to be careful about your actions.]

Serval was somewhat excited, as if she found it fun that Boss had talked to her. Boss, held up by Serval, looked at Kaban while wagging its tail.

[…Kaban, good thing that you are safe.]

"Lucky-san…!"

Kaban embraced Boss' hard body, which felt soft to her.

"Lucky-san! Thank you very much! You have really saved us!"

[I am glad to have been of help. Providing support to the park guides is our duty, after all.] Spoke Boss from within Serval and Kaban's arms with a surprisingly confident tone of voice.

"—Now that Boss has returned, let's get back. Moose-san, can you move?"

"Uhh, yeah…"

Having watched over the trio, African Wild Dog began speaking. Moose tried to stand up when she was called out, but she was unable to put strength into her legs and her knees buckled. Lion stood up and supported her staggering body.

"I'll give you a hand. Let's go."

"Hahaha… Sorry. Seems like I got so hung up on it that I'm exhausted. I'm debilitatingly tired."

Supporting Moose, whose face was ghostly pale, Lion looked at Kaban. Kaban nodded while holding Boss and headed towards the Library. While being close to Moose, the depths of her mind was throbbingly stimulated by the smell of blood, and she continued to look at Kaban while chewing on her back molars.

…

Everyone at the library had many different reactions to Kaban and co returning after the very long battle.

"KABAN-SAAAAAAAN! SERVAAAAAAAAL! WAAAAAaaAAAhh!" Common Raccoon liberally shed tears.

"You know~, I'm so glad that you're safe~" Putting one of her hands on her hip while standing, Fennec was as laid-back as ever.

"You really did persevere against the king of animals. Please tell me later how you did it." Folding her arms while smiling, Gray Wolf gazed at Kaban and Serval with great interest.

"Just! Where! Have you! Been! Loitering about!? Why! Did you! Go out! All by yourself! At a dangerous time like this!? We were so worried!" Professor, who usually spoke lightly, raised hell while her face was red from rage.

"I-I'm sorry!"

"It's not like that! I should be the one apologizing! Kaban-chan isn't at fault!" While Kaban bowed down in panic, Serval waved her arms.

"Ooh, it's quite lively in here."

"…" Moose and Lion stepped into the Library in uproar a little later.

The Library fell silent upon seeing those two.

Moose, who anyone could easily tell that she had been heavily injured, even though it was concealed by the bandage. And Lion, who had been said to be the attacker in the Lucky Beast's transmission. Everyone couldn't help but be petrified.

"Umm…"

Professor turned her large eyes towards Kaban, who opened her mouth as if to break the silence.

"Even though you must be tired… Please do your best for a little bit more, okay? Tell us everything that had happened when you went out."

"Yes. I will."

"M-Me to! …I'll talk too…"

Cutting in between Professor and Kaban, who had been wiping the mud off her face, was Serval, raising her voice. Feeling the surprised Kaban's gaze, Serval tightly clenched her fists.

It'd be better to leave the explanations to Kaban, as she's better at that. However, Serval was the one to start it. She understood well that she had to explain herself.

Feeling everyone's sight on them, Kaban and Serval looked at each other before beginning to talk.

…

Kaban talked to Moose and Lion. About the black storm. About Instinctive Frenzy. And about the Cellien stone.

Serval spoke to everyone. How she had thoughts about Kaban looking tasty. How she decided to get away from everyone out of necessity. How Kaban chased after her. And how she ended up leading her into danger because of that.

Afterwards, they spoke together. How they sent out Boss to call for help. About how they were able to get Lion back to normal thanks to Moose and African Wild Dog's help. And how Moose got injured.

After they were done, silence befell the Library for a while. Breaking it was Lion's whisper.

"I'm… Deeply sorry…"

Her expression couldn't be seen through her mane as she hung her head. However, her hands on the floor…

"I want to thrust my claws into my body right here right now, but… That might not be enough…" She collected power within herself to the point that she quivered and her claws punched holes through the floorboards.

Noticing this, Common Raccoon had her breath taken away for a few moments. Meanwhile, a fatigued smile appeared on Moose's face as she leaned her body against a bookshelf.

"Hey now, go easy on yourself. If you go wild on us again, then we won't be able to stop you for the second time, you know?"

Lion, who had her head hung low, raised her face to look at her. Once their eyes met, the smile disappeared from Moose's face and was replaced by a serious expression.

"Rather than that… You should— Well, I think that you already know."

Lion instinctively looked away from Moose's direct gaze. Moose doesn't blame her for inflicting such a brutal wound. More than anyone, Lion couldn't forgive herself for injuring her dear friend like that.

—That's why…

"Yeah… I'll join you."

Even if she were to put her life on the line, she'll do everything in her power. To Lion, it was her way to atone for herself.

"Kaban, Serval, since I've hurt you, I'll help you in any way I can. The power of the king of animals which was hunting you… This time will be used to assist you." Lion vowed to Kaban in a low, dignified voice.

Her eyes, looking at Kaban, shone gold. It wasn't from Wild Release like from earlier, filled with intent to kill, but a strong brilliance of determination and majesty.

"—Having you by our side is a relief. Thank you."

As if responding to the resolute mind, Kaban gazed back in the eyes and held out her hand. It was a small hand, with no claws nor power. And yet, it has shown itself to stop rampages. Lion, after giving it a fleeting glance, tightly grabbed Kaban's hand.

Hello, this is PoGu. At last, the VS Lion saga is finished. This was legit the longest one in the series.

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.