I stood perfectly still while holding my weapon. Ready to shoot at anything at is remotely hostile. It's been a while since I was ever deployed into jungle areas so this is a refresher from the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan. There is still something odd about this world. Highly intelligent animals. This isn't good. I don't know why, but deep down in my gut, I'm getting a bad feeling, and it's not the Veggie MREs this time.
I walked around near the camp for a while now. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. Just piles of trees and darkness. God, I wish I had my NVGs. But, I gotta deal with what I have. I've been thinking about what Trace had said. He'd never seen a gun? I mean, sure it's a different world. But, does this mean guns don't exist here? Holy shit. I might be overthinking this. Yeah, I'm overthinking this.
I walked back to the camp and saw Trace up, looking around. I was confused, then I saw there was no sign of Flora anywhere, so I'd assume he was looking for her. Then, just as I was about to call him. A wolf, not just any wolf, an anthropomorphic wolf, with brown fur and nothing but an orange cloth to cover down there lunged at Trace, with a spear. The wolf spoke in an unknown language that I have never heard. My heart sunk and my eyes widened as I was caught off guard.
Trace luckily dodged the attack but the wolf kicked him off his feet and Trace fell to the ground. I am not losing the only person capable of showing me this place so I immediately aimed my 416 at the wolf. "Hah, foolish human! This is too easy!" The wolf said in English. "Taking Flora was a mistake! I'm going to enjoy ripping you to-" Then something was thrown at the wolf, cutting him off. I turned while keeping my aim to see it was Flora with... Yellow glowing eyes?! What the fuck?!
"W-What happened? Wait, is that..." Trace spoke.
"Yes, yes it is..." I replied.
Flora began to speak in the language that the wolf said earlier. Does this mean that these animals have a language of their own? Shit just got Interesting. The two continued to talk to each other in their language and Trace just got up and seemed like he was walking off. I decided to let my guard down and lower my 416 unless Flora spoke in clear English. "If they both give me trouble, I'll just kill them myself!"
You gotta be fucking with me. Did she really just screamed that? Trace seemed shocked from that, so was I to the point where I aimed my gun at them again. Then, the wolf creature picked up his spear and what looked like they were saying goodbye to each other and the wolf walked off. I slightly lowered my gun, still scared about Flora. "Well, that was easy enough! Are you okay? Trace?" She asked and Trace seemed like his soul left his body. "Trace...?"
"I... I'm fine... For now... I-I'm glad you came when you did... Well, I'm just gonna move here for now... I don't want to cause any trouble..." Trace said as he shifted further from Flora but she immediately pounced on Trace. "Nya!" I sighed and holstered my 416. I still was thinking about that wolf and the language they spoke. It's like nothing I've never heard, I gotta study that. But, who was that wolf?
I shook my head and walked towards them. Flora got off Trace and Trace got up. "What are you doing?" He asked.
"Guys, relax! I just said that stuff to get him to leave you alone." Flora said.
"Oh, alright. But who was that guy anyway?" I questioned.
"Oh, that was Sythe, my bodyguard and my fiancé..." She replied.
"Fiancé?" Traced said in confusion.
"Yeah. We were in a caravan together when it was attacked. He ran off and left me until you two saved me from the human."
"But then, why did he attack Trace?" I interrogated.
"But don't you know...?"
"Know what?" Trace and I asked in unison.
"Oh well... Let's just say... Our races don't usually get along."
"Enough said," I spoke.
"Oh, I see... But... you won't attack us then, right?"
"Not unless you give me a reason too!" She said as she took her claws out and showed them.
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The next morning came and we were heading towards the town, with Trace looking down at the map and me and Flora following him. I kept on watch at our surroundings as usual. Habits. Until we reached the edge of town. "Hey, guys! It looks like this is the place!" Trace announced.
Flora began to be scared and hid behind Trace. "Flora, what's wrong?" Trace asked.
"Okay, we're here! You go. I stay." Flora said as he pushed Trace towards the town. I sighed and followed. "Flora, you sure you don't want to--"
"Yes! I'm sure! Just go!"
"Do you want me to get you anything?"
"Sure! Sure! But go now!" She said and Trace and I walked into the town.
We managed to stumble upon an inn. It's not much to go on, but it's all we got. "Well, this place looks as good as a place to get started as any." Trace said.
"Yeah." We then noticed a sign in Infront of the door which said 'No Keidrans' "Jeez, no wonder Flora didn't want to come along. I wonder what they have against Keidrans." Trace monologued and I opened the door. We both entered the Inn and looked around. There were people in robes talking to each other while alcohol or ale back in the olden days served. I saw tons of weird shit on their tables. Things from what looked like crystals, swords, blue bottles, etc.
Someone then called out from the bar. "Trace!"
"Huh?" Both of us turned to see who it was and the person who called Trace was a female in a purple maid outfit. She had green hair and, green eyes, she looked like her height was till my stomach and... are those, cat ears? Am I seeing this correctly? She has cat ears... "It's been a long time!"
"What, who the hell are you?"