AEGIR couldn't help but to just stare at the unconscious man whose head made his lap a pillow. He couldn't help but to worry as he examined the man's bothered expression even when he lost his consciousness; his eyebrows in a tight line, almost like he had a bad dream. Aegir reached for the man's right hand and gently pressed it while his other hand is busy playing with Anthony's hair; silently hoping that these gestures will calm the man down, but none of the methods calmed Anthony down, he moved uncomfortably as he groaned.
Aegir sighed. "I should have had come home early, now he saw me transforming. How can I explain these to him? " he berated himself.
"Stupid cat! You're putting him in more danger than he is now! " he bit his lip in frustration.
He is worried given the situation going on in the town and how Anthony saved him from someone that is connected to the unusual happenings circulating in town, he is a witness and he is quite sure that sooner or later... they will come.
He can feel his skin trembled in fear, his eyes started to wet in tears. He hicupped. "I don't want to die yet... " he desperately whispered.
Setting his eyes on Anthony, his voice became more hushed, "And I do not want to endanger you too. I already found my master. "
"I have lots of stories to tell you, master from last week. I forgot to tell you but you know that was very fun. I know you will listen to my stories. " Aegir wiped away his tears and decided to tell his sleeping master his experiences hoping that it will somehow relax him in his sleep.
Aegir smiled when he tried to remember his experience last week.
Aegir dediced to pick up his paws and started working to help his master, Anthony. At first, the money he is giving to Anthony is money he stole from the fat lady. Anthony would ask him again and again where he is getting the money up until he decided to work for real so he can give Anthony a reason.
He is quite intelligent, he presumed. He smiled at the thought.
It is his first day of work in a nearby restaurant whose crews are just like him—animals with human appearances. But unlike them, he have no means to cover his ears or tail. So he looked like a "cosplayer" which, Anthony always calls him. The customers of the restaurant are both human and human-alike.
"Straighten your tie! And here's the nyannyan omelette and gossip bunny rolls for table 6. Hurry up! " he heard the chef whose name was Bonk, called him. Bonk's raised his brow (which Aegir thought was thicker than the fat lady's face). His cheeks, red, like he'd been slapped.
"Okay, " Aegir said, he reached for his tie and tried to straighten it (but he doesn't know how). Aegir heard Bonk snort like a pig he was.
Bonk tapped his feet impatiently as his pair of pig ears move. "Nevermind about that. Get these orders and get back to work! Boss will be here soon!" Bonk placed the tray on Aegir's hand and raised a dismissive hand.
Aegir rolled his eyes and he badly wanted to hit the pig with the tray but he wouldn't dare. He immediately gave the order to table 6; the girl customer kept on staring at him, eyes winking and giggling.
Aegir tried his best not to hit the customer too. He smiled fakely. "What else do you need, Miss?" the girl giggled more; eyelashes batting.
Aegir's eyebrow raised. "If you don't need anything then enjoy your meal, " he said and left.
Aegir sighed and lingered his eyes again to Anthony, whose expressions are still in agony. He caressed Anthony's face. "I should have not asked for your help back then... " he whispered, full of regret.
He actually don't know why these things are happening. Everything seems normal yet according to his boss—where he served as a waiter, it's over a year since this started, first it was just isolated cases and now it increased and increased.
And those who knew about what is happening and those who survived are hunted down—for their silence.
Aegir doesn't have any idea about the origin of the world, but he does know that there are creatures like him, but a revolt was not he expected.
A quite small man, around five feet tall entered the staff room. He have curly chestnut colored hair arranged wildly like a bird's nest, on his hair is two furry rabbit ears. He have a tanned skin like the color of freshly picked kiwi, Aegir couldn't remove his eyes to. He was wearing a brown cardigan, cream colored shirt and a faded jeans.
"Boss!" Aegir heard Bonk called the man, Aegir immediately rose from his seat, he stared at his clothes if there are any dirt.
This is the first time Aegir met his boss.
Their boss showed a distress face, putting his hand on his hair. "Merry is missing, " he said, tone indicating that whoever this Merry is, she would not be found ever. There's also a lace of anger in his voice, like a water, anytime will boil.
Aegir couldn't help but to show a confuse face. "Uhhm...Excuse me, what is happening? " He couldn't help but to ask.
His boss face relaxed as he faced him. His boss sighed. "I told you, Bonk. Do not hold any employment for a while. We are endangering another life. " His boss slumped himself on a nearby mahogany chair, hands massaging his head.
Confused, Aegir stared at Bonk whose expressions are unreadable, he placed his hand on the tip of the table for support. "But boss... We will close if we don't have enough people, " Bonk reasoned out.
Aegir's boss crumpled his fist, he looked at Aegir worriedly, "You should go home, it's not too late. " He reached for his pocket and fished some bills. He handed it over to Aegir, whose face is still in bewilderment.
"What is happening? " Aegir's tone increased, his tail facing upward, unmoving. Aegir's pretty face started to show a sour expression, feeling slightly irritated.
Aegir's boss placed his hands on Aegir's shoulder, he faced him and looked at him straight in the eye. "This restaurant is hunted by djinbes, I fought some and escaped and now they want my silence. If you do not know what djinbes are, they are just like us that wants freedom by eradicating those who opposes and destruction to create. They are the one responsible for the killings that are happening, " wrath and disdain laced from Aegir's boss voice.
It took seconds for Aegir to process the information then it dawned at him when that night flashed on his mind again; the trauma, the brutality... the close call of death.
He could feel his legs starting to shake, any moment, they will give up and he will find himself on the floor.
"I survived them too. " That's all he could say as he feel his body tremble.
Aegir took one last look to the unconscious Anthony, and one last pet to Tibby and Tabby who now noticed what is happening, meowing uncontrollably. "Take good care of him, okay? " His tears fall continuously.
"This is for the better. " The door slammed shut announcing Aegir's presence gone.