Five years ago, in the Deadnight city, fourteen year old Rhaëlya was walking home from a brawl. Though "home" was nothing more than a delapitated shed on top of the hill surrounded by trees.
The particularity of this city was that small forest. Because it was always dark. The sun's out? Doesn't matter, once you enter the forest, it'll be night.
That's also where the name of the city came from.
As Rhaëlya walked, she tried to think of everything she knew about her surroundings. She needed to stay awake, even if she was bleeding.
Then two shadows came over to her.
"Hey! What happened to you?!" A boy around her age suddenly yelled at her while grabbing her shoulders. She winced.
"Don't be such a brute MingMing! Don't you see that she's bleeding all over?!" Another voice chimed in. MingMing?
She finally raised her eyes. Then when she saw who was in front of her, she smiled. Though, not much.
It was Qi Ming and Wei Lin. Part of the few people she'd consider friends. Of course, her best friend remained Hui Ying. Though that girl was a bit naive, she was fun to have around.
The two kept arguing about her condition and how they should treat her. Yes, that's how they've always been.
Those two have been together since they were born, literally. They were born in the same hospital and placed next to each other and since then, they didn't separate.
Hui Ying came in her life when her grandmother died. And they all four became a small friend group around kindergarten.
And these two always liked to argue about every single thing. It was entertaining to watch, really.
She took in a sharp breath, "You guys...can you help me get home first?"
She asked them. She really wanted to watch them play but she was literally losing the sensation of her feet and left side.
Those motherf☆ckers got her good.
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Rhaëlya shook her head and looked around. The same stone walls, hay made bed and the attractive beastwoman sleeping besides her.
She didn't know why she had that dream, but it let her calm down.
She's never felt this agitated before. But now she was back to her old, calm self. Which gained a sigh of relief out of her.
She stretched and lifted her upper body with the support of her hand when an arm snaked around her shoulders to pull her back down.
A sleepy grunt sounded from behind her, "Sleep some more cutie..." Carmen mumbled softly while nuzzling her head into Rhaëlya's nape.
Rhaëlya blinked, momentarily stunned by the warmth pressing into her back and the breath ghosting over her skin.
Carmen's tail curled loosely around her waist, like it belonged there. She was tempted to protest but the comfort was addicting.
So instead, she exhaled an ice cold breath using her powers then placed her hand on Carmen's tail that was wrapped around her.
The tail was deep red, the same color as a red lobster. The shell was extremely hard and it felt heavy, though she knew that Carmen controlled her tail's weight.
After all, Carmen's beastform reached about six meters, if she didn't control it's weight she would've been crushed.
Her stomach grumbled while looking at the tail.
".....Bloom?" Carmen's unsure voice sounded again, this time she was right behind her left ear.
Yes, Carmen was wary. The memory of Bloom looking at that bleeding tiger with the hunger of a predator in her eyes was still fresh after all.
Though she would happily let herself get eaten by Bloom, she wanted to mate first.
She wanted an offspring with her, first, and after that, she will even slowly roast herself to Bloom's preference if that's what she wants.
But not now.
Bloom was still caressing her tail while looking dazed, and her stomach was still protesting with hunger.
Carmen's tail twitched slightly under Rhaëlya's touch, a gentle tremor betraying her nervousness. Rhaëlya blinked slowly, pulled from her haze by the low rumble of hunger echoing through her again.
She sighed, reluctantly removing her hand and sitting up. Carmen's arms slid off her shoulders with a soft grumble of protest.
"I'm not going to eat you.." Rhaëlya muttered, voice still thick from sleep. "At least not like that."
Carmen perked up instantly. "So you do plan to eat me?"
"I said not like that."
"Which means there's still hope!" Carmen purred, curling around her from behind once more. "You're so sweet in the morning, Bloom."
Rhaëlya gave her a deadpan look over her shoulder. "I'm starving. I could gnaw off my own arm right now."
Carmen dramatically held out her own arm. "Take mine instead. It's more tender, there's more muscle."
"You're insane."
"You like that about me."
Rhaëlya rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small smirk tugging at her lips.
She untangled herself and stood up, stretching. Her muscles ached faintly, a reminder of yesterday's chaos and the blood she'd spilled.
Azrakai was still resting. Crypt had checked on him before heading out for herbs.
Carmen... well, Carmen had decided being her personal body pillow was a more important task.
Rhaëlya moved towards the entrance of their cave, brushing her hair back with her fingers. A chilly breeze greeted her, cool and crisp. She inhaled deeply.
Something stirred in her. Not the predator this time, but the protector.
These moments, dreams of a bloodied past, warmth tangled in Carmen's limbs, memories of foolish teenage brawls, reminded her that she had come a long way from that broken shed in Deadnight City.
But peace was never permanent.
Her sharp ears caught movement beyond the tree line. She narrowed her eyes.
Then, a flash of silver. Crypt.
He stepped into view, his tail trailing snowflakes while his hands were holding a leaf wrapped around something that she couldn't make out while a dead animal that she didn't recognize was thrown across his right shoulder.
"I hope I came back in time." He called out dryly. "Before Carmen starts offering herself up again."
Carmen poked her head from under the furs. "It's called devotion, snake cub!"
Crypt scoffed but didn't rise to the bait.
Instead, his eyes found Rhaëlya's, calm and steady. "You okay?"
She paused, then nodded. "Better."
He gave her a small nod of approval and passed her the bundle. Warmth radiated through the cloth, roasted meat. She took it with a grateful hum.
Behind her, Carmen had sat up properly, bedhead wild and expression sultry. "Now that Bloom's fed, maybe I can have a bite too?"
Crypt raised a brow. "She just said she's not eating you."
Carmen grinned. "That's not the bite I meant."
Rhaëlya groaned and walked back into the depths of the cave, muttering, "Why did I ever think letting you two into my home was a good idea?"
Carmen and Crypt exchanged a glance behind her back.
"Because you want us." They said in perfect unison. Rhaëlya froze mid-step, then gave a helpless, silent laugh.
Yeah. That was probably it.
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In the room next to what Bloom calls the livingroom, a certain tiger beastman was wide awake.
Hungry and...ashamed.
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Please note down the names "Wei Lin" and "Qi Ming" kekekekekek *rubbing my hands like a mischievous fly*
Anyway I hope you enjoyed this chapter!