When morning came, sunlight brushed across Claw's eyes , gentle, but enough to pull him from sleep.Claw gasped, "V… Vein!!" He caught his breath as Leila snored beside him."B… Biggie…" she murmured, hugging him before turning to the other side."W…" Claw's eyes widened as the dream struck him.He froze, heart pounding as fragments of the dream clung to his thoughts."It felt so real…" he whispered, though the forest around him was calm.
Claw's gaze swept across the mountain, but neither Gash nor Vein were anywhere in sight.A sigh of relief followed, and he slowly closed his eyes.His ears flicked at the rising voices of the villagers, instincts still alert beneath his calm.Without meaning to, his chin came to rest on Leila's head , a quiet gesture of peace.
For a fleeting moment, the tension in his body faded.The scent of ash and morning dew filled his breath.
"Biggie!" A soft, excited voice pierced the calm, ringing right by his ear.His muscles tensed on instinct before he realized it was only Leila.His eyes sharpened as he lifted his body in urgency, making her swing on his back.
"Hahaha! It's so much fun!" Her laughter trembled with joy.Claw blinked, his heartbeat slowing as he realized there was no danger.Around them, smoke curled lazily from cooking fires, carrying the scent of roasted meat.For once, the morning felt alive and peaceful , untouched by fear.
Some of the tribe members stared, while others were preparing breakfast; the huge bowl was already present.
The flower slipped from Claw's ear, landing softly in the grass."Good morning, Biggie!" Leila giggled as she tucked it back in place, her laughter light as the wind.Claw blinked, realization dawning — it was only the small human.
Claw's ears flicked, unsure whether to growl or purr."Wait, Biggie! I'll show you something interesting!" Leila darted toward a nearby hut, her voice bubbling with excitement."Huh…?"
In seconds, the tribe carried out the enormous bowl, its scent thick in the air.The smell hit him first , rich, heavy, and wild.His stomach twisted with hunger, his instincts louder than thought.Even before he realized it, his paws were already moving.
Claw lunged forward, unable to resist, plunging his muzzle deep into the steaming food.
"Tasty! Wasn't like yesterday's meat… but still tasty!" Claw devoured the last scraps, licking the bowl clean.The old man kept staring at Claw, shaving his beard, then glanced again at the returning Leila.He frowned, his expression unreadable.A few villagers paused their work, watching in uneasy curiosity.
"Biggie! Biggie! Look what I brought you!" Leila burst through the crowd, hands cupped around a squirming creature.
"Meeeh! Meeeh!" The tiny bleats shook in Leila's palms, desperate and frightened."Huh?" Claw's ears perked, muscles tensing as the sound pierced through his feast.
"I was sleeping peacefully… WHAT KIND OF MADNESS IS THIS?!"A small white goat cried with each trembling step toward Claw's towering form.For a moment, it stood frozen, eyes wide with terror, certain the end had come.
Claw blinked, a shred of meat still clinging to his jaw.The goat froze mid-step, legs trembling like reeds in wind.Around them, a few villagers stopped eating, the air thick with silent anticipation.
"This is Wooly! I hope you get along!" Leila cheerfully tossed the goat into the air, completely unaware of its terror."Meeeh! It shouldn't end like this!" The goat's desperate cry vanished into the breeze before it even hit the ground."End what?" Claw muttered, staring at the small, trembling goat. His tongue slid over his fangs, wiping away the last piece of meat from his mouth.
Wooly froze, his tiny chest heaving as their eyes met.Leila clapped proudly, as if she had just introduced two old friends.Claw's tail flicked once , somewhere between amusement and appetite.Claw's gaze followed it, slow and hungry, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
"I mean… you… will, eh… eat me?" Wooly's knees shook as he spoke, the words barely escaping his throat.His voice trembled with terror, his eyes never meeting Claw's.
Leila kept staring, a wide smile drawn across her face, her eyes sparkling , a child's pride in her newest friendship.
Claw studied the innocent, trembling goat for a moment — then a memory struck him."Please! Let me go!" The bird's last words echoed in his ears.Claw's gaze softened as the echo of the bird's plea scraped through his memory.
He lowered his head to the grass and closed his eyes.The morning breeze brushed against his fur, carrying the faint scent of dew and ash.For a heartbeat, the world felt painfully quiet.Then, with a sigh, he lifted his gaze .... gentler than before.
"Umm… no, I'm not hungry," he whispered.
"Meeh?!" The goat stared at Claw in confusion.
"I knew you both would get along!" Leila laughed, jumping in excitement.
Claw's ears twitched, unreadable. Silence followed
"MEEEEEH?!"