I'm getting the hang of recognizing a predator. They usually have sharper looking teeth. Don't confuse sharper looking teeth with having fangs though. Ghost has fangs but he isn't a predator. Lion has no fangs but is a predator. Sly has no fangs though I admit I didn't look well since I still felt weirded out seeing his tongue.
How should I describe this? Unlike some of the predators we have on earth in which they needed and relied on having sharp fangs to hunt and kill prey, the predators they have here don't rely on their teeth to kill their prey. I still have to learn about their ways on how they kill their prey so I can try to avoid being killed. I am a prey after all.
Their teeth looked sharp as a knife. You can just tell by looking. If you can tell how a knife is sharp just by looking, then that's how you know if they are a predator based on the look of their teeth. It is very difficult to describe that you have to rely on observation and common sense.
A prey's teeth looks a bit dull, that's why they rely on fangs to be able to bite hard food. If they don't have fangs, they will either eat fruits or drink juices made out of fruits for their sustenance. It is so unlike the prey on earth.
I'm like a child learning everything for the first time. I have to rely on observation and common sense. Whatever I learned in the previous world, I had to undo the knowledge and relearn everything. There is no stability here. Everything is different so I had to set aside my human trait of generalizing everything.
Meanwhile, Sly was given a brief explanation about me by both Lion and Ghost. He looked genuinely interested while listening. He didn't ask any questions, just accepted everything that was being said to him. He seemed quite agreeable.
After that, Sly told us that he would help us with the business as long as he can stay in the castle. Ghost's ears perked up.
Can I stay too? He interrupted. You have plenty of empty rooms and absolutely no excuse of declining.
He looked at me with bright eyes.
Why are you looking at me? I hissed at him.
He blinked. Lion always do what you want after all, he grumbled.
Lion sighed, facepalming.
....
At the end, both Ghost and Sly are given rooms to stay. Ghost brought plenty of all sorts of stuff before Lion gave him an ultimatum that he can only bring important stuff. I can tell that Ghost is a hoarder.
Meanwhile, Sly bought only a few stuff and while I am helping him arrange his stuff, I noticed that he likes shiny stuff. All his furniture, clothes and even accessories looked bright and flashy. Some things never change. Once a dragon, always a dragon.
I noticed a big, unopened container that seemed too heavy for me to carry. So I opened it out of curiosity (since Sly already gave me permission earlier to help organize his stuff). I saw all kinds of stuff that are cut in small uneven shapes, of different shades of brown and purple, inside. I tried touching it and it felt soft yet firm at the same time. I felt a sense of dread and my hands are starting to turn cold.
Sly noticed me hesitating and went near me to take a look.
Oh, he said nonchalantly, that's my food.
I have enough common sense not to ask anymore questions.
I hurriedly excused myself and went to my bathroom where I took some time puking out the entire contents of my stomach.
I finally met a real predator.
I'm so used to Lion eating fruits that I forgot that he is also a predator too.
Suddenly I don't want to be by myself anymore.
....
Everywhere I go, I always took Pinky with me. Pinky didn't mind as this means more attention for him. Before Sly appeared, I sometimes roam around the castle by myself. I feel safe and I started to forget the fact that I'm living with a predator. Lion doesn't seem like one and always eats fruits with me. Now I feel like I'm walking on eggshells.
I know Pinky isn't that much strong to fight off a predator, but I feel assured somehow that at least I have a fighting chance. Or at least that's what I'm trying to convince myself.
Even if I took a bath or use the toilet (yeah they do have toilets here!), I brought Pinky with me. He doesn't have any eyes but relies on his other senses.
Whenever Pinky is taking time to bask in the sun, I made sure to either go with him even if I don't want to or stay with Ghost in one of the workrooms. Lion looked too busy to be disturbed but he also looked visibly annoyed whenever Ghost and I are staying in one of workrooms without him.
I enjoyed spending time with Ghost though as he enthusiastically introduces me to fruits that I haven't tasted or seen before. He is quite good in being a food connoisseur and we discovered new ice cream flavors together.
I learned that the fruits have lots of different kinds of taste, more than the usual 5 tastes detected by our tongue back on earth.
They have:
Sweet
Sour
Salty
Bitter
Umami
Spicy, unlike on earth that it is more on heat, it has a distinct flavor that is a bit smoky with a hint of sweetness as it continues to burn your tongue. It's like eating a burned meat but has that sweetness you taste on fresh uncooked fat. The more it burns, the more of this unique taste explodes on your mouth.
Surprisingly, metallic flavor is included, and others that I can't recall their names. I had fun tasting and mixing and matching different flavors.
Ghost told me that next thing he would try to teach me are edible plants that might provide a unique flavor to our ice cream.
I can't wait.
Sly visited us one day in the workroom while taking a break. He tasted the ice cream curiously and sadly did not like it.
I eat only meat, he said while shaking his head.
I thought for a moment and asked him, how do you eat meat?
Ghost made a gagging sound which I ignored.
Fresh like after I kill them and cut their meat into small pieces, he replied, while raising his eyebrows at Ghost.
Have you tried cooking it? I asked Sly hesitantly.
No, why do you ask? He said, surprised at the question.
Now I have another idea.