We finally found Pinky.
He was back with his old companions waiting for us. They all squealed when they noticed me and I felt a bit of emotion.
I remembered when I used to be extremely terrified of them. It seems a distant memory for me.
Ghost looked amused at our reunion. He asked me about the story behind our reunion.
I told him about the story, of how terrified I was and how overwhelmed I was to the point of nearly losing my sanity.
He listened attentively while looking sympathetic.
Good thing you stopped exploring too much on your own, he said quietly. The unknown is very dangerous and even I steer clear away from them. I am half unknown and even I don't know much about them.
I shuddered instinctly upon hearing it. It was a close encounter.
He asked me where I stayed when I arrived here. I told him that I went outside the gate and stayed in a small cave.
He looked amazed. Good thing you managed to survive going outside the gate. It is where the predators usually hunt some small prey that lived there, he exclaimed.
I was lucky.
He urged me to continue telling my story while both of us are sitting on the ground near the gate. The ground seemed soft, like velvet and isn't dusty unlike back on earth.
I continued telling him my story. When I got to the part where I met Lion, I choked up. I still remember how I first saw Lion. I can still see him in my mind, looking at me while I was scared out of wits. I remembered how attracted I was when I saw him. After spending some time on this world, there are plenty of beautiful creatures that are very pleasing to look at but none attracted me as much as I first saw Lion. I want to understand this emotion. I want to know what I feel about him. Also, it seemed too early having such strong emotions about someone, who I don't know much about.
Ghost noticed me seemed conflicted on my thoughts that he put his arm around me and sighed.
He told me that he already noticed something between Lion and me. Then he told me his story.
In this world, or to be precise, this territory, they have a developmental center in where creatures that are abandoned, abnormally created (like him) and beings that are found that could not communicate are left (kind of like an orphanage). There they usually stay until they are deemed capable of supporting themselves or don't post high risk of harming the other beings too much. Being a predator and a prey is expected but there are out of control creatures that have an abnormal love of killing, not for consuming, therefore upsetting the balance of the society. The killing of the preys are controlled, meaning there's a maximum number of killings of each prey as they are encouraged to reproduce many to endless offsprings, avoiding complete extinction.
Lion was one of the creatures that no one seems to know where he came from. He just appeared out of the blue, tiny and wild in which chaos followed everywhere he go.
In the development center, they tamed and develop the creature's characteristics and personality, preventing them from causing uncontrolled harm to the rest of the society.
They then trained them to survive outside the center and to help them find a way to contribute something to the territory.
Ghost proudly told me that since he is an abnormality as a result of two different classes, he was given high attention and that made him easier to adjust to the center. Meanwhile, Lion is usually left alone, as there are too many creatures similar like him.
Then one day, Ghost was given a task to assist the caregiver in taking care of Lion.
From that day forward, they became inseparable, though Lion may disagree with that, I thought.
They eventually left the center together as they are seemed capable of surviving by themselves. Ghost eventually found his current work while Lion seemed lost and tried to live in the forest outside of the gate.
He was found by a prey couple. At first he tried to kill them since he was starving at this time (Ghost was in another place) but surprisingly, the prey couple fought back at him using a strong magic. He was defeated and was hurt pretty badly but the couple took him and treated him as their own offspring. He lived them for several years, learning magic until the couple passed away due to illness. He became some sort of an omnivore, highly unusual for a predator like him.
He eventually improved his magic and managed to work in his current job and stayed there despite being underpaid even though his magic is at high level compared to the other workers.
Ghost had an easier experience at his job since he is part-unknown, he is safer to be deployed into high risk areas. Being a part-deserter also means he can survive without constant rest and sleep. Somehow he got unique abilities in which he can explore a certain place faster.
I sighed and looked at the sky. The color of the sky is becoming golden (like the color of Lion's hair) and the stars started to come out, along with the moons.
It is getting late. But I don't want to go back yet.
Ghost noticed and suggested that we should stay outside the gate but he informed me that he would transform to his other form as to prevent any predators from harming me.
I agreed and soon he transformed to his other form. I nearly jumped out of my skin at first but soon relaxed after awhile. So we went outside the gate (who ignored me) and wave goodbye at Pinky's old companions. The three of us went to the forest and tried to find a good place to settle down for the night.
After several minutes of searching, we found a good place, just a small clearing near a cliff but enough moonlight (s?) to provide us light. Lion is not here to make us a floating flame but good thing I managed to bring a blanket with me and snuggled to Pinky for warmth, since Ghost is transformed into his phantom-like self.
I'm not feeling sleepy yet so I tried talking to Ghost but his words seemed unintelligible to me so I gave up. I just snuggled to Pinky, lost in thought.