We're Only Animals: Book 2 - Part 1: Building the Tower

Chapter 66 - Meet Again

Back again, Louis thought, as he approached the tower that the Branded call their home. He was unsure how the others would see him now, discounting San and Hachi.
The deer prepared himself for a lot of scowling. If he was lucky, maybe he wouldn't see anyone on the way to the cell where his clothes were and go straight to Ichi after.
The buck walked up to the door, hoping an animal like Go or Ni wasn't manning it, especially Go. There would be endless teasing from that one.
He sighed, thinking about it as his eyes landed on...two animals. San was there, noticing him and waving wildly, and then there was...Was that really who he thought it was? Already?
"Louis! Er, I mean, Shi! While you were gone, our long lost cellmate found us! It's Shichi!" San exclaimed.
The dall sheep stepped forward, dressed in a simple black t-shirt and black jeans with his boots. He stepped forward and held out his hand, smiling. "Good to see you again, Shi! Of course, we weren't in the same cell, but you remember me, right?"
Louis blinked, holding his hand out and shaking the familiar dall sheep's hand. It felt the same as always. "I'm sorry. My memory of those times are a little fuzzy." Was this really happening? Was he already right there in front of him, a part of this whole mess?
"Oh, I understand. We're all bound by our trauma." Shichi let go and wrapped an arm around San. "It's good that it hasn't poisoned this guy, though. He's great!"
San laughed and maybe even blushed, slightly. "Oh, I'm just being myself!"
Shichi looked back at Louis and touched at his own eye. "Looks like you've had a rough life, though."
Louis mirrored the action by touching his eyepatch, but not commenting on the leg he knew the other animal had lost. "Yes...It's been...difficult."
Predictably, the sheep crouched down and pulled his pant leg up. "I've lost something, too. It had my brand as well." He stood back up and sighed. "I'm glad I came back here, though. It's like a sense of...closure."
"You think so?" Louis asked. "That's why you came back? Or has your life also been difficult."
"There's nothing left for me in my life, so I found meaning here."
"They are quite like a family, I suppose..." Louis mumbled.
San looked at him with concern. "Ah, I guess you should go see Ichi. Come see me if you need anything."
Louis hugged him at least, to hug someone at the moment. "Of course I will."
Shichi laughed. "I guess San is the designated hug animal here!"
Louis grinned at him, at Pina, looking him right in the eyes. "Yes. It was nice to see you again, even if I don't remember you too well." Be careful.
"Can I get a hug, too?" he smiled.
"Really?" Louis blinked.
Shichi shrugged. "You don't have to. I just want to bond with everyone here."
The deer, unable to resist, wrapped his arms around him.
The sheep hugged back. "Aw, thanks! I look forward to working alongside you."
Louis sighed and pulled back. "Likewise. I better go see Ichi, then."
San and Shichi bid him farewell and Louis found himself in the empty lobby once again.
The deer felt good seeing Pina there. Some familiarity in such a foreign place was comforting. They just had to make sure they kept up the act when they weren't alone.
He ascended the multitude of steps to his cell and changed quickly, hanging the old vial of blood on his neck, then venturing up higher to find Ichi in his office, where he knocked on the door.
Some shuffling on the other side of the door was heard, before the other deer eventually said, "It's open."
Louis opened the door, finding Ichi and Ni inside, looking right at him. "I'm back..."
"That you are." Ichi stood up and walked over. "First things first: Will you spill your own blood or will you make me do it for you again?"
"I could lend a hand with that," Ni said, crossing his arms. "Quickly, might I add."
This just caused Louis to put his hands behind his back. "I think I'll be able to handle it myself."
Ichi held his hand out. "Give me the vial and I'll get it ready."
The other deer took his necklace off, handing it to the group leader, eyes moving to Ni. "Is he going to...stay there?"
"Yes," Ni answered with no hesitation.
"We were in the middle of discussing something," Ichi informed, walking over to his desk where a kit of supplies laid. He cleaned the vial out and filled it with the preserving liquid. "Plus, I enjoy his company. No need for him to leave."
Louis blinked. "He was never here when we spoke before."
"I'm not leaving," Ni stated.
Ichi laughed. "I know he can seem scary, Shi, but Ni is a very kind and thoughtful man." He walked back over with the vial and handed it back, along with a scalpel. "Remember, you don't need that much blood." He was still smiling.
Louis felt strange. Ichi was acting...different. He couldn't put his finger on it. He took the blade and held it to his hand. "I see Shichi has finally returned to you."
Ichi put a hand to his head and laughed. "Oh, of course! You met him on the way in! Really quite wonderful. I'm feeling the best I have in years! And the fact that he came here on his own is the icing on top!"
"Him coming back made you feel good? Well, of course, it did." He slowly cut his hand, wincing a bit. "I guess because he didn't fight against you..."
Ichi hummed. "Mmm, yes. He is rather pleasant. Wouldn't you agree, Ni?"
Ni's face didn't change. "He is fine. I say we still be wary."
"Of course, of course." Ichi patted the serow on the head, causing his ears to flap, slightly. He then clapped his hands together and looked back toward Louis. "So! Now that your blood is out, I think it'd be a good idea to work with Kyuu and San with training. And see me before you leave about your money."
"You want me to go train with Kyuu and San?" Louis asked for confirmation.
"Yes. They will walk you through the first steps of creating a Chimera today. Shichi might join you as well."
"How long has he been here?"
"Two days, but he has integrated quite nicely and seems enthusiastic." Ichi cocked his head at Louis. "I imagine the same would happen to you if a carnivore ate your leg as well."
"A carnivore took out my eye and yet, here I am."
The other buck blinked and then started laughing again. "Oh, I completely forgot! Honestly, the eyepatch just blends in with you I don't even notice it!"
"...His pants cover his leg."
Ichi laughed even harder, sounding like he was suffocating. "Y-yeah! But he's new and he was very descriptive with how he lost it!"
Louis sighed. "Aright, then. I'm going to go down now."
"I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you get along with Shichi."
Ni was just staring at him, but his mind was elsewhere.
Louis left the room, making his way to the training area, a puzzled look on his face.
Kyuu was sitting there, doing stretches. She looked over when she heard him. "Oh, you're back."
"...Yes."
"Hm." She turned her head away again. "If you're here to train you should probably go fetch San."
"He's at the door."
"Oh yeah, he's showing the new kid around. He should probably be back soon."
Louis sighed, looking at the blood within his flask. "I...apologize for my actions last mission."
The bunny shrugged. "I get it. You didn't do anything wrong."
"I don't really know where I stand or what to do. It's all a big nightmare for me. I'm sure everyone has even more distaste for me than before."
Kyuu looked over at him, her large eyes appearing tired as usual. "They think you're privileged and a crybaby. That's the worst I've heard."
"Let me guess, Go said that?"
The bunny smiled and looked away. "Go says many things that shouldn't be heard."
Louis grinned with hope. "I've just...never seen anything like that before. We've dealt with death and murder before and it's always been very tough."
"It's something you get used to, or at least that's what you tell yourself. I don't think San ever did."
"That's why he works in his position? It makes sense. He's too kind. I'm surprised he's even here."
Kyuu shook her head. "He doesn't talk about it, but I can tell. He's here because of Ichi, of course. So am I."
"Right, right...Ichi's been acting strange, hm? It's a little confusing."
"He's happy that Shichi is here. Can't say I remember him very well," she admitted.
"Is that really all?"
Kyuu groaned as she rubbed at her ankles. "Ichi's always felt emotions strongly. He has been happier than I've ever seen him, though. It actually started after the weekend, now that you mention it. He, Ni, Roku, and Go went out to eat, but Ichi and Ni ditched them at the restaurant. At least that's what Go kept bitching to everyone..."
"Oh? Really?"
"Yup, but you can never tell with that guy. He could have made it up." Kyuu smiled, flipping one of her ears back. "I was reading that whole night so I didn't notice anyone leaving."
"I'm glad I haven't run into him."
"You won't. He came down with something."
"Pardon?" Louis blinked.
The bunny snorted. "He's sick. Probably a bug. I don't know what shit he eats but I think he got food poisoning."
"How long has he been sick?"
"Like a day. Why? You concerned? Or just want to know how long your freedom will last?"
"The latter," Louis chuckled. "Obviously."
The two turned as they heard someone approach. "Oh, hey guys! Me and Shichi were just about to train," the newly arrived alpaca announced.
"I was told to train with you," Louis said. "If that's alright."
"The more the merrier," Shichi remarked. "If Ichi were here it'd kind of be like a family reunion."
"True. He's with Ni right now, though. Also, he's acting strange so I prefer to be away from him at the moment," Louis snickered.
"Strange? How so?" the sheep asked.
San stepped in before Louis could answer. "Yeah, he was in a good mood before you showed up, and you being here has just boosted it even further up. Shi has only ever really seen him in bad moods so it makes sense he's weirded out."
"Yeah..." Louis nodded. "I'm happy for him, it's just...different."
Shichi shrugged. "Well, I hope he stays like that! Anyway, what's the plan for training?"
"We'll stretch and warm up first, do some exercises, then some light sparring," San listed everything on his fingers.
=^.^=
They started doing just that. At one point, Shichi looked over at Louis and commented, "Wow, I like your outfit. Can't wait for Hachi to finish mine."
Louis looked down at himself. "They really outdid themselves. It's simple and effective while also being stylish." Not to mention how it makes Legosi feel...
Shichi, or rather, Pina, fluttered his eyes and smiled. "Hope they make mine as good. Don't want you to outshine me."
"I don't know. These exposed shoulders are to die for."
Pina laughed and looked over at the other two animals. "I wonder why you two didn't get sexy outfits."
Kyuu raised one of her thick eyebrows. "...Sexy?"
San looked down at his tracksuit. "Well, these aren't our uniforms. Since we live here we aren't going to wear them constantly."
Louis nodded. "I have to wear it since I don't live here."
San nodded. "It shows your devotion to the other members, although I guess you're...really not that devoted. Which I understand."
Shichi put his finger to his chin. "Hm? Why's that?"
"It's a long story," Louis rolled his eyes. "Don't want to revisit it, unless someone else wants to tell."
"You'll probably learn about it sooner or later," San informed with an awkward smile. "Anyway, let's continue."
=^.^=
The four animals stretched, did warm-up exercises, and began sparring.
"So, are we learning about these Chimera things soon?" Shichi asked.
"Shi will be," said San. "Ichi said to prioritize him right now with that."
Louis sighed in relief. Pina wasn't actually an original branded like him and that's where their plan could completely fall apart.
"You should have seen me when San and Kyuu showed me their Chimeras, Shi! I was totally freaked out! Amazing to think something like that can be real!" Shichi's fist landed softly in Louis' hand as they continued their sparring.
Louis threw a weak punch. "I was floored, myself. To think...all this time..."
"Yeah, and Shichi hasn't even seen Ichi's Chimera," San pointed out. "Ours are pretty tame compared to his."
"I wonder what he'll think when he sees mine." A kick.
"You don't even have one yet," Shichi countered, catching Louis' leg clumsily.
"I have one, I just...haven't brought it out yet," Louis retorted. "I'm unsure if I can."
"It worked for us," Kyuu said, her and San moving much faster with their fighting than the two newcomers. "I'm sure it will work for at least one of you too."
Louis panted as he continued his attack on Pina. "So...what's your life been like, Shichi?"
"Oh, y'know. I was bought from here by a tiger, but he actually took me out of the building. I don't remember too much after that, but at some point, he ate my leg and was stopped when the neighbors heard the commotion. I was saved and then brought to an orphanage. It was a far away city, so I didn't reunite with these guys."
"Why did you come back?"
"To find purpose!" Shichi kicked Louis in the thigh with his right leg, the prosthetic slapping against it, uncomfortably. "Oh, shit! Sorry!"
"No, it's okay," Louis smiled. "Purpose, though? Against carnivores?"
Pina narrowed his eyes. "To find out why I've had to suffer the way I have and to make sure no other kid goes through what I do. If it means bringing down the carnivores who are doing these things, then yes."
"Ah...I see."
"And you? Still a secret?"
"I was...forced."
"Oh..." Shichi stopped with the blows. "Sorry."
"...Yeah," Louis nodded, throwing one and clocking him right in the nose. "Oops!"
Shichi fell on his butt, and San and Kyuu looked over in mild shock."Oof! Damn, remind me not to bring it up again! Jeeeez."
"It wasn't on purpose. I swear."
The sheep laughed and held his hand up. "C'mon, help me up, then."
The deer reached down and pulled him up. "Ha!"
Instead, Pina pulled down and flipped around, pinning Louis down on his stomach. "Ha, yourself!"
"Hey! Unfair!"
Pina leaned down and spoke in his ear. "There is no fair out on the battlefield."
"Okay...Get off."
Pina rolled off and brushed his hands against each other. "Whaddaya think, guys? Pretty good, right?"
San rubbed the back of his hand. "Well, taking advantage of his kind nature was a pretty low blow."
"I know, right? Wasn't it great?"
Kyuu chortled. "Yeah..."
Louis got up, dusting himself off. "Well, I don't have that much combat training anyway..."
Pina smirked. "Neither do I."
The deer quickly swept a leg to knock Pina down.
Pina jumped, but was too late, causing him to stumble.
"Almost...!" Louis exclaimed.
At this point, Kyuu and San stopped what they were doing to watch.
Pina recovered and appeared to hold his head in exasperation before suddenly lunging at Louis. The two tumbled to the floor and began an intense wrestling match. The woolly animal brought his horns forward, clashing with Louis' growing ones.
"Agh! Hey!" Louis growled a bit, pushing against his. "What is this?!"
The dall sheep pushed back. "A traditional test of power for sheep!"
"I'm not a sheep!"
Pina ignored him, pushing further with a wide grin.
Their eyes met and Louis had a look in his eyes that said he was glad Pina was here.
The animal winked at him before pulling away, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, enough of that."
Louis stretched once more. "I guess you won that one...Should we get to my Chimera training now?"
Shichi moved to the wall and leaned against it while San and Kyuu faced the deer. "Ah, right." The alpaca stepped forward. "The first step, and what will take the majority of today, is breathing exercises.
"Breathing? Really?"
"It's a long process." The alpaca adjusted his stance, spreading his feet out to lay under his shoulders and holding his arms out slightly. "Breathing and meditation. It will help you when bringing up your trauma."
"Oh...right," Louis sighed. "Looking forward to that. I know exactly what my most traumatizing event was, too."
The alpaca walked him through the steps as the rabbit and sheep looked on. It was still surreal to see Pina just...there.
It was almost distracting, even. The deer tried to keep focus and he felt nervous about having to relive that night.
The breathing exercises consisted of inhaling, holding, then exhaling, and then meditation. It took longer than Louis might have expected. He heard Pina talking idly with Kyuu, and he wondered if he struck up a friendship with everyone already.
His mind then wandered to Legosi, wondering what he was doing and if he would have anything to do with his Chimera. He was almost positive it would be the case.
=^.^=
After almost an hour of just doing that, there was a knock on the bars outside. Turning around revealed Ichi and Ni.
Louis blinked. "We've made no progress on the Chimera. Just breathing exercises."
Ichi simply nodded. "It is progress. You're taking the first steps." He looked down at Shichi. "Looks like you're just kicking back and relaxing, huh? I assume you're getting along well with Shi?"
"Oh, totally."
San stepped forward. "You should have seen them sparring! They really got into it!"
Louis blushed, lightly. "It was all him."
"Yeah, I kicked his ass," Shichi flexed his arms.
"Now you can kiss it," Louis squinted.
"Later," the sheep stuck his tongue out, and Ichi laughed, holding onto Ni's shoulder.
"So what did you want?" Louis asked.
The other buck cleared his throat and stood up straight, his hand still on the other animal's shoulder. "Just wanted to see how everyone was doing."
"We're doing fine," Louis answered.
Some groaning was heard behind them. "M-me too! I wanna train!" Was that Go? "Blegh."
Ichi looked over at the sick red panda. "Oh, Go? You sure you should be up?"
"It's cool, it's cool, it's cool," Go said, rapidly. His eyes fixed on Louis. "Aw, fuck, you let the...chump back?" His arms were holding his stomach.
Ichi chuckled. "Of course. You might as well make nice with him."
"How can I do that when he's such a loser? A literal loser because he lost his shit..."
Ni crossed his arms. "And you've lost all the meals you've eaten lately."
Go hissed. "Shut your dumb wolf-looking mouth!"
Ichi shot the red panda a glare. "You should go rest up more. Juu will fetch you some more soup."
"No, no...I came down to fight...Shi!" He stepped forward, not even wearing his casual clothes, but his pajamas. "Spar with me!"
Louis scowled. "I'm working on my Chimera training right now. You look like you're about to throw up."
"You're one to talk! Throwing up on a mission..." He groaned and squeezed his stomach more.
Shichi sat up and folded his hands together, grinning with excitement.
Louis sighed. "I don't want to risk you vomiting on me."
Go let out a pained chuckle. "I could use that to my advantage, though."
"...I'm not sparring with a sick animal."
Ichi held his hands up, walking between everyone. "Alright, alright, settle down, everyone. Go, you can spar with Shi later. Now I think is just a good time to enjoy each others' company and celebrate the return of our last original member." He looked down at Shichi, who looked slowly back up at him.
"Oh, thanks Ichi, but you don't have to make such a big deal about it..."
"Of course I do! You're the last surviving original Branded...and you found your way back here. It's...beautiful, really."
Go rolled his eyes. "There he goes again..."
Ni just looked at Shichi. Could Atsushi end up really feeling the same about him as he did with Shi? He definitely had charm in spades, which Hachirou himself lacked...
"What about all your other members?" Shichi asked. He looked over at the goat, now standing by himself. "What about Ni? Isn't he your right-hand man?"
Ichi looked over at him and smiled. "Oh, Ni will always have a special place with me..."
Ni looked to the side. "I was the first member other than Ichi himself."
"And us!" San chimed in, and Kyuu cleared her throat.
"Yes," was all Ni answered with.
"But now we're all together again," Go mimicked how Ichi would sound. "Ugh."
"Ugh! Ichi is happy for once! How disgusting!" Ni mocked, making his voice sound almost exactly like Go.
All the animals laughed at the impression from the usually stoic herbivore.
"Oh? And what would you do if you were the leader, Go?" Ichi challenged with a smirk.
"Probably fuck off to my BLEGH!" And then he was throwing up right in front of everyone.
"Loser!" Ni imitated his voice.
All the rest of the animals recoiled in disgust as the bile hit the floor.
Louis looked at Pina as this happened and for some reason, his ex-fiance Azuki crawled into his mind. Someone who rubbed his back as he threw up and then he never contacted again. He made a mental note to do so.
Go continued to hold his stomach, water stinging his eyes. "Wh-what are you looking at?!"
Ichi sighed. "I told you to go back and rest. Who's gonna clean this up now?"
San stepped forward. "I got it, guys. Don't worry. Go, I can help you back if you want."
Go sighed. "Always being the nice guy. No way! I want Shichi to take me back."
The sheep scoffed and stood up. "Already enamored with me? I get that a lot." He fluffed the wool on the side of his head.
"You got a dick. No thanks," the panda waved. "Come on, pretty boy."
"How do you know I have a dick?" the animal asked as they walked away from the group.
Go made a pained noise. "Do you not?"
"Oh, wouldn't you like to know!"
"Whatever." They walked along the halls. "You better not be another Shi..."
"Well, I am, kinda. Shi-chi." He stuck his tongue out at the red panda.
"But...he's so...weak! It's frustrating. I wanna like the guy but he keeps giving me reasons not to."
"I sparred with him, and he has potential. I did beat him pretty easily, though."
"Well...he's gonna be working with San on the sidelines now and you'll replace his spot. You have a good weapon choice. Very violent."
Shichi chuckled. "Thanks, I made it myself!"
"To defend yourself from raging carnies?"
"You got it." The sheep made a few imaginary swings with his bat.
Go nodded. "That's another thing...Shi is 'married' to a wolf! A wolf! Is he some kind of imbecile?!"
Shichi blinked and shook his head. "What, really? Huh, so that's what he was hiding..."
"Ichi already knows and, you know, the wolf is great for blackmail and can basically make Shi do whatever we want. I do feel a little bad, though...I mean, I wouldn't want to be forced into something like this. I'm lucky I chose this."
"Yeah, same here." Pina couldn't help but think of Legosi. He wondered if all of these herbivores could really hate him if they actually met him.
"Contrary to popular belief, I don't actually hate Shi. I just think he has wasted potential. I'm over here doing all this badass stuff and he's breaking down at the site of a few deaths."
"Guess we'll see how he turns out." Shichi played with the vial of blood around his neck.
"You didn't even wince when you cut yourself...That was interesting. Ichi had to cut Shi himself."
"Thanks, I guess." Shichi continued walking forward with the smaller animal. He looked similar to Fudge from the drama club, but comparing the two was like night and day. "I guess Shi didn't suffer as much as we all did. The fact he married a wolf is proof of that."
"It's so annoying. And...unfair. Why him? Why not any of us? I always think about what life would be like if we didn't go through what we've gone through. If my sister had never been with that carnivore...That's why I'm worried, er, concerned about Shi. He's walking on thin ice with that wolf. Ugh, I feel like shit."
The new member patted his back, softly. "Hey, hey, take it easy now. Just focus on feeling better."
"I wonder what I should do? Teasing him is fun, but Ichi really doesn't like that we don't get along," Go said. "Also, don't tell anyone I'm revealing my feelings. It's just easier to talk to someone you don't really know."
"I get that. And I think you should just do what feels right? I dunno." They stopped in front of his cell.
The red panda turned to him. "Everything is so...weird right now. With Ichi being so happy, your arrival, the sensitive nature of Shi, and my illness...Not sure what to do. Maybe I should just talk with him. He is an asset to us, after all. 'Cause of his damn Chimera."
"I can be with you while you talk to him if you're scared," the sheep teased.
"I'm not scared. What, of Shi? Pffft. I'd be more scared of you. You have such a...presence."
Shichi bowed. "Well, thanks again! So many compliments from you!"
"Bleghhh...shut uppp...Just get outta here...Go kick Shi's balls for me."
"Will do," the sheep saluted as he turned to leave.
=^.^=
Back in the training area, Louis continued to train his breathing with San. His mind was racing on if he could summon his Chimera or not and if it would be more powerful due to his trauma.
Ichi and Ni had left by that point, and Kyuu took out a cigarette and lit it.
San and Louis finish their breathing when Shichi arrived. "Hey, Shi. Go said I should kick your balls."
"Don't tell me you're going to," Louis answered.
Pina kicked the air. "Boom."
"Is that a joke about how I don't have any?" Louis squinted.
Pina held his hands up and shook his head. "Oh, no! Just seeing if I could get my Chimera to come out."
The deer chuckled. "Hwell. It's my turn at the moment. Speaking of...San?"
"Yeah?" the alpaca blinked.
"Can I try to bring it out now?"
"Eh, well, it's kind of early yet."
"Ah...So now what? More breathing?"
San sat down, and he invited Louis to follow. "Now, we meditate."
The buck looked at Pina. "It wouldn't hurt if he joined us, right? I read something about how meditating as a group enhances it."
San nodded. "Of course. How about you, Kyuu?"
The bunny took a drag of her cigarette and stared at them. "Nah."
"Don't you need to train as well?" Louis asked.
"I'm good."
Pina came over and sat next to Louis. "Wow, this is cozy."
"What is? The mat?" the buck queried.
"The atmosphere."
"If only it was dark and there were candles lit, maybe some music."
"Hachi does have some incense, but we shouldn't bother them right now," San said.
"Plus, that's the kind of atmosphere I'd rather have with Legosi..." Louis mumbled.
"Is that the wolf you're married to? Sorry, Go let it slip," Shichi revealed.
The buck looked at him. "Yes. That's my husband."
"I see..."
"I'll shut up about him, don't worry." He crossed his legs and closed his eye, immediately seeing Legosi there, which made him smile a bit.
The trio proceeded to meditate with the alpaca to guide them.
It was...very relaxing. Louis wondered if maybe he should do this more often. After, he opened his eye. "Now?"
San looked at him nervously. "You're really pushing for this, huh?"
"I'm just anxious, really. If I can't do it, then Ichi will have no use for me. That's what I'm hoping for...mostly."
"In that case, Ichi will keep pushing until there are results, probably. Although who knows with him in this mood." San stood up, stretching his back.
"Exactly. So we can at least try it, no?" Louis asked, tilting his head. Out of the corner of his good eye, he saw that Pina was still meditating.
"Yeah. Come stand with me, Shi."
Louis got up, stretching for the third time, and standing by the alpaca. "Alright?"
"Now, work to clear your mind again, just as before."
"Should I close my eye?"
"If you find that helps, sure."
He did so, once more. "I'm ready."
"Alright. Once your mind is clear, bring forth your trauma. Let it occupy your mind."
The deer started playing back that night. The pain in the back of his head, waking up tied up in the chair...how hot he had felt, the genuine fear he carried then, Alpha..."O-okay..."
"Fill all corners of your mind with it. It'll hurt. It's supposed to."
The cervid tried to imagine himself back in that basement. The three animals there. The snarling face of Alpha, the echo of his voice bouncing along the cement walls, the digging of his claws in his shoulders...
He shuddered, remembering the feeling of the blood running through his fur and how warm it was.
"When you feel like you can't take it anymore...picture those thoughts manifesting outside of you. They're not just your problem anymore. They're your enemies' problem." San's voice.
"Mm..." he whined. The yelling of Alpha toward his comrades to eat him. The removal of his shoe and sock. Him fighting back with his antler.
The claw to his eye.
It only got worse from there. He was unable to move and as Alpha cut him up, giving him the many scars he never wanted to think about and which Legosi never really acknowledged. It was only recently where he began to really accept them, seeing how Legosi had been affected by them.
"Try letting it out Shi...Louis..." San again.
Louis let out a breath. Scars may never go away, but they do fade, as do the memories of that night. He let it go.
San noticed the deer relax, and he reached out and grabbed his shoulders.
"Mm?" The buck's ear twitched.
"Hey, how do you feel?"
"I feel...calm."
"Hmm, okay. That was a good start, I guess."
"What now?"
"We eat? I'm hungry, I don't know about everyone else."
Shichi opened his eyes. "I could eat."
"Seconded," Kyuu chimed in.
Louis opened his eye. "Eat? What about my Chimera...?"
"Nobody ever summons it the first time. That's not what that's for. It's a long process," San explained.
"A-ah..." Louis reddened a bit. "I understand." He looked at Pina once more, then at San. "I...guess we should go see what Hachi's cooked up, then."
Shichi stood up. "Yes, let's!"