A sigh slipped Mer's lips as he placed the parchment down, so light, yet its contents so heavy.

Step

step

step

Stop

A whimper tinged with the wild thrum of barely contained power slipped from behind a door.

*Call me insane, but I don’t think that’s human.*

‘You’re insane… and no, I don’t believe it is.’

With a hand that trembled faintly beneath its worn glove, Mer twisted the copper handle. As the wood groaned, moonlight split into the darkened hallway, and four eyes fixed upon him like garnets aflame. There was apprehension but also a defiant intelligence. Sleek fur, darker than a moonless midnight, cloaked the beast's sinewy strength. Two long, flexible necks stretched from either end of its shadowy form, each crowned with a powerful beak, dripping in venom, curved and wickedly studded with needle-sharp fangs. Both heads tilted quizzically, assessing the newcomer. Its four arms, two on each side of its body, and six insectile legs ended in six-fingered dexterous hands. These hands tapped the ground and clasped the air as though eager to reveal their retractable poison-laced claws.

After only a brief glimpse, Mer stealthy closed the door again.

*Yep, definitely not a human… but it seems we’ve encountered some good luck at last.*

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

'How is this good luck…? That monster could rip us to shreds. Besides, it's illegal for a commoner to own a magical beast… let alone a Morsatra. I can barely feed myself. How the fuck do you expect me to feed that?'

*Surely it can hunt for itself?*

'Ah yes, let the incredibly rare, illegal, and not to mention incredulously dangerous creature roam freely around the city. If someone reports it to the Barron, he'll seize it and our necks.'

*Moratras are smart and stealthy. It would likely go unseen… and in the worst-case scenario, it’s perfectly capable of tying up loose ends, but as you are a coward, it would also make a generous gift to the Barron.*

'And how would you explain that? In a way that doesn't incriminate us for murder, ideally. Oh yes, Mr. Barron, I was going for a walk in the city gardens. The birds were chirping, the flowers were blooming, and then I found a six-legged man-eating beast that, for some reason, didn’t kill me. Surprise!!! For now... let's just find out if it's as vicious as it looks.'

Taking a deep breath, Mer pushed the door open.

"Hey there, you adorable little thing. Mum, uh, went on a trip, so I will have to look after you for a while."

The Morsatra’s eyes narrowed as it cocked its heads and clicked its tongue.

“Click click click click…. Click click… click click click… criieeeek.”

Taking a few hesitant steps forward, another sound bubbled up... was it a growl or the beginning of a purr?

With increasing confidence, it pranced closer and lowered its nearest head… almost submissively?

With only the faintest tremble betraying his agitated state, Mer took off his glove, crouched down, and extended his hand toward the young beast. "Here. It's okay..." His words were gentle, soothing both himself and, he desperately hoped, the Morsatra.

The creature’s ruby eyes widened inquisitively as it sniffed Mer’s fingertips. Then, a rough sandpaper sensation slid across Mer's knuckles as the creature extended a hesitant tongue. Mer’s fear did not entirely dissipate, yet something else shimmered into being somewhere beneath the dread—fragile and almost... hopeful.

*Aww, maybe you can finally have a friend.*

‘And maybe you could finally shut up.’