Apparently even knowing what the gun is is crazy, because no one is trying to stop this asshole, they're just staring at the gun in his hands while he stares at me like I have the gun. Or the gun is so bad their brains are trying to process that this dude has one out in broad daylight, around a group of cultivators, and he just actively used it. Something blatant happened and no one's doing fuck all about it. I move to beat the shit outta One-Shot and feel my silk tugging on my scales --. Oh! I do have scales still! I hold out my hand, moving it around until it catches the light and then just shift it back and forth. There's a rainbow sheen, but it's a lot more subtle than usual. What's my hair look --.

Joe slips into a light crouch, fists up in what lo0ks like a boxing stance, seeming to slide across the ground, around everyone next to Kissy, -- fuckers still just look confused, -- and knocks him on his ass with a quick shot to the chin. Nate flinches away from Joe, guard coming up, and I guess whatever happened to keep them frozen is broken because now everyone's moving and shouting, pinning and pummeling Kissy -- not my name anymore, ya duck-faced bitch! -- while Freckles stands, back to me, between me and the chaos. Is he trying to protect me right now?

I cannot for the life of me figure out what the fuck. Are they better now? Why was no one moving? How long was I gone? Why'd he shoot me? That thing I grabbed was definitely not fire, and neither were its babies. Sooo... Yeah. What the fuck?

-*I don't know what's going on but the thing I grabbed isn't fire based,*- I tell Freckles as I try to psych myself up to feel around the wound.

Come on! I've been dismembered and gutted before, haven't I? Dried up and dessicated. Or was that a nightmare? No, I was definitely --. Oh! When I was dying I was literally falling to pieces. And that loud bastard in the caves broke my leg, didn't he? So why is it so weird --. My face goes blank as I remember that I literally bit my own finger off today. I pull my robes away from my body, gently peeling away the silk before my dumbass realizes I can just bank it. There's no wound, but there's a spot that was a little lighter that quickly darkens to normal. I get to see a rainbow bleed across the area before settling, like a ripple in a pond. Is that what it looks like when my scales move? Is that why people keep staring at me? Sitting here minding my own business, throw on a full ass light show, then stare at people when they wait to see what I do next. Fack, I'm a mess.

I fuck off back to my void space to check on the "fire rat". I swear it looks soaked in blood, but they shouted fire... I don't think it'd be a good idea to try to butcher and cook the sisters or Crimson Star if things are escalating like this right now, but I do wash up and put on another set of robes. When I leave back to the maze this time there's a group of people wearing banded plate armor and horned helmets. The ones wearing masks have plain face covers, and they all have swords, short or standard length, although a few are holding pole arms. One man steps forward, stops, and raises his hand, palm slightly angled. Is he asking me to hold his hand.

"If you can come with me? A demonic practitioner was captured and we were informed that you were wounded in their attack."

That was straight-forward. I shrug and place my hand on his. He looks confused, stopping before turning to the others. He gives me a quick awkward nod, squeezes my hand lightly, then lets go and turns, walking away. Oh! Was the armor restricting his movement. Dude said follow and I held his hand. Awkward. For my next trick watch as I turn a fist-bump into a high-five! Step it up, me!

I follow the poor guard I overly friendly-ed back to the main house, catch sight of Trinity standing off to the side like he's just a passive onlooker, -- technically I guess he is? He didn't participate in the hunt or see anything. Nevermind. Carry on, citizen! -- and then we're off to the river. For another boat ride. Away from town. Tch, did I just get kidnapped? I didn't ask for any ID or anything. Welp.

-*There are armored men taking me downstream on a boat. They said they --. They actually just asked me to go with them. Thought it was tied to what happened,*- I send to Freckles, hoping Bubbles might be able to get back to me.

Speaking of... The "guards" never did say they wanted to ask me some questions or find out about what happened. They just stood there in armor, said they heard something happened, wanted me to come with. This probably doesn't even count as a kidnapping. They asked and I went with, but I definitely misunderstood what was going on. I still don't know what's going on. Wait. Why'd I tell Freckles anything. If I just did the sucking...

"Who are you and where are you taking Kisandera?"

I turn to the shore as the "guards" -- I swear I thought they were like martial police investigating the incident -- ready their weapons, all of us turning to see Freckles plant his feet deep into the stony shore before he glows and Bubbles shows off as she's just suddenly there.

"Keep the bodies intact!" Freckles shouts and Bubbles flutters up and towards us.

Well, shit. I've seen Bubbles "herd" deer. I kick off the boat hoping to float to the far shore, wanting to get a chance to not be in the middle of that fight. I know what's coming and I have no clue how that's not gonna vaporize everybody.

"Retrieve the beast!" the guy I'd held hands with shouts, pointing his flunkies at me, and I swear as they comply immediately

"No!" I shout and slip into my void. Over running water.

I'm gonna fall into the river when I leave... And why'd I shout "no"? What am I? Three? "Time to go home, Sandy!" "No!" Pffft. I head to the seating area to sit and drink until the shaking stops. Why am I shaking? I was only shot and went with the nice stranger because I thought he had candy. It's not he threw me in the trunk of the car. The van was nice and space-y.

"What is my life?" I groan, putting my elbows on the table as I sit. Just because I heal if I eat doesn't mean I'm okay with being experimented on.

I literally ate one of my own fingers. On purpose. Yeah, no. No one's allowed to experiment on me anymore except me! There! Indignity clarified! I snort and laugh, letting it out and waiting for me to stop so I can drink. What a mess... I take a sip, wondering if I should snack, then remember I was snacking before I got shot. Did I drop my food or auto bank it like the greedy asshole I keep getting accused of being.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

I'm not a hoarder, I'm a scholar. I need lots of specimens for my experiments so I gather as much as I can find.

Out with a plate to set my food on then out with anything I've eaten on. I'm surprised the filter works, and more surprised by the pots of partially eaten stew or dumplings, even "shiver thorn and". Curiosity peaked, I calm my nerves by embarking on a culinary journey consisting of dipping this into that or take a mouthful of this and a mouthful of that then chewing them both at the same time. I'm simple and food makes me happy. I hope that doesn't change, 'cause I can't think of anything else that makes me as happy as food does.

While I'm, eating there's a sniffle snuffle near me. I look down and around until I spot Little Red looking sad. I've got some dried fish... Don't think I used it all. I drop a large dried fish, a freshly harvested fish that flops around and immediately gets pounced on and dragged off. Okay, nevermind. I bank the dried fish, leave my feast of leftovers to head to the kitchen to swap out my shiz there. More dried stuff in the bank, more pots o'stuff in the bank, and mores stuff out to continue the cycle. Back at the table I haz no more guests but my excitement is killed by the memory of what I have to go back out to. I sigh, hope my scales are good enough for any proper elemental assault, and take a running leap into the wall of a boat anchored around my anchor.

"Tch, why?" I kick before scrabbling to my feet. Gotta figure out which way is out in order to get out.

-This is because of you?- someone hisses, spits, and chuffs at me.

I whip around to look over my shoulder at a red and black man with cat features including a tail. Then I freeze, looking up at the ceiling, still twisted at the waist, as I try to figure out why I can understand him and Trinity without any problems, but I couldn't understand Emo Lady and friends for nearly an hour when they were actively talking. Someone inside of me supplies that it's about intent. I can understand them being excited about hanging out at the shops with their friends without knowing who what where when why. Spirit beasts are apparently less wordy and more straightforward. Me, disgust, blame. I know what's transpired recently and I don't have a hard time making the connections. Cool. Insights. Fack. No wonder reading is such a bitch.

Excuse scientifically backed up I do a quick look around, a quick, disinterested wave of acknowledgement from Hatchet from her seat on a nearby wall-bench before Nate ducks under curtains blocking out the outside to enter the surprisingly large space. His eyes pop open at the sight of me, but he just stands up while looking at me.

"How'd you know it wasn't a fire rat?"

"Straight to the point? How are you? Okay? Me?" I bat my eyelids at him and he relaxes, rolling his eyes. "I'm fine considering there's more people who want to experiment on me."

He clenches his fists and jaw, staring at me like I'm sure I've stared at him after his nonsense. Oh, man-handling people is fine, but how dare I words! I snort and the temperature rises just a little.

"I need you to come with me. We need you to see if you recognize any of them," he says, turning and heading back outside.

"'Come with me'," I mock, turning to the cat person who just glares at me while their claws slowly~ slide out of their sheaths... "I'm going!"

I head outside, -- they really just dropped a houseboat on my anchor, -- and see a line of corpses laid out side by side down the deck.

"Wait," I thought we weren't supposed to kill people. I pause, replay what I was about to say and then realize it's not about people finding out you kill people, it's about people finding out you eat people. "Nevermind! Was gonna say I thought we weren't' supposed to kill them, but, no. Cultivators. We kill each other all the time. Carry on!"

I wave at the disbelieving sideways glances and cocked heads as people try to decide what to think or do about my nonsense, then look down at the bodies arranged, still in their armor, but with their helmets removed and placed on the deck behind their heads. I shrug. If I know them I don't remember. If I wasn't with these people I'd forget who they were, too. Except maybe Joe and Freckles... Nate would remind me of who he was and I'd have to punch him again.

"I couldn't even tell you if these were the people who picked me up from the farm," I shrug again.

I probably could if I tried, but I'm not that invested in this. If they have insignia that'd be more important than them. They're dead. I watch as Nate sucks his teeth, yeets one of the helmets downriver, then freeze as I see everyone start dumping bodies into the river. That's just unhygienic. I hustle over, banking the bodies as I get to them.

"You check for insignia? Scars? Tattoos? Written orders? Spatial storage? Or just kill them and wait for me to come back?" I ask. I'm gonna check, then I'm gonna practice cooking. "They don't have to know their people are dead. If nothing else I'm pretty sure people probably fish in this river."

Nate and Hatchet sneer, exchanging a look while Freckles just looks over the side of the boat and into the river thoughtfully. Joe shrugs when I turn to them, and I slowly stand up. No one tried to stop me. Neat.

"Let us know what you find. Try to keep the bodies intact, will ya?" Nate slumps, running a hand over his slack face before waving me off. Motherfucker. "We should head back and complete the Mission.

"The guild needs to know about the thing we found," he looks up to glare at me. "They need to know someone's doing experiments. And they're getting loose."

"Why are you looking at me like this is my fault? I just wandered into your country," I point out. People shitting on the Rising Sun and their countries aren't much better.

"Just reminding people what's at stake," he says, giving a nod to the others before leaving.

"I'm a frickin' pleasure to be around," I shout, absolutely offended.

"Think he means someone trying to create and control a cataclysm class spirit beast," Freckles tries to reassure me.

"Oh." I stop to think about it. Fair. "So how do we get reputation towards ranking for this? How do we turn the mission in?"

"Running River has the mission plaque. He'll turn it in at the guild, they may need you to provide the creature as proof, hopefully you haven't eaten it...?" Joe raises an eyebrow at me, waiting for a response.

"Not yet," I tell him, my eyes sliding away from him, and I'm kinda pissed I can't hide the fact that I'm up to no good.

"I might be able to help you raise the pups," Joe scratches his chin, narrowing his eyes at me. "If you need help."

"I'll keep that in mind," I struggle not to blink.

He thinks I killed the mom and kept the babies. As pets. To sell? Or to breed more in the future? Can I have animals living and breeding--. I stare blankly, knowing that I've been breeding fish. Can I have birds? Can I auto bank the bird poop and make fertilizer so the bastards aren't just shitting on my house? I need to find some birds. After I go back to the guild to check if I got credit for the mission.