Chapter 15:

Chapter 15: New Feeling

Howl


We finally got to Ms. Clare’s apartment, successfully not being seen by people. “Ms. Clare?” I called out, but no one answered. Guess she wasn’t home. I carefully placed the lion girl on the floor in the living room and went into the kitchen to grab the first aid stuff. “I told you I don't need your help.” Lion girl said as I was walking over to her with the first aid. “Sure you do. Everyone needs help when they’re hurt.” I opened up the box and grabbed the things Ms. Clare grabbed when I was hurt. The bandages, rubbing “al-co-hall” and little cotton balls. “Alright, now let’s see if I remember how to do this.” I took off the cap of the “al-co-hall” bottle and grabbed a cotton ball, then put the ball on the top of the bottle and flipped both upside down really quickly. Just like Ms. Clare did. I put down the bottle and grabbed the lion girl’s left arm. “Okay, this might sting juuuust a little.” I pressed the ball on one of the scraps she had and she winced. “Nnnngh,” She threw off my hand, “What the hell, that hurts.” “Well yeah. It’s cleaning the “back-tear-ea.” I told her. “Yeah, stung my first time too. If you want, I have another way to heal your wounds.” She looked at me confused, “Huh?” I went down to her jeans and licked a cut that was on her thigh. “H-HEY!” She shouted, “GET AWAY FROM ME!” She punched my face. I fell back, covering my mouth. “I bite my tongue, aaagh.” I groaned. “Good!” She said. I looked up and her face was red, “What’d I do? I was only trying to help.” “I-I can do it myself.” She grabbed the first aid stuff and scooted slightly away from me. I grabbed the cotton ball and got up to throw it away. “Hey.” Lion girl called out. I turned around as she was wrapping bandages on her arm, “Why are you even bothering to help me? You had the chance to kill me, but you didn’t…why?” “Well, you weren’t going to do it to me, were you?” I asked. “No, I was only sent to bring you back to the Facility.”

“Then why would I do it to you? Mother told me to never make a person sleep forever if they’re not a really bad person.” She didn’t respond, only continued to clean her wounds. “So, you want something to drink?” I asked. “I don’t know, what’d you got?” I walked over and opened the fridge and grabbed the half-full carton of orange juice. I brought it over to her and she took it. “Orange juice? We hardly ever got this back home.” “I know. Ms. Clare always remembers to buy whenever we go shopping.” She opened the cap and chugged the whole thing. “Ahhhh,” She sighed and put the craton down, “Man, this is way better than water.” I smiled, “Glad you like it. I would get you more, but I kinda left everything on the floor at the grocery store.” “Oh right, sorry.” She apologized. “It’s fine, Ms. Clare and I can go get some more tomorrow.” “You seem to talk about this “Clare” woman a lot. Is she the one that takes care of you here?” “Yep! She’s the best. Really nice, funny, and kind.” Lion girl sat cross-legged, staring at the ground. *sigh* I can’t go back.” She said. “Why not?” I asked. “I’d be a laughing stock. I lost to YOU, the failure.” “What’s wrong with losing? It doesn’t matter.” She scoffed, “Maybe to you. But to me, I fight to win, for the thrill…and my pride. I’m one of the strongest in the Facility, how am I supposed to keep that title when I’ve been proven to be weak? I’ll just be having my pride shattered more.”

She sounded kinda sad, so I decided to help. I sat down in front of her, “Now I don't know a lot, especially about this “pride” business. But I do know this: You are NOT weak. You are the strongest person I’ve ever met, I didn’t think I was gonna win during our fight. If you ask me, you’re an amazingly strong person.” Her face shot red and she looked away, “Well, that’s you. Others won’t be so forgiving.” I shrugged. I looked at the TV thinking if there were any good shows on, but then that reminded me. “Oh yeah, can I give you a name?” “What? I already have one.” “That’s not a name, those are just numbers. I mean a REAL name.” “I’d rather you not.” “Oh come on.” She rolled her eyes,*sigh* Fine.” I got up and started pacing back and forth, “Let’s see….you’re a lioness. Hmmm….OH! I got it, there is this show I watch that has lionesses in it and one of them is called “Leona.” How about that for your name?” She didn’t say anything at first, clearly thinking about how great of a name it was. “Sure, my name is Leona.” I smiled, “Cool. My name is Ferral.” I stuck out my hand for a handshake, and she followed along. “Hello, Ferral.” She picked herself up, and stretched, “I think it’s time I head back home.” She started walking toward the window we came in from. “Are you sure you don’t wanna stay here?” I asked, “It’s way better than that place. You can be free.” She continued walking, “As nice as that sounds, I’ll pass.” She stopped midway through the window, “Thanks for helping me…or whatever.” “You’re welcome. I hope we can fight again someday.” She stopped again, turned, and gave me a slight smile, “Yeah, I’d like that.” When she said that, my face started feeling hot but I didn’t know why. She turned back around and left….and I was alone. Seems to happen often.

I unlocked the front door and burst through. “Ferral!” I shouted, “Are you here?!” I said, panicked. Ferral turned the corner of the kitchen, he was all bandaged up. “Hey Ms. Clare,” He said, “What happened?” I had been searching all over the city like a maniac looking for him when I heard on the radio that two monsters were fighting, and he has the nerve to say hello so casually. I should be mad, pissed even…….but I wasn’t. Instead, I dropped my bag, walked toward him, and hugged him tightly. “Thank god you’re alright. I was so worried.” He was confused at first, but hugged me back, “Why? Is it because I was gone for so long? If it makes you feel better, it’s because I was fighting another one of the hybrids the organization sent.” I looked at him, “That’s what I was worried about you dummy.” “Oooh. It’s fine though, I won. Then I brought her here and gave her first aid. Like you did to me.” I moved back a little, “You brought HER here?” He nodded, “Yep, and you should’ve seen her. She was so strong and amazing and awesome! And pretty!” He started rambling on about this person, saying he gave her the name “Leona” and kept calling her strong, amazing, and awesome. Only time I ever see this level of excitement from him is when he talks about his mother. “And she said we’ll fight again someday,” He continued, “So you know what that means?” “No?” I said, rather confused. “It means she’s gonna train to get stronger, and that means I have to too. I’m so excited to see her again.” He ran off to the workout room, leaving me baffled. “D-Did he just develop a crush?” The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Then I smiled, “Heh, guess he’s starting to develop new feelings.” That’s good, it means he’s learning even more. 

Shattered_Hope
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Liber Mercury
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