The Mimic in Monsterland

Groar!

“Ow, don’t do that right now!” I told my stomach after it roared at me, this time vibrating my sore ribs and gut.

Growl!

“Damn it, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?” I said, slapping my stomach, then barreling over in my chair from the pain. My gut was still extremely tender after the blow from the latest member of today’s introductions. Not that we actually exchanged names. Or did anything that even resembled introductions. Not even by Kniyan standards. I thought back on the interaction again.

“Lostock. I think that’s what she said. Any ideas, my tutorial friend?”

“Nope. Nada. But from the context clues, it's easy to ascertain that it's more than likely a Feral settlement or something along that line.” Tutor replied.

“Ascertain huh, don’t hurt yourself using fancy words. Don’t need you blowing a fuse in there.”

“Oh, shove it.”

Gurgle!

I winced as another stomach quake ran through my body. I slapped my hand on the chair’s arm and yelled out in pain. “Wrong hand.” I whispered. It was the hand I used to block the kick from earlier, and it clearly hadn’t healed up at all.

“Hah, serves you right.” Tutor giggled as she spoke.

I got up from my seat. “ARGH. There has to be some food around here. If I had an office, I would definitely hide snacks in it.” I walked over to the side of the desk and rummaged around the drawers. I doubt Len would mind. No way he’d leave anything important unattended. There were two drawers on either side of the desk. I checked the two on the right first, the top one had some spare ink vials and loose blank paper. The next was completely empty.

I hurried over to the next side. “Ah, Bingo!” There laid a folded cloth similar to the ones that the food carts in town used when they gave out to-go orders. I grabbed it and joyfully opened it up, then palmed my face once I recognized what was inside. “It ain’t hard to figure out whose drawer this is.” The cloth held a plethora of that strange jerky Jaren gave me a while ago. The stupidly hard stuff that wore down even my mimic enhanced jaw muscles.

Drool dripped down onto the top of the desk. “Ah screw it.” I picked up a handful of jerky and shoveled it in. The mimic instinct to just tear through the meat took over for a moment. Yet the freaking shoe leather this shit had to be made from slowed me back down. “Mphm.” After the instincts chilled out, I began to slowly masticate the jerky like Jaren showed me last week.

I chewed on the meat flavored bubble gum for a while. It wasn’t anywhere as satisfying as the meal I knew waited for me back home, but was successful in silencing the monster in my stomach. And even alleviated some of the pain as well. I looked back at the drawer I pulled the jerky out of. There wasn’t anything else in the drawer, so I shut it and looked down at the last drawer. Came this far, no sense in leaving a job half down.

My hand reached for the final drawer. I grabbed it and pulled. It didn’t open, didn’t move an inch. I leaned down and examined it. There was a small hole next to the handle. “Locked.” I looked back at the others I’d opened. None of them had a keyhole like this one.

“Weird, but whatever. Not my business.” I shrugged; I was never the type to poke around in others' private affairs. Not that it stopped intrigue from peaking its nasty head up in the back of my mind, gently urging me to investigate further. I swallowed the last bite of my jerky and stared at the drawer. The lock can’t be that strong. My stomach grumbled at me, softer this time, but enough to bring me back to reality. After a quick shake of my head, I returned my attention to the pile of jerky sitting in front of me. Another handful went into my cheek. “Mmm. Meat.” I moaned to myself, closing my eyes and falling back into the chair.

I opened them. A cloaked person sat in one of the chairs on the other side of the desk. I chewed slowly, blinking a few times, Then I jumped back. “Shit! When did you get…agh.” A portion of ungnawed jerky went down my windpipe. “Ack! Ugh!” I pounded on my chest, trying to cough the food back up.

After an embarrassing minute, the food settled down, and I managed to swallow the rest of the jerky. I breathed heavily, catching my breath. Once I calmed down, I spoke.

“How. How long have you been there?”

“During your short investigation of the locked drawer there. Don’t get too excited about it. Nothing impressive in there. Just some old blueprints for the building and a small bag of coins. No way he’d leave anything of real value here. Not with idiots guarding the place.” She answered, strangely placid compared to just a few minutes ago when she was trying to knock my block off.

“Cool…Um…So…” I shut my mouth before any more filler words could spew out of my mouth. An uncomfortable air hung in the room. The girl stayed silent. She adjusted her hood and I could see her expressionless face. She had bright green eyes that I swear almost glittered under the light of the lamps.

“Stop being stupid and say something, doofus!” Tutor’s reprimand broke me out of my dumb trance. I scratched the back of my head.

“Kind of a rough first meeting there, huh? So mind if I try again?” The girl’s face didn’t change. “Alright, I’ll start then. I’m Liam. Liam Foster. What about you?”

She didn’t respond, instead she got up from her chair and stood in front of the desk. She leaned over and looked deeper into my eyes. My face heated up, but I held her gaze. The mystery girl stayed like that for a moment, until a small strand of pink hair fell out from her hood. She shoved it back in and sat back down with a huff.

“What’s your name?” I repeated myself, hoping to get an answer this time.

“Are you actually a Feral?” She asked, completely ignoring my question. I sighed before I responded.

“I’d better be after all the crap I’ve been through since I got here.” She squinted, not impressed with my whimsical answer. Not a fan of jokes, then. “Yes. I am a Feral. I wasn’t born in Laurelhaven or any of the Splice Capitals for that matter. There, happy?”

Her eyes scanned me again. “Why did you come here?”

“Len, the owner of this building, saved my life out in the Forest. I was attacked by a group of Gre…cough… monsters. A group of monsters and Len killed them all. He then trained me and helped me survive out in the Forest. He was going to get me into the city but, well, plans changed.”

Her forehead furled. “Why did you need assistance surviving in the Forest? You were born out there and lived with other Ferals. I can understand the life-saving bit, but you shouldn’t have needed help living out there.”

How do I answer this one? Len said to keep the whole isekai stuff to myself. I can’t help but agree.

“I’m not from the Forest. I’m from…far away. I didn’t know much about the monsters out here.”

She squinted at me again. Yeah, I wouldn’t buy that crock of crap, either. New strategy time. As she went to open her mouth again, I stopped her.

“Look. I’ve answered your questions, so it's only fair you answer some of mine. Capiche?”

“Ca what?”

“Right, you wouldn't know Italian. It’s nothing. It's my turn.”

She shook her head. “Nope, I’m not sure that you're even a Feral yet. And I don’t owe you jackshit.”

My face twitched. Anger boiled up inside my chest. “Why the hell would I lie about it? What single benefit is there for me? I was locked up the second I got here, then forced to hide for the better part of a week from that crazy green elf chick who treats me like I’m some sub-human freak. Nobody, except for like two people, in my Legion squad will even talk to me. Shit, I had to fight some ass-hat today over it. You think I would choose this. Get your head out of your ass.” I gripped the armrest of the chair after I stopped talking.

Her finger thumped on the side of her crossed arms. Her silence continued for a minute. A minute too long for me.

I exhaled and rubbed my forehead. “You know what, fuck it. I really don’t care anymore. Why should I bother with you? I was hoping to learn something about Ferals. Something about why we are hated so much. But if you’re the example I have to go by, then maybe I can see where everyone is coming from. I’d hate us too if the customary introduction is a swift kick in the face.” I got up and made my way to the office entrance. I grabbed the door handle, but didn’t open the door. I sighed. “And I am sorry about grabbing you like that. It wasn’t cool. Feel free to never speak to me again.” I pulled down on the handle and took a step.

“Wait.” She said, getting out of her chair.

“Nope, I have a delicious meal waiting for me. And your bullshit has kept me away from it long enough.” I walked out of the room and towards the stairs leading to the guild hall entrance.

“Just wait a second!” I heard her yell from the office. “Not happening!” I yelled back. Halfway through the hall, I heard footsteps pound on the wooden floor. She raced in front of me and held her hand out. I crossed my arms while I looked down at her. “Well?”
She scoffed, lowering her hand and then looking up at me. “Do you really know nothing about Ferals? About your own kind.”

“I…I wouldn’t call them my own kind. But seeing as I am going to be thrown in the category. I’d like to learn.”

She lowered her head and paced around the hallway, clearly pondering something. She stopped and looked back over to me. “Fine, how about instead of telling you, I’ll show you. Show you how and why we are treated so poorly here.” She walked down the stairs before I could answer. Once she was about halfway, she turned back up to me. “Coming or not?”

I scrunched up my face. ”Nope, I don’t know if you were paying attention back there, but I don’t know you. Why should I trust you?”

The girl looked up at me. “Because I'm the only one who’s willing to give you the truth about Ferals. That’s what you said. This is your chance. And your only one. I’m walking out that door right now. Either join me and find the truth, or don’t and stay in the dark.”

She made her way toward the training room, heading for the back door. I bobbed my head around, struggling with the decision.

“Oh, just go already. Quit being a baby.” Tutor said.

“Alright.” I caught up with the girl just as she walked out the back door.

“Let’s go then.” She said without turning to me.

“Nope, details first. Oh, and dinner. That’s a must. Don’t worry. You’ll love Mrs. Warbler’s food. It's awesome.”

The girl nodded at the idea and gestured for me to take the lead. I walked out the door and around the side of the building. “Oh I hope she made more Moose steaks. That’s exactly what I could use right about now. She has this spice that, hey where did you go?” I turned back to talk to the girl but she had disappeared.

“Well never mind then.” I debated on whether or not to look for her, before confirming that I, in fact, did not give a damn. I wanted nothing more with this girl’s antics. I whistled to myself and headed back to the shop.

I arrived right when the sun finally fell and the foreign stars lit up the sky. I walked through the door. “Hello?”

No response came, but it wasn’t quiet in the shop. I heard some voices coming from Mrs. Warbler’s door. I guess she’s got company, maybe I should wait until they’re gone. My stomach grumbled as a whiff of that heavenly scent filled my nostrils. I’m sure it’ll be fine. I hopped over the shop counter and knocked on the door.

Mrs. Warbler opened the door. “There you are, hun. Took you long enough.”

“Sorry the day ran long. I hope I’m not disturbing you and your guest.”

She backed up and turned around. “Not at all. Come on in.” I followed her and then peered over to the table; to see who the guest was. A cloaked figure looked back at me.

“Wha?”

The girl looked up at me, shrugged, and then shoved a spoonful of radiantly colored, steamed vegetables in her mouth.