TSROTRATBP Chapter 5

The night dragged toward dawn. Sneaking out from under the covers, I snuck glances at the gorgeous black panther.

Luckily he wasn't up to anything—seemed to've forgotten I was even on the bed, and was sinking into sleep. Unlike his usual manner, he seemed sensitive to the cold—buried in the blanket, only his face poking out.

...Really pretty.

Everyone said beasts of prey had that special dazzling look—seeing it up close, yeah, no arguing with that.

Unlike all that "I'll eat you" talk he kept tossing around, his sleeping face was soft, pretty. Eyes open, he was always smiling—but somehow it always gave me the creeps.

Truth is, fangs alone were threatening enough, every time he talked or smiled.

One glimpse of those fangs and my head just shut off. What am I supposed to do about that. A thin sigh leaked out of me.

Staring at Ahin's face flickering in the lamplight, I looked away and scanned the room. Been looking a while now, but not even a crack to slip out of.

This was black panther territory to start with—even if I got out safe, odds of surviving after were basically zero.

I'd actually overheard the maids gossiping that predator clans hunt herbivore beastmen sometimes, dodging around the continent's laws.

'Gotta dump her somewhere this deep, or it'll come back to bite us.'

'Orders were given—she dies by black panther hands, without fail.'

Recalling the events of the day, the strength drained out of me. I'd already been cast out of my own household—there wasn't even anywhere left for me to go back to.

'This is a filthy curse!'

'How pitiable—an abandoned lamb, forsaken by the Beast God!'

At the temple they told me the Beast God cursed me—but turn it over however I liked, none of it made sense.

I just hadn't gone through humanization. Not like I was harboring some kind of darkness.

Either way, one thing was for sure—my parents wanted me dead in black panther territory, dressed up as "shame on a cursed house."

What am I supposed to do now. Hit all at once with having to make it on my own, my chest went tight, suffocating.

Even if I looked for a way to survive, stuck in this un-humanized baby rabbit's body, the road ahead was hopeless.

Hopping onto the pillow, I drew a little closer to Ahin's face.

If this man hadn't hauled me out of the forest, odds are I'd have just ended up food for real tigers. Something like a savior—but if on some whim he decides to eat me tomorrow, an enemy just the same. A real ambiguous relationship, this.

…For now, at least, he's someone I owe thanks to.

Up close, Ahin's skin was pale, spotless, not a single blemish. With something like gratitude in mind, I quietly stretched out a forepaw—and all at once, his eyes flew open.

The red of his eyes, right before me, filled my entire field of vision. Several seconds of breathless silence stretched between us.

Blinking eyes still half-lidded, Ahin turned onto his side and propped his chin on one hand.

Only then did I snap back to myself—foomp, foom-foomp—I tunneled under the pillow at top speed, burying myself.

"You'll suffocate like that."

Too bad—he lifted the pillow, and just like that my whole body was out in the open, hiding for nothing. Gazing down at my huddled form, Ahin's mouth curved crooked at one corner.

"Crying again?"

Wasn't crying. Pressing my lips shut in protest, I felt my nose start to sting.

Truth was, every time I thought back on the day, something jabbed at my chest, again and again, aching. Throat closed up too, like I'd swallowed something wrong.

Long since I'd hoped for my family's love, but getting tossed aside like this—guess it hit harder than I thought.

Watching me drop my gaze, Ahin spoke next, his voice carrying no variation in pitch at all.

"Afraid of being eaten?"

Obviously. Hiding just how obvious that was, I nodded fast.

As I sent him a look pleading desperately for my life, Ahin tilted his head slowly. With the movement, the silver strands resting near his ear stirred, loosening slightly.

"Then cry more."

...The hell?

Couldn't hide the shock—my mouth dropped open a little.

He'd been weirdly fixated on my crying this whole time—don't tell me he's got some kind of fetish for it.

Sadly, no other options, so I gave it everything to squeeze out tears. But the tears that flowed easy enough on their own any other time—forced now—just stopped dead.

Clawing at my eyes with my forepaws just left them stinging and dry; huffing breath after breath just left me winded.

Watching me carefully, sensing my hesitation, Ahin eventually clicked his tongue.

"No grit in you. I'll eat you day after tomorrow—so put some effort in."

Like crying's something you just will into happening?

A curt gripe rose up in me, but hey—my lifespan just got extended a day. No sooner had relief settled in than Ahin tugged my hind leg and stuffed me back under the blanket.

A moment later, his voice, somewhat lower now, drifted out.

"Exist as if you don't. Getting on my nerves."

Yeah, sure, whatever you say.

Raging hard, but only in my head, I dutifully shut my eyes. If I set off that black panther's temper one more time, I really might end up between those fangs.

However you looked at it, it was going to be a long, sleepless night.