act21side

The smoke from the burning photo flushes out a gray-and-white striped musbeast from the grass.

Oh, there's another little fella here.

Lappland lifts it by the back of its neck and looks at the panicked beastling with its feet dangling in the air.

Haha, you scared? How about that feeling of being airborne?

Getting carried around by the scruff of your neck, losing control of your body. Nobody likes that, right?

As if to prove her words, the musbeast opens its mouth to try to bite Lappland's finger.

Yes, yes! Just like that! All you can do is fight back, right?

She lets the musbeast rest in the palm of her hand.

Did you know, I once kept a buddy who looked just like you.

I got it the cutest little cage, the finest food, and even fluffy sawdust to nap on.

I would even dress it up nice and pretty. But...

The musbeast cannot understand human language. It simply sniffs around Lappland's hand.

The more I look at you, the more I see the resemblance.

How about you come home with me then?

She throws the rest of the photos into the fire, the tongues of flame rolling over the already-blurred faces.