story_lunacu_1_1

Argh...

What's the matter with you? You telling me a little kid in the city with a bow and arrow is giving you trouble—

Hmph.

Gah! My knee!

Run boys, run!

You can come out now, Measuring Cup. They're gone.

Are you okay? Did you get hurt?

N-No, I'm fine. Thanks...

Good. I'm the pack leader for now, so I can't let someone like you who can't fight go in front.

But... there was no need to fight in the first place.

Those city wolves thought we'd be easy prey. All I did was draw my bow, but I hadn't even fired before they all came running over.

Drawing your bow on a bunch of gangsters who wouldn't think twice about killing you... Isn't that a bit reckless?

When you run into danger, you bare your fangs. Isn't that the basics of self-defense? What do you think, Agnese?

Besides, they weren't strong. If we were in the wilds, I could have handled them on my own, easy.

*sigh* Though you're the one who provoked them, you <i>did</i> take care of it on your own, so I guess I can't complain. We should get back to town before we miss our truck.

Back to town?

Well, yes. We've already paid for our tickets, and if we don't get back soon we won't be able to board—

Hey, that's our convoy! They're coming this way! Let's get on!

Sorry guys, this town's famiglia are our clients too, so—

—We can't take you along this time.

They left?!

What do we do now, Lunacub?!

...I dunno.

You're not supposed to admit that!

Measuring Cup, you've been with us for a few years now, right? But you've never taken any days off.

I feel like if I did, I'd have to ask someone to take over my work while I'm away, and I'd really rather not trouble anyone like that.

You and your coworkers already manage the cafeteria together. Don't you cover for them when they take time off?

Still, asking them to help <i>me</i> is a bit...

(Shrugs) Whatever. So why now, all of a sudden?

Th-This is totally different! This is an <i>Emperor</i> concert! I have all his albums! I've always wanted to go see him live!

I've already run the numbers. If Rhodes Island maintains its current route, the concert in Nuova Volsinii will be closest!

Also, I promised everyone who's covering for me one of his vinyls...

What? Aren't those expensive? And you promised one for <i>everyone</i>?

I mean, they're doing my work for me. I've gotta show them my sincerity somehow...

You... It wouldn't kill you to loosen up now and then, would it?

Okay, so you've already handed off your work... Oh, right, you're not Siracusan, are you?

I'm not, but I did read five different Siracusan travel guides from cover to cover.

It's a pretty chaotic place at the best of times. I'll go look for an operator familiar with the region. They can be your guide.

Oh, I wouldn't want to trouble anyone else. Why don't I just—

Look, would you rather not trouble anyone, or would you rather get to see Emperor's concert?

I, well... Thanks for going to the trouble...

Looks like the only person familiar with Siracusa who's onboard right now is Operator Lunacub. You two alright with that?

Oh, do you know each other already?

Is there anyone on the cafeteria management team who <i>doesn't</i> know her?

What about you, Lunacub?

I don't mind. I was getting bored waiting around Rhodes Island anyway.

If you don't want her as your guide, you'll have to go to Siracusa by yourself. You think you can manage?

I—

Honestly, if I hadn't been pressured into taking you as my guide back then, do you think I'd be sitting in that truck right now?

I don't remember pressuring you into anything.

I meant the lady from HR. She went out of her way to find you, so if I'd refused, wouldn't that be letting her down?

Does not agreeing with her count as letting her down?

Err, I didn't mean it that way...

*sigh* The travel guides never said what to do if I couldn't board a convoy...

If you still want to go to Nuova Volsinii, we can follow their tracks.

A convoy is different from a wolf pack. It has to stick to a road, and can't just go where it likes.

There's nothing but sand next to the road though. Nothing to hunt either. Are you sure you want to walk?

If the convoy always follows this route, we might be okay. Maybe we can hitchhike.

Hitchhike? It will be a hike, yes, but what are you hitching yourself to?

It means when we see a car, we can ask for a ride.

How much longer are you going to take, Measuring Cup? I'm starving.

Real soon, I promise! Just a little longer!

(Muttering) If I factor in everything, it'll take us ten days to reach Nuova Volsinii, so I should divide our rations into ten...

(Muttering) Definitely need to hide what's left over, can't let her find them...

Are you done yet?

It's done, it's done!

Here, our meal for today.

We've still got lots of rations, so why are we eating so little today?

All our plans assumed we'd be on a convoy right now, not whatever this is... It's about a ten-day walk, so this is all we can spare for today.

Lunacub eats her own portion in a couple of bites, then walks in front of Measuring Cup and tears open the bundles he had just painstakingly wrapped.

He tenses up, afraid that she will find the rations he so carefully hid away, but after some rummaging, she takes some leather, their Rhodes Island uniforms, and a frame.

When he sees her setting up a tent by the fire, he breathes a sigh of relief.

(Muttering) Maybe I'm just a tad neurotic.

I'll help set up the tent too, Lunacub—

My uniform?!

And yours too?!

I told you before we left that these clothes are too thick for this season.

Now that our plans have changed, the stuff you brought is actually pretty useful. It'd be a shame not to make a tent out of such high-quality fabric.

But now that our uniforms are ruined, I'll need to write a report to explain this to Logistics when we get back...

Sounds like a pain. They wouldn't tell me where the supply rooms are, but I managed to find one that even they'd forgotten about.

Hey, are you going to help me with the tent or not?

*pant*... *pant*...

How are you feeling?

Great...

You don't look great. Why hide it?

The sun is scorching. I feel like I'm about to dry out... But if we stop to set up camp, we'll fall behind schedule.

I was wondering what you were trying to do. Here.

Those things you call 'umbrellas' are pretty useful, so I made one from the tent frame and some fabric. Some parts were too complex though, so you can't fold it up without taking it apart.

Thanks—Hey, wait, this fabric... Is this my uniform?

Yes. You weren't using it, were you?

True...

(Muttering) One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight... We still have eight days worth of rations—

Don't just stand there! A sandstorm's about to hit us! We need to move, quick!

But the sky's still clear.

Don't you smell the sand in the air?

Watch out. The riverbed's flat, but there's a gloompincer nest down there. Stay close to me if you don't want to get pinched.

How can you tell?

The mud's a different color—Hey, watch out!

You mumble a lot, but your food is so good.

I usually don't like how gloompincer meat smells funny, so I only risked catching this one so I wouldn't have to sleep on an empty stomach.

Well, I do work in the cafeteria, you know.

(Muttering) One, two, three, four, five, six... There's still some gloompincer from yesterday, too. Good, good...

Counting your rations again?

Lunacub?!

No need to hide them. I figured out which layer you wrapped them in a long time ago.

Thanks for leaving them alone...

Why do you say 'thanks' all the time? You always say you don't want to trouble him or her or whomever, but... that word alone is troubling enough.

So stop thanking me and tell me about this 'hitchhiking.' Where is this car that's waiting for us?

It's not waiting for us, we just need to encounter one... *sigh* It's been five days and we haven't seen a single car pass by. Our luck's just horrible.

I saw some fresh tuskbeast dung, so there's probably a pack nearby. I can't tell if this is one I know, but where there's a pack, there's prey.

We can follow the prey, wait until they head towards the closest city, then take a car from there back to Rhodes Island.

But... Nuova Volsinii...

You can't make it to the concert. But if you listen to me, you won't go hungry.

...But I still want to go!

Go and do what?

I took two whole months off to go to Nuova Volsinii! I can't just give up now!

Even if the concert is over, I still want to go! I want to go cry my heart out at the theater entrance! I want to buy the merchandise! I want to hear the last echoes of that once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Hmph, I guess it's only at times like these that you actually speak up.

Am I being too stubborn about this? I've been wondering that for a while now.

Why? Isn't it normal want to do what you want?

Well... I think a lot of people can't do that.

Now that you say it, people in the city do seem like that.

Only ever worrying about what other people think, without even asking, until you're too afraid to do <i>anything</i>. Even though no one's stopping you.

Or insisting you want to do something that's too much for you, so you and everyone else are just fed up with it afterwards.

Is this some kind of 'cunning'? Something you do so you don't go hungry when you can't catch any prey?

*sobs*...

What now?

(Muttering) Your 'worrying about what others think' thing reminded me that I <i>definitely</i> need to get to Nuova Volsinii. I promised all my colleagues those vinyls...

*sigh* I don't get you at all.

That's fair, I don't really get me either...

Lunacub, your rations.

Lunacub?

Huh? Oh.

You seem rather absent-minded. What's wrong?

I can smell the tuskbeast pack.

Tuskbeast pack... Oh right, I remember hearing that you lived with a pack of beasts before you came to Rhodes Island.

That's right.

It must have been interesting going from that to the landship, and seeing all those unfamiliar things.

Eh, there were a lot of things I hadn't seen before, some good to eat, some fun to play with, but I don't like seeing a ceiling when I wake up.

If Agnese hadn't asked me to wait there, I might just leave. Dunno when, though.

Agnese... Where is that friend of yours, anyway?

That... It's annoying to explain. Agnese is right here, next to me.

...Huh?

Measuring Cup fears that he has somehow offended her and hastily tries to explain himself, but Lunacub does not react at all. She is staring with rapt attention at thin air. It is difficult to tell if she is looking at something near or far away.

As the bonfire crackles in the silence, Measuring Cup suddenly hears the howling of the tuskbeast pack, far in the distance.

Lunacub, are you... thinking of returning to the pack?

Huh? What did you say? I was listening to Agnese just now.

...Never mind.

Okay.

The tent's all set up. You can turn in early if you want to sleep.

That pack of tuskbeasts is calling out again, but Lunacub wouldn't really go rejoin her old pack, right?

*sigh* She's taught me so much these past few days. Guess I still can't get the upper hand...

*siiiiigh* Why am I even thinking about this stuff...

(Steady breathing)

(Yawn) What was that? Lunacub? Is something going on?

Lunacub? Lunacub!

Nobody's here?

Sh-She said... that where there are tuskbeasts, there's prey, so I just have to wait here...

Who cares what she told me? I need to check on the rations.

They're all gone?!

A trail of footprints leaves the west side of camp, a perfect fit for Lunacub's shoes.

In desperation, Measuring Cup grabs the cooking pot by the fire. Then, fearing it won't be enough, also snatches a large fork before hurriedly following the footprints.

*pant* *pant* *pant* ...Lunacub! Lunacub, where are—

Stay back!

If you're going to run off without a word, you could have at least left me some rations.

You idiot, how am I supposed to lure sandbeasts without bait? We won't always stumble over easy prey like those gloompincers.

You didn't have to abandon me either—

Stupid!

I'm not just hunting for myself, I'm hunting for the both of us—

Do you want to die?!

What's happening?

It's fine if you want to help, just stop asking questions and come over here!

A tuskbeast pack? I thought you guys were friends?

I don't know every pack in the Siracusan wilds. They couldn't catch any sandbeasts on their own, so now they're here to snatch someone else's prey. Hmph.

Well... Can you talk things out?

What's there to talk about? There's only one sandbeast. Either we eat, or they eat. Do you want to go hungry?

I... I was just wondering if we could come to a peaceful resolution.

You'll starve to death if you keep thinking like that!

I thought you left that blind consideration behind when you talked about the concert. If we don't eat that sandbeast, we both starve. And if we starve, then you're missing the concert!

Can you walk? They'll close in on us soon. If you're gonna run, you'd better run soon!

(Deep breath) I-I-I'm not going to run!

Good. You don't need to go anywhere, just stand here. When I yell 'hit it,' then hit that pot as hard as you can!

Hit... the pot?

I'm the pack leader, so listen to me! You need to scare them! Scare them bad! If the pack wins, we lose! There's no 'peaceful resolution' here! If you don't fight for what's yours, nobody is going to just give it to you!

Will you do it or not?

...Alright!

Okay…

Hit it!

The sound of thick metal clashing against metal resounds through the woods, distracting the tuskbeasts who have never heard such a sound before and stopping them in their tracks.

Got you now!

Hit it again!

Again! Harder!

After three rings of the pot, three tuskbeasts fall to the ground, pierced by arrows.

The next time I say 'hit it', I need you to hit that pot as hard as you can and for as many times as your arms can handle! The harder and faster, the better!

HIT IT!

The tuskbeast pack is pushed back by a barrage of chaos. The raucous din of clanging metal overlays the volleys of arrows being fired wildly, all while their fellows drop to the ground one by one.

In the end, the matriarch of the pack cries out twice, and they quickly retreat into the forest.

They're gone. We should get this sandbeast back to our camp as soon as we can.

...Alright.

I've got a question, and maybe this is insensitive, but those tuskbeasts you killed, couldn't we also...?

Heh, so you've finally stopped mincing words like a city person. I don't know how useful that is in the city but here in the wild, it's best to just get to the point.

But forget about those tuskbeasts. I'd rather not start a feud with them if we don't need to.

You were a big help just now, but you were still pretty wimpy. I'd say the only—

Yeowch! That's hot!

(Chewing) The only thing I can't complain about is your cooking.

(Muttering) And after I played such a big part...

What did you say?

I said I played a big part earlier!

Hmph. I guess so, otherwise all you'd be getting are the claws.

And how's that fair? Even if I didn't go and help, I'd still be the one cooking it for you!

Well, who asked you to starve me every day?! Even if we're in a rush, a handful of rations is way too little!

The only reason we even <i>have</i> a handful of rations left is because of my planning!

So you've finally learned to speak your mind?

Huh? I... I guess I have.

Good! I'm not a mind reader. I'll only know what you're thinking if you tell me.

If you keep hiding things away instead, I'm going to forget all the good things you've done.

Then I'd like you to be honest with me. How much do you think I've helped out during our trip?

Um...

Lunacub does not answer, using a small knife to carve up a sandbeast haunch instead. The meat sizzles atop the grill for a while before a piece is given to Measuring Cup.

What should we do once we finish eating? Do we need to move camp so that pack won't come back for us?

Wow, you only just learned to speak up and you've already learned to cover your tracks too? Very good.

Never mind what I learned, I actually feel like I'm... happier?

Happy? That's good too, right? If your stomach's full then it's normal to be happy. Maybe you'll be qualified to be part of my pack when we reach Nuova Volsinii.

'Reach Nuova Volsinii'?

*sobs*...

Now what?

The concert... My concert...

Slow down! If you keep going this fast, you'll get tired before noon—

Look, Lunacub! Isn't that a car stopped by the side of the road?

Hey, you two! What do you think you're doing, sneaking around my car like that—

Gah—

...Isn't this the driver that took your 'payment' but still left us by the roadside? Is this that 'hitchhiking' thing you were talking about?

(Shrugs) I suppose so.

Mister Driver, we're not going to ask for our money back. We'll be satisfied if you just take us to Nuova Volsinii, okay?

I'd love to, but this lousy car of mine's broken down, and I can't repair it alone.

You're not alone. There are three of us.

Well...

If you still can't, then give those pieces of paper back to Measuring Cup. We can walk.

Pieces of paper?

She means the fare we paid.

...Sure, why not? If you two can help me fix my car, I'll grit my teeth and take you to Nuova Volsinii.

Well, it should be fixed now.

Ah, no, no can do, my car here's got some quirks, see. You need to wait a while after opening up the hood, or it won't start up—

Sounds like it's working alright to me.

Oh, er, yeah. Looks like that went away all of a sudden.

We'd best get moving then. An hour saved is an hour saved! And the concert's tonight!

Hold on, isn't Nuova Volsinii supposed to be that way?

It's a shortcut. Aren't you in a hurry? I'm taking us the fastest way I know.

Tch...

Measuring Cup, what's that sound?

A communicator. Maybe there's someone nearby who's using one too, and their signal is interfering with this one.

That's right! I'll speed up a bit, and we'll be there before you know it!

No. This isn't the way to Nuova Volsinii. Stop.

We're almost there! You don't know what you're talking about, girl! Buddy, can't you keep that kid under control?

Buddy?

You're right. With the weather being this hot, we should get under some shade.

Ah, thanks. This umbrella of yours is real unique. Is it... made out of clothes?

Yeah, that girl over there made it. I've learned a lot of things from her. She even wants to be my pack leader, and honestly, I've been seriously considering the offer.

I... I see.

Any particular piece of the sandbeast you want?

Nah, I'm good, I'm not really hungry—Hey, why're you covering my eyes?! The hell do you think you're pressing—

You got guts, Sante. Decided not to answer your comms?

We ain't waiting no more. Whatever, we're nearly there. We'll help you fix your ride when we get there.

When the car's fixed, you bring us to where you fobbed off those two stronzi who made a ruckus in the city. They can't have gotten far.

Once we let off some steam with a few jabs of the knife, whatever they got on them is yours. We'll bump you joining the famiglia up the schedule, and soon you'll have your own driver you can boss around...

Still thinking of a 'peaceful resolution'?

(Shrugs) Let's give him one last chance, just in case he's stuck in a sticky situation.

Mister Sante, give us back our fare and get out of the car.

(Clenching teeth) As if! Wait until the boys get here—

Sorry, but if you win, we lose. No peaceful resolution this time either.

Measuring Cup kicks the driver—dazed from a cooking pot to the head—out of the car and straps himself into the driver's seat. The car burns a semicircle into the road and disappears in a cloud of dust.

See? It's like I said. In the wilds, if you don't fight for what's yours, nobody is just going to give it to you.

So do you want to join my pack? I'm serious.

I'll think about it. But for now...

Nuova Volsinii, here I come!

Em! Pe! Ror! Em! Pe! Ror! Em! Pe! Ror!

I love you, Lunacub! We actually made it on time! You've been my lucky star this entire trip!

Ah... Right.

You came all this way... just to see that guy?

Which guy? Who are you talking about?

Who else? The one on stage.

That's right! Have you never heard of Emperor? I've been a fan ever since I was in school! I even have all his vinyls! He—You know what, I'll tell you all about him after the concert!

Em! Pe! Ror! Em! Pe! Ror! Em! Pe! Ror!

Agnese, did Measuring Cup nearly get himself killed just to see this guy shouting on stage?

Couldn't you just have called him over before we left? Wouldn't Measuring Cup have been satisfied with him shouting at him then?

...You'll consider your goal achieved once I can understand why he did what he did?

Alright... Well, I don't get it at all yet. It's too noisy.

Emperor raps along to the rhythm on the stage, his fanatical fans shouting, shrieking, and swaying below.

Lunacub looks at Agnese in confusion as she stands by her side, then back to Agnese's kin upon the stage. She pushes her way through the crowd with a bewildered expression, and makes her way out of the theater.