Xyantha Reborn
- Actually Very Tame!
Warning - this is more 'off brand' for me. Less romance, backstory and flow...more analogy, weight gain, current state and slices of time...
Chapter 1
Hexguya stared down at the cage of small creatures. Their pasty skin and odd patches of hair were rather offputting, as was the way they bared their teeth and scrabbled at the glass as they squeaked. “These? Really?”
Yujmulo cast her friend a long-suffering look. “Yes. Get a pet. You need something in your life to focus on – he is dead, and you need a reason to get out every day. A pet will help.”
The older female continued to stare down at the cage for a long moment. “I don’t know…they are so…energetic. I don’t think I can handle that constant chirping and running. Maybe a different kind?” She added, sounding less than optimistic.
The shopkeeper, undeterred and apparently relying on the inherent charm of the creatures, scooped out one and deposited into Hexguya’s arms, despite her protests.
Her first experience with them up close did not inspire any more confidence or appreciation than her first impression had granted her. The tiny creature squirmed and chattered, making her terrified she would drop it. Shoving it back at the shopkeeper, she made her escape outside.
The younger of the two followed more sedately, eyeing her friend. “Babies are always higher energy – what if we look at ones that are already full grown?”
Hex rolled her eyes towards her as she came abreast. “What’s the difference?”
“Well, they are larger, sturdier, calmer, they don’t make as much noise – but they are generally just as affectionate. And cheaper.”
It sounded a bit too good to be true. Hex wrinkled her brow. “If they are so amazing, why get a baby at all?”
“Well, they can be easier to train – and some of the adults have had bad experiences and behavioural problems. Not everyone is nice, some of them are abused, or even eaten.”
Revolting. But perhaps it was worth looking at – after all, an excuse to get out of bed would be quite a welcome change after the months of a deep and abiding anguish plaguing her. “Lead on,” she finally sighed, resolving herself for disappointment.
It was, apparently, not an inappropriate sentiment. But she would have been better off to harden herself against the sometimes piteous appearance of some of the adults. Most appeared hale and of sound mind, making calm eye contact without rushing their glass enclosures. Some appeared to have suffered severe physical injuries – from among the crowds, small faces with only one sombre eye peered at her. Some lacked limbs, others had ropes of silvery scars. And there were some which appeared to have been broken mentally – severely pacing from one end of their enclosure to another, tapping their heads against the glass, shredding their bedding as they rocked back and forth.
Ironically, the deep pallor of sadness hanging around the air gave her comfort, and she inhaled the pain as her own. It was deeply, deeply disturbing to see the end result of poor ownership so clearly before her. “What is the difference between buying and adopting?” she asked the young one behind the counter, after eyeing the sign beside the counter.
He came forward at once, looking up at them with the condescending air of one who is supremely informed. “Purchasing is unethical. Adults are held in captivity and forced to breed over and over again, and their babies are ripped away and sold. Adopting is the only ethical choice – taking the adults who should never have been born in the first placing and giving them loving homes!”
His vehemence was rather offputting, and his logic was weak. These adults were held in captivity just as surely as the young. And considering the adoption fee posted on the wall, this was not a purely altruistic endeavour. Would it not be expected to pay half price for an adult, given they would only live half as long?
“That isn’t true,” Yujmulo sighed. “There are many ethical breeders.”
“Not that you would find in a store! Any reputable breeder will never have babies on the ground all year long, and would never consent to letting the little ones go to just anyone!” He seemed to pull himself up short. “I apologize – this is my passion, and as you can see, many of these poor beauties have been horribly treated,” he murmured, body rigid even as he paled. “The fee on the wall you see is just enough to cover our costs to keep saving these poor little ones. And we only adopt them out to those we trust.”
Hexguya shimmied between two tight cages, listening to the two bicker back and forth. The adults were far more distinctive, she noticed with interest. The hair on their head ranged from darkest black to whitest white, with every shade of brown, yellow and red in between. And some, she noticed, had an unhealthy hairless appearance. Unlike the young, the adults also had a smattering of hair over their bodies, centralizing around what, she could only assume, were their genitals.
“Are you looking for a male or female?” he asked from behind, making her jump.
She continued forward. Neither. “Er – male?”
“Do you see any which catch your eye? I can tell you more about each one, so we can see if they will be the right fit for you.”
Instead of answering, she pointed along the back wall, which held smaller cages, each with only one inhabitant. “Why are these ones alone?”
“Those either do not get along with the others – some of them have been forced to fight each other for sport their whole lives. Others keep getting beaten up, so we have to keep them isolated for their own safety.”
“That is a…male?” she guessed, pointing at one which had a small protrusion extending from the centre of his body.
“Yes.”
Uncaged Desire
by Xyantha Reborn
by Xyantha Reborn
Chapter 1
Hexguya stared down at the cage of small creatures. Their pasty skin and odd patches of hair were rather offputting, as was the way they bared their teeth and scrabbled at the glass as they squeaked. “These? Really?”
Yujmulo cast her friend a long-suffering look. “Yes. Get a pet. You need something in your life to focus on – he is dead, and you need a reason to get out every day. A pet will help.”
The older female continued to stare down at the cage for a long moment. “I don’t know…they are so…energetic. I don’t think I can handle that constant chirping and running. Maybe a different kind?” She added, sounding less than optimistic.
The shopkeeper, undeterred and apparently relying on the inherent charm of the creatures, scooped out one and deposited into Hexguya’s arms, despite her protests.
Her first experience with them up close did not inspire any more confidence or appreciation than her first impression had granted her. The tiny creature squirmed and chattered, making her terrified she would drop it. Shoving it back at the shopkeeper, she made her escape outside.
The younger of the two followed more sedately, eyeing her friend. “Babies are always higher energy – what if we look at ones that are already full grown?”
Hex rolled her eyes towards her as she came abreast. “What’s the difference?”
“Well, they are larger, sturdier, calmer, they don’t make as much noise – but they are generally just as affectionate. And cheaper.”
It sounded a bit too good to be true. Hex wrinkled her brow. “If they are so amazing, why get a baby at all?”
“Well, they can be easier to train – and some of the adults have had bad experiences and behavioural problems. Not everyone is nice, some of them are abused, or even eaten.”
Revolting. But perhaps it was worth looking at – after all, an excuse to get out of bed would be quite a welcome change after the months of a deep and abiding anguish plaguing her. “Lead on,” she finally sighed, resolving herself for disappointment.
It was, apparently, not an inappropriate sentiment. But she would have been better off to harden herself against the sometimes piteous appearance of some of the adults. Most appeared hale and of sound mind, making calm eye contact without rushing their glass enclosures. Some appeared to have suffered severe physical injuries – from among the crowds, small faces with only one sombre eye peered at her. Some lacked limbs, others had ropes of silvery scars. And there were some which appeared to have been broken mentally – severely pacing from one end of their enclosure to another, tapping their heads against the glass, shredding their bedding as they rocked back and forth.
Ironically, the deep pallor of sadness hanging around the air gave her comfort, and she inhaled the pain as her own. It was deeply, deeply disturbing to see the end result of poor ownership so clearly before her. “What is the difference between buying and adopting?” she asked the young one behind the counter, after eyeing the sign beside the counter.
He came forward at once, looking up at them with the condescending air of one who is supremely informed. “Purchasing is unethical. Adults are held in captivity and forced to breed over and over again, and their babies are ripped away and sold. Adopting is the only ethical choice – taking the adults who should never have been born in the first placing and giving them loving homes!”
His vehemence was rather offputting, and his logic was weak. These adults were held in captivity just as surely as the young. And considering the adoption fee posted on the wall, this was not a purely altruistic endeavour. Would it not be expected to pay half price for an adult, given they would only live half as long?
“That isn’t true,” Yujmulo sighed. “There are many ethical breeders.”
“Not that you would find in a store! Any reputable breeder will never have babies on the ground all year long, and would never consent to letting the little ones go to just anyone!” He seemed to pull himself up short. “I apologize – this is my passion, and as you can see, many of these poor beauties have been horribly treated,” he murmured, body rigid even as he paled. “The fee on the wall you see is just enough to cover our costs to keep saving these poor little ones. And we only adopt them out to those we trust.”
Hexguya shimmied between two tight cages, listening to the two bicker back and forth. The adults were far more distinctive, she noticed with interest. The hair on their head ranged from darkest black to whitest white, with every shade of brown, yellow and red in between. And some, she noticed, had an unhealthy hairless appearance. Unlike the young, the adults also had a smattering of hair over their bodies, centralizing around what, she could only assume, were their genitals.
“Are you looking for a male or female?” he asked from behind, making her jump.
She continued forward. Neither. “Er – male?”
“Do you see any which catch your eye? I can tell you more about each one, so we can see if they will be the right fit for you.”
Instead of answering, she pointed along the back wall, which held smaller cages, each with only one inhabitant. “Why are these ones alone?”
“Those either do not get along with the others – some of them have been forced to fight each other for sport their whole lives. Others keep getting beaten up, so we have to keep them isolated for their own safety.”
“That is a…male?” she guessed, pointing at one which had a small protrusion extending from the centre of his body.
“Yes.”
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