Separated

Chapter 20

"Hmm...so the town basically is deciding that ever since that attack, we decide to have patrol duties from everyone." Dad explains, as Mom agrees with him. Jett and I listen, our ears open and as we edge from our stumps.

Fiona picks at her dinner food, and looks up. "But what about the small critters? They could be easily be taken down by...certain threats" She says the last part quietly, a misty look spreading upon her face.

Mom tells how the small critters who may get trouble defending themselves will ban together, and have others along with them.

"There will be different jobs assigned. Mel and Jett, I want you two to join as well. Fiona, you aren't in a stage for protecting others, so just continue to heal" Dad gently says to Fiona, and Fiona nods her head in understatement.

I knew she felt deep down sad for not being able to join us, but she was smart and knew she isn't in a good condition. I hear a rustle outside from the open window, and look.

"Huh..." I whisper, realizing nothing is there. Must have been my imagination...or hopefully not hallucination from all the crazy events.

"Ya let's go to sleep." I push Jett along with me. I felt a bit weird, like a being watched feeling.

"HEEHEE" Jett laughs, and I look at him. He pulls something out of his satchel.

"I got the goods" He whispers, and shows me a bag of popcorn, drizzled with caramel. Even I can't argue with him on this one; they do look pretty good.

I grab some from the bag, and we decide to play a board game. We pick out "RISK", a game that you have to earn money with by different tasks, and try to own lots of land and stuff.

Even though us animals don't believe in owning land. We think that Earth's crust was set here as a blessing, for a place for creatures to roam freely and happily.

We don't claim land for each other, we decide where to settle into, and pray that we are allowed by the gods to be here.

Of course, we do pay taxes, but not for owning the land. We pay to take care of the land that we take responsibility for.

If you sign up and pay for taking care of the land, in return, you may do anything to the land as long as it doesn't harm the nutrients or the land horribly, or spread something bad or affect someone else.

Anyways, Jett and I proceed to playing the game. After that, we read some books out loud to each other, and act like storytellers. Jett is SO CUTE when he does this, because he'll stand up onto our head, puff his cheeks, and produce an adorable voice.

We also play Pictionary, Charades, build a fort with our pillows, blankets, etc, and pretend to be in a story or whatever. Whether being in a school drama, or a hero on a quest.

Soon, it becomes late, and we get ready for bed. Jett ends up sleeping in the same bed with me, because he fell asleep. He's has a bit of drool, and a soft snore when he breaths out.

I gently stroke his ear, and soon fall asleep alongside him.

"GET UP MELLY!" I hear a scream, and fall of the bed. "UGH WHAT TIME IS IT" I bark out, sending Jett into a yelp. I tickle his tail, causing him to laugh like a maniac.

"It's time to go for patrolling!" His enthusiasm kicks in, and I smile. "You called me Melly?" He nods his head quick. "I was brainstorming names for-!" I start tickling him again, before quickly fixing myself up.

Once satisfied to look like a decent individual, I walk out with him. Fiona is still asleep, especially since she still is healing. Mom says she needs the rest to keep getting better.

We go down, seeing Dad heading off to hunt. "See you in a bit!" I scream, as Jett bounces up and down while waving. Dad salutes him, gives me a wink, and wanders away.

See, though we act very civil, animals still are animals. We go by the laws of nature, and will go hunting. We do have predators, but everyone lives in different places. And seeing a rabbit and bear together doesn't mean the rabbit's gonna be food, they can be friends as well.

Of course, we don't just eat each other. Those who eat plants as well do that, and we also have shops that sell these foods that are made from different things. They aren't made from meat, but made from plants that have a taste as them.

It's special in our world. These foods are called Kairos, and they aren't plants or meats; They're their own thing. Most of us eat Kairo foods, even many of the predators.

Of course we have normal food, like sandwiches and bagels, and all that other stuff. We still also have raw plants and meat too. Kairos are just another option.

But there are many out there who are different. They go against our laws, and kill all the time. Sure, us omnivorous or carnivores to kill, but we do it only here and there. Once or twice a week. It's fine to do that, it's not against our laws.

But killing all the time, constantly taking lives of others is bad. It's not right to make those actions happen all the time. The only reason us meat eaters even kill once or twice a week is because that was how we were made, how we were created.

It's our instinct, in our blood.

We just limit it down to as much as we can, because everyone does deserve to live. It's kinda hard to explain the bond, you just gotta know.  Anyway, I zone in, and see Jett looking confused as usual.

"Why didn't Mom go too? Dad and Mom always go hunting or buying food, both of them together." He says.

"Remember, Fiona has to have someone with her. She could be attacked, or fall. Mom and Dad switch out day after day for who goes either hunting or buying Kairo from the market." I explain to him, and he nods his head.

"OH! THAT MAKE SENSE" He cries, and I roll my eyes at his naive brain. We walk off, and are only a bit away before we enter the patrolling camp.

"So we will get training for the full week, and then actual patrolling after it if we graduate this patrolling camp session, right?" Jett asks, and I nod.

"It's only a week, then we can graduate and get onto the good fun part. Lets make sure we both do well, so we both make it through!" I encourage, as Jett gives me a high five.

We enter into the tent, ready to get trained!