A new companion

28: A NEW COMPANION

Meeting a stranger, who was still feasting on the flesh of a deceased animal, and with its blood still fresh on his hands and tongue wasn't the most ideal setting that my brother and Caleb would have favored. The fresh gore dripped down his chin and coated his hands like second skin. I would be reprimanded for still standing in the danger zone and for not running for my life. No doubt they would be screaming at me for continuously gazing at the man like he was the starry night sky. Truthfully, it wasn't as though I was frozen in place because of fear. It wasn't because I wanted to end up in the same fate as that poor animal that was gnawed to the bones.

Running wasn't my forte. I wasn't a sprinter; I was more of a sitter, a sleeper, and an eater. I wasn't the most athletic being in the world. Seeing how this person could hunt wild animals with his bare hands, I had no chance to flee from him. Why bother?

I'll just stay still and see if I can alter this man's food preference.

I did not like his diet.

"Your taste in food is the same with Caleb," I commented. "Please exclude corpses from your main source of nutrition."

If Caleb returned with blood smeared on his body, I would make sure to scrub the fur he had on his crotch.

I walked to the entrance of our small house, urging him to come inside.

"Would you like to sit beside me?" I offered.

I must be courteous to strangers so I could take advantage of them.

The man had an indecipherable expression. He inclined his head. Caleb would have an overjoyed heart if he found out that two people were waiting for his return. He should be grateful that I recruited people.

These two will certainly get along well.

There were many things that I would like to know about the man sitting beside me. Lucius told me to be friendly with the right people. I was positive that I made him proud because I made acquaintance with a man who no one would even dare make eye contact with.

Of course, onii would tell me to ensure the trustworthiness of the people around me. Therefore I must verify if this man was dependable or not. If he could pass my test then he will be allowed to stay. But he must be terrified of what I had up my sleeve. Only a few people were known to have passed my trial. Only a few survived. They were allowed to live to tell the tale, but such tales were not meant for the ears to hear.

"I will have to ask you a few questions to see if I can trust you are not," I told him. "Please answer them truthfully. I cannot assure your safety if you are dishonest with me."

The man narrowed his lone eye and tilted his head to lend me his full attention. My first question will be instant death for him. I shall show no mercy.

"Do you…like carrots?"

"Yes, but I prefer them raw because they keep that crunch with every bite," he drawled.

Impossible…

Surely he can't pass this next one.

"Do you snore when you sleep?"

If I happen to become drowsy later on with no Caleb in sight, then I at least have a backup snorer.

"It is said that my snoring keeps the flames of war awake," he replied.

A good night's sleep was promised to me.

"Do you have in your possession, a ling?"

The man rose up rigidly and grabbed his crotch with much resolve.

"My mbolo is right here."

I shut my eyes at the conclusion of these trials.

"You are indeed someone that I did not expect."

Onii, forgive me.

Even Caleb did not pass the test because of his grudge towards all greens, but because he was fluffy I made an exemption.

"What are you doing here alone?"

"My companion went out for a bit to hunt for food. He will come back soon, how about you?"

It took a while before he could answer my query, so I thought that he wasn't going to reply. I was going to use extreme measures to milk information from him, such as planting fungi on his toes.

"I'm looking for someone," he replied.

"Who are you looking for?"

I watched his every movement. He raised his index finger and slowly put it through the hot incarceration of our bonfire. The pyram joyfully consumed the skin covering his digit until it was completely smoldered.

"I'm looking for a little kid who ran away from our cave. My brother's lover kept bothering me about that little brat."

He frowned and withdrew his finger so that he could blow the smoke that it emitted.

"What I wouldn't give for her to die painfully and shamefully. I want to get away from them as much as possible. She makes my skin crawl."

His tone was serious yet it was mixed with some slothfulness. If he were given a chance to throw that woman into the fire he would with no hesitation.

"This woman must be really bothering you," I commented. "If you do not like it there, why don't you leave?"

The man glowered. "I asked myself the same question every day," he replied.

I did not have my brother's nosiness to further prod into his issues.

I could somehow relate to his troubles. We all had our taste of women and it wasn't a pleasant one.

"My name is Lettuce," I introduced myself.

Lucius told me that it was common courtesy to introduce yourself to someone you just met. I decided to rename myself in tribute to Lettice.

It was time to be reborn. I always wanted to become a vegetable. It was an honor to be one.

"Slade," he returned.

The conversation ended. Both of us stayed silent. It was extremely difficult for me to be with this person. I was used to dealing with raucous men and women. I wasn't prepared for such a quietude.

I took a glimpse at him. He messily wiped his mouth frequently, not because of the blood on his lips, but because he was drooling. His eyes would make passes at my place. He didn't even avoid my gaze when I caught him looking.

My stomach grumbled in protest. I gathered fruits for a small snack. Once I had gathered enough for myself and for our guest, I turned around and found him staring at me with curiosity.

"There's something strange about you. You smell too sweet like overripe fruit. You seem harmless but at the same time, I feel danger from being around you. I don't know what to feel. What are you?"

I had met a man who had lost his way to sanity. The lettuce must guide him.

I was that lettuce.

"I am a vegetable and I am due to be consumed."

He was more confusing than Caleb.

"My core tells me that I must possess you..." He spoke desperately.

"You have eaten so much meat that you are not thinking straight."

Slade took lazy steps and stood too close. I worry that he will get my clothes stained with animal blood. I will ask Caleb to find a lake where I can bathe all of us.

"I wish to destroy you and at the same time I wish to leave you unharmed," he whispered.

I scowled. Will he continue saying unclear statements of his bewildered way of thinking?

"I wish to slap you and at the same time I wish to thrust this fruit down your throat. Either way would be beneficial for me," I spoke bluntly.

Slade removed the patch covering his hazy eye. The cloudiness then cleared up and revealed a vivid color of red. His now scarlet and cerulean eyes stared down at me. A wicked grin spread across his lips.

"I'm getting tired of speaking with my food," he chuckled.

I blinked and stepped back.

"Pardon?"

"I have been patient long enough. The first time I saw you, I wanted to immediately tear your flesh from your bones and eat you," he confessed.

"My brother will regret choosing that woman. He is an idiot."

I could see the real issue at hand now. Was I dealing with some sort of rivalry between him and his brother? Why did I suddenly become food in his eyes?

"My brother is an idiot too but I find him endearing," I retorted. "I will not make an exchange so do not get the wrong idea."

If Lucius was here, he would be caging me in his proud arms.

I turned my head from his blood-stained lips. He halted from the rejection.

"You cannot convert me to your diet. I will be a vegetarian forever. Share your common interests with Caleb."

I was yanked forward by my arm.

"I must keep you in my cave..." he grumbled to himself. "No one must steal you from me. No one will dare enter my nest..."

"Caves are not my habitat."

His grip on me tightened.

"I will eat you and save your head for last. I can tell that you will be tasty."

He was drooling quite excessively.

"Should I be flattered by your statement?"

"My instincts tell me you are more valuable than you look. I will hide you in my stomach before the world makes use of your value," he explained to me.

Onii, I admit, I made poor choices in life. I should not have placed my basis of trustworthiness from the mere possession of lings.

I stomped my foot on the ground. A portion of soil spiked up. It hit the deranged man on his chin. Vines shot out, restraining him up in the air, but he had managed to snap those restraints and land perfectly on the ground.

He charged towards me. Zephyrs carried my body up before his hand could clench around my neck.

"Get inside my mouth!" His words were slobbered.

He must be looking at me like how I look at my carrots.

He grinned. "Don't worry. I'll cook each body part in different dishes."

That made things a lot better.

"Make me extra tasty then."

The zephyrs took me safely on a high branch of a tree. Slade clobbered down each tree that I would take refuge in with his fist alone.

"Come down Lettuce…Cleanse my tongue from that hanuman flesh," he playfully cooed.

Hanuman?

Did he…did he eat Crowley?

"Quickly, spit him out," I monotonously demanded.

He did not know what kind of things Crowley had placed in his mouth. What if he had gotten poisoned?

Slade began to shake the tree that I was on. I held on to a branch for safety.

"Do not move me any further. Caleb will get worried if he finds me nowhere from where he left me."

"Who is this Caleb?" he asked, clearly vexed. "Why do you keep mentioning him in front of me?"

They had not even met and he already hated him.

No matter, there was still room for improvement. They will become the best of friends if given time.

"He is my fluffy pet who I much rather prefer to be with now than you," I answered.

Slade roared, his growl sent the slumbering birds scattered in the dark skies. His teeth turned jag-like in structure.

"I do not share my food!"

A silhouette of another body came out from the trees. He landed a powerful strike against Slade's face that sent him soaring to the other side.

I released a breath of relief.

I was appeased to finally see him.

"And I don't share my mate with anyone."