Chapter 2: 2

Chapter 2

Tough Little Guy

Translated by boilpoil
Edited by boilpoil

 

The teenage coyote with red cabbage hair has taken a step back with a sour look on his face, but he ends up saying nothing.

Coyotes would be fearful of snow leopards, even when they’re both in human form.

So rather than having a scuffle over a scaredy sea otter that they feel good about bullying, they turn to leave while leaving behind cusses.

Bai Yao thinks it’s too bad he couldn’t see them running away with their tails between their legs.

After the coyotes are out of sight, Bai Yao turns back around to look at the little sea otter still staying where he is.

“They’re gone now,” he says, while kicking the snapped branch further away, “are you ok?”

No response comes. The sea otter merely looks at him quietly, while still lying flat on the sand.

Bai Yao observes the sentient sea otter carefully. He has quite a small frame, so even in his human form, he might not be any taller than a teenager. He’s not sure if he’s even reached adulthood yet.

Small, and actually looking a little malnourished. Sea otters are generally plump, and wouldn’t resemble a stray abandoned puppy like he does.

Moving about the beach have made his fur all sandy and sticky. His face is more grey than the white fur should have been. Honestly, the more he looked, the more Bai Yao thinks he resembles a puppy lost in the rain without shelter.

Qiaohai is a pretty small tourist town, so most of the townsfolk recognise each other. Bai Yao knows that there is also a sentient orca who runs a handicraft shop in the south of town, but no other sentient beastkin besides them. The sea otter also doesn’t smell like he’s from here.

The snow leopard doesn’t have much wariness for the sea otter, given the two species wouldn’t naturally interact either. Nor is Bai Yao interested in him originally. It’s simply the first time he’s seen a sentient beastkin who is willing to move about in his animal form in public. Generally, they frown on using their animal forms, and would use their human form basically all of the time, and conceal the biggest secret about themselves as much as possible.

Clearly, this little sentient sea otter doesn’t think so. He’s now sprawled on his tummy, looking up at Bai Yao quietly, like an actual sea otter.

Bai Yao tries to remember, but can’t recall the last time he’s ever seen a grown sentient beastkin revealing their animal forms – no one wants others to see their lion or chicken forms.

Then he walks a few tentative steps towards the little sea otter, curious if he actually behaves like one.

Though that is quickly met with a threatening gurgle from the sea otter, who retreats a little backwards and scrumples his nose at him. His whiskers are shaking, and Bai Yao thinks he’d make a pretty good impression of a puppy baring its teeth in defence.

Which is to say, he finds it a little cute.

While Bai Yao wasn’t expecting much in the way of gratitude, but he wasn’t expecting to be treated with hostility even after he chased those sentient coyotes away. As if Bai Yao would bully it.

“A tough one, aren’t we,” Bai Yao raises his brow, “little guy?”

Of course, he isn’t expecting an answer in words. Sea otters don’t have vocal cords that support speaking, after all.

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Losing his interest, Bai Yao stands back straight to leave. He extends his hand in the general direction of the sea otter, and says, “remember to be somewhere more private if you’re turning back into your animal form next time.”

But not a few steps in, there’s a whimper behind him. Bai Yao looks behind him to see the sea otter still staring fixedly at him. He thinks the sea otter might not want him to leave him behind.

Then the sea otter props himself up a little and, since Bai Yao is stopped, he also stops, and rolls a little to the side, watching him.

So Bai Yao tries walking towards him once more, and the sea otter immediately makes a threatening sound again and bares his teeth. He puts his paws on the ground, lifting himself up, to look more imposing.

Bai Yao stops walking, and the sea otter relaxes again, watching with his round, beady eyes.

Bai Yao can smell it. He’s certain this little sea otter is a sentient beastkin just like him, but for some reason, doesn’t seem willing to turn into a human. He’s even behaving just like a real sea otter for some reason.

If Bai Yao decides to turn back into a snow leopard here, he can tear the otter to pieces in a matter of seconds. Feeling a little bit like teasing him, he walks forward again, crouching, then smiles until half of his canine is visible.

As an apex predator himself, Bai Yao knows how to make himself look threatening.

As expected, the little sea otter shudders and squeaks.

The sea otter then buries his head between his paws, and covers his eyes, pretending he’s not here.

Bai Yao’s gaze is drawn to the sea otter’s back, though; wounds he hasn’t noticed earlier among the fur. Part of the fur is missing from his right, too. He can’t see if there is a new wound or scar there from his point of view.

Then he sees the little sea otter is still terrified to his core, and regrets teasing him a little. He extends a finger to poke him on the head. Sea otters have pretty thick skin, so the point of contact sinks down a little.

“… I’m not going to eat you,” Bai Yao says, then smooths the fur a little where he was poking, contemplating if he should apologise.

The little otter then slowly raises his head back out from between his paws. He appears tired, too, and puts his short, stubby paws together back down on the front, then leans to the side to sit.

Bai Yao imagines the sea otter would look pretty nice and cute if he was cleaned up; actually, his nose is still twitching a little, reminding Bai Yao of little bunnies. His eyes are a little watery.

Then Bai Yao sighs, and stands back up, putting his hands back in his pocket, before finally asking, “do you need some help? My restaurant is just up there. Want me to give you first aid?”

The little sea otter remains still and unresponsive, not even nodding in response.

“Are you worried you’d be naked after changing? I can turn around and not look.”

Then Bai Yao does as he says, looking back at his restaurant while patiently counting to ten. Still, there is no noise from behind; he warns, “done yet? I’m turning around,” and finally he turns back around.

He sees that the little sea otter didn’t turn to his human form at all. He’s still a little soft ball of a sea otter, now retrieving an oyster from the pocket he has in the little flap of skin he has under his armpit. Then he holds up the oyster and looks around for a place to smack it open.

He then notices Bai Yao looking at him – or rather, at his paws, and seems to have an epiphany as he lifts his paw up further with his oyster, trying to put it into Bai Yao’s hand.

He’s…
… Clearly mistaken Bai Yao’s stare as wanting a bite.

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