A Key To Another World

Chapter sixteen

The fire crackled and spat sparks of fire without ceasing. The many pieces of meat hanging above it on a homemade drying rack sizzled as the fire cooked them. They looked juicy and crispy brown, in other words, well cooked. While the fire was doing its work, Michael decided to make some more useful things that he needed to survive in the wilderness, such as a small pouch made from the deer skin that he had obtained after skinning the deer. It will be useful to store small things, for example berries. He also made a few more arrows, ten in total. It wasn't really much, but it was better than nothing. Michael didn't want to hunt another deer without having any arrows left. He learned pretty quickly from his last mistake.

Michael just sat in front of a tree, leaning against it, watching the fire roast the meat. He was listening to music, but without his smartphone. Now you may be wondering how such a thing is even possible. Well, Michael listened to his playlist a dozen times, which caused his mind to play it back in his head. It was like a recorder. His musical paradise had to be interrupted, however, when he felt someone grab him by the shoulder. He jumped at the sudden touch and turned around, where he spotted Zoe.

Michael: "My God, Zoe! Don't scare me like that!"

Zoe laughed at his jump, finding it funny and cute how he reacted to such things.

Zoe: "Sorry about that. I was just looking for you. I also wanted to apologize to you because my brother and I made fun of your food."

Michael: "Don't worry about it. You're already forgiven. Besides, I wasn't that nice either. I'm also sorry for making fun of your food and for cussing. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves in our minds that we are still a different species, from a different world and home."

Zoe sat down next to him and stroked him with her muzzle, her warm and soft fur brushing him. Michael blushed at her way of caring for him. It made his blood boil and his heart race. It was still a strange feeling for him, but he clearly enjoyed it. When Zoe was by his side, all his problems, fears and worries instantly disappeared. Her beautiful emerald green eyes, sparkling with excitement and love, looked into his brown ones. She took his hand and their fingers overlapped.

Connor: "Am I interrupting something?"

Hearing Connor next to them, both Michael and Zoe jumped up and immediately separated from each other.

Michael: "My God! What is wrong with you guys scaring the shit out of me!? First Zoe and now you too!?"

Zoe: "Connor, why do you always have to ruin the moment for us!? At least show us some privacy!"

Connor: "Well, let's just say I detected an unknown delicious smell in the air that led me right here."

Connor and Zoe looked to the fire and spotted the meat hanging and sizzling over the fire. They had never seen food like this before, but it smelled damn tasty. They sniffed the air again and their mouths began to water.

Zoe: "What are you cooking? My sensitive nose has never been so pleased?"

Connor: "FOOD!!!"

Michael: "You guessed it. I got it from the deer after I ripped its fur off."

Connor and Zoe looked past Michael and saw a bloodied deer lying on the ground with its fur completely torn off and its belly wide open with some bones sticking out. Some of its limbs were even missing. They turned to Michael and looked at his hands, which were covered in blood. A brief red gleam appeared in his eyes and he smiled wickedly. For a second he looked evil, which scared the hell out of Connor and Zoe.

Zoe: "M-Michael? Y-your hands..."

Michael took one look at his hands and just shrugged.

Michael: "Yeah, don't worry about them. It's not my blood."