Jenny and the Beasts

4. Adapting

Originally posted: July 17, 2022. Edited: February 17, 2023.

Jenny and Harvey developed a decent system that benefitted them both. Feeling less like a burden, Jenny's mood improved drastically. Harvey noticed and decided that this was a good thing. He was certain that he would continue to be startled by their different practices and accepted it.

He would be lying if he said he didn't like the meals she prepared. It also freed up some of his time, though he wouldn't admit that openly. He tried to do what he could for both of them and felt a sense of usefulness. It was a male's honor and privilege to care for a female and he would likely not experience such a thing again. Harvey wanted to make the most out of it.

Jenny thought things were a little quiet. She knew that the bad things tended to happen when one gets comfortable. Though, she figured her current situation couldn't be called comfortable, but it was improving. It was now day five of being stuck in the book and Jenny was trying to take it in stride.

Bai Qingqing came to visit her and Harvey grew noticeably excited. Jenny sighed. A part of her hoped she was winning over the male, but another part of her insulted her for thinking that way. Although she was definitely attracted to his beauty and calm demeanor, her situation was a little too much for her to develop feelings for him. In the end, she was using him. She shouldn't delude herself into thinking she was guiltless.

Jenny talked with Bai Qingqing, but it wasn't progressive. The girl clearly wanted to say other things, but wouldn't with the others around. Jenny wrote on the ground and she did to. Her English was botched and poor, but Jenny's Chinese was non-existent. Funny how they were both hearing their own language. It must've been part of the magic of this world.

Bai Qingqing confirmed that the women was indeed human. She felt immense relief knowing that she wasn't in this bizarre situation alone. She wanted to speak more openly, but both Harvey and Parker liked to stare at her. Parker never gave her a moment alone either. Her period was ongoing and she could barely convince Parker to leave her alone.

Jenny waved at the girl as she left. Jenny never liked Bai Qingqing as a character, but she felt a little bad for her now. If you didn't know better and were thrown into this situation, it might be damn terrifying to stand up for yourself. That's what Jenny thought after experiencing Parker's strength for herself.

Still, Jenny's sympathy wasn't that strong. She watched Harvey's expression fall when the girl left. Jenny decided to ignore the hopeless love. Harvey seemed like a good guy from what little she knew of him. She wanted to root for him, but couldn't knowing how it would end.

They went inside to separate some herbs. Harvey distracted himself by teaching Jenny what he could. He didn't figure a female would ever need this knowledge, but he was happy knowing that she was interested in his craft. Most females take doctors for granted. He usually didn't let that bother him. Now that one showed appreciation and interest, he felt his spirits lift a little.

Jenny absorbed all of the information she could. There was a lot that she was familiar with, but some things were foreign to her and unique to this world. She hoped Harvey wouldn't mind if she had to question him again about the uses of those new herbs.

Before evening fell that day, a leopard came running into the hut. Startled, Jenny froze. Harvey asked what was wrong and the leopard told them that a feral took Parker's female and that he was gravely injured. Parker was carried in right after and Harvey started treating him. Jenny boiled some water and passed anything Harvey needed to him.

Peeking at the young male, Jenny could see how pale his face was. The blood dripping from his mouth looked very real to her. She turned her head away from the sight. The plot was moving forward and nothing seemed to have changed. She stepped out and let Harvey do his thing.