Unknown Society

Hunting Lesson

Shivers sure did live up to his name—when it came to sleeping at least. When the morning sun arrived, it was time for his first lesson of survival.

"I take it that you've never hunted for yourself before," Martinez grumbles.

Shivers shook his head. "Even if I did, I certainly don't recall anything."

Martinez rolls her eyes. "Follow me, and stay close."

Shivers did exactly that, remaining only a short distance from her—he didn't want to be too close or too far. Albeit the two had only been together for a day, Shivers was starting to feel that this was the beginning of a long-lasting friendship. When Martinez abruptly stopped in her tracks, she immediately spotted a fresh carcass of an unknown animal. Martinez grumbles once more, "You were lucky today, Shivers. Just know that hunting isn't so easy." She turns her back on him, gathering scraps.

"I take it that you've never scavenged before," Shivers says, chuckling a bit.

Martinez replies, "And I take it that you're asking to be turned into pure flesh."

Shivers didn't respond, afraid that if he uttered another word that he'd be killed. The two worked together to carry the carcass back to Martinez's den, despite Martinez being insistent of course. Shivers attempted to make small conversation by asking, "So, why do you live by yourself?"

Martinez didn't answer. Shivers took this as silent treatment, so he kept asking, "You know, you don't have to be so quiet and protective around me. I'm your friend."

Suddenly, a flashback hit her head. It was the first time she ever considered someone she met at the orphanage a friend.

The Human scientists had thrown her into a dark enclosure. The door slams, startling her for a brief moment. She curls up into a ball and begins to cry. No one was there to comfort her—until she heard footsteps coming from her left. "Why are you so scared?" Said a girl's voice. Martinez looks up, and there stood a girl with long hair, black hooves, curved horns, and blue eyes. Martinez was so small and afraid compared to this tall giant. "Don't be scared, I'm here."

"But it's dark..." Martinez said through sobs and whimpers. "Who knows what'll happen next?"

The tall girl strokes her hair, "Don't worry. I won't let them hurt you." She wraps her arms around her, "What's your name?"

"The scientists call me Martinez," she utters, "but my real name is Valarie."

"That's a nice name," she says, "I'm Pixel."

Martinez hugs her even tighter. "Can we be friends?"

"Of course," Pixel smiles.

Martinez snaps back into reality, dropping the carcass and grabbing Shivers by the neck. "Friends?! We are NOT friends! The last time I ever had a friend was when I was in that damned orphanage! She's dead! They're all dead!" She then drops him and picks up the carcass. "I should leave you here..." she walks off.

"Martinez! I-I-I didn't mean to!" He quickly sprints after her.

Despite being angered, Martinez forgave him. As the two made their way back, Martinez had her head somewhere else.

Valarie was laying on her back, watching the dust fall off of the ceiling. Her and Pixel had just finished cleaning up their enclosure, since the Humans never bothered to do so. Pixel was on the other side of the enclosure humming a tune, her back turned to Valarie. Little Valarie was curious as to what she was crafting, as Pixel did enjoy making or fixing things. Valarie sauntered over, "What are you making?"

Pixel giggled, "It's a surprise."

Valarie grinned. "I wanna see!" She ran over to her and grabbed her shoulders.

Pixel laughs, and she is later seen with a smile as she reveals a mask—it was a pink, devilish mask. Valarie widened her eyes, "That looks scary!"

"Oh! Sorry!" Pixel said, lowering the mask, "I can—"

"But it looks cool too!" Valarie finished.

Pixel cocked an eyebrow, "I—really? But you said—"

"Sure, it may scare some people, but it looks very cool!" Valarie smiles.

Pixel's smile returns, "I'm glad you like it!" She hands it to her.

Valarie was puzzled, but she then gasped, "Did you make it for me?" Her face began to light up and she jumped up and down.

"Yeah! We could cosplay and, you know, mess around," she said, "I made another one, too," she reveals another mask, this with the same design but blue.

Valarie looks up at her, "Do you wanna make things when you grow up?"

That question gave Pixel a slight frown, and a sigh, "Well, in a sense, I'm already grown up. It's—just, I have things I need to work on. What I'm doing now is something I'm passionate about doing when I see the outside world." She begins to strike Valarie's long hair, "I hope you get to experience the beauty of the outside world before I do."

"Why?" Valarie frowns.

"I've spent my whole life here believing that I'd get out of here, crafting and hoping to find new friends," she tells her, "I never got to experience what it's like being outside these four walls, so I hope you find a new place to stay."

"But what about you?"

"Don't worry about me, Valarie," her tail wraps around her arm, "I'm always going to be here, whenever you visit, of course."

Valarie, tears in her eyes, hugs Pixel tightly. "But I want you to come with me."

Pixel looks at her, then looks ahead, "Do you?"

"Yeah! We can fun every day!" Valarie says, grasping her tighter than ever.

Pixel smiles. "We'll see, Valarie. We'll see for sure..."

Martinez blinks, and there she stood in front of her den, Shivers patiently waiting for her to do something. "Everything okay?" He asks.

Martinez doesn't respond, gesturing to him to go inside. She slams the carcass against the ground, not bothering to eat it, as she had lost her appetite. Somewhere deep down in her heart were cracks and fissures—something that can only be sealed with true and heartfelt love.