Sinful of Asha

Chapter 1: Meeting

If you're not careful, this city will swallow you alive. Although the consumption of meat is illegal here, there still exists a "back-alley market", a secret system of alleys and dingy shops where animal products are openly sold, gangs rule the streets and all sorts of less-than-savory things happen on a daily basis. How such a place exists in this city is kind of a mystery, but my guess is that the authorities are outmanned, outgunned or just corrupt; Maybe a bit of each.

Most carnivores here know about it, but the herbivores remain blissfully ignorant. So it should go without saying that for a prey species, wandering into the wrong alley could be a deadly mistake. That's exactly what happened one day to a female gazelle named Asha.

I usually stay away from the place, but on that particular day, I was picking up a box of used records from a badger who lived there. After taking them, I handed him a generous wad of cash and smiled politely. "Pleasure doing busi-" *SHUT!* "...Guess he wasn't the type for small talk." I sighed, turned around and started walking down that grey alley back towards civilization when I heard a feminine cry for help. "Hey, hey! Hands off! Get away from me!" "Shit," I grumbled. Setting down the box, I ran off toward the source of the noise. Tucked away in a little alcove beneath a buzzing street light, I spotted two distinct figures - a wild, male feline of some sort and the tall, slender figure of a female gazelle he'd pinned against the wall.

"You wandered into the wrong alley, babe," he sneered, "It's kinda dangerous around here, especially for herbivores." The cat licked his chops and flashed his fangs at her, making her visibly cringe. "Aww, c'mon. Don't look so scared; All I want's a little taste." Parting his jaws, the cat attempted to close his jaws around her throat and the girl was just barely holding him back. "Get... off me! Nngh, fuck! H-help, someone!" I stepped up behind the feline, grabbed his shoulders, pulled him off the gazelle and shoved him up against a nearby wall. Before he had time to react, I stepped forward and buried my knee in his gut, making him go "HHUUNF!". He immediately sank to the ground and coiled into a ball, groaning and growling out slurred swears.

The gazelle just stood there, momentarily stunned, her eyes darting back between the cat and myself. I couldn't blame her for not immediately trusting me; For all she knew, I could be planning to eat her myself. "Look, I'm not gonna hurt you. Come on," I gestured, "Let's get you out of this shithole, back to the main streets." "Th-thanks, man!," she replied, still somewhat shaken. After picking up my crate, I led the gazelle back through the winding alleyways until at last, we returned to the main thoroughfare, a place where herbivores could generally wander with police presence, without fear of being snatched away.

Breathing a sigh mixed with relief and frustration, I asked, "Do you have any idea where you just were?" The gazelle rubbed her neck, clearly embarrassed. "...Well, no. I'm kinda new to this city and... I got a bit lost, I'm afraid." "Look, that place is... It's full of predators who would snatch you up and eat you soon as they spot you." "You mean that was... the b-back-alley market?" "So you've heard of it." "Oh, well, I've heard rumors about places like that, but... I always thought they were just urban legends - You know, to keep young herbivores from wandering off. So I'd hoped." "Oh, they're real."

"Guess I've never lived anywhere it's been a problem. ...H-hey, what were you doing there, anyway?" "Oh, I had to pick up these records from a guy," I responded, nodding down at them, "I, uh... I don't eat meat, honestly." "...Oh. Then that means..." Without warning, she stepped forward and hugged me tightly, surprising me with her strength. "Sounds like you saved my life back there. So I guess I owe you one. ...H-hey, how about a date?" Wha? Usually, that was my line. "...Oh. Sure. Hey, you like coffee? I know of a nice little place." "Sure do. Then it's settled. My name's Asha, by the way. Thanks again, man." "No problem. I'm Zaeryn." "Zair-ren..." she pronounced to herself, "Never heard a name like that."

"Hey," I added, "you said you got lost. Where were you trying to get to anyway?" "Oh, to Renard Street. You know it?" "Renard Street? That's... actually close to where I work." "Haha! Small world, isn't it?" We exchanged polite smiles before Asha remembered something. "Oh! Shit, it must be getting late. Uh, here..." Reaching into her pants pocket, she procured a pencil and a wad of paper. After unwrapping it, she jotted something down onto it and handed it over to me. "It's my number. Call me up and we can decide on a time, alright?" "Sure thing."