#eeerrrr i feel like exploding...

[andr3yvishn3vsky]

When you suddenly realize that you need to do your lessons, but your whole body is hurting and also twitchy and a small activity could turn you into a shaking mess:

[twisted-wonderland-shenanigans]

Twisted Wonderland Kaiju!AU: First Meeting

At long last, the next part is finally here! It took me a while because the initial idea I had technically would have worked better at a later part in the story, so I had to find a way to introduce a few other characters. XD

This...is definitely longer than the last one so it's definitely going under a read more 😂

Hope you all enjoy! >v<

/////////

Darkness…

When Yuu realized they were dreaming, all they could see around them was pure darkness. Everything was muffled, any possible sound that resonated in their dream sounding like they were underwater. Then…

Voices…?

It was hard to say for sure, but they could distinctly make out the tones of each voice. One male, one female…the former sounded stern and harsh, while the latter sounded agitated and frantic. What they were saying Yuu couldn’t be sure. Then–like a drop hitting still water–a ripple of gold filled the void for the briefest moment before vanishing, leaving behind a sense of…warmth? Affection?

Another drop of gold, this time tinged with a green hue. The voices faded away, a low, rumbling sound taking its place as the world around them began to rumble.

……rrrrr……

It was getting louder, a wave of green and blue overpowering the gold now.

…eeerrrr…

The noise became a dull roar in their ears, swirls of green, blue, and violet rippling and spiking in an erratic pattern.

“TSEEEEER!?!”

Like a firework their vision exploded into a world of violet, green, and blue before something hard and massive shoved itself into their abdomen. “Oof!?” Yuu wheezed, instinctively reaching out to shove the offending object away–only to feel a rock solid surface under their hands. Now wide awake, Yuu looked up and was greeted by a pair of wide, glowing amber eyes behind a massive beak.

Nevermore.

“What was that for?!” Yuu demanded, moving away from the sharp beak and rubbing the aching area. How he didn’t break a bone in their body they had no idea, but it still hurt!

The massive kaiju’s eyes went wide for a moment before they closed, a heavy sigh escaping before he opened them again. Somehow he looked…relieved, a low rumble rising from his throat as the ruffled feathers around his head, neck, and shoulders slowly settled down. Out of the corner of their eye, they caught sight of Grimfang, who looked just as confused as they felt, his fur slightly bristling and bladed tendrils poised for attack. Slowly–carefully–Nevermore’s head moved towards them until the tip of his beak was pressed against their body, looking like a guilty dog as a low warble escaped.

“...it’s…it’s okay, big guy,” Yuu said gently, patting his beak to try and console the kaiju…a strange concept in their mind. “Did you have a bad dream or something?”

Aside from one feathery ear twitching, he didn’t respond…not that they expected him to anyway. They had already tried to see if the two kaiju could understand them yesterday, though the attempts were…inconclusive. One moment they thought the kaiju understood their odd game of word-charades, the next left Yuu nearly buried in a pile of giant (though delicious) fruit and getting an impromptu “bath” from Nevermore. It felt weird having something so dry grooming them, though they took solace in knowing Grimfang had gotten one too, though his yowling seemed overly dramatic as he tried to get away. MIRA hadn’t been much help either when Nevermore chirped and trilled at them throughout the day, the computer only able to tell them he was continuously repeating the same tone and frequency.

Speaking of…

“Hey, MIRA?”

“Greetings, Uhm Yuu. What would you like to know?” came the response.

“Do kaiju have nightmares?”

“Affirmative. Much like humans and other animals, kaiju may experience what you call ‘nightmares’, though it has been observed more often in certain kaiju more than others.”

“Oh. Guess that explains why Nevermore was so freaked out. I’m amazed that I didn’t get squashed in his sleep!”

“Correction: Nevermore was awake for several minutes before your REM cycle was disrupted. While I am programmed to monitor the vitals of my operator, my sensors may detect the vitals of nearby creatures to ensure proper data cataloging during research excursions. According to historical data, Nevermore had not moved in his sleep throughout the night. Analysis in the biometric data indicates your breathing had slowed to an unusual degree, while REM cycle data suggests an abnormal reading indicative of deep dreaming. The spike in adrenaline and anxiety in Nevermore occurred just before your awakening.”

Yuu frowned in confusion. “So…he woke me up because I was dreaming?”

“Answer…unclear. Data analysis suggests your body may have begun slowing its normal functions during your REM cycle to a minimum, making it difficult to discern if you were still alive from an outside perspective.”

At that, Yuu couldn’t help but stare at Nevermore, who hadn’t once taken his eyes off them. It was hard to believe that something so massive and powerful…had gotten so distressed at the thought of them dying in their sleep. Was this how kaiju normally behave towards their ‘hatchlings’?

Nevermore chirped at them, repeating the same sounds he’d done before. What he was trying to say to them they had no idea, but they reached up to his beak and–to the best of their ability–hugged the tip of it and laid their head on top. This seemed to do the trick as the massive bird-lizard sighed, no longer looking tense. Grimfang snorted, settling back down and falling asleep. Part of them knew that they had to leave, to find someone who can help them get their memories back and find a way back home…and yet…

“I’m okay, big guy,” Yuu said gently. “I’m okay…”

////—-----////

“How many times do I gotta tell ya: let. Me. Out!!”

“Absolutely not! And keep your voice down, you’ll wake the littlest one.”

Grim frowned as he bared his fangs at the larger kaiju, though he wouldn’t admit that he was intimidated being face to face with something that was thirty times his own size. Knowing that he was at a disadvantage, he uttered, “Look, I don’t wanna be here, I wanna go back out and get back to my territory! Why don’t you just keep this lil’ flea off my paws and just let me go?”

“Regardless of the fact that you are a kaiju, I do not advise you venture outside,” Crowley told him, keeping his voice low as he glanced at the sleeping human. “You are too young to understand what lies beyond these walls…nor are you strong enough to face them alone.”

“Hey! The Great Grim is no pushover!” Grim snarled as his tendrils brandished their blades, which earned him a disciplinary hiss back. Shaking his head, Grim struggled to rub his paws over his fur and against the surface of the nest. “Urgh…I gotta get this scent off of me! I’m not a freakin’ cub!”

“And yet, you and the human smell like one,” Crowley stated matter of factly. “And just like any cub, do you realize how lucky you are that it was I who found you and not some other kaiju who might see you as nothing more than a mere appetizer?” Leaning in, he said, “Were it not for my kindness nor that scent that marks you as a cub, you would have met a very…unfortunate end. Should you wish to remain alive, you will do as I say. Understood?”

“...sheesh. Okay, okay, just back off, will ya?” Grim uttered, reluctantly sitting down.

“Good.” Crowley looked over to the human, who was sound asleep nestled into the feathery down bedding. “Compared to you, however…I am deeply concerned about the little one.”

“The hooman?”

“Human,” Crowley corrected, leaning forward to nudge some of the feathers to cover the small human. “They’re far too fragile to be out there alone.”

“Aren’t ya just overreacting a lil’? They were just sleeping when you woke them up!”

“Something was wrong, but I cannot for the life of me figure out why. That is why I need you to watch over them while I’m gone.”

“Wait, what?! Why do I gotta stay and cub-sit them?”

“Are you not the ‘Great Grim’ who can do anything?” Crowley asked in a praising tone. “Surely even you are capable of protecting one human for a short time, correct?”

“Pfft…too easy! I could do it in my sleep,” Grim said, puffing his chest out. “But I won’t do it for free!”

“You will be handsomely rewarded, I assure you,” came the pleased response. “Some fresh game meat should suffice, and if you do a sufficient job, I am certain that my colleague will be more than happy to figure out how to remove the cub scent from yourself.”

For a moment Grim didn’t say anything, torn between his pride and the prospect of a reward. Then, he huffed and moved over to sit next to the human. “I’m only doin’ this for the food and to get rid of this stench,” he proclaimed, giving the tiny human a leer. “After that, I’m out of here! Got it?”

“Crystal clear,” Crowley said, looking pleased with himself. Then, in a more serious tone, he said, “If anything should happen to them while I’m gone…there will be consequences. Understood?”

“Yeah, yeah, just go already, will ya?” The larger kaiju said nothing for a moment before finally turning and vanishing faster than Grim could blink. Now alone, Grim looked down at the small human as they shivered and sighed, curling up around them and muttering, “Don’t go gettin’ any funny ideas, human. I’m only doing this so I can get my food and freedom from this stink.”

////—---------////

They had no idea how they’d managed to fall asleep again or how long they’d been out, but by the time Yuu came to they found themselves nestled into the belly of a still slumbering Grimfang curled around them. Stifling a yawn, they looked up–expecting to see Nevermore hovering over them still–and was surprised to see that he was gone. Aside from the smaller kaiju’s breathing and the faint howling of wind outside, they couldn’t hear him moving around. Had he gone out? Given his reaction from last night, they figured he would have stuck around like velcro.

…wait…if the kaiju had left them alone to go and hunt while they slept, and if animals normally go out to scavenge for food to feed their young…then that means…

Now was the perfect chance to explore and find a way to escape!

Glancing at the sleeping feline-like kaiju, Yuu carefully moved away and began investigating the large walls of the nest for some sort of opening. Among the feathery down covering the floor, they wondered how they were going to climb up the sides without waking Grimfang up…when they caught sight of a sliver of light between the woven branches and reeds. It was an opening just large enough for them to slip through!

Making as little noise as possible, Yuu managed to crawl through to the other side–and had to muffle a squawk the moment their bare feet touched the ice cold stone floor. The moment they found other humans, they were definitely going to make sure they got a new pair of shoes! For now they just had to power through the biting chill and make their way across the large cavern towards the entrance.

The moment they stepped outside they were greeted by a strong breeze, the sunshine warming their skin. That was when they realized just how far they had been taken, gazing down at the landscape at the base of the mountain and recognizing the ship graveyard as the light glinted off the metal carcasses. For a brief moment, they swore they saw a metallic silver-blue lizard with segmented wings near the largest of the planes, but as soon as they blinked it was gone. Had they just imagined that?

Wait, now wasn’t the time for sightseeing or playing ‘Where’s Waldo: Kaiju Edition’! They had to get moving before Nevermore returned! But first…

“...this…is a steep drop,” they uttered, finally realizing just how high up they were as they backed away from the edge. They couldn’t see any clear path down or handholds within easy reach. “I need to find another way do-”

“Rrrowl!!!”

“--owWWN!?!” Yuu yowled as something large slammed into them, a feeling of weightlessness surrounding them as they caught sight of the gray fur and blue flames beneath them.

The moment what just happened sank in, a scream and a yowl escaped as they and Grimfang fell off the edge. Somehow Yuu managed to bounce off the smaller kaiju’s back as he landed, his own body bouncing up from the sheer force before connecting with them again–Yuu’s hands somehow managing to catch and cling to his fur. Down, down, down they slid, their yells and howls mixing in with the scraping of claws digging into stone as Grimfang tried to slow their fall. They came to a stop just before the edge, Grimfang–and by extension Yuu–barely hanging on before the kaiju managed to haul them back up. Yuu heaved a sigh of relief–

Before Grimfang’s snarl set them on edge, his head turning to face them as the bladed tendrils whipped around to hover threateningly over them. Blue licks of flame emerged from his jaw, Yuu’s heart dropping at the realization that he was going to torch them. Out of sheer desperation, they did the only thing they could think of as they reached out–

And scratched the underside of his cheek.

Cerulean eyes went wide, Grimfang going slack-jawed as the flames died out. Taking advantage of this, Yuu started using both hands to pet and scratch his ears, cheeks, and chin. Soon a low, rattling purr rose as he leaned into the touch, leaning and twisting his head to the point they thought he was going to flop on his side on top of them! When Yuu’s arms grew too tired to continue, Grimfang stayed like that for a moment before snapping out of it and standing straight with a snort. This time he looked…puzzled, staring at them with wide, curious eyes as he made a sound akin to a ‘mrp?’

“Wow. For a big, scary monster, you’re just a big cuddly kitty, huh?” they couldn’t help but say, earning a more demanding ‘mrrah!’ in response as he nudged their hand with his nose. “Okay, okay! I’ll give you more pets if you promise not to hurt me. Okay?”

“Mrrarr!”

“Alright, here.” They reached up to pet his ears once more, causing Grimfang to burst into an even louder series of purrs that made their body vibrate. With him distracted now, Yuu glanced up and noticed the cave entrance was far out of reach now…yet looking down showed they were nowhere near the ground. “How are we going to get out of this mess?” they muttered, leaning over to the left for any footholds–

Only to yelp when Grimfang turned left in place!

“Rrr?” he rumbled, looking at them in confusion. Staring, Yuu looked down at their legs and realized how close their right knee was to the trap between the kaiju’s arm and side. With a curious hum, Yuu pressed their left knee into his side–and was shocked when Grimfang turned right.

“Whoa…am I actually riding a kaiju like a horse?” Yuu said, a giddy laugh escaping as Grimfang gave an offended huff. The moment he tried to turn around and climb up, they used their knees to turn him back toward the horizon. “Hang on a minute! We still need to get down from here first.” He tried again, only for them to once more turn him back around. Thinking quickly, they reached out to pet and scratch him again and said, “Good boy, Grim! Good boy~!”

Surprisingly they only had to do this method twice more before he finally listened, moving forward only when Yuu tapped their heels into his side and saying ‘yip yip!’ and clinging to his scruff. Down, down, down they went, his body moving across the terrain with ease until–finally–they’d landed at the bottom. Snorting, Grimfang turned to face them with an expectant stare.

“That was so cool! Grim, you’re such a good kitty!” Yuu cooed, rewarding him with more pets that somehow made him smile as he purred. “Now we just need to find someone who can help me.” A though occurred to them, and they said, “Hey, MIRA?”

“Good morning, Uhm Yuu. What would you like to know?”

“Can you locate the closest human settlement?”

“Answer: there are no known human settlements.”

“Okay…what about a research place? Not the one we were at, but another one.”

“Searching…location found. There is a facility due west of your current position. Estimated travel time by foot is: nine point two zero hours.”

Glancing down at their noble steed–who was currently sniffing at a beetle-like creature before chomping down on it with a sickening ‘crunch’–they asked, “What if I’m traveling on Grimfang’s back?”

“Recalculating…your new estimated arrival time is approximately three point five hours. Would you like me to provide a map with possible routes?”

“Yes!” The screen blinked, a small beam of blue light emerging as it formed a 3D map and a green blip appeared on the topography of the mountain’s base. Patting Grimfang’s shoulder, they said, “Guess we’re going to be stuck together for a little while longer then. You up for a run, Grim?” He snorted in response. “Close enough. C’mon, Grim: yip yip!”

Compared to the downward leaps and bounds from earlier, Yuu was stunned by how fluid Grimfang’s movements were as he trotted along the rough terrain. They kept him going in the right direction according to the map, holding tightly to his scruff when he went climbing up a steep incline. As they traveled further and further away from the mountain, Yuu watched the green blip on the map move across the terrain, noting sources of water as they passed and what looked like large forest clusters, red dots appearing in the corner–

…red dots?

BWOOM!!

“Ah!?” Yuu yelped, barely managing to catch themselves from falling off as Grimfang stumbled with a squawk of his own. A loud, echoing bellow rang out, closely followed by a guttural roar before another boom caused the ground to lurch beneath them again. “What was that?!”

Grimfang chirped, looking just as confused as he sniffed the air…before a low, rattling hiss escaped, his fur bristling now. He began moving again–towards the sounds of fighting.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait, no, stop! Don’t head towards the danger!” Despite their best efforts, Grim refused to listen or acknowledge their commands. “MIRA! What’s going on?”

“Answer: sensors indicate the presence of several large kaiju up ahead. Sound clip analysis indicates a potential territorial dispute between two known kaiju packs. Recommendation: avoid the danger zone and find a safe space until they have vacated the area.”

“I’m trying, but Grim’s not listening!”

“Analysis: some kaiju may feel compelled to answer the challenging call of other kaiju in an attempt to ambush and gain new territory. This instinct can be irresistible in some, as consuming kaiju stronger than their current category may grant them new abilities.”

Before they could respond, Grimfang stopped on the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast valley and froze. Not that Yuu could blame him when their own heart sank at the sight below. It was one thing to see one giant kaiju like Nevermore being docile (aside from the initial scare), but it was another to see eight massive kaiju clashing against one another.

From this vantage point, Yuu could make make out what sort of creatures each one seemed to resemble. Three looked to be based on a mix of savannah predators mixed with reptilian or insect parts, others resembled forest predators and creatures and…

“...is…is that one a giant plant or a hedgehog?” Yuu muttered as they squinted. Were they imagining the bright red leaves, or was it actually fur? They didn’t have long to contemplate that as the creature in question bristled, spikes emerging as it hissed and slammed its front legs against the ground–thorny roots exploding from the ground towards the lion-scorpion kaiju. 

Instead of avoiding the attack, however, the kaiju took a deep breath and exhaled–a cloud of sand? And right before their eyes, the roots withered and turned into dust. With a growl that made the earth rumble, the lion-like kaiju roared before its scorpion stinger lashed out, the hedgehog-looking one just narrowly dodging the attack as the barb struck the ground. Seconds later, the ground turned into sand, the hedgehog kaiju hissing as its back legs sank in, and he began to struggle. Just as he was about to get hit by the stinger again, another kaiju–which looked like a cross between a pangolin and a turtle–parried the attack with his shell, which emitted a golden-green glow as the stinger bounced off him.

“...what…the heck is happening?!” Yuu all but yelled in disbelief. “Are all kaiju super powered monsters??”

“Answer: each kaiju possesses more than just their physical abilities to survive on this island, capable of performing unnatural feats bordering on mythical levels. Studies have shown that kaiju blood, saliva, and venom carry an unusual form of energy that can trigger unique physical and environmental effects around them.”

“Effects? Like…nuclear radiation mutation effects?!”

“Negative. The energy they produce is chemically different and is considered far safer when exposed to natural organic and inorganic materials such as stone. Researchers believe that the energy produced by living and decomposing kaiju triggers an ecological ‘rebirth’, resulting in the rich resources that can be found beneath the earth. Dr. Willows referred to this phenomenon as ‘magic’, though the term itself was not readily accepted by fellow researchers.”

Magic…? Yuu would have sooner believed some mad scientist tried to create an island park full of giant kaiju to make some zoo, but watching the fighting below…they could see why this researcher thought it was magic. It was surreal…

A howl rose from the white wolf-rhino hybrid, charging at the dog-lizard hybrid with a black spade-like mark on its face. Despite the size difference, the latter somehow managed to resist the full-on body slam and even managed to push back. Meanwhile, the hyena-like hybrid managed to outpace the fox-lizard hybrid with what Yuu swore was a heart-shaped mark on its face, slim body twisting and curving around each swipe yet the red fox-lizard refusing to be bested. Seeing all this, Yuu couldn’t help but wonder:

“Why are they all fighting? Isn’t the island big enough for all of them?”

“Answer: the range of a kaiju’s territory can vary greatly depending on the resources required to survive. Ragebloom’s territory is vastly rich in nutritious fruits, berries, roots, and even prey species that can easily sustain the large number of kaiju in the Heartlands’ pack. Pridefang’s territory, however, consists of a harsh savannah-like environment that is capable of producing physically stronger kaiju and bears one of the richest sources of minerals. However, food and water resources are harder to come by in the Golden Savannah, resulting in territorial disputes. Despite being a category four kaiju himself, Ragebloom is capable of holding his own against category five kaiju such as Pridefang by utilizing his ability-negating roots and spores.”

“I’ve heard of survival of the fittest, but this is insane,” Yuu muttered, squinting as the sunlight glinted off the bracer. They looked away–

And came face to face with a giant green eye.

Compared to most of the kaiju they’d seen so far, this one had a fuzzy white face that looked almost…human–minus the beak-like lips and the compound-like humanoid eyes. Bright orange fuzzy antennae twitched as it climbed up higher, looming over them as it examined them with soft chirps and trills like a massive, fluffy wall of fur. Then, a glint flashed across the creature’s eyes, and Yuu followed its gaze to their bracers.

Their bright, reflective, and shiny bracers.

“...niiiiice kaiju,” Yuu said as calmly as they could, Grimfang nervously backing away. “Gooood kaiju. Please don’t eat us…okay?”

“Chrr-rrr-rrrr-rrrh…” Large, moth-like wings with feathery edges rose behind them, the markings shimmering like glass with each movement. “S…nee…shee…NEEEE!!”

In an instant a brilliant flash of light blinded Yuu, their eyes burning as they and Grimfang yelped in unison. They could feel the smaller kaiju stumble beneath them, using all their strength to hold on.

////—---////

“Mrah!? I can’t see! I can’t see!” Grim howled, rubbing his eyes with his paw.

“Oop! Sorry. Forgot about the flash. My b!” Cater said, a sheepish chitter escaping as he folded his wings back again. “You okay?”

“No, I’m not okay! I can’t see a thi-iing!?” Grim started to say before his other paw slipped, sending him and his charge tumbling over the edge with a shrill shriek.

“Whoa! Hatchlings overboard!” Realizing they were sliding down into the fray, Cater called out, “Stay there! Cay-Cay’s gonna getcha!”

“Stay away from me!” Grim retorted, blindly charging forward with the tiny creature squealing on his back.

Realizing who they were heading towards, Cater’s fur began to bristle in panic as he took to the air, wings beginning to flash a series of signals as he called out, “Trey! Adeuce! Runaway babies!”

“Huh? Babies?” Trey said, turning to look at him in confusion.

“Paw. Trey! PAW!!”

////—------////

BWOOM!!

“Gyah!” Yuu yelped as the ground lurched beneath them, their vision having cleared just enough for them to see the descending claws and steer Grimfang away just in time. They had no time to breathe a sigh of relief as Grimfang continued his blind run, doing their best to guide him with their own spotty vision. Surrounded by giant kaiju crashing and stomping around them, Yuu’s heart was beating frantically in their chest as they tried to search for an opening.

There! A crack between the stone walls!

“Yip yip!” they chirped, steering Grimfang towards the blurry opening. If they could just outpace the flying camera flashing bird-bug while the others were busy fighting each other, they’d both get away and find a cave to hide i-

Wait…why were the walls closing? Why were they movi–

…those weren’t walls. They were legs!!

“Ah! Abort! ABORT!!” they cried out, grabbing the kaiju’s scruff and pulling. Snarling, Grimfang’s front legs left the ground as he reared up–only for Yuu to be shocked as he kept going on his hind legs before crashing into the larger kaiju’s toes. The momentum sent Yuu flying, landing with a grunt over one of the knuckles. Dazed, the spots in Yuu’s vision finally cleared as they sat up…and felt cold dread in their bones when a dark shadow loomed over them.

“Rrrrrrrr,” came the deep, bone-rattling growl that made the very air vibrate. A strong gust of wind knocked them over, Yuu turning around to see Pridefang’s head so close they could clearly make out the scar over his left eye. The wind buffeted them as he sniffed, his mandibles twitching as he stared at them intently with eerily intelligent emerald green eyes. Then, a low, guttural hiss escaped, baring his fangs as he leaned forward–

POOF!!

–before rearing back, coughing and gagging as the large cloud of blue powder that struck him in the face floated around him. Yuu landed on the ground on what looked like a pile of red leaves before rolling off with a grunt, Grimfang reappearing as he stood over them and snarled. He swiped at the crimson hedgehog–before wobbling in place. “Grim? Grim! What’s wrong?” Yuu asked, gasping when he collapsed with a warbling growl that faded as his eyes closed. “Grim!”

Fearing the worst, Yuu rushed to his side–before stumbling over, their head feeling heavy as they struggled to stay focused. The powder…smelled sweet yet gentle like roses, the fragrance wrapping around them like a warm blanket. It wasn’t until a resounding ‘boom’ rang through the air that they realized Pridefang had collapsed too, a heavy and loud snore erupting from him that it sank in what was happening:

Sleeping powder.

Vision swimming now, Yuu stumbled their way towards Grimfang, finally collapsing into his side where they felt the familiar rise and fall of his breathing. A massive face appeared over them, slate gray eyes staring at them as Ragebloom gave a cautious sniff. ‘Is this…how I’m going to die?’ they wondered, slowly losing the battle to keep their eyes open. For the briefest second they swore they heard Nevermore’s shriek, then–

Nothing.

////—------////

Warm…

That was the first thing they felt as they came to, followed by softness covering them. Opening their eyes, they were surprised to see a wall of white fur surrounding them. What happened? Weren’t they just outside?

“...rrf?”

Yuu recoiled the moment something large, cold, and wet got close to them, now face-to-face with a large canine-like head. Narrow gray eyes stared at them from a black and white furred kaiju with some reptilian-like features, large upward curving tusks glistening even in the darkness as it gave them the impression of a terrifying wolf appraising potential prey. They were once again buffeted by hot air as it sniffed them, and for a moment they feared that this one was getting ready to eat them…before huffing quietly and settling back to watch them quietly.

“MIRA?” Yuu uttered quietly, watching as the kaiju’s ear twitched. “What happened? Where…are we?”

“Greetings, Uhm Yuu,” came the computer’s voice, which drew the canine kaiju’s gaze. What was it doing…? “According to the location tracker, we are currently inside the den of Crewelfang, one of Nevermore’s companions. Sensors indicate that you have been unconscious for an hour. Compared to Pridefang and Grimfang, you’ve received the smallest amount of exposure to Ragebloom’s sleep powder.”

“TSEEER!!! Craaah!!! Raaack!!”

Somehow Crewelfang’s expression managed to pull off the same “really?” face of a husky as he turned to face the entrance, and Yuu managed to pull themselves up and over his arm to peer out. From here, they could make out Nevermore pacing around, feathers ruffled in agitation as he continued to squawk, caw, and hiss at…

The other kaiju from earlier?

“...um…MIRA? Just how powerful is Nevermore?” Yuu couldn’t help but ask, watching as he looked like he was scolding an annoyed looking Pridefang, an uneasy looking Ragebloom, and at their feet a grumpy looking Grimfang. “You mentioned category levels earlier…what category is he?” Glancing up at Crewelfang, they added, “And Crewelfang too?”

“Answer: Nevermore and Crewelfang–among the other companions they associate with–have unknown categories. Due to their nature, researchers believed they were potentially category four or five, yet this was disproven and set to the ‘Unknown’ category upon discovery of the kaiju packs seem reluctant to fight or disobey them when any should appear, seemingly serving as guardians to keep the island stable.”

“So...I just got adopted by a literal god-tier kaiju is what you’re saying,” Yuu said. They squeaked when they felt something large and wet brush against their body, turning just in time to realize Crewelfang had his tongue out before he gave them another lick. At that moment they realized he was grooming them, being gentle like a dog cleaning their puppies. “...wait. Did I just get adopted by another kaiju?!”