"I meant what I said, you little wolf! You can't reject meals!" Gouhin raised his voice as you turned your head to the side to avoid the berries he was trying to feed you.

"I am not a wolf!! I am Chrysocyon brachyurus and I will be treated as such!"

"You'll be treated as an uncooperative patient who needs a feeding tube if you don't open your damned mouth!" Gouhin remember hating when his daughter was this age.

Immediately, you burst into tears. Why was life so awful? Why hadn't Melon come for you?

The panda, however, didn't miss the moment to pop some fruit into your mouth and hold his hand over it.

"Eat it or I swear on your fucking life, I will intubate you."

With glaring eyes, you chewed and swallowed.

"Darling, you need to eat to live. I'm not going to fight with you about it. It's non-negotiable."

"What if I'm not really suited for living?" You asked quietly. Gouhin swore he heard his own heart break.

Another creature was asking a similar question elsewhere.

"Melon, why do you think that 'hybrids' aren't really suited for living'? I mean, you're basically the same as some omnivores..." Legoshi asked as they strolled by the oceanside.

"I just meant what I said. Didn't that old horse tell you about a hybrid's nature?"

"He told me that hybrids can't really digest meat, but they still have the savage desire to hunt..." Legoshi looked very awkward.

"It's strange, isn't it? Carnivores and herbivores should get along, yet their children are treated like freaks."

"I-I I don't think of you as a freak! In fact, I feel like the more I talk to you, the more I want ot know about you! I can't see you as an evil animal, you remind me so much of my friend, YN!"

Melon's eyes darkened. This wolf had been part of your life before him? He was part of the reason you were so poorly off? Did he know where you were?

"Hmm. That was pretty cliché, not a fan."

"Huh?" Melon paused to face the wolf.

"You ought to say something more entertaining! Like a joke. Something that will give me a good laugh."

"A-A joke? I'm sorry, I'm not really a funny guy."

"Ah! Well then,do you have anything in your pocket that could give us a good time, like a caramel candy or playing cards?" The wolf was so naive that Melon couldn't help but tease him.

"I don't think I have anything like that..."

POP

Searing pain shot through Legoshi's side.

"Well, what do you know!? You really are a comedian. Well, you only had room for one joke, but I still had a good time. Legoshi, you said your name was? Thanks. But keep YN's name out of your mouth, m'kay?" And as Legoshi's consciousness faded to black, Melon walked away.