Jack's POV

I looked over the safe haven for the Turkey Birds, also known as Catbirds or Tricos. I had fallen into this when I was about 13, well more like brought after being swallowed by Trico. I had helped them get here, we helped each other out. Unfortunately the first Trico I helped ran away and I couldn't find him. I was too weak at the time to have been able to help him anyway, but in my adventuring with Trico I learned about them, how they acted, how they lived, and I knew no one was there to help them. I decided I would become that person. Once I had recovered I found my way back and started to help them, I brought the injured ones barrels and pet them, I helped the ones of good health to find them places to nest, I tamed the wild ones and helped them stay calm. After a while I had sent a couple of them to go look for the Trico I had helped, it had only been a little over a year since I left and I couldn't find him anywhere in the safehaven. They couldn't find him, I really missed him. I kept him in my thoughts as I helped the others, I found them fascinating. They way they flew like birds, the way they fought like cats, they way the howled like dogs, and perhaps my favorite thing of all, how affectionate they could be.

But that's only the start, I was 26 now and in charge of the place.

"Toriko!" I shouted, I needed to fly to the village to grab some food. It would take me weeks to walk there and back, so I just decided to fly. The people in the village were still scared of Turkey Birds so I would just have to land in the woods. One flew up to me and I climbed onto it's back. I stood up and pointed in the direction I wanted and gave the command in my native tongue. The beast took a run and leaped into the air, soaring above the ridge. I held onto the Catbird, I may love flying on them but my fear of heights was a burden sometimes. After we were close to the village I instructed the beast to land, they aren't the most graceful but they were slowly getting better. Once we touched ground Mr. Turkey Bird here leaned down to my level after I stepped off I pet its nose gently and kissed it, hearing it purr softly. I smiled and told it to wait here. I walked into the village, saying hello to a few friends.

"So how've you been?"

"Got a wife yet?"

"Where do you live?"

All of those questions constantly rang in my ears whenever I stopped at the village. I ignored them and went to the market to get the food I needed. On my way back I looked back at the orphanage I lived in as a child before Trico brought me to the safe haven. I smiled and chuckled to myself and made my way back to the beast. I had slung the bag of food I had bought over my shoulder. I jumped when I saw a red haired man standing before the beast, not moving an inch. Trico was sniffing him.

"Toriko!" Trico looked over at me, as did the man.

"I'm so sorry sir, he means no harm." Oh no, the poor guy was shaking.

"W-what?! They eat p-people!"

"No they don't, did he try and eat you?" I asked the man.

"I t-thought he might... I had come out here t-to survey the land for f-farming."

"I had just come to the village to get some food, I'll be out of your hair in a moment. Sorry for the trouble." I climbed aboard Trico and flew off, leaving the man behind. The air was chilly so i nuzzled into Trico's feathers. Soon enough we landed back at the safe haven. I gave mr. turkey bird his well deserved barrel. I hungrily downed an apple, I hadn't eaten yesterday. I would grow my own food but, one I couldn't figure out the place or the time to grow it, two it was nice to see my friends every now and then. I smiled and started to walk back to my lodge, well it was here when I first arrived and no one was there so I made it my home. I walked over to my bed. Which wasn't the most comfortable, but it's what I got. I sighed and closed my eyes and fell asleep.

Mark's POV

I must be an idiot.

That's the only explanation I have for this.

I followed him, I followed the green haired dude with the beast.

THE MAN EATING BEAST!

But I went with it anyway. No one knew where these ' things' came from. I knew I was gonna be walking for a long while though. A couple days had passed and I was gonna die soon. I felt like I was going to pass out, this was awful, maybe I could turn around but I'd be so lost. I found a shady spot and laid down. I closed my eyes, ready for whatever came next.

I must have just fallen asleep because I must be dreaming. Or I'm dead. I don't exactly know. I felt something pulling at me so I just let it happen. I heard small little squeaks and grunts. I soon felt the feeling of being swallowed.

So I'm assuming I'm dead now.

But I was wrong. The thing that ate me, THREW ME UP AND NOW I'M COVERED IN TATTOOS AND GREEN SLIME. I NEED TO BE STERILIZED ASAP. I shook off the goop and looked around to see one of the... Beasts....

It's the thing that the green guy was riding, and what appeared to be two baby ones. I screamed. I tried to stand up, but my legs felt weak. I looked around, the baby ones began approaching, sniffing and making little chirping sounds. I screamed out again, why did I even leave the village. I didn't know where I was.

"Toriko! Leave him alone. He's not a snack." I heard footsteps near, I cast my gaze upward to see the man from before. The creature took a few steps back, the baby's just started playing with each other.

"You? Um... Why am I here?"

"They were checking for people." He told me, kneeling down a bit to try and help me up.

"I can't feel my legs." I told him, he looked down, then chuckling before looking back at me.

"You don't have any pants either." I quickly checked, then covered myself. This couldn't get anymore awkward...

"Wait here, I got a wheelbarrow laying around." And with that he ran off. I layed there, cold, turns out these things ate my clothes, and me. The little ones played around a bit, but I was still cold. I had managed to sit up against a rock and relaxed a bit. I waited patently for the man to return, but god I hope he has spare clothes. One of the little ones came up and nudged my leg before climbing onto my lap. I didn't know what to do other than pet it, I placed my hand gently on its feathers and stroked its head. The baby leaned its head up into my touch, smiling a bit. Well, as much as it could. I smiled at it, the other baby had left with it's, what I assume, its mother.

"Awh, look at you two." The man said as he approached us with the wheelbarrow. I looked up.

"So um, how are you gonna get me in that?" He lifted me and the little guy up. (not That guy). He placed me in the wheelbarrow, he pushed me to a little cottage.

"Is this your place?" He nodded and pushed me inside.

"Sorry I don't have any clothes for you right now, but I'll get you some on my next village run... Unless you want to go back now?" I perked up when he said that.

"Really you could take me home!?" I smiled.

"If you wanted to, but let's get some food in ya first, and maybe a towel, okay?" I nodded, still feeling the empty pit in my stomach formed by my hunger and thirst.

"What do ya have?"

"I picked up some bread, apples, and corn from the village. I can get you some water from the creek too." He tossed me a towel and I leaned up, wrapping it around myself.

"An apple and some water would be alright." I told him, still feeling kinda rude for invading his home and taking his food. The little baby was still warm and fuzzy on my lap. I played with its tiny little paws for a moment, hearing it chirp.

"Okay, you're cute." I rubbed its nose a little bit, it's fur was very soft. The man came back with the apple and water, he handed it to me.

"Thank you. Oh by the way, what's your name?"

"Jack, you?"

"Mark, and this thing," I said pointing to the lil cutie" is adorable." Jack chuckled, and pet the little baby.

"Yeah, the babies are always cute, and soft." We sat there just playing with the little cutie for a bit before we stopped to eat. I had realized I was hungry, just not to what extent. The water and the apple were gone way too fast, I almost ate the seeds.

"So wait, why do you keep going to the village for food, can't you grow it here?" Jack shook his head.

"Can't figure out how, plus I spend more time taking care of these guys"

"I could help with that... if you want..." I muttered, looking down at my hands.

"What?" Jack asked, I snapped my head up quickly.

"I could fix that issue, I am a farmer after all." His face lit up quickly.

"Really?! I've tried and it hasn't worked."

"What have you tried?"

"Um...Apples, wheat, potatoes." I chuckled.

"Wow, okay let me help you out, then you can take me back."

"Sounds good."