Inside the cave, a warm fire crackled—its embers casting shadows that danced across two figures. One was a demon, the glow flickering with every breath he took. The other, a snow-leopard girl, quietly hummed as she roasted skewered horned rabbits.
"The goblin, and now the ogre?" Sirus muttered, his thoughts drifting. "Do demons really hold such a fearsome reputation?"
"Ashfang," Selvynee whispered, handing him one of the skewers. "This one's done. And... so what? I've heard stories about demons since I first learned to speak. 'Stay away from them.' 'They're monsters.' But it's not true. I mean—you're not like those stories. Right?"
Sirus took the skewer, inhaled the scent, and bit in.
"Like I said before," he glanced at her, "my tribe isn't something to be feared. But now I'm curious... how would another demon tribe act?"
He watched her for a moment—her relaxed humming, the soft flick of her ears. Drowsiness began to weigh him down.
A quiet thud made Selvynee's ears twitch. She looked across the fire and saw Sirus curled up, sound asleep.
"Cute... here, you deserve it." She unbuttoned her trench coat and gently draped it over him. "But I want it back in the morning, okay?" she added with a smile, watching the terrifying demon slumber peacefully. Clawed hands, horns jutting from his temple, hind-jointed legs—and yet here he was, so soft. So innocent in this moment.
"Good night, Ashfang."
Early Morning
Sirus stirred, glancing down at the subtle weight lying across his legs.
"Selvynee," he whispered with a soft smile as he noticed the coat over him. "I guess you don't want this back, huh."
A quiet murmur. Her tail flicked sleepily.
"It's mine," Selvynee groaned, rubbing her drowsy eyes with a pawed hand. She blinked as she realized she'd been using his legs as a pillow.
"Ah! I'm sorry for sleeping on top of yo—"
Mid-apology, Sirus gently placed a clawed finger on her lips.
"It's fine. Now get up—we're heading out." He stood, stretching his tight muscles.
Her cheeks flushed a deep red, but she nodded and quickly got ready as well,
Later That Morning
"Kurts is about two days from here," Sirus muttered, eyes on the road. He glanced sideways—Selvynee was humming again.
"You're awfully cheerful. Something happen?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah! Happy-happy," she replied playfully, flashing a grin.
Sirus raised an eyebrow. "If you've got time to play—" he looked ahead, the forest swaying gently, birdsong echoing in the distance, "—then let's pick up the pace, shall we?"
Without warning, he bolted forward—dirt kicking up in his wake.
Selvynee blinked, her grin widening. "You can't outrun a leopard!" she called, her tail twitching excitedly.
Sirus glanced back, unsurprised to see her gaining on him.
"Let's see who's faster," he murmured, leaning forward—his legs a blur.
"H-how is he running that fast?!" Selvynee gasped. He was widening the gap.
"I have to take this more seriously!" she laughed, claws extending as she dropped to all fours and surged forward—doubling her speed.
Later That Evening
The valley blurred beneath their feet, dirt flicking up in bursts. They vaulted rivers that roared like beasts and danced between trees like ghosts.
Neither gave in.
Sirus glanced sideways—so did Selvynee. For a heartbeat, their eyes met. A silent challenge passed between them.
Then Sirus raised a fist to his temple, signaling to slow.
Selvynee skidded to a halt, rising onto two feet from her low sprint.
"I—I've never..." she gasped, chest heaving. "I never thought... you could match my speed!"
She flopped backward into the grass, breath short and sharp.
Sirus leaned against a boulder nearby, calm as water. His gaze drifted down to his hind-jointed legs.
"Honestly?" he murmured, "I never tested how fast I could run."
He nodded toward a river in the distance. "That's the one I followed when I first reached Kurts. We're only a few hours away now."
Selvynee's ears flicked. Her eyes widened.
"O—only a few hours?" She looked around, dazed. "How much distance did we cover?!"
She stared at Sirus—his chest rose in a steady rhythm, not even a bead of sweat on him. Meanwhile, her fur was matted with heat.
"Okay but—how are you not sweating at all?!" she blurted, genuinely baffled.
Sirus stood, brushing off dust.
"I'm not human," he said simply. "Demons don't sweat."
Walking over beside the river, he followed the stream.
"Get up, If we continue at this pace. We will reach Kurts before nightfall!" He yelled back, seemingly focused on the path ahead.
"T-that demon is something else," She muttered in surprise. Her muscles aching as she struggled to get up. "Wa-wait up!" She called, limping over to his side.
Sirus glancing to his side. "Here. I'm tired as well-but we can rest up in proper beds once we reach the town." He pulled her arm over his shoulder, providing much needed relief.
"Thanks." She whispered, still trying to catch her breath.
Near Night Fall
James, the headguard was posted here tonight. Surveying the entrance.
"I wonder how's that demon is doing," He murmured, recalling the demon features. "He's a strange one. That is certain."
As James leaned against the stone wall. Watching the sun set over the horizon. Without warning, a chill ran up his spine.
"His back," He whispered, narrowing his eyes over the horizon. From the forest's edge, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged.
"And he's not alone." Heading in between the walls. Where the guard post layed, a group of young guards can be seen playing cards.
"And that's strike!" A cheerful roar came from the guard.
"Man, I suck!" Another groaned-slamming his card onto the table.
The guards looked over to the entrance, seeing the head guard walk in with a serious mood.
The guard scrambled to their feet, saluting.
"At ease. One of you contact the mayor, report to him," James said, giving the cards on the table a sharp glance.
"Let him know the demon's back. And he's with a demihuman." Walking back outside, ignoring the rush of questions from the guards.
Seeing the demon and his companion, a demihuman approach the gates. He tidied up his posture.
"I see you came back in one piece. Sirus." James glanced closer at the demihuman, He looked closer at the girl beside him, confusion knitting into his brow.
'The cargo? What is she doing with him?'
Sirus caught the glance and met it coldly.
"Here," he said, tossing something toward James.
"Tell the mayor I crushed the head by accident. That's all he gets."
And with that, he walked past without pause.
James fumbled the catch, staring at the large finger. "You managed to kill a red ogre?" He turned around, hoping to answer some of his questions. but the demon was already gone, vanished into the town's shadows.
"I can't believe we just… walked in," Selvynee whispered, eyes wide as she took in the town's quiet streets.
"We'll rest at an inn." Sirus's crimson gaze scanned the buildings, catching the glow of a sign ahead.
Selvynee noticed Ashfang approaching a particular building, looking up at the sign, read.
"Horses inn?-" She muttered at the strange name of the inn. "-Humans are funny with their naming scheme." She whispered a giggle.
As Sirus went to open the door handle, a resounding laughter echoed within the inn.
He paused—then sighed and pushed it open.
Surveying with his crimson eyes throughout the floor, man and woman could be seen eating with their friends, chugging down beers.
All heads turned towards the entrance. The once joyous atmosphere, turning dead quiet. Murmurers echoing through the Inn.
"Is that him?" someone whispered
"Not a monster my ass! That ain't no human-whats the mayor thinking?" One grumbled with a visible frown.
"It's with a demihuman. Oh my! A-a snow leopard?" One girl whispered to her girlfriends
Whispers continued without end.
Sirus ignoring the crowd. calmly walked towards the reception, glancing back, Selvynee hesitated at the door, visibly shaken, her tail curling tightly around her chest.
"Selvynee," Sirus called, his voice low. He nodded for her to come.
She jumped slightly, then hurried to his side, gripping his arm.
"S-sorry… I don't do well with humans," she whispered, eyes on the floor.
"Open the coat," Sirus said, his tone even.
Selvynee blinked at Sirus.
"N-now?"
"Yes, now. My money is inside the coat." He said gently.
"O-okay. Right." As she slowly buttoned her coat.
Sirus glanced at the prices on the wall, then back to her.
Without warning, he reached into her coat and pulled out a silver rulen.
"One room for a week," he said to the gruff man at the desk. "I want the larger bed."
The innkeeper's expression tightened, but he handed over a key without a word.
"Second floor. Turn right."
"Selvynee, let's go." Sirus took her furred hand without hesitation and led her up the stairs.
"Oh. Okay…" she whispered, focusing on the warmth in his clawed grip.
At the door, Sirus clicked it open. The room was modest—one window, a lit candle on a desk, and a slightly larger bed.
He stepped inside, glancing down at their hands before looking up at her.
"You can let go now," he murmured.
Selvynee blinked, surprised to find that he'd already released her.
"S-sorry…" Her cheeks flushed red.
"If I didn't take your hand, you'd still be frozen downstairs," he said simply, moving toward the bed. "Anyway, get some rest. We've got a busy day tomorrow…"
He sighed as he dropped onto the mattress, face-first into the cotton blankets.
"A pain in the ass. Humans.. Tch."
"I-I'll sleep on the floor," she whispered—but before she could move.
Sirus didn't move. "Don't be silly," he said, voice muffled in the blanket. "I got us a bigger bed so we can both sleep in peace." He turned his head slightly, one crimson eye peeking out. "Unless... you're still thinking I'll eat you."
She let out a short, amused breath. "You'd probably get indigestion."
"That's fair." he mumbled, face vanishing again into the blanket.
A moment of silence passed. Then she sat at the edge of the bed, tail flicking anxiously.
"I just…" she began, then trailed off.
Sirus rolled over onto his back, one arm folded beneath his head. He looked at her without any teasing in his expression now—just that same unreadable calm.
"What?"
She glanced at him, then up to the ceiling. "It's been a long time since I felt safe around anyone. People see me as a beast. Even the guards back at the convoy—when they weren't staring, they avoided me."
"You're not a beast," he said. "You're just tired. And you're not alone anymore."
Selvynee blinked. Her ears twitched.
"Thanks, Ashfang," she said softly. Then, without thinking, she lay down on top of the covers beside him—far enough to give space, but close enough to feel the warmth.
He didn't flinch. Didn't move.
"Try not to snore," she muttered.
"Try not to steal all the blankets," he replied flatly.
A beat of silence, then a shared laugh—brief, but sincere.
The flickering candle on the desk swayed as a breeze brushed through the window. Shadows danced gently on the walls.
Selvynee's breathing slowed, and so did Sirus's. No more words passed between them.
Just the quiet safety of being next to someone who expected nothing, judged nothing, and understood enough to leave things unsaid.