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❛𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌❜

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EVERYONE HAS A DARK SIDE, some darker than most. Zani definitely looked innocent, especially with her human features but some would say, she wasn't as angelic as she looked. Especially when she wasn't with Rouis, to her, he was the light amidst her darkness but what she didn't know was that it was the opposite for the young deer.

She was part carnivore, a red wolf but she was also part human. And it didn't help she was more human than anything, she did her best to make up for her weakness by learning a martial art but it could only help her so much.

Melon spotted the red haired hybrid and he instantly grinned, but he knew better than to sneak up on her, "Zan!"

"Mel!" Her lips curved upwards at the sight of her friend and she opened her arms, ready to receive his hug.

His arms wrapped around her petite frame, inhaling her scent which consisted of musk wood, berries and flowers as he lifted her up into the air. It was a unique scent he memorised because despite their age, he'd grown quite fond of her. "I haven't seen you in awhile."

"It's because I was busy, silly hybrid. I can't be here all the time, it is illegal after all." She cupped his cheeks.

"And how are your playmates?" Melon asked.

Zani punched his shoulder, "I only have one!"

"Then," he placed a hand underneath her jaw and tilted it upwards so that she was looking into his eyes, "can I be your other one?"

"I'm seventeen, Mel. You're over twenty, it's illegal," she said.

A childlike whine escaped his lips, "and you eating meat isn't? What if you were eighteen? Would it be okay then?" And he already knew from the look on her face, she was thinking about it. "I can wait. Just for you. You can't deny the tension we have."

She rolled her eyes, "whatever."

"You're my favourite hybrid, red," his fingers brushed past her ears. "Yes, you're the only hybrid I know but even if I knew a whole bunch, you'd still be my favourite." He said, a more serious expression adorning his features.

"We'll never know for sure." Zani mumbled.

Melon noticed all the stares she was attracting from the other carnivores in the black market and honestly, he didn't know whether it was because of her scent or how adorably cute she was. Either way, he didn't like it. And when his phone vibrated in his pocket, he let out a sigh and caressed her cheek , "duty calls. I hope to see you around more."

Before she could walk away, his grabbed her wrist and pulled her to his chest, "what now, Mel?"

"Kiss please."

"Maybe next time."

His thumb ran over her bottom lip, "fine. I can't wait then."

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Appleby Academy, a prestigious looking school with shady students. There wasn't a single student there that didn't know about the black market and almost half the school's carnivores partook in eating meat. That's how she first heard of it. From Itou, her jaguar friend who so happened to be her only friend at that school.

"You're part carnivore and yet, you've never had meat. I think it's about time you experienced it." Itou said, grabbing her hand. "It's so good, just don't have it too much... I've heard about other carnivores losing their sense of taste because of it."

"No way," her hand covered her mouth at the information given to her. "That's terrible."

"Anyways, there's lot of places that sell meat here, take your pick." Itou liked the feeling of her hand, it was soft.

They roamed the black market for a good thirty minutes before she finally picked a small stall owned by a black bear. There was something friendly about him. She had a feeling she'd see him again.

Poe immediately noticed the two students, not to mention the fact that one of them was half human. "Aren't you two a little young to be here?"

"We have money..."

A moment of silence passed before the bear shrugged, "who am I to tell you what to do? What're you having?"

"Whatever you recommend, sir." Zani smiled politely.

"Sir's too formal, kiddo. Just call me Poe." He said and brought out two plates, placing a small slice of meat in front of them. "That's five thousand yen."

Itou's jaw dropped down to the floor, "what?! Could you give us a discount please! It's her first time!"

Poe glanced over to the seemingly innocent girl and let out a long sigh, "you're bad for my business kid, but just this once. One thousand yen."

When she pulled out her wallet to pay, the jaguar pulled out his credit card. "My treat this time, you can treat me next time." With a toothy grin, he paid for their meal.

What could meat probably taste like? Zani stared down at the slice of meet in front of her then at her friend who'd already devoured his. It looked like he really enjoyed it too. She had tasted everything but meat, she was scared that she'd get addicted.

"Are you just going to stare at it?"

Zani looked up at the bear, "no.." Inhaling sharply, she cut the meat into pieces before taking a bite of it. Her heart was racing and her tongue was flooded with tastes she'd never experienced before. She was actually salivating and within the minute, she'd devoured the rest of the meat.

Itou nudged her, "how was it?"

"So good.." Her eyes shone a darker red, "I want more."

"Ah shit, it's late. I gotta go home, can you make it home by yourself, Zee?" Itou gave her a side hug before running off.

Mere moments after, the hybrid had wandered off further into the black market. She was feeling so many things at once that she was confused, was she hungry, or just overjoyed at the taste? She'd certainly get addicted if she ate it often. At this point, she wanted to.

Gouhin noticed the red wolf and quirked an eyebrow, to him she looked like she was about to pounce on the nearest herbivore. Acting on his instincts, he grabbed her by her collar. "Come with me kid."

She growled at him, "let go!"

He grabbed a piece of bamboo from his bag and shoved it into her mouth to bite on, "you need to calm down and relax. At this rate you'll attack someone. You don't want that, do you kid?"

No she didn't. Her eyes returned to their normal red and she slowly stopped salivating. "I'm sorry..."

"You stopped yourself, that's what's important." He put her down and ruffled her head. "First time eating meat, huh? How old are you?"

"Fifteen..."

"I suppose you could've started younger, but you didn't... " Gouhin examined her human features.

Zani looked up at him, "what's your name mister?"

"Gouhin, don't you dare add a mister." He said.

"Nice meeting you, Gouhin. Thank you for stopping me." She waved at the panda before making her way out of the red market.

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Since she and Rouis went to separate schools, they rarely saw each other during the year except for the school holidays in which they saw each other every day. It wasn't enough for Zani who wanted to see the deer often, practically every day, but he had other commitments of course. Despite this, she knew everything that went on in his life. In his day. He told her.

But she didn't tell him.

She didn't tell him that she'd started to eat meat.

How she was teased and bullied for being a hybrid.

The fact she only had one friend.

And that she missed him so much it hurt.

Coming home to an empty house almost all of the time, it was lonely for her. The silence was deafening.

Rouis didn't know much about what happened in her life because she always seemed to forget about all her worries when she was with him. She felt so safe and loved with the deer.

Maybe one day she'd tell him.

But for now, she was content with how things were with him. Zani didn't want him to worry.

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▬▬▬▬▬ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

she and melon lowkey hybrid besties.
gouhin yuh. and she first eats meat
when she's fifteen, then she transfers
to cherryton when she's seventeen.
should i do more melon scenes? hm.