Quoted By:
<span class="mu-g">“I would never <span class="mu-i">strangle</span> a lion! I would end it quickly in order to ease its suffering.”</span> she proclaimed. <span class="mu-g">“A quick, decisive blow to the base of the skull, and it would all be over.”</span>
She imitated the action with a swift chop, causing the light to flicker out. You relit it a moment later.
<span class="mu-r">“Remind me never to take you on a date to the zoo.”</span>
—-------
Some time later, after Ana finished detailing all the ways one could playfully wrestle with big cats, Mekara lifted her hand and allowed the harsh winds to come flooding back into your space. They were far less intense than they had been a moment ago, and you thought that meant you were close to the eye of the storm.
Mekara’s eyes scanned the area carefully as she slowed her pace to take a more cautious approach. You and Ana stared around at the collapsed buildings and tattered remains of what had once been a thriving neighborhood. Shifting shapes in the shadows told you that either there were still monsters taking shelter in the ruins of their homes, or there were creatures willing to take advantage of the chaos in order to increase their own riches.
After all, people were more or less the same wherever you went. It wouldn’t be that surprising if the Monster Metropolis had its own share of looters.
Ana noticed it too, but she didn’t pay them any mind, and seeing as how your spider sense wasn’t reacting to them, you thought it safe to ignore them for the time being.
<span class="mu-r">“We’re getting close. Keep your eyes peeled.”</span> Mekara warned.
<span class="mu-r">“Kinda hard with all the dirt flying into them.”</span> you complained.
<span class="mu-r">“Kei tells me that’s what eyelashes are for. You should try using yours.”</span> she said, lacking any sort of sarcasm as she did so.
<span class="mu-g">“How did you manage to keep dirt out of your eyes up until now, then?”</span> Ana asked, her eyes still searching for any sign of trouble.
<span class="mu-r">“I didn’t.”</span> she answered simply. <span class="mu-r">“The best I can do is squint.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Well, that won’t do. If a Volkswagen Beetle can have eyelashes, then so can you.”</span> you said in an encouraging tone.
<span class="mu-r">“I’ve never encountered//seen//met that kind of creature before. What’re they like?”</span> she asked.
<span class="mu-r">“Oh, they’re hideous. I hear Hitler was a big fan, though.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Who’s that?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“What?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Who is ‘Hitler’?”</span>
This time, Ana did stop and look up at her. So did you. Mekara didn’t look like she was joking.
<span class="mu-r">“You should ask the Kaiju King when you get back. I’m sure he’ll be happy to explain it to you.”</span>
Ana shook her head and went back to looking out for threats, but you didn’t miss the flicker of a smile that flashed across her face. You were about to say something else, when the telltale tickle of your spider sense told you that something very bad was about to happen.
You leapt up to Mekara’s shoulder and forcefully yanked her head to the side with a webline to her crown.
(Cont.)
