Looking at the sharp panther's claws, which exuded a foul, almost suffocating smell, Shibi closed his eyes in despair. His arms hung limp at his sides; he didn't even try to move.
But the expected pain never came.
After what felt like an eternity, Shibi slowly opened his eyes. What he saw was so unbelievable that he wondered if he was still dreaming.
The black panther, its sleek body trembling, stood frozen. Its wide, wild eyes stared at something unseen, and Shibi could read the emotion in them as clearly as if it were written: fear.
Reo stood nearby, dazed. He stared at Shibi, who looked as if he were about to collapse. Reo's heart was pounding with a crippling fear, and his eyes grew hot with tears. Then, as if remembering something painful, he lowered his head in frustration. Suddenly, a terrifying sound echoed through the air, snapping him out of his thoughts.
He turned just in time to see the black panther sprinting away, even faster than it had arrived, vanishing into the dark, cold woods. Reo was left stunned, unable to make sense of what had just happened.
"Huh." Shibi let out a shaky breath and collapsed onto the grass, as if his strength had left him all at once. Only then did he notice his heart hammering wildly in his chest, making him gasp for breath. After a moment, he remembered Reo and called out, his voice trembling with worry, "Reo, are you hurt anywhere?"
"No…" Reo shook his head, still feeling the weight of his own weakness. Not long ago, he had promised himself he wouldn't be afraid anymore, that he would stand in front of Shibi and protect him. But now, all he could do was let Shibi shield him.
"That's good." Shibi pressed a hand to his chest, sighing with relief. "I don't know why the panther ran away, but we're safe now. Let's go back to the village." He stood up, still a little shaky, not noticing the turmoil on Reo's face.
Reo, hearing Shibi's words, shook his head sharply, as if trying to shake off his gloom. He stood up and faced Shibi seriously. "I'm sorry."
"Eh?" Shibi looked puzzled, but didn't dwell on it. He grinned and said, "Idiot, why are you apologizing to me? You should be thanking me! Haha, that's twice now I've saved you. If you don't treat me to a big meal, I'll be really upset!" His hearty laughter and big smile made Reo smile, too.
"Yeah." Reo nodded, his resolve growing.
"Come on, let's go back to the village—and maybe pick some fruit on the way!"
Shibi walked ahead, ironwood sword in hand, with Reo following closely behind.
Behind a nondescript tree in the woods, a shadowy figure watched them.
Suddenly, a grumbling voice broke the silence of the jungle. "You dumb brats are so reckless. If I hadn't been patrolling here, you'd have been panther food by now."
This was Kunkei, the man who patrolled the back mountain every day.
---
The sea stretched out, blue and endless, meeting the sky at the horizon. White shapes—seagulls—flew by, their cries echoing over the waves.
Reo and Shibi walked along the beach, the waves washing over their ankles, the sand cool and wet beneath their feet.
"Shibi, am I useless?" Reo asked suddenly, his voice barely above the sound of the surf.
"Why would you say that?" Shibi replied, watching the white spray with fascination.
"When danger came, I was so scared I couldn't move. But you… you stood your ground." Reo looked at Shibi, nervous.
"What are you talking about? You're just a kid. It's normal to be scared. I'm older than you, so it's different for me." Shibi brushed off Reo's concerns, a smug look on his face.
"Oh, come on, 'older'?" Reo laughed.
"Hey, I'm at least taller than you!" Shibi protested.
"No way! I'm taller than you, okay? Dwarf Shibi calling himself an adult!" Reo teased, grinning.
"That's it! Stop right there!" Shibi, now mock-angry, raised his ironwood sword and chased after Reo, who took off running.
Their laughter and footprints trailed behind them on the beach.
Village head's home
The old man Daichi lounged on a reclining chair in his yard, a bamboo fan in hand, enjoying the afternoon.
"Old man, something happened in the back mountain." Kunkei's familiar voice called out as he returned from his patrol.
Daichi's relaxed face turned serious. "What happened?" he asked urgently.
Kunkei waved a hand and sighed. "It's not as bad as you think. Shibi and Reo snuck into the back mountain through the hole I sealed before. They were attacked by the lightning black panther at the edge of the woods. Luckily, I was patrolling nearby. Shibi wasn't hurt."
Daichi exhaled in relief, then scolded, "Kunkei, why couldn't you just say that straight away? You nearly gave me a heart attack!" He frowned, then asked, "But wait, the boulder blocking the cave entrance can't be moved. How did they get in?"
Kunkei looked thoughtful, watching the leaves rustle in the breeze. "I think it was Reo. But what's strange is, he doesn't seem particularly strong. Maybe he ate a devil fruit, but I don't know what kind."
"Well, there's no use guessing. Go to Shibi's house. It's time to tell him the truth," Daichi said, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
Kunkei looked uneasy. "Shibi's not ready to know. If you tell him too soon, it could change everything."
Daichi waved him off. "It's fine. He's already gone into the back mountain. He deserves to know. Don't worry, Shibi is young, but he's mature for his age."
Seeing Daichi's determination, Kunkei sighed deeply. "Alright, I understand. I'll go now."
Without another word, he turned and strode off toward Shibi's house.
------------------------------------------------
A/N: If you like the fanfic please show your support. Throw some stones ;)