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Hey, hey, hey :D

 

Welcome back guys, I'm glad to be back to. :P

 

Took me another week or so to get this done but I really like how it turned out and I hope you do to! I wanted this chapter to be special, but, I needed more time. So Its not over yet. Expect more to come, don't you worry.

Not going to spoil anything though. Just read, relax, and review. x3

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

"I-I said no! Poppy stop it! That's enough!"

 

Grunting as she pushed against a large saucer in front of her, Abby growled as she continued to resist the lavender haired Oni's advances on her as she tried to make her drink from the small dish she had seemingly procured. 'Where did she even keep it, to begin with?!'

"Come oooooooon, have some! It's goooood~." She cooed as she tilted it forward. Yipping as some of the liquor splashed on her arms, the brunette tried to stand her ground, but, that was easier said than done! Feeling her feet slipping as she tried to find anything solid to stand on, the teenager was helpless.

Resting atop the younger girl's stomach, the mix of her pudgy belly, sweat laden skin, and droplets of alcohol splashing her made finding any traction near impossible. She couldn't keep this up much longer. Hell, she didn't know how she had been keeping up this long, to begin with!

Feeling as though she had jinxed herself, Abby screeched as her foot finally slipped out from under her causing her to face plant into the child's navel.  Blinking as her eyes fluttered up and down, Poppy paused her actions as she looked down at the panting girl.

"Drink?" "NO, NO DRINK! I CAN'T DRINK! I'M STILL A MINOR!" Abby screamed angrily as her face came up. Her mouth had been open when she fell, and she could taste the bitter flavors of whatever it was the younger girl was trying to make her drink… along with something else as well.

Looking into the Oni's golden eyes as she stared at her blankly, the Hominal soon smiled before giggling. "Drink!" Pushing herself up as she tried to balance once more, Abby soon noticed something… something she hadn't really been too focused on before.

Lifting her arm up as she stared down at the black dress Casey had made her, the little human whimpered as she saw parts of it beginning to dissipate. ‘I knew it…' She had predicted something like this happening. Why didn't the redhead listen to her!

As she continued to giggle, the Oni's radiant eyes soon noticed this as well. "Huuuuuh…?" Turning her head as she saw smoke rolling off the brunette, the child's eyes widened in surprise as her clothes suddenly fell away into a cloud of black wispy air leaving her bare.

Blushing, the shrunken girl covered up her breasts and crotch as she looked down in embarrassment. ‘D-Damn it, Casey…' She was going to have a long talk with the headless girl once she got back. This was not acceptable!

"Cuuuuuute~." Blinking, Abby looked up now before feeling her face light up even further. Pulling her lip down a bit as she bit her finger, the pink skinned Oni watched the smaller girl with a guttural expression as she openly ogled her. "H-H-HEY, K-KNOCK IT OFF!" That was an obscene look! Not even guys gave her that look! Well… not that she ever noticed at least.

Giggling bubbly, Poppy lifted the gourd beside her up to her lips before tilting it back. Taking a few quick sips from her drink, she sighed before lifting the small dish up once more. "Drink!" Sitting down as she attempted to hide as best she could, Abby shook her head once more before glaring up at the younger girl.

"I already said no! Stop trying to make me drink, w-whatever that stuff is! I'm only fifteen! I can't drink, ok!" She hated the taste, she hated the smell, and she hated what that stuff did to people! Why would she want to drink it?! Recalling the few times her Master had ever brought out any of the nauseating substances, the older girl shook her head. It was foul.

Pouting, Poppy moved the small dish up to her lips before slurping up the little that remained inside, the rest having been splashed about in her attempts to make the smaller girl drink. "No fuuuuun… I thought you humans liked to have fun!" She pouted angrily.

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Abby shook her head before sighing. "I don't find alcohol fun. And neither should you! Species aside, there are repercussions for overdrinking. It can kill you! Not to mention poison your body, and-"Pausing her lecture as she saw the younger girl nodding off, Abby began to fume.

"DON'T JUST FALL ASLEEP WHILE IM TALKING TO YOU!" Did she have any idea how rude that was?! Groaning softly, the child lifted the gourd back up before taking another long sip. Letting it fall to her side, the Poppys glowing eyes traveled back down to Abby as she continued to frown.

"If you don't drink then how do you have fun?" Crossing her arms, Abby frowned as well. That was a ridiculous question. "I can read, I can study, I can work on preparing medicines for my Master, I can clean, I can write… There are plenty of things I can do… or, used to be able to do, to have fun." She remarked causing the younger girls brow to furrow.

"I said fuuuuun! That stuffs boooooring~." She whined. Feeling her anger rise from having her past times called out, Abby took a deep breath before shaking her head. "L-Look, just because I like peace when I relax doesn't mean what I do is boring! You don't need to get plastered, make a fool of yourself and poison your body to have a good time!" She snapped.

Sputtering in anger as the Oni stuck her tongue out at her, Abby huffed before shaking her head. If Casey or Brook had taught her anything it was *don't argue with children*. She wasn't going to sway them with her words…

Deciding to change the subject, Abby cleared her throat before taking a deep breath. "Liquor aside, tell me a little bit about yourself Poppy. I've never met an Oni before." She was kind of curious actually. Humming, the lavender haired girl looked down at her belly before turning her head.

"What's to know?" Frowning, Abby stood up now, her modesty forgotten, if only slightly, as she tried to force the conversation to shift away from them sharing a drink together. She didn't want to fall back into that argument again. "W-Well, can you tell me about your species? Eve told me that you have thick skin so you don't feel much. Is that true? P-Plus, it looked like you were really strong as well. I mean…" She paused before turning her head to look at the large boulder the child had moved on her own.

"T-That rocks probably a couple tons… D-Does that mean your species is really strong as well?" she whispered with slight trepidation in her tone. Grinning at the praise she was receiving, Poppy giggled before lifting up one of her arms. "Uh huh! Oni's are the strongest!" She laughed before flexing her non-existent muscles. It didn't look like she was too muscular… in fact, quite the opposite really.

While not fat, her stomach was still a little pudgy. The same could be said for her arms and legs as well. She looked like a well-fed child if anything, definitely not one that exercised regularly. ‘So, how do her species do the things they do then?' She wanted to know more.

"My turn, my tuuuurn~." She cooed drawing the older girls focus back to her. Giggling happily, Poppy bit her lip before her eyes lit up. "How come you're naked?" She laughed causing the brunettes face to light up. Blushing furiously, Abby's hands moved back up to her breast and crotch as she covered herself back up.

"T-That's not my fault! C-Casey made me some clothes out of her shadow and… and they kind of just fall away when she's not nearby. Y-You know Casey, right?" Tilting her head up, the pink skinned girl hummed vocally once more before nodding. "I know her. She's nice to me. She brings me back something to drink whenever she goes out." She chirped.

Smiling dryly, Abby nodded before shaking her head. ‘D-Do all these girls bring her things when they come back here…?' Eve mentioned she was going to do something similar. Sighing, the brunette shook her head before thinking about her next question.

"T-That's… nice. How long have you known everybody? I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say Najia took you in as well." Growing quiet momentarily, Poppy's eyes were hazy before she smiled cheerfully. "Yep, yep! Najia's nice to me too. She likes to bring me back drinks to." She grinned.

Scowling as her question was, not so much avoid, as simply misunderstood, Abby was about to ask her again before Poppy spoke up first. "Why are you so teeny tiny? Aren't humans supposed to be bigger?" Rubbing the back of her head sheepishly, Abby sighed for whatever countless time that had been. Something told her this was going to be a long day.

"I'm small because Kari shrank me. I-It wasn't her fault, but… some things went down when we first met, and she took me with her to protect me. I'm going to get changed back, but, I promised her I'd help Najia recover first. You know what happened to her right?"

Nodding her head tiredly, Poppy's eyes scanned Abby carefully before she smiled. "I see… Do you like being teeny tiny?" Looking up at the younger girl in surprise, Abby was about to say no, but… Blushing faintly, the teenager scratched her cheek before shaking her head. "W-Well… not really, no. B-But, there are times it's nice… I kind of like being held. I shouldn't, but, it makes me feel safe in a way. Ironic, I know." She mumbled before looking back up at the curious Oni.

"That question really isn't something I can say yes or no to. There are aspects I like, and others I hate. I don't like that I need to be watched 24/7, or the fact that Casey has to help me go to the bathroom either…" That was just demeaning, but, she still didn't really mind. The Pro's fought the Con's evenly. It mostly just came down to it feeling, natural now. It had been four or five days now, and it just felt, strange to think about what it was going to be like to change back. "I guess I can't really answer you on that one. Sorry." She mumbled before looking back to the quiet girl. Feeling the hairs on the back of her neck rise as she was stared at intently, the teenager blushed as she waited for her to say something. ‘W-Why is she just looking at me…?'

After about a minute passed, Poppy smiled quietly before reaching for her gourd. "You're a weird human." She snickered before taking a long sip from her drink. Sputtering in embarrassment, Abby scowled up at the child before crossing her arms.

"D-Don't judge me! You asked the question! Would you rather I lied and said No I hate it and hate Kari for doing it to me!" Pausing mid-sip, Poppy pursed her lips before pulling away from her drink. "No, I don't like humans who lie…" She mumbled darkly.

Shivering from the hostile tone she had yet to hear, Abby took a tentative step back before screeching as she fell backward's. Blinking Poppy looked down before her eyes widened. "Kyahahahaha!" Laughing hysterically as she looked down at the smaller girl, Abby blushed in embarrassment as she tried to get up. She had failed to notice the pink skinned girl's navel right behind her. Adding insult to injury she just had to fall in it!

Pushing against Poppy's slick belly as she tried to pull her butt out from the small incline, Abby shook her head furiously as her cheeks grew redder and redder by the second. "S-S-STOP LAUGHING! KNOCK IT OFF!" Shaking her head the Oni cried as she felt the human's movements tickling her tummy.

"Kyehehe, you're a fun human after all! I like you." She chirped before moving her free hand down towards her. Pouting as she was helped out of the child's belly button, Abby continued to blush as she tried to shrink and grow less noticed. She was completely, and utterly humiliated…

Patting the older girls back with her finger, Poppy grinned before lifting her gourd up once more. "Drink?" "NO, I DON'T WANT A DRINK!" She just wanted to curl up and forget that ever happened. Pouting, the Oni shrugged her shoulder before pulling her makeshift flask up once more as she drank greedily from its contents.

Letting it fall to her side as she sighed, the child murmured happily before shaking her head. "You seem nice. Are you a nice human?" Furrowing her brow, the teenager looked up in confusion now. "I, I guess? But, I think you'll have to make that decision yourself. To some of you, you like me. To others… I think you even, l-love me. But, to some… you hate me…" She whispered as she thought about Ebon.

There was no way to answer that without lying either. "You all have different opinions on me, so, you'll just have to make one yourself as well. I'd like to think I'm nice... kind even… but I've had my moments when I haven't been." She whispered meekly, her thoughts traveling back to what occurred in her Master's shop with a certain dirty blonde witch.

Feeling her head patted once more, Abby looked up at Poppy as the Oni stared down at her. "You don't drink, so you're no fun. But you don't yell or scream at me, so you're not mean. Do you like us?" Feeling the new question's answer come to her much easier than the others, Abby smiled. "Yes, I like you. I like all of you girls. I might be impartial to Ebon... but that doesn't mean I hate her either. You have, such different and unique personalities it would be impossible not to like all of you. You're not Monsters… your people. And I'm happy to have found this out. It's really opened my eyes." She whispered softly before shaking her head.

Crying out in surprise as the Hominal's finger beat into her back roughly, Poppy giggled before nodding her head. "Then Poppy likes you too." Blushing softly, Abby smiled faintly as she looked up at the lavender haired girl. ‘I guess that means I've made another ally.' The more the merrier, in the end.

"Drink?" Groaning, the brunette hung her head before simply shaking it. How many times did she have to say no before this daft girl got it? Looking back up at Poppy as she drank carelessly from her large gourd, a quiet smile found its way to the miniature girl's lips.

‘She seems so carefree.' It was strange. All of the other girls had something they held onto, something from their pasts that followed them. Be it Casey's bitter indifference or Brooks urge to feel wanted… Did the Oni girl have anything she brought along with her too?

Feeling as if the question might be a touchy one, the teenager weighed asking it in the first place, but… she really did want to know how Poppy came to find herself with the rest of the girls here. Licking her lips as she tried to word her question as safely as she could, Abby nodded before looking back up at the younger girl.

"H-How… how did you come under Najia's care? Did she save you to like she did with Casey and Brook? Or, adopt you?" Noticing the not so subtle change in the Oni, the lavender haired girl paused her drinking as she slowly pulled her gourd back once more.

"Why do you want to know that…" She whispered her tone once again dark, a stark contrast to the dense and carefree one she was using earlier. Looking downward sheepishly, Abby shook her head before sighing. "N-Never mind… I just wanted to know. Wanted to know more about you I mean." She could tell the question would be one that bothered her… so perhaps it was best to just leave it be.

Sitting motionless as her gourd hung loosely in front of her lips, Poppy's golden irises shifted away from her drink and down to the human as she studied her. "I saw her walking outside my old cave with other people… and joined up with her after I met her…" she whispered.

Looking back to Poppy in silence, Abby quietly nodded before smiling. That didn't sound so bad. Perhaps not all of these girls had as tragic of a past as Casey made it out to be-"I didn't have much of a choice since my Mommy was killed…"

Growing still, the hairs on the back of Abby's neck began to rise as her eyes widened in shock. Shivering, the smaller girl looked back up at the Oni as her blood ran cold. Looking down at her with disdain, the once carefree girl was now looked dark and foreboding. It was intimidating, to say the least…

Gazing down at the smaller human as her eyes darkened by the second, Abby visibly flinched as she moved her guard back over to her lips. Tilting the flask back as she gulped down a larger sip than usual, the pink skinned girl slammed the guard onto the ground beside her causing the teenager to cringe. She crossed a line… didn't she…?

Wiping the light dribble of pale liquid across her lips with her forearm, Poppy continued to stare Abby down as she sized her up. "If you want to know… I'll tell you what happened. But we're sharing a drink afterward…" She whispered, her tone surprisingly serious for such an odd demand of her.

Looking down in silence, the brunette frowned before looking back up to the child. She really didn't want to know her story if she was going to get upset with her. And she really didn't want to have a taste of whatever it was she was drinking either. But... a part of her was urging her on. She had to know. "F-Fine… I'll have a drink with you… But, if you don't want to tell me something, we can stop anytime you want." She didn't like the idea either way, but… she didn't want to cause the Oni any pain. It looked like this was going to be a sad tale…

"Kyaheh, Oni's don't go back on their words… I'll tell you everything… you can think whatever you want afterward's." She muttered broodingly before resting her head on the rocks behind her. Looking at the silent giantess as her eyes rested in place, no sounds were heard, before she finally closed her eyes, and let out an airy sigh.

"You don't seem like a bad person Abby. You're like the people my Mommy told me about. She loved you, humans… and for a while, so did I. You're soft and squishy, and not very strong… but you're supposed to be fun, and happy creatures. You're supposed to be like us…" She muttered before her eyes opened back up.

Gazing down at the older girl as she observed her, Poppy chuckled dryly before shaking her head. "Not all humans are the same though, are they?" Shaking her head, Abby frowned as she got a general idea of what Oni's were. They were a species of carouse, and they didn't try to hide it. And they probably liked others like them too. They liked to have fun.

But, humans came in all flavors. They weren't always like that either. Case in point, herself. Hearing a soft chuckling escaping past the child's lips, Abby looked back up at Poppy laughed halfheartedly. "My mommy used to tell me stories… She told me how she would come down from her cave on certain days of the year, and go into towns where people were loud and rowdy. Sometimes they were scared of her, but other times they would drink with her and continue doing whatever they were doing before. She was really fond of those days…" She whispered before her eyes slowly began to fall closed.

"I don't know how long she did this, but she told me once, that those days are gone. That makes me sad… I want to drink... I want to have fun… I wanted to be friends with the humans like my Mommy too." She whispered before her head slowly fell to the side startling the shrunken girl.

"P-P-Poppy?!" Jolting her head up, the lavender haired girl blinked slowly before yawning. "Huuuuh…? What…" Frowning, the teenager shook her head. Did she just fall asleep while she was talking? Looking the girl over as she rubbed her tired eyes, the Oni soon blinked before a smile founds its way to her lips.

"Ohhhh… I forgot I was telling you something wasn't I?" She chuckled before shaking her head. "Huuuh… Where was I…? Ohhhh, the drinks!" She laughed. Smiling dryly as she watched the younger girl seemingly revert back to her happier demeanor, Abby nodded.

Hopefully, she stayed in this mood a little while longer. Reaching for her gourd, the Oni once more took a suckle from her flask before letting it fall back to her side, a content smile on her face as she stared back down at the human on her stomach.

"I guess, one day… my Mommy found a human who really liked to drink and party with her. She liked him a whole lot, and I think he liked her too… or, thought at least." She mumbled as her eyes grew hazy once more. Sitting down slowly, Abby was mute as she listened intently. She had a bad feeling about where this story was headed…

Breathing steadily through her parted lips, Poppy closed her eyes before shaking her head. "She liked him a lot… so she brought him back to her cave after the partying ended. And then, I was born. He was my Daddy." She smiled faintly. Looking up at the Oni in disbelief, the teenager wanted to question a Hominal just abducting someone from their village, but it didn't appear she was finished.

Letting out a couple throaty laughs, Poppy rubbed her eyes, before shaking her head. "I don't remember much, but Mommy treated Daddy like… like… what are those things you humans worship? No, obey? Huuuh…" She mumbled, beckoning Abby for an answer to her question.

Furrowing her brow, Abby ran the unfinished sentence through her mind before speaking. "Gods, deities… monarchs, kings, sovereigns, "Yes, king! That's the thing!" She laughed startling Abby from her sudden interruption.

Giggling softly, Poppy sighed before her gaze rose once more. "Mommy treated Daddy like a king. She would always cuddle with him and drink with him and give him things. He was really happy too. At least… he acted like he was…" She whispered.

Nodding quietly, Abby hummed silently as she thought it over. ‘If he was her mate, it would make sense she treated him kindly.' Mates seemed to mean the world to Hominal and possibly to Beastial too. Looking back at Poppy as her eyes glazed over, the shrunken girl waved her hand before the Oni blinked, her attention shifting back to the human currently resting a top her.

"Huuuuh?" "What happened next? C-Can you keep going…?" She knew this story was about to take a turn for the worse… but, she had to know at this point. She was too deep in to stop now. Scratching her cheek, Poppy furrowed her brow before her eyes lit up.

"Ohhhh, I was born soon after, I think I was at least… Mommy said she and Daddy were living together for… a year? Two… huuuuh… I don't know. I guess awhile. I don't remember what Daddy looked like, though. Mommy was always the one who would play with me. We drank together every day… she was the best." The lavender haired girl whispered as the faintest of smiles graced her lips.

Smiling softly up at Poppy, Abby nodded before noticing something running down the child's cheeks. "P-P-Poppy…" Sitting still, the pig tailed girl slowly reached up to her cheek before brushing away the light trail of tears that had formed. When did she start crying? She couldn't remember…

Reaching for her gourd, the sullen girl pulled it to her lips before drinking small, shallow sips from its endless reservoir before letting it thump to her side as she lay still. She looked, different than before. Perhaps telling her this was a mistake. It didn't look like the girl wanted to say anything else.

"P-Poppy… that's enough, you don't need to tell me anymore." Letting her eyes roll downward as she looked at Abby, the Oni frowned as she stared at the human distantly. "W-Why do you humans lie…?" Stiffening, the teen was rather silent now as she was asked such a question.

"P-Poppy… W-We don't always lie. I mean, we're not perfect… but not all humans are liars if that's what you're asking." Hearing a quiet growl escape past the child's lips, Abby shivered. She felt like her safety might be jeopardized… Perhaps Eve had made a mistake after all… It didn't look like the Hominal was as fond of humans as she let on after all.

Scowling down at her, Poppy huffed as her eyes closed once more. "If not all you humans lie… then why did my Daddy say he loved me and Mommy… and then help the other humans kill her…" Shuddering as her body froze up, Abby paled as her eyes widened in shock.

"W-W-What…?" Screaming in fright as the Oni's hand slammed into the wall beside her, the brunette shivered in fear as she saw the dark eyes the Hominal wore. "Daddy said he loved Mommy… and he said he loved me too… but then some of you humans showed up to our cave one day… They wore shiny clothes and pointed weapons at Mommy. They said they wanted her… her…" Furrowing her brow, Poppy grunted as she tried to recall the word.

"Booty… barracks… baby…" "B-Bounty…?" Cringing as she saw the girl's eyes widen in anger, Poppy slowly nodded. "Yeeeeah… Bounty… they said they wanted my Mommy to give them her bounty. But, I don't know what a bounty is…" She mumbled bitterly.

Looking downward as the realization dawned on her now, Abby nodded. Bounty's were put out on Monsters who gave local villages trouble. It was what made Monster hunting such a successful profession.  Groups would get together and they would go out to track down whatever Monster they had opted to kill… and then bring back a part of it, or in some cases the whole creature as proof for their reward.

Most of the patients she and her Master worked on in their shop were hunters actually. Feeling a pang of guilt for some reason, Abby looked back up at Poppy as she continued to stare off spitefully. "S-So… they wanted your Mom's bounty… what did she do that warranted one? Bounties are only put out when Mon-, err… Hominal or Beastial become too much of a problem for the people of towns or caravans on the roads. From what you've told me… you and your parents lived peacefully in a cave somewhere, right?"

Staring down at the ground, Poppy shook her head slowly before reaching for her gourd, only for her hand to fall limply to the ground beside it. "I don't know… they just said bounty… and then they attacked." Feeling her lower jaw tremble as she saw more tears beginning to form under the Oni's eyes, Abby's hand moved down to her navel as she gently pet her.

"P-Poppy…" Sniffling, the child shook her head before baring her teeth. "My Mommy was strong… those stupid humans couldn't kill her!" She screamed startling the brunette thoroughly. She had never heard her raise her voice like that. Sputtering as she continued to shake her head, the lavender haired girl ground her teeth as she breathed raggedly.

"You puny humans couldn't stop her… she was strong. Oni's are the strongest! She fought them back and they couldn't do anything! B-But… But then…" Poppy trailed off once more as full blown tears finally broke out from her eyes. "B-But… but then…but then something stabbed her in her back. I, I remember, seeing the pain in my Mommy's face when she turned around and saw my Daddy holding a large stick. H-He stabbed my Mommy in the back…" She cried.

Feeling her blood run cold, Abby was speechless. ‘W-What, what d-did she just say…?' N-No, she couldn't have heard that right. Looking up slowly as she saw Poppy grinding her teeth, the older girl felt her lower jaw trembling again as her hands moved up to her mouth. That… that couldn't be true… r-right…

 

Right…?

 

Growling, Poppy's hand slammed into the wall next to her once more, the rocks splintering from the force she had used. "I… I loved… I loved m-my Daddy… and he said, he loved my Mommy… b-but then, you humans came… and he helped them kill her… and then, he left… left me…" She whispered before glaring at the shrunken girl.

Breathing quicker as she tried to wrap her head around this, Abby was still completely, and utterly speechless. Looking up at the younger girl as their eyes met, Abby could only whimper. Behind her golden eyes, she could see, pain. So much pain...

Sniffling, Poppy shook her head again before reaching for her gourd. Tilting her head back as she swallowed a few large mouthfuls, the Oni slammed it back on the ground before letting out a throaty hiss. "I saw… them… T-They took, they took one of Mommy's horns, and tore it off her head! And Daddy just walked out of our home with them… and left me… m-me and Mommy…" She whimpered before pulling the gourd back into her as she hugged it into her side and cried.

Sitting in silence as she digested it all, Abby felt her stomach churning. She felt, sick… Cupping her lower abdomen as she tried to relieve some of the pain she felt, the brunette trembled. This wasn't right… She said her mother made whoever this man was happy. If he was happy though, then why would he just kill her, and leave with his would be saviors…

She was confused. And Poppy was hurt. No one won in this situation. No one. The Hunters didn't slay a Monster… they murdered a Mother. And her Father… a-abandoned her… he had just left. Looking back up at Poppy as she lifted her flask up again, Abby felt her stomach continuing to churn as she began to understand a little bit more about the Hominal in front of her.

Suckling on the cap of her drink, the little Oni continued to drink its contents, and it didn't look like she wanted to stop. ‘S-She's… she's self-medicating herself.' She was drinking away the pain… Staring at Poppy as she cradled her drink closer, the Oni's eyes soon opened back up as she pulled away, a faint smile on her lips now.

"N-Na… Najia? Yeah, Najia found me later… she seemed sad… and was really nice to me. So we left, and now I'm here!" She laughed before shaking her head. Looking back at the child in a new light as she continued to cradle the gourd closer to her, Abby couldn't help but feel sorrow.

Feeling the shrunken girl shifting over her navel, Poppy looked down now before furrowing her brow. "What are you doing?" Lying flat against her skin, Abby buried her face into Poppy's stomach as she spread her arms out. It was times like this… that she hated being at her current height… because she wanted nothing more right now, then to hug her.

Sniffling as tears dripped down from her own eyes now, Abby said nothing as she tried to embrace the larger girl. She wanted to comfort her… She wanted nothing more than to make her forget her pain. Staring down at the smaller girl, Poppy frowned as it dawned on her what the teenager was doing.

"K-Knock it off… I-I'm fine…" "No… you're not. I-I-I'm so, s-sorry…" Abby whispered as she buried her face further into the Oni girl. She didn't care if her skin was sweaty and humid. She didn't care about the salty taste entering her mouth or nose. She didn't care about anything… but her right now.

Looking down at Abby as she tried to embrace her, Poppy felt her sadness returning. Reaching for her gourd, the lavender haired girl lifted it up weakly before letting it fall back to her side, a light trickle of tears escaping her eyes once more.

Staring down at the human on her stomach as she began to cry, Poppy quietly sighed. "Why… Why did Daddy say he loved Mommy… a-and then betray her… W-Why did he do it…? Abby?" Raising her head up, the diminutive girl shook it. "I-I don't know… B-But I'm so, sorry… I'm so sorry…I-I'm so s-sorry…" She repeated. It hurt her… for more than one reason.

For all she knew… those hunters could have been people she treated. She and her Master combined had helped over a thousand plus people… and in doing so… just how many Hominal and Beastial had their actions hurt?

Biting her lip, Abby sniffled as she continued to shake her head. Ignorance was bliss. When they were Monsters, she didn't care. She wanted them all to die. But… but they weren't Monsters damn it! Looking back up at Poppy as the disheartened girl stared down at her weakly, Abby cried even harder.

She was so sorry! Feeling a gentle patting on her back, the brunette whimpered as she was gently picked up. Lying limply in the Oni's hand as she was brought up towards her face, Poppy stared her over before smiling weakly.

"I miss my Mommy… but I'm glad I met Najia… and I'm glad I met you. You're a nice human." She whispered. Croaking as she gasped for air, Abby wanted to shake her head, but the younger girl would have none of that. Pressing the miniature girl into her cheek, the lavender haired Oni hugged her gently into her skin as she sighed.

"I… I hate my Daddy now… and I thought I didn't like you, Humans, either. The Humans who came into our home weren't happy to see us. They just wanted to hurt my Mommy… and if I wasn't hiding… they might have tried to hurt me too. I-I wish I helped her though…" She whispered weakly.

Pinching her cheeks, Abby nuzzled her face against Poppy's as she hugged her tighter. "P-Please… please don't give up on us… us Humans. I-I'm so sorry… b-but I swear we're not all Monsters." But, even she was having trouble believing her own words anymore. Every time she met a new resident of these caves… they proved to her time and time again that it wasn't them who were Monsters… but her own kind…

It hurt. She still felt it, her pain. Sobbing softly into the larger girl, Abby shook her head as she tried to comfort her. Somehow, it felt like she was the one being comforted now not the other way around. How messed up was that.

"I know that. You're not a Monster. You're my friend." Stiffening, Abby slowly pulled her face back before looking up at Poppy now in silence. Grinning carelessly, the Oni giggled before pushing the human back into her cheek so she could nuzzle her longer.

"You said to decide for myself, and I did! You're nice. I like you." She chirped, her prior demeanor now resembling what it was before compared to what it had just been. Just how much pain was she hiding from her? How much was she hiding from the others?

Shuddering at the thought, Abby sniffled before hugging Poppy tighter. She wanted to make her feel better. She wanted to make them all feel better. She hated it. She hated this world she was now a part of. Now she knew the truth…

All Hominal and all Beastial… were prey. ‘W-We prey on them… not the other way around.' They needed Humans to survive… But Humans didn't need them. So they hunt them. They shun them for being different. 'We despise them… even when they love us back.' It wasn't fair!

Rubbing Abby gently as she cried into her cheek, Poppy slowly began to frown. "Don't be sad. Being sad is no fun! You should be happy, like me!" She laughed before her hand moved back towards her gourd. Sniffling, the brunette shook her head gently.

‘Y-You're not happy though… you're just trying to forget the pain…But she didn't know that.' Lifting her drink up gleefully, Poppy laughed gaily before pulling Abby off of her cheek. "Now a deals a deal! You have to share a drink with me! That's how you become friends with an Oni! When two people share a drink, their buds!" She grinned.

Wiping her tears from her eyes, Abby soured a bit as she listened to the gleeful girl's giggles. "I-I'll still drink with you… b-but, but you can't just drink away your pain Poppy. I-If you ever, EVER, want to talk to someone… please, talk to me. I, I'm sorry for what happened to you… and I, H-H-Hey!" Abby screeched as she was suddenly cut off.

Dropping the Human back onto her stomach, Poppy's eyes shifted away from her now as she set her gourd back down. Looking forward towards the lower entrance to the cave that led down to its other chambers, the Oni's golden eyes watched as she observed a shape slowly coming forward.

Skidding down the pink skinned girl's sweaty belly once more, Abby huffed angrily as she looked back up at Poppy. "W-W-WHAT WAS THAT FOR! I WAS JUST TRYING TO-"Abby…" Furrowing her brow as she was cut off, the teenager paused as she saw the strange look on the child's face. She looked, serious. Her juvenile demeanor was gone and now replaced with a much darker one.

Was it something she said? Pointing wordlessly towards the path that led up to them, Abby had to squint as well as she saw something walking forward. As the shape came into view, all blood drained from the teenagers face as she saw the one person she had hoped to never see again…

Stepping past the archway of the small tunnel, Ebon walked into the room as she walked forward slowly, her left leg limply dragging against the dirt as she moved and slinked forward. Looking up as she saw the entrance to the caverns already open, the Dragon girl glanced over towards Poppy in confusion before her slitted eyes locked on to the small shape resting on her belly.

Feeling her eyes widen, Ebon's mouth opened up as she bared her fangs. "What… is the meaning of this… what are you doing Poppy… what are you doing with that Human!" She roared angrily, her voicing still carrying well with the entrance of the cavern beside them.

Trembling in terror, Abby felt her breath coming out in short gasps as she began to hyperventilate. It was her… Ebon was here… and this time, Eve wasn't with them. Screeching as she was grabbed from behind, Abby soon calmed as she continued to tremble. It was just Poppy…

Picking the smaller girl up gently, Poppy's expression remained as she stared the Dragon down. "Going out?" Growling as her question was ignored, Ebon took a shaky step forward as one of the legs under her gently shook. "Answer me!" She roared once more. She looked furious…

Standing up slowly, the Oni stood at her full height now as she looked back down at the A class Hominal. She was surprisingly tall for her age... "I'm spending time with my friend." She whispered quietly. Her tone was genial, but both girls knew it was anything but friendly.

Raising her scaled hand forward, the black Dragon girl hissed as sparks of fire began to glow inside her mouth. "Give her to me. She's not your friend. She's deceiving you, and deceiving us! She, is, Human! She will betray us the first chance she gets…" Ebon whispered venomously.

Shivering in fear, Abby looked back up at the Oni now as her golden eyes flicked back down towards her. Shaking her head slowly, Abby whimpered as she saw a pang of animosity in her eyes. ‘N-No… I-I wouldn't…' She would never do that to them…

Feeling her fear relieved as a small smile found its way to her face, Poppy soon grinned before shaking her head. "Nope. Abby's my friend! Though, we haven't shared that drink together yet…" "I-I'LL TAKE THE DRINK, I'LL TAKE THE DRINK!" Smirking as she heard the frantic noises the brunette was making, Poppy giggled.

"Sorry Ebon, I'm keeping her with me!" She grinned. Looking back at Poppy with widened eyes, the Dragon girl growled louder before walking forward. "I wasn't asking you… Give, her, too, me!" Eeping as she was shifted downward, Abby turned her head in surprise before screaming in disbelief as she was deposited into the child's loincloth.

Dropping the smaller girl into the tiger stripped folds of her undergarments; Poppy hummed as she stretched her body out tiredly. "I already told you. I don't wanna!" Blushing furiously as her head popped back up, Abby shuddered as she felt the Oni's sweat coating her naked form from head to toe. She was completely drenched! Just how humid were these caverns?!

Gazing up at the pink skinned girl as she lazily moved around to shake her body out, her surprise was evident as she saw her reaching behind her for something. "Eve said to keep her special person safe. And Abby is my special person now too! So you can't have her. Kaaaay?"

Growling in short bursts Ebon's wings un-furrowed behind her before she kicked off the ground. That wasn't the answer she expected to hear! Crying in fear for the Oni as the Dragon was about to fall on top of her, Poppy could only grin before swinging her right arm forward.

Watching the scene unfold in front of her, the teenager was rendered speechless. Wielding a large metallic bat… no, mace… the Oni girl swung it into the Dragon with ease as the muscles beneath her arms revealed themselves. There were most certainly there…

Slamming her bludgeon into the startled girl's stomach, she didn't stop there, however, as she made a full turn with her body before slamming the child into the wall behind her. Gawking as she watched the wall crack into a spider web from the force, any voice Abby had left was completely and utterly gone.

What did she just witness! Where was she keeping that thing!? It was almost twice her size! Pulling her mace back and propping it on her shoulder like its weight was irrelevant to her and her alone, Poppy grinned from ear to ear. "Mommy's kanabo hurts, doesn't it? I won't let you near my friend, kaaaay?" Falling from the wall as she landed on her back in pain, Ebon hissed as she felt her insides were churned. Not even Eveline had hit her that hard before…

Lifting the large war like club off her shoulder and pointing it at the Dragon as she slowly began to rise, Poppy's grin widened as she saw the scaled girl fall back into the wall as she panted. "So whats it going to be?" Taking long and deep breaths, the Dragon's fiery eyes traveled back down to Abby as she glared at her hatefully.

"I-I'll… k-kill you… I won't let you endanger us… you're a plague…" She whispered bitterly before crawling along the wall as she made her way towards the entrance of the open cave. Keeping her weapon pointed forward, Poppy watched silently till Ebon disappeared past the entrance and eventually from sight altogether.

Sighing, the Oni let the club fall to the floor causing a small crater to form beneath it much to Abby's disbelief. She was a lot stronger than she let on... What the hell was that thing made of?! Flopping back onto the ground, the lavender haired girl shook her head before looking back down at her undergarments.

 

"You alright?"

 

Panting softly as she felt her heart slowly returning back to its usual pace, Abby flopped forward weakly before nodding. "Y-Yeah… I, I think… H-H-Hey Poppy…?" Nodding, the Oni looked down again as she saw the girl resting her back against her loincloth as she tried to relax. That had been just as terrifying as the first time she met Ebon… and every time since…

 

Licking her dry lips, Abby glanced up to the Oni before smiling weakly.

 

"I-I think I'll take that drink now…"

 

 

To be continued.

 

 

Chapter End Notes:

 

 

I hope you all liked it. :)

 

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