Chapter Text
Your boot sank into the mud with every step you took, which only made it harder to carry the buckets full of water for the horses. You moved carefully to avoid slipping straight into the muck and whatever else might be mixed into it.
Gently, you poured the water into the trough and watched a beautiful horse, with brown fur and muscles shaped by a life of hard work, trot softly toward it as soon as it noticed the fresh water. As it drank, it allowed you to stroke its mane with quiet care.
It had only been a day since they hired you at the circus. You had desperately asked for a job you needed money and by some miracle, they accepted. There hadn’t been many questions, which you appreciated, but there were no promises either. Just one clear condition: feed the animals and do whatever you were told, without questioning.
You had been forced to wake before sunrise, feed the horses that pulled the wagons, and brush each one of them. Later, you were made to wash piles of clothes, hang them out to dry under the sun, make lard soap, and cut all the meat for the circus “monsters.” You didn’t recognize what kind of meat it was but given your background, identifying meats wasn’t your area anyway, and wisely, you chose not to ask. You knew they wouldn’t tolerate questions.
Later, your boss handed you two iron buckets filled with the meat you had cut earlier and pointed toward the most distant tent.
— Take their food over there. Just try not to lose an arm — he said.
You couldn’t tell if it was a warning or a joke, so you simply nodded and picked up the buckets. You lifted them with effort; your body, unused to such physical labor, was starting to feel the strain of the day. Suppressing a grimace at the dull ache in your arms, you walked toward the tent, grateful for the wooden planks that kept you from stepping into the mud.
When you reached the entrance, you paused for a moment.
The thick fabric swayed slightly, and through a narrow opening you could see only darkness inside. Adjusting your grip on the buckets and summoning courage you didn’t really have, you stepped inside.
There were six cages. Each held a being with bright, colored eyes.
As you set the buckets down, you felt their gazes on you. You stared awkwardly at the buckets until you noticed something important: they contained raw, bright red meat—but not enough for six creatures of that size. You frowned, confused. Your boss had handed you these buckets already filled, so in theory, it should be correct.
— Did he make a mistake? — you murmured to yourself, taking off your hat and wiping your sweaty forehead with your sleeve. The tent was unbearably hot, and you used your hat to fan yourself just to endure it. Your gaze drifted from the buckets to the creatures in the cages. You assumed they were animal like beings, so you doubted they could answer you.
With a sigh, you left the tent and hurried back to your boss. It wouldn’t hurt to ask, right?
Your boots made the wooden planks creak as you rushed along. You found him talking to another man beside one of the wagons. They both paused when they saw you approaching like that—uncertain, a bit lost.
— Back already? — he asked, his eyes scanning your arms and legs as if checking for something.
You hesitated for just a second.
— I… I think there’s not enough meat — you said, your voice quieter than you wanted — There are six cages in there, but… it doesn’t seem like enough
The other man let out a short, knowing snort, looking away as if he already knew something you didn’t.
Your boss didn’t laugh.
He stared at you longer than necessary, as if deciding something. Then he ran a hand over his face, sighed… and gave a crooked half-smile.
— I know
That didn’t reassure you.
— So… should I bring more? — you asked, already preparing yourself to go back and carry more
— No — he replied too quickly for your liking.
Now you frowned for real. Still unsure, you looked at him, but the way he stared back made you push your doubts aside. You nodded and turned away, walking back along the wooden path with stiff steps.
You entered the tent again, feeling more exhausted than you had all day, and walked toward the buckets you had left. Picking one up, you noticed each held three pieces of meat just one piece per creature. With a quiet sigh, you dragged one bucket to the first cage.
It was the smallest of the monsters, with pink eyes. She seemed to be the only female. She stayed curled in the corner, far from you.
— Hey… are you okay? — you said. You’d feel ridiculous if someone saw you talking to them, but ever since childhood, you had always talked to animals when alone — I still don’t think this is enough for you, but it’s all they’re willing to give. So… I’m sorry it’s so little. I promise I’ll try to get more for you
You glanced at the bucket, then back at her. The small creature looked at you with an understanding gaze as if she grasped far more than you believed she could.
— And I’m sorry I don’t have a bowl or anything for you. No offense, but if you’re the circus owner’s golden goose, he should treat you better — you murmured, almost like it was a secret. You placed a piece of meat carefully inside the cage — I washed my hands, I swear
For a moment, nothing happened.
The creature didn’t move. She stayed in the corner, pink eyes fixed on you far too aware for something that should act on instinct. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable.
Then she moved, slowly, as if deciding you weren’t a threat. Only then did she take the meat and retreat back to the corner. She ate quietly, without making a sound.
That didn’t feel right.
It didn’t feel like… just an animal.
You lingered a second too long before remembering why you were there. The weight of your task settled back onto your shoulders as you dragged the bucket to the next cage.
This one was much larger, with sharp yellow eyes that clearly didn’t like you getting close to the pink-eyed one. You placed a piece of meat inside. It didn’t move and you were grateful for that. Judging by its size, breaking out of the cage would take it a second, and with how little they were being fed, you definitely didn’t want to be nearby if it ever got loose.
— Do your kind have a name? — you murmured to yourself as you moved to the third cage — I don’t remember reading about you in any of the countless books my father made me study, I can identify a sea cucumber, but not you…
You crouched in front of the third cage. Bright green eyes stared back at you. This one had something like tentacles. You were about to place the meat when it suddenly approached the first one to do so.
A small spark of happiness flickered inside you. Did this one like you?
You extended the meat carefully, trying to contain your excitement but just as you were about to let go, one of its tentacles wrapped around your wrist and yanked you forward. Your face slammed hard against the bars, your hat falling off. A sound like laughter came from the creature.
Before it could bite you, you planted one foot against the cage and pushed yourself back, falling onto the ground. The tentacle released you with an annoyed sound.
You cursed in French, just like your mother used to. Your arm now had a fresh bruise, and you were covered in dust. Sitting up, you glared at the creature as if it had betrayed you. Then you stood, brushed yourself off, picked up your hat and ignored it entirely as you went for the second bucket.
Next was a creature with purple eyes. For a moment, the way it looked at you made you feel trapped as if you were the one inside the cage. More cautious now, you placed the meat carefully and moved on.
The next was the second smallest, with white eyes. It seemed to be evaluating you from head to toe. You gave it the meat carefully, but felt less at risk. It didn’t seem like the type to attack immediately.
Relieved by the calm of the last two, you approached the final cage the largest of them all, with pale blue eyes.
The moment you placed the meat, it lunged.
Its eyes turned red, its massive body slamming against the cage, nearly grabbing your arm.
That was too much.
You stumbled back, grabbed both buckets, and ran out of the tent, leaving them behind.
Your boss saw you running along the wooden path and gave a crooked smile, making it clear he had sent you there on purpose.
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As soon as you left, silence filled the tent until the green-eyed one broke it with a laugh.
— Looks like they sent another newbie. What a joke — he said, tearing into the meat with his fingers — Wanna bet how long they last before quitting or turning into a complete jerk?
— I hope you’re wrong. She seems better than the others — the pink-eyed one said, while the yellow-eyed one made a sound of agreement.
— Let’s see how long that lasts — the purple-eyed one added — I doubt she won’t change after living among them
The other two remained silent— he white-eyed one in agreement, and the blue-eyed one, still hungry.