A New Level In The Food Chain Ch.5
Three, Four or More’s Company Too
/Capital league- Wildsburg/
Cedric and Cari came to a slow walk as they exited the woods leading them to the countryside. Both panting from the long run on the route. The sun was just starting to set turning the blue sky a dark orangish mixture. As they made their way down the road they took in their surroundings searching out the mass expanse of open field and grass.
“This really is the country all right. The more things change the more they stay the same.” Cedric looked out at the plains with nostalgia.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Cari gave an inquisitive look. “I’ve never heard that saying.”
“When you get older you’ll understand. Hurry up the GPS is saying the ranch is not too much farther down the road.”
As they walked farther in the country away from the woods, they spotted a few farms and houses in the distance. Getting closer to the farms the pair spotted Kattle and Milktits grazing on the land. A particularly long brown building with a wooden fence surrounding it caught their attention down the road.
“That’s gotta be the ranch. C’mon Kitty race you there.” He started running down the road towards the ranch.
“Hey, no fair!” She raced after him.
Cedric was halfway to the ranch when Cari caught up and past him with ease leaving him behind as he cursed at her speed. She reached the front of the building in no time and stopped and waited for her tamer to catch up.
“Ha, ha, I won.” sticking her tongue out as he approached her.
“Damn your fast as hell. Now I know next time to cheat in a race with you.” She giggled at him as he walked up to the door and walked inside and followed in after. The lobby was not notably big in size but was neat in decoration.
“Hello welcome to the wild ranch, how may I help?” A sweet voice greeted that belong to a woman in blue jean overalls with black hair with white highlights all through it. Cedric’s mental pokedex identified her as a Mooncalf. He couldn’t help but let his eyes wander over her body enjoying the fact that she was wearing nothing under her overall and could see the sides of her generous breast. He quickly returned his line of sight back to her face to not ogle her for too long.
“Hi, my name is Cedric Hondo, I was told to come to this ranch to pick up a girl waiting for me.”
“May I see your pokedex to confirm who you are sweetheart”
Handing over his pokedex to the bovine woman she connected it to her computer behind her counter and pressed a couple of keys for a moment then looked back up to him with a warm smile.” Ah yes, Mr. Hondo, we were given notification about you and your special condition. If you just wait here, I’ll go get Kevin the ranch owner to come out and meet you.”
Getting up from her seat she walked from behind the counter and into a door leading into another room leaving Cedric and Cari alone in the lobby.
“So, do you know who is going to be joining the harem?” Cari asked breaking the silence.
“I’m as in the dark as you.” He shrugged. “Let’s just hope she doesn’t have a bad attitude. I can’t do attitudes and don’t have the patience for chicks that are angry for no reason or on permanent PMS.”
“I hope she’s friendly and the same age as me. We could use more fun people with us.”
“The last thing I need is another kid I gotta watch over constantly.”
“I’m not a kid!”
“Keep telling yourself that kitty”
She puffed out her cheeks in frustration glaring at him it was also at that moment a man walked in the lobby out the door the Mooncalf walked into. He was around the same height as Cedric but had more meat on him not exactly making him overweight, but not in top peak shape.
“Howdy there, kiddo I’m Kevin Barns, owner of this here ranch. You must be the special guy I’ve been told about. Cedric Hondo, right?” He stuck out his hand towards Cedric.
“Yeah, nice to meet ya” Cedric shook his hand. “I don’t know about being special but I think I’m pretty spectacular in my own right.” The two shared a laugh with each other at the joke.
“I wanna congratulate you for making a perfect score on your journeyman test. It’s extremely rare that anyone does that.” He turned his attention to Cari. “This lovely young thing must be your starter, howdy little missy what’s your name?”
“I’m Cari the cutest catgirl you will ever meet.” She put on her most award-winning smile.
He chuckled as he rubbed the top of her head. “Of course, you are darling.” Turning his attention back to Cedric. “Melissa should be out with your new addition in a moment. I would like to say that in all my years of a ranch I’ve never had a case such as yours.”
“I was told that my new girl was already chosen for me, do you know who or what she is?”
Kevin shook his head in response. “Not a clue, the only thing I was informed was to make sure that she was given specifically to you and only you were to open the pokeball and for some reason, I was not allowed to scan it either. I have no information on where she was shipped from or who sent the pokeball. I’m kinda worried not knowing what could be in it, for all I know it could be Mantis or some other type of menace level girl.”
“Well looks like we're both going to find out, then hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”
It was at that moment the Mooncalf walked in the room carrying a pokeball she walked over to the trio and handed the ball to Cedric.
“Here’s your new girl, I hope she is everything you need in a member of your harem” She gave a friendly smile but her eyes were locked on the pokeball in curiosity.
“By the way you are staring at the ball you want to know what’s inside.” Cedric noticed.
“I’m sorry for being nosy, but like Kevin said before this strays from our normal procedures.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “Also, I really would like to know what the big secret is all about.”
“Sorry about that, Melissa can be quite the busybody at times. Sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.” Kevin gave an apologetic smile before giving a stern look to the mooncalf.
Cedric waved off the apology. “Don’t worry about she’s just curious just like me, hell we might need her for whatever is in here.”
“I wanna know too! maybe whoever is in there is nice” Cari voiced.
“Let’s find out then, hopefully, you’re right” Triggering the release switch on the ball causing a bright light filled in the space of the room.
The figure that formed in the light was taller than everyone in the room which did not sit well with Melissa as she moved Kevin behind him. Once the light cleared and everyone could see the girl it was Cedric who immediately recognized her.
“What the hell, Kahi?” He was shocked to see the naked feline hybrid again so soon.
“Now is that how you greet someone?” She gave a teasing smirk as she crossed her arms over her breast. “Especially when I came all this way to be with you.”
“You know each other?” This was from Cari as she sized up the towering pokegirl.
“Yes, she was one of the many people who trained me.”
“What breed is she? I’ve never seen her type before.” Kevin was the one to asked this question.
“She’s a Womanticore!” Melissa identified her. “What is she doing here?”
“I said I came to be with my student.” Kahi restated.
“I mean what is a Womanticore doing in this part of the world and who would send one over here?”
“All that matters are that I am here now and I will be joining my student’s harem. There is no need for you to know anything else.”
Melissa irritation was growing by the second and was about to retort when Kevin interrupted her. “That’s good enough a reason for me. Melissa stop pressing so much, if they say it’s none of our business, it’s none of our business. Go organize the stock or something while I take care of them.”
“Fine” She humphs as she walked out of the room.
“I’m sorry for her attitude, she gets that way when she doesn’t get the answers she wants.” Kevin apologized when the Mooncalf was out of the room. “If you would follow me I can get yall checked out and on your way.” Kevin lead them to the front counter where he scanned Cedric’s pokedex and updated his information. “That should do it, you’re all set.”
“Thank you, Kevin, I appreciate everything you’ve done my man.” Cedric shook his hand in appreciation.
“Aw shucks, I was just doing my job kiddo. Yall come back now, ya here.”
“Will do man” Cedric gave an amused smile as he waved goodbye.
“Nice meeting you Kevin,” Cari said as she followed Cedric and Kahi.
Once outside Cedric burst out in laughter getting a look of confusion and curiosity from both pokegirls. “What’s so funny?” Cari asked.
“What he said, Yall come back now ya here.” He laughed even harder after saying it. “I never thought that saying would be here in this world or at least be still around after the revenge war.”
“Huh, but almost everyone says that around these parts,” Cari informed.
“Makes sense, this is the south.” Cedric noticed the questioning look she was giving him. “What?”
“What did you mean by this world?”
Cedric and Kahi looked at each other one with a solemn look in her eyes and him with an uncertain expression.
“Kitty there’s a lot more going on than just a simple pokegirl journey.” Cedric Started. “In fact, its way more serious and dangerous than a pokegirl journey.”
“What could possibly be more dangerous than a pokegirl journey? It’s the most hazardous occupations to have in the world.” Cari tried to explain.
“We’re not just simply hunting feral pokegirls, Kitty. We are going after a group of pokegirls that rule over a nation. These pokegirls are ten times more dangerous than a feral can ever be.”
“In truth child, you have been drafted into a silent war that has been going on longer than you have been alive. You will be pushed to your limits and your abilities will be put to the most extreme test.” Kahi added.
“Kitty if you don’t want to be part of any of this, we can take you back to the pokecenter or leave you here at the ranch if you like. “Cedric suggested cautiously. “You can just-
Cari cut him off by placing her hand over his mouth “I’m not going anywhere; you chose me to be your partner and I’m going to stick with you no matter what. So just tell me what is going on.”
Cedric was slightly taken back by her sudden unflinching loyalty. “Pokegirl genetics man gotta love alpha bonds.” He couldn’t help but give a small smile. “Ok, first I will answer your original question so we can get that little bit out of the way. I’m not really 17 years’ old or from this league or from this world for a matter of fact. I’m from another world where the revenge world never happened and pokegirls don’t exist. I was brought here to this world by a dangerous group of Pokegirls that have the technology and power to tap into other dimensions and worlds to grab people from them.” He gave a grim look before continuing.
“I’m not sure why they specifically brought me here but from what I personally could tell from my short time with my abductors I was a mistake at least that’s what think I heard her say.”
“So, you were brought here by mistake?” Cari gave questioning look.
“It seems like it, in fact, I’m sure I heard one them saying I’m not the one they were looking for. Which is kinda weird because they still tried to take me prisoner instead of just kill me on the spot.” He gave a thoughtful look as he pondered on something. “It makes wonder who they were really trying to get and why I am so important to keep alive?”
“I’m sure whatever plans our enemies have for keeping you alive that none of them can be good and probably have to wish you were dead,” Kahi stated gravely. The seriousness in her words a shiver down Cari’s spine.
“Who are these enemies that are after you?” Kahi could hear a slight bit a fear in the young catgirl’s voice.
“We’re going against a group of pokegirls that are from the Dark Continent, a placed called Sanctuary.” Cedric began to explain. “This particular group of pokegirls is called Sanctuary goths and they rule over sanctuary with an iron fist and have strange powers along with equally stranger abilities. Fun fact they also go by the names of S-Goths, Dark Angel and some people personal favorite Grim Goths.” He laughed at inside joke.
Cari looked even more worried now after his explanation. “I heard many scary stories about the Dark Continent. I had no idea there where pokegirls that had their own league there also.”
“That’s because child it is a well-kept secret amongst the league and Sanctuary make sure no one knows that they exist. They are very keen on keeping it that way as well.” Kahi frowned at the setting sun realizing how late it was getting. “We need to be moving we have to set up camp before nightfall, I’ll be on watch tonight. Now let’s get moving.”
“Hold up I’m the tamer here I make the calls” Cedric complained jokingly. “ight let’s roll out you two!”
“YES, SIR!” Cari saluted eagerly before marching forward down the path with Cedric following behind her. Kahi shook her head then made her way right after the two.
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Later that night the three set up camp within clearing surrounded by woods. A fire was lit as they all sat around eating. A tent was pitched a few feet away from the fire.
“Man, the last time I went camping like this with my friends and fam.” Cedric looked up to the night sky filled with stars and the full moon and gazed at it in wonderment of it all. Then started eating a handful of peanuts.
“Must’ve been fun, having memories with friends like that.” Cari nibbled on apple. “I wish had memories like that.”
Cedric noticed a slight sadness in the catgirl’s tone. “Don’t worry I’ll make sure we’ll have as much fun as possible during this journey.” He promised. “In fact, as soon as we get to Stanford we’ll check out the city.”
“We can’t get sidetracked, we are on a mission. We’re supposed to be meeting someone as soon as we get to the capital city.” Kahi reminded sternly.
“C’mon Kahi, it’s not like we’re on much of a timetable, it won’t hurt just to see some of the sights.” He reasoned. “Look all I’m asking for is just a few hours at best just touring around the capital then we can meet up with whoever is our contact. I promised we won’t take too long.”
Kahi face went through a range of emotions but at the end, she didn’t bother to argue her point anymore and gave in with a sigh.
“Fine, but we will not take any longer than what is agreed upon.”
“No problem, we won’t take too long.” He gave an assuring smile.
“Yay! that means we can go shopping too.” Cari jumps up and down with excitement.
Cedric winced at that slightly knowing that he was going to probably be broke after their sightseeing side trip.
“Now off to bed you two, we have a long trip ahead of us and I want to get started on training early tomorrow. So, keep the taming a quickie and be quiet when doing so. We don’t need you two attracting every feral in the area.”
“Oh, please stop exaggerating.” The look he gave her was skeptical. “I doubt there’s any feral nea- “He was broken off when the sudden rustling from the bushes not too far from them grasp all their attention.
“You were saying,” Kahi smirked as she pushed him behind her and walked towards bushes. When she was close enough she readied a sludge attack to toss but was taken by surprised when the hidden pokegirl jump out of the bush with a terrified squeak.
The pokegirl that jumped out was small, petite, naked and dangerously skinny. Big mouse-like ears covered in dark brown fur on top of scraggly hair that reached down to her cheeks that was the same color gave away what breed she was.
“It’s a Titmouse!” Cari she squealed in excitement. “She looks so cute.”
“Scrawny little thing, isn’t she?” Kahi pointed out. “She wouldn’t even make half decent snack. Oh well, she should do for tonight.”
“Wait no!” Cedric grabbed Kahi’s arm before she could attack the frightened feral. “C’mon Kahi, there’s no need to hurt poor girl. She’s scared out of her mind right now and probably starving.”
The Titmouse was shaking in terror from the sight of the imposing feline predator in front of her. Her attention was then drawn to the human who moved in front of the large pokegirl.
“Cedric stay behind me,” Kahi ordered. “She may be a Titmouse but she’s still feral and dangerous and-“
“She’s too terrified to even run away let alone hurt anyone.” Cedric cut her off. “If we don’t crowd or corner her, she won’t do anything drastic.”
He kneeled to her height then poured some nuts in his hand and held them to the feral girl.
“You must be starving, here go come and eat”Cedric's voice was soft and friendly as he made himself look as non-threatening as possible.
The Titmouse was still shaking in fear as she stared at him and the food he offered with wide deep brown eyes. As she tried to stare at the food, her attention also was on Kahi who was standing close behind Cedric.
“Move back.” He motioned back to his two feline girls earning him a stern look from Kahi. “Just do it.” He ordered before she could protest any further making her narrow her eyes in her gaze, but reluctantly she slowly moved back along with Cari but kept a distance where she was close to her tamer.
“It’s okay no one’s going to hurt you.” His voice went back to being friendly and calm.
The feral still fearful of the tall pokegirl behind him kept switching her gaze from the food to the other pokegirls as she slowly and cautiously moved towards Cedric’s hand. Once she was close enough she stared at the food then at Cedric.
“Go ahead you can have it.”
She stared into his eyes for a moment before reaching and snatching a few nuts out his hand and retreating a few steps to eat them. Once she was finished she slowly approached again and grabbing another handful then taken a short step back to eat. She kept doing this a few more times and once all the nuts were gone Cedric poured more in his hand for her. When she came close to eat this time she stayed in front of him instead of moving away.
“That’s right you can have as much as you want. In fact, if you stay with us you won’t ever have to go hungry again.”
“You do know she can’t understand you” Kahi pointed out.
“Yeah, I know it’s not about if she understands what I’m saying. It’s about if she understands what I can give her. She understands she can get food from me and I’m sure if she understands if she sticks with us she can get more food and won’t have to search for it anymore.” He explained while dumping the last of the nuts in his hand.
When the Titmouse was finishing the last few bites he reached down and grabbed a pokeball off his belt and brought it up to where she could see it.
“Don’t be scared I’m gonna catch you, it’s not gonna hurt at all. Just don’t fight the ball okay.” She stared at the pokeball with interest then her eyes went wide with surprise when he tapped it on her forehead and dissolved in a red light that was sucked into the pokeball. The ball shook twice before giving a chime that the feral was captured.
“All right I caught a Titmouse!” he cheered with a big smile while holding up the pokeball and two fingers with his other hand. Kahi gave him a look of disbelief while Cari was laughing at his action. “I know that was corny, but I always wanted to do that.”
“Congratulations, you caught a small, skinny, weak rodent girl.” Folding her arms under her breast giving a stern look to her tamer. “I presume as soon as we get to the city you will be getting rid of her. I doubt you’ll get much for a Titmouse.”
“I’m not selling her, she’s staying with us.”
“You can’t be serious!”
“As a heart attack, I told her she wasn’t ever going to be hungry again and I meant it.”
Kahi still couldn’t believe him until the serious expression on his face and knew she was not going to change his mind and sighed.
“Look Beasty, we can’t go around picking up every pokegirl and bringing them with us especially girls that are not fighters. We are on an important mission, we can’t have anyone dragging us down and-“
“Kahi, she won’t drag us down trust me, in fact, she will be a very beneficial part of the harem.” Cedric cut her off before she could finish.
“I think we should keep her too. It couldn’t hurt having her tag along with us.” Cari chimed in happily.
Kahi sighed shaking her head giving up on the argument.
“Fine, whatever, I’m not going to argue about this all night. We’ll keep her.”
“Yay!” Cari cheered while Cedric smiles with approval.
“Alright, now off to bed you two. I will be waking you both up early no matter what, so keep the taming short and quiet like I said before and set your alarm too.”
“Alright, we’ll keep it down. C’mon Cari.” Cedric made his way to the tent taking off his shirt with Cari following behind him leaving Kahi alone.
“I swear that boy sometimes can be such softy.” She sighed. It wasn’t too long before she heard Cari’s moan coming from the tent. She walked off past the tree’s further in the woods to watch the camp.
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Cedric woke up when he felt the familiar call of nature pulsing through him to the point where he couldn’t ignore it until morning. He looks down to see a still naked and soundly sleeping Cari on his chest.
Moving her off him and placing her down on the sleeping bag carefully to not disturb her sleep. He crawled silently out the tent into the moonlit night. He looked around and found no sign of Kahi anywhere.
“She must be out patrolling the perimeter.” He didn’t think much of it as he walks towards the nearest tree and then started to relieve himself. As he was about to finish the sound of movement was heard behind him as someone approached slowly behind him as the crackle of leaves and grass crunched under heavy footsteps.
“I was wondering where you were.” He was under the impression that it was Kahi behind him. “So when we get up in the morning do you want to-“ A strong force shoved him face first into the tree before he could finish his sentence bringing a searing pain to his skull to the point where he couldn’t keep focus or stay conscious for too long. He turned as he was falling to the ground and was greeted by unfamiliar piecing bright yellow eyes not belonging to either of his pokegirls. In fact, before his vision faded to black he could have sworn the tall imposing girl was a canine the complete opposite to his feline girl.
“Kahi?” he croaked out weakly before he blacked out.
Tamer Entry
Cedric Hondo (Beast)
Age: 17 (26)
Licenses:
Tamer: Y
Master Tamer: N
Researcher: N
Watcher: N
Breeder: N
Status: Active
Harem:
Name Breed
Kahi Womanticore 45
Cari Catgirl 8