King Him, Not Me
Chapter 6

The two blink as they see a camp full of people in front of them. Winston looks to Barin, “This must be the test of leadership.”

Before this was the test of strength, Barin easily completing it in seconds. He had to carry barrels filled with liquids and fruits across a raging river for an old man. He then had to help the old man cross by carrying him. Winston cheered from the riverside, running away from Barin after teasing him about his drenched pants.

The taller nods then takes a step forward, the sound of a cannon firing soon echoing through the air.

“Someone’s made it to the arena,” one of the people comments, “the cannon represents the person that passes the gate.”

Ten more canons go off, Winston keeping count of them all.

“Eleven,” he says softly, “only four more spots left… I,” he looks down, “slowed you down.”

Barin sighs, “No you didn’t.”

Winston, “I did.”

Barin, “You. Didn’t. End of discussion.”

Winston clenches his fists, “But you would’ve been there by now if you hadn’t stayed to watch me rest or carry me on your back.”

Barin’s eyebrow twitches, “I didn’t have any other option.”

Winston looks at him, “You could’ve just left me behind! You don’t need me anymore!”

Barin, “Leave you behi-?! Are you out of your Goddamn mind?! You can’t defend yourself; you’d die without me!”

Winston blinks, “The hell do you mean? I’m not completely defenseless; can shoot an arrow just fine!”

Barin scoffs, “That’s bloody rich. After you killed that mime, you said that arrow would’ve missed if it didn’t jump in the right place!”

Winston grunts, “And that’s because I couldn’t focus on a moving target with you close by! You know, I was starting to feel fucked up inside because of how far behind we are, but if you want to jerk your own dick then I’m out!”

Barin sneers at him, “You wouldn’t last five minutes without me! Hey, Winnie, where the fuck are you going?! Winston!”

“Fuck off,” the shorter shouts as he marches through the bushes, one of the people approaching Barin.

“It’s mating season for the Liomen in this area. Though they usually go after women, they don’t care what the gender is during their heat.”

“And?” the blonde turns his back towards the direction the shorter walked in, “Liomen live in the deepest parts of forests like these. He’s only just entered it. Come on, I’ll lead you out of here safely.”

“A-actually,” a woman speaks up as the group begins to move, “there’s one close to this area that’s looking for someone to mate with. I hope your friend’s a good fighter.”

~

Winston slowly stops walking, his fists tightly clenched and his eyes full of anger. He sighs then runs a hand through his hair, pressing his eyelids together. This was his fault… all of this. He should’ve just kept his mouth shut.

Before Winston had the chance to decide his next move, he hears something snap to his left. He looks in that direction, noticing a figure moving under the shadows of the trees. He squints his eyes before spreading his lids apart, shock written on his face once he realizes what the creature is.

“Ah shit!” he grunts before getting low, dodging the creature that pounces at him. This is a Liomen; the head and hair of a lion, but the body of a man. These beasts are as tall as trees and have a long tail they use to keep their pray down. They have bulging muscles and hair on their forearms and calves, animal fur wrapped around their waist to cover their privates. They tend to go after women that travel alone and rape them, but during mating season they go after anyone. Female or male.

They’d mate with their own kind, but female Liomen are very hard to dominate.

Winston scrambles to his feet then starts to run, checking behind him from time to time. The Liomen’s close behind him, his tail moving in secret.

“Fuck,” Winston shouts as he gets tripped up, the beast’s tail wrapped around his ankles. Winston tries to free himself as the Liomen towers over him, ripping the Human’s clothes off piece by piece. As it does, someone runs in the direction the two are in.

The Liomen holds Winston’s wrist against the ground with one hand while he licks his lips and moves his other hand to grip his large shaft, tears falling from Winston’s eyes. This was it, he was going to die.

The Liomen slowly guides his dripping tip between the Human’s legs then lower. Just as he was about to push in, a sword thrusts into his stomach. Winston’s tearful eyes slowly widen as the person pushes the Liomen back as they angrily roared out, sitting up and covering his privates. The person and the beast glare at each other after the man ripped his sword from the creature, the wound spilling blood. The Liomen roars before he and the young man charged at each other, sharp nails versus a sword. The person squats as he rotates his body, ending on one knee after his blade cuts the beast. The Liomen looks down before his upper and lower body disconnect, blood fountaining from the corpse as it falls. The person slowly stands up as the sound of a cannon goes off; another contestant just made it to the arena.

“… Barin,” Winston says softly, averting his eyes as the taller looks at him. The blonde walks towards the shorter, offering him a hand. Winston pushes his lips together as he accepts the help, Barin pulling him to his feet.

“Alright,” the taller sighs, “let’s get you some clothes then get the fuck out of here.”

Winston reaches for his bag then opens it, pulling out a scroll. Barin, “How many of those scrolls do you have?”

“Don’t ask.”

~

The group of people are ahead of Barin and Winston, the two walking side by side in silence. After Winston got some clothing out the scroll, he and the blonde made their way back to the group. The clothes he’s wearing are the same as the ones the Liomen ripped off him.

The shorter blinks slowly, “Thank you,” he says softly, “for saving me, Barin.”

Barin slowly blinks, “In exchange for your help, my job is to protect you,” he states without looking at the shorter, “I haven’t forgotten that, Winnie.”

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