“Ui, I want to look at the tigers!” Hairu drags him to the Siberian exhibit. “They’re bigger than the One-Eyed Owl. But fluffy so it’s okay.”
“They’re still a bit scary.” Ui shivers as one of the massive beasts eyes him.
“I’d die happy if they ate me. I want to snuggle one.” Hairu smiles. “Let me guess: you like the lions.”
Ui nods. He does, out of all the big carnivores, lions are his favorite.
All in all, the zoo disturbs him. He feels like the predator here, the ghoul looking at animals he has power over. And Ui Koori does not like identifying with the enemy.
“What’s your favorite animal?” Hairu leans on the fence, watching two lions cuddle.
Ui leans over her, imitating the lions.
“I love you, Koori.”
“I love you too, my Hairu sweetheart.” But he still feels embarrassed for his favorite animal.
“Kooooooori. What’s your favorite if it isn’t lions?” Hairu rubs her head against his chin, just like the lions.
“Promise you won’t laugh?”
“No. But I promise I won’t think less of you.” Hairu grins.
“Follow me,” he says.
A few minutes later, Ui stops before the exhibit. Hairu shrieks.
Of course Ui’s favorite animal is a platypus.
They don’t quite belong in many worlds, just like her. “Koori, I love you even more now.”
Mercy and Magic 