# HNTBL 86: Avoid Grudges

By: TheDragonBoy

## Content

How Not To Become Lunch: 86 - Avoid Grudges

“…These differences in biology are still quite extant despite the convergent evolution of most modern sapient ‘predator species’ toward more anthropomorphic forms. Those of us here of reptilian or amphibious descent are largely ectothermic- that is to say, ‘cold-blooded’. While avian and mammalian peoples are ‘warm blooded’; endothermic. Rather than any particular relation to blood, this description actually speaks to our bodies’ ability to regulate internal temperature. Ectotherms need to draw in heat from their surroundings, while endotherms generate heat from natural, internal, biological processes.

“Naga, toads, and monitors, to name a few, will often have body temperatures close to or marginally above ambient. In contrast, nekos, harpies, and humans (like myself), expend energy to keep our internal temperatures very close to optimum levels. Ectotherms tend to be more efficient with energy usage, but evolution has required them to evolve alternate methods of biological function in order to survive in colder or hotter environments, and there are still many situations in which they simply cannot function. Endotherms, on the other hand, are far less efficient, but can function far more effectively in a wide range of environments.

“To give a commonly observed, practical example: ‘cold-blooded’ predators have noticeable differences in digestion during the colder months. Not only is the process much slower for them, but their live prey often remain alive for much longer. This not only allows them to conserve food and thus energy, but also to leech off the natural body heat of their endothermic meals, helping to keep them warm.

“So, I suppose if there’s one takeaway from this: any human students should probably take note to be extra cautious around ectothermic predators during the coming winter. Otherwise, you might be in for a particularly lengthy… experience.”

The rather macabre thought seemed to finally throw off Prof. Boron’s pace, and his lecture halted for a moment. For some students, a break in this never-ending torrent of scientific information was like the parting of heavy storm clouds. Unfortunately for them, it would turn out to be more akin to the eye of a hurricane.

“Now then, let’s check to see if any of you were paying attention,” the professor resumed. “Ozzy.”

The boy quickly perked up. He’d been paying attention… for the most part, but his mind had also been preoccupied with other things. It usually was these days, especially on days like this with his ‘special’ class coming up…

“Are you endothermic or ectothermic?”

Guts! Which one was which again? Um…

“I’m warm-blooded,” he replied, hoping to show just enough correct knowledge to get by. In response, he received a less-than-impressed glance, but his teacher thankfully didn’t press any further.

“…Viper,” the professor called next. He hesitated before using the name, a verbal shortfall he could never manage to overcome. Despite his resolution to use his student’s preferred nicknames, the fact that a naga of the tropidophiidae family had decided to name himself after a completely different species of snake just assaulted his scientific mind. It felt like a mistake each time he used the name.

The distinctly non-venomous ‘Viper’ shot his teacher an annoyed look as he waited for his question.

“What are some advantages you have by being cold-blooded?” Prof. Boron asked, deciding to lower the bar a bit.

“Um, not having to care when my food starts screaming?” the snake boy replied without much interest. His teacher sighed.

“No… ‘Viper’, this is a science class. I’m not speaking in the literary sense; I’m referring to you being literally ectothermic.”

The naga’s expression shifted into a slight glare, as if he thought he’d just been called by some fancy insult.

“Alexander, what are some advantages you have by being warm-blooded?”

A human student in the class, one who had been looking very attentive throughout, answered almost instantly.

“I don’t have to avoid going outside in the winter as long as I wear thick enough clothes.”

“Very good,” their teacher praised, happy to finally hear a competent reply. “Remember, this isn’t just theoretical esoteric lecturing. These facts are the very building blocks of life itself. Of civilization. The force that keeps your feet on the ground. The walls that hold up your roofs. The links of the food chain. While some of you might be more focused on absorbing calories from humans, all of you should be doing your best to absorb some more knowledge. Now then, I believe that’s about all the time we have for today”.

A short few seconds later, the bell rang, signaling the official end of class, and the professor closed his reference book.

Ozzy let out his breath, finally allowing his eyes to unfocus for a moment now that he wasn’t in danger of another pop-quiz. He found he needed these moments between classes sometimes. Just to relax and not worry- and not think. Just for a minute…

The clack of someone’s claws on the floor behind him jolted him instantly back to attention. His fingers were hovering over his wand before he’d even noticed his hand move.

A disinterested neko walked by his desk on her way to the classroom door.

Ozzy let out his breath again. His instincts were solid, but he still decided he should try to lower his guard a bit less.

Time to get out of here, he thought. He glanced around at the members of his usual ‘exit group’. They were all eyeing the door, waiting their turn. He got up when they did, when the path out to the hall was relatively clear. They made it through un-accosted, as usual; just the right number to provide some protection, but not so many as to jam up the exit. With their classes in the same general direction, they walked together toward-

“Look out!” One of their group stuck out an arm to hold back the others, just as a scaly blur shot past. A naga, ‘running’ through the halls, Ozzy realized. The predator had rushed up from behind them, but had gone right past.

“Phew,” another kid breathed.

“Lucky us,” remarked a second.

But Ozzy quickly recognized that serpentine blur.

“Isn’t that-?”

He hardly realized what was happening before it was too late. Up ahead, the trio of human kids that cried out in alarm and distress only just barely saw it coming themselves. Viper hit them like a bowling ball, knocking two of his classmates to the ground and snatching the third as he rammed past. Ozzy saw one of the fallen mages quickly grab for a wand, but not before his captured comrade abruptly screamed in pain.

“Ahhhhh!!”

The naga boy lifted his head from the human’s shoulder. Spots of red were just starting to show through the shirt. The mage on the floor froze for a moment. Viper shot out his tail and wrapped it around his faltering classmate’s foot, but the third of the group managed to grab hold and pull back. The naga’s teeth snapped in open air, just shy of where an ankle would have been.

The angry snake released his secondary catch, and both humans immediately fled, leaving him with his first.

Alexander, Ozzy recognized, scowling at the scene. …Of course he would go for him.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Viper hissed angrily at his prey. “You think you can just walk out of here after that shit you just pulled?”

He answered a question right in class, Ozzy said silently, glaring now. It’s not his fault you’re an idiot. And it wasn’t Jerry’s either. Or Amanda’s. He wanted to do something, but… as much as he hated to admit it, there wasn’t much point now. Those other two had probably been right to run when they did.

“You… You marked me,” Alexander stammered, clutching his shoulder. He was a smart kid, so the shock was quickly evolving into a sort of terrifying acceptance.

“Just following ‘Professor Boring’s’ advice. Best way to absorb some knowledge has gotta be to eat the smartass, right?”

“…I… I can’t believe…”

Ozzy saw the snake lean in and grin, reveling in his classmate’s despair as he coiled his long body around his impending meal.

“I can’t believe I let myself get caught by a predator like you,” the boy lamented, angry at himself.

The naga looked insulted and bared his teeth threateningly. Alexander looked death in the eyes.

“Get it over with and join the Abyss yourself you gut-brained-”

*NOMF*

An enraged, scale-coated set of jaws cut off the boy’s final words. His body wriggled once, then twice, then finally broke out into a full-on struggle as the naga’s head rose and started to swallow. Practically no human could resist the instinctive, mortal urge to panic and fight once a predator’s digestive system started taking hold.

Not that it ever did any good. The doomed boy progressed, gulp by gulp, down the constrictor’s tight throat, stretching out the naga’s neck, then chest, then midriff. Most prey would find themselves bunching up there, curling into a little frantic ball until a powerful stomach pounded them to mush. But Alexander’s digestion would be different. Biology and all that. Instead he got the characteristically long descent that attended serpentine predators. The fleshy lump that was the human’s head pressed straight on through what would have been hips, and continued on into the naga’s scale-covered tail.

By the time Alexander stopped sliding deeper into his final destination, his feet had some time since disappeared from view.

Ozzy watched the struggling lump with pent up resentment as Viper examined his bulging body with satisfaction. The snake had gone after the smart one. Again. That jealous dolt. He’d tried to mark that other kid too just for protecting his classmate. He wasn’t even going to eat the other one. He just wanted revenge. Revenge. For what? Being born an idiot? He was subjecting another kid to digestive death over it. Again.

I should have done something… No. No, the only reason I’m still alive is because I can keep my cool, even when…

The silent mage heard a particularly loud gurgle as the snake’s cold-blooded stomach set to work. Cold-blooded in every sense…

He was already marked. Once the mark gets involved, someone’s gonna get eaten… If I tried it probably would have been me. …Maybe it should have been-

“…Ozzy?”

The boy blinked and turned his head. His ‘exit group’ had long since moved on. Instead, standing in front of him was…

“J-Jack?” the mage boy stammered in mild surprise.

“Hey, I’ve, uh, been looking for you all morning.”

Ozzy regained his composure, but didn’t reply. Only stared. Stared at the marked boy who hung out with predators.

In the background, Viper wrapped his tail around its bulging section and squeezed lightly, grinning.

“I… wanted to give you something,” Jack continued after the clear silence. He brought out a sealed thermos and presented it.

“What is it?” came the flat question.

“It’s a potion… For you,” Jack answered awkwardly, still holding it out. He could read a werewolf’s face but apparently ‘angry Ozzy’ was an entirely different language. What he could make out definitely wasn’t thankful or friendly. He’d put in all this work, but… would Ozzy not even take it? Was he really that…?

The other mage continued to stare, but didn’t walk away.

“…I… I know…” What can I even say? “…I know you don’t want to talk to me… and especially not to Fiona…”

Ozzy twitched.

I shouldn’t have even mentioned her! Jack scolded himself, but he kept going.

“But I saw you in the hall the other day and… I saw you shaking.”

The silent mage’s expression shifted. He remembered the moment. It had… happened a few other times recently.

“My aunt used to make this potion for me when I needed it. And I know today is Advanced P.E., so…”

Ozzy’s face changed again. He’d been trying not to think about it, but he’d been failing. It was his next period in fact. In just a few minutes he’d be walking with the rest of his advanced magic classmates out into the hunting grounds, where he’d have to fight for his life against his grade’s top predators.

“…I’m sorry for what happened. I really am. But I don’t want you to get… I don’t want you getting eaten too, okay? So just take it. It’ll help you calm your body so you can focus and aim your spells properly.”

…There was a moment of stalemate, in which neither boy spoke or moved.

…Ozzy reached out with one hand and took the warm flask.

“Fine.”

Jack felt the air grow just a hair lighter.

The other mage glanced away then started to turn, and the marked boy almost didn’t speak up, but-

“Ozzy?”

He paused and looked back.

“I… I asked Fiona to keep an extra close eye on you out there. …She’s really sorry too.”

He turned and walked away, carrying the potion with him.

Jack watched, but only for a moment. He couldn’t just stand there in the middle of the hall if he wanted to live. He took hold of his wand and started toward his next class.

Originally Published: 1-Apr-2025