Smarter Than the Average Bear

The walk to the fields was a long one. Leigh rambled the entire way, walking ahead of us and telling us about a deer he'd helped track down the other day. He was young and loud and naïve at times, but still quite lovable. I'd decided I might just keep him and find a nice female to chuck him at.

As the buildings fell away to reveal the rolling green fields under the sunny spring sky, I glanced up at the sky and took in a deep breath. The biggest difference between this world and mine was how delicious the air was here. Thick and heady, it almost always smelled…pure? It was nice.

"Do you enjoy walks?" Gharret asked me. I felt the tickle of his breath on my ear and I turned an eye to him. He'd pulled back slightly and while the act had raised goosebumps on my arm, I noticed he was more than content just being a gentle tease. I grinned at him.

"I do. I used to walk around all the time. Living in a big city…you don't really need a car because everything is so close." He made a face when I said 'car', so I clarified. "It's a big machine for going long distances." He nodded but continued to frown. "Uh…a wagon with four wheels made to move on its own."

"Ahah. Got it." He smiled a little as he returned his attention forward. At this point, we were both ignoring Leigh. "So this city…how big was it?"

I frowned, then thought for a moment. Then I lifted my free hand and began counting on my fingers. It had been a good minute since I'd pulled up NYC demographics (it was for a project), so I had to do a bit of math to remember the number.

"Eight…Yeah…about 8.5 million." I bobbed my head affirmatively and Gharret just frowned.

"I…don't think I've ever heard a number that large…could you explain?" I blinked at him and he shrugged before glancing away. "I'm not unintelligent, just…ignorant, I suppose, to most aspects of your world. That's all…"

He seemed embarrassed and it was cute…but I never once doubted his intelligence…So maybe telling him…I cleared my throat.

"Just so we're clear, here, Mr. Chief…I have never thought you to be stupid in any way, shape, or form. Okay? I have exactly zero problems answering your questions." He seemed satisfied as he let out a soft grunt as a small smile appeared on his face. "I'm more surprised by how curious you are. That's all. It's a sign of a very high intelligence…" His cheeks pinkened a little once more and I felt satisfied.

"To answer your question…let's see… there are 1,000 residents here. One million would be the same as…if each person here represented a whole other village of 1,000. The population of New York City is eight and a half times all 1,000 residents representing 1,000 residents each…Does that make sense?" The look on his face made it clear that it was a very troubling set of numbers and he shook his head. "Um…?"

"That is…quite concerning…a very large city, indeed…" Ah, so his brain was breaking. I made a mental note of the kind of face he tended to make while this was happening. For future reference, of course. Not for any other reason.

I swear.

"Leeeiiiigghhh!!!" came a distant, distinctly feminine call. When I looked up, I spied what appeared to be a female wearing shorts and a tank top, standing in one of the fields and waving excitedly. I then glanced to Leigh, who appeared to be cringing.

"Oh? A girlfriend?" I asked teasingly, to which Leigh spun his head around to glare at me. Well…it was more like an angry pout. But at least he tried?

"No! Nothing like-" he began, but the girl had started running over to the fence.

Upon closer examination, and without all the ruffage in the way, I could see her long legs, wide hips, prominently perky bust, and bright face. She had a great figure and beautiful facial features. The only thing that might make her stand out was what appeared to be an interesting case of vitiligo. Part of her fluffy/curly mass of hair was streaked with white while the other parts were browns and coppers. It seemed the same for her exposed skin, as though she were more splotched with color rather than in the middle of losing it. Her eyelashes and eyebrows, while both incredibly thick, were also snow-white.

"Hiii…Isabella…" Leigh cringed a little, waving a bit. She giggled, waving back from the fence that she leaned over, all slim and perky with that young body of hers. I found it disturbing that in this world, she might be considered ugly.

It took her a moment to notice Gharret and me, but she perked up once more, as though this little beam of sunshine could get ANY brighter. If she really were undiluted light, I'm pretty sure I'd have gone blind by now.

"Chief! It's so good to see you out-and-about!" she said cheerfully with the biggest, most sincere smile I'd ever seen in my life. "And YOU must be the Otherworlder! It's SO nice to meet you! I'm Isabella!!!"

I feel like I just face-planted into an entire vat of sugar and now my teeth are rotting right in their sockets.

"It's nice to meet you, too, Isabella. My name is Zion." She squealed at the revelation, and I blinked in surprise.

"You're SO much nicer than everyone says! WOW! The fact that a fancy Otherworlder talked to ME is just AMAZING!" She began spinning in place and giggling while whooping. I was confused, however.

"Why wouldn't I talk to you? You seem like a very nice person to talk to." She immediately froze mid-turn, with her mouth wide in a gasp, hands planted to her cheeks.

"Because I'm ugly! I was born with animal spots instead of clear, pretty skin. Mine are just big spots instead of the teensy-weensy little cute ones." She poked both cheeks in a very cute kpop pose, one of which was actually colored while the other was a pale cream.

This girl…looked like she'd jumped straight out of a kid's manga…I've never experienced a truly sincere, unadulterated version of an anime character before. It was clear she wasn't doing it on purpose, either! That was just how she was!

"Wait…hold on…you were born with those spots? They didn't…I dunno…change?" She paused in her posing, plopping one hand on her voluptuous hip, the other set to tapping her chin. (Meanwhile, Leigh had attempted to sneak off, but Gharret snagged him by the tail and refused to let go.)

"Well…I had a new spot appear on my left butt-cheek last year, but it's teensy-weensy."

I…I couldn't stop myself. I tried my best. I really did.

I burst out laughing, throwing my head back, tears welling in my eyes.