The crying sound

Yuji stopped, heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat. He risked a glance back. It wasn't Bram who'd called him, but Taro, who'd been quiet up till now. Bram looked at Taro, confused. "What now, Taro?"

Taro squinted at Yuji, tilting his head. "He looks a little familiar, don't you think?"

Oh, no. Not this. Stay strong, Yuji. You've got a system, and you've got recovery skills. Just… don't panic. Or at least, don't show it.

Bram rolled his eyes. "From which angle does he look familiar to you?" His voice sounded more annoyed than convinced.

Taro snorted and started walking closer, Bram following a step behind. Yuji stood his ground, but every muscle screamed at him to bolt. If they figure out who I am, I'm toast. Maybe I should've just kept running. Or maybe I should've taken up acting—at least then I'd know how to lie better.

"You… where have I seen you?" Taro scanned Yuji from head to tail, eyes narrowing. "I remember now, you're the outsider."

"Outsider? He is the outsider?" Bram's eyes flicked from Yuji to Taro and back again, surprise written all over his face. "Shouldn't outsiders be big, monstrous? I heard they're dangerous."

"I have no idea, but this one is the outsider," Taro said, stepping even closer.

Great. Just what I need. Maybe if I act harmless, they'll get bored and leave me alone. Or maybe they'll decide I look guilty and drag me off anyway. Story of my life, huh?

The buck's nostrils flared as he leaned in, giving Yuji a long, deliberate sniff from head to tail. Yuji tried not to flinch, but it was hard not to feel like a bruised apple at a street stall. Bram circled, his hooves crunching through dry grass, gaze sharp and appraising.

"Doesn't look like much, either. You sure this is the outsider?" Bram grunted.

Yuji swallowed, trying to stand his ground even as his legs itched to bolt. "Yeah, that's me," he said, his voice a little too small for his liking. "I'm not here to cause trouble. Just… trying to find a spot to graze."

Bram burst out laughing, his voice echoing through the clearing. "Trouble? What trouble can you cause with that tiny body, huh?" He snickered, shaking his head. "I heard you were beaten badly by Twig. That was—" Before Bram could finish, he suddenly shifted his gaze to Taro.

Taro stared toward the pen, upper lip curled, front teeth bared, nostrils twitching as he sucked in the air. Bram sniffed too, and his face changed to match—lips peeled back, eyes wide.

What in the name of the lord is happening here?

"Wait… you smell that?" Bram whispered, excitement creeping into his tone.

Taro's tail twitched. "Oh, I smell it. That's—" He didn't bother finishing. Both bucks spun and bolted, hooves thudding against the earth, chasing after some invisible lure.

Yuji blinked, left in a swirl of dust and confusion. What's got their tails in a twist? He watched the two bucks barrel across the meadow, hooves kicking up little clouds as they vanished into the herd. It was almost impressive, the way they moved, like he'd never existed.

He glanced around, half-expecting someone else to have witnessed his minor humiliation. The only other goats were far off, heads buried in grass, completely uninterested. Typical. Guess I'm not even interesting enough for gossip fodder. That's a new low.

He hesitated, then shrugged. Curiosity itched at him. What's got them running like they just heard the dinner bell? He lifted his nose and drew in a deep breath, the air cool and sharp in his nostrils.

A scent hit him, sharp and musky, almost electric. It cut through the usual earthy, grassy goat-funk. This was different. Strong. Tangy. The air itself seemed to buzz, thick with possibility. Whoa. That's… pungent. Not bad, just… intense. Like someone spilled a bottle of "Goat No. 5" and then set it on fire.

Something stirred in his chest, a restless energy that made his hooves itch. So that's what gets the herd going. Nature's version of a neon sign: "Hot Doe This Way!"

Yuji shook his head, a little embarrassed even though no one was watching. "Guess I'm really a goat now," he muttered, trailing after the others, curiosity getting the better of him. Honestly, I was just hoping for a snack, not a lesson in goat romance.

He sniffed again. The scent was even stronger now, thick and wild, almost dizzying. He caught himself glancing around, half expecting a disco ball and some Barry White to start playing. Of course, I could be wrong—wouldn't be the first time. But if that's not a doe in heat, I'll eat my own horns.

He snorted, trying to clear his head, but the smell lingered, heavy and insistent. Nature really doesn't do subtle, does it?

Jokes aside, why is that scent so powerful? Does it usually release such a strong scent? As Yuji looked around, he noticed more goats drifting toward the pen, drawn by the same invisible force. Even those who'd ignored it at first were now heading that way. Guess this is how romance works in the goat kingdom, Yuji thought, a little amused.

He didn't waste time. With more goats crowding the pen, it would only get harder to get close, so he started walking toward the grove.

As he approached, Yuji was surprised by the density of trees. The bark felt rough under his chin as he brushed past, and vines tangled everywhere, twisting around trunks and crawling across the ground. The grove formed a rough circle, the center choked with overgrown vines that blocked the sunlight. Can goats even eat vines? he wondered. Deciding to try his luck, he took a bite.

Bitterness exploded in his mouth. He gagged, spitting out the stringy mess, saliva burning his tongue. The taste lingered, sharp and foul. He slumped down under the shade of a tree, the cool earth pressing against his side. Sigh, goat life isn't what I thought it would be. He glared at the system. You're intentionally making this harder, aren't you?

Yuji gazed across the distant plain, where lush green grass shimmered in the sun. Scattered goats grazed here and there, some butting heads in half-hearted skirmishes over a doe, others simply munching in peace. A few bucklings practiced clumsy leaps and mock charges, their little horns barely more than nubs. I've got a long way to go before I become a full goat, Yuji thought, a wry smile tugging at his lips. One day at a time, I guess.

He checked the timer—one minute and thirty seconds left. That's how much time remained. After that, he'd be gone. Yuji let out a sigh, breath stirring the dust at his hooves. I'm just overthinking, making my life harder. As a goat, I shouldn't overthink so much, he told himself. He decided he'd take a ten-minute rest, then start eating. Right now, the urge to eat everything he saw was overwhelming, and he figured this hunger would help him stomach diagust even the grass covered in poo and pee.

Then, faint and muffled, he heard it—a soft, hiccupping sob, barely louder than the rustle of leaves.