Having just watched Episode 2 of Slayers Try, this little fic
came to mind. I don't think anyone has done this before, so
enjoy!

Disclaimer: Slayers belongs to Hajime Kanzaka and some big TV
stations; I certainly don't have any claim.

The Hunger
By Kagami

Twelve-year old Lina Inverse looked despondently around her
bedroom. Tracing her fingers across the slightly gnawed leg
of her chair, she remembered Luna's words as her sister pushed
her into the room.

"Let this be a lesson to you, Lina. Stealing food isn't the
right thing to do when you're hungry, so you'll be missing
your supper tonight. And just in case you think you can sneak
out later, I'll be warding the room."

Lina didn't even bother to try the strength of the wards - she
knew her sister's magic was simply too strong. Trying to
ignore the grumbling coming from her stomach, she settled in
to wait for breakfast - a whole ten long hours away.

---

Luna polished the last of the beer mugs and contemplated her
punishment of Lina. It was just, she decided. Lina will
simply have to learn the hard way.

Her satisfied mood was quickly abolished when Mattias pushed
the inn door open and rushed in. Luna's fellow knight was
normally a polished and urbane gentleman - to better impress
the girls - so when she took in his frazzled hair and
mismatched clothing, she knew something was wrong before he
even said the words.

"Luna, we've got trouble! The King's sick and the clerics say
that the only thing that can cure him is some rare herb called
Starflower. The Knights are embarking on a quest to find it
and we need you to help us with your magic."

At that, there was only one thing to say. "Let me get my
pack."

---

One week later.

Luna felt pretty good as she walked down the steps of the
Royal Palace with Mattias at her side. They had found the
cure, the King was on his way toward a full recovery, and
the treacherous Duke Bollingsward, who had poisoned his
Majesty, was conveniently dead, courtesy of a well-placed
fireball after he had attempted an ambush of the Knights.

Yet, somehow, she had the feeling that she'd forgotten
something important. What could it possibly be?

"Say, Luna, why don't we get something to eat on your
way back to the inn?" chimed Mattias.

Food sounded good. Food ... food, food, food ...

"Lina!" she gasped. "I forgot all about her!"

"Huh? What about Lina?" Mattias asked, somewhat confused.

"Come on! We can grab some food on the way."

"Didn't I just say that?" queried Mattias as his voice
dwindled in the wind caused Luna's hurried departure.
"Hey, wait for me!"

---

Somewhere in the darkness, a small girl clutched and
gnawed at a broken chair leg. "Foooood ..." A small plea
to the darkness.

Then, light shown as the door opened. Silhouetted in the
blinding light, was her ... someone she should recognize
but, as her gaze focused on the tray held in those hands,
the nascent thought disappeared. The person spoke but
Lina was already moving, her sluggish body revived by the
divine aromas.

"Lina, I'm so... ack!" Luna fell back as she was buried
under her sister's light weight.

Further apologies were lost beneath the crunch, chomp,
and guzzle of a rapidly devouring human stomach.

---

And ever since that dreadful week, the hunger of Lina
Inverse was legend.

The End.

***

Now, the question I have is what is Gourry's reason?

Phil - who really likes Slayers Try. :)