Novel Everyone's a Catgirl!

Discussion in 'Community Fictions' started by DoubleBlind, Sep 28, 2021.

  1. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 149: Accuse Me Thus: That I Have Scanted All

    Our final stop was at another oasis. I’d barely dismounted the gigashank when I spotted Zahra diving into the deep spring shaded beneath the tall pawm trees.

    “I can’t blame her. For her to ride for so long covered in shark blood and spit is pretty incredible,” Keke said as I helped her down.

    “Yeah. I think I’d be doing the same,” I admitted.

    “Hey, Matt!” Tristan waved me down, meeting us as I passed the gigashank to Agni.

    “What’s up?”

    He wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled. “Want to take watch together tonight?”

    I shrugged. It’d be good to catch up with him anyway. “Yeah, sure.”

    “Great! I’ll let Destiny know.” He turned and kicked up the sand in his tracks.

    A light punch connected with my shoulder. “Baka. I better not find you two with your tongues tied when we switch,” Ravyn grumbled as she passed, flicking the gathered sand away from her tail.

    Keke squinted at her back, then looked at me. “What does she mean by that?”

    “Erm.” I shifted my weight to the other foot, rubbing the back of my neck. “Nothing. She’s just being silly.”

    With a wry smile, Keke elbowed me lightly in the side. “Did you and Cannoli get cozy by the fire?”

    Heat rushed to my face, and I chuckled nervously. “Something like that.”

    “I’m glad.” Keke nodded, her half-smile descending into a more serious expression. “She needs you, Matt.” Her gaze flickered to Ravyn, then returned to my face. “We all do.”

    “Yeah. I’m trying to be better about that.” My blush deepened, and I found it hard to meet her stare.

    “I know.” Keke kissed my cheek. “Take your time.”

    A loud splash interrupted our conversation, followed by Zahra laughing in the distance. “The water feels great!”

    Kuso! You’ve had your swim! Now quit polluting it with shark guts!” Ravyn snapped. “Some of us need a damn drink!”

    “There’s plenty to go around.” Zahra relaxed on her back, floating across the surface. “But maybe you should come collect your portion sooner than later.”

    Ravyn hissed, withdrawing her canteen from her pack before rushing to the edge of the pond.

    “We’d better help Agni pitch the tent,” I said, laughing beneath my breath.

    “What about them?” Keke nodded toward the quarreling Zahra and Ravyn.

    I pointed at the cackling Zahra. “That girl just sliced her way out of a shark. I think she can handle herself.”

    Fed and somewhat bathed, Tristan and I took first watch after seeing the others off to bed. We etched our seats in the sand around the campfire, summoning Desiree to join us. The cat curled comfortably in his lap, purring with satisfaction as Tristan stroked her head.

    It was another still, breezeless evening. The air was made cooler by the absence of the sun, but not a whole lot. I was glad to be more accustomed to the changes, adjusting to the brutal heat of the day and the relaxing atmosphere of the evenings. It still didn’t compare to the ocean breezes and quiet evenings on Ni Island, but it wasn't so bad once a guy got used to it.

    “It’s strange that Ravyn always has Ball Gag summoned,” Tristan noted, scratching Desiree behind the ears. “It has to be a drag on her Myana.”

    I shrugged. “Maybe not? But I don’t know a lot about [Sorcerer].”

    “I’ve read about them, but books in this world aren’t always clear about particular details of, well, anything.” He chuckled and looked to the sky. “Some days, I miss having the ability to search for whatever I want tucked away in my back pocket.”

    “Yeah. If only Ai ran like Google, right?” I quipped. “Maybe Nyarlea would start making sense.”

    “Honestly, I like there being some secrets for me to find. Like in a game.” Tristan rested his hands behind him, stretching his legs out front. Desiree adapted to her master’s new position, pawing at his trousers until she found a comfortable place to lay. “It’s nice not knowing everything at once.”

    “That’s true. Half the fun of a game is discovery.” I picked one up one of the twigs in the fire, watching the end burn like a match.

    “Absolutely. Though, man, that’s another thing I miss. Video games. I get that we’re practically living one, but it’s just not the same.”

    “No. Most games gave you extra lives if you screwed up. Not so lucky here.” A sudden thought occurred to me that I’d never asked Tristan before. “Hey, what were your options besides Nyarlea?”

    Tristan dropped his chin and looked at me curiously. “What do you mean?”

    “You know, like, after you died. Your manager must have given you a list of options, right?”

    “My what?” He laughed.

    Was it all a dream? No way. “Goddess, manager, I guess they have different names depending on the circumstance.”

    He shook his head. “I…I didn’t realize I’d died. I fell asleep and woke up here.” With a quick wave of his hand, he gestured to the fire. “Well, not here, but Shi Island. You know what I mean.”

    I blinked. “Seriously? No courtrooms? No sexy flight attendant offering you options for worlds?”

    “Well, it was a few years ago. Why don’t you tell me what happened to you? Maybe it’ll spark a memory or something.” Tristan shrugged.

    I explained my waking up in purgatory, the disembodied souls wandering vast hallways filled with courtrooms. Leiana calling me from the group of newcomers before taking me to her office and detailing my rebirth options.

    Tristan paused, seemingly chewing on my tale. At last, he coughed and said, “That sounds like an anime opening.”

    “I know, dude. Seriously. It’s crazy. I get it.” I ran a hand through my hair. It was the first time I’d ever told anyone in Nyarlea what had happened after my death. “It sounds even more insane out loud.”

    “You said you deserved a choice from your heroic death? How did you die?” Tristan asked.

    I wanted to curl up and disappear. I knew the question was coming, but I didn’t want to admit it. I considered lying, but we hadn’t come this far by lying to one another. So I cradled my forehead in one hand and took a deep breath. “I was trying to bench press too much at once. Leiana thought I was fighting a metal beast to save a girl I was hitting on.”

    His eyes went wide, and he covered his mouth with one hand. “You’re joking.”

    Shame burned my face and neck. “If only.”

    He stifled the laughter with his hand, but not well. Desiree jumped from his lap to the sand, staring at him with frustration at being moved again.

    “Hey, don’t laugh too loud. You’ll wake the girls.”

    “I know. I’m sorry.” Tears appeared at the corners of his eyes. “No, that’s awesome, Matt. I would never have imagined that you–” he coughed, doing his best to mask his amusement. “–that that’s how you died.”

    “That makes two of us,” I said. Let him laugh. You were a douche.

    “It’s way better than me. Really.” He gasped for air and sighed. “That’s great. I wish I had a story like that.”

    “If you don’t, then what happened?” I wanted to move on from my ridiculous death, but I was legitimately curious about Tristan’s background. Before he’d come to Nyarlea.

    His breathing slowed, but he still wore his token smile. “I was a dumb kid.”

    You’re still a kid. I didn’t want to say it out loud, though. Not like he was much younger than me, anyway. “Why do you say that?”

    “My parents were…not great people, I guess. They always fought and argued. And then one day they just…didn’t come home.” Lifting Desiree back into his lap, he cuddled her close. “I was fourteen.”

    “Jesus,” I murmured.

    “Yeah. I had to quit school. I tried to look for a job, but you know how it is. You can’t work more than like twenty hours when you’re under sixteen. That barely pays for ramen every day, let alone rent.”

    “They didn’t leave you anything?” My family wasn’t exactly picture-perfect, but I couldn’t imagine what I would have done in his situation.

    “Nah. They didn’t have anything to leave me. I sold everything I owned, but it wasn’t a whole lot. It gave me an extra month, but I was sleeping on the streets before I knew it.”

    I was speechless. If anyone deserved a choice for their next life, it was him.

    “I know I should have found an orphanage or a foster home or something. But I thought I could do it on my own. I was sure I could. So I kept working any job that would hire me, lying about working at other places at the same time. I showered at the gym and washed my clothes in the sink.” Tristan paused. “That was stupid. I should have asked for help.”

    “I don’t think it was stupid. I get it.” Asking for help was still something I was trying to get better at. It was hard when you weren’t used to it.

    “Thanks. Well, a year later, I couldn’t find a job. There were so many places in my area, and they caught me working multiple shifts. After that, it got harder to pick up gigs. And then one night, I just fell asleep and…” He buried his face in Desiree’s fur and breathed deep before continuing. “And then I woke up in Venicia.”

    “Shit. I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

    “How could you have? It’s the first time we’re talking about it.” Echoes of Tristan’s smile returned. “Celestia’s offer of a warm bed and three meals a day was…Well, it was impossible to turn down.”

    “Yeah. I can see why.” Even without his history, I would have found it hard to refuse Venicia’s previous Headmistress. Especially when the alternative was to face a hoard of monsters ready to rip me to shreds. “So, then, if Leiana had given you the same choices, would you still have picked here?”

    “Hm.” He relaxed, his attention returning to the sky. “I don’t think I’d want to be a dungeon, but I feel like the fantasy realm would have been interesting. Even if, like you said, it sounded bland.” Desiree purred in his lap, and the fire crackled at his feet. “But I’m glad I wound up here. It’s a crazy, fucked up world, and every day could be the last. And still, I feel like I would pick it all over again.”

    “Yeah. I think I would, too.” I nodded, holding my hands out to the fire.

    We shared a comfortable silence, listening to the gurgle of the stream behind us. I broke it, feeling suddenly nostalgic. “So, what was your favorite game?”

    “Oh, man. What a question.” Tristan ran a hand through his hair. “I have a soft spot for the Suikoden games.”

    “The what?”

    Tristan gasped. “Really? You’re missing out! Those are great games. What about Fire Emblem?”

    “Heard of them. Never played them,” I admitted.

    “What did you play?” He gaped, staring at me incredulously.

    “Well, I liked Dark Souls,” I said sheepishly.

    He waved his arms dramatically. “Everyone likes Dark Souls.” Laughing, he gestured to the fire. “If only these were save and warp points, right?”

    “That’d save us a lot of time,” I agreed. “There has to be more we’ve both played. I’m sure of it. What else you got?”

    We spent our remaining watch time waxing nostalgic over video games and media. It felt good to connect over something that was beginning to feel like a dream the further in time I drifted away. I hadn’t realized our shift was up until Ravyn tapped me on my shoulder.

    “Thanks for not making out during watch time again,” she grumbled. Ball yawned on her shoulder.

    “Yeah. Not into that.” I grimaced and glanced at Tristan. “Right, Tristan?”

    Tristan flinched, his cheeks and ears turning pink. “R-Right!” He laughed nervously and shook his head. “Well, see you in the morning, guys!”

    Ravyn, Agni, and I silently watched him disappear into the tent.

    “Did he just—” Ravyn began, but I held up one hand to quiet her.

    “Good night, Ravyn.”

    She snickered, her eyes narrowing. “Sweet dreams, Matt.”

    I waited a few more seconds before entering the tent. Tristan was buried beneath the blanket with Destiny, his head touching hers. Maybe I was overthinking it. I took my place next to Keke and closed my eyes.

    We’ll be in Rājadhānī tomorrow.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 150: The Taming of the Shrew

    I saw a crowd gathering outside when we were coming up on Rājadhānī. Catgirls in colorful silks and sashes screamed at the top of their lungs. Their language was also just as colorful to match. Even from where I was, I could hear them.

    “Fuckin’ pig!”

    “My baby can’t eat because of you!”

    “Down with the men! Down with the men!”

    That last one had me feeling a bit apprehensive.

    “Are you sure we’re going to be safe here?” I called. We weren’t riding far apart, but the wind had picked up just enough that we couldn’t hear each other very well.

    “We’ll be fine! Their aggressions aside, no catgirl would dare harm a man,” Zahra shot back from my left.

    “If you’re sure!”

    Minutes passed, and soon we were at the front gate, along with everyone else. We hopped off the gigashanks, leaving them to Agni, and muscled through the crowd.

    “Excuse me!” I raised my hand behind two other catgirls to get a guard's attention. “Can we get into the city by any chance? It’s important!”

    The guard I spoke to had her hands full trying to get a pregnant catgirl off her. “Can’t you see I’m busy? Or are all men like Magni?”

    “It concerns Magni! We must see him!” Tristan yelled beside me. A bark of laughter escaped the struggling guard’s mouth, and the other guard joined in. “Please!”

    “Magni has made it abundantly clear that no one is allowed inside!” argued the guard. “Now that’s enough, get off of me!” Shaking her arm, she shoved a catgirl to the ground and retrieved a spear resting against the portcullis. “Or I’ll gut you all like lizards!”

    Her warning put a few catgirls on the backfoot, but another, taller catgirl wearing an eyepatch over her left eye approached with seemingly no fear. Across her face was one of the most badass scars I’d ever seen. It traveled from halfway up her forehead, all the way down to her chin, following the contours of her face. She had muscles that would’ve put most men to shame, and they glistened in the early afternoon sun like a bodybuilder’s oiled biceps.

    Holy mother of God, what is that?

    “What do you think you’re doing, threatening your own kind? You have no shame,” said the burly woman. “These women have a right to be here.”

    The guard hesitated. “I understand how you feel, but Magni has made it clear that no one is allowed into the city at this time.” She eyed a catgirl who was standing behind me, crying. “That includes anyone who lives here.”

    “Magni is unfit to lead,” the burly catgirl said without restraint. “You know that.”

    The guard’s spear point met with the strong catgirl’s chest. “Don’t make me do something I’m going to regret.”

    “Wouldn’t dream of it. Pray to Saoirse that she leaves a spot in heaven for you.”

    “Who is that?” I heard Cannoli say from behind me.

    I shook my head, not looking back. “I dunno. She’s something fierce, though.” Against my better judgment, I craned my arm over and rested my hand on her shoulder. This was harder than I’d expected, as she was over a head taller than me—a first for a catgirl. “Excuse me. What’s going on right now?”

    The catgirl blinked, then pushed the guard’s spear away from her chest. A thin line of blood traveled the grooves of her skin as she turned around to face me. “Another man?” Her attention veered to Tristan. “And another… man? You are a man, right?”

    Tristan leaned his forehead in his hand, and I stifled a laugh. “Yeah, I’m Matt. His name is Tristan. We’re trying to get an audience with Magni.”

    “Good luck with that. In case you haven’t figured it out, Magni isn’t letting anyone into the city right now.” She motioned behind her at the portcullis. “There’s no getting in. Not for the foreseeable future.”

    “Why do you think that happened?” Tristan asked, lifting his head.

    The catgirl shrugged. “Don’t know. But I have a job to turn in at the Guild. Lot of good I can do out here. Pretty sure they don’t accept carrier lizards.” She smiled, jerking her thumb backward at the group of gigashanks. Tristan and I nodded like it was perfectly normal to hear. “It was a joke.”

    “Oh, right. Yeah, haha,” I said nervously. “Of course.”

    She frowned but gingerly offered her hand. “Jaya the Tempest. Nice to meet you.”

    The Tempest? Where have I heard that before?

    “Likewise,” I said, grasping her hand. And what a hand it was. As we shook, I was sure some of the bones in my hand would break. When she let go, I shook away the tingling feeling behind my back, hoping I wouldn’t offend her. “Well, there’s got to be a way to get in.”

    “There’s always a way to get in.” Jaya crossed her arms. “Just depends on how many rules you’re willing to break.”

    I wanted to sound as little like an asshole as possible, but I had to ask. “But we’re men. Wouldn’t this interfere with men's roles in Nyarlea?”

    Jaya frowned, and a pause followed. Then she chuckled. “Well-spoken. Where did you learn so much? I’ve never heard of you.”

    “That was a fluke,” Ravyn chimed in somewhere from behind me. “He’s not usually like this.”

    I rolled my eyes. “Maybe Tristan’s rubbing off on me.”

    Tristan rubbed the back of his neck, averting his gaze. “I echo Matt’s thoughts, though. I understand that this is Magni’s island and that his word is law. However, Matt and I seek an audience with him to begin reparation efforts to the other islands.” Tristan reached for one of her hands and pulled it out of the fold. “Please. If you can think of anything, it would help us so much.”

    Jaya flushed, and a surprisingly feminine smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I-I’ve heard your plea, young man.” She swallowed visibly and shook her hand away from Tristan’s grasp. “But it’s not me who needs the convincing.”

    Keke, Ravyn, and Ceres came to stand with Cannoli and me, each voicing their opinion in quick remarks.

    “Why did he do this? Isn’t Rājadhānī supposed to be the capital of your island?” Keke asked.

    “It is,” said Jaya. “But Magni is convinced there’s going to be an assassination attempt on his life soon.”

    Ravyn rolled her eyes. “Fuckin’ paranoid royalty.”

    Squawwwwk, fucking dumbass, squawwwk!

    Jaya covered her ears at the sound of Ball Gag. The heads of a few other catgirls turned around to look at us briefly. “Your familiar needs better training.”

    “You can tell he’s a familiar?” asked Ravyn.

    Jaya nodded. “I’m a [Hunter]. [Hunter]s can detect the difference between all life.” She squinted at the blue parrot perched on Ravyn’s shoulder. “There’s a distinct aura of magic swirling around his body.”

    “Oh, I can do that too!” Lara said with her hand held high.

    Jaya smiled. “Are you a [Hunter] too?”

    Lara shook her head. “Nope, I’m a [Conjurer]!”

    At the risk of this conversation plummeting down another of Lara’s numerous rabbit holes, I spoke. “Keeping us on track, does Magni have any reason to suspect an assassination?” Not that I can blame anyone for trying to take him down.

    “Of course not.” Jaya laughed. “He wouldn’t tell a soul anything. He hasn’t been seen outside of his, erm, castle in a month.”

    “He has a castle?”

    “No. The fool calls it a castle. It’s two estate rooms on top of one another. I’ve been in there a few times. It’s beautiful, but I’d seen better on San Island.”

    “That sounds right about up his alley,” Agni said with a sigh. “Well, one way or another, I gotta get in there. I got gigashanks needin’ a feedin’.”

    “Let me speak with the guard,” said Zahra. Before we could contest her, she shouldered her way past Tristan and me and passed by Jaya.

    “I want to see how this goes,” said Jaya.

    Just as we reached the guard, I realized how intimidating we might appear. We had eleven people if you included Jaya, all bearing down on this poor girl. Twelve if you wanted to count Ball, I guess.

    “I demand to know why you won’t allow entry,” Zahra said. Her tone came off accusatory and provoking. I wondered if she was aware of that.

    “Look, I just enforce the rules. It doesn’t mean I agree with them,” the guard sighed.

    “I get it. You got a busy and thankless job,” I said. “But we need to get inside. It’s for the sake of everyone. We have to speak with Magni. A lot has happened, and we can’t see any way to move forward without him. Cailu… Cailu—” Fuck, what was that twat’s last name? Ah, what does it matter? “Cailu would be here, too, if he could.”

    Mentioning Cailu seemed to catch the guard’s attention. “Really, I understand. But the moment I open this gate up, there will be a stampede. Even if I let you in, I can’t do it without letting everyone else in too.”

    “Kathy, just forget it,” said the other guard. She threw her spear to the ground and began to walk away. “This isn’t worth the trouble anymore. I quit.”

    “Seraphina, wait!” Kathy shrieked with her hand held out. Her shoulders slumped when Seraphina ignored her, disappearing into the crowd and following the stretch of wall protecting the city.

    With one of the most exasperated sighs I’d ever witnessed, Kathy turned back to us and pulled on the winch hiding in one of the supporting portcullis towers. The crowd's banter died, and the gate began to open. “Have at it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Magni’s not going to let you in without a fight.”

    Catgirl after catgirl ran past us like they’d been starving for days. I pulled Cannoli’s arm so she stood behind me while the stampede of catgirls carried past us.

    “T-thanks, Matt,” Cannoli squeaked.

    “Don’t mention it.” I breathed a sigh. “I’ll be honest. I’m not looking forward to this.”

    “Don’t worry, Matt. We’re behind you,” said Keke.

    “Magni will see reason once we have discussed the more pertinent issues at present,” reasoned Ceres.

    “Good. Let’s get the fuck in, then,” said Ravyn.

    Alright then. No matter what happens, I’ve got allies at my side. Let’s do this.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 151: Give You Up

    As we trickled inside, I walked on my tiptoes to see over the heads of the sea of catgirls before us. Two things immediately caught my notice. First, Rājadhānī was enormous. Whether I looked to the left or the right, I could barely make out the walled-off perimeter in the distance. Bringing me to my next subject—the second towering wall about four meters away from where we stood.

    “Another wall?” I commented aloud.

    “First time, I take it?” Jaya asked.

    Agni chuckled. “Welcome to Rājadhānī. This is the Third Shell.”

    “The what?” Cannoli squeaked, holding tight to my arm as another rush of girls passed us.

    “This city has three Shells. Each barred off by one of those walls.” Zahra motioned to the giant blockade. “Which one you live in depends on how much Magni trusts you.”

    I gaped. Tristan shared a similar expression.

    “Wouldn’t that be expensive to build three walls like that?” Destiny asked, resting a finger on her chin.

    Zahra nodded. “Where do you think the King’s Tax goes?”

    “Then this wasn’t something a previous man built?” Keke asked.

    “No. The palace used to have a small wall around it but was always open to everyone. This is ten long years of bleeding girls dry of their Bells,” Zahra explained, her eyes narrowed.

    “How the hell is anyone supposed to get to the inner Shells if he never leaves the damn castle?” Ravyn barked.

    “I can help you there.” Kathy, the guard from outside, joined us at our backs. It seemed she’d ushered the last of the girls in and was on her last string.

    “You don’t have to. Looks like you’ve got it hard enough as is,” I suggested.

    “You’re damn right. And I hope your group here means to change it,” Kathy grunted.

    “We’ll do our best to try,” Tristan replied honestly.

    “Alright, then listen up. King Magni has a trusted group of guards, the Ejderha. They interview the citizens to see if they’re worthy of moving further inside the Shells. The same goes for those they believe need to be moved outside.” Kathy wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead.

    “And their decisions are made just on the girls’ answers?” Tristan asked, covering his eyes and squinting at Kathy.

    “Ha! If only,” Kathy barked. “The better your bribe, the better your chances.”

    “How could you possibly build a home if you are forced to keep moving?” Ceres wondered.

    Agni shrugged. “I always wondered the same thing, girly. The ones who live ‘ere say the First Shell is worth the pain.”

    “I have a hard time believing that,” Ravyn snapped.

    “I’ve only been so far as the Second Shell, so I couldn’t tell you,” Kathy admitted.

    “So, then, the girls that were just outside…” Lara began.

    “All Third Shell. Magni likes to kick us out and have his Ejderha search the city whenever he thinks someone is coming for his head,” Kathy said.

    “He doesn’t think an assassin could be hiding in the other Shells?” Tristan asked.

    “They get searched, too. But there are far fewer catgirls living in the inside Shells. Easier to interview and easier to search,” Kathy replied.

    “Travelers are never allowed beyond the Third Shell, either.” Zahra touched the hilt of her katana. “Speaking with his highness is reserved for his most trusted citizens.”

    “What about two men?” I grumbled.

    A mischievous grin split Ravyn’s lips. “I’m sure we can think of a few ways to get his attention.”

    Down, girl. “Let’s not set anything on fire.”

    She scowled. “Psh. You’re no fun.”

    “I need to report what happened to my captain.” Kathy toed the sand with a begrudging kick. “They’re not gonna be happy.”

    “Anything we can do to help?” I asked.

    Kathy paused, blinked up at the sky, then shook her head. “Your best, I guess.”

    “We’ll do what we can, Kathy. You have my word,” Tristan said.

    With one last nod, she shouldered her spear and disappeared into the crowd.

    “Do you all need a tour? Seems you have a couple of girls with their heads on right.” Jaya nodded to Zahra and Agni.

    “We can show ‘em around. Thanks, Jaya,” Agni replied with a smile.

    “It’s been a long time since I’ve come here, but I’m sure I’ll get my bearings soon enough,” Zahra agreed.

    “Great. Well, the Guild Hall’s right over there. It’s waving the orange flag.” Jaya pointed to our right. Sure enough, a bright orange flag flapped in the hot winds blowing through the city. “I’ll be at the Tipsy Tortoise for the night if you come up with anything.”

    “What’s a tortoise?” Cannoli asked.

    “It’s a kind of turtle,” Tristan answered easily, then looked at me. “From where Matt and I are from.”

    At least one of the guys here was from Earth, then.

    “Oh! I’ve heard of turtles!” Cannoli clapped her hands. “They’re really rare. Like bunnies!”

    “I wonder if they also smell like Lightning?” Lara’s eyes and voice trailed off in the distance.

    Tristan hid a chuckle behind his hand. “Doubtful.”

    “Anyway, nice meeting you, Jaya,” I interjected, saving us from Lara’s musings. “We’ll probably see you later.”

    “Yeah. Sure. See you around.” Jaya waved and jogged off toward the orange flag.

    We’d hardly taken five steps deeper into the city when the yelling started.

    “Why is everyone returning to the city? I did not issue the command!”

    Tristan and I exchanged a quick glance, then shouldered our way to where the cry had originated. In a small clearing, a catgirl with hair the color of fresh blood barked at Kathy. Her neck was covered entirely in black ink, forking into lines beneath her lower lip and a geometric pattern on her chest.

    “Seraphina abandoned her post. There was little I could do alone,” Kathy snapped back, standing her ground.

    “Our investigation is not complete.”

    The catgirls nearby hurried past them, averting their gazes with ears tucked to their heads.

    “I understand that, honored one. But you must be able to see—”

    “Choose your next words carefully.” She adjusted her stance, balancing her weight between slightly spread legs.

    This doesn’t look good.

    “You made them—and us—wait outside for two days. What did you expect?” Kathy pleaded.

    “A stronger soldier.” Furious black eyes narrowed at Kathy as she raised her spear. “Examples must be made when necessary.”

    There wasn’t time to think. I stepped forward to intervene—

    “It’s been a long time, Sanrai.” The blade of Zahra’s katana was buried in the spear’s handle, pushing the point far from Kathy’s chest. “I see you haven’t changed.”

    “Zahra,” Sanrai growled. Her brow wrinkled, and her lips curled into a snarl. “You are interfering with my work.”

    “What a kind way to greet your sister.”

    “You are no family of mine.” Sanrai stepped backward, wrenching the spear away from Zahra’s katana.

    Zahra threw her weight into her sword, forcing the spear's point into the sand. “Ejderha are not to kill their subordinates, correct? I thought I remembered that bit of training.”

    “Perhaps. However, travelers have no such protection,” Sanrai spat. She abandoned the spear and reached for a scimitar at her hip.

    “Alright, that’s enough.” I wasn’t about to let it escalate to bloodshed. I caught Sanrai’s wrist, holding the blade away from Zahra.

    Sanrai spun with terrifying agility, breaking my hold and turning the blade on me. “How dare you?” Then she blinked, and recognition lit her eyes. “...Another man?”

    “Two, actually.” Tristan stepped forward. “Tell your king we’re here to see him.”

    Slowly lowering her sword, Sanrai’s gaze flickered to Zahra, then back to us. The tension in her arms and legs never relaxed—like a cornered animal ready to pounce. “What is your game?”

    “No game. We just want to talk,” I said carefully. “Cailu sent us, and we need to see Magni.”

    She bent to lift her spear, the sword still at the ready in her hand. “Why are you here, then?” she asked Zahra.

    “To tell Magni how much the cities outside of Rājadhānī are suffering. And to remind you that you support a tyrant.” Zahra sheathed her katana.

    “You always were a fool,” Sanrai snarled. “I will pass on your message. Wait in the Third Shell for your response.” Placing two fingers in her mouth, she blew an ear-piercing whistle. I flinched. Tristan covered his ears. When she finished, she turned to Kathy. “And you. Grow a fucking spine.”

    “Y-yes, honored one,” Kathy stammered, all color drained from her face.

    A handful of fearsome catgirls surrounded Sanrai a moment later. She shouted an unintelligible command, and they moved as a group, marching swiftly down the center of the road.

    “The Ejderha seem like a fun bunch,” Keke murmured as we regrouped.

    “Yeah, so.” Tristan scratched the back of his neck and looked at Zahra. “Would you mind telling us what just happened?”

    Zahra nodded. “I’ll buy us all drinks and explain. You too, Kathy. Come on.”

    “S-sure,” Kathy said, catching her breath.

    Welcome to Rājadhānī, indeed.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 152: Let You Down

    Zahra led us to a tavern named Good Grace. A catgirl with ragged pink hair pointed to a pair of tables in the corner, and we shouldered our way through the herd of catgirls. I swore I heard the stool crack under my weight when I sat down.

    I’m not going to break my neck on this thing, am I?

    Judging from the awkward looks I saw on the faces of our Parties, I had to assume everyone else had similar thoughts.

    “Let’s move the tables together,” Zahra suggested, dragging one of the round tables closer to the other.

    “So why here instead of the Tipsy Tortoise?” Tristan took his spot at the opposite end of our makeshift banquet table.

    “I know the waitresses here. They should give us better service.” Zahra sat on a stool of her own between the two tables. “I can’t say the same for the other taverns.”

    “Still…I’m a little uncomfortable,” Cannoli admitted, tapping her fingertips together.

    “Yeah, it feels like we’re being stared at,” Keke said.

    “Fine by me,” Ravyn said. “At least I know where they stand. We’ll see a backstabber coming from a mile away.”

    “I just hope we don’t come to blows. I would hate for us to be thrown out of the city so quickly,” Destiny said, glancing over her shoulder.

    “I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that,” Tristan said, shaking his head and grasping Destiny’s hand atop the table. He rubbed his thumb against the indent of her index and thumb fingers. “It’ll be our word versus theirs. Even with this level of hostility, I think the girls know better than to pick a fight with two men and their Parties.”

    Zahra nodded. “It’s as he says. Even if it did come that far, we still have strength in numbers.”

    “Yeah, so, by the way, you wanna tell us what the fuck happened back there?” Ravyn asked with a furrowed brow as she crossed one long leg over the other.

    Don’t backstab us, bitch! Squawwwk!” Ball cried.

    A couple of the catgirls close to us covered their ears and got up to find another table.

    “Bally, I need you to be quiet for a bit.” Ravyn clamped her hand over the bird’s beak. “Understood?”

    Ball narrowed his eyes and tilted his head but said nothing more.

    “You’re right. I owe you an explanation,” Zara replied. “I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted to come here to see what I could do to help.”

    “You just withheld information,” Ravyn snapped.

    “Ravyn, chill,” I said.

    “No, she’s right. I intentionally hid that from you.” Zahra turned to her right to look at Tristan. “I owe you an apology especially. You welcomed me into your Party, and I took advantage of that trust. I’m sorry.”

    Tristan’s gaze veered to the left. “There’s nothing we can do about it now.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I’m not even sure if there would’ve been a good way to bring that up. It looks like you and Sanrai have a rough relationship.”

    “It’s complicated, to say the least.” Zahra sighed. “I couldn’t let her push one of her own around like that.”

    “Has she always had such abrasive behaviors?” asked Ceres.

    “Mostly,” said Zahra. “Sanrai has little patience for emotions, excuses, or any weakness for that matter. I was very much the same for some time.”

    “Hold on,” I said, raising my hand. “Zahra, I don’t think we need to hear this. What goes on between you and your sister isn’t really any of our business,” I shrugged. “If you still want to help us get Magni to see reason, then I don’t have any issue with you joining us.” I looked at our other Party leader. “Right, Tristan?”

    He paused, then nodded. “Agreed. What can you tell us about this city?”

    A soft smile tugged at the corners of Zahra’s mouth. “I’ll share everything I know. Ask away.”

    “If I may,” Ceres said, raising her hand. “What purpose do the Ejderha serve? Do they enforce the law?”

    Zahra smirked. “Nothing so noble. Their purpose is simple—eliminate the Defiled and sniff out any other enemies Rājadhānī may have.”

    I frowned. “What about the Guild Hall?”

    “Rājadhānī does not have a typical Guild Hall.” Zahra sighed. “Quests require the approval of the Ejderha before a catgirl can take it.”

    Mattaku. What a stupid fucking system,” said Ravyn. Her comment drew glares from a few other catgirls. “Travelers aren’t allowed past the Third Shell, then the Guild Hall has to go through a song and dance just to get any work done?”

    Zahra put a finger to her lips. “Not so loudly.” She craned her head, looking to her left and then to her right. “Yes. That’s just how it goes. The Guild Hall doesn’t see a lot of business because of it. They’ve been in danger of closing down for some time.”

    “Since when?” I asked. In no other world could I think of a scenario where the absence of a Guild Hall would benefit anyone.

    “Since they finished the wall separating the Third Shell last year,” Zahra whispered. “The inner Shells don’t require the work since they greatly benefit from the tax payouts.”

    “If I may be so bold, it sounds like King Magni would see the Guild Hall removed,” said Ceres.

    “But how will the other catgirls find work?” asked Destiny. “The Guild Hall serves as a fantastic way to earn Bells if you don’t have a shop or business of your own.” She put a hand to her chest and bowed her head. “How awful.”

    “Where’s the waitress?” asked Ravyn. “I’m desperate for a drink.”

    “Come to think of it, what’s taking so long?” asked Keke. “Shouldn’t we have seen our server at least?”

    As if on cue, a catgirl with fiery-orange hair and tips dyed red came to our table. She wore a moth-eaten blouse and skirt, and a sheen of sweat was collecting on her forehead. A large bruise darkened the skin around her wrist. “I’m so sorry for the wait! What can I get for you?” Her abnormally thin hands were trembling.

    The bones look like they’re seconds away from poking out of her skin. What the hell?

    “Uh, just something light and cheap. Whatever you got is fine,” I said.

    “I’ll take what he’s having,” said Keke.

    “Just water, please,” Cannoli said with a whimper.

    “A-ah! Sorry, we can’t offer water,” said the waitress.

    “Hah?” Ravyn unfolded her legs and leaned on the table with her elbow. “You can’t offer water?”

    “Ravyn, it’s okay,” I said with my hand out toward her.

    “No, it’s not. Cannoli needs water.”

    “P-please don’t fight, it’s okay,” said Cannoli. “I’ll just take something without alcohol. Tea?” The waitress shook her head uncomfortably. “Oh. Okay. Just… anything, then. Thanks.”

    After penning our orders, the waitress practically ran away with her head bowed.

    “I could draw the water from the drinks,” Lara offered Cannoli with a half-smile.

    “Oh, could you? That would be great,” Cannoli said with a clap. “I was hoping to get water that wasn’t in a pouch or a flask, but, um, I understand if that’s not possible.”

    “Water’s in a good mood right now, so I’ll speak with her when our drinks come.”

    Oh good. Where would we be if Water was in a bad mood?

    “Something was wrong with our waitress,” said Keke. “Did you see the bruise on her hand?”

    “Yeah,” I said. “She needs to eat more than we do.”

    “Someone has her on a short leash,” said Zahra.

    A rare frown crossed Ceres’ features. “I dislike the heavy atmosphere of Rājadhānī. We simply must do something to help these girls. My pride as a knight demands it. What of you, Sir Matt?”

    “You might want to hold back on that,” Zahra suggested. “Depending on who hears you, it could be you who sits in a cage next.”

    “They wouldn’t lock up a man. Such actions could invite the queen’s wrath,” said Tristan.

    “Haha. Sorry, forgive me. But I don’t think the queen could care less about what happens to this place.” Zahra put her elbow on the table and made several complex facial expressions before resting her chin in her hand.

    “When’s the last time the queen was here?” I asked.

    “I don’t know.” Zahra shrugged. “I’ve never seen her.”

    “Any subordinates?” asked Tristan.

    Zahra shook her head. “Not a single one. At times, it feels like Nyarlothep’s abandoned us.”

    Moments later, our waitress reappeared with two trays. “Sorry for the wait!” As she set each drink down, I quietly looked to see if there were any other signs of harm on her body. Sure enough, there was another bruise on the nape of her neck and a few cuts on the inner bend of her elbow. When she finished setting them down, I stood and gently caught her by the hand before she could get away.

    “W-what?” she squeaked.

    “How did you get those wounds?” I asked, trying to sound as trusting as possible.

    That was the wrong thing to do. Her eyes widened. Like a frightened animal, she turned her head one way and then the other. She shook my loose grip away and disappeared into the crowd of catgirls.

    Keke rose to her feet and put a hand on my shoulder. “Matt, don’t pursue her. I think there’s a lot more going on than we know.”

    Damn it.

    I fell back into my chair, and immediate regret took hold. The chair creaked and cracked, and just as I was about to rise back up to my feet, the chair's back leg gave out, sending me tumbling backward to the floor.

    “Son of a—”

    Ravyn snickered. “That’s a good look on you.”

    “Shut up,” I snapped back, clamoring back to sitting.

    We didn’t see our waitress again after the stunt I pulled. Another girl came by to collect the fees, totaling thirty Bells for my Party. The most expensive drinks I’d had yet were, of course, the worst drinks I’d ever ordered. To my surprise, Lara was able to separate the water from the remainder of the beverages for Cannoli. Unfortunately, it left Cannoli with about a few spoonfuls of water in her cup. Lara and I offered our drinks to her, but she was adamant about drinking what little she had acquired.

    After a short discussion, we agreed that seeing the rest of the city and getting a look at the Guild Hall was at the top of our list. As much as I wanted to go around and ask every nearby catgirl what was going on and what the best way to infiltrate ‘King’ Magni’s estate was, I wasn’t exactly ready to have an even larger target painted on my back by the Ejderha.

    Catgirls who looked like they hadn’t eaten in days mumbled to themselves as we passed by the iron cages. I found it strange that not a single one of them pleaded for food or freedom. In fact, whenever we got close, they pulled their legs closer and looked away from us. It took everything in my power not to break open the cages that hung from the many hooks stationed around Rājadhānī.

    “How long you think it’ll take for Mr. King to respond?” Agni asked as we walked.

    If he responds,” Ravyn growled.

    “Ravyn’s right. We need to assume he won’t and come up with an alternative plan,” Tristan said.

    “Any suggestions?” I asked.

    “Well, first things first, let’s take a walk around the whole Third Shell and get an idea of what we’re dealing with.”

    “No offense intended, Tristan, but that would be quite a bit of walking. Especially after a full day’s travels to arrive,” Ceres pointed out.

    Tristan nodded. “I agree. Why don’t we turn in for the night, then? If Magni doesn’t get word to us by morning, we’ll start our investigation. Deal?”

    “Sounds good to me,” I agreed. The others nodded or grunted their assent.

    “I know a good place near here. Well, roach free at least.” Agni chuckled. “It’s about the best we’re gonna get.”

    “Lead on, then.”

    With all the turmoil inside the Third Shell, a couple roaches in my hotel room sounded like the least of my worries.

    [​IMG]
     
  5. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 153: Run Around

    Still shaken by the waitress’ reaction, I’d nearly forgotten that Kathy had joined our table in the Good Grace. Zahra had paid the guard’s tab without flinching, and by the way that Kathy teetered from one foot to the other, I could only assume it was a pretty substantial check.

    As Agni led us to the inn, I slowed my pace to match Kathy’s tentative steps, carefully steadying her shoulder with one hand. To my relief, she simply glanced at it and snickered. Better than the terrified gaze in the bar.

    “Tryna get sweet with me?” Kathy slurred.

    “Nah. Trying to make sure you don’t fall on your ass,” I replied with a grin.

    She chuckled, her ears flicking forward. Even the wags of her tail were sluggish.

    “So, where do you think Seraphina ran off to?” I’d wanted to ask since we crossed the gate but was caught up in everything else going on.

    “Psh. Seraphina’s long gone if she knows what’s best for her.” Kathy paused, glanced at the sky, and rolled her tongue over her teeth. “Knows what’s ‘right’ for her? ‘Good’ for her?” She sampled two other words for her description, then pushed them away with a dismissive hand. “Eh. She’s fucking gone.

    I blinked. “By herself? It’s hell out there, even for a full Party.”

    “And it’s death in here! Shitty options, yeah? Get speared by a demon woman, or die in the desert. Hail to the King!” She pumped one fist into the air, nearly setting off both of our balance. I caught her before she tumbled forward and helped her right herself.

    “There has to be a way to fix this,” I muttered.

    Kathy cackled. “With the Shells? The Ejderha? Good fucking luck. Rājadhānī’s been like this for years. You’re not gonna change it in a day.”

    “Even if we have the Third Shell’s support?” I wondered.

    “Have you even looked at this place? What do you think we have to support you with?”

    I followed her sweeping gesture to the structures before us. The sun was quickly fading, but there was still enough light to really take it all in.

    First off, I hadn’t realized how narrow of a space it was between the outer and inner walls. When we’d first entered the city, there hadn’t been any structures besides the pair of gates leading inside, then into the Second Shell. As we moved deeper inside the Third Shell, it felt claustrophobic.

    Crumbled and dilapidated buildings were shoved together as if the architect was hoping there was enough space left in between to fit just one more. A few had roofs, others partial cover, and most used cloth awnings to protect from the elements. Wherever there wasn’t a building, the space was occupied instead by box-shaped tents. Thin fabric with rips and tears clung to the ground with thin strings of twine or rope that did little to hold against the wind. Through the unintended holes in every dwelling were catgirls of all ages, huddling against the chill evening air or scraping the last few drops of food from pocked wooden bowls. From what I could see, most of them were lit by low-burning candles and meager oil lamps—precious few had full-size lanterns.

    And then there were the cages. The cages continued from the Third Shell entrance and vanished into the darkness. They were far more prolific here than the ones in Kandota or Madhyam, spaced out every two or three homes, and every one of them had a girl inside. However, instead of the tall poles we’d seen in the previous cities, these enclosures were attached directly to the wall.

    Kathy followed my gaze and pointed. “Uh-huh. The worst offenders are higher up.”

    Each stone panel ended in a towering arch that, from a distance, I’d initially assumed was built to make it difficult to sneak inside the city. Seeing them closer up told a different story. The arches were hollowed out, and a cage hung from its center, like the clapper in a bell. The last glimmers of sunlight shined from their bars, and I could barely make out a dark, cowering form at the back.

    “The sun always shines on those lucky girls,” Kathy said as I gaped. “That’s where you go when you push Sanrai or Magni too far.”

    “This has to stop.” The words fell from my mouth before I could catch them. “No one deserves that kind of treatment.”

    “And yet, here we are! Take a deep breath, sir! You’re in the shit Shell!”

    Whether it was because she said something, I don’t know, but the putrid smell from every direction slammed into my face. I coughed, and the odor flavored my gasps. I thought the depths of Catania’s underground cave were bad, but at least they’d had access to ponds and springs. Think about it, Matt. Even the tavern couldn’t give you water.

    “Now you get it? What’re we gonna support you with? Tent poles?” Kathy laughed again. “Even those’re two flicks of a tail from snapping.”

    “Here we are!” Agni announced, stopping in front of a slightly better-maintained stone structure. The windows were openings supported by wooden beams and missing glass panes, but it had a solid-looking roof and a door with a lock.

    I turned to Kathy. The intoxicated film over her eyes had started to clear, but I felt bad just leaving her there. “Do you want me to walk you home?”

    She shrugged. “No, I’ll be fine. Makes no difference to me if I sleep in the dirt or on the floor.”

    “I can go with you if you’d be more comfortable.” Zahra stepped away from the group and joined us.

    Kathy’s eyes narrowed. “With Sanrai’s sister? I’d sooner trust a man.”

    Damn, way to bite the hand that saved your life and bought your drinks.

    To Zahra’s credit, she nodded without a single change in her facial expression. “Then I wish you a good night.”

    “Sure.” She patted me on the back with one last grin. “Take care of yourselves.”

    Her easy smile pulled an image of Marianne from the depths of my memories. I shook my head, clearing it before I could dwell too long on the past, and gave Kathy a quick salute. “Get home safe.”

    “C’mon, Matt, Zahra. Get in before they lock ya out!” Agni called from the doorway.

    I turned to find that the others had already made their way into the inn. Zahra and I nodded and moved inside.

    The innkeeper, a catgirl with black and orange striped hair slammed the door behind us, locking it with a key that hung from her neck by a leather cord. She stood and surveyed us with glowing green eyes, and our expressions must have all been pretty similar because she said, “Girls burst in here and steal my shit if I leave it open too long.”

    “That’s horrible!” Cannoli squeaked.

    “Sounds like San,” Ravyn grumbled.

    Keke approached one of the windows. “Couldn’t a kitten climb through here?”

    “Don’t touch that, Keke! Lightning’s sitting right there!” Lara exclaimed passionately.

    “Er. No, a kitten wouldn’t go through. The windows are enchanted. Just enough to teach them to keep their damn paws off.” The girl retrieved a small leather book and pen from her worn [Cat Pack]. She thumbed through the pages until she found a blank one. “How many nights?”

    “We’re still trying to figure that out,” Tristan said.

    “If I may, how much is it per night, please?” Ceres asked, resting her hands in her lap.

    “Thirty Bells per room per night. Three people maximum to a room.” She glared at Ball Gag preening on Ravyn’s shoulder. “No pets.”

    I caught Cannoli stuffing Buttons into her top out of the corner of my eye.

    Nani? He’s not a pet. He’s my familiar,” Ravyn spat.

    “Then unsummon him,” she replied flatly.

    “That’s more Bells than Abalone,” Keke murmured beneath her breath.

    Destiny stepped forward. “Pardon me for asking, but what’s the great expense for?”

    “They’re the only inn in the Third Shell with beds instead of just blankets,” Agni replied.

    The innkeeper’s sardonic smile returned. “And clean water.”

    There it is.

    “That’s a hundred twenty Bells a night, correct?” Zahra drew a large pouch from her pack. “Here’s enough for two nights.”

    “Zahra, please. We can split it—” Tristan began.

    Zahra cut him off with a wave of her hand. “Consider it an apology for my lack of transparency.”

    Tristan’s jaw worked in thought, then he nodded. “Alright. Thank you, Zahra.”

    “You’re welcome.” She handed the bag of Bells to the innkeeper, who scribbled in her small notebook.

    “Why don’t we give Agni the fourth room? By herself? She deserves it after our ride, I think,” Cannoli suggested.

    “Yeah, that’s a great idea. I’m sure she’s tired of our faces by now.” I chuckled.

    “I’ll stay somewhere else,” Ravyn snapped.

    “What? There’s no reason,” I replied, surprised.

    “No. It’s fine. Better some patch of fucking dirt than this dump.” She stroked Ball’s beak.

    Oh. I cleared my throat. “Hey, can I pay extra for her familiar? He won’t touch anything, but I’ll pay double if he does.”

    Green eyes leered at Ravyn, then Ball, then back to me. “Fifty Bells a night.”

    Jesus Christ. I fished them from my pack before anyone else could. “Done. Here.”

    “Very good, sir.” She smirked, then jerked over her shoulder with her pen. “Rooms are upstairs.”

    As everyone climbed single-file up the stairs, Ravyn caught my sleeve and tugged. When I looked at her, her violet eyes were wide, and her cheeks pink.

    “Matt… Thank you.”

    It was one of the most sincere sentences I’d ever heard out of her mouth. “You’re welcome.”

    She hurried up the stairs before me without another word. I climbed shortly behind her, a new spring in my step.

    Now just to figure out how to help the rest of the girls in Rājadhānī.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 154: Desert You

    That was some of the worst sleep I’d ever had. My body cricked and cracked when I sat up. As I reached around to touch my back, I could feel indents in my skin where it met with the wooden frame. If I’d known that the Third Shell’s idea of a ‘bed’ was just a stack of blankets stacked on top of one another, then I’d have taken the floor of another inn. At least we’d grown accustomed to sleeping in tents for the last few days.

    To my right, Cannoli bolted awake in her ‘bed.’ Deep, dark bags hung under her eyes, and her hair was mangled to the point that it looked like a bird had recently taken up residence. She turned her head toward me.

    “Matt,” she grumbled.

    “Good morning,” I said back and gave her a half-hearted wave. I was sure I heard something creak beneath me. This damn bed better not break. Not right now.

    “It’s…certainly morning.” Cannoli whipped the covers away to reveal Ravyn curled beside her, a very uncomfortable-looking Ball Gag strangled in her arms. A soft curse escaped Ravyn’s lips, and Cannoli sighed.

    “Better cover her back up before we get in trouble.” I chuckled weakly.

    Cannoli shook her head and turned back to me, blinking slowly. “How did you sleep?”

    “Not great,” I admitted. I moved my neck from side to side, and something snapped again. A sharp jolt of pain shot down the side of my neck, settling in my shoulder. I made no effort to hide a groan. “Hey, Keke.” I turned to my left and shook her by the shoulder. She’d been sleeping on her side in a position that renewed the pain in my side. “It’s time to get up.”

    She blinked awake, covering her face with one hand. “You’re not serious.”

    I frowned. “Yeah, I am. Come on, let’s get up.”

    “I didn’t sleep.”

    You poor thing. “I see. Well, hey. Maybe some breakfast will cheer you up.”

    “I don’t want breakfast. I want sleep. Good sleep.” She growled.

    Maybe I should leave her alone for a bit. Come back up for her later. As soon as the thought appeared, I retracted it. No, I’m sure she’ll want to see the city with us.

    “Me too, Keke. We’ll try again later tonight.”

    With the most exasperated sigh I’d heard from her yet, Keke sat up and rocked her lower jaw from side to side in frustration. “Fine. Fine.

    I left the girls to wake up, wandering into the narrow hallway. I caught Tristan outside his door.

    “Good morning, Matt,” he said with a wave and an easy smile.

    How does he do it? The whole smiling thing, no matter what’s going on?

    “Hey, Tristan,” I said, waving back.

    Destiny, Lara, and Zahra filed into the hallway, Destiny and Lara’s tones distant and apathetic. Their faces were plastered with the same worn expressions, and they seemed to be struggling to keep up appearances. They paused just behind Tristan, rubbing the sleep from their eyes.

    “Good morning, De—” I began.

    The door I walked out of just seconds before slammed open. Following the sound were the disgruntled versions of Keke, Cannoli, and Ravyn. Wisdom advised me not to say a word to them. I got out of their way as they passed me, and not once did they look at me. After they began their descent downstairs, Ceres came up behind me, wearing perhaps the most alert expression I’d seen from anyone this morning.

    “Sir Matt, it is a pleasure to see you.” Ceres curtsied, smiling. “Judging from the appearances of the others, I’m assuming you did not find rest either.”

    “Yeah. You could say that.” I nodded. “What about you? You don’t look any worse for wear.”

    Ceres beamed. “Yes. It seems the heat brought about powerful somnolent feelings.” She put a hand on her chest. “Sorentina’s conditions fared little better, so the bed was a minor adjustment for me.”

    “Som… nolent?” That was a new one for me.

    “Means to be sleepy,” Tristan explained.

    Guess Ceres didn’t have a great bed very often.

    “Trista—er, Young Master—” Destiny began.

    “Tristan. Come on, Destiny.” He took his hand in hers, forcing a smile.

    Destiny’s cheeks pinked. “Tristan is so smart.”

    At times, I liked to think that Tristan had the book smarts and I had the street smarts. But after our discussion at the campfire a while ago, maybe he had that on me too.

    “I noted that Ravyn was not of our number this morning?” Ceres asked.

    “She crawled in with Cannoli. But I’m sure she’ll deny it if you ask her.” I chuckled.

    “Mmm,” Lara hummed.

    “Come on,” Zahra said, suddenly shouldering her way through Tristan and the other girls. “There’s work to be done.”

    “Let’s get to it, then,” I said, watching Zahra pass me.

    We sat at two narrow tables in the one other room outside the lobby, and the innkeeper put down an awkwardly shaped bowl in front of each of us. No two bowls looked alike, and some were definitely much smaller than others. It was getting harder and harder to keep up an optimistic front.

    “Where did you get these bowls?” I asked.

    The innkeeper dropped an enormous stockpot at the center of my table. The table shook as if the entire thing would splinter and break apart any second. The bowls wobbled, and I caught mine just as it fell off the edge. It landed squarely in my palm as I watched one of the other bowls across from me fall and shatter into a dozen dull pieces.

    Of all the girls whose bowl could’ve dropped, it just had to be Cannoli’s.

    She had her hand outstretched toward the broken remnants as if she’d tried to catch it and failed. Cannoli adjusted her posture, looking straight ahead, and tears welled up in her eyes.

    “You break it, you buy it,” said the innkeeper.

    It was getting harder and harder not to say something to the innkeeper. She’d been anything but cordial up until now. Third Shell or not, I wasn’t about to let her take advantage of Cannoli like that.

    “She doesn’t owe you anything,” Ravyn spat before I could. “You almost broke the fucking table with your pot. It’s not her problem if you can’t provide proper bowls.”

    Innkeeper’s a fuck! Squawwwwk!” Ball spouted from the safety of her shoulder.

    That’s gonna be expensive, Ball.

    The innkeeper raised a brow at Cannoli. Her tail slowly waved side to side behind her. “I slaved over a stove all morning for you ingrates, and this is how you repay me?” she asked, motioning to us, her pointer finger lingering on Ball Gag. “Get out of my establishment. I don’t want to see you back here.”

    After all the Bells Zahra and I shelled out?

    Mattaku. ‘Establishment’ is too nice a word for this dump,” said Ravyn.

    This is not going to end well.

    The innkeeper slammed her hand on the table. “You San Island bitches are all the same, aren’t you? Say that again and I’ll send this up to the Ejderha. I’m sure they’d love another girl to hang in a cage.” The innkeeper smiled snidely.

    Ravyn looked up at the innkeeper for a time, scratching her nails against the table. I thought for sure I saw Ball shoot her an equally disgusted look.

    “Is that a threat?” I asked. I could tell from the look on everyone else’s faces, I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

    “R-Ravyn, Matt, I’m sorry, it’s fine,” Cannoli whimpered. “I’m just—”

    “Why are you apologizing?” Ravyn rose to her feet and glared at her. “Stick up for yourself!”

    “Hey, that’s out of line,” Keke said, standing up next. “Don’t talk like that to her.”

    “Guys, guys, calm down.” Tristan was the next one to get up. “I get you’re stressed out, but let’s not fight over it.”

    Keke and Ravyn scowled at each other.

    We need to get out of here.

    “Look, we’ll leave. Keep the Bells, I don’t want to cause any trouble.” I rose to my feet, shaking my head in disbelief. “Thanks for the rooms. Come on, everyone. We’ll find another place to eat.”

    “What about my damn bowl?” The innkeeper screamed.

    “You mean your deathkeeper skulls?” Zahra asked with arms crossed. “Don’t think I don’t know what those are. Cheap way to treat your patrons, having them scoop their food out of a skull.” I had no idea what a deathkeeper skull was, but the change in the innkeeper’s tone told me I should be grateful she said something. “Third Shell or not, the other places at least make their own bowls instead of scavenging them off of dead birds.”

    The deathkeeper’s a bird?

    Zahra’s advance shut the innkeeper up. “I-I… that is—” Just when I was expecting an apology to flow from her lips, the innkeeper returned to her previous state of fury, letting out a growl. “Saoirse curse you and your kind. Get the hell out of my inn.” She pointed to the exit, and our Parties left without a word.

    An hour later, our bellies were full—from plates, not bird skulls—and our [Energy] somewhat restored.

    “If I may make a suggestion,” Ceres said with her hand held up.

    “What’s up?” I asked.

    “I believe we would cover more ground and acquire more knowledge if we were to separate into two groups,” Ceres said, putting her forefingers together and then parting them for effect.

    “I agree,” said Tristan. “I want to see how the economy is suffering. We still don’t know where they get their water and food. I haven’t seen much trade coming in, so I want to do some research there.”

    As curious as I was, I had to admit that I didn’t see much purpose. Unless there was some way to work ourselves into the palace somehow, I wasn’t sure how that information would help us. Even so, I had to assume some motive was behind his reasoning, so I left him to it.

    “Alright. If you want to take your Party around the Shell, we’ll check out the Guild Hall first.” I turned to the girls in my Party for confirmation. “Is everyone okay with that?”

    General nods and affirmations passed from one girl to the other. Ravyn still seemed burned from our unfortunate stay, so I let her be.

    “Well, sounds like ya got a lot to do. I’m goin’ to go check in on my gigashanks,” said Agni. “It’s been fun, though. If ya need a ride back to any of the other cities, I’ll be holin’ up with my beauties for the next couple of days.”

    “Thank you so much,” I said. I smiled, extending my hand. “I promise we’ll do our best to help you.”

    Agni smirked. “Ya got yer work cut out for ya.” Her stare traveled, landing on each of us for a short while before moving on to the next. “Best of luck!” She grasped my hand, shaking it once and jogging back to the front gate, waving to us all the while.

    “Alright,” I said, turning to face everyone else. “Let’s split up, gang!” I said in my best Scooby-Doo impression.

    Tristan stifled a laugh beneath his hand, and I could feel my cheeks reddening. “Haven’t heard that in a while,” I heard him mumble.

    To my relief, the girls were none the wiser to my cringey moment.

    Baka,” Ravyn grumbled.

    I rolled my eyes and gestured for them to follow. I was sure it was going to take a lot more than Scooby Snacks to get Magni out of that damn fortress.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Bonus Quest: Cannoli: Isolation

    “Hello? Is anyone there? Sevastopol! Come in!” a metallic voice echoed through the room.

    “Owwie…” Cannoli groaned. Her head was throbbing, and a thousand lights were blinking at her from all angles. She peered around the room and realized a dozen things all at once.

    First, this wasn’t Ni Island. Or anywhere she’d been in Nyarlea, for that matter. It was like a big metal box with smaller metal boxes holding lots of lights and unfamiliar sounds. Thick threads ran from some of the contraptions to the walls, and that voice kept repeating the same thing over and over.

    Second, her vision and hearing seemed…strange. Everything came in with a clearer focus and vivid detail. She could count the threads beneath the metal and pick out every color. Every syllable that the voice called out was punctuated and precise through the static.

    Third, was she just imagining it, or was everything very far away? As if she was towering over it from a few extra heads higher than normal. Maybe it’s all just really small…

    Nani the fuck?” a familiar timbre hissed from a nearby room. “Can you keep it down? She’ll hear you!

    Ravyn! That meant Cannoli wasn’t alone after all! That’s great! She swerved her head back and forth and was nearly knocked back with the motion. Goodness, why did her head feel so heavy?

    “We haven’t had contact in hours, Sevastopol. What’s going on over there?” the voice replied.

    “What isn’t going on in here, baka?” Ravyn growled.

    Cannoli’s gaze finally landed on a wide… door? Okay, really, why is the door short, too? She thought it was a door, at least. It didn’t have a handle, but it wooshed open when she stepped toward it. She squeaked and hopped back, waiting to see if something was waiting for her behind it. M-magic?! When nothing happened, she chanced a few hesitant steps, then ducked through and padded her way outside into a long hallway. A loud spark to her right startled her, and she jumped. More magic??

    “Shit. I have to go. Stop calling.” There were a few clicking noises, and the metallic voice was silenced.

    Cannoli moved away from the sparks, her tail dragging on the ground behind her. When did my tail get so long?

    There was a dull thud from inside the room Ravyn was occupying, and Cannoli’s attention snapped away from her tail. What if she’s been hurt? The door wooshed, and she tip-toed inside. Well, she thought she was tip-toeing inside. Her footsteps were definitely quiet, but her feet didn’t seem to make the same motion she was used to.

    “Ravyn?” Cannoli called. The sound that escaped her was a low, guttural snarl. Is my throat stuffy? She coughed, and it translated into a dull roar. With a confused blink, she shook her head. If Ravyn’s hurt, she needs help first. Worry about yourself later.

    However, as Cannoli peered around the room, she couldn’t find Ravyn anywhere. But… But I just heard her! She knelt to look beneath the metal desks only to find another bevy of wires. A quick check behind the boxes also turned up empty.

    “Ravyn,” she called, softer this time. It was the same twisted snarl as before. Urk. Maybe she was in another room? Her hearing had improved quite a bit, so it was possible she’d gone into a room too early. Plus, who knew how things echoed with all this metal around?

    Cannoli wandered outside, back into the hallway. The thing that had sparked so loudly before was still flickering with dull light, but the sound wasn’t nearly as bad. Didn’t they have anyone to fix that around here? As she moved to inspect it, she caught her reflection in the window shielding the room she’d started in. She raised her hands—no, these were claws—to meet the reflection.

    Is this really me? Am I… am I a Defiled?

    Her head was enormous—a long, bulbous shape that protruded far beyond her back. Everything else was sinewy and lithe. Hardened muscles shaped her thighs and biceps, then led to thinner calves and forearms. Three strange protrusions on her back reminded her of skinny chimneys, and her tail had thick ridges shooting out from the base. Kind of like a gigashank’s.

    I can’t be a Defiled! I’m still Cannoli! Her thoughts were still very much her own. Nothing compared to the blood-thirsty Defiled and Encroachers they’d encountered so many times. Maybe… maybe this is magic, too! Ravyn should be able to change me back!

    Just as she’d thought it, there was a tink sound, and a tiny piece of debris slid across the floor.

    Shit. Shit, shit, shit,” Ravyn cursed under her breath.

    There she is! Cannoli whipped around to where the sound originated, just in time to see a green jumpsuit and a fluffy red tail disappear into the wall.

    … Into the wall?

    Cannoli trotted forward, pulling up short just as a metal circle wound its way closed. It was very small—it would just barely fit her head and body inside. Why would Ravyn go in here? But a clamoring from inside suggested that Ravyn was, in fact, climbing through it. Maybe she’s in trouble?

    “Ravyn! I’m coming in!” The words were garbled by a throat that clearly couldn’t speak catgirl. I probably shouldn’t talk. She inched closer to the circle, and it whipped open. It was lit by very few lights, but when Cannoli blinked, her vision adjusted, and she could see everything as clear as day.

    She bent at the hips and slipped her head inside first, then the rest of her body. Once inside, she realized that her feet worked best if she kept them on her tiptoes, and she skittered along the painfully narrow duct.

    “‘Give space a try,’ Matt said. ‘It’ll be fun,’ Matt said. Kuso. Baka. Fuck this,” Ravyn’s soft cursing reverberated against the walls, bouncing around the corner to Cannoli’s sharp hearing.

    Space? Matt? What’s going on? More questions than answers cropped up as she traveled. The familiar scent of Ravyn’s perfume lingered in the passageway, hinting that Cannoli was getting closer.

    How do I talk to her if everything I say sounds so scary? She wondered.

    Eventually, Cannoli lost the trail of Ravyn’s perfume, replaced only by the smell of smoke and something burning. I swear I was getting closer.

    “You are becoming hysterical. Please, let us talk this out,” a blunt, mechanical voice announced beneath her.

    Cannoli looked down, realizing she’d crawled on top of a grate that allowed her to see what transpired below. A blue man marched forward, glowing red eyes focused on Ravyn.

    “Of course I’m hysterical, you thick-headed robot!” Ravyn shrieked.

    ‘Robot?’ Is that another weird word like ‘baka?’

    “If my services do not meet Seegson's standards, please log a complaint,” the blue man replied, briskly marching toward her.

    “Leave me alone!” Ravyn buried her hands deep into her pockets.

    Cannoli didn’t like how the ‘robot’ held its hands out to her as if ready to grab her.

    She needs help! Cannoli kicked open the grate with one powerful leg, then dropped down on top of the blue man. He crumbled to the floor with her weight, and Cannoli realized she’d smashed one of his arms flat. The fluid that leaked from the joint was white. Humans don’t bleed white.

    Ravyn was already halfway down the hallway, shrieking, “You deserved it, motherfucker!’

    She’s right there! Cannoli sprinted away from the dazed blue man, catching up to Ravyn in five long strides. Ravyn looked over her shoulder and grimaced, another slew of curses spilling from her mouth.

    Cannoli scooped Ravyn up beneath the arms, then spun her around, so they were face to face.

    “Change me back!” Cannoli squealed, but it came through as a terrifying roar.

    “H-hey. Let’s talk about this, okay?” Ravyn said quickly. “We won’t get very far without me, you know?”

    “I know, just—” more guttural grunts.

    Ravyn patted her head. “Good alien. Nice, alien. Please let me fucking go, alien.”

    “I want to, I just—” When Cannoli opened her mouth, a second, smaller mouth emerged, inches from Ravyn’s face.

    Ravyn screamed. There was a wall of fire. Cannoli screamed.

    And then the world went black.

    “Ravyn, help!” Cannoli squealed. Cold sweat covered her back and drenched the inn’s thin blanket.

    “Help you what?” Ravyn grumbled next to her, clutching Ball Gag close to her chest. “You’re the alien.”

    Cannoli blinked. When had Ravyn snuck into her bed? And… had she just said alien?

    Running her hands through her damp hair, Cannoli shook her head clear of the dream. Maybe it was just the heat getting to them both. Buttons hopped into her lap, his glimmering eyes searching Cannoli’s face.

    “I’m okay, Buttons,” she giggled. “Let’s get some sleep, hm?”

    She smoothed her hand over his back, noting some of the bumps on his tail. I sure hope Buttons doesn’t look like that when he grows up. After a quick pat between Ravyn’s ears, Cannoli fell sound asleep.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Bonus Quest: Love, Saphira

    Every day began at dawn, just as the first hints of sunlight peeked over the faraway mountains. Grandma would wake Saphira with a gentle shake of her shoulder while Mama cooked breakfast. Saphira would rub the sleepy sands from her eyes and get dressed, then Grandma would braid her hair in twin tails, away from her face, and wrap them into comfortable buns at the nape of her neck.

    After breakfast, Saphira helped Mama collect eggs and milk from the barn. Saphira greeted every feathered and fluffy face with a warm “Good morning!” and a gentle pat on the head. Mama had to lift her beneath the arms to reach the cows, but it had become part of their routine. Saphira knew she would be as tall as Mama one day, but she secretly wished that day would hurry up.

    Once the milk and eggs were collected, they moved to the fields. Grandma always started with watering and weeding very first thing. Many of the trellises and stakes were built by Grandpa, and their accompanying plants were seeded by Grandma. Saphira silently named each crop as they moved between the tidy squares outside the barn. Oats and millet, herbs for healing and herbs for cooking, fruits, vegetables, sugar cane, and cocoa. Tending to each of them always took the longest, especially during planting or harvesting season.

    But Saphira didn’t mind. She always learned something new every day. She loved spending time with Mama and Grandma, listening to the birds gather in their trees and spying brightly colored squirrels sneak away a few seeds now and then. Grandma would make them lemonade or tea and fresh sandwiches for lunch. They’d eat on the porch and talk about the island.

    In the afternoons, Grandma and Mama took turns opening their stall in the market. Saphira would help Mama restock their baskets, then carefully write the prices for each crop on their tags. For their regular customers, Mama let her count out each item, then bundle and tie the purchases inside cloth sacks. There were other kittens that Saphira knew playing tag and skipping around their mother’s stands, but none of them seemed to like helping as much as she did. When the sun began to set, Saphira helped Mama gather the rest of their stock and carry it back home.

    Afterward came Saphira’s favorite time of night. While Mama cooked dinner and after dishes were done, Grandma and Saphira would paint together.

    Once the Bells were safely stored and crops were returned to their bins, Grandma would help Saphira push the sofa up against the wall, and they’d spread their wooden easels out in the common room next to the fireplace.

    For seven long years, Saphira had watched Grandma paint in silence, mirroring the brush strokes through the air with her left hand. With her imagination, she covered the walls in beautiful landscapes, the ceiling in stunning portraiture, just like Grandma did on her canvas. The kitchen door was just begging for a cute picture of her favorite chicken. When her seventh birthday neared, Grandma spent long hours into the night crafting Saphira her own set of paint brushes with wood from their maple trees and hairs from their hogs. Saphira nearly burst with joy when she opened the delicate case that held the four precious brushes.

    “You must promise me to take excellent care of these,” Grandma had said, though she knew Saphira would treat them with the respect they deserved. “Clean them after each use, and never leave them lying on the tips.”

    “Yes, Grandma!” Saphira squealed, hugging them to her chest. “Forever and always!”

    It’d been a year since then, and Saphira did exactly as she was told, carefully cleaning the bristles with the same care and consideration she took when cleaning her tail. The paints she shared with Grandma, taking heed to each of her instructions.

    “You can blend colors with a dulled knife. Like this.” Grandma scooped up a dab of yellow paint, then a dab of blue, and mixed them on the thin, wooden board she used as a palette. With a few circles of the knife, the colors swirled and merged into a stunning green.

    “Is that Magic?” Saphira gasped.

    Grandma laughed. “No, dear. It’s just how the paints play with one another.” She proceeded to create a brilliant orange and vivid purple. “See?”

    It certainly still looked like Magic to her. “I-I think so.”

    “A little goes a long way. Use this oil to thin the pigments.” Grandma lifted a glass flask, then wiggled it in her fingers. “A drop or two of this and you can coat your canvas with a paint dab the size of your pinky.”

    Saphira held up her tiny pinky and marveled. “But that seems so small!”

    Grandma touched their pinkies together and nodded. “Trust me, darling.”

    Saphira was on her seventh painting, and she still wasn’t as good as Grandma. Somehow, the pictures she saved in her head throughout the day just wouldn’t come through her hand the same way. Tilted barn angles, strange Encroacher faces, and awkward flowers dotted each of her works. Meanwhile, Grandma’s flowing masterpieces of the nearby beach, their market stall, and a perfect recreation of their home bedecked the hallways and bedrooms.

    “How long until I get as good as you?” Saphira asked one night, outlining the edge of a tea kettle her mother favored. The shapes and deep green metal had caught her attention in a way she’d never noticed before she started painting.

    “Oh, at least two more, I think,” Grandma mused.

    “You say that every time.” Saphira giggled.

    “I mean it every time. You’re catching up quickly.”

    “You really think so?”

    “I do.”

    Dabbing a tiny bit of green and black paint on the wooden palette, Saphira added a drop and mixed them together. The black hue consumed the green, and the resulting color was much darker than she’d anticipated. “Mixing is hard.”

    “At first, it is. It’s a balance.” Grandma turned from her current work—a beautiful piece of their fields at sunset—and looked over Saphira’s blend. “Ah, you’re trying to darken it.”

    Saphira nodded. “But now the green’s all gone.” Her ears tilted forward, lying flat against her head. She didn’t want to waste Grandma’s paints or, worse, disappoint her.

    “That’s alright, sweet. You’ll want to start with the green first, then add just a teensy dot of black.” She dipped her brush in the green and added it to the palette. Next, she barely touched her brush to the black before blending them together.

    “That’s the color I wanted!” Saphira exclaimed. “Goodness. You barely used any!”

    “Remember, practice makes perfect,” Grandma said, tousling her hair.

    It was another week before Saphira finished her kettle painting, slowly working on it each night and finding more and more details she hadn’t noticed before. Small scratches and tiny dings from age, how the color deepened from top to bottom, how the firelight hit it just so at certain angles. Grandma helped Saphira recreate the reflection and guided her hand around the curves of the handle.

    When she was done, she stepped back and looked at it from a distance.

    “Saphira, you did a beautiful job,” Mama said, suddenly behind her.

    “Really, Mama?”

    Grandma joined them, tilting her head this way and that, then broke into a smile. “Your finest work yet, darling.”

    Saphira beamed. It was certainly the most detailed painting she’d done, and it looked a lot like Mama’s kettle.

    “I think we’ll hang that one in the kitchen,” Mama said.

    “Are you sure?” Saphira gasped and blushed furiously. The walls were precious space reserved for only the best art. Grandma had plenty of paintings in storage that were better than this one.

    “I’m more than sure. It deserves to be hung up,” Mama replied.

    “Now you just have to sign it,” Grandma added. “A painting isn’t complete without the artist’s signature.”

    Saphira had seen Grandma sign all of her paintings but wasn’t sure if it was something she should be doing. Or how she should sign it. Did she just use her name? The date? “What do I put on it?”

    “Anything you want. It’s your picture,” Grandma encouraged.

    She puzzled through her unlimited options. She’d written a handful of letters before and signed those with her name. They were filled with the same love and pride she was feeling now. Would that be alright?

    She picked up her smallest brush and dipped it in the yellow paint. In the bottom right, in the best script she could manage, she wrote, “Love, Saphira.”

    “That’s a lovely signature.” Grandma nodded her approval. “It suits you.”

    Saphira’s practice continued, her skill improving with every painting. The finished works doubled, tripled, quadrupled, but she never stopped signing them the same way.

    Love, Saphira.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 155: Tell a Lie

    Simply walking around the Third Shell was a task in itself. Girls passed by with nary a look in our direction. If they did stare, it was with bitter contempt.

    “Feel like someone could jump us at any moment,” I muttered.

    “W-What do you mean?” Cannoli squeaked, inching toward me.

    “Don’t worry about it. Just stay close.”

    It felt like we were exploring a long, curved half-pipe. Over half the path was occupied by tents and smaller buildings constructed along the length of the Shell. Very few structures stood higher than two stories.

    The girls were as worn as the buildings, wearing tattered clothing and in desperate need of a shower. A tall, muscular catgirl left one of the houses, crouching under the doorway on her way out. Her gaze caught me, and she waved casually to us.

    “Oh, it’s the slightly bigger man and his Party!” she said.

    Only slightly bigger?

    “Sir Matt, it is Jaya,” Ceres pointed out.

    “Hey, Jaya,” I said as we closed the distance between us. The girls followed close behind me. “Can you show us where the Guild Hall is?”

    Jaya’s face fell. “You sure you wanna go there?”

    I shrugged. “Just taking in the sights.”

    She sighed. “You aren’t going to like what you see.”

    “That seems to be the trend,” Ravyn commented.

    “There’s got to be some work available, right?” asked Keke. “Anything?”

    “Maybe.” Jaya shrugged. “I don’t pick up work from there very often anymore. It’s pretty damn repetitive, so I try to pick up other Quests.”

    I frowned. “What do you mean other Quests?”

    “I go from girl to girl, asking if they need help with anything.” She gestured to a few more pitiful ones some ways away from us. “I consider it my duty.”

    “Do you make much?” I asked.

    “I doubt it,” said Keke.

    Jaya clicked her tongue twice in succession. “You got it. Bells are hard to come by. Doubt I had to tell you that much. Can’t imagine your time at the inn was great either.” She nodded at our unified groans. “Had a feeling. Well, I’d be glad to show you the way. Just don’t expect too much. The place is being held together by spit and a prayer.” When none of us said anything, she continued. “That was a joke.”

    “O-Oh,” I said with a nervous laugh. At this point, it wouldn’t have surprised me. Seeing how thin and dirty most of the catgirls were, I’d discarded any expectations. All I wanted to do was break into Magni’s ‘castle’ and rip him a new one for how he mistreated these girls.

    “Sir Matt?” Ceres was standing in front of me, her hands clasped in front of her. “Are you coming?”

    I shook my head, clearing the image of tossing Magni from a balcony away. The others were already walking alongside Jaya, chatting. “Sorry. I guess I got caught up in my head for a bit there.”

    “Understandably.” Ceres stood by and waited until I started to walk. When I did, she took to my side, her stare never resting on one thing for long.

    “Ceres?”

    “Yes, Sir Matt?”

    I stifled a laugh. Maybe one day, she’d stop referring to me like a knight. “What do you make of the situation? You saw the downfall of Shi Island. I want to hear what you think. Do you see any similarities?”

    Ceres blinked twice, and her mouth hung open. “It is… a complicated situation. Celestia, as detestable a woman as she was, could be properly thwarted through the virtues of kind-hearted men like you and Tristan. Perhaps if the queen had not been so preoccupied, she could have assisted us as well.” She looked up to the clear blue sky as she spoke. “I worry that the trouble we encounter here is more deep-seated. Magni’s power, I fear, is absolute. It will take much to usurp him.”

    “Already thinking of knocking him down from his sand castle before we’ve spoken with him, huh?”

    Her stare grew more serious. “I fear that even if we do manage to remove him from the issue at hand, it will take many years before Ichi Island will recover. He should not be allowed to return.”

    That was a very dangerous thing to say—especially for a catgirl. This was beginning to feel like a repeat of Shi Island all over again. There had to be something we could do to help Ichi Island recover afterward. Assuming we were able to rip the idiot from his perch.

    “Let’s catch up,” I said. “I want to hear Jaya’s opinion on this.”

    “Of course!”

    “About time you caught up,” said Ravyn. “Baka.”

    “Good to see you too,” I said, walking by Jaya’s side. Ceres kept pace with me on my right, glancing over her shoulder. “Anything you can tell us? Well, more than you have?”

    “They’re building another Shell,” said Keke.

    My eyes widened. “You’re joking.”

    Jaya shook her head. “I’m afraid not, little man.” Little? “Plans are almost complete from what I understand.” Jaya cracked her neck to her left and then to her right. “The whole island’s going to burn before he changes his mind.”

    I swallowed, looking up at a girl hanging from one of the many cages. She slipped her fingers between the gaps of the iron mesh of her cell with a pleading stare. Her emerald-green eyes bore into me, and it took me everything I had not to pull my axe out and go to town on the anchored rope. Nobody deserved this kind of torture.

    Keep your head on straight. Even if you got her down, hundreds more would suffer. I drew a deep breath and bowed my head, pretending not to see her. I wanted to vomit. Focus on Magni. Figure out what you can do about him first.

    “We’re here,” Jaya said, ripping me away from my thoughts.

    I frowned. “I understand I’m not a local but are you sure this is it?”

    “I told you it was nothing to be impressed by,” said Jaya. “See? Orange flag. Just like I said yesterday.”

    Sure enough, the orange flag swayed slowly in the meager breeze.

    “But this thing is barely holding,” Cannoli said, her tone like that of a concerned mother.

    “At least they have one,” said Keke, a hand on her hip.

    Mattaku. Stop commenting on the damn thing, and let’s just get inside. Time is money.” Ravyn was the first to step forward. She pushed open the door, and her trailing voice followed.

    There was a sign—or at least, what remained of it—made of wood that looked older than Granny Nauka. Cracks splintered it like something heavy had struck it. Several times. The words ‘Guild Hall’ had been scrawled across it with white paint. Unfortunately, someone had come along and put a nice big red ‘x’ across it. It was so worn-looking, you could’ve told me it’d been that way for decades, and I would’ve believed you.

    “Eck!” I heard Ravyn say from inside.

    “Let’s check it out, I guess,” I said. Jaya entered after Ravyn, then Keke and Cannoli behind her. Ceres stayed behind me when I walked in.

    As soon as I was inside, I was met with a new wretched stench. One more pungent than the aromas hanging over the city. If the girl in the cage was damn near enough to get me hurling, then this would finish the job. Assuming we stayed here long enough.

    “What the hell is that smell?” I asked.

    “Hey! Business! We need business!” said Ravyn. She had reached the front desk, and really, to no one’s surprise, nobody was standing there. With Ball perched on her shoulder, she leaned over to try and see down the hallway. For one pleasant little slice of the day, Ravyn inadvertently offered me a nice peek of the skin just below her butt.

    Nice absolute territory.

    “Calm down, rascal,” Jaya said, walking in front of me with her arms outstretched.

    Well, perhaps that was for the best. I need to stay focused.

    “Rascal?” asked a bewildered Ravyn over her shoulder.

    With my eyes back on the prize—the important one, anyway—I looked around. The entire structure was made of stone. As small as it was, whoever was staying made good use of the space. An old sofa with stuffing poking from numerous chairs sat to the right. To my left was an old rickety bench flanked by two shelves hanging a few feet in the air. A dust-covered, ceramic flowerpot with a very, very dead plant rested on one shelf, and a rolled scroll with a red seal perched on the other.

    “At least it’s cozy?” Cannoli murmured, moving toward Ravyn.

    “Careful, don’t step there,” Keke said, pulling Cannoli back slightly. “Looks like something broke.”

    I glanced at the floor to find shards of sharp glass scattered in a thin circle. Bless you for your attention to detail.

    “Thanks, Keke,” Cannoli said brightly.

    “This is ridiculous,” said Ravyn. “Hey! Is anyone home? I’ll jump over the counter if you don’t come out!”

    “Ravyn, I would not suggest that,” said Ceres. “That is most unlike a lady.”

    “I get that a lot,” Ravyn said, turning to Ceres for a moment. “Hey! Hello!”

    At last, a brunette girl with braids tied into mounds on the side of her head appeared, yawning. She was a dainty thing, barely the same height as Cannoli, and just as lithe. Her eyes were like sapphires—cold, dark, and sparkling. Without saying a word, she flipped open a book I couldn’t see and thumbed through the pages for a time.

    “Hey,” I said, coming up to the counter next. “Name’s Matt. Are you the Guild Hall attendant here?”

    Slowly, she raised her head. “Yeah. Sec.”

    I frowned. “Uh. Okay?”

    We waited patiently as the girl slowly turned each page. I leaned on one arm, drumming my fingers. Wood creaked under my weight, and I pulled back.

    Nope. Not letting it happen again.

    “Eva, come on,” said Jaya. “Don’t be like this.”

    Eva raised her eyes to look at Jaya, then sighed. “Fine.” She shut the book. “What do you want?”

    This conversation was going nowhere fast. “We’re adventurers, and—”

    “My condolences,” she said without looking at me.

    “Uh, thanks. Anyways, we wanted to see if there were any Quests available.”

    Eva, at last, turned to me. “Maybe.”

    “Is there something wrong?” asked Cannoli. “I know things are stressful here, but maybe we can do something to help?”

    At that, Eva glared. “Help? Not likely.” She flipped her book back open and began to page through it again. After a while, she stopped, her finger resting on a single sentence. “Missing pet. Want to take it?”

    Can someone even afford to have a pet here?

    “We could do that,” Keke said with the same tone she always used when she had to get something done. “Do you have anything else? We’re going to be here for a while.”

    “Bad idea. Let me check,” said Eva.

    “Hey,” I whispered to Keke. “Are you sure? A missing pet?”

    She smiled. “I’ve spent a good part of my life hunting. I bet I could track it down.”

    “Here,” said Eva. “Fix the relationship between two sisters. Twins. They’re upset. They don’t like each other.”

    So we play family counselor too?

    As I opened my mouth to speak, Ceres stepped forward. “We will accept both Quests,” she said. “Please put us down.”

    Eva scanned over us, pointing at each of us with her finger. “I count six. The Quests are only for one Party.”

    “I’m not in their party,” said Jaya. “I’ll be supervising.”

    “Understood.” Eva bowed and retrieved a quill and ink. “Party leader’s name?”

    “Matt.”

    “Matt. Strange name.” Eva scratched it into her book, then set the quill aside. Then, like washing an invisible car, she ran her hand through the air between her and me. “Snapped.”

    “Snapped?”

    “Guild Halls are required to take a snap of the person,” explained Ravyn. “So that way if someone tries to claim the bounty for your Quest, they can confirm it with the Guild Hall attendant.”

    “What’s a snap?” I asked.

    “Oh, boy,” Ravyn sighed. “It’s a type of magic that locks away a person's appearance in your head. There are a few ways the magic can be used, but Guild Halls usually bind a person's name with the ink they use in their books.” Ravyn straightened her back, scratching the back of Ball’s neck. “Then, when she touches the ink, it recalls the memory she snapped. That’s how they verify it’s you.”

    Jaya whistled. “You know your stuff.”

    Ravyn shrugged. “Been doing this for a long fucking time.”

    “Appear, iPaw.” The device manifested in my hand. Using my forefinger, I scrolled through the iPaw’s numerous systems, navigating to the [Quest] screen. “There it is! We have two Quests now!”

    “That’s great, Matt!” Keke said, grinning. “Finally, a real Quest.”

    New Notifications!

    New Quest!

    [The Golden Beetle]

    I can’t find Glitter, my pet bascar, anywhere! Please, he’s never run away before! All I have to give is my allowance and one water ration. Can you help?

    Rewards:

    • 5 XP
    • 12 Bells
    • 1 Water Ration
    New Quest!

    [Twin Splints]

    My daughters refuse to get along! We don’t have the room for them to be fighting, and I need help selling in the markets during the day hours. Please talk some sense into them!

    Rewards:

    • 10 XP
    • 25 Bells
    [​IMG]
     
  10. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 156: A Nightmare on my Street

    “How do the Elements feel about this city?” Tristan asked as they walked the opposite length of the Third Shell from Matt’s Party.

    “Hm… Now that you’ve said something, they do sound a little… different,” Lara admitted, tapping her finger against her chin. “Water is… proud. She is desired here more than any other of the Elements.”

    “So there is water around here somewhere?” Tristan wondered aloud.

    Lara nodded. “Oh yes. Inside the walls, Water runs far and deep.”

    “It’s been a long time since I last came here, but I believe they still ration measured amounts of water to the girls in the Third Shell,” Zahra explained.

    “They don’t have access to water all the time?” Destiny wrinkled her nose and frowned. “That’s horrible!”

    Tristan silently agreed, but it was entirely believable. The lack of water for customers in the tavern and the inn’s exorbitant pricing for offering clean water were two giveaways. Not to mention the general lack of cleanliness and hygiene amongst the girls in the city.

    “Anything else, Lara?”

    “Wind is reluctant to move. Earth is very touchy because of how easily he is carried in Wind’s gusts, so he gets mad at her quite often,” Lara explained.

    Tristan turned to Zahra. “Are there any other water reservoirs nearby? Oases, rivers, or otherwise?”

    “There’s an oasis an hour’s ride east. You can follow a series of reeds planted in the sand that leads from the city to the shore.” Zahra pointed eastward as she spoke.

    “I’m guessing there’s a reason no one’s using it.”

    “You would be correct. The Ejderha guards it. Like their own personal swimming pool.” Zahra smirked. “Sneaking in is a death sentence.”

    That doesn’t make sense. “Couldn’t they just ration it, too? Give the girls here at least one more shot at water?”

    “Last I heard, Magni’s afraid that too many girls using the oasis will dry it up,” Zahra said.

    Tristan stopped walking, working not to let his jaw drop. Lara bumped into his back and quickly apologized before skipping to his side.

    “Has he sent anyone to find out how it’s being replenished?” Tristan had a feeling he knew the answer, but just in case…

    “I don’t know. But if I had to bet, I’d say no.” Zahra shrugged.

    “That’s what rationing is for. And depending on what’s fueling the water there, it may be impossible to run out any time soon.”

    “It’s not me you have to convince, unfortunately.”

    Tristan ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Right. Sorry.”

    He restarted his methodical pace, noting the number of dwellings and buildings crammed together on top of each other. Catgirls took shade beneath broken roofs and dangling awnings. Some hunched down in shaded corners created between keeling walls. Minimal conversation was shared amongst anyone, hard eyes glared at Tristan and his Party beneath dirty hair, and drifting over everything was the slow, ear-grating creaks of the cages high above.

    “Where are the kittens?” Destiny asked, looking around. “I thought I saw one or two last night, but none of these homes look suitable for nyannies.”

    “The majority of them are in the First and Second Shells. Magni usually doesn’t come this far in search of partners,” Zahra replied.

    “But there was a pregnant woman at the gate yesterday,” Tristan pointed out.

    “Right. If I had to guess, she lost her status in the other Shell and was forced out here.”

    “Why do the girls stay here? Why not move to Madhyam, Kandota, or another one of the outlying cities?” Destiny shook her head, searching the scene before her as if figuring out a puzzle.

    “For the chance to move up in Shells.” Zahra shielded her eyes and peered up at the inner wall. “I’m sure my sister could attest, but Magni treats the girls in the First Shell like queens. Second Shell has full-time access to water, food, and medical supplies. Their kittens are well-taken care of, and they have the materials to keep the maintenance on their homes. None of the other cities offer anything nearly so enticing.”

    Yes, but all of that costs money. He could only guess at how much Magni was earning from the chain Quests and, even then, funding everything himself strictly off of the Quests was a tall order. It would depend on the populations of the inner shells and exactly what he was supplying to them. Commerce in the Third Shell seemed low; did that mean it was the same farther in? “What about the King’s Tax? Are all of the girls in Rājadhānī charged extra?” Tristan asked.

    “In the Third Shell they are. Absolutely. I don’t know about the other two.”

    Tristan hadn’t realized how far they’d walked. As they rounded the second corner leading to the backstretch of Rājadhānī, sounds of exertion and demands of faster work reached their ears. A rectangular chunk was missing from the lower section of the wall, replaced by thick bars propping up the remaining stone to prevent the panel from caving in on itself.

    “What’s going on?” Tristan murmured.

    “I don’t know,” Zahra admitted.

    Catgirls dressed in little more than scraps of thin cloth and rope were drenched in sweat, hauling heavy wooden planks from the outside in, laying them down next to each other. Then, others with crude hammers worked long nails into its surface. Some cleared chunks of stone from the opening, moving them outside and carefully avoiding the bars.

    “They’re building another gate,” Tristan answered for himself. But why? He had so many questions and so few people he could ask. He looked around for anyone who seemed remotely open to speaking with him. A handful of furious gazes met his while others avoided his eyes entirely.

    “Hey! Get the hell up!” a guard barked at a catgirl bundled on the ground, holding her knees to her chest. “The day’s hardly through!”

    The guard shared the same deep red armband Tristan had noticed on Sanrai’s bicep. Her leather armor looked tailored to her body, and her strong muscles were a testament to a healthier diet than any of the others in the Third Shell.

    It’s getting easier to spot the Ejderha.

    The girl turned her head to the side and mewled, “Please, Maibe, I need water.”

    This isn’t my island. I can’t change the rules here. Matt and I are dabbling too much as it is.

    “You’ve had your ration like all the rest. Why do you deserve special treatment?”

    “Please…”

    Think of it like the Prime Directive. Just turn around and walk away.

    “Shall I find an empty cage for you?” Maibe screamed. “Get back to work!”

    “I can’t… I can’t do it anymore—”

    “Tristan,” Destiny whimpered at his side.

    I know, but—

    “Then I suppose I must put you in the wall with the other weaklings.” Maibe unsheathed a glittering bronze khopesh and raised her arm to strike.

    Tristan darted forward, closing the distance between his Party and the guard in ten long strides. His island or not, change had to start somewhere. “Stop! Stop right now!”

    Maibe looked up from the girl at her feet to Tristan. Her face soured, and her ears dropped flat to her head. “Stay out of this.”

    “Can’t you see she’s having a heat stroke? She needs more water,” Tristan snapped, digging his heels into the sand when he reached the crouched girl.

    “Then Saoirse should have blessed her with a more appropriate shell,” Maibe growled. “Stand back, boy. This isn’t fitting work for children.”

    Despite her readying her blade, Tristan didn’t flinch. He sank his gaze into her cold gray eyes and knelt beside the threatened catgirl. “Ejderha or not, you must know the punishment for harming a man.”

    “You’ll have to point one out to me,” Maibe snarled.

    The blade of Zahra’s katana struck against Maibe’s khopesh, forcing the Ejderha to backstep twice. “My sister keeps the company of fools.”

    You.” The word was poison on Maibe’s tongue. Her eyes flickered between Zahra and Tristan, then to Destiny and Lara. “None of you are welcome here.”

    “Lead us to Magni, and we’ll leave you to your business.” Tristan gently took the quivering girl’s arm and guided her to standing. “Otherwise, you’ll be seeing a lot more of us in the next few days.”

    Maibe worked her jaw, then resheathed her khopesh. “That isn’t a decision for me to make.”

    “Then petition the one who can.” Tristan fished one of the canteens from his [Cat Pack] and handed it to the catgirl he’d protected. “I’ll take her out of your way for you.”

    “Tell Magni we’re here, Maibe. I can’t imagine Sanrai will,” Zahra added.

    Maibe hissed an unintelligible response and turned her anger on another catgirl not pulling her weight.

    “Let’s find some shade,” Tristan suggested to the group.

    “T-thank you,” the girl whimpered beneath his arm, stealing careful sips from the canteen.

    Alright, Picard. What now?

    [​IMG]
     
  11. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 157: Hells Bells

    Things were getting out of hand, and I was beginning to lose my patience. We’d been looking for a beetle, of all things, for over an hour. We moved from catgirl to catgirl, asking if they’d seen a golden beetle flying around. Instead of anything helpful, we received weird looks and cackles, some of which I’m sure were on the verge of psychoticism.

    “I’d be reacting the same way if I was in their shoes,” Ravyn admitted with a strained chuckle of her own. “I mean, who the hell keeps a beetle as a pet? In a desert? Baka.”

    “I know, Ravyn,” I said, massaging the bridge of my nose.

    “And, would you please, remind me why we’re doing this?” Her tone snapped back to sarcastic, and she tugged her long hair over one shoulder.

    It was a half-baked idea, but it was an approach that had helped us on Shi Island. “The more people out here we get on our side, the easier it should be to get inside.

    “But they can’t help us get through the gates,” Keke said, squinting her eyes.

    Ceres raised a finger. “Not directly, no. However, word spreads quickly. Another island’s man doing the work Magni should be doing could force him to respond.”

    I gave her a weak thumbs up. “Bingo.”

    Cannoli blinked. “B…Bingo?”

    I sighed. “Nevermind.”

    The heat was making it difficult to concentrate. Not a single catgirl had been helpful in our hunt for the bug so far, and even the girl who owned the little insect of misery had little to go off of except for ‘I dunno. It flew away.’ “Back to our Quest. How big did she say it was again?”

    Cannoli made a big circle with her hands, the tips of her pointer fingers and thumbs touching. Her eyes sparkled with wonder. “This big, Matt! She said it sparkles in the morning sun, and you can hear it flying from a really long way out!”

    “Yeah, I got that last part.” Would love for it to fly about now.

    “You okay, Matt?” asked Keke. I got the feeling my attitude was bleeding through my speech. “You seem a little snappy.”

    I drew a deep breath. “I’ll be fine.” With a sigh, I pulled up the Quest on my iPaw. “Hey, Ai.”

    “Greetings, User [Matthew],” said the monotone catgirl. She was wearing silk garments reminiscent of the natives. “How may I be of service?”

    “Is there any sorta, ya know, Quest marker or anything like that?”

    Ai cocked her head to one side. “I am afraid I do not comprehend, User [Matthew]. May I ask a clarifying question?” I nodded my head. When she didn’t respond, I barked something that must have sounded close enough to an affirmation. “Are you referring to a map marker or legend?”

    “Yes, that’s exactly it. Do you have anything like that?”

    Ai shook her head. “No. I do not. Is there any other way I may assist you?”

    “No, I guess not. Disappear, iPaw.” The device vanished into thin air as I rolled my tongue around in my mouth, then growled, “Of course there aren’t Quest markers.”

    “Sir Matt. If I may, what is a Quest marker?” asked Ceres, her gauntleted hands clasped in front of her.

    I wasn’t really in the mood for explaining a game mechanic that took most of the thinking out of my games. Sure, maybe I’d grown complacent by expecting a giant beacon of light to guide me to my destination, but really, what gamer hadn’t? That aside, the girls’ questions had a way of pacifying me. I couldn’t get angry at them for asking questions with answers I’d taken for granted. Well, except for maybe Ravyn.

    “So, imagine this,” I said, gesturing exaggeratedly with my arms. “Whenever you look at a map, any of the goals or tasks you need done just show up as a small blip.”

    “A blip?” asked Cannoli.

    “I think he means a small dot,” Keke said, crossing her arms.

    “Exactly it,” I said, pointing at her. “Then you go to that location, and the busybody work of trying to figure out where you’re meant to go is removed from the equation.”

    “That’s my kind of system,” said an amused Ravyn. She brought one slender finger to her lips, her gaze veering off in thought. “I think I remember hearing about this sorta thing before.”

    Jaya laughed. “That’s great, Matt. But there is no such convenience in this world.” She shrugged. “Well, maybe some of the other caster Classes can do something like that, but I haven’t heard of it.”

    “They can,” said Ravyn. She frowned. “My mother is good with such magic.”

    Now that she’d brought it up, I don’t think I’d ever heard her talk about her mom before.

    “What’s she like?” I dared to ask.

    Her frown deepened. “A nosy know-it-all. Doesn’t matter. We have a bug to find. Eyes on the prize.”

    I rolled my eyes. “Right. So then, does anyone have any ideas?”

    Keke bowed her head. “I want to say that we should use a lure. But I’m not sure what beetles like.”

    “Honey,” Jaya said.

    An idea was concocting itself in my head. “So, what if we get a bug net and put down a honey trap?”

    No honey to be had, squawwwk!” screeched Ball Gag.

    I clapped my hands over my ears, grinding my teeth furiously. Easy does it, Matt. We got a plan. Just chill.

    “Good Bally!” Ravyn scratched the parrot’s chin.

    “Y-yeah,” squeaked Cannoli. “I don’t think we’re going to find any honey around here, Matt.”

    “Jaya?” I looked at her, hoping for some of her native knowledge. She shook her head. “Damn it. We almost had something, too.”

    “Hold on,” said Keke. “Even if we don’t have anything sweet for it to eat, they’ll still be attracted to the sweet scent, won’t they? They won’t know the difference until they approach it.” I had a feeling I knew where Keke was going with this—or at least, somewhat—and so I nodded, urging her to continue. “I got this. Leave it to me, Matt.”

    Bless you, Keke.

    We spent the next twenty minutes sitting in the dirt with Ravyn’s mortar and pestle and my spice pouch. At least we had some shade up against the Third Shell’s wall. Catgirls from all around passed by, shooting us glares and muttering curses under their breath. I tried my best to ignore them.

    “Almost done,” muttered Keke. She mixed a concoction with a few spices from my pouch that carried an incredible scent. It reminded me of some of the specialty candy shops I’d visited in the better parts of my neighborhood. Fresh, clean, and sweet as hell. Keke whipped her hand in a circular motion, nearing closer to smell the paste she’d been putting together.

    “That smells incredible,” Cannoli said from beside her. “Where did you learn to do that?”

    “From Mom. I had to improvise a little bit, so it took a few extra spices,” said Keke. “Sorry, Matt.”

    I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it.”

    “Right. But yes, this should attract the little guy. He’ll be in for a surprise when he comes to try and eat this stuff.”

    Little guy, huh?

    “How do we know this’ll work? What if he flew into one of the other Shells? Or worse, got eaten by a roach?” I asked. I wondered briefly how we would report a dead insect. Would the Quest automatically update in that situation?

    “Well, nothing we can do then,” Keke said, shrugging. “But if the bascar likes sweet stuff like Jaya claims, then this should do the trick. I’ve used this method to hunt a couple other Encroachers in the past.”

    “It better work,” said Ravyn. Ball continued to preen himself while Ravyn waved her hand through the air to cool herself down. Sweat glistened on the back of her neck. “I need to get the fuck inside somewhere soon.”

    As lovely as the shade was for a while, I was starting to feel the same. I looked up at the tower situated at the center of the Shells. It was a nice view from here, and I had to imagine it looked even better from the balcony. How a person could treat these catgirls the way Magni did was beyond me. The heat was excessive enough as it was. I couldn’t fathom how a person could tax and treat their people the way he did.

    “Matt? Hey, Matt!” Keke snapped her fingers in front of my face. “You okay? You zoned out for a while there.”

    I shook my head to clear it. “Yeah, I’m fine. How’s it going here?”

    “Keke just finished,” Ceres said with what looked like a forced smile. Her entire face was a sheen of perspiration. I was starting to worry about the girls. For the most part, Keke and Jaya seemed fine. But Ravyn, Ceres, and Cannoli looked like they were having a more challenging time.

    “Why don’t we hit one of the inns for a bit and try to get some drinks?” I suggested. “I know it’s not going to be a whole lot cooler, but it beats sitting out here, right?”

    “No,” said Ravyn, crossing her arms.

    “No?”

    “No. We need to finish this Quest. We’re not going to get anywhere by prolonging it. So, let’s pack up,” she said, clapping her hands together, “and hunt us a fucking bug.”

    After some discussion, we decided to put the paste on a spot with some shade and a place to hide. We settled on an area between the Second Shell wall and a neighboring building. It took us some time to find a good spot—mainly because we kept getting chased away by desperate catgirls begging for water and Bells—but eventually, we found a place that Keke was happy with.

    We waited a good distance away, huddled together against the wall, all eyes on the candy paste. A few long, silent minutes passed.

    “Matt, Matt, look!” Cannoli pointed up in a whisper. There, flying high in the sky, was the embodiment of our suffering.

    “It’s… a lot bigger than I was expecting,” I whispered back. This thing was huge, and I mean huge. I’d seen footballs smaller than this monstrosity. “Yeah, I can definitely hear it.” It sounded like a lawnmower given flight. The golden beetle flew toward the paste, and we slowly stood. “We all remember the plan?”

    I received unanimous nods from all around.

    “Great,” I said, holding my hand out to Cannoli. “Whenever you’re ready, Cannoli.”

    Cannoli held Buttons out with unsure hands. “Be careful, please. I love him.”

    “I promise I’ll take good care of him.” I cupped my hands together, motioning for her to put the lizard down. Buttons cautiously approached me and jumped into my hands. As he turned around to return to her, Cannoli pulled back. I put on my best Cannoli impression to calm him down. “It’s okay, little fella. I’m going to take care of you for a minute. We need your help with something.” I held him out to see the beetle. It had nearly landed. There wasn’t much time left. “You’re going to land on that wall. Just wait over there, and Cannoli will come back and pick you up.”

    I felt a little crazy talking to a lizard, but during some of our discussions, Cannoli had claimed that blazards were a lot more intelligent than catgirls gave them credit for. So I’d just have to hope the little guy would catch on.

    It might have been my imagination playing tricks on me, but I thought I saw him nod.

    “Alright, here we go. Ready, Ravyn?”

    “Always,” she said with her hand held outward.

    The bug flew closer and closer, and then… it landed right on top of the paste.

    “Now!” I cried.

    “[Displace]!” said Ravyn.

    Buttons disappeared from my grasp instantaneously. In its place was the mammoth of an insect. The thing was stupidly strong, buzzing angrily between my arms.

    “We got him!” cheered Keke. “Heck yeah!”

    Cannoli was already running back to the wall to retrieve her pet.

    “C’mon, Glitter! Relax, Glitter!” I cried. And here I thought talking to Buttons was weird. The enormous flapping wings slowed, and the bascar turned to look at me with its beady blue eyes.

    As I controlled the insect, I watched Cannoli at a distance. When she reached the wall, I watched her scoop Buttons up, then wave and run back toward us.

    “He’s okay!” said Cannoli.

    “Glad to hear it,” I said, panting. Glitter continued to explore his surroundings on thin, hairy legs.

    “You continue to impress me, Matt,” said Jaya. “You and your Party.”

    “Thanks, Jaya.”

    It wasn’t much, but hey, it was our first real Quest together as a team. With such unreasonable expectations and payouts, the way I figured it, if we could do this, then we could do anything.

    We’re coming for you, Magni. You’ll get yours soon enough.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 158: Bury a Friend

    Tristan’s group moved away from the construction and rounded the same corner from which they’d approached. Since Matt had the other side of the Shell, he didn’t want to overlap their resources. Thankfully there was a small tavern a few buildings down from the corner.

    Though, calling “The Zango” a tavern was a gross exaggeration. It was one dark, mid-sized room with a crooked bartop blocking the two shelves of spirits behind it. Two candles burned on either side of the bar—the only light in the room—and one burned so low that Tristan wondered if it had more than a few minutes left.

    A petite catgirl with a bandana tied in her hair leaned against the wall between the shelves of alcohol. Her pale eyes focused on a piece of parchment she clutched tight between her forefinger and thumb. Her ears flicked forward when Tristan and his Party crossed the threshold.

    Her gaze raised to his face, though her chin didn’t move. “Sit wherever.”

    A single paltry table stood cramped into one corner with three mismatched seats around it—as if they’d each been dug up from separate locations. Three more barstools in various states of impairment were shoved beneath the bar.

    “Zahra, Destiny, why don’t you bring two of those chairs up to the bar?” Tristan pointed at the seats beneath the dirty table, holding the exhausted worker beneath one arm. Shira. He’d managed to at least procure her name while they walked, but little else.

    Dusting off one of the barstools, Tristan helped Shira sit down. The red in her face was slowly fading, replaced by a healthier shade of tanned cheeks. However, her lips were chapped beyond belief, and her cracked, scabbed hands were caked with dirt and stone residue.

    Tristan glanced over the shelves. The unlabeled bottles varied in size and color and contained all manner of liquids. “Do you have any water?” He doubted it, but his canteen was starting to run low.

    “Rations aren’t for three more days.” The hostess smirked, a single sharp fang poking over her lower lip. “Or do all men get special treatment?”

    “No. It’s not for me.” Tristan glanced at Shira and the canteen.

    “You should keep it for yourself, sir. It was nice enough for you to offer it.” Shira pushed the container back toward him and licked her chapped lips. “I feel a little better.”

    “Finish it off, Shira. I’ll figure something out.” Shira narrowed her eyes and cocked her head like this was some sort of test. “Really. I mean it.”

    “Thank you.” She pulled the canteen back, her fingers shaking with its weight, and stole another sip from the top.

    “You gonna order something or not?” The hostess snapped, shoving the parchment in the pocket of her baggy pants. “Loitering is prohibited.”

    Tristan frowned, wondering what could possibly be in the bottles behind the bar that he would recognize.

    Zahra answered for them. “Five blood and sands.”

    The hostess turned and lifted two bottles from the shelf to her left, jiggling their contents, then holding it to the candlelight. “I should have enough for those.”

    “I’m guessing no ice?” Tristan asked.

    “They’re better warm,” Zahra replied, shooting the hostess a glare as she opened her mouth to retort.

    “Got it.” Their hostess procured a smaller bottle from the shelf to the right, then five dust-lined glasses from below the bar. Tristan lowered his voice and murmured. “Thanks, Zahra.”

    “Anytime.” Zahra grinned.

    Tristan swiveled back to Shira, running a hand through his damp hair. Taking solace in The Zango’s walls had helped them escape the unrelenting sun, but the heavy heat remained. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”

    Shira nodded. “You saved my life. I owe you that much.”

    “And more for the water,” Zahra added, gesturing to the near-empty canteen.

    Shira blushed. Tristan considered saying otherwise, but Zahra’s approach was a good one. The more information he could get directly from a Third Shell citizen, the better. “Why do the Ejderha have you building a gate?”

    “So that we can start construction on a Fourth Shell wall. There’s only one way into this place right now, and that’s the gate you went through when you got here,” Shira explained.

    “I saw two gates into the Second Shell, too,” Destiny added.

    The gates weren’t the part that surprised him. “The girls here can barely sustain themselves as it is. Why a Fourth Shell?”

    “The Third Shell is out of space. There are travelers that come every day seeking a place to live. A chance to get in King Magni’s good graces. His answer was to build another one.”

    Tristan puzzled through her response, attempting to distill Magni’s intentions through his actions. Or, maybe intentions was the wrong word. What were his desires? To have the island’s population closer to home? Why? There weren’t nearly enough resources to support the Third Shell, let alone a fourth. “Do you know a lot about the trade that goes on here?”

    “What do you mean?” Shira asked.

    Tristan tried again. “What I mean is, do you ever see imports from other islands trade hands? Or do you have access to traveling merchants?”

    “Oh. That’s… complicated,” Shira murmured. “Any travelers are stopped here and forced to stay in the Third Shell. A few members of the Ejderha will trade the King’s Bells for goods they need in the First and Second Shells, and they’re taken directly there.”

    “Does the Third Shell not trade with them?”

    “We don’t have the fucking coin,” the hostess growled, pushing Tristan’s glass into his hand with more force than necessary. “Does this look like a place that can afford San Island spices? Shi Island fabrics?”

    As much as the entire situation sawed his skin like sandpaper, Tristan understood her anger. It was mistargeted, but aiming it toward the right person was impossible. With how things were going, if she did try to speak up against the status quo, it was a quick way to die. “What’s your name, miss?”

    She paused, working her jaw. Her eyes glittered with a mixture of surprise and contempt—she’d been expecting Tristan to lash back. “Haleli.”

    “That’s a pretty name.”

    “You got a point?” Haleli pushed the other drinks to the rest of his group.

    “Hey! He’s trying to be nice, and you’re being a jerk,” Destiny retorted. “Stop being so… so mean!”

    Tristan hid a chuckle behind a cough.

    Haleli whipped on her heel, turning back to face him like a cornered predator. “What’s so funny?”

    “Nothing. Certainly not your situation.” He shook his head and cleared his throat. “I’m on your side here.”

    “We all are, Haleli,” Lara said suddenly. “Wind says you’ve had a very hard life here. Tristan wants to fix it.”

    “Excuse me?” Haleli snorted.

    Zahra lifted a bag of Bells from her [Cat Pack] and a filled canteen. Sliding them across the bartop, she leveled Haleli’s gaze. “Why don’t you take the time to listen and make your own judgments? It won’t cost you anything.”

    Haleli gave both the bag and the container a long, wary glance. Her ears twitched toward Zahra before she accepted both offerings in silence.

    Tristan took a sip of his drink. It was deep sanguine—much like its name would suggest—and heavily spiced. A buried memory swam in front of his eyes as the flavor coated his tongue. A crackling fire and the blinking lights of a Christmas tree. His grandmother handing him a small cup of mulled wine in secret with a finger to her lips. He blinked the scene away, focusing instead on the warmth trailing down his chest.

    “You’re right. It is good warm,” Tristan murmured to Zahra before returning to questioning Shira. “Are you paid for your construction work?”

    Shira tilted her head. “In a sense. The Ejderha feed us two meals a day and three servings of water.”

    “How much water do they give you?”

    “Enough to fill this glass, I think.” Shira wiggled her drink between her fingers.

    “That’s not fair at all!” Destiny cried.

    “Hm.” Lara drummed her fingers against the bar. “Water says that there is enough inside for all of Rājadhānī’s girls. However, she very much enjoys being needed.”

    But why? Why not increase ration sizes or quantity? “I haven’t seen farms or plantations of any kind since we arrived. Where does your food come from?”

    “It’s just like the water. Food is rationed out of the First and Second Shells,” Shira grumbled. “There are catgirls who are fit enough to hunt outside the walls, but you won’t find any in the Third Shell.”

    “Allow me to elaborate. Many of the outlying cities used to have farmers who raised crops and Encroachers and were well-versed in desert irrigation. My city, Madhyam, was one of them. When work began on the Shells, they were called to the castle and never seen again.” Zahra swirled her drink in thought. “He made the same request of hunters. Offering them gratuitous Bells and a life of luxury. That’s when my sister moved here.”

    “And you didn’t?” Tristan asked.

    Zahra shook her head. “I couldn’t leave my mother and home to the wolves. Someone had to protect them.”

    A realization crept into the back of Tristan’s mind. Magni’s hoarding whatever he can. Bells, food, water, imports, catgirls. It doesn’t matter the cost or the consequence.

    “The hunters from the inner shells. Do they go out often to hunt?” Tristan asked Shira.

    “Almost every morning. Just as the first light touches the sky,” Shira replied.

    “And they have to go through one of those gates?”

    “Yes. Typically the south one, since both gates on that side are complete.”

    A rough plan was beginning to form. Sneaking in wouldn’t be an option with the Ejderha, but they had other means of causing enough of a stir. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.

    “Shira, I was wondering. What did Maibe mean when she said she’d put you in the wall?” Destiny asked.

    Shira took a long draw from the blood-red tonic, and a shiver ran down her spine. They waited patiently for her to finish before the quivering words escaped her lips. “For those who die working on a Shell, their corpses are built into the walls.” Her face paled, and she chewed her lip. “The same happens to those who can’t complete their tasks.”

    Tristan’s fingers and toes went numb. A high-pitched squeak escaped Destiny’s lips, and Lara stared at Shira wide-eyed. Zahra’s knuckles around her glass turned white.

    “Here’s a question for you, Tristan.” Haleli leaned against the bar, eyes burning into the side of Tristan’s head. “What are you gonna do about it?”

    [​IMG]
     
  13. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 159: Materia Primoris

    Wrestling the winged hellspawn took a lot more out of me than I’d anticipated. Felt like I was trying to wrangle a bowling ball with a dozen long skinny legs. And the infernal noise that went with it from the constantly beating wings drew glares from all around. Calling its name suddenly stopped working as soon as we started walking. Could the thing really tell that I wasn’t its master?

    The girls followed me at a distance, their ears bent forward, and their hands cupped over them. I figured I could keep the bascar from struggling too much if I could hold its horn with one hand and curl my bicep around its body. While that was somewhat successful, I thoroughly underestimated just how powerful insects of this size could be.

    I’m going to lose my goddamned hearing if this keeps up.

    It wasn’t much farther. I could see the house from here. As we got closer, I could feel the steps of the girls trailing closer behind me.

    “Still got it under control?” Keke chanced asking, releasing one of her ears.

    “Yeah, I think so,” I said with a grunt. “Bastard’s tough, though.”

    “I have faith in your abilities, Sir Matt,” said Ceres, mirroring Keke. “You have shouldered this responsibility admirably.”

    “He’s a real cutie,” said Cannoli.

    “The thing kinda creeps me out,” Ravyn admitted.

    “How long have you all been traveling together for?” asked Jaya, a warm smile tugging at her lips. “You all act like you’ve known each other for a while.”

    I had to think about it. A few months? For some of the girls, anyway. That sounded about right. I guess when you’re fighting for your life on a nearly daily basis, you forgot what time was. It seemed like each day that passed brought about a new trial or some new feat I had to conquer. So I just said what I was thinking.

    “About a few months? Well, for Keke and Cannoli, that is.” I said, adjusting my grip around the bodybuilder stuck in a bug’s body, As I spoke, I focused on the insect in my arms. I knew that even a moment of lapsed judgment would send this thing soaring into the sky, never to be seen again.

    “Two and a half here,” Ravyn said from behind me.

    “My, I am indeed the least experienced,” Ceres said with a somewhat crestfallen expression. She strode beside me on my right, her chin pinched between her thumb and forefingers.

    “You didn’t miss a ton,” I said. “Mostly just me tumbling down mountains toward my own death while chasing tail.”

    “Chasing tail?” Jaya asked, bewildered.

    “U-uh, yeah,” I stammered. Damn it, where’s Tristan when I need him. He’d put this in a much more eloquent way. “Had other, erm, things on my mind at the time.”

    “Like what catgirls look like naked, you mean,” Ravyn cackled.

    Ceres’ cheeks pinked. “My, Sir Matt. I did not believe you one with such wild imaginations.”

    My face was beginning to heat, and it had nothing to do with the sun. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it. Let’s, uh, just turn this bug in.”

    Keke shot me a knowing look, giggling to herself.

    Making fun of me over there?

    Keke knocked on the door when we returned. My muscles were aching something fierce. Beads of sweat speckled my face, desperately wishing to be swept away. Whipping my hair from my eyes was the best thing I could do to avoid looking through a mop of brown and red.

    I tapped my foot against the soft ground, eagerly awaiting my freedom. When the door opened, it was a kitten. The girl who had initially given us the Quest. Her emerald eyes bore into me with amazement. She was missing one of her front teeth, and her skin was on the paler side when compared to the adults.

    “Glitter!” The girl threw her arms into the air and cheered. “Come in. Come in!” Pulling the door open as wide as she could, she stepped to one side and gave us an exaggerated bow while we entered.

    “Where should I put it?” I asked, my lungs desperate for relaxation.

    Meera, as we’d discovered when we met her, ran to one corner of the room and dragged an iron-barred cage to the center of the common room. The door squeaked as she opened it.

    “In there!” said Meera.

    I felt a little bad for the bug. The cage was awfully small—too small. There was no way he would be comfortable in that dinky thing.

    Even so, I had to let go of this damn thing. “Hey, Ceres. Can you lift the cage, so it’s easier?”

    “Of course, Sir Matt,” Ceres said with a casual curtsy.

    “I can do it!” said Meera.

    Seeing how much effort it took her just to bring the iron contraption over, I shook my head. “Ceres is a hero. Let her do it, okay?” I didn’t want to see Meera hurt herself.

    “Okay,” Meera said with a pout.

    Ceres moved to stand in front of me and lifted the cage off the ground with ease. She held it close to me with one arm under the enclosure and another on the door. Maybe it was just me, but I was sure Glitter was putting up a bigger fight than before. Even so, Ceres was ready. Like catching a roach in a cup—that’s cockroach, by the way, not Encroacher—she enveloped the giant beetle against my chest, pulling it shut once it was inside.

    “Formidable,” Ceres said in awe as she observed the Encroacher.

    “Let me see, let me see!” said Meera. Ceres did as she asked, and the girl fell to her stomach with her elbows on the floor and her chin between her hands. “He’s just the cutest!”

    “Um, Meera?” Cannoli kneeled to look at her. “Does Glitter have a bigger cage?”

    Meera shook her head enthusiastically. “Nope! This is the only one I could find for him!”

    “Where’s your mom?” asked Ravyn.

    “She’s working on the wall.”

    That was strange. Her mother hadn’t been here when we last visited either. Surely her mother was coming back.

    “Hey, Meera?” said Cannoli. The little girl looked up at her, bright-eyed. “How do you think you would feel if you were in a small cage like that?”

    The girl blinked. “Why would I be in a cage like that? I’m a catgirl, not a beetle!”

    “Yes.” Cannoli nodded, her smile never fading. “But, think about it for a moment. Wouldn’t that hurt? Think of how squished you’d feel. Trapped, unable to move.”

    “Hmm. I guess so.”

    “Well, what if—”

    “Oh! Your reward!” Meera leaped to her feet and ran to the small set of stairs, the wood creaking like it was on its last limb. Which it probably was. Moments later, she was descending the stairs with a large ceramic jug.

    Keke rushed over, meeting Meera at the bottom of the stairs and taking the jug from her. “This is pretty heavy. You’re a strong kitten!” Keke maneuvered the water ration to one arm while tussling Meera’s hair.

    “Hehe, thanks, kind lady!”

    “Is that the water ration?” I asked.

    “It is,” said Jaya, nodding. “Each catgirl is permitted two per week.”

    Keke froze, her mouth agape. “Two?”

    “You can’t be serious,” I said, aghast. “How does anyone survive with only two of those a week?”

    “Matt,” Ravyn whispered as she neared. “Not in front of Meera.”

    “T-thank you, Meera,” Keke said with less confidence this time.

    “We can’t possibly take that,” I whispered back. “That’s beyond messed up. I drink that much water in a couple of days, and that’s if I’m comfortable.” I tried not to look at Meera too much, but the signs were clear. Her bones were protruding through her skin. Her face was sullen, and dark bags hung under her eyes. She was cute and energetic like any kitten, but it was evident she was severely malnourished.

    Judging from the other girls’ looks, I assumed they felt similarly about her lack of food and water.

    Cannoli came to stand next to Keke. “We can’t take this, Meera.”

    “You and your mom should keep it,” Keke agreed.

    Meera cocked her head. “Why? You got Glitter back for me. Heroes deserve a reward. That’s what Mommy taught me. Do good, and good comes back. That’s how it works, right?”

    I’m not sure how much longer I can stand here without getting upset.

    “That’s exactly right! Your mom sounds like a brilliant woman,” said Cannoli. As Meera received the jug back from Keke, Cannoli continued. “But, it’s important as a hero to be selfless when the situation calls for it. You need the water more than we do.” Cannoli gently pushed the jug against Meera’s chest. “You keep it.”

    “Are you sure? I share with Mommy all the time.”

    “More than sure!” Cannoli’s gaze traveled back to the cage, then to Meera. Cannoli curled her arms in front of her like a bodybuilder flexing. “We’re the heroes, so rely on us! We’ll take care of you!”

    “Even though there’s a man with you?” Meera asked with genuine confusion. I have to admit, it hurt to be judged so quickly, even by a kid.

    Mattaku,” said Ravyn. “Never judge someone like that, kid. Not all men are bad. I promise.”

    Thanks, Ravyn.

    “Sir Matt, if I may?” said Ceres.

    “Yeah, go ahead, Ceres,” I said, rolling my shoulders.

    “I think we should complete the other Quest as well.” Ceres put a hand against her chest. “As a knight, I feel it is our duty—”

    My ears began to ring. Everything was starting to come in muffled. I caught bits and pieces of what Ceres said. Something about protecting Nyarlea or something. But to be honest, I heard almost nothing.

    “What was that?”

    Keke and Cannoli shared a few more words with the kitten, then returned. We waved our goodbyes, then left without another word.

    We might’ve shortchanged ourselves some of the rewards, but if it meant putting a smile on Meera’s face, it was a small price we were willing to pay.

    [The Golden Beetle] Complete!
    Matt has gained: 5 XP!
    Matt has gained: 12 Bells!
    Matt has gained: 1 Water Ration!
    Matt has lost: 1 Water Ration…

    Keke has gained: 5 XP!

    Cannoli has gained: 5 XP!

    Ravyn has gained: 5 XP!

    Ceres has gained: 5 XP!

    [​IMG]
     
  14. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 160: Somebody's Watching Me

    Shira walked with more confidence after she’d rested and had more water. Tristan didn’t have to support her weight anymore, but he still kept an eye on her. Just in case she suddenly collapsed from the heat. Dehydration tended to sneak up on a person and the damage was severe—sometimes permanent. He wondered how many of the girls in Rājadhānī were constantly on the brink of collapse. From the looks of it, most of them.

    “I really should go back to work,” Shira insisted for the fourth time. “Maibe’s anger is… terrifying.”

    “If you go back now, you’ll end up back in the sand,” Zahra insisted. “Or the wall.”

    Shira shuddered. “How can I show my face tomorrow?”

    “What if I go with you tomorrow? I can at least talk to Maibe about your condition.” Tristan shaded his eyes and peered around at the other hovels. The majority were empty, and the ones that weren’t had catgirls who were clearly too young or sick to work. “But I don’t think she’ll hurt you. The Ejderha need all the able-bodied workers they can get, lest they want to build the gate themselves.”

    “It would be better if I went by myself anyway. I don’t want to look as weak as I feel,” Shira murmured. Her eyes widened as she scanned the neighborhood. She pointed and gasped. “They’re coming from my house. Meera!”

    Tristan followed her hand, spotting Matt and his Party dropping the curtain over the doorway of a bedraggled dwelling built from chipped stone and bubble-riddled grout. “Shira, wait!”

    “Where’s Meera? Is she all right?” Shira confronted Matt, then snatched the curtain back from the entrance. “Meera!”

    “Mommy! You’re home early!” A young catgirl with green eyes like her mother’s bounded forward. She balanced a thick iron cage over half her height between two arms. Inside was a shimmering beetle the size of a dinner plate. “Glitter ran away, so I went to the Guild Hall and put in a request to find him. You said it was for emergencies, and this was definitely an emergency!”

    “You went by yourself?” Shira knelt and took the cage from her daughter.

    “Uh-huh. I’m practically full-grown.” Meera rolled her eyes, then pointed at Matt. “That nice man and his friends found Glitter. And they let me keep my water ration!”

    A dozen emotions passed over Shira’s face, and she fretted at her lower lip. Glitter, apparently the beetle in question, buzzed about his cage in a frenzy. “We need to talk about this, Meera. I’m glad you and Glitter are safe.” She glanced at Matt over her shoulder. “Thank you for helping her.”

    Matt shrugged and flashed her a disarming half-smile. “Glad to help.”

    “Maybe we should let them be for now. We can talk somewhere else,” Keke suggested.

    “Yeah. Let’s compare notes on the city.” Tristan nodded.

    “There’s a place right up the road. I’ll show you,” Jaya suggested.

    Tristan waved to Shira. “If you need anything at all, just let us know. Okay?”

    Shira nodded. “May Saoirse walk with you all.”

    “And let her guide your steps,” Cannoli, Zahra, Jaya, and Ravyn replied in unison. Ravyn’s response seemed to surprise Matt as much as it did Tristan.

    “Didn’t take you for a religious type,” Matt said when they were outside.

    Kuso. Blame my mom,” came her curt response. It was a clear sign to drop the conversation, so they did.

    “I wonder if a lot of girls keep bascars as pets?” Cannoli mused. “Or maybe it’s kind of like Buttons.”

    The blazard appeared on her shoulder, staring up at Cannoli expectantly.

    Wow. He’s learned his name. Encroachers are more intelligent than we give them credit for.

    “Glitter did not seem very… companionable. Perhaps a bit one-sided?” Ceres asked.

    “He was calm whenever Meera was around. Maybe he just didn’t like other people.” Keke shrugged.

    “Sounds like you’ve had an eventful afternoon,” Tristan said with a laugh.

    “Yeah. That damn bug’s had my ears ringing since we found him.” Matt cupped his hands over his ears and shook his head. “I didn’t think the wings were that loud.”

    That’s not good. “It may not have been the bug. How’s your head feeling?”

    Matt blinked. “Dizzy, but aren’t we all?”

    “How much water have you had today?” Tristan asked. His question turned Keke, Cannoli, and Ceres’ attention to Matt as well.

    “Well, I mean, my canteen’s empty,” Matt admitted. “I didn’t want to bother anyone—”

    Baka! You’re severely dehydrated!” Ravyn snapped. She and the rest of Matt’s Party snatched their canteens from their [Cat Pack]s and forced them forward. “Pick one. Any one.”

    “But you guys need water, too!” he argued.

    “Take one, Matt. It only gets worse if you don’t,” Keke pushed.

    Matt sighed and accepted her offer. “Fine. Just a sip.”

    “You have loyal followers in your Parties,” Zahra noted quietly. “No woman here would offer their ration to Magni. Not for all the Bells in the world.”

    Tristan grimaced. “Let’s hope he sees reason.”

    She chuckled beneath her breath. “All hopes are dead in the Third Shell.”

    ---

    “They bury the girls in the walls?” Matt asked, eyes wide and mouth agape.

    “That’s so awful,” Cannoli squeaked.

    “Earth doesn’t like it, either,” Lara murmured.

    They’d pushed all the chairs together at the Zango, and still, two of them were left standing while two more leaned against the bar. Haleli wasn’t exactly happy to see Tristan again, now with Matt and his Party, but a few choice words from Jaya kept her quiet.

    “I’m surprised they’re building a Fourth Shell,” Keke noted. “Unless Magni increased rations, there’s not enough to go around.”

    “My thoughts exactly,” Tristan agreed. “If anything, I believe they’d start using the water from the oasis for additional rations.”

    “Why are they not utilizing that at this time?” Ceres asked.

    “A question for Magni, it seems,” Destiny grumbled.

    “What if we took charge of the oasis? Kick the Ejderha out?” Matt asked.

    “I thought of that, too. However, it sounds like there’s plenty of water on the inside shells to sustain everyone. Right now the oasis is more like an Ejderha playground. It wouldn’t be much of a loss,” Tristan explained.

    “Oh, yes. Water adores the First and Second Shell. She runs wide and deep,” Lara said dreamily.

    “That’s what she said,” Ravyn coughed behind her hand.

    “Ravyn!” Cannoli pinched her arm.

    Tristan cleared his throat. “Anyway. What was your idea behind picking up Quests, Matt?”

    Matt rubbed the back of his neck. A motion that Tristan noticed that Matt gravitated toward when he was nervous or unsure about something. “I kind of thought that the more girls we can get on our side, the better. They’re not happy, and they obviously don’t trust Magni. So, maybe, if they see what the opposite looks like, we can spark a kind of rebellion.”

    “The girls here cannot fight the Ejderha. We’ve seen as much,” Zahra countered.

    “Not with weapons, no. But stirring unrest could force Magni to have to confront it,” Tristan said. “It’s not a bad plan.”

    Matt’s shoulders relaxed, and he smiled. “Thanks.”

    “What if we just wait for Sanrai or… the girl Tristan mentioned—Maibe? Why not wait for them to tell Magni?” Cannoli asked.

    Tristan shook his head. “I don’t believe they’ll tell him. Judging what we’ve seen so far, the Ejderha are meant to keep the status quo. Admitting that we’re here and causing a scene will not look good on them.”

    “You could cut the arrogance at play with a knife,” Zahra murmured.

    “We need something faster. I doubt Sanrai’s Circus is about to hand out water to outsiders.” Ravyn scowled. “And if they guard the damn oasis, our options for water are limited.”

    Tristan nodded. “Agreed. Which is why I have an idea.”

    “Oh?” Cannoli held Buttons close to her chest. “What did you find out?”

    “We learned of a hunting Party from the First and Second Shells…” He detailed what Shira had revealed about the morning hunts. “What I’m thinking will break a lot of rules.”

    Ravyn grinned, her smile glittering in the limited candlelight. “That’s my kind of plan.”

    “If it’s a limited amount of girls able to hunt and they can’t return to the inner shells, that should cause a huge problem,” Tristan explained slowly.

    “Can’t return? We’re not killing them, right?” Keke asked, her face blanching.

    “No. Just…” Tristan swallowed hard, finding the words hard to say. “Taking them hostage.”

    Cannoli squeaked.

    “That is quite a rule to break,” Ceres noted.

    “We wouldn’t be harming them. No one would get hurt. We’d release them in exchange for a meeting with Magni. That’s all,” Tristan added quickly.

    “Will that really work?” Jaya took a swig from her glass and stared thoughtfully at its contents. “Those hunting Parties could have a lot of girls. And if he sends the Ejderha to wipe you out—”

    “I don’t think Magni would kill two men,” Tristan said quickly.

    “No. Maybe not. But I don’t think he’d have any problem killing the girls in your Party,” Jaya continued.

    Destiny and Lara shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

    “I’d like to see him fucking try,” Ravyn growled.

    “Zahra, Jaya, do you know how many Ejderha there are?” Tristan asked.

    “Beats me. They seem to swarm like insects,” Jaya admitted.

    “That’s how it’s meant to feel,” Zahra agreed. “I believe there are fifteen.”

    “Then we could take the hunting party to the oasis. They can’t have every Ejderha there at once.” Working through the numbers, he guessed, at most, there would be three at the oasis. Magni would likely have one or two always at his side, another two to oversee the gate building, then two at each inner gate. That left three or four for patrolling each of the Shells and issuing commands. “It’ll give us a hub with fresh water while we send one of the hunters back to fetch Magni.”

    “That’s still a hell of a gamble,” Jaya said.

    “Not as much if you think about it. You saw how Kathy and Seraphina felt about their guard duties. Sending all twelve of his loyal warriors to a place an hour away would leave the city vulnerable to more ‘assassins’ slipping in,” Keke said.

    “Exactly!” Tristan replied. “Still, if everyone here thinks it’s too dangerous, the last thing I want to do is put your lives on the line for a plan you don’t agree with.”

    Destiny’s tongue poked against the inside of her cheek. She studied Tristan’s face, then slowly nodded. “I knew the dangers when I joined your Party. If you believe this is the best way through, then I’ll continue to support you.”

    “I, too, will do what I can to appease the Elements,” Lara said. “Speaking of. Excuse me, miss?” She waved over Tristan to catch Haleli’s attention. “Fire would like another candle, please.”

    “Fire can tug my damn tail,” Haleli shot back.

    “I don’t think you should say that…” Lara murmured.

    Cannoli placed a hand on her shoulder with a consoling smile, then turned to Matt. “Matt? What do you think of Tristan’s plan?”

    “I’m in if you guys are,” Matt replied easily.

    The girls in his Party nodded, and all eyes turned to Tristan.

    His heart hammered against his chest. This was crazier than anything he’d ever done. But, if it forced the king from his castle, it would be worth it. “Well, then. Let’s get planning.”

    [​IMG]
     
  15. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 161: A World Apart

    I struggled to fall asleep. Countless scenarios of what could go wrong played out in vivid detail every time I drifted off, giving me a nasty case of restlessness. The weirdest part was that I wasn’t approaching it from the perspective of a protector. Instead, I continually came to the situation like a general allocating his resources. Maybe Tristan was rubbing off on me.

    The plan was fairly solid, but every step was a few degrees away from falling apart. We were playing the losing hand, and no one could convince us otherwise. Manipulating Nyarlean law to give ourselves a tyrannical advantage was a hefty gamble. Especially considering how ruthless Magni had been up until now. On top of that, the Ejderha’s existence made everything much worse. They were a wild card that we had to consider constantly.

    We were up long before the sun, sticking to the shadows between dilapidated houses. After an uncomfortable discussion, the plan was set into motion. Keke would act as our eyes and ears while the rest of us stationed ourselves atop a hill far away from Rājadhānī. Keke would follow the hunting party, using Ravyn’s hand mirror to signal to us. I wasn’t happy about it, but the logic was sound. She was undeniably the best person for the job. We needed updates on their position at all times, and Ball was not the one to do it. Keke’s reaction time would be much faster and didn’t involve Spells.

    We would ambush them between the downward slope of two dunes depending on where they journeyed. No matter where your feet took you, it was only a matter of time before you had to cross between them. That was where we would make our play.

    “I hate this,” I admitted, looking over the desert as I lay on my stomach.

    It was still difficult to see from this distance. The stars began disappearing in the twilight, but the sun still hadn’t shown its edge.

    “Me too,” Cannoli said in a hushed voice. “I can’t believe we’re kidnapping catgirls.”

    Well, maybe we won’t have to. Maybe they’ll see reason.

    If it came to a fight, Cannoli—and to a lesser extent, Destiny and Lara—worried me. Tristan knew his Party better than I did, but Destiny and Lara were anything but menacing. For the life of me, I couldn’t imagine them trying to pull off a villainous persona. Even so, I sooner trusted them to pull it off before Cannoli.

    “Are you sure you’re going to be okay with this?” I asked. “We really have to sell our position.”

    “Well, maybe we won’t have to be bad!” she reasoned.

    The debate was still fresh in my mind. Cannoli had suggested that we attempt to talk with them first. If they could be persuaded to see our way, they might try and draw the dragon out of his castle with us. I liked the idea. Kidnapping catgirls, under the guise of peace or not, didn’t sit well with me.

    “We can’t rely on that,” I said to Cannoli again, never looking away from the horizon. “We have to assume they’ll fight back.”

    “I am assuming they will.” Cannoli paused. “But I’m hoping Saoirse will find her way into their hearts and show them the true path.”

    Sorry, Cannoli. But I get the feeling the Ejderha are pretty godless.

    “Do we need to go through it again?” Tristan asked Destiny as he scrolled through his iPaw. “And do you have everything you need?”

    Destiny responded with a curt nod. “I understand the plan, and I’ve got everything I need, Tristan. That’s the third time you’ve asked me.” And yet, she always graced him with a smile, no matter how many times he asked.

    Tristan stopped, pausing to look up at her. “Sorry, I just want to make sure this works out.” He looked back at his iPaw. “I never want to put your lives on the line.”

    Tristan and Destiny stood at the bottom of a valley between two dunes. His suggestion to kidnap the hunters was eating at him, and Destiny had gone the extra mile to ensure he was confident in his decision.

    “There’s no putting it off forever, Tristan,” Zahra said with her hand on her hip. “Eventually, we have to put our lives on the line. At the very least, you and Matt should be safe.”

    “This is about more than just Matt and me.” Tristan looked up from his iPaw, looking at Destiny, Lara, and Zahra. “So much more.”

    “Sister can be terrifying when she wants to be,” Lara said, her hand pressed against her lips. “Fire likes her very much.”

    “Lara, not now,” Destiny said with a hint of pink on her face.

    A sigh escaped Zahra. “I agree with you, Tristan,” she continued. “But you must try and relax. This plan won’t work out if you can’t keep a level head. That’s especially important out here.”

    “It is as she says,” said Destiny. “Everyone has their part to play. All we can do now is wait and see what happens. Hopefully, this won’t come down to a fight. But if it does…”

    Her voice trailed. Tristan put out a hand to stop her from saying anything more.

    “Alright,” said Tristan. “Let’s get into position.”

    Without the sun to create a glare, Cannoli had left our friendly neighborhood blazard with Keke to generate a burst of fire. I was concerned that it would give the hunting party an easy way to find her, but Keke had reassured me that she had the perfect vantage point for such an occasion. The sharp flash of light from the hand mirror was unmistakable.

    Always impressing me, Keke.

    I snapped my fingers and motioned for Tristan and his Party to come up beside me.

    “Eastward,” I whispered, pointing to our right.

    “How many are we looking at?” Tristan asked as he lay beside me.

    No matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t count the figures. They were too small, too blurry to make out. I waited for further instructions from Keke.

    “Can’t tell from here. Let’s wait for Keke’s next signal. They may change direction.”

    “I’m glad she’s okay,” Cannoli said with a sigh of relief. “I was worried for a little bit.”

    “Yeah, me too,” I said. “We’re not out of the woods yet, though. So let’s not celebrate too soon. We still have to convince them to come with us.”

    “Or take them by force,” Zahra finished a few feet from behind me.

    “Yeah.” I raised my head a little to see Ceres a short distance away on her belly. I watched her for a few seconds. Had she looked away at all yet? “How’s Ceres doing?” I whispered to Cannoli.

    Cannoli blinked, then looked down at the sand. “Very serious. She’s concentrating.”

    “Everything’s going to be okay,” I said, mostly trying to convince myself. “You’ll see.”

    Cannoli smiled. “I know. Because you’re here.”

    Don’t upsell me that much.

    “Shh!” Ravyn said a few feet away from me on my right. She had a finger to her lips. “The next signal is coming.”

    “Center, down, center, down,” I muttered, watching the flashes of light in the mirror. As the figures walked, the sky was turning to a dark shade of blue. It was getting easier to see them. “They’re heading right this way.”

    “Oh, Saoirse help us,” Cannoli squeaked, her eyes snapped shut.

    “Relax,” Ravyn said, never taking her eyes off the figures. “They only have one Ejderha with them. Kekeke. Perfect.”

    The goal is not to roast them, Ravyn. Please remember that.

    Kekeke,” Ball Gag cackled with half-closed eyes.

    Like master, like pet.

    “Let’s get into our spots,” Tristan said. He and his Party slid back down the hill and started to monkey-crawl their way up the mound opposite us. I glanced over my shoulder, watching Tristan offer Lara a hand to help her up. Zahra was the first to arrive at the top.

    I turned back to the silhouettes of catgirls ahead of us. The next sign came.

    “Circle, circle, up, down,” I mumbled. That was it. “Eight hunters, one Ejderha.”

    It wasn’t the best scenario, but at least we still outnumbered them. With any luck, the Ejderha would be the only person we’d have to take captive. But with how bloodthirsty they appeared, it was probably safe to assume she wouldn’t go down without a fight.

    As long as it’s not that batshit crazy Sanrai, I think we’ll be fine.

    As the hunters approached, so did Keke and her mirror. I caught the occasional glimpse of her shape now and then, praying they wouldn’t notice her trailing them. All I could do was trust that she knew how to do this. Honestly, the operation felt like something Ara would’ve excelled at.

    The moment was quickly approaching. I motioned to the girls, and we all snuck down the hill with barely a sound. Cannoli and I took to the west end of the dune while Ceres and Ravyn took to the east side. Finding a spot that dipped down and circled around, we followed the path until we were behind the hunting party. As we positioned ourselves for the ambush, Keke came up behind us with a smirk on her face.

    Damn good job, Keke.

    We slowly rose to our feet while watching the hunting party and their Ejderha bob down the hill and into the dip of the flanking dunes. They stopped when Tristan and his Party, fully fitted in their [Combat Mode] gear, rose with determined looks on their faces.

    A blaze of fire came to life in the palm of his hand. “We would like to speak with you.”

    The Ejderha took to the party’s vanguard, her spear extended in front of her. Good. Not Sanrai. “What fools do we have here?”

    “It’s nothing bad,” I said, backing him up as my Party appeared from behind them. I crossed my arms and glared at the Ejderha as she turned to look at me. “We come in peace.”

    The glint of the sun peeked over the dunes to my right. Zahra’s katana and Ceres’ poleaxe glimmered in the morning light. Keke readied her bow. Cannoli puffed out her chest with her scepter extended, and a similar—albeit larger—ball of fire ignited in Ravyn’s palm as her parrot remained perched on her shoulder.

    Releasing one hand from her spear, the Ejderha began to reach behind her.

    “Don’t even think about it,” Destiny said with a bottle grenade in one hand while lifting the hem of her skirt with her free hand. Tied around her pantaloons were bottles filled with various assortments of chemicals. A few of them had pictures of skulls on the front. “We have the high ground. If I throw just two bottles into this pit, you'll all burn to death.”

    Damn, dude. Where is this version of Destiny coming from?

    “Earth is very upset right now,” Lara warned. “I would suggest you listen.”

    The unsure movement of the Ejderha said we had them.

    I furrowed my brow, my knuckles growing white from gripping the axe. “Come on. I know a place. Let’s talk.”

    [​IMG]
     
  16. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 162: No Time for Caution

    Just by sight alone, the class gap between the hunters and the girls from the Third Shell was immediate. Their clothing was clean and well-taken care of, made of finer, thicker fabric than anything Tristan had seen the past few days. Their hair and skin were clean and clear of debris. The most striking difference of all was their muscle definition and the shapely tones of their bodies. These girls were well-fed and aptly rested.

    Before they could take two steps away from the pit, there was a guttural snarl.

    “Oh? Just like that, you’re giving in?” a lithe young woman with deep blue hair and yellow eyes tapped a javelin against her wooden buckler. Tristan noticed the small leather loop hanging toward the weapon’s end—an amentum, the word tugged at his distant memories—and he made a note to keep an eye on her. “What are the Ejderha good for, Aliye?”

    Aliye held up her arm, blocking the approaching woman. “We can’t fight two men, Callie. If they come to harm—”

    Callie scoffed, then chortled under her breath. “Even if it means our lives?

    “We’re not here to hurt you—” Matt began.

    “Tell that to your fire bitch.” Callie jerked one thumb toward Destiny.

    “Hey! That’s my title,” Ravyn snapped.

    “Callie’s right. There are only two more of them than us.” Another hunter with silver hair tied back on the top of her head slid a polished bow from her shoulder. “When have we ever backed down from a challenge?”

    “Alright. Time out.” Matt crossed his axe over his shield. “We just want to talk.”

    “Then talk, brute,” Callie snarled. “You waste our time and our daylight.”

    “Stay here,” Zahra whispered to Tristan with a hand on his shoulder. He nodded, and she gracefully slid down the side of the dune as if she’d done it a thousand times.

    “We need one of you to get Magni’s attention. All we want is a meeting. Once he’s agreed, you can all go home,” Matt explained quickly. “We’ll stay at the oasis until then. No one gets hurt, we all have food and water. Everyone wins.”

    “Wins? You force us from our homes and our kittens and see it as ‘winning?’ Are all men so foolish?” the silver-haired girl snapped.

    “We wish to rebalance this island. As it was in Vizier Krethik’s time. In Naeemah’s rule.” Zahra alighted in the dipping sands, holding her katana at her side.

    Aliye’s face darkened and she spat at Zahra’s feet. “A rebellion from a traitor, then?”

    “Inaction does not make me a traitor,” Zahra replied firmly.

    “Who she is doesn’t matter. You want to take away everything we’ve worked for and hand it to the wretches in the Third Shell. For nothing,” Callie spat. “What have they done for us?”

    “Suffered a miserable existence, you spoiled cunt,” Ravyn blustered.

    Callie shifted her stance and tossed the javelin in the air, catching it by the base of the staff and twisting the amentum around her fingers. She cocked her arm back, pointed the sharp tip at Ravyn, then hurled it forward.

    It was such a fast movement, one with years of practice in its every inch. Tristan barely had time to blink. “Ravyn! Look out!” he shouted.

    The world slowed. Just as Ravyn opened her mouth to call out a Spell, Zahra side-stepped and swiped up at the spinning weapon with her katana. The blade struck true, slicing just below the metal point and breaking it in twain.

    “[Fire Ball]!” When time resumed to its normal speed, the javelin’s point went flying inches from Ravyn’s face and the wooden shaft burst into flames, dissolving into ash before it reached the [Sorcerer]. Ravyn’s violet eyes glittered with fury, and a sharp smile cut her lips. “Oh? You want to play?”

    You fucked up! Squaawk!” Ball hopped from Ravyn’s shoulder into the air, taking a precursory lap around her hat and waiting for his master’s orders.

    The other girls crowded around Callie, readying their javelins and spears, shielding their hearts, and glaring at Ravyn and her Party.

    “Matt!” Cannoli squeaked.

    “I did not wish to see this move to violence.” Ceres stepped forward and readied her polearm. “But I will not allow you to harm my friends further.”

    Dammit! We had this! Tristan scrambled from his position and stumbled awkwardly down the dune. He grunted as his foot caught a stone near the end, pitching him forward onto his hands and knees.

    “Goddess in heaven, we could kill them all.” The silver-haired girl procured an arrow from her quiver and nocked it across the string. “This lot knows nothing of our situation.”

    Keke snapped her bow to attention, readying it with terrifying speed. “Put. That. Down,” she hissed.

    Matt offered him a hand, but Tristan shook his head. He pushed himself up, then dusted the sand off his trousers. “Look, this doesn’t have to be about changing anything right now. We just need to talk to Magni.”

    A girl to Callie’s right with cropped brown hair shook her head. “Then go through the channels. There’s no need to be barbaric.”

    “Don’t you think we’ve tried?” Destiny shouted down. “Your Ejderha refuse to tell him we’re here. We’re stopped cold at the gate to the Second Shell.”

    Aliye lifted one hand to quiet them both. “If not to change the way of things, why talk to Magni?”

    “Matt, tell them what started this,” Tristan motioned to Matt.

    He nodded, never taking his eyes off the girl with the bow. “San Island’s man, Cailu, wants to meet with all of us. The other islands need help, including Nyarlothep, and the four of us should do something about it.”

    “Why should we care about what another island’s man wants?” Callie scoffed.

    “Because if he were standing here right now, you’d all be dead,” Ravyn snapped. “Forget your ‘appropriate channels,’ he’d have made it to the palace and left a pile of bodies in his wake.”

    Tristan shuddered to hear it but was too afraid to press on. Matt had mentioned the guy was impatient, but the idea of carving through catgirls to get what he wanted didn’t sit well with him.

    “You’d be taking him from the island? What would we do in the interim?” Aliye asked.

    “I believe the Ejderha already oversee this place as pseudo-rulers anyway. To me, it doesn’t seem like much would change.” Tristan hadn’t intended it as an insult, but a few girls in the hunting party shifted uncomfortably. At least some seemed to disagree with Callie and the silver-haired girl’s demands. The loudest voice in the room…

    Kuso! It’s hot, I’m thirsty, and this is ridiculous,” Ravyn grumbled.

    Beads of sweat dripped along Matt’s temples and throat. “Look, we don’t want this to come to blows—”

    “You continue to say that,” the silver-haired girl said.

    Matt raised his voice and ignored her. “So, let’s go to the oasis. Aliye can return to Rājadhānī and secure a meeting. We’ll get a drink and cool off.”

    “And what of our kittens?” someone called from the back.

    “You’ll be home by sundown if Aliye hurries,” Keke replied, hands deadly still on her bow.

    Aliye turned to Callie. “This is a request beyond my rank. I should fulfill it.”

    “The First Shell has softened you,” Callie spat.

    “And if this Cailu appears? What then?” Aliye challenged.

    Callie shoved the front of her shield into Aliye’s abdomen. “You fear ghosts and fairy tales, you fool.”

    Aliye gasped, then two-handed her spear and slammed it into Callie’s shield. “There are plenty of vacant cages in the Third Shell, Callie. Stay your tongue.”

    Zarha put her fingers to her lips and blew a sharp whistle that echoed against the sands. “You act like kittens! Fall in and march, ladies!”

    Tristan blinked at Zahra, then looked at the group of hunters. Aliye motioned for them to follow orders, and they begrudgingly fell into two lines of four.

    “How do you think we should split up, Ceres?” Matt asked her quietly.

    “I believe Zahra and I should march at the front. You, Keke, and Cannoli should take the left. Tristan and Lara at the right. Ravyn and Destiny at the back,” Ceres replied hastily. “We cannot disarm them as carrying their weapons would be difficult. So we must keep a close watch as we move.”

    “Sounds good. Tristan, anything else?” Matt asked.

    Tristan glanced at Callie’s tense shoulders and red face. “I’ll keep an eye on Callie.”

    Ravyn came up behind them, fire sparking at her fingertips. “No need. I’ve got dibs.”

    Tristan nodded and gestured for Lara to follow him. Things would be back on track if they could just make it to the oasis. At least, he hoped as much.

    [​IMG]
     
  17. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 163: Data, Data, Data

    I had to constantly remind myself not to grip my axe too tightly. It wasn’t fear or nerves wracking my body—it was distrust. Watching Callie throw her javelin with such conviction left me eyeing her every other second of the journey. If Zahra hadn’t been there, Ravyn could’ve died right there on the sand. I’m not sure I could’ve held back if that had happened. I tried not to think about it.

    With little more than the winds on our skin and the sands beneath our feet, the silence grew more prominent and uncomfortable. The air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. If I were a betting man—and I’m not, not anymore after Portia—then I would’ve thought the Edjerha would be the one to issue a challenge. If there was anyone’s trust we needed to acquire, it was Callie’s. I was just glad she didn’t have a weapon anymore.

    As we trekked through the sands, I thought about how we could gain their trust. Magni had years of influence on us. It was clear that there was a great deal of disappointment and upset in the capital, but it seemed it was less about trying to topple Magni and more about trying to get in his good graces.

    Despite our good intentions, it seemed we were just getting into more and more trouble with little to show for it. Even once we arrived at the oasis, there wasn’t any promise that they’d hear us out or even acknowledge our plight. In a best-case scenario, even if they agreed, they still had to convince King Magni the Magnificent to give us backstage passes.

    Are we just wasting our time?

    Despite my first assumptions, this situation was nothing like Shi Island. There were insane taxes, displays of power, and political issues that I had zero interest in and struggled to understand. It wasn’t like we could just go under the guise of an Ejderha and kidnap Magni as we did with Tristan. The thought of getting a sedative down the creep’s throat sent a chill down my spine. That aside, the Ejderha’s interactions implied they were always a moment away from murder, no matter the situation. One wrong move and you were on the other end of a spear.

    Again I reminded myself not to tighten my grip.

    “We’re here,” Zahra said, glancing at Tristan over her shoulder.

    I swallowed hard. Chances were, there’d be at least one or two Ejderha here. What would they do? Instigate a fight? Bow down? Disagreements—to me, at least—tended to quickly devolve into carnage. The expression ‘Might is Right’ came to mind.

    As we neared closer, I caught the chestnut-colored hair of a catgirl at the farther end of the oasis. She was resting on her knees, staring at something in the water. After a moment, she retrieved what looked like a turtle’s shell from beside her and dipped it into the water. She lifted it to her lips, then halted. Her ears perked, and her chin shot up to look at us.

    Wide eyes stared, and she set the shell back on the ground to her left. The catgirl grabbed something on her right, and, as she stood, I could see it—a poleaxe similar in make to Ceres’.

    Another Ejderha. Glad I didn’t get my hopes up.

    The catgirl readied her poleaxe.

    Aliye raised a closed fist. “Hold!”

    The hunters came to a halt, and we stopped with them.

    “I will go talk to her,” said Aliye.

    “Yeah, wouldn’t want to mess with the chain of command,” said a snarky Callie.

    “Be quiet,” said Ravyn.

    Aliye shouldered past us without another word, skidding down the small hill of sand and meeting the other, I assumed, Ejderha. They each made a welcoming gesture, crossing one closed fist over their chest, then relaxed before they began to talk.

    “Any idea what they’re talking about?” I whispered to Keke.

    Keke shook her head. “Not at this distance.”

    “I really hope this works out,” said Cannoli. “I’m tired of the fighting.”

    “Nobody asked you to come out here,” said Callie.

    “Bitch, are you even listening?” asked Ravyn. “We just told you why we’re here. Least you can do is cooperate or shut the hell up.”

    “Our island’s business is our own,” Callie said, narrowing her gaze. “We have the situation under control.”

    “Yeah, I can tell,” I said, making no attempt to hide my sarcasm. “You’re doing a bang-up job here. Awards all around.”

    “Don’t take that tone with me.”

    I clenched my jaw. Before I could whisper anything through my teeth, Tristan spoke.

    “Stop that. This isn’t going to get us anywhere. I think we should calm down and have a civil discussion once Aliye returns.” Tristan sniffed. “You might not like to hear it, but it’s important that the islands work together. The queen, especially, will be grateful.”

    “We don’t need a queen,” Callie spat. “We have a king.”

    Yeah. Some king.

    Before the situation could escalate further, Aliye waved us over. “It’s fine! Come on down!”

    “What fortuitous timing,” said Ceres, leading the group down with Zahra.

    We kept in line as we descended the small hill, stopping a few feet away from Aliye and the other Ejderha.

    “This is Zutto,” Aliye said, gesturing to the catgirl beside her.

    Zutto raised a brow, drumming her fingers against the shaft of her weapon. “You can’t be serious. You let these brigands take you by surprise? You’re slipping, Aliye. Keep this up, and Sanrai will have your head.”

    Aliye visibly swallowed. “Let me worry about her.”

    Zutto shrugged. “Your funeral.” She cocked her head in our direction. “So, what the hell do you want?”

    “We want to speak with Magni,” Tristan said, stepping forward. “We’ve tried to go through the proper channels, but nothing we’ve done has worked. I’m sorry it’s come to this, but this seemed the only way to get his attention.”

    “Hostages,” Zutto said, nodding and averting her caramel gaze.

    “I suppose you could say that,” Tristan said with a hint of reluctance. “I promise, this is not with ill intent.”

    “I’ve heard that before.”

    “Please. Once we have acquired an audience with King Magni, we will vacate,” said Ceres, a hand across her chest. I wish she hadn’t made a promise like that. Who knew where this would go once we spoke with Magni? I had a feeling he wouldn’t leave willingly, and Cailu wouldn’t be happy if we didn’t bring him. “You have my word.”

    Keke and Cannoli glanced at me, seemingly just as uncomfortable about Ceres’ promise.

    “How about a trade?” Lara asked with more enthusiasm than I felt was warranted. Did she not know the severity of the situation? “I could expand your water supply.”

    Zutto blinked. “You’re joking.”

    Lara shook her head. “Water is quite proud here, and she’s in a good mood today. I could—”

    “Don’t mind her,” I said, shaking my head. With Ceres’ promise and Lara’s… whatever that was, the words ‘BAD END’ popped into my head. “Just please tell us if—”

    “I wasn’t done talking,” said Lara. She turned toward me with her hands clasped in front of her. “Service, Grace, Urgency. We have offered you our service. Now please allow me my grace.”

    “Sister,” Destiny said with an admiring smile.

    “I could puke,” muttered Callie.

    “Can we just get this over with? My kitten is waiting at home for me,” said a red-headed catgirl in the hunting party. “She’s hungry and doesn’t have anyone else to look after her.”

    “Yeah!” cried another catgirl from the party.

    Soon, the cries grew louder and louder, muffling any of our attempts to calm the situation. I put my hands out and tried to raise my voice, but the catgirls continued to overwhelm us with their demands.

    “Quiet!” Lara bellowed.

    Someone’s done being interrupted.

    At that, silence returned. Catgirls passed confused and disgusted looks. Lara cleared her throat and coughed into her closed fist before continuing.

    “I believe I can expand your water supply.” She raised a single finger as if talking down to a child. “But you must secure us a meeting with Magni. Can it be done?”

    Aliye and Zutto glanced at each other.

    “What proof do we have that you can even do this thing you claim?” asked Zutto. “I don’t want my tail yanked. If Magni hears about this, and you can’t even provide water—”

    “Yes, I cannot promise it. That much is true,” Lara admitted. “But I’m confident that Water will listen to me.”

    Aliye raised her brow. “Water will… listen to you?”

    It’s going, and it’s going, and… we lost it.

    “Observe.” Lara extended her arms out in front of her, a little like a zombie, and began to walk. I couldn’t see any rhyme or reason for what she was doing, but she continued. Making her way to the edge of the oasis, she sniffed at the air, turning her head this way and that. “That way,” she whispered. Lara walked to her left, making a wide berth around the rim of the oasis. After a while, she stopped some distance away and fell to her knees. “Here!”

    You can’t be serious.

    “I’ll go see,” Zahra offered, barring the rest of the group with her arm. “Stay here.”

    “Okay,” said Tristan.

    We watched as Zahra, Aliye, and Zutto moved to stand next to Lara, their curiosity piqued. Mumbles and mutters clouded the air as a sigh escaped Ravyn’s lips.

    “This is fucking insane,” said Ravyn.

    Water! Water! Squawwwk! Under the ground! Squawwwk!” cried Ball.

    Ravyn frowned. “What? Bally, what did you just say?”

    Ball’s eyes closed into half-slits. “In the ground! Squawwwk!

    Lara rose to her feet and put her arms out at her sides. “Stay back,” she said. Zahra, Aliye, and Zutto took a few paces back to give her room. After a few seconds passed, a cool breeze blew past me. Soon, a blue-green glow began to envelop Lara’s body, outlining her with an otherworldly light. More time passed, and soon after, she spoke again. “[Summon Water]!”

    The sand beneath her began to move—ripples of grain suddenly given life scattered around her in chaotic formations. The ground dipped beneath Lara’s feet, and the sand under her turned from pale beiges and yellow to a deep brown.

    Water droplets sparkled in the morning sun as they rose from the sand. They gradually formed spheres around Lara’s shoulders. At first, there was only one. Then there were two, and then three, until finally, four spheres of water floated around her. Each of the spheres was about the size of a baseball.

    “What is this?” I muttered.

    Lara let her arms fall to her sides as she turned around to face us. She smiled wide. “Say hello to Water!”

    [​IMG]
     
  18. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Side Quest: Cannoli in a Bottle

    Cannoli lounged on a blanket beneath a clear blue sky, hugging the shade of her umbrella while she sipped on fresh lemonade. The day was comfortably warm, and the sun felt wonderful on her ears and tail. Keke and Elona sat on the dock, lines cast far into the ocean. Every so often, Keke would take a break and swim with Cannoli before returning to her favored pastime. Everything was perfect. Save for the one tiny voice nagging at the back of her mind.

    Aurora, her mother, hadn’t come home in a week.

    The sudden disappearances had begun six months before. When the snow touched Ni Island’s highest peaks, and Cannoli and Keke found pleasure in crunching through thin, ice-covered puddles together. At first, Aurora would leave for just a day or two with a kiss on Cannoli’s cheek and a reminder to practice her manners and prayers. Sometimes she would bring Cannoli to Elona’s house and promise she’d return the next day. Other times, there wasn’t a warning at all. Three months later, Aurora would leave for three or four days at a time. Now, as Cannoli watched Keke giggle with Elona, she realized this was the longest she’d gone without seeing her mother.

    This wasn’t like her. In Cannoli’s thirteen years, she could never remember a time when she woke up to Aurora missing without a note or a word. She’d noted Elona’s concerned frown each time Aurora asked her to watch Cannoli. Something was wrong.

    She pulled a long strand of damp hair over her shoulder and began to plait it in thought. Cannoli loved her mother. More than anything in the world. She trusted Aurora with her secrets and prayed with her twice a day. Had Cannoli done something wrong to make her want to leave? Would there be a day when Aurora left and never came back?

    Heavy tears escaped the corner of her eyes, and she sniffed. That can’t be, can it?

    “Cannoli? What’s wrong?” Keke’s golden eyes appeared above her, staring intently down from her tanned face.

    Cannoli shook her head and forced a smile. “Nothing! I’m fine!”

    Elona appeared behind Keke, setting a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Cannoli, honey, we can head back home if you’d like. No reason to stay if you’re not enjoying yourself.”

    “N-no! I’m perfectly fine!” Her words broke against a tight sob in her chest. No. I musn’t make them worry. “Really, I’m fine,” she whimpered, hiding her face behind her hands. I’m an adult now! I shouldn’t be crying!

    “What’s on your mind? You can tell us,” Keke gently urged, taking a seat next to her.

    “I-I— I just—” Cannoli hiccuped, shame overtaking her sadness. “I miss my mom.”

    “Oh, sweetheart.” Elona knelt and swept Cannoli into a warm embrace. “I know. This is… temporary. It won’t be like this forever.”

    “Where… where is she?” she squeaked.

    “Aurora’s safe. She’s just on important business from Nyarlothep,” Elona murmured into her hair.

    Keke’s eyes widened. “From the queen herself?”

    “Yes.” Elona stroked Cannoli’s hair. “It’s gone on longer than we thought it would, is all.”

    “So, then, I didn’t do anything wrong?” Cannoli asked, unable to meet Elona’s gaze.

    “No, sweet. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Elona drew Cannoli to arm’s length, wiping the stray tears away with her thumb. “She still cares about you very much.”

    Cannoli wiped her nose on the back of her wrist. A burst of sound between a chuckle and a sigh interrupted her crying as she looked between Keke and Elona. “I must seem silly.”

    “You’re only silly because you broke two fishing poles,” Keke teased gently. “Your mom’s working for the queen! That’s a huge honor for a catgirl!” She snatched Cannoli’s big toe and wiggled it. “That’s what I want to do!”

    Cannoli squeaked in surprise, then smiled weakly. “Maybe I’ll be with you. We can both meet the queen.”

    “Of course you will. Who else will heal me? Granny Nauka?” Keke shifted, hugging her legs to her chest and rocking backward.

    “I don’t think so,” Cannoli giggled. Sniffing away her remaining tears, she wiped her eyes against her palms and took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

    “You can always talk to Keke or me, Cannoli. Try not to bottle your feelings so much.” Elona touched the tip of Cannoli’s nose. “We’re here to listen.”

    Cannoli nodded, then her stomach grumbled. Her blush returned, and she glanced at the picnic basket. “Should we have lunch?”

    Keke’s ears perked, and her tail whipped back and forth. She grinned, and her excited gaze locked onto the basket. “Ryba sandwiches! We haven’t caught a single one today!”

    “Then you’d better savor it while you can,” Elona replied, pointedly grabbing the basket before Keke could get her claws on it. “One at a time. Have patience.”

    Keke bounced with impatience, then looked at Cannoli and took her hand. “It’ll be okay, Cannoli. You’ll see.”

    Cannoli squeezed Keke’s hand in hers. “Thank you, Keke.”

    A light sunburn and a slew of nightmares had Cannoli tossing and turning from the moment her head hit the pillow. Defiled invading Junonia, razing it to ash. Sometimes Aurora was there to save her just before being devoured. In other versions of the dream, Cannoli’s mother was nowhere to be found. In one particularly terrifying dream, Cannoli was the one swept up by the Defiled while the rest of the town watched and cheered.

    The sting of her shoulders dragged her back to reality from an Encroacher’s grip. Elona had smeared a balm of fresh-smelling herbs and plants over her skin that had cooled it enough to help her fall asleep, but it seemed it had worn off. Cannoli slipped from Keke’s bed and shivered as a cool breeze from the open window caressed her shoulders. Elona had left the healing salve in a wooden bowl in Keke’s room, just in case Cannoli needed more during the night.

    Cannoli dipped two fingers into the bowl, then smeared a thin layer over her left shoulder. The relief was immediate, quelling the sharp sting and providing a layer of protection between her skin and her nightgown.

    A low murmur of voices caught her ear from outside of Keke’s doorway. A quick glance out the window showed a high moon and a shimmering sky of stars. It was late. Who was still up at this hour?

    Carefully inching the door open, Cannoli slipped past the threshold and tip-toed down the dark, narrow hallway. A single candle illuminated the common room, the glow just barely touching the edges of her path. She crouched low and relied on the wall to guide her.

    “—keep doing this,” Elona hissed. The icy tone of her voice gripped Cannoli’s heart, and she had to cover her mouth. She could count how many times she’d heard Keke’s mother sound like that on one hand.

    “You don’t understand. This goes beyond Saoirse’s teachings.”

    Mom! Cannoli edged as close to the light’s circle as she dared. She could make out the silhouette of Aurora, standing an arm’s length away from Elona. Her face was wrought with emotion, and her hands were clasped at her chest. Elona’s back was toward Cannoli, her arms crossed over her chest, and her tail moved with agitated flicks.

    “It’s one thing to have feelings for Ni Island’s man, but this…” Elona shook her head. “Aurora, this is beyond dangerous.”

    “Shi Island is fine without him. No one knows he’s here. Even the woman who ferried him perished in battle.” Aurora took a small step forward. “Please, Elona. You must understand. I know you felt similarly for—”

    “How dare you to assume such a thing?” Elona stepped back, forcing Cannoli farther back into the darkness lest they see her. “I would never put my kitten at risk, regardless of my emotions. Can you say the same?”

    Aurora fretted at her lower lip, pink eyes glittering with tears. “Cannoli is old enough to take care of herself now. She will be just fine—”

    “She needs you, Aurora,” Elona hissed. “She’s still a child.” The way her fists balled at her hips made Cannoli’s stomach churn.

    “You underestimate her,” Aurora replied, her ears lowering to her head. “Many of us chose our Class at thirteen.”

    “Maybe if you spent more time with your daughter instead of your ill-begotten lover, you would have the sense to agree.”

    I don’t understand…

    It wasn’t a secret. Every kitten wondered about love. Some mothers would use the term freely, while others kept it closely guarded—a word reserved for Saoirse’s care of Nyarlea. Aurora was one of the latter, saving it for prayer and correcting Cannoli if she tried to use the expression outside her faith.

    “Elona, I thought… I hoped that you, of all people, would sympathize with my situation,” Aurora said. Her gaze slid to the floor alongside her tears. “My heart is no longer my own.”

    “Did you forget where they take catgirls who fall in love?” Elona snarled.

    “No. I did not.”

    “And is this the kind of precedent you want to set for Cannoli?”

    There was a long silence. Cannoli dared not breathe as she watched. At last, Aurora replied, “I pray that she never feels this way. Especially if there is no one for her to rely on if she dares.”

    “Aurora—”

    “I’ll return for Cannoli tomorrow. Please have her things packed.” She raised her chin, all signs of distress covered by a newfound determination.

    Pride, Cannoli thought. She says we should always be proud.

    “Aurora!” Elona snarled. But Cannoli’s mother was already closing the door behind her. Elona leaned her forehead against the polished wood and breathed a quick succession of sighs. “Dammit, Aurora.”

    Cannoli took the opportunity to pad her way back to Keke’s room, a whirlwind of emotions tightening her chest.

    This was a bottle that she wasn’t sure she could ever open again.

    To anyone.

    [​IMG]
     
  19. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 164: Rain Woman

    Summoning an element wasn’t new—we’d witness Ravyn rain fire over and over again, and Lara summon terrifying sandstorm during our journey. The truly impressive part was what happened next.

    “Alright, Water. Grow!” She pointed to the edge of the oasis, then added as an afterthought, “To here! Please!”

    The droplets hovered into a single-file line leading from Lara to the oasis. Each one rippled and vibrated for the span of a few seconds before falling to the sand. In their place, deep pools of clear liquid bloomed, growing until they eventually overlapped at the edges and connected to the oasis itself.

    Lara had extended the oasis out by at least two meters without lowering the water level by a single drop.

    She stepped out onto the water’s surface as comfortably as if she were taking another step on land. The water held her and she twirled, her skirts shifting around her thighs.

    That’s… new.

    “Thank you, Water!” Lara said, then giggled as a few droplets splashed her calves.

    Water’s playing with her?

    “She carves the sand itself,” Zutto muttered.

    “And dances upon the water’s surface,” Aliye added, not a little in awe.

    I blinked. “So, then, this isn’t normal?”

    “No [Conjurer] I’ve ever met can do this shit,” Ravyn grunted.

    “I admit, Sir Matt, I believed her ‘speaking’ with the elements somewhat… off-kilter. That her Spells were cast without truly conversing with them.” Ceres crossed her arms, watching Lara twirl along the water’s surface. “Now, I’m not so sure.”

    “This must be a trick,” Callie snapped, shaking her head. “A brainless catgirl playing at goddesshood.”

    Cannoli inched closer to me and dropped her voice. “Matt, Saoirse herself has the power to sculpt and bend the land at her will. Lara may be scaring them.”

    “Maybe this was a little much.” I looked at Tristan. “Let’s dial it back?”

    Tristan nodded. He and a few of the girls—Keke, Ceres, and Destiny, in particular—quickly made their way over to where Lara was standing. I stayed where I was, keeping a close eye on Ravyn and Callie while Cannoli nervously braided her hair beside me.

    “How are you able to do that?” Aliye asked, the grip around her spear loosening. “I have never seen such a power before.”

    Lara’s eyes grew wide as Tristan and the girls moved beside her. “I just asked Water to help. There wasn’t anything special in what I did,” she said with a tone that would suggest she was falling asleep. “Water loves this land. She knows of no other land where she is praised so highly. At times, she feels like a goddess on this island.” Lara spun on the spot, losing her footing. Thankfully, Tristan managed to steady her before she fell.

    “What nonsense is this?” Callie growled. She balled her hands into fists. “Do you think us fools?”

    “Callie, this seems very real to me. You’ve spouted your mind for long enough,” growled a hunter with long blue hair and silver eyes.

    “Quiet, Cecilia. Don’t talk like you know anything.” Callie tensed, her eyes glittering with rage. Ever since we’d caught them in the dunes, it seemed she was itching for a fight.

    Cecilia frowned. “Bitch, this isn’t your Party. We have kittens waiting for us. Quit acting high and mighty like you know something we don’t.” She scoffed and crossed her arms. “No wonder no one takes you hunting.”

    That was the wrong thing to say. Callie spun on her heel and decked Cecilia squarely in the face. There was a muffled yelp as Cecilia fell to the ground. Her nose ran red, and specks of blood colored the sand around her.

    Aliye marched her way over, fury in her stare. “I’ll find you a fitting cage when we return.”

    “Over my dead body,” Callie snarled.

    “That can be arranged.” Aliye made a feint with the point of her spear, then kicked at the bend of Callie’s knee from the side. Bone cracked, and Callie dropped to her good knee, swinging at the air behind her. The Ejderha caught the arm and put her foot against Callie’s neck, shoving her face into the sand.

    “That’s enough from you,” Aliye growled. Her gaze veered up and down between Callie and me as the other party members helped Cecilia up. Cecilia was still conscious, but she wasn’t talking.

    “Please don’t fight!” cried Lara. “This was meant to be a show of malevolence!”

    “Benevolence,” Tristan said.

    “Huh?”

    “Benevolence. That’s the word you’re looking for,” Tristan said with bright pink hueing his cheeks.

    “B-Benevolence! I’m sorry! It’s a show of benevolence! Water loves the land, so I thought I’d talk to her for you all.”

    Yeah, a little too heavy-handed, I think.

    “Sister,” Destiny said, meekly wrapping her arms around the curve of Lara’s elbow. “Why did you wait until now to do this? Why didn’t you warn us?”

    I could barely hear them from where I was standing. At the risk of making the situation worse, I stayed tight-lipped until I saw a better reason to act.

    “Like I said before, Water didn’t want to come into the Third Shell,” said Lara. “But out here, she would love to be more prolific. She just needed some encouragement. So, I thought it would help the hunters see that we mean no harm.”

    Destiny sighed.

    “Let me go,” came the muffled demand of Callie.

    Aliye’s eyes bore a look of indifference as she twisted the grappled arm ever so slightly, eliciting a scream from Callie. “Shush. I gave you a chance. The adults are talking.” She concluded her remark by spitting on Callie’s back.

    “You really don’t have to go that far,” I stressed.

    Aliye raised a brow. “Don’t put your nose in Ejderha affairs. I won’t break anything else.” She twisted Callie’s arm slightly, and a groan escaped her lips. “So long as she stays put.”

    Callie growled but said nothing more.

    “This does change things, though,” Aliye continued. “The strain of water is felt in the Second Shell from the growing number of kittens.”

    “Aliye,” Zutto snapped. “Do not give them more information than necessary.”

    I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. “You don’t have to hide anything from us. Seriously.”

    “Says our kidnappers,” the silver-haired girl spat.

    Zutto held up a hand, quieting the silver-haired girl. “Regardless, the situation has changed. What are your terms?”

    Finally.

    I tried not to let the relief show on my face. “Tristan? Mind taking this one?” He was the more diplomatic of us. Although he had a rough start falling into the sand back there, I was sure he wanted to make up for his small blunder.

    “Of course,” he said with a look of determination. “As we discussed earlier, we wish to speak with Magni. The other islands are at risk of falling apart. One of them did, for the most part.”

    “Your own?” asked Zutto.

    Tristan nodded. “My own, yes. As Matt has explained, San Island’s man has requested the males meet for a summit.”

    Aliye frowned and pushed Callie’s face deeper into the sand. I wondered how much more punishment Callie could take before she snapped again. “What is this word? Summit.”

    “Ah. It means that we would, in good faith, of course, agree to meet and discuss what we think should be done to help the islands. Violence is prohibited in any fashion, as is generally agreed with summits.” Tristan shifted his weight to one leg, briefly looking down at the dirt. “Each man would be allowed their say, their thoughts, and we would discuss what we think is best for Nyarlea. There would be no expectations. This is merely a way for us to make sure we’re all on the same page, performing our duties as required.”

    “You speak like Naeemah,” said Zutto.

    “What was her role here?” I asked. “I mean, if you don’t mind me asking.”

    Aliye turned her head toward me. Callie appeared to have surrendered. “She was mighty. Intelligent. Resourceful. Between her and Vizier Krethik, there had never been a greater age of prosperity.” Aliye’s gaze traveled downward as if recollecting on fonder memories. “Her absence is heavy on the hearts and minds of Ichi Island’s people.”

    How much could I say here? I still had no proof that the Naeemah I met was the one they were referring to. I hadn’t run into any other Naeemahs on my travels, but considering how smoothly the conversation was going, I decided to get it back on the right track.

    “I can’t speak for what things were like back then,” I said. “But I can tell you what we intend to do now. It might not be what you want to hear, but I think it’s for the best.”

    “No,” said Tristan.

    “No?” I asked.

    He shook his head. “We can get into that later.” I thought I detected a hint of apprehension. “All we’re asking for at this moment is an audience. Nothing more.”

    Aliye’s gaze landed on Lara, who Tristan, Keke, Destiny, and Ceres safely surrounded. “Her power would be useful. You there!” She cocked her head toward Lara. “Your name!”

    “Lara!” she screamed back far louder than was necessary. “I give you water! You give us an audience with Magni! That’s the exchange!”

    Way to cut to the chase.

    With her spear leaned against her shoulder, Zutto crossed her arms, drumming her pointer finger against her elbow. “We shall see what can be done. Which of us goes, then?” She and Aliye exchanged looks. “It must be an Ejderha. No one else will be allowed entry.”

    A moment of silence passed. “I’ll go,” Aliye finally said. To be honest, I was hoping it would be her. She had seemed the most reasonable of the group and, hell, of the Ejderha. Her reluctance to fight us when we ambushed her had been a testament to that. “I will deliver your terms and nothing more. Even so, I make no promises as to what happens next. Is that clear?”

    “Crystal,” I said. “If he’s willing to come with us to the summit, even better. I just—”

    “Please, just tell him we want a meeting. Don’t mention the summit,” Tristan interrupted.

    I turned to look at him. “Why?”

    Tristan shook his head. “I want us to be the ones who deliver that message. If, for some reason, he senses any ulterior motives outside of us paying him a personal visit, he may shut the doors on us for good.” He paused, shifting his gaze between Aliye and Zutto. “Please, just tell him that the men from the other islands request a meeting at a place of his choosing. We mean no harm and would like him to answer a few questions.”

    And this is why I let you do the talking. I’ll just be the hired muscle, I guess.

    “Think you can manage it?” I asked Aliye.

    “I will see what I can do,” said Aliye. “Can the men be trusted to take care of my hunters?”

    “Of course,” I said, smiling. “You have our word.”

    [​IMG]
     
  20. DoubleBlind

    DoubleBlind Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 165: Sent Here for a Reason

    Aliye’s leaving brought an awkward silence to the group. Tristan understood. What else was there to say to one another? But it was impossible to know when the Ejderha would return, and there were still so many questions that burned within him about the island and its inhabitants.

    “So, hey, can we refill our canteens, or are you going to chuck another spear at us?” Ravyn asked, waving an empty container in her palm.

    That’s a start.

    Zutto looked at the group of hunters, her brow furrowed and her shoulders tense. The others narrowed their gazes and waited. A few shook their heads while the majority sat still. Tristan gambled that they wanted to see how she’d react.

    “You ask as if you’re not the ones holding us hostage,” Zutto replied slowly.

    Ravyn snorted. “You’re right.” She glanced at Matt. “See? No reason to play nice.”

    Matt sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Ravyn—”

    “Don’t ‘Ravyn’ me.” Ravyn rested her free hand on her hip. Ball landed on her shoulder and preened beneath his wing. “Get your canteens and fill them. If you die of dehydration, we’re all fucked.”

    “She’s right. We need to keep ourselves hydrated,” Keke reminded him. “Come on, Matt.”

    That left Tristan and Zahra with the others. Lara and Destiny were still by the newly carved edge of the oasis, caught in a hushed string of conversation. Destiny’s hands moved passionately as she spoke—a trait Tristan had always liked about her—and Lara stood and listened, her eyes glazing over, then snapping back to focus. Lara carving new features into the ground was new for them all, it seemed.

    Cannoli and Ceres had busied themselves over Callie. Buttons perched on Cannoli’s shoulder, watching as his master mixed a tincture of herbs and roots in a small wooden bowl. An empty potion bottle dangled in Callie’s good hand; one of them must have administered it to the wounded hunter shortly after Aliye’s departure. Callie stared off into the distance, a sour look on her face, but she said nothing to stop the girls from helping.

    Tristan turned to face Zutto. She was still standing at attention, her back rigid and spear at her side. A few hunters had found shade beneath the large branches of pawm trees while others hovered nearby, unsure of their role. Cecilia had moved to the far end of the oasis, keeping one stern eye on Matt, Keke, and Ravyn as they refilled their canteens.

    “Zutto, if I may ask, which shell do the Ejderha live in?” Tristan asked lightly.

    Zutto frowned. “Instinct dictates I not share such things with you.” Her eyes flickered to Zahra, and the corners of her lips dipped deeper. “Wouldn’t Sanrai’s sister know these things?”

    “These are not my lands, friend,” Zahra replied. “My information is pieced together in fragments. There is little better than the source.”

    Zutto glanced over her shoulder, then motioned for Tristan and Zahra to sit as she did the same. The two other catgirls that had stuck around—a brunette and a redhead—also took a seat on the sands, resting their weapons in their laps. The Ejderha lowered her voice, reducing the conversation to their small group. “I believe you will find out anyway. All Ejderha reside in the First Shell. It is an honor reserved for very few.”

    “But there are more guards outside of the Ejderha, correct? We met two at the gate on our first day here. One of them abandoned her post,” Tristan explained.

    Mentioning Seraphina struck a nerve. Zutto growled, and her grip on the spear tightened. “She will be executed on sight if she dares return.” One of the hunters behind her spat into the sand and muttered a few harsh words. “She was not Ejderha. Not in nine lifetimes would she be worthy.”

    “Was she from the First Shell?” Tristan continued.

    The brown-headed girl shifted uncomfortably. “You ask too many questions, boy. Why take such an interest in an island not your own?”

    “Because I want to understand,” he replied honestly. “I’ve read every book in Nyarlea I could get my hands on, yet there are so few about Ichi Island. The last recorded politics are from almost a hundred years ago. Before this system of shells or a King’s Tax.”

    “You speak of a forbidden age,” the redhead spoke up. “We are not to talk about such things.”

    Tristan’s fingers twitched with agitation. Only a fool hides from the past. “Then tell me how things are now. Please.”

    Zutto studied his face for quite some time, then said, “You remind me of Krethik.” She slowly nodded, then pulled an object that looked like a thin tube from her [Cat Pack]. “Very well. I will explain.”

    Tristan caught Zahra smiling out of the corner of his eye. That isn’t the first time I’ve heard that. Zahra’s mother had made a similar comparison. “Thank you, Zutto.”

    Zutto grunted, then smoothed the sand before her. Using one end of the tube, she drew three circles, each smaller than the last to fit inside, then planted the object at the ring’s center. “You have seen the Third Shell, then the Second Shell. Ejderha keep homes in the First Shell, just outside King Magni’s castle.” She pointed to each ring as she referred to the shells. “Guards can come from any shell, though their ranking increases should they move inward. Trust and loyalty must be earned to advance. Seraphina was of the Third Shell.”

    “And advancing requires passing a test?” Tristan asked.

    “That is correct,” Zutto said.

    “Do not forget that you’ll need a Defiled’s weight in Bells,” the redhead grumbled.

    “Taraji, still your tongue,” Zutto snapped.

    “Oh? Did you advance for free, Zutto?” Taraji taunted lightly.

    Before Zutto could reply, Zahra interrupted. “We’ve been told of the necessary bribes. I would imagine that the sum depends on who tests you.”

    “And what shell you’re testing for,” Taraji added.

    “Are Ejderha and guards demoted often?” Tristan asked.

    Zutto slid the tube from the sand and blew on the other end. A tiny dart stuck in the tumbling grains, inches from Tristan’s feet. “Aliye and I are likely to lose our ranks for this… inconvenience.” She grabbed the dart and replaced both in her pack. “I have never spent time Caged, but I believe it’s unavoidable at this point.”

    “I won’t let that happen,” Tristan said, anger settling in the pit of his stomach. “None of you will face consequences from this.”

    “We will see if you still hold your fire at the point of Sanrai’s spear, boy,” the brown-haired girl said. “All of us can watch you burn from our cages.”

    Tristan searched for the right thing to say. These girls… this city… every inch was beaten into submission. Perform your duties or die—those were the options Magni had given them. As much as the Third Shell inhabitants believed life to be more comfortable in the inner shells, the hunters, warriors, and Ejderha had just as much to fear. Escape was barely an option.

    “Callie’s arm is set,” Cannoli announced from his left, scaring the daylights out of him. “Oh! I’m so sorry! Did I interrupt you?”

    “N-no. We were finished. Sorry, guess I let my mind wander off ahead of me,” he chuckled nervously. “Thanks for doing that, you guys.”

    Ceres bowed. “It is our pleasure to help.”

    Zahra placed a hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “You should refill your canteens as well, Tristan. Why don’t we go together? Cannoli and Ceres can stay here with Zutto.”

    Tristan nodded and stood, brushing the sand from his trousers. Ravyn, Keke, and Matt were heading in their direction and passed them halfway.

    “Keep an eye on them for a moment?” Zahra asked Matt, jerking her chin in Zutto’s direction.

    “Roger that,” Matt said with a small salute.

    “Roger what?” Keke asked, puzzled. “Who’s Roger?”

    Tristan couldn’t help but smile as he knelt to fill the first canteen from his [Cat Pack].

    “You shouldn’t let their pessimism deter you,” Zahra said softly, splashing her hands in the water before tapping her cheeks with her palms.

    “No, it doesn’t. Really, if anything, it’s encouraging,” he admitted. “I want to help them. In any way I possibly can.”

    Zahra nodded. “That’s good to hear.” Sitting back, she procured one of her empty containers from her [Cat Pack]. She submerged it beneath the clear surface before speaking again. “Even if you can’t see it right now, you’ve brought hope to a place devoid of it for years. They want to believe in you, Tristan. Soon, they will.” She locked his gaze, crimson eyes diving into the depths of his intentions. “Just as I do.”

    Tristan’s heart sped against his chest. He dropped his gaze, fearing what she’d find on his face. “Zahra, I—”

    “Tristan! Zahra!” Matt barked, snapping Tristan’s attention back to the group. “We’ve got a problem!”

    A dark, massive outline shimmered inside an oncoming sandstorm. Neither of which had been there just a few minutes beforehand.

    “Chikara!” Zutto screamed, on her feet and brandishing her spear.

    Tristan quickly noted Lara and Destiny running toward him. The hunters were on their feet behind Zutto, eyes wide and weapons ready.

    Zahra tossed the canteen to the side, drawing her katana with the same movement. The sandstorm neared them at a wild, erratic pace. The thunderous sound of heavy winds and a tornado of sand hammered against his ears.

    “Tristan!” Matt shouted over the noise. “Chikara is a Defiled!”

    [​IMG]