Emotional Embers

Felix placed the box into the wagon, grinning from ear to ear. Keeping the baggage sealed, he wiped his forehead and returned to their tent, perhaps the last time they would need to sleep outdoors. KuliKuli was waiting for him inside, snuggled up on their blanket and making room for him to join her. Once he kneeled down, she kissed his cheek and leaned back as he began to remove his tunic.

"The little ones are gossiping again." She said, giggling as he leaned behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"What are they saying?"

"Hard to tell, so many voices and gossip. But the lighter voices are saying how amazing you are." She leaned back, resting her head against his chest. "Talking about you being a hero."

Felix laughed. "I guess, I wouldn't say I am one."

"You did help save us from Perdilius, you saved me."

"Of course, we're in this together remember?" He reminded her as she turned her head and smiled.

"Together, I love that. Together with my Master."

"You know you're not my pet right? You're more than that."

"I know, but I like calling you Master." The two began to cuddle, closing their eyes together as comfort and sleep slowly began to take over.

True to her word, outside their tent several meters away was a small gathering of Nekomata girls sharing silly stories, stories of witnesses, speculation, and a touch of exaggeration. As was common in the clutter, cat girls still in their youth were dressed in a white top with small shorts to keep their appearance modest. It was custom for them not to roam around naked until they had come of age, as displaying their bodies would tell any others that they were looking for a mate. If any showed a marking on their bodies, commonly around the neck, then they were taken; marked, bonded, mated with someone else. That is something new that Janette learned on their trip back home, as she eagerly jotted down any fascinating notes about the nature of the Nekomata women in their clutter.

Truly fascinating, she thought to herself, pausing as one of the cat girls skipped to join her friends in a campfire nearby.

"Did'ja see that? They were amazing!"

"I heard that man marched right inside and took them all out with his funny hands!"

"Nuuu, I heard that they were scared of him! Mama says he walked up to them and they made way, because he wasn't afraid of anything."

"That's not true, if they didn't fight back how did he come back in a comma?"

"It's a coma, stupid head! And you're both wrong, he didn't beat them up all by himself and they weren't scared of him or anyone. I bet he was just as scared as you and me and dat he went up to dem and did dat anyway."

"But if he was scared, why did he fight them still?"

"It's because he's not human, maybe he's a magic monster man who walks on two legs!" One of the Nekomata girls gasped, spreading shock to her friends around her.

One girl cleared her throat and fumbled as she stood up on her legs. "Mommy was there with dem when they went to fight, she says he was a man with a heart of stone. You know what dat means?" She asked as her friends traded looks, the warm glow from the fire light painting their young faces in an orange tone. "It means he is some monster boy, what kind of hoo-man has a rock heart?"

"Do you think he's all rocky inside?" One of the girls questioned with interest.

"Oooooh, so he's not a hoo! He's a magic hoo!" Another Nekomata said in her squeaky voice.

"Dat's right!" Her friend triumphantly shouted, waving her tiny little paw at the nearby tent several meters across from them. "It's why he's resting, so he can get aaaaaaall his magic power back and den he be big an' strong again! Stronger den all!"

Sitting at a neighboring campfire, Janette shook her head in amusement as something caught her eye. The half moon had embraced the darkness that night leaving little available light for anyone to see in the dark. It would normally prove rather difficult for her, but she still maintained her nocturnal sight from the bond she shared as Syri's mate. Something hopped onto her knee and it caught her attention as her eyes settled on a tiny lone grasshoper. It cocked its head before leaping back into the dark blue grass behind her, as Janette closed her book and stuffed it back into her satchel. Stretching her arms, she opted to lay down on her side using her bag as a pillow to rest her head on.

"So this is how legends are told, by cute little minds filled with imagination." She smiled, pausing to yawn. A pair of slender legs walked across before pausing before her, a pair of tails hovering just above the grass. Placing some dry wood into the fire, Emyri sat across from Janette while rubbing her arms to get warm. Above the fire was a nice metal kettle hung by a trivet, it's mysterious liquid concoction boiling as it absorbed the growing heat. To her left, a dwarf sat down and began tinkering with a mortar and pestle busily churning what looked like sticky dark putty with a grain-like texture on top. Emyri wrinkled her nose and turned her head away, her tails wrapped around her waist. The three women sat in silence for a short while, neither breaking silence as Emyri would feed more wood into the soft fire and Nyitzcha continued stirring her mixture. Janette looked down, rubbing the soft velvet red cover of the book on her lap.

"The girls seem to enjoy a change of scenery, their smiles are quite contagious." Emyri spoke in a soft voice.

Janette smiled. "I'll say, they play around and tell funny stories about the world. It's a big place out there for them to explore."

"Ay, bes' enjoy dem bright thoughts before life comes a-knockin'." Nyitzcha muttered, her eyes fixated to her work. She paused momentarily as she stood up and reached out to stir the heated pot briefly.

"What do you plan on doing when you return home?" Emyri asked in a curious tone.

Nyitzcha shrugged. "Soon as dis ol' lass is home, it's back t'business as usual. Maybe raise prices to accommodate for higher expenses. Among other things." She glared at Janette who reacted with a sly grin.

"We made a deal, I stay rent-free and work for you free of cost remember? No whining."

Nyitzcha snorted and looked up, noticing Alma patroling around the camp. She whistled to catch her attention. "Oi, p'raps time to unclench and unwind ey? Sit down an' kick yer feet up."

"With you as my footstool, the offer is tempting." She replied with a sly grin.

"Har har, pointy ears has jokes. Y'know I be leavin' soon. Whats sayin' dat bow be better used to wrap a farewell present for me?" She smiled maliciously, placing her hands on her ears to mock her.

Alma rolled her eyes. "Of course someone of your size makes low blows, I suppose you can't hit any higher."

Janette snorted, cupping her mouth and looking away. Emyri leaned back in amusement and even Nyitzcha chuckled. "Ay see, so the treehugger has some bark but no bite!

The corner of her eye twitched as Alma stared back at the dwarf insulting her. "Two can play a fool's game, but I'm afraid most of my insults would go over your head."

"Ha! Ye can fire a good pun but can ye fire an arrow wit' dem wee limp wrists of yers?"

Alma stepped forward to join them at the fire, standing next to the dwarf before bending down to face her at eye level. "That big mouth would surely have outgrown you by now, no use to it besides drinking and spatting toxins."

Nyitzcha reached for her cup, waving it in front of her. "I'd give ye some o' this ale, but I'm afraid anythin' more potent than daffodils'd have ye onna floor."

She began to form a scowl when the rest of the girls failed to conceal their laughter, blushing and standing back up with her grip locked around her bow.

"Lookie here, seems yer ears are startin' t'match yer hair!" Nyitzcha pointed out in a rather triumphant manner, laughing and enjoying the spectacle she had brought. "I may be small but I pull my weight, short enough to find cover anywhere I go and strong enough to ride any creature, be it stallion, griffin or man! Hmm, maybe das what ye sorely need to unwind, a good man to tame de forest fire ye got brewin' there."

Alma scoffed, stepping back rather appalled by her words. "No room in that insolent head but for promiscuity and ****."

"Both o'dem things ye lack, ginger."

In a passing second, Alma reached behind grabbing the shaft of an arrow and readying her bow, leaving most of the girls nervous as she held her bow steady, aimed for Nyitzcha's face. Nyitzcha in return stood up with a cocky look in her face, extending her arms wide with a look of want, daring the elf to release her arrow.

"Go on, make m'day. Ye know what I can do, ye don' know how much I'm carry'n. Soon as I fall, fireworks!" She giggled, licking her lips and leaning back with her eyes sealed.

"Please don't." Janette leaned forward, feeling her heart bouncing repeatedly in her chest. She felt a tail on her shoulder, turning to see Emyri offering a comforting smile as she sat back down. Holding her breath, Janette kept still as her palms began to sweat.

Foowit!

Nyitzcha opened her eyes, looking back to find the arrow dug into the grass. Alma was putting her bow away, the grin on her face expressing her amusement to the situation. Both exchanged looks before bursting into what could ne described as a blend of entertained joy and relief, with neither choosing to stand down. It took Janette a moment to comprehend, turning to Emyri for any explanation only to be offered a sincere smile and a raised paw. Janette frowned but followed with a smile, of course the cat knew how her friend would react.

"So was this all a play or something to scare us with?" She wondered.

"Not at all." Alma shook her head. "Just silly malarkey."

"Ay, malarkey." Nyitzcha agreed, wiping her brow with the back of her hand. She sat back down, plucking the arrow off the ground like a flower and passing it back to its owner. Alma placed it back in its quiver, bowing her head before returning to her patrol.

"She seems fun." Janette quipped.

Emyri laughed in a soft tone. "You know when she and I first met it was with her threatening my life with her bow."

"Well, not surprising I suppose." Janette smiled when Emyri waved her paw dismissively.

"She had her reasons, I stole rations from her village."

"Really, I'd like to hear that story!" Janette reached for her book, looking up as Nyitzcha was fidgeting with her legs and fumbling with her piston and mortar. "Something wrong?"

"Ants in your pants?" Emyri asked before her eyes widened when they made contact with Nyitzcha. "Oh dear."

"What?" Janette asked.

Nyitzcha huffed and placed her mortar aside, adjusting her chestplate and running her hand across her hair. Flustered, she leaned back and gave a nervous laugh. "Urm, it's nothing. I need some air."

She stood up, patting her legs and adjusting her chestplate once more before turning left and right, deciding which direction to go by the flick of her wrist. Janette blinked and turned back as Emyri herself was giggling. "Now what?"

Emyri gave her a smile and a knowing look. It took a moment for it to click for Janette, who felt rather foolish once she understood. Now that the two were left enjoying the warm fire alone, Emyri adjusted her posture to lay down on her side, resting her chin on her paw.

"So tell me, what is to happen between you and my daughter now?"

Janette froze, keeping her gaze fixated on her book with a quill in hand. She knew better than to ignore her, and her hand wasn't moving at all as the quill needed more ink. Her shoulders tensed but she drew in a deep breath and looked up. "I don't know how to respond to that."

"Are you two seeing each other still?"

Janette sucked in her lips briefly. "We are taking some time away from each other. I betrayed her trust so she wanted to think about what happens with us."

"You did, that was a stupid and selfish thing of you. Being unfaithful to my little girl days after you two bonded, if it were not for the predicament we were in at that time I doubt we would be talking today."

"Is that how you feel about me?" Her voice shook as she was afraid of what the answer might be.

Emyri closed her eyes briefly and breathed in. "I have many words to describe you, not all of them are kind. But, I trust my daughter's judgement and currently she is still deciding. You saved her life and for that you have my gratitude. But that does not resolve what you did before."

"I know, I don't expect to be forgiven. I fucked up, I don't want to convince her to keep me. I want her to choose me, I-I want her to... fuck, I don't know, I don't have the words." Janette carried an exasperated expression, cupping her hands over her face and sulking with her head hung down.

Emyri paused, her scowl softening as she watched her begin to whimper and wipe her eyes. Feeling awful herself, she sat up next to Janette on her knees with her paws on her thighs, holding her and comforting her until she felt ready.

"What about you? What do you want to happen?" She spoke in a softer tone.

"For me, I want to make this work but I understand we began in a shaky manner. I mean..." She sniffed, brushing a few strands of her wavy hair away from her left eye and tucking it behind her ear. "It's not easy when someone gets to decide without you. Running my own fruit business for nearly ten years, I'm not use to waiting for someone else to make a decision about me. I can't bribe or try to persuade, or do her business or shop a favor. She's not a client, she's not an ownership, she's Syri."

"Well, sounds like you've been thinking about this a lot." Emyri mentioned, her tails twirling behind her.

"Everytime when I'm doing nothing, it's aggravating. I can't wait to be back, then I can keep myself busy busy busy."

"And if that doesn't work? My daughter isn't seeking a prize."

Janette looked puzzled, so Emyri began to elaborate. "Take it from a woman who fell for her own hunter, a relationship will have its obstacles. People fantasize about the happy memories and good times, but they forget or ignore that they may experience awful memories and big fights as well. No one is perfect for each other, human, dwarf, elf or monster girl. Look around you, we all have our flaws. But the couples that are together don't do it just out of love or obligation. Do you know what love means?"

Janette shuffled and raised her head. "It's a hormonal reaction that expresses deep affection for someone."

"Wrong, it expresses deep affection and only that. I could say I love strawberries and I wouldn't be wrong. Couples may form because of their mutual deep affection to each other, but love fades over time. Many of them choose to stay together because they compliment each other in many ways, actively deciding that staying with the other is worth it. Realize that at some point, even my dearest Nityri and her mate won't be in love anymore. But I have faith that you will never guess when the day comes, for it might not change how they are to each other. One can hope that their love is everlasting, a true love with a trust that you feel for each other in here."

Emyri pressed her paw over her breast, her eyes fixated on the nervous brunette sitting across from her. She continued, "My mate needed time to think as well, and I let him know that I chose him. I was his and he was mine. But I made the mistake of not displaying it, I grew frustrated having to reassure him, and I mistook compromising for submission. I was so fixated on making it work that I let him do things his way, when it should have been done our way. So we parted ways and I was devastated, I questioned my choices and doubted myself."

"How did you move on?" Janette asked, pressing her book against her chest with a tight grip on both sides.

"I remembered that I had three precious little girls who needed me more than I needed him. I wish it had worked differently, a family works best when both parents are involved. But he chose his path and I chose mine. I had a clutter to care for, daughters to raise. I was no longer his mate, but I was and still am a mother. He was a good man at heart; honest, skilled, and faithful. It wasn't until we agreed to part that he was no longer loyal to me, but I have yet to know if he has another mate."

"And if he did move on?" She asked her.

Emyri curved the corner of her lip, her cheek forming a dimple as she leaned back. "Why not? He does not belong to me nor do I belong to him. I cannot lay claim to him without his consent, a couple belong together if both long for each other."

"So then... what will happen with your hunter? His job is finished so..." She noticed Emyri looking past her and followed her gaze, catching Leone standing behind her wearing his underarmor and belt.

He was wrapped with a cotton gauze around his chest, keeping his wound sealed. It was difficult to tell his expression, his eyes were like those carved into stone devoid of emotion and thought. His natural pale complexion only added to his mystery, she wondered if it were due to a loss of blood at all since he had always had this snow white skin tone. His long silver hair covered most of his face as well, parted in the middle as it hung around the sides to frame his face. From behind, his hair was at neck length but in front it would tickle his chin. He sweeped over a patch of grass to clear any moist or dead leaves before getting comfortable on one knee, sat between both women. Not once did he acknowledge their presence with a glance, his eyes focused on the orange red warmth centered between them.

"My sword was shattered amidst the firefight, do you happen to know of any blacksmiths around your destination?" He asked, he noticed from the corner of his eye of her head movement in response. "That is unfortunate. That should suffice as an answer to your question."

"So you're not staying?" She asked him.

"Nay, I cannot. Doing so would bring unwanted attention to you all."

"Why?"

"A monster hunter has no home, it is our duty to traverse the lands to answer any call for help."

"You mean to kill Monster Girls?" Janette mentioned in a harsh tone.

"To kill Monsters, sometimes that includes the removal of Monster Girls yes. I care not for your tone, I have a bigger issue at hand." Leone reached for his sheath, pulling the handle of his sword to reveal... the handle. Only a few inches of the blade stuck out from it, the rest was missing.

"Just find a blacksmith to repair it or give you a new one."

"He can't." Emyri quietly mentioned, looking concerned as she stared at his weapon.

"A hunters blade is forged in iron and enhanced with dark magic, it was forged in the Guild where we were trained. A sword only breaks if a contract that binds a hunter to their task is foiled. I broke my contract in trying to help you, now my life will be in danger. They will see me as a traitor of the code and will demand for my head on a spike."

"That seems dramatic." Janette looked up as Leone gave her a look. "Sorry."

"We arrive tomorrow to Kershin Market, then I will leave." Leone explained.

"Oh, sorry about stabbing you that one time. I thought you were going to hurt Syri." Janette mentioned, pointing at her chest below the ribs.

Leone shrugged. "I've dealt with worse injuries, I have no quarrel with you."

"Wait, you stabbed him? How, were you sleeping?" Emyri asked, rather amused at the idea.

"Actually, I snuck up on him with his own knife." Janette explained.

"It's a dagger and I was preoccupied." Leone added, "Don't mistake my forgiveness for weakness."

"Noted." Janette swallowed, shuffling a few inches away from him. They all looked up as Nyitzcha rejoined them with a large bottle in hand and three cups in the other, sitting down between Emyri and Leone.

Looking from one face to another, she reached for her drink and took a sip. "Well, ay say once we reach the tavern we've a lot of fixin' up to do."

"Going to need your girls to help me rebuild my home, is that still fine with you?" Janette asked Emyri.

She nodded. "Some of them aren't too keen but we'll help."

"Thank you. And now that Felix has his own house, the little bugger, that makes things even easier."

"Lil bugger, is someone jealous?" Nyitzcha asked, setting down her bottle and popping the cork off the top.

"Just surprised how things worked out for him." She admitted. "After all he's been through, he's needed a break."

"We all need a break." Emyri smiled as Nyitzcha handed her a cup before passing one to Leone.

"Definitely." Janette reached in as the dwarf passed her a cup before looking at the small portion of caramel liquid inside. "I bet Reta wouldn't mind one of these, but why so little?"

"Eh I ask but she nut feelin' fer a drink. It may look small but jus' one swig be 'nough to calm de nerves. Cheers!" Nyitzcha beamed, raising her cup. "To a new business!"

Emyri held her cup with her tail, raising it high to match her. "To a brighter future."

Leone held his glass up, pausing to think of what to say. "To living. What? Fine, to living every day to the fullest, I suppose."

"To... to overcoming whatever comes our way!" Janette cheered, tipping the cup to her parted lips and swallowing in one gulp. The other three followed, with Janette's eyes bursting wide open as she hunched down and began coughing in a sudden fit, clutching her throat.

"Strong stuff." Leone tilted his empty cup, unfazed as Emyri giggled at the sight of her friend wheezing and gagging.