Getting Help

"Okay, clothes?"

He ruffled through the numerous bags they had attached to the saddle before giving a thumbs up.

"Two pairs or three?"

"Uhh... three."

"Good. Let's see... food and water of course."

"Enough for a three day trip."

Janette dropped her hands to her sides. "Do you think it's enough?"

"I uhh I hope? How long would it take to reach?"

"I don't know, but this might." She pulled out the magic book, flipping it open. "So, how long until we reach Perdilius on horse?"

I AM NOT A PSYCHIC, WHO CAN SAY? IS THERE A CLEAR ROAD? GOOD WEATHER? HORSE WELL FED? WHAT IF PERDILIUS WERE ON THE MOVE? OH I KNOW, HOW ABOUT YOU KIS-

She closed the book, dropping it back into the satchel and rolling her eyes. "We'll just say three days."

Felix shrugged, placing a hand on the Mare's side and rubbing her fur gently. "Do you... have any money left?"

Janette shook her head, Felix sighed. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For putting you through all of this, that was my burden to carry and not yours."

"You don't need to apologize."

"Yes, I do. I'm sorry for calling for you when KuliKuli was hurt, I was scared and didn't know what to do. I'm sorry for pushing her family into your home, I should have known better and it was stupid to think having KuliKuli around wouldn't have any consequences. I am so so sorry for what happened to your house..." He approached her with open arms and wrapped them around her, rubbing her back with gentle strokes. She found herself feeling awkward until she could feel him with a runny nose. "This is my fault in a way, Na'Vi was right. I should have placed more focus on letting her defend herself, I should have taught her to be more careful. And... I should have let them run off when Emyri asked. Even if it meant letting KuliKuli go, at least she would have been safer with them."

Janette hugged him back, squeezing his frame and nuzzling his shoulder.

"Don't beat yourself up over it, I let them stay remember? Didn't like it at first but I let them do it anyways."

"You really didn't need to, I could have taken them to the farm instead. I took advantage when I shouldn’t have-"

"Felix, I did too." He stood quiet, allowing her to continue. "I... I did too. When I found out about KuliKuli, I was intrigued. My first time seeing a monster girl in person, and she didn't look or behave much differently from me. So when you asked for help, I accepted but not without a little selfishness to it. I wanted to see how she reacts to pain, I wanted to learn more. What they eat, how they walk, how they change. I have never seen KuliKuli transform, honestly I thought that was a myth until Na'Vi showed up. Even Reta I kept close to for the wrong reasons, she scared me when I first met her. But again... I started to like them. I would ask KuliKuli questions all the time about what she did and how, I kept notes about them. Even began writing a diary about my experiences with you guys. You two took me in and it felt nice, being wanted."

"What are you talking about, you run a successful trading business."

She grinned. "Yea but that only gave me money. People were dicks to me when I was little, and growing up I stuck with Mom and Dad so they could teach me everything else. Once I was grown up, I found myself busy with a shop to run and that was that. No more time for boyfriends."

They both slowly slipped away until they only faced each other, Felix now very interested in hearing what else she had to say.

"I had money to spare but my family was gone. I lost my mom and dad, I lost my nana. I was alone, and the workers were much too old or had different views on me because of my wealth. Like I get it, we aren't the same. But it became painful the number of guys who proposed me for their time after I became the sole owner of my family's trade. I never met anyone who didn’t already have a preconceived view of me until well... until I met you guys... and until I met her."

"Her." He repeated. She began to smile more, it seemed something sparked happy memories in her mind as she was staring through him.

"Her. That was a weird night to experience for us both, but... yea. It felt nice to have someone honest for once, I could talk to her and not think is this what she really means or is she thinking of something else? Nope, she didn't have a mask to hide behind or an agenda to work for, she was just... real."

Felix smiled. "I bet your parents would be happy to have met her."

"Oh no they would be furious."

"Really?"

"Oh yea, you've no clue how often mom would talk about wanting grandkids. Dad spent too much money hosting ceremony after ceremony in hopes of me bumping into Mr. Perfect."

"And it never happened?"

She shook her head. "Sadly no. None of them felt right, none of them were real. They would look at me and smile, say something sweet or romantic and here comes the applause, it really felt more like a performance to me. I sort of convinced myself I could be happy on my own, and I would like to think I was happy for some time. Then Syri came in and screwed me up."

Felix chuckled, adjusting their bags once more. "Being mated isn't all bad, I never would have thought she would pick you."

"Oh really, because she's a woman?"

"Because you two are like opposites. She's short, you're tall. She's honest and a little air headed, you're professional and tense."

She punched his arm. "Jerk, I'm not tense."

"Ow, there it is! The tension haha."

"Shut up, I know what you're doing."

"Oh really, what's that?"

"You're trying to butter me up, get me all emotional and be like woa is me, my love is taken away. To battle!"

"Am I right?"

"You're half right, stop rubbing it in. I don't expect her to be super stoked anyway."

He frowned. "Why would you say that?"

"Felix, I know what I did. Back at the bar in Kershin Market, remember? She must have... ugh, I was a real bitch to have done that to her. She could do way better, I deserve this really."

"Yea..."

"I want to say it was the drinks but, it was me. I did it, and I don't think I could forgive myself for it."

"Yea."

Janette looked crossed. "Okay, a little too much agreeing here. But I mean, yea we're opening up so, yea."

"Yea."

"Felix!"

"Yea!" He grinned, holding her arms and shaking her in excitement. "Janette!"

"Wah?"

"I just got an idea!"

"O-Okay? What is it?"

"Ay, welcome to the Slammer. What're ya buyin'?" A familiar dwarf muttered, polishing a glass mug with a filthy looking rag. Someone slammed their hand onto the bartop, grabbing her attention.

Felix looked back at her, a grin on his face with Janette smiling nervously and waving her hand back. "We need your help, Nyitzcha."