Mew

With a worried sigh, Janette rushed over for her warmer clothes, unable to stand idly by while her friends ran out into the night. Glancing around whilst frantically forcing her coat on sloppily, her eyes kept wandering out the window glass hoping any second now a familiar face would come walking back. The woods around her home were unusually quiet, normally the owls would get annoying at this time and even the crickets seemed shy. Was something disturbing them?

"Peaceful thoughts, think peaceful thoughts." She whispered under her breath, putting her shoes on before standing up straight.

WHOOSH.

She flinched, stepping back a bit and placing herself against the wall. Something just scurried into the house, something was inside.

"Hello? Felix, Reta?"

Gulp. Feeling her palms grow sweaty, she took a few careful steps forward nearing the double doors. Why on earth did I leave then wide open like this were some kind of barn? The beating in her chest grew louder, her face feeling hotter but soon enough her hands felt the cool feel of polished wood before pushing the doors closed. Leaning her forehead against the door, she drew one last breath to calm her nerves. A small presence could be felt sneaking up behind her as Janette prayed to a higher power that this was no stranger to her.

"KuliKuli?"

"Mew."

---

Felix tripped against a lifted root of a nearby tree, collapsing into the dirt grass before scurrying back onto his feet. He blinked frantically, his feline sight coming in handy. There was no darkness for him, he could see through the shadows yet still, he saw nothing. Calling for her was his first idea, calling both their names would be anyone's reaction. However, he worried that doing so would place himself in equal danger. The feeling was instinct, inexplicable yet he knew for certain there was danger among these woods and his lover and friend were both lost within.

I can't lose her, I can't!

Wait, a moment of self realization brought clarity to his panic-stricken thoughts. I can see like her, so maybe... He wasn't certain, admittedly (and ironically) he was more of a dog person until now so his knowledge toward felines was minimal at best. Do cats have a great sense of smell? I feel so stupid asking, but it's my best shot.

Sniff, sniff.

Her hair, her scent, it was faint and for a moment he was in disbelief. It must be his mind playing tricks on him, but he hoped it was real.

Sniiiiiiiiifff!

"There!" He dashed forward, running at full speed hoping to find her, and... her? And her? Wait...

---

The small feline crawled among the branches high up, leaping from tree to tree. It felt so liberating to be a cat again, despite being a hoo-man for so long she felt comfortable going back into her feline form. But the happiness needs to be placed aside, for this cat was eagerly in search for a wolf. Luckily, she tracked her scent and it was not far now.

---

Branches and twigs broke away under his path as he continued sprinting as fast as he was able down the woods. He was confused, maybe he needed to practice more but sniffing the air would find him tracking numerous other scents too, and they all smelled familiar to him, similar yet slightly different. What was th-"Wah-!"

A sharp hand darted from the side, yanking him off his feet and against a hollowed tree. His heart racing, Felix thought the worse with a paw cupp over his mouth. However, his eyes grew wide upon discovering whom his assailant was.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Reta whispered harshly, removing her paw from his lips. He drew breathe before catching his thoughts.

"You ran off, so we got worried. What's wrong with you, you can't just do that without telling us you know?"

"Oh shut up, I'm not a damn child I can take care of myself."

"Right, because that's how we met and that's why you were doing so hot alone."

Reta's almond eyes flared upon hearing that, so desperately fighting the urge to slap his face with her claws.

"Is that why you brought me in, cuz I'm some damsel in distress needing help, that all I am just a charity case?"

"No, I messed up. I'm sorr-"

"Shut up, shut the fuck up! Gods, I don't know why I stuck with you three. Here I am feeling out of place and it turns out my instinct was right!"

"Reta-"

"I should have fought back when I had the chance, I should have ran off once that cat took off my damn leash, very hospitable by the way treating me like some fucking animal!"

"Re-"

"Shut up! Just shut up! I'm the one talking here yarô! Kutabare!"

"Reta!" Felix shouted, to which she realized he was never staring at her but above her. Something soft and fuzzy brushed against her wolf ear. Glancing up above, the sight that beheld them drew a gasp from Reta as they quickly backed away. Felix placed a hand over her chest, pushing himself forward despite their predicament.

Up at the tree, perched among its branches stared several yellow and green glowing eyes back at them. Their tails coiled around them, staring with curious intent and slight menace despite their small frames. One of them sat up on its four paws, sporting a brown fur coat around its body. As it crawled its way down, its paws grew massive, the fur around its body shrunk before revealing soft navel skin, and its tail split into two. Stepping forward and facing them stood a woman with olive dark skin, brown fur and soft yellow eyes that matched Felix's.

It was a Nekomata.

A family of Nekomatas.