Farewell to Friends

It was unknown when the party had died down, perhaps some of the members were **** to let it go to an end. Several hours into the night, the band had said their farewells, wanting to thank the host in person but were unable to find her, and so they made their exit. Fortunately, Janette had granted them their pay upon their arrival just in case, even throwing a little extra from her pocket as a token of gratitude of which they humbly and graciously accepted. It was the older members who were the first to rest for the night, allowing the attendees of younger age, be it adolescents or young adults, to frolic and gossip freely, pulling pranks on one another.

It had been several hours now, perhaps two or three since everyone awoke. Well, mostly everyone. The children opened their eyes with grumbles and lazy pleas while the adults sat up with throbbing headaches and sore feet from dancing the night away. The Nekomata clutter helped get the children washed and dressed while the elders would double check their belonging to make sure nothing was left behind. A mother was carrying her child when her little doll slipped from her hands onto the grass. She fussed and stretched her arms out, clasping with tiny hands when Ori'chi leaned in and cupped the pillow with her paws, making sure her claws were retracted so as to not cut into the material. The mother looked back in time as Ori'chi gently released the doll back into the baby girl's needy hands, who snuggled the doll with a tight squeeze.

"Thank you kindly." The mother said to the young cat girl, rewarding her with a loaf of bread from her bag. Ori'chi nodded and gladly accepted her snack, biting into the dough with her tails up high and a hum behind her smile.

Alma tugged one of the many knots on the wagon hard, giving the passengers inside a thumbs up. They nodded and one villager jumped out before climbing onto the front of the other wagon, grabbing the reins and waiting.

Dimyri was feeding one of the horses a carrot, patting his side as he munched down his snack with a huff from his nostrils. She stepped back, combing her hair back with her fingers as Alma approached her.

"All is ready, you're sure about doing this?" She asked.

"Yea, I'm sure."

"It's a different world out there. New Monsters, Monster Girls, new enemies-"

"New friends too." Dimyri added with a confident smile, "I want this, Auntie. I've made my choice and I'm confident with it. I'd like your help to guide me out there."

Alma smiled and gave her a nod. "You've grown so much from a kitten who was biting my finger every time I held you."

Dimyri scoffed and looked away shyly, brushing some of her hair away from her eyes. "Auntie, I'm the same girl."

"You're different, you've changed and so have your sisters. But change is good, your mother and I did our best. Now it's your turn to show them what you can do."

During their interaction, Emyri had approached them and stood by her daughters side. When Alma and her exchange a quick nod, Alma stepped back as Emyri held her daughters paw with her own.

"You remind me so much of myself when I was your age, full of courage and wonder with a need to explore. I traveled the world once before with my clutter and my mother to help me, but did so when we suffered famine and harsh winters. Then we hid and ran from a pursuing threat, and now that we can rest I am so tired of traveling. I wish I could join you." She sniffled, feeling her voice crack as she hung her head in front of her daughter.

"Mom, it's okay. I'm going to be safe, Syri will need you now. I promise I'll come back." Dimyri pulled her teary mother in her arms, embracing her with a tight hold. Syri watched patiently as the two broke away before stepping in for her turn.

"Promise to tell me about the outside world?" She asked with a subtle smile.

Dimyri returned the expression with another hug. "When I'm back I will tell you everything, little sister. You're not the baby of the family anymore, it's your time now. Make us all proud."

Syri swallowed and bowed her head. "I'll try."

Dimyri's smile faded when she wiggled her nose, then her expression returned with a chuckle. She turned to Janette next to her sister who seemed puzzled when some of the other Nekomata's were giggling around them. One look at Syri and she saw that the cat girl was turning red. "Take care of her for me, Janette. And both of you try to wash off so that we don't catch your scents on each other next time."

"Oh!" Janette cupped her mouth as even Emyri began to laugh. "Noted."

"And good luck with the fruity business!"

"Likewise with your adventure!" Janette smiled back, trying her best to dismiss the knowing giggles around them.

Felix and Kuli had just arrived, exiting the house and having placed their breakfast on hold to bid their friends and family farewell.

"I wish you the best, sister!" Kuli cheered.

Dimyri held her paws and beamed back. "Back at you, sister! I want to see those kittens when I come home!"

"We're looking forward to that day." Felix chimed in, holding his mate with an arm around her waist by his side. "Be safe and weary, you've no telling who might be friend or foe."

"I have Aunt Alma and cousin Spi'Reto to help me with that! Spi'Reto knows how to fight well and Alma has been outside before." Dimyri explained.

Alma raised her head with an irritated scowl. "Where is that tardy trout, he was suppose to help with the bags since sunrise."

"You don't know where he slept?" Felix asked from a bit away.

Alma shook her head. "Lost him at the party, but I didn't see him anywhere at camp."

"Oh there he is!" Dimyri shouted, waving behind Felix and Kuli. Everyone turned around to see an elf hurrying up with his quiver loosely tied around his shoulder and his pants seemed wrinkled and backwards. He was accompanied by a beaming dwarf several paces behind him, walking so calmly that it looked as if she were skipping in her steps with a cheerful hop. She wore her dress from yesterday, nothing questionable or odd in its appearance, aside from her large orange hair which was undone and pulled back with a hair brand.

Spi'Reto stepped through them with haste, snatching a half eaten loaf of bread from Ori'chi as she was about to take another bite. She watched him run off and huffed only to be tapped on the shoulder. She turned to see Nukka offer her own turkey leg, to which she happily accepted.

Some of the Nekomata girls gasped, tapping the arms of their friends until they began to notice the smell. Emyri frowned and cupped her nose when she turned and her eyes grew wide as she looked between the young elf and the dwarf calmly following him. Immediately she began to cover her mouth but it became apparent to Alma that her friend had found something to be amusing.

Spi'Reto stood up in front of his mother with a loaf of bread in hand, his hair a bit messy and his eyes noticeably tired. "I uh- I'm here!"

Alma had crossed her arms, face scrunched up in a glare toward her son. When Emyri was struggling not to giggle in a high tone like the others, Alma shot her a look. Emyri coughed and cleared her throat, turning away to see her daughters had also caught on to this unspoken revelation.

The mother elf returned her focus toward her son and with a tap of her foot she asked, "Do you know how late you are?

"A little late, just a tad, p'raps a pinch?" He smiled nervously with a shrug.

"I'll show you a pinch." Alma growled as she snatched at his pointed ear and brought him to the front carriage.

"Ah ow-ow ow ow owow!"

"Get in the front, you'll be handing the reins with me. March mister!" She released his reddened ear, pointing at the front seat as Spi'Reto rubbed his ear and nodded.

"Yes, right away!" He hurried with a quick skip, rushing to the front carriage before tossing in his bows and quiver. She turned to her front to see Nyitzcha beaming back at her, smiling from ear to ear. The elf raised her eyebrow and turned around, making her way back to the row of carriages getting ready to leave.

Felix and Kuli lowered their gaze to see Nyitzcha's hair flowing beautifully behind her, nearly reaching the grass.

"I think that's the first I see you with your hair down!" Kuli gasped.

"It's very pretty, you should keep it that way." Felix added.

Nyitzcha turned to them and gave them a thumbs up. "Thanks lad. You look nice yerself, ye both do. Someone get some tail last night?"

Felix blushed and stayed quiet while Kuli giggled and nodded her head rapidly. The dwarf shook her head and faced in front once more.

Everyone had settled in their seats or on horseback, ready to depart. Felix walked up to the front where Alma and Spi'Reto sat, with her double checking the reins and him munching on the loaf of bread.

"Hey, thank you for taking a chance when you found us. Thank you for helping me get her and her family back." He said, extending his hand.

Her eyes darted between him and his arm before shaking his hand. "They're your family too. Protect them like I protected them before. I hope to find more like you in the future."

Felix beamed and bowed his head before walking off. Alma had sat back in the front with her son when a small orange head approached them from the side, clearing her throat for their attention.

"I'm glad we could work t'gether fer a time. Been a while since I worked with elves 'n all."

Alma nodded. "The feeling is mutual I suppose, perhaps when we return you would carry a more appealing smell than the stench of booze and gun powder."

Nyitzcha snorted. "An' p'raps ye learn to take off that stick in yer ass an' loosin' up more. Sure would make ye more friends. Who knows? Maybe ye may find a good tree to settle in an' a sturdy branch to swing on."

"You've a voice too big for a small size."

"You've got de face of a widow workin' a task she hates, a restin' bitch face."

"I have my family to look after, where is yours?" She snapped back. She was expecting some sort of verbal retort but unexpectedly the dwarf never changed her expression. "Am I to guess that you're so happy to be rid of me?"

"Nah not at all, fact I wouldn't mind if ye stayed a bit longer. Would be fun." She turned her head and raised her voice. "Yer son is a great lay in de sack by the way! Really knows how to please a dwarf's holes. Had me toes curling an' me voice hollering all night."

Everyone stayed quiet, with Spi'Reto frozen in place as his mother painfully and slowly tilted her head one inch at a time before glaring at him. He shriveled in her presence, knowing she could read his face so easily to know it was true. Even the others were speechless, no one said a word while Nyitzcha was laughing hard.

"Treat him well ay, yer son is no boy anymore!" She chuckled before slapping the hind of one of the horses. It whined and began leading the march, the other carriages following behind as Alma never bothered to move her icy cold stare toward her miserable son. Nyitzcha wiped her hands and walked back with her head held high, satisfied with the exchange. The others all opted to wave their goodbyes while they could, with Dimyri waving at her sisters and friends one last time.