Not Welcome

Felix looked up, the soft humming of the Glitterbugs keeping them company to avoid the quiet night. Well, discounting the chirps and whistles that just never seem to go away that is, suppose that's the jungle for you. Still, the humming brought some comfort for him nonetheless.

They had rested for the night once the rest of the camp hit curfew. Janette sighed softly as she lay her head on his lap, whilst Nyitzcha was seemingly out of sight. He flexed his arm, believing she would have been sleeping with him perhaps. Rubbing his eyes, he began to wonder if he had slept without realizing just now. He didn't recall being tired, the stress ringing behind his neck wouldn't have let him.

His hand had been brushing Janette's hair, combing it a certain direction as he heard her soft hums and sighs. It brought a gentle sense of warmth to him, realizing just how much they've been through together now as the memories just flew by. They owed her big time for not telling on them when she could before, when they were strangers hiding under her stand. If she had well, then they wouldn't be here.

Something was bothering him that night, not just his discomfort at not rescuing KuliKuli yet. The camp was anything but welcoming, and the ambush to their carriage left him with a few questions. It was clear something else was going on, possible conflict between them and the Priest.

Not to mention, the cat girls. There are so many among them tonight, yet they looked shy and timid and frightened to be near them. Rather, they avoided them instead, which left Felix feeling awful. He was left with questions, questions which just seemed to keep him awake now. Maybe it's his concern for the girls, maybe it's the demon gene implanted inside, but he contained a sense of curiosity which just could not be ignored.

Gently pushing Janette aside, he made sure she would lay comfortably in her sleep so that she may not be disturbed, removing his shirt to use as a blanket on her. He felt that for a moment he saw her smile just a bit, unstirred but appreciative of the added warmth. Had she always been so beautiful before, or was the gene affecting her too? Does the gene affect our bodies and enhance our appeal?

So many questions to figure out, so little time to enjoy.

As Felix turned around to walk casually around the campsite, he realized that there was no such thing as darkness anymore. Suddenly there are no shadows or dark corners or anything, in fact his vision appeared strangely luminescent compared to before. At first, seeing in the dark was an interesting perk to have but now, well now he missed seeing the beautiful starry night skies. Darkness which once was a source of fear had become a nostalgic memory now.

He caught something slip by the corner of his eye, another Nekomata judging by its tail. This one was in cat form with a spotted pattern on its fur. It just walked away, tilting its head to notice him before slipping away.

"I don't think they like me." He said.

"Can't imagine why." Felix jumped at the sound behind him, spinning to find Alma perched onto a tree up above. She glared at him, eyes narrowing into focus as she looked into his bright yellow eyes with caution. He stepped back as she jumped down, landing several spaces ahead with her bow in hand and quiver swung behind her.

"You're up late when I made it clear there's a curfew to be had. Go to bed."

Felix shook his head, getting over the initial shock. "I can't. I'm not... I'm not tired. It's hard for me to sleep."

"Then go to your space and sit until the sun comes up. Just leave." She demaned, turning her back to him.

"Why are you so reserved and hostile to us?"

"Hostile?" She turned to face him, "We let you in our camp, giving you some of our supplies. You call that hostile?"

"I call you hostile." He backed up, raising his hands as she stepped forward. "Look, I don't mean any trouble. I just want to ask some questions."

"Your questions aren't welcomed."

"Please, you guys have lot of Nekomatas around. Do they know who we're after or why? Do you?"

Alma looked away. "The other one mentioned a family taken away, yes. Would not be the first time."

"By the Priest." As he said that, her eyes darted to his direction. "That's the gjy, right? That's who is giving you trouble? What was his name, Per-"

She rushed in and clasped her hand over his mouth, muffling his speech in time. "Voice down, we do not say that name here!" She whispered.

Removing her hand, he continued. "Why are you guys in hiding, why not help us too?"

"You lot are strangers, intruders. We don't give help to outsiders." She hissed, stepping away.

Felix grabbed her arm, holding her in place. "Who's NiNi?"

"Let go of my arm or I will take yours." He kept his grip, refusing to budge. "Last chance."

"You wouldn't-" She grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm, forcing his grip to release before pulling his forearm behind him with her arm around his neck.

"I wouldn't." She growled into his ear. Both of them heard a click when she felt a soft poke to her rib. Looking down and much to both of their surprise was a small dwarf out of sight and mind, with a thin pointed object pressed to the elf's chest.

"Less I be mistak'n, dis 'ere leads to yer heart. Elf biology shan't be too different from ours, ay? Now, less say ye let me hubby go and I let ye live, fair?"

"You little-" She paused as Nyitzcha poked her breast this time.

"Don' tempt me lass, I been 'n enough fights to know wah is like to gut ye."

With a bitter murmur, Alma softened her hold on Felix's arm, releasing him as he pulled away and held his arm. Nyitzcha from the look of things was enjoying herself with an ear to ear grin on her face, revealing the twig in her tiny hand. "Got ye, ye elves never were too bright. Careful now, one move 'n I scream. Don't think shouting would help us much, revealin' where ye may be n' lettin' the big guy know where ye be. Felix, ye wastin' yer time tryin' to reason with dis one. Dis 'ere ain't no fighter, she's a sitter, a Mum lookin' after her own n' nothin' else."

Felix looked up to Alma, her face turned away as she refused to dispute those words. "None of you can fight?"

Alma looked back. "Most of us are farmers, only my son and I can fight. There use to be more before, there aren't now."

"Then why not-not help us? We're after the same guy too, you guys don't need to hide-"

"This is not up for debate." Alma snapped, stepping forward. "You lot are to be in your place tonight, sleeping or not I don't care. Stay. Put. Next time, there won't be a warning."

She turned around one last time, walking away with a light swing to her hips with each step. Felix sighed and looked away before receiving a playful slap to the arm.

"Well, we sure spooked her, eh?" Nyitzcha smirked before catching the long face on him. "Ehh, come on. Best we get to restin' for the night."

He followed her, arriving to where Janette remained curled up on her side.

"Well, she looks peaceful."

"Yea." Felix sat beside her against the large tree they were under, scooping her to rest on his lap like before. Looking back, he caught Nyitzcha scooting against the tree on her own, grumbling to herself. "Hey, you okay? Thanks for... you know. Back there."

She waved her hand in dismissal. "Don't like when people touch m'things, das all." He opened his arm, signaling her to join them much to her reluctance.

"Ehhhh... " She scooted in, letting him wrap his arm around her as she leaned onto his warm chest. No shirt, and a nice smell too, which sounded awkward in her head. It made her blush. "Heh, don't-don't be talkin' about dis to the others ay?"

"Ay." Felix leaned his head against hers, keeping both women safe in his hold as he closed his eyes shut. Maybe in time, sleep would find him and take him away like before. Maybe it could erase that empty feeling without his mate for just a few hours.

Up ahead, Alma stared at the three from above another tree before sighing and climbing higher, away from view.