You two know each other?

"I wasn't sure I would find you." Janette whispered, kissing Syri on the cheek. Their arms stayed around one another, both remained on their knees as they began to exchange words.

Syri smiled, using her twin tails to wipe her face clean. "That's silly, I was with Mom and my sisters."

"No-no, I mean I didn't think I would see you again." Janette explained.

Syri gasped, flicking her arm using the tip of her tail in a whip-like manner. Janette pulled back, eyes wide with a shocked and questioning look. "What was that for?"

"You weren't sure you were going to see me again?" Syri huffed, folding her arms. "Does that mean you would stay behind?"

"I mean you told me to." Janette flinched as another tail slapped her arm again. She smiled, reached for that tail and caught it in her hold. "Gotcha-!"

She was cut off as another tail brushed over her mouth, muffling her victory. The Nekomata giggled as her mate looked annoyed, waving her free tail between them. "Missed one, silly."

Janette let go of Syri's other tail, glancing at the fur stuck to her hand. "Yikes, that's gunna stick on the dress. You're not coming back home when you're shedding fur like that."

Syri pouted. "I only lose fur if I'm stressed."

"Must be stressed all the time, seeing how many cat hairs I would find stuck to my mattress and couch."

"I'm not listening." Syri turned away, her head held high.

"It's either that or you get a bath."

Syri spun around and held Janette from behind, hugging her and leaning over her shoulder with a smile. "Only if you wash me squeaky clean! I bet you miss keeping your little girl clean."

Janette blushed, reaching for Syri's paw and whispering back, "Not so loud!"

Syri giggled, squeezing her partner and resting against her. Janette leaned back to enjoy the warmth she had missed for so long. Her eyes began to feel dry, begging her to blink. Until now, she hadn't closed her eyes out of fear of the impossible. They mentioned this place carried some magical field around it, causing Felix those nightmares. Squeezing Syri's paw, Janette took a long breath and closed her eyes, please let this be real.

The intense feeling of joy washed over her once more when she opened them to find her Syri still here.

"What?" The little kitty asked, noticing her staring intently as they hugged.

"You have your Mother's eyes." Syri frowned and pushed Janette away with a chuckle. "Well you do! They're very pretty."

"Thanks." Syri blushed, scooting closer before they began to notice the others following Alma inside a very large tent.

"I think we should join them, might be something important." Janette pointed out, to which her partner shrugged and snuggled between her arms, playing little spoon. Janette smiled, brushing her cats silver fur. "Syri."

"This is more important." Syri grinned, closing her eyes and beginning to purr. Janette felt her face begin to burn red as she looked around, noticing some very obvious smiles looking back. Well, if she didn't mind then... no, it's still embarrassing.

---

"You two know each other?" Felix pointed fingers between Dimyri and Alma. Spi'Reto held the tent flap open for them, letting it drop as soon as the company had entered."Of course! Do you guys know each other?" Dimyri asked, raising her brow.

Alma smiled and shook her head. "We had just met. She is the first born and next in line for Head Mother."

"Yea, that." Dimyri blushed as Alma tussled her hair. She lifted her shoulders and smiled nervously as the elf smiled back.

"Don't be so modest, you are young but you will grow up to be a most exceptional woman."

"Well, maybe but... Mom's not here." Dimyri looked away, grabbing her arm. "She's taken, just like Nityri."

Looking up, she caught Felix closing his eyes. "Sorry, I meant KuliKuli! I know you named her it's just-"

Felix waved his hand, dismissing the notion. "She's my KuliKuli but your Nityri. We both know who we're referring to either way."

"You mean your KuliKuli and our Nityri." Dimyri exclaimed, bringing a smile across his face. Huh, he does have a rather charming smile on that boyish face, it made her feel better inside. Felix did have a warm smile, but it was evident that there lay sadness in his eyes.

"Emyri is with us in spirit, so long as she may draw breath." Dimyri began, "S-So long as I live, it is my duty to rescue m-my family, my clutter-excuse me. Uhm, so yea. Let's... Let'ssss start planning a rescue." She chuckled, making finger guns at Alma.

Alma tilted her head, staring at those lethal guns. "Perhaps we begin by discussing the elephant in the room, or the cat without claws."

"That! Yes, ahh... I don't know." Dimyri stammered. "It's... well, I think... My dad! He cursed me to be like this."

"A curse? Curses inflict ill-will and malicious intent, derived from dark magic. Which, if you recall from your teachings you should know dark magic has no effect on dark creatures like yourself." Alma raised her eyebrow, staring at the poor girl like a hawk.

"You're absolutely right, I meant to say spell. Must be a spell, of course. Actually, I would like to request some clothes." Dimyri winced, lifting her sore foot from the ground. "I need those... those things on your feet what do you call them?"

"Shoes?" Felix asked.

"Yes, shoes!" She cried out, fuming as she heard Nyitzcha snicker from not too far away. "I need shoes and I need lots of blankets. I am cold, I am naked, my feet feel like they have walked across shattered grass, my hands feel crazy freaking weird! And I don't have a clue what to do about it!"

She leaned over the wooden desk, tapping her foot and holding herself tight. Her chest was rising with each huff of air, and she felt red from embarrassment. Alma looked down to see her foot tapping away, confirming her suspicions.

"Well, dis is weird." Nyitzcha muttered, receiving a touch on the shoulder from Felix to keep quiet. Spi'Reto checked inside the tent to find Dimyri covering her face. With a look of concern, he glanced over to his mother as an idea erupted in her head.

"Spi'Reto, why don't you take our guests and show them to their rewards while I discuss with Dimyri in private?" Spi'Reto nodded, looking over at Felix and Nyitzcha as they walked out. Before leaving, Felix glanced back to Dimyri and Alma one more time.

"Whats wrong?" He asked, once they had walked a bit away.

Nyitzcha shrugged. "Aven't a clue."

"Mom will handle it." Spi'Reto confirmed. "In the meantime, let's go address those goodies we got for you."

Felix looked around, spotting Syri and Janette.

---

Alma tapped her fingers over her desk lightly before approaching Dimyri. Placing her hands over the girls arms, Alma leaned in close. "It's not the clothes that has you fallen, is it?"

"No, my feet hurt too."

"Dimyri."

Dimyri closed her eyes, flinching before giving away a sigh. "Mom's gone, Nityri is gone, so many of us is back there looking up to me and-and I don't think I'm the right one for this."

Brushing her arms, Alma helped her up to her feet. "You think she chose poorly?"

Dimyri swallowed and painfully nodded. "I'm no good, I don't know what I can do to help."

Alma paused, her hands sliding down to hold Dimyri's new hands. "You're a special type Dimyri, not just by blood but by status. Your mother and I spent a lot of time teaching you what we know."

"I know..."

"Do you... not desire this role?"

"I-what if I let you guys down? I'm not perfect like Mom, I can't mess up and-and end up losing her. I can't screw up like before, heck I couldn't even help them escape. If it wasn't for Aunt Zimi, we would still be there."

Alma held a finger to her chin, looking down at Dimyri's hands. "A Head Mother isn't expected to solve every trouble she encounters. Only to do what is best for her kittens."

"I failed in getting them out with us. Those red guards, and Perdilius' hold on Dad... "

"You have an idea how they operate now, yes?" Dimyri nodded. "And thanks to you, Zimi finally returned to us."

"What do you mean, she's escaped plenty of times before."

"We never found her, so if what you say is true then her freedom must have been short-lived. So in other words, you did help. Maybe you didn't lead the way, but you did contribute. There is success in failure, it's how we learn best."

Dimyri opened her eyes, feeling those worde enter her mind. "Success in failure, that doesn't sound right."

"We aren't perfect ourselves. You do recall how close I came to shooting your mother. Many times, she had a way with pulling my nerves."

Dimyri smiled, feeling her hand sliding across the smooth wooden surface before approaching the half-painted canvas when another hand fell over her own.

"How does it feel?"

"Different."

Alma pulled her hand away before setting a bow onto Dimyri's palm.

She gasped. "You're not serious?"

"You know I'm not one for jokes. This is my serious face."

"B-But we need to go help rescue them right now!"

Alma smiled. "We will."

"And I thought the court had settled against the idea." Alma and Dimyri turned around to see Janette and Syri smiling at them from the entrance. Syri was grinning with an odd looking top held in her lips, and Janette was holding the short shorts and leg wear.

"You requested some clothes, so I've heard? At least, it's what Felix told us." Janette explained, handing Dimyri the gear.

Alma leaned in before frowning. "Those are mine."

"Ehhh, your son gave them to us!" Janette stuttered, "Bring it up with him."

Syri giggled before holding Dimyri's hands. "Put them on, I wanna see you wear clothes!"

"Alright alright, just give me some space." Dimyri smiled nervously, pulling on the wooden elf gear. "Uhh, how do I look?"

"Like the daughter I never had." Alma beamed, tussling Dimyri's hair.

"Quit." Dimyri giggled. "They do feel nice though, how do I put these on?"

"Like so." Alma did the honors, fitting and adjusting the shoes over Dimyri's feet. "There."

"Wow, wiggle your toes!" Syri asked.

"Syri, you can't see her toes." Janette pointed out.

"Oh, right." She giggled, admiring her sister's new look. "It looks great on you, sis!"

"Thanks." Dimyri blushed when Alma passed her bow to her. "Now?"

"Don't see why not." Alma turned over to Syri and Janette. "We can have one day for this. We shall move at sundown, oh and Syri?"

"Yes, Alma?"

"It's nice to see you again, be a dear and grab Zimi for me?"

"Sure thing!" Syri beamed, skipping with Janette following behind her.

"You two know each other?"

"Uh huh!" Syri giggled. "She's a family friend! Really funny, tells the best jokes."

"Who, Alma?"

"Yus, Alma! She's a riot! Has she told you the one about the Oni? It's hilarious!" Syri giggled, poking around. "Where's Zimi's tent? Is it this one, Auntie Z?"

Zimi opened up her tent, glancing over. "Yes dear?"

"Alma wants to speak with you!"

"Aaah, give us a moment yes?"

"A moment?" Syri tilted her head when Janette blushed and pulled her away. "Hey-"

"A moment is fine, take your time miss!"

Zimi beamed. "You're a doll, ta~ta!"

As she closed up her tent, Zimi spun around to find Nukka holding herself from giggling.

"That was close! Think they saw?"

"Perhaps, maybe not. Now where were we?" Zimi crawled over as Nukka laid on her back, grinning.

"You were saying how much you miss us."

"Ah yes, let me show you how much I've missed you." Zimi purred, leaning in for a kiss.