Find the archer.

While the road from the gates is nothing but dirt, it's been used often enough to be compact and smooth, albeit with the odd hole that would cause a carriage to bounce. It could be a lot worse all things considered, with you living so far out in the middle of nowhere. Up in these mountains, one can find all manner of wild animals and ferocious monsters, from ogres to trolls to goblins to more, yet you wander now in your casual garb, armed with a sword yet no armour, and you don't feel fear for what lurks about. Granted, you've notice that dangerous beasts are rarely spotted in this area. Their instincts must recognize the danger of Castle Phoenix. Either way, you continue to walk as you stare off into the sky.

It doesn't take long to spot a figure ahead, and you were right on the money. A feline silhouette stands proudly--balanced perfectly--on a single bolder right at the ledge of a cliff dropping down into a sea of trees. Her ears twitch, and she slowly turns her silver gaze to meet your own. She's dressed as she often is, with her one-piece-swimsuit-esque ninja attire, with the cloth normally around her neck pulled up to cover her mouth and nose. Her pure white hair blows in the wind as she stands still, unmoved by the weather around her, like a true shinobi master.

"This is yours, I presume," you say as you approach, and you hold the arrow and scroll out for her to see.

Snow nods. With one quick movement, she hops down to the dirt and takes the arrow in her hand. "Indeed," she says behind the covering of her mask. After sliding the arrow into her quiver, she tugs the covering down from her face and allows it to drop back down around her neck. There's a smile present. "Thank you for joining me."

"Is anything the matter?"

She looks away shyly now. After a moment, she regains the courage to look back to you and speak. "No. I apologize if I worried you. This was just... the only way I knew how to ask."

"To spend time together?"

She nods again.

"Always lurking in the shadows, huh?" You look at her with a smile of your own. Then, you offer a hand out. There's nothing in it this time. You leave your palm up and look at her deeply in the eyes. "But you don't have to."

Snow swallows hard before placing her gentle, soft hand upon your own. "It's fine. I don't mind," she replies.

You firmly hold her hand and chuckle. "Wanna know something weird about the world I'm from?"

For whatever reason, as much as she's now blushing further, your words have caused her smile to grow. "All right."

"Cat girls are the most common fantasy. Even more than elf girls. Where I'm from, you see them in multiple cultures. They appear so often in everything. Basically, if you joined me back on Earth, you'd be very popular."

Snow giggles as she turns her attention over the cliff. "Stop. You're teasing me."

"It's true!" You release her hand, though you remain beside her and follow her gaze. "Can I ask you something then?"

"Of course."

"How is it you came into Dajy's debt to begin with? I remember you saying she saved you, but I don't really know the story."

"Ah. Of course. I don't mind telling the tale, if you care to listen."

"Naturally I want to listen," you say. Then you squat down before sitting right down on the grassy soil.

She pulls her hair back, running her fingers back through, as she looks to you with pink cheeks. Then she sits down right beside you, and not just that, but so close that you're already touching. There's certainly a lot of room up here on the cliff, though it seems she's made her choice. Her hair is soft, which you feel brush against your cheek as the wind picks up, and you can feel her tail occasionally thump against your back as it idly wags. "But are you warm enough?" she asks.

"Are you?"

After a moment, she responds with a lie. "No."

Then you wrap your arm around her and keep her snug. "Then let's hear the story now."