Love conquers All

"That doesn't make sense, why would a Hunter mate with a Monster? I thought the job description labeled other actions that are less romantic." Janette asked, gripping her book through her satchel.

Alma raised her shoulders slightly with closed eyes. "Who am I to say? Love is a strange thing, it turns a clean mind dirty toward obsession over one being."

"That's an awful way to look at it." Felix leaned back, feeling rather uncertain with the realization that he smelled like KuliKuli to other Monster Girls.

"It is also a scent which binds nations together and ends eternal conflict." Alma tapped her fingers against the wooden surface of her desk, brushing one of the half open scrolls displayed above. "Love can cause harmony as well as destruction, we cannot see it yet some dedicate their lives searching for it. Love just is... Love."

A moment of silence as everyone present in the tent stood in reminiscence of happier times. Nyitzcha sighed, waving her head with a subtle smile hidden in her.

"Over twenty years ago, my village suffered through a winter storm. The fog was so thick you could barely see your own hands. Just one step and your foot would sink beneath the blanket, one could not tell whether they stepped on land or frail icy waters. We had prepared for this, as was done previously in past winters, when this time our food supply was invaded by her."

"Her?" Felix asked.

"Emyri." Alma replied, selecting a dull used arrow and lifting it gently with her fingertips. "My husband had called for a Hunter to take care of her. Despite the uproar of our people demanding for blood, he requested that she be removed from the mountains and only that. He did not want death, only survival. But my husband was sick, he had been under a cold spell for some time now. And time has its means for achieving victory. Emyri was spared, the Hunter was sent after her, and that would be the last I would hear from her. I had not seen her myself for I was with the children teaching them how to hunt."

Nyitzcha messed around with the used canvas, turning her head and squinting at the incomplete painting before sitting down. "Train em while they're youn'."

Felix scratched his neck before asking, "So what happened next, how did you end becoming a refuge for these girls?"

"She came back, asked for medicine to treat the Hunter's illness. Came in during the storm, brave girl. Or stupid."

"Probably both." The dwarf chuckled.

"She was under my arrow, the slight twitch of my thumb would release it. Despite their agility, no Nekomata could evade a direct shot from such a close range. But, she remained persistent and quick with the tongue, pleaded for a way to heal her killer. I could not believe it when I realized it was the man we charged to remove her. The look in her eyes, that focus and determination, it was admirable to see a Monster chose to gamble her life to ensure anothers survival. I think we miss that. The pages label their mating as a corruption of ones soul, but their mates could not be happier. Strange, is it not?"

Janette crossed her arms. "That's the sort of thinking which left me labeled as an outcast, for thinking these Monsters aren't all that bad."

"Or diff'rnt."

"Or corrupt." Felix ended with. "And then what happened?"

"We made a deal, she offered their food supply and shelter in return for my medicinal equipment and knowledge. Although, I never managed to teach any of their kind aside from one. The girls have such short attention spans."

Janette giggled and covered her mouth, that did sound accurate to her Nekomata.

"NiNi, Nityri, she and her siblings contain two halves of each force, the dark and the pure half. This is a rare phenomenon, its capabilities are unknown to me."

"So what, does this mean the girls have powers or something?" Felix asked.

Janette shook her head. "They're Monster Girls, Monster Girls lack the potential for magic manipulation or casting. I think form shifting is all they can do. Well, unless Dimyri's thing counts..."

"Elaborate." Alma demanded.

"She can't change into her cat form thanks to a mark this hunter left on her. She's human, no claws or tails." Janette explained, wiggling her fingers for emphasis.

"Interesting... and to answer, no. This does not mean they have magic powers of godly porportions. It simply makes them a conductor for either arts of the like."

"Conductor?"

Alma sighed. "They can become vessels used to cast a magic spell or curse, either option is available due to their mixed essence. You are aware only beings of dark essence can use dark magic, just as how pure essence can use pure magic. Curses and spells, to make it simple."

"I'm aware." Janette chimed in. "I use to study that stuff! Until I realized I didn't have an affinity for it. You should only cause a couple of explosions before you realize it's a bad idea."

"Moving on, what's that have to do with the priest hunting them?" Felix asked.

"You do know that the tower is not just for display. He chose that place for a reason." Alma raised her brow, eyeing his indifferent response before clicking her tongue. "The tower was constructed for a bargain utilizing the manipulation of magic and it's most sacred law, giving and taking."

Analyzing all three empty stares, she shook her head while clutching her temples. "You lot know nothing of the sort. I will speak simple for you then, he is aiming to use the girls as conductors so that he may make a spell of enormous power come true, a magic wish so to speak."

"A wish, from that man?" Janette scoffed. "What wish would he wants?"

"You still don't understand. Dimyri, Nityri and Syri, they can be used as the power source for his goals. You've met him, yes? You know what he wants, the one thing he abhors most in this world, which he obsesses over and rambles on constantly about. What do you think he wants most?"

Felix locked eyes with Janette, figuring she had the same ugly guess as he did. "He can't do that... can he?"

"Magic is strong, and there have certainly been some amazing magic users in history but... never a spell that covers the world... right?"

Alma shrugged. "Perhaps not, but that remains his desire to fulfill. Should he accomplish capturing those girls, then we have already lost. I took in as many Nekomata girls as I could to repay Emyri for saving my own people, but I do not know of there whereabouts."

"Well, yer 'n luck." Nyitzcha mocked. "Dese lads 'll be sure to fill ye 'n!"

Upon her confusion, Alma looked to see both Felix and Janette sharing a red hue of shame over their faces. "What does she mean?"

"They may have... turned themselves in. All three of them." Felix admitted, feeling a huge spike sink into his core.

Alma flexed her hands, squeezing her eyes tight. "What?"

"He has them, he has the girls." Janette confirmed.

"That's terrible! We have to stop them at once!" Nukka shouted, sitting up straight. Looking around, they all stared at her with the male turning his eyes to look above her head. Nukka stood quiet for a second, puzzled by their reaction. "What? Did she hear bad? Is Nukka hearing whispers again?"

The Grizzly flinched as something tapped her cheek. Reaching up, she picked something off her head before carrying it in front of her, finding an irritated dwarf glaring back while in the Grizzly's paws.

"Put mey down." She ordered, her tiny feet landing as she grumbled and marched over beside Felix. Alma glared at the Grizzly until she took notice, pulling back and hanging her head down.

"Nukka, look at me." She shook her head, closing her eyes.

"Look at me Nukka, don't make me repeat myself."

Nukka hesitated before reaching up with her paws to hide her face. Seconds in, she lifted a claw in order to peak with her one eye staring nervously at the angry elf. Alma tapped her foot, arms crossed.

"Nukka, you know how I feel about eavesdropping. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"She's sorry." Nukka whispered, shivering lightly.

Alma sighed, unfolding her arms. "Is my son hiding behind you?"

"No?" A young voice whimpered back there. Nukka hid behind her paws once more as Spi'Reto poked from behind her. "Crud."

"This is why you're not ready, young man."

Spi'Reto felt his shoulders drop, his hands behind him as he nodded. "Sorry Mother. Also it was her idea."

"Nuuu, it was her idea!" Nukka pleaded, much to Spi'Reto's amusement.

"Enough, we've bigger things to be concerned over." Alma dismissed them, turning her attention back at the three. "If this is true, then we have lost."

"Just like that? Come on, Mom!"

"Spi, shush!"

"No he's right, we can't just give like that." Felix argued. "You didn't give in then, did you?"

"Excuse me?"

"What you said about before with Emyri, everyone wanted her dead. Except for your husband. He didn't want her killed, and he didn't give in to public pressure."

"T-That's right!" Janette stuttered, "What did you vote for?"

"I?" Alma turned her head. "I supported him, he was my husband. It was my obligation, my duty to love him."

"But when it was your turn, you let Emyri live as well. And look how that worked out?"

"That was to ensure my people's survival, what you're suggesting is a suicidal mission."

"But staying here, staying away might be suicidal too! What if he suceeds?"

"He already has-"

"Not yet. You did it for her to save your people. We're doing it to save them. Saving the others just makes the picture bigger." Felix admitted, feeling himself beginning to choke. "I get it, we're strangers but this is... this is bigger. It's real. I don't know what will happen, but... I know I can't live without trying. It's worth it. She's worth it."

Felix took a deep breath, feeling his palms going sweaty. He walked past Nukka, petting her fur and looking back at Alma. "Just think about it."

He left, leaving them silent. Alma didn't know what to say.

Nyitzcha chuckled. "Gotta say, lad has passion."

"Sure does." Janette agreed, choosing to walk away and follow his footsteps. Nyitzcha relented and followed behind them, with Nukka moving along on all fours.

Spi'Reto was polite, remaining quiet and closing the tent to give his mother some time to think. The choice is hers, just like before.

"He said some strange things." She said, gathering her thoughts.

"Well, you said love is a strange thing. He certainly sounds in love." Spi'Reto snickered, hoping to cheer her up.

Alma smiled, squeezing her sons hand. "Love conquers all."