Or so you thought, but Mienna...

The youth is pacing back and forth inside the treeline. A dozen steps forward and you would be on the crest of a hill looking down on the city of Frefington. So that left the question: "Why aren't we going down, Mienna? I thought you wanted to go there."

She snaps her head up to glare at you sharply. "That was before you did... THIS!" She points an accusatory finger at Skoll and Verita. The newborn is practicing walking--on two legs, and on four. Well, she's several steps past walking right now; currently Verita is coaching her through pouncing drills. Nearby flowers cowered and insects fled in fear for their lives.

"I don't see what you-" you begin to respond.

"They're wolves!"

"Yes... Adorable ones, too."

She lets out a groan of long-suffering. "Wolves don't just wander into human cities! How are we supposed to meet the NHCs and take quests with a monster following us?"

"NHCs?" you have to ask.

"Ugh! Really? The non-hero characters! The villagers that stay in cities and don't go on adventures or level up. The ones who have quests that they give us so we can gain XP and some equipment."

"Oh, I see! You came here looking for work!"

Mienna gives you a blank stare.

"You see," you continue, "I thought you just wanted to see more people again. Obviously you wouldn't be able to find them in the woods. And that last settlement was too small to have many kids your age, so by coming here I assumed you were looking for-"

"AAAAAGH!" Mienna cries in anguish. She looks pre-teen, but she can act full teen quite flawlessly.

Doffson waddles up to his sister and grabs her hand. "Mienna...sad? We do something bad?" he asks with pure innocence.

Mienna rubs her face with her other hand, then puts on a smile for him. "No, nothing like that. I think I actually did something bad. I forgot to tell you all what our plan is. Alright, everyone, listen up! You too, Verita. Skoll." Everyone moves closer to the young girl. "Obviously I'm trying to level up. And as a big sister should, I'm going to help you all level up, too. The first step isn't going out and finding monsters to fight; that's way too dangerous. What we're going to do is ask for gather quests! Lots of NHCs, particularly the craftsmen, are always looking for more materials. We're going to take on those requests and gather the materials. Then we bring them back, and as a reward we get some XP and gold, and maybe useful items."

"I see! So that's what your goal is!" you applaud your eldest daughter.

"Right. But! Wolves aren't exactly welcome in a human settlement! Everyone will be afraid of her, and heroes will attack her!"

"But Verita wouldn't hurt anybody. Right Verita?"

"[Any who attempts to lay a hand on my sister will know pain.]"

"See? She won't bother anyone!" you translate. Liberally.

"Do you think the heroes will stop and ask?! 'Oh, pardon me miss wolf, are you going to bite anyone?' Just seeing her will be enough!"

"Then...ride," Skoll chimes in softly.

"Hm?" you ask.

"Ride. Friendly."

It takes a second to unfold the meaning in those short phrases. "Oh! You mean if Mienna is riding atop of Verita, then people will know she's friendly!"

Skoll nods. Mienna frowns, but in a good way. It's a 'deep consideration' frown. "That...might work. People will believe she's a tamed monster, probably. But it still doesn't answer for Skoll. She's almost naked, and she's obviously part monster!"

"Actually, she's fully naked; the fur is just like your hair, and you told me that doesn't count as being clothed. And...well, I think she's fully monster, too, right?"

That was more than Mienna could think about right now. After trying to process it for a drawn-out silence, she shook her head. "Anyway! We need some way to clothe her!"

You sigh. Mienna and her fixation on clothing. Are all heroes like this? Doff had seemed quite happy to discard clothing--yours especially. "Alright. How about I wrap up Skoll in my clothes? And the first stop we'll make is to get her a dress."

Mienna begins to nod, but then she glances down at her little brother. Doffson is still wearing the blue dress the seamstress from the fishing village had given you. While he looks positively adorable in it, with the blue acting like a backdrop for his wonderful golden curls, you can read what Mienna's thinking on her face. "Let's get Doffson some trousers and a tunic, then give Skoll the dress."

"[That would be bad,]" Verita barks.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"[Dress limits mobility too much. Bindings already bad; recommend minimal restriction.]"

"Verita says the dress will hamper Skoll too much. Something that will be less restrictive would be good. Like...Oh! Like what those two young boys were wearing swimming!"

"THAT WAS UNDERWEAR!"

"Yes, that!"

Mienna groans. "No. That...Just no. Gosh, why don't the Filters...OH, SO JUST FOR ME!?! No, not just underwear! If it really has to be, we'll find shorts and a shirt. Anything else?"

"Um... How many people are in this city?"

"Thousands. So don't. Leave. My. Sight." Mienna ended each word like she was driving a nail into a coffin--on your procreative life.

"I'll be holding Skoll, remember? Can't take off all my clothes when I have to keep hers on."

"Mama!" Mienna cries, her cheeks burning.