Intrusion

Emyri wiggled her ears, lifting herself up on all fours and stretching her limbs and tails. Her claws flexed and her fur stood on end momentarily as she went through her morning routine. Looking out the window, she could make out some birds singing happily, something that caught her attention. She squinted and took notice of a birds nest filled with tiny little ones chirping about as their mother returned with food to give. It was sudden and a perfect capture, and she found herself opening the window and leaning out to watch.

It brought a smile to her, even if only for a second, as the sight and sounds helped her forget the predicament they were in.

Knock-knock-knock!

"Come in!"

Felix opened the door before looking away and pushing behind the two women behind him, leaving Reta in front facing a nude mother leaning on the window sill with her ass presented to them and her tails wagging up high. KuliKuli looked over Reta's shoulder and giggled.

"Good morning! Is that my Nityri behind you?" Her face lit up as she turned to them with a wide smile. "Oh my gosh, I was so worried!"

Reta groaned and stepped aside to give the mother and daughter room to hug. KuliKuli gave a nervous chuckle and hugged her back, still feeling hesitant with a look of uncertainty and discomfort on her.

Emyrir noticed that as soon as they pulled away. "What's wrong? Are you sad?"

"No I'm just... sorry. Still getting used to this... " She replied, rubbing her arm behind her back.

"It's not the nudity is it?"

"No, you're fine! I'm used to being naked anyway."

Emyri smiled. "You always were a free spirit. I was asking because your boyfriend seemed to-"

"Alright alright, we need to talk about something!" Felix shouted, interrupting them and bringing their main intention back to focus. Reta took her cue and stepped forward, catching the mother's eyes.

"Yea, we need to talk. Why is every time we mention the hunter you tend to look away?"

Emyri raised an eye, her tails freezing in place. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you and Na'Vi look like you're sharing a secret and I don't like it."

"You mean we." Felix added.

"Yea but mostly me." She waved her hand away, her eyes never leaving her prey. "How long were you girls stalking us?"

"Excuse me?"

"You were watching us before, somehow you tracked KuliKuli down but you didn't grab her attention right away. Why is that?"

Emyri stepped back as Reta moved in closer, something which made even KuliKuli feel uneasy. She glanced over at Felix who shared the same look of concern with her.

"Well I-"

"Furthermore, you also had Na'Vi come up and attack Janette when she was left alone in the house. So you girls do have a sense of strategy, yet last night you weren't of any help."

"I was trying to find my daughter, what are you trying to say?"

"I already said it, but I'll say it again if you're having trouble remembering. I don't trust you or your little friend."

Syri and Janette stepped out from their room, following the noise down the hall. Upon poking her head in, her eyes grew wide at the sight of the mean girl cornering mom.

"Hey, get back from her!" She shouted, rushing in between the two. Emyri held her daughter's arm with her tail but Syri refused to move.

Janette glanced over the situation, reading worried looks from KuliKuli and Felix. Reta meanwhile was not amused.

"Cute, run up and protect your mommy why don't you? She's a big girl, let her defend herself-"

"Hey you do not talk to my mom like that!" Syri hissed back, showing her fangs. "I don't care if your big and scary."

"Oh, so I'm scary to you huh? Good, just because I don't have fangs right now doesn't mean I can't bite back."

"Reta," Janette began.

"Syri, it's okay. Mommy is fine, we were just having a casual talk, right?" She asked, gently attempting to pull her daughter aside.

Reta scoffed. "Yea, sure. Adults are talking."

"Okay, that's enough!" Janette stormed in, pulling Reta and Syri apart by the ear. Syri squealed whilst Reta winced before each girl backed off to their opposite corner. "No fighting in my house, you made a big enough mess the last time and the windows still haven't been replaced yet. What the hell is going on?"

As soon as everyone began to speak up, Janette closed her eyes and breathed in before whistling out loud to drown the noise.

"One at a time! You!" She directed her eyes at Reta. "What's the problem here?"

"The problem is, these cats aren't being honest with us. Really, a diversion? I doubt your sense of smell is that bad."

Emyri frowned whilst Syri hissed back. "We were following a lead! You really think Mom would want Dimyri to be taken away? That hunter is after US, remember?"

"Alright, why? What did you girls do huh? Why is that guy so obsessed with finding you." Reta looked over at Emyri. "And why do you avoid the topic when we bring him up? Doesn't make a lot of sense, that's why you came here right? You wanted our help-"

Emyri looked away. "We thought you had Nityri captive-"

"Why? What gave you that impression?"

"Because... because we lost her and we were worried for her. I-I assumed the worst, motherly instincts. I misread the situation." She explained, her posture becoming more upset as her tails slid down.

Reta kept her gaze fixated on her, thinking something over before turning around. "Kuli, tell her what you saw."

KuliKuli's ears flared up as she stared back in sudden shock. Reta raised her hand as to give the go-ahead. Looking around before directing her eyes to the floor, KuliKuli cleared her throat and stepped forward. "I spoke with him when we met. He knows who I am, and he said he would leave us alone if we don't go after him. Something about willing to be punished out of respect for me. He could have killed me... but he didn't. I think I used to know him before, and we believe you know more than you tell us."

Syri looked over at KuliKuli. "We're not hiding anything, we went looking for you. I would stay up nights looking for you, why don't you believe us?"

KuliKuli looked back at her, feeling herself hurting inside as her sister spoke in a shaky voice. "I'm sorry, I really am. I know you guys looked everywhere for me, but... I wasn't lost. You guys thought I was kidnapped."

"Because we saw you with him."

"Is it that right, or is there something else to it, Mom?" All eyes looked over at Felix, even Janette was quiet. He was the only person behind them, standing at the doorway and listening. Now that he had their attention, he approached Janette and raised an empty open book in front of her and Emyri with the other girls watching. "It didn't work when we used her second name, so we had to use the first one. Well, according to Reta anyways, but you're here too so you can read for us. Why did Nityri leave?"

Everyone looked down into the blank page as ink began to form.

SHE WAS AFRAID

"She was afraid." Janette read out loud.

Felix continued. "Why was she afraid?"

Emyri held her breath.

FOR WHAT SHE HAD DONE

"For what she had done."

"And what did she-"

"Stop." Emyri looked down, feeling defeated as all eyes were now on her. "Please, don't ask that. I'll talk, just... not like this." She looked at a confused Syri. "I'm sorry baby, I really am. I haven't been fully honest with all of you. But I don't know when the right moment is. I'm sorry."