Adjustments

"Come on now, kick dem legs! Swing yer arms, 'ave at it!"

Felix gasped and struggled moving his arms to keep in motion, but all he could see was water splashing into his sight. Whether he was swimming in the same direction was hopeful, he just kept doing as he was taught until his hands felt that smooth rocky edge at the other side of the riverbank. Several girls screamed and cheered him on, with Nyitzcha swimming toward him with a victorious grin. Felix panted, catching his breath and feeling like his chest was on fire.

"So... how was it?"

"Ye swim like a girl 'n yer kick yer legs weird, but ye manage for first day."

Felix frowned as Dimyri gently paddled with her hands arriving towards them, grinning as she touched the rocks as well. "I did it! I can swim!"

Alma shook her head. "I suppose this will do, it's not nearly as efficient but... "

She turned to look at her son. "Can you call for Zimi? She's missing the celebration, and reach out for Syri and her lover as well."

Spi'Reto nodded, climbing up over the ledge and receiving some giggles from the other cat girls. Felix glanced over and quickly averted his eyes when he noticed what caused the commotion, turning red. It didn't help when Alma approched him and leaned back against the ledge, her firm pointed breasts proudly in display as she spoke to him in a calm manner.

"We will need to discuss what happens now regarding this debacle we find ourselved in."

"I... " Nyitzcha smacked him on the back of his head, snapping Felix out of his trance. "Ahem! I-I guess so, I mean wait didn't we already have a vote?"

Alma nodded, cupping some water in her hands to rinse her head. "Indeed, did you ignore their worries and doubts? Most of our people aren't too fond nor eager for combat."

Dimyri heard this and turned around, wiggling and losing control for a brief second before figuring how to stay afloat again. "We don't need everyone to fight, just the ones that are most important. I can help, I've been inside that place."

"Zimi has been there the longest, we can use her memory to chart an idea of the interior." Alma raised a point, washing her hair with gentle motions.

"Yea, but I know where they kept Mom and the others! And I'm the only one who can step inside without losing their mind." Dimyri mentioned, getting puzzled reactions from everyone. "I-In the building past the front doors there is this big pink rock, it glows whenever my family and I got close. It does something, it makes your body numb and you become mindless."

"Susceptible to commands." Alma added, her expression turning serious. "Describe this stone to me."

"It's not a stone, it's like this big clump of small gems and the effect passes through each one."

"That sounds like the weird rock those girls wore in their collars." Felix mentioned, much to Alma's surprise.

Dimyri slapped the current, creating a splash. "Exactly! Exactly like that, he used one of those to turn my Mom."

Several Nekomata's gasped as Alma's eyes grew. "They turned Emyri, what does that mean?"

Even Nyitzcha was rather clueless, listening as Felix stuttered to explain.

"A week ago Perdilius sent some Nekomata's after us."

"To find your trail and take him to you?" Alma asked.

"Yes, and these girls were wearing these weird collars. They had this pink gem that was glowing, and there eyes were glowing in that same color."

Alma turned away, crossing her arms and concentrating.

"It's like he can manipulate them to do what he wants."

"Not manipulation, complete submission." Alma corrected him, turning to face them. "What you're describing is an ancient relic, a stone used for conducting magic spells or potions."

"Yea but this had no effect on me." Dimyri added.

"Then this only effects Nekomata's, which leaves us at a strong disadvantage. This is worse then I thought." Alma swallowed heavily. "Nekomata's are gentle, curious creatures but they have an acute sense of smell and provide great sight in the dark. They are known to climb even the smoothest surfaces, and they are very territorial. If he is using them for protection... then we need to adjust strategy."

Alma looked up instantly, staring past Felix and locking onto Dimyri. "You girls have to run, we don't have the means to fight back at this rate. Especially with your mother on his side."

"What? No we can't, we have to fight back and stop him!" Dimyri replied.

"We need to rescue the Nekomata's and anyone else he has under his thumb." Felix spoke up, stepping back with Dimyri. "We have to find KuliKuli and the others."

"I made Emyri a promise to look after her people, to ensure their safety at all costs. I am not sure I can do that anymore." Alma's eyes were big and she had begun to stutter, it was no shock that the other girls began to grow nervous from this display. "This is beyond me, beyond us."

"So you're giving up!?" Dimyri asked.

Alma looked up. "This isn't a fight we can win."

"We have to! You said we have Zimi to help, why don't we discuss this with Aunt Zimi? Maybe Janette and Syri have something to add as well." Dimyri crossed her arms, determined to persuade her teacher. Alma remained concerned but closed her eyes and sighed, shaking her head.

"Fair, we can call the others and request for their perspective. I still suggest otherwise."

"We will take it to consideration, but I want their opinions first." Dimyri answered back. Alma rolled her eyes and climbed out from the riverbank, walking with a nice sway to her hips.

"Where is she going?" Felix asked, staring at her ass bounce with each step. Nyitzcha growled and her arm moved behind him, making him jump slighlty and immediately turn to her. She locked eyes with him and made it clear. "Sorry."

Nyitzcha grumbled and hugged his arm, snapping at the other cat girls looking his way. They quickly averted their gaze, whistling and pretending to play in the water. "Argh, so wha' now?"

"Now... I don't know." Dimyri sighed, watching Nyitzcha cup her hands together to wash her hair and face. Raising her eyebrow, Dimyri stared at her own hands and flexed her fingers. She watched Nyitzcha scoop more water to rub her arms and chest clean, the cursed Nekomata silently taking visual notes of this dwarfs actions. Pressing her hands together, she bit her tongue as she awkwardly wiggled her fingers around, trying to form a cup with them when she felt her thumb snap.

"Oh gods!" She screamed, catching the others by surprise.

"What, what's wrong?" Felix asked.

"I-I-I don't know, I think I broke something." Dimyri stuttered, flexing her fingers when one of them snapped. "Aah! I broke them again!!"

Nyitzcha leaned back to give a mighty roar, laughing to her hearts content. Dimyri looked lost, why was she finding joy in her pain? Felix reached in and held her hands to study them.

"I think you popped your fingers." He chuckled.

"What is that, is that bad? Are they broken?"

"No haha, it's like stretching. All you did was relieve the stress inside them. Look, do it again."

"I don't know how."

"Just do what you did before." Felix watched as Dimyri frowned and flexed her fingers as two more of them made a soft popping sound. "How's it feel?"

"Weird."

"Ay, but dey feel good ay?" Nyitzcha beamed.

Dimyri stared at her fingers, slowly beginning to laugh herself. "I guess they do haha, so they're not broken? I-I thought you guys had weak bodies."

Felix shook his head.

"We're not that weak, sure we're fragile but we can be capable too."

"Wow." Dimyri looked up to catch Felix cup his hands to wash himself. With a look of determination, she pressed her hands and mimicked his formation before dipping her hands underwater and successfully scooping some out in her palms. "Whoa, I did it!"

"Did what?"

"This! I-I did this, I can hold water!" The other girls watched in awe, some of them leaning in fir a closer look as Dimyri showed them her cupped hands. "Look, look! I can hold water now!"

They smiled and began to gather around, asking her to do it again. Felix watched with a growing smile as Nyitzcha squeezed his arm and leaned in.

"Ye think she discovered gold er somethin' like dat."

Felix shrugged. "Maybe to them, it is gold."