A dull thump echoed somewhere in the distance, but Sora didn’t care. She was watching the dream-induced live drama and romance in-action. Popcorn in hand and hidden from their view, her meddling had left them both unsure if this was fantasy or not. The trap was set!
Her cute, playful, not-at-all-like her usual anxiety-ridden mother was on a date with her future ‘hubby,’ and it made her tail wag with each chess move the disguised fox and her dad made against each other in the New York café.
So, this is how you act when you’re all alone and left free to curl your tails around Dad, huh, Mom?
Sora leaned back in her seat, fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her coffee cup as she watched her dad, in the middle of giving the waitress’ his signature disarming smiles that got a light pout he totally didn’t notice from the ruby-haired woman on his arm.
“You know,” her mom began, pulling his attention away from the brunette to give him a mischievous grin to capture her father, “you kind of remind me of cherry pie with that hair,” she whispered, boldly reaching up to brush her hand through his feathery locks.
He blinked, clearly not expecting that, his deep voice floating across the café like the hum of a bass guitar. “Oh, yeah?” He leaned in, his arms resting casually on the table, curiosity and amusement sparking in his forest-green eyes. “Should I be flattered or worried?”
“Maybe.”
Really, Mom! Sora snickered to herself, floating above them while leaning left and right to the rhythm of the music in the shop. I know this is the first date after ‘bumping into each other’ in the states since Japan, but c’mon!
Her dad swiveled his chair to the side to give her a thoughtful smirk, no doubt thinking about their previous encounters half a world away. “Is this the moment you lie about never trying one? Because if so, you’ll have to bring your own fork because I won’t provide one.”
Dad! What are you even saying—what’s the fork mean?!
Mia tilted her head, her long fiery locks spilling over her shoulder as she tapped her chin in thought. “Definitely flattered, and I’ve had plenty of hot cherry pies,” she subtly shifted closer to press her knee against his. “You know, sweet but a little tart, a mix of flavors that’s…hard to resist in summer.”
Her dad chuckled, shaking his head as he took a sip of his coffee, swiveling away to break leg contact and making Sora gasp, yet he never broke eye contact with the alluring, disguised fox.
“Sweet but tart, huh? That’s a dangerous combination. But if I’m a hot cherry pie, does that mean you’re the vanilla ice cream melting all over me? ‘Cause I don’t mind getting messy.” His voice dropped just slightly, playful, teasing, as his lips curled into a grin that made her stomach do a little flip.
Dad?!
Sora’s chest from the lack of oxygen but she couldn’t breath as she leaned in closer as her mother laughed, covering her mouth with her hand as she leaned forward, legs crossing to tap the side of his leg again, eyes sparkling.
“That’s bold of you to assume you’re worth the extra topping,” she teased, but her tone was light, flirtatious, enjoying how easy it was to banter with him, and Sora was here for the exchange.
Her dad raised an eyebrow, leaning even closer across the small table, his face mere inches from hers now and making Sora’s heart stop. “If you thought Japan had extra topics, oh, trust me, I haven’t shown you what’s in the back. I’ve been told I’ve got that perfect balance of flaky crust and gooey filling. Cherry is a favorite, after all.”
It was her mother’s turn to pull away, rolling her eyes, but her smile widened, and Sora could see her heart doing that annoying fluttery thing it did whenever he got close like this—he’d gotten the fox to retreat!
“Gooey filling, huh? More like full of hot air.” She winked, and his laugh was deep, resonant, the kind of laugh that felt like it belonged to someone who knew exactly how to enjoy life.
He smirked, eyes flicking down to her lips briefly before meeting her gaze again. “And yet, you keep coming back for more, Miss Vanilla Ice Cream. What does that say about you?”
Mia playfully poked his chest. “It says I’m the one making you taste better. Without me, you’re just… pie. With me? Perfection.”
Ooooh! Nice one, Mom! What is this flirting?
Jarlath’s grin turned sly as he brushed his fingers against hers on the table, sending a tiny jolt through her. “Guess that makes us the perfect combo then, huh? You, me, cherry pie à la mode. But hey—” he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin, “—how about you stop teasing me and we grab an actual dessert after this? Let’s see if I can live up to the hype.”
Sora’s face went bright red, but her mother didn’t back down, making her lean closer.
“Bold move, Jarlath,” she murmured, her voice low, drawing him closer. “Careful what you wish for. I might just hold you to that.”
He leaned back in his chair, his young eyes gleaming with challenge. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”
She sighed as her father was the one to string her along, or maybe her mother allowed him to pull the strings. He brought the chase back to the streets, her mother trapping his arm against her body on the way out.
And I thought you were always working back then, Dad. When did you ever have time for something like this? How much does he long to see her like this again? Happy. Whole… Free. I want her not to worry about me…but I know that’s impossible.
She couldn’t help but marvel at the way her mother flicked her hidden, long vulpine ears, teasing her dad like she hadn’t a worry in the world with her swaying tails. It was weird, seeing her like this—relaxed, confident, foxy.
Her mom was wearing a casual red summer dress that complemented her pale complexion and the rich red tone of her tails that he couldn’t see. There was an ease in the way she moved, a grace that was enchanting. Her dad was grinning like he was seeing this side of her for the first time.
Man, why isn’t she always like this? Then again, she’s juggling so much, and this was probably just a glimpse of what she could have been—what she was, underneath everything else. She leaned on her elbow, smirking as her mom subtly manipulated the electronics, making things float and serve themselves like it was second nature. She never even touched her phone.
The thumping sound came again, louder this time, but she dismissed it, choosing instead to focus on the scene in front of her. Why bother with some noise when I’ve got front-row seats to the best show ever? The romance of her parents.
But then, a sharp, stinging pain shot through her right ear, and she yelped, jerking up with a start. Her room came into a blurry view, her hand shooting up to her ear, feeling the burn and rubbing the sore spot as her eyes watered from the sudden sting.
Scanning for danger, still groggy from the dream, her gaze fell on one, split-tailed cat—Nilly—sitting smugly at the edge of her bed.
“Did you seriously bite my ear?” Sora winced, her voice croaky from sleep as she gingerly touched the smarting spot again, shooting the mother of all cats an incredulous look. “What?”
Nilly’s pointed tail flick toward the door, making Sora growl. She cocked her ear, and sure enough, she could hear a low grumble from beyond the door from a certain disgruntled wolf. Muttering something about a lazy fox while heading downstairs.
“Lazy fox sleeps forever…”
“Ugh, she’s going to think I’m avoiding her on purpose.” Sora groaned, pushing the covers off her legs and almost tripping on her sheets in the process. She glared at Nilly, who was now grooming herself with slow, deliberate strokes.
I get it—she was knocking—but you didn’t have to bite me!
“Thanks, Nilly,” she mumbled sarcastically, rubbing her ear one last time as she padded across the room to the door, her legs still wobbly from sleep.
Sora yanked it open, her heart still hammering from being jolted awake, and jogged to the railing. Down below, she spotted Kari just as she was about to head into the hallway.
“Kari!” Sora called out, leaning over the railing. The wolf girl stopped, turning her head slightly to look up at her.
“Mmm?”
Her usual jogging gear was on—shorts, a sports bra, her thick dark hair tied back in a high ponytail that swung with every movement. Sora noticed how calm she seemed, no usual scowl, no hint of the brooding atmosphere that usually hung around her.
“Did you knock?” Sora asked, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, her voice a little groggy.
Kari shrugged, glancing to the still-dark skies of Miami as if it was no big deal. “I was going for a run. Thought maybe you’d want to join, but it’s fine.”
Oh…is that’s what this is about. Sora’s heart rate began to settle as she pieced it together and a small smile broke across her face. Kari wants someone to talk to, but of course, she’s not going to come out and say it. Hopeless. The wolf who wants company but will never admit it outright.
“I’ll come—don’t go blowing me off,” Sora said, stretching her arms up and yawning while glancing down at her pajamas. “Just give me a sec. I need—eek!”
Before Kari could respond, Sora felt a tug at her waist as someone embraced her from behind, pulling her into a tight hug.
“Nilly?!”
“I wanna join the friend club!” Spinning around, she saw the cat—now in her 16-year-old form, her bright eyes twinkling with excitement, a gold earring in each twitching cat ear, one having an extra ring attached to it. The biggest change, she wasn’t talking in 3rd person. “Can I come?”
Her enthusiasm caught Sora off guard, and she stared for a moment at the cat girl, inches away from her face with her thin arms wrapped around her.
“Uh... sure? You can join if you want.” Sora shrugged, still not fully awake, her mind whirling as she tried to keep up with the sudden shift in the morning.
Nilly cheered, bouncing a little on her feet before letting go and spinning away, and Sora couldn’t help but grin at the new development. The cat now sported a tank top, little, high-waisted shorts, and running shoes.
But Sora’s eyes soon shifted to Kari. “Eh, is that okay, Kari?”
Kari grunted, not looking particularly enthused. “Not like the Cat Mother needs our permission for anything,” she muttered under her breath, her arms crossed as she glanced away.
Sora forced a laugh. “That’s true.”
Nilly’s ears flicked back, a rare shyness creeping into her normally erratic cadence. “I don’t have to go…” she mumbled, looking down at her feet. “I just thought it’d be fun, you know? It’s rare I get to be myself like this…”
Her voice softened, her split red-tipped tails slowly curling around her legs like a protective barrier. “That’s why I like hanging around you and Wendy.”
Sora backed into the railing to get a better view of the Chinese girl, fingers combing back her somewhat wild copper hair. There were a few things that immediately stood out to her—the cat’s teeth were normal, not fanged, her nails were clipped and painted to match her eyes, and she was curled in, waiting for judgment.
Hanging around Wendy and I…stabilizes her? Maybe it’s Dad’s side. Huh. That’s something to file away. She’s trying to fit in. Well, I guess this is a new version of Nilly. I’m not against it!
“Of course, I’d be happy to have you around,” she said with a smile, giving her a thumbs up that made the feline’s ears rise. “Oh, Kari, can you wait for a sec so I can fix my hair and, you know, throw on something that isn’t pink-striped pajamas?”
Leaning against a couch, looking indifferent, Kari let out a low grunt. “If you’re not back in five minutes, I’m leaving.”
Sora rolled her eyes. “Five minutes? You’re giving me too much time,” she teased, jogging towards her closet. “Make it two!”
“Fine. Two.”
She almost tripped, Nilly giggled from behind her. “Wait, I was joking—hey, you can’t change the time! That’s cheating!” Sora shot back with a laugh.
She won’t leave me… Probably won’t.
As Sora ducked into her room, Nilly trailing her, she heard the light thump of Nilly plop down on her bed, the cat’s playful energy returning a bit.
“Would you really want a homeless cat to come shopping and to school with you?” Nilly asked with a soft, curious purr. “I’m not exactly the nicest kitty around, you know. People…they, umm, get scared of me. I can’t always be sure I’ll be friendly. Sometimes I’m…not. You know that, though. You’re different from the others, though. You bring out something better in me. Franky said that’s a good thing.”
Sora paused, shorts in hand. She turned to lean out to find the cat playing with a pillow, tossing it up and down. “Franky? You mean Frankenstein? Like, the one who helped Mom and Dad when I was born?”
Nilly’s tail swished lazily between her legs, swapping between using it to toss the pillow up and her hands. “One and the same. He’s surprised in a lot of ways by you, Sora. Anyway, yeah, this is the first time I’ve been able to be a teenager in a long, long while—this version of me. Being a teenager again is nice… I didn’t think I’d get to relive this part of my life.”
A soft smile tugged at Sora’s lips as she pulled the shorts on and found a good sports bra that matched. “I’d love to get to know all the versions of you. I’m pretty sure you can be good even when you’re bad.” She moved to the mirror to do a rush job on tying her hair into a high ponytail, mimicking Kari’s practical style. It felt right—out of her face, ready for action.
Nilly looked doubtful but her eyes softened as she reappeared, motioning her toward the door. “That’s nice of you to say…but usually when I start talking in the third person, it means I’m not exactly, mmm…stable. Things blur, get messy. It’s hard to keep track when you’ve lived this long. Oh, by the way, Eyia snuck out earlier to train.”
Sora snorted. “Not surprised. She’s going through a rough time with Jin, trying to figure things out.” She paused at the door and jogged back into the closet to grab her sneakers to slip them on. “Oops. Uh… C’mon, we should get downstairs before Kari gets too antsy and decides to leave us—not that she would!” she yelled, knowing Noelia’s spell would silence it for those sleeping.
“Keep thinking that, fox.”
Nilly’s look said it all—they both knew she was all bark—but Sora could only laugh internally at that unspoken truth. Kari was such a softy.
As they headed out, Sora grinned at Kari and held her arms open. “Almost two minutes!”
“Someone can’t tell time,” the wolf snorted, pushing herself away from the couch. “How long until the cat disappears? And where did her bell go?”
Nilly blinked and looked down at her ankle. “Huh. It is gone. Weird. I don’t even know! Isn’t that silly?” she asked, finding her hands behind her back and doing a once over of her appearance. “I don’t even know where I got these clothes. I’m just…here. Aren’t I crazy?” she asked with a strained smile, clearly self-conscious about a part of herself she didn’t understand.
Sora glanced over the Nekomata, curiosity getting the best of her as they slowly made their way to the elevator. “No need to sweat it. Hey, so, what do you remember in your ‘stable’ form? Is it kind of like my mom? We haven’t really had a chance to talk much about what happened with Ylva. You know, since Kari’s…aunt? Niece? Whatever she is.”
Nilly shrugged, her tails weaving thoughtfully behind her while looking out at the light barely beginning to peek over the horizon in the giant windows. She adjusted a delicate Chinese hairpin that held her bun in place, her posture relaxed but her tone saying, ‘I’m not entirely here.’
“Not much, really. I’m still piecing together the more recent stuff. As for Ylva, she’s just doing her thing—building her den, home decorating a realm, stuff like that. If you want to visit, there’s a way to get there through your realm, Sora.”
Sora blinked at the casual comment, causing Kari and her to halt just before the elevator. “Wait—there’s a way to Ylva’s place from my realm?”
Nilly gave her a sideways glance, cupping her chin. “Mhm. You’ve got privileges in vulpes territory, remember?”
Before Sora could react to that, Kari’s gaze locked onto the cat. “Can we really see Ylva—now?” Kari’s voice was steady, but there was a tension underneath it, a hint of something unsaid that was bubbling to the surface.
Well, there goes our morning run!
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Nilly tilted her head slightly the opposite way. “Uh-huh. Yeah, I could guide you to the right spot, but it’s up to Sora to create the gateway. No promises that Ylva will actually want to talk, though. She’s, eh, old school?” She giggled. “I feel funny saying that.”
Kari’s uncertainty flickered, her amber eyes glancing away for a moment. Sora could see she was about to turn it down and got ahead of it, cutting in with optimism.
“I think it’d be great to check up on her! You’d be okay showing us, right?”
Nilly’s smile widened, showing perfect human teeth and not her terrifying fangs while scratching her ear with one delicate fingernail.
“Sure. I’ve got several hours before someone tries to drag me off. But I can’t stay a teenager forever. You know how it is—pretty popular being the supposedly dead First Generation Founder of the Cats, but not always for the nicest reasons. Right now, I’m kinda hiding. I wonder if Githa will find me? Hmm. There’s this crazy umbrella lady who might try to kidnap me for a bit, too. It’s hard to resist pawing her braids and ribbons sometimes… Cat problems,” she helplessly mumbled.
Sora groaned. “The Herald of Sakura?”
Nilly nodded. “Yup. She’s actually pretty fun if you like riddles and battling sardines, but…yeah, she might make things complicated and poke my butt to do something.”
Sora waved it off. “We’ll play it by ear! Let’s just go with the flow.”
Nilly’s smile widened. “I like that. Feels good to do something helpful. Ylva might appreciate some company, too. Kari, you okay with all this? Ylva’s pretty blunt but she’s kind…sorta. Depends on who’s talking to her. She’s a tough pup…grandpa? Both?”
Kari crossed her arms, brow furrowed but finally relenting. “Whatever. I’d like to ask Ylva a few things. Privately,” she said with a pointed stare.
“Sounds like a plan, then!” Sora grinned, pressing the button to open the elevator door as they headed out for their short jog to the link spot. She shot Nilly a playful look. “How long can you stay a teenager, anyway? You said someone might get you in several hours but…”
Nilly chewed her lip while leaning against the mirror, inspecting her hair again. “Yeah, about that, several hours, give or take, before people start hunting me down and the instability strikes again. You know how it is.”
No, I do not but that’s okay!
As they jogged out onto the path of her private realm, they entered the early morning light of the celestial visage of her own world. Sora took in the surroundings—shadows cast long from the early sun, the air cool but hinting at the warmth of the day ahead.
Nilly’s energy felt calm but still anxious and energetic; she could actually feel it, like an equal, which probably had something to do with her resonating with Wendy and her somehow. Kari moved with her usual determined grace, deep in her thoughts.
“So, Nilly…” Sora said, catching her breath slightly and feeling pretty good with their pace, “what do you remember in this stable form? Like, with Ylva? What’s been going on since you escorted her out of fenris territory?”
Nilly’s tails swayed lazily as she jogged, her voice casual and not stressed in the least, guiding them to the west, beyond Stephanie and Ron’s cottage, not that they lived there anymore after taking a hotel floor.
“She’s still setting up her den,” Nilly chimed, beginning to do more acrobatics and impressing Sora, “doing her thing. Oh, over here! It’s a little off the beaten path, but nothing too crazy.”
Nilly led the way with her infectious enthusiasm, her boundless energy punctuating every bounce in her step as she told stories about battling sardines—real sardines! At least, in her mind they all looked like sardines. Then, the endless battle of the swords, axes, and shields came out of nowhere, chopping up the sardines. Fire exploded around everywhere with a giant sun, and then the mist and maelstrom pulled in the sardines.
Sora couldn’t help but chuckle as they neared the border of her realm while listening to the cat’s insane tale. Yet, their talk came to a halt when the scenery gave way to the towering, vibrant trees that marked the entrance to the strange, colorful forest on the western half of her giant valley realm.
Each tree seemed to glow faintly, pulsing with hues of deep green, teal, and amethyst as if nature itself was enchanted—alive with energy, like something out of a fairy tale. The air grew thick with magic, and Sora’s senses buzzed with the surge of power.
She glanced at Kari, who remained quietly focused beside her. The wolf girl’s face was etched with the same stoic expression she always wore when brooding, but there was a tension in her amber eyes that hadn’t been there before.
Hmm. How can I brighten her mood? Kari’s got something on her mind and I doubt she’ll say it with Nilly here. Still, the fact Nilly showed up now, providing a way forward for us to talk to Ylva—someone in Kari’s extended family—it doesn’t feel…random.
Her thoughts returned to the big, handsome man who had offered her clothes after Kari’s gang stripped her and made her walk home in only a towel. Frank… Could that have been Frankenstein? Is he planning all of this behind the scenes? I’ll have to ask Mom.
Nilly’s ears flicked back as they slowed to a halt in front of an enormous tree, its trunk wide enough to encompass an entire house. The bark shimmered like polished obsidian in the dappled sunlight, and the canopy above them stretched far into the sky, its branches twisting and interlocking like the latticework of some grand cathedral.
“This,” Nilly said, turning to face them with a mischievous grin, “is the branching point.”
Sora tilted her head, squinting up at the tree as her mind returned to the present. “Branching point. Right… Which is?” she asked as Kari put her hand on her hip, her scowl back in place and making Nilly’s ears fall back.
“You…don’t know? Right. Uh, how do I explain this?” Nilly chirped, pointing at the tree’s base and pushing on with a small smile as they followed her gestures. “This is where dimensional energies converge. It can link to a bunch of different places if you know how to use it. But once it’s set? Well, you can’t really change it—so you find another one of these kittens to make a new one.” She gave the tree a playful pat, her split tails swishing in excitement. “Get it?”
Kari’s eyes narrowed slightly, her tone cautious. “And what happens if she doesn’t accept the connection? I’m guessing this isn’t one-sided.”
“Good guess!” Nilly shrugged. “Simple. Then it’s like you’ve connected to a locked door. Unless Ylva opens her side, there’s no getting in. But hey, that’s the fun part! Knock-knock! Who’s there? Nilly, looking for treats! Get outta here, you split-tailed cat! Hssss! I’ll curse you a thousand million years! Says the cat lady with a scrambled soul! Nilly’s not scrambled eggs! Who said eggs, fur ball?! Lick off, loser!”
She gave them both a toothy grin that made Sora’s stomach flip.
“Lick off?” Sora giggled. “You’re the fun kind of crazy, Nilly.”
“Aww. Thanks! I don’t try the crazy; I just do the crazy!”
Kari frowned while holding her hand against the tree, ignoring them, her gaze shifting away from the trunk to the vibrant grass at her feet, her jaw tightening. “I’ve never talked to anyone else in my family,” she muttered under her breath. “What if she’s like Eric? Or worse? Or hiding things from me?”
Heart softening, Sora stepped closer, placing a hand gently on Kari’s arm. “Hey, trust me, she’s not, okay? I know this is all kind of sudden—it is for me! But Ylva isn’t like the other fenris wolves… She’s dealt with a lot,” she said, offering a soft smile. “And besides, with me there, she’ll at least be cordial, right? My territory and all. Ylva didn’t seem so bad last time. She’s just, uh…blunt, Nilly?”
“Mhm! Mhm! Super blunt. Like a dull knife cutting your wrist.”
“Woah! A bit much there, girl,” she said with a strained laugh.
Kari didn’t respond immediately, her fingers flexing slightly at her sides. “Blunt doesn’t mean kind.” But she didn’t pull away, and that was progress. Even if her tail fur bristled with a nervous energy, Sora could feel the resolve building behind her new friend’s quiet exterior.
Sora turned to Nilly, who was watching the exchange with curious, twinkling ears while bobbing back and forth. “So, how do we do this?”
Nilly tilted her head to the side, her ears going straight. “Don’t look at me! I’m just here for moral support and to not be lonely, more or less. I’m cruising on the sardine wave, as they say… Well, I probably started that, with a ton of other sayings, but the point stands!”
Rolling her eyes, Sora took a deep breath and stepped up to the massive tree. Okay, it’s my realm, so just do what I did for the monster community… Deep breath, and ask the realm itself to enforce my desires.
Placing her hand against the cool, smooth surface of the trunk, she closed her eyes and let her magic flow, reaching out to the realm itself. She could feel the pulse of life and energy beneath her fingertips, a symphony of power and possibility that thrummed through her veins. The connection formed, not by force but by an invitation, her will shaping the magic around her.
For a moment, the air around them shimmered, reality shifting like a veil being lifted. The tree responded with a deep, resonating hum, and Sora felt a sharp tug in her chest as the magic surged. The wood began to twist, forming an ornate door in the trunk—vines weaving together, bending to her will.
She hesitated, glancing back at Kari and Nilly as it settled into place. “Well, at least something happened. Here goes nothing.”
She lifted her hand and knocked lightly on the door.
Nothing happened.
Seconds ticked by in silence. Kari’s brow furrowed, her frustration simmering beneath the surface.
Before Sora could say anything, Kari stepped forward, raising her fist. The resounding thud of her knuckles against the wood shook the tree, making Sora’s tail bristle while wincing.
Nilly chuckled from the sidelines. “Oh yeah, she probably heard that one. Nice one, Fangs!”
Kari gave her a lifted eyebrow, but looked surprisingly content with the nickname. They stood there for a few more moments, tension hanging in the air like a storm cloud, then…the door creaked open.
A large, scarred figure loomed in the doorway, her presence filling the space with an undeniable authority. Ylva’s dull eyes scanned them, pausing briefly on Nilly, who offered a sheepish, toothy grin and a small wave. “Hello, long time no see! Uh. How have the hunts been? No more back pain?”
Ylva let out a heavy sigh, her voice like gravel. “I should have expected the damn Cat Mother herself… And not only that, parading around as a teenage girl, old woman? Now I’ve seen everything.” She crossed her arms, giving Nilly a once-over before turning on her heel and walking back into the dark, cosmic hallway beyond. “Congrats on stabilizing for a bit, brat.”
“Brat! Old lady?! I’m not that young—old… Rude! Ylva!”
Sora exchanged looks with the wolf as the cat jogged after the silver-haired wolf before stepping inside, following Ylva’s thick tail as it swayed lazily behind her. The door shut behind them with an ominous boom that seemed to raddle reality itself.
The wooden hallway stretched on, dark and seemingly endless, but it soon opened into a sunlit meadow. The contrast was stark, as if they had stepped into another world entirely. The bright, open space was peaceful, and the scent of wildflowers filled the air.
Ylva led them to a small, modest cottage nestled at the edge of the meadow. As they approached, she glanced back at them with a monotone snort. “You probably haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? Figures that old fox would have made this for you…and in the place she gave me.”
Nilly’s stomach growled loudly, and she rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “Uh, nope, definitely haven’t, but I’m always hungry,” she admitted, her eyes apologetic.
Ylva’s lips quirked into a faint smirk. “I expected it from you, deadbeat. Every second of every day is breakfast for you, isn’t it, old cat?”
“Not fair,” Nilly complained, crossing her arms and making Sora giggle at their back and forth. “I have a medical condition. And I’m not the ‘deadbeat’ to my kids everyone thinks I am. I’m a good cat mom…I think,” she pouted, puffing her cheeks out. “I’m still a kid right now, too! Well, sort of.”
Sora nudged her. “Teen,” she corrected with a grin. “Teen Nilly is great!”
“Yeah, hear that, Ylva! I’m great,” she huffed, puffing up her chest. “The greatest! I knew Sora was the bestest of friends.”
I didn’t say that but thanks, Sora internally mused.
Ylva let out a low chuckle. “Whatever you are, I was more talking to the kids.”
“Liar! Unless…you’re saying I’m a kid!”
She bypassed the huffy cat’s hisses and motioned for them to follow her inside, her steps heavy and deliberate. The interior of the cottage was surprisingly modern, the kitchen equipped with sleek, stainless-steel appliances. Sora had to stifle a laugh as she imagined her mom crying tears of jealousy at the sight of Ylva—a tough, ancient wolf—expertly using a stove to make breakfast.
Ylva gestured toward the simple wooden chairs at the table, her tail swaying purposefully with every movement that put a level of grace behind her actions Sora hadn’t seen before.
“Take a seat,” she ordered in her usual gravelly tone, moving toward a cupboard carved into the wall of her small, homely kitchen.
Sora exchanged a quick glance with Nilly, whose lips twitched upward into an encouraging smile, though her bright eyes darted between the looming figure of Ylva and Kari’s stiff posture. Kari stood, her arms crossed tightly, as if locking her emotions behind an impenetrable fortress. Her amber eyes tracked every move the older wolf made—her aunt, as Sora saw it. With a sigh, Sora sat, trying to soften the tension thickening the air.
This doesn’t have to be awkward, she thought, tail flicking nervously through the hole in the chair. Nilly took a seat next to her, folding her legs underneath her with hyperactive twitches, while Kari stood frozen, refusing to budge. Sora couldn’t help but stare at the scares visible around Ylva’s sports bra and her long legs.
C’mon, Kari, she’s your aunt! She isn’t going to grab your face and shove it into the ground. She hasn’t been mean…to us. And she’s just joking with Nilly. Dry humor. Chill. Relax.
Ylva pulled out slabs of raw meat and some vegetables, methodically prepping them for the grill as if they weren’t even there. As she placed the meat on a glowing grill, the faint sizzle filled the room. The silver wolf didn’t bother looking at Kari but spoke with the authority of someone who knew she was being watched.
“I know why you’re here, pup.” Her voice was quiet but solid as a mountain. “But I can’t help you. That’s it.”
Kari’s fur bristled instantly, her hands tightening into fists under her armpits. “I didn’t ask for your help,” she growled, her voice taut like a stretched wire about to snap. She took a step forward, but Ylva didn’t even glance over her shoulder. “I’m not some—”
No! Kari, Sora cried inside. She could turn Jin into a pretzel!
“Sit,” Ylva softly commanded, her back still turned. Kari paused, stumbling as if a weight had struck her shoulders, and Sora straightened, feeling almost all of Kari’s strength drain out of her in the flash of a second.
The chill in that one word hung in the air, freezing any retort Kari might have had as she stumbled to the nearby chair and collapsed into it. For a heartbeat, Sora saw Kari’s stubbornness waver, frustration in her eyes as she panted. The wooden chair creaked under her sudden weight, the tension in her body radiating through the room.
Well, this isn’t going great, Sora groaned, trying to suppress a nervous laugh as she fiddled with her fingers under the table. Beside her, Nilly’s split tails twitched, her golden earrings jingling faintly as she hummed a soft, nonchalant tune.
Ylva continued cooking, her movements fluid despite her large frame. “Ungrateful, disrespectful, pups…” she muttered to herself. “I hunt the game, prepare a meal, and all I get are rude growls, glares, and whimpers.” Her voice was a low grumble, but it carried.
Kari’s jaw clenched and her voice was weaker than Sora had ever heard, sweat gathering across her body. “I didn’t ask you to—”
“Enough,” Ylva interrupted, turning to face Kari for the first time, her stern gaze cutting through the room. “You came here for something, not to release your frustration, didn’t you? I’m damn tired… You have no clue how wrecked my body is, yet you clench your teeth at your weakness? Humph. You have a lot to learn, pup.”
Kari flinched but didn’t respond. Her amber eyes, usually so sharp and unyielding, flickered with something raw and vulnerable. Sora bit her lip, watching the exchange with a growing knot in her chest.
Kari doesn’t need this right now… I thought this would be different. Or…maybe she does need this. Maybe she needs to hear it from another female fenris wolf…someone from her family.
“You think I don’t know the pain and uncertainty running through your heart right now? You think you’re the first lost wolf in the world, trying to figure out where you belong and what to believe or put your trust into?”
Ylva returned to the stove, her tone softening just slightly as she continued. “It’s hard to find your place when you don’t even know what pieces of your past are real or false…let alone your present or future. I get that. But you’ve got a pack that cares for you, disjointed and weird as it might be. That’s more than I had.”
Well, thanks, Sora internally huffed. We are kind of weird and disjoined, though. Fair.
The wolf glanced over her shoulder again, her thick silver hair bunching against her shoulder while looking between Kari and Sora. “Don’t rely on that pack too much. Stand on your own when you have to or you’ll never find that foundation you’re searching for. But when you need them…don’t push them away. You don’t want to be alone.”
A shiver ran down Sora’s spine as she watched the lump drop down Kari’s throat, unable to look at any of them while shifting in her seat. Kari drew in her lips to stop them from trembling, fighting back the heat in her red face and the tears from falling. Ylva’s words hit harder than any punch or bite she could have taken.
Ylva finished grilling the meat and set it in front of them with casual ease. The aroma of the seasoned, charred meat filled the room, but Kari barely glanced at it. The silver wolf’s eyes locked onto Kari’s, a gaze filled with a lifetime of pain and struggle.
“You can’t afford to be picky, pup. And you can’t afford to wallow in this mess you’re making for yourself. You’ve got someone counting on you. If you suspect it, then don’t hesitate. Would your brother have?”
A tremor ran through Kari’s entire body, her fingers digging into her thigh.
“I didn’t think so.”
Kari’s usually steely demeanor cracked for just a moment, and she glanced down at the plate before her, swallowing hard. “I know,” she mumbled, so quietly Sora barely caught it. “Could it be her?”
“That’s for you to find out. If you’re done whimpering and crying in your little pity party,” Ylva grunted, taking the meat with one hand off her plate and tearing into it. “…If it turns out to be what you think or something entirely different…does it matter?”
Sora couldn’t move as Kari slowly unwound her arms and picked up the big piece of meat with both hands, swallowed, and bit into it.
“…No.”
“Then there’s your answer. I’m not your friend,” Ylva stated, her dull eyes rising to penetrate the wolf teen. “I’m your family. So I’ll give it to you straight. If you want something, get off your ass and do something about it. The pack follows action. Simple as that.”
Kari didn’t respond, and, despite the tears that fell down her cheeks, there was a steel Sora had never seen in the wolf’s eyes.
The rest of the meal passed in near silence. The only sound was the occasional scrape of cutlery against the plates and the quiet sizzle of the remaining food cooking as Ylva brought more meat to slam onto Kari’s plate. Sora tried to catch Kari’s eye a few times, but the wolf girl kept her head down, focused on the plate in front of her as if it was a goal to reach, though she didn’t seem all that hungry.
Once the meal finished, Ylva leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she studied them with an unreadable expression. “The door’s open,” she said finally. “Come back whenever you want, but I won’t always be here to greet you. I’ve got my own path to walk. Like you, I’m still figuring it out. Life is filled with milestones. The finish line isn’t even there when you die.”
“I can vouch for that!” Nilly giggled softly, nudging Sora with her elbow. “Even the ‘famed deadbeat Cat Mom’ has her issues,” she joked, earning a faint smile from Sora.
Ylva’s lips twitched upward slightly, and she reached behind her back, rubbing a long scar that ran down her spine. “A warning, Sora…”
Sora blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in the conversation.
“If you’re going to be friends with that Valkyrie,” she said, her gaze hardening to show a deadly edge, “you should know that things are far more complicated with the Primordials than you or she understands. She could become your enemy one day…or have to choose between you and her family.”
Before she could ask what she meant, Ylva stood up and walked them to the door; it was as if her tongue was lodged to the roof of her mouth. Just as they reached the threshold, the old wolf looked straight at Kari and said, “Let yourself have fun again, pup. Stop punishing yourself. It wasn’t your fault.”
The door shut with a snap behind them, and with that, Sora turned her ears toward the inside of the cottage, but Ylva was nowhere heard inside. Shifting her head to the right, she froze when a giant silver-furred wolf took up the entire horizon before vanishing in a misty cloud.
Kari’s muscles were stiff, her fingernails biting into her palm, mouth tight, but she didn’t argue or say anything in return. Voice husky, and leading the way at a brisk pace, the dark-haired wolf whispered, “Let’s go.”
Sora watched her move away, feeling a pang of worry settle in her chest. Did I make a mistake? I don’t understand everything that happened, but damn, Ylva is intense and doesn’t beat around the bush. I didn’t even feel whatever she did to Kari that sapped all of her strength…but she seems to be recovering now after the meal.
Nilly tugged at her hand, pulling her focus before pointing after the wolf’s swaying tail and thick ponytail.
“Hmm?” Wait, she’s leaving us behind! “Kari! Wait, up!”
Jogging after her, somehow she managed to catch up, telling Sora that the wolf had a lot on her mind. Yet, when she saw her face, the taller girl wore a small smile, despite the tear stains, as if a huge weight had been lifted.
I guess…this was positive? Whatever! I’ll take it.
Turning to Nilly, trying to lighten the mood, she asked, “You ready for some shopping when we get back and clean up? Wendy will probably be up soon, and she’s become quite the fan of yours. Trust me! She adores kitties. Her mom would never let her have one.”
Nilly grinned, her tails swishing playfully as she flipped around to skip backward in long bounds to keep up with them. “Now she has me to spoil. Yay! This will be my first shopping trip I can remember! I look forward to classes too. Well, when I’m not a vanishing-act crazy person.”
Sora giggled. But even as Sora laughed and chatted with Nilly, her thoughts lingered on the silent wolf, rising out of the abyss she’d sunk into. There was a fire burning in the wolf girl’s face now, something ignited by Ylva’s words.
This morning didn’t turn out anything like I thought it would. That’s Nilly, shaking things up, as usual. Maybe Kari will open up a bit when Saturday rolls around and we go on our illegal Shadow Pit trip… Maybe.