-Blazingdance's territory. Marie's POV-
The beast people of the firefox tribe possess humanoid bodies with patches of fur on their hands, feet, and back along beast features such as tails, ears, and sharp nails not quite like claws, but our similarities are only the tail and beastly ears. My body is light with delicate human hands and wolf paws for feet that allow me to run long distances with a stamina rivaling wolves, and regeneration surpassing most dragons which reduces the need to sleep.
After hugging Ayumi for a while in silence, I calmed down and stood up with her support before concentrating on speeding up my natural healing while using cold water for relief. Meanwhile, big sister Anayu inspected the damage caused by a fire in the garden and sniffed around before walking up to us with an expression of recognition.
"So? Who dared hurt such a cutie?" Ayumi said rubbing our cheeks together and separated.
"Ugggh!! It was that CREEP again! They went too far this time..." The tall foxkin informed.
"Grrr!" Ayumi growled menacingly and extended the left arm before a blue fireball ignited around her hand. *FWOOSSSH!* "I'll burn that idiot alive from the inside out!" She raged with fangs peeking over her lips and hackles raised.
Eeek! Blue fire... So beautiful...and dangerous, yet I can't even feel the heat...as expected of Firedancers... She might be just Rank 5, but her control with fire rivals high ranks. I admired the imposing flame enveloping the girl's hand.
"...NO! We can't touch a close descendant of the Divine. Acting violently will only get you at the mercy of the privileged." Anayu admonished.
"GRAAH! So frustrating! I want to hurt someone!" Ayumi grunted putting out the fire.
"Marie did well enduring. Good girl~" The tall fox praised patting me. "We'll need a guardian beast to tend the door and keep her out of sight." Big sister decided.
"Yeah-right. I doubt Mother would approve such expenditure, and she is too soft to protest. Dad or my brothers wouldn't allow this if they were still alive." The fiery girl protested shaking her head.
"Mom isn't a fighter...she's the only one earning money with dances while neither of us can participate in the war to earn merits, and prattling about children is hardly prestigious..." Big sister reasoned.
"Bu-but!" The red-haired fox complains.
"No Buts!" The older fox censored before pulling my ear. "Make ice on Ayumi's butt to cool her head." She ordered whispering ticklishly.
How does that make sense??! Ah... Another prank...I can't say no to her though. I complied making icicle under Ayumi's clothes and below her tail.
"Hyaah~" Ayumi squealed while her tail puffed up again. "Marie! How bold~" She said with a smirk before smacking my face with the fluffy extremity.
Er... I feel silly...do I remove it? I guess not... I noticed feeling a little shame. Well, she did calm down, and this tail is a rare occurrence~ I concluded reaching the spiked tail with crimson shades. Uwaah... So warm and soft...the opposite of mine. I compare running my fingers through the hair.
"However, we can prank that guy, and I just happen to buy rotten eggs," Anayu suggested grabbing a large bag.
"You mean the bad eggs meant for dinner that you bought?" Her sister retorted.
"S-shut up! I was in a hurry and the seller was handsome." The black haired fox pretended while swaying her tail graciously.
"Hehehe." I chuckle softly at the mischievous fox. "Big sister probably knew they were rotten and couldn't pass the chance to use them for a prank," I revealed her plot in vengeance.
"Geh! Marie is smarter than this hot-headed fox." The black fox admits taking out an egg larger than a fist.
"WHAT?!" Ayumi shouted before gripping the black tail. "Grrrr..." She growled angered and pulled.
"Careful~ The stench from one of these will make a Beast vomit, faint and maybe cry." She explained holding the black egg.
"You wasted our money to prank--No, wait, we should get back at those ruffians somehow." The red-haired girl declared letting go of the thick and fluffy tail.
"Yay! Little sister joined the dark side." The darkness fox brightened up pulling Ayumi's pointy ears.
"Yes. Yes. But we need to hunt some animals now. I don't want to dine only vegetables and fruits, and Marie's body will demand meat." The little sister acknowledged before discussing meals.
"Actually, I stole the seller's money bag after his wife found us kissing with his pants down. What a simple knot untying can cause..." The black fox explained her doings pulling out a fist-size bag from her black robe.
""Hihihihi."" We giggled hearing the fox.
"We'll buy meat tomorrow from the hunters." She announced
"You troublemaker. That's why you are thirty years old and without a male." Ayumi remarked trurning around to face me.
"Ack! It's my nature... I had a pink fox ancestor who loved shocking and a wind-user who made all sorts of weird gases that affected others...blame them!" Anayu justified.
"Still, a prank won't hurt them enough..." Ayumi said placing both hands on my head and looking at my lowered ears. "I'm sorry... You almost died today and I can't do anything... Are you still sad?" She apologized getting closer.
"It's alright--" I reassure perceiving my face getting wet.
*Lick. Lick. Lick.* The firefox started cleaning my dirty face.
Hunya!? I struggled in surprise but my head was held in place. Auuugg... I can wash myself... I hopelessly endure as she dries my skin with magic.
"Cheered?" Ayumi asked staring into my eyes up close.
"Uh-huh. Uh-huh." I nodded feeling my ears wobble.
"She's so red...it's working! Keep going!" Anayu teased.
Uguh! I felt embarrassed looking into her crimson eyes.
"Want me to call a healer?" Ayumi inquired.
"Nu-uh... I'll heal myself again. Just help me get to my usual spot." I requested using water magic to cool down.
I had enough of those beasts people... I refused to entrust my body to strangers.
Ayumi picked me up facing down by the chest and legs, then carried me through the woods towards my preferred cliff spot while my tail covers private parts.
Aiiiii... Y-you are touching! You are touching there...! These electrifying sensations--Hyaanh... Must ignore... stimulating... ahhh Shtoppp iiit~ I endure her right arm pressing sensitive spots making me twitch.
"Do you need to go relief?" Ayumi asked noticing.
"Nnn-no... Just move your hand up a little and walk slowly please...it hurts more than it looks, even using ice to numb the flesh..." I revealed the method to alleviate the pain while diverting attention.
"Yeah... Your back looks really bad--practically cooked... I can't believe they did this without any good reason. Grrr... I want to claw Zorbaz's followers apart, then cook and eat them!" Ayumi described carrying me gently through the woods.
Phew~ Out of the woods... I affirmed with relief hiding my shame.
"Ground meat eh? Excellent choice little sister. I'll get us some aromatic plants... I wonder how another fox tastes." Anayu praised strangely.
"Please don't seek trouble because of me..." I pleaded.
"Sighs..." My carrier breathed deeply and carefully lowered me.
I steadied myself when the skin on my back ripped with the movement.
Aaack! Can't let the skin dry during healing... I affirmed avoiding sudden movements.
"Hmm... I don't want to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing you in this state." Ayumi muttered.
"Sorry the clothes burned." I apologize for the expensive garment.
"I'll buy you new ones later, but we should cover you, though Sister can use darkness..." She declared.
"Cover what? My nonexistent breasts? My tail hides what matters and we don't get many visitors aside from that creep who won't come back again today. But what's the point in hiding anything when nobody finds me attractive anyway?" I declared looking down.
"Ah, I heard rubbing your breasts makes them grow!" The black fox poked fun.
"Big sister, please, that's something males say to touch you." The fire user refuted.
"Yeah, but then they fall asleep and lose all their valuables mysteriously," Anayu explained gripping a small glass bottle hanging on her neck. "Sleeeeping potion~" She sang with a naughty grin.
"Fufufu..." I laughed amused. "Hah... It doesn't feel nice being the flattest everywhere I go." I announced lowering my ears.
"Chest size bothers you too much--Rank matters waaayyy more. If you are low rank and pretty, then you are a property of someone else or imagine that creep, Zorbaz, knocking on your door and ogling your chest every time you greet him. Ugh! Disgusting..." She explained her perspective twisting her face.
"You can't generalize individual taste though." Big sister shrugged saying.
"I-I get it..." I said shivering with that image in my mind.
"Besides, you can increase their size at higher rank if it's still uncomfortable, but having them sensitive is what matters," Ayumi revealed with a grin.
Uwawahh... She knew!!? That's a recent development I tried to hide... I wondered lowering my body.
"Wait! Don't sit bare." Ayumi stopped me.
*Zoku! Swiss...* She took her white dress off.
The red-haired fox girl taller than me remained in underwear displaying two perfect elevations wrapped in white cloth showing a deep cleavage.
...Big breasts rule! At least half the size of these would get me much better treatment and maybe find a male...a girl can dream... I mused putting the larger one-piece dress on.
"Are you okay sitting down? Do you want to sit on my lap?" She offered.
Nuuu... Too much contact already, and her body heat is higher than others... Also, a lady shouldn't be nude out here--go inside the house. Shu! Shu! I affirmed deciding to object.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"T-thanks, but the damage was superficial there," I replied inspecting the regeneration. "I'll meditate until no scar remains." I voice my plans.
"Is it healed already?" She said rubbing the delicate new skin on my bottom.
"Hyaau!" My body involuntarily jerked. "It's fine. But the hair that burned on my head and tail will take days to regrow." I informed lowering myself slowly again.
Ah-ah-ahhh... Ouchi... It does hurt! I realized and stopped.
Watching me hesitate, Ayumi held my hand on the left while Anayu did the same on my right, and sat down together with our legs crossed while looking at the mountain below the cliff, then huddled our tails together.
"Stop worrying so much." Big sister chided. "Marie's body can heal faster than any creature in our tribe, and she'll fully recover before nightfall using magic." She praised. "I wonder if you can regrow missing limbs..." The black fox muttered pulling my arm.
Huh-uh... I'm not willing to test it since I feel more pain than other creatures...among other sensations. I compared before speaking up.
"Yes...I'm a freak! An abomination made and thrown away in the mud." I declared.
"That's not true! There are many creatures in this world, and your parents must be somewhere...we just don't know anything." Ayumi consoled.
"I wonder if I'm not unique. When the Divine inspected me in the past, he said that my life code was too perfect for a mere mixed creature and didn't know what my crystal core is or the letters inside mean, but he had no time to spare pursuing mysteries. Perhaps Irimos will be interested in me someday, but I'm not so sure that's a good thing when he couldn't probe deep inside my core which means it's not a normal material, and can probably be weaponized. Well, even if I could survive without it, it's the only clue about my parents, and my body is something they could recognize." I exposed the mysteries unwilling to lose what I already have.
"You did well. I don't think he would hesitate to rip it off your chest and investigate if he wasn't busy tormenting the wolves already." Ayumi approves.
"Girls! Girls... Why deny it? She IS a freak." Big sister affirmed.
"ANAYU!" The little sister shouted angered.
"Mean...but true. Although it was the Divine's curiosity that stopped the villagers from feeding me to beasts." I recount what was told to me.
"Those bastards waste no time to make you feel bad!" Ayumi protested gripping my hand strongly.
Ah! Your nails! Your nails...oww. Trim them already! Oh, wait, that's my job... I complain having another spot to heal.
"Ah, yes, I remember that time, and it wasn't like that. Many were perplexed, disgusted or even scared before the Divine stepped in. Why? Well, it was raining with the sun out when a patrol heard cries and found a baby with those affinity markings, yet no footsteps near you. Weird huh? Anyway, my instincts told me that letting you die would be bad while as someone who was shunned, I couldn't let them dispose of the weird baby, so I snatched you away to be a playmate for Ayumi." Big sister recounts before pulling at my ear. "Listen... I had years to ponder about your hunger increasing after suffering injuries and not getting fat despite eating like a beast... these are traits inherent to dragons, isn't it? I don't think your parents are normal foxes...or at least, not both..." She theorized.
"I wasn't born from a Dragon egg though." I refuted.
"Hehe!" Ayumi chuckled.
"They could also be different creatures..." The darkness fox added. "In any case, you are not a defect as a living creature, but we don't know the real extent of your talent which can't be low either and for a dual magician, that means your parents are incredibly gifted." She concluded.
"Sighs... Does it matter what they are? My parents must hate me for leaving me in a horrible place with no way out." I shrugged denying.
"Perhaps. But you have us." Ayumi said hugging me from the side.
Uaahh... Too mushy-mushy... I affirmed avoiding her high body heat.
"Why?" Anayu disagrees calling our attention. "Think about it girls...even our Divine, patrols, or any high ranks constantly probing couldn't detect anything. A baby just... appeared outside the main village in the center of our territory without any beast or beast person noticing the slightest thing. You could be an Ancient's child since they have the habit of dumping their offspring for others to raise, or there might even be reasons we can't think of...some kind of plan perhaps. Although another small possibility is not being from this realm...your appearance is that uncommon." She elaborated.
"Sister has a point. You may look like a failure or the weirdest Foxkin in the tribe, but everything about you is too strange for anyone to fathom, and the Divine could even change your body into a fox like us or have you birth children, yet didn't dare do so." The red-haired fox asserted. "Maybe Irimos hesitated since whatever conceived you should be stronger than him." She whispered into my left ear before biting it softly.
"Ahh! I'm being eaten!" I dramatized. "Oh, I am getting hungry..." I realized pulling my ear.
"All I'm saying is to open your mind and give your parents a chance." Anayu warmly adviced.
"Awww... You can be sweet too." Ayumi said looking at her sister.
"If I'm right, and I think I am...we can demand her parents to help us with magic, resources, and backing. I never really thought of Marie as a defect but a treasure, and I'm glad no one sees that...they don't deserve it." The black fox revealed while nodding.
"Aaaand you ruined it." The red-haired fox covered her face with a hand saying.
"Hehe." I chuckled and turned serious. "But would they even want me back? Why leave me? Why did they make me like this? Why this place? Why not leave a message that we could understand? A clue we could follow--ANYTHING!! How can I not be disappointed to find such parents?" I questioned feeling rage for the negligence of my makers.
"Oh Marie... Beasts should follow their instincts even if it means pranking the Divine." Anayu offered. "I'll pull it off one day..." She muttered making a fist. "Anyway, you are always sitting here and looking south...wondering about them, right?" Big sis affirmed.
"...Yes. I feel unease today...as if something bad happened. Maybe it's not safe to meet them..." I recalled looking at the sea of trees extending far away.
"Still, I doubt any wolf, the red dragon in the volcano, or humans further south could give birth to her," Ayumi conjectured.
Uh-huh. I'm a part fox, wolf, and dragon...weird. I asserted looking at my feet.
"Ah! It's not like I care about revenge for the deaths of our family since adults are forced to go to war." The firefox dismissed waving a hand.
"Nu-uh. It's not about my wolf heritage." I denied shaking my head. "I'm happy that you had these sandals made for me, but they got in the way when I tried to run away," I revealed leaning forward.
"Gasp!" Ayumi uttered surprised and froze.
"It's not your fault," I assured taking off the footwear. "I should stop trying to act normal...to deny myself. I'm a mixed creature and I'm comfortable running on my paws." I declared throwing the sandals off the cliff.
"Mm. Proud of ya!" Big sister commended ruffling my head with a hand between my ears.
"Y-yes! Don't worry about meeting others who can't accept you anymore. Have fun running in the mountain." Ayumi supported.
"All that's left is seeking answers when you are ready. Though it would be nice going on adventures too....if we could..." Anayu reaffirmed voicing her desires.
Yeah... I don't have a future here without anything binding me, but unfortunately, Ayumi's blood is too precious for the tribe, and she will have to marry someone eventually... I review the loss and gain of venturing out on my own.
"Though leaving the tribe will be difficult and I'm not even sure the tribe would accept me back. But still, being apart from my family..." I announced feeling down.
"Aww... We just won't be together for a while...maybe centuries, but who knows? Anyway, leave the tribe antics to me!" The black fox comforted. "I have lots of blackmails to plan..." She muttered.
Getting back in depends on what I find? I caught her meaning.
"The day will come to yell at your parents, but first, you are going to need the strongest water ability for attacking, and master Light arts to camouflage if you don't want to end up a slave after leaving." Ayumi nagged.
"Water compression? Mu! It would help with ranking, but it's so hard to learn without a teacher or enough mana to practice, and I haven't seen anyone do it either..." I explain the difficulty.
"Hmm... The Divine could help--if he was interested in anything besides Fire magic. Sadly, no one in our tribe seems to know much about water, and the high-rank Light ability is even more of a mystery...knowledge is too lacking in isolated tribes which is why I'm still Rank 4 in darkness. But maybe Tinkers or humans sell the information--actually, what don't humans sell?" She flickers her ears pondering. *Piku!*
"Their Mortal souls...because they can't?" Ayumi commented rolling her eyes.
"I see... But there's a reason why most creatures figure it out at high rank." I pointed out.
"Even if you think you need a high rank to learn it, don't give up trying since every special ability has different requirements, and water is the easiest affinity." The firefox encouraged.
"Hm-hmm... But still, what exactly is water anyway?" I inquired once again.
"Uhhh... Water Ballers jiggling around? I know that's how things heat up and even transmit from one material to another." Said Ayumi placing her palm on the stone.
*Crack!! Ssshhh!* The rock cracks and smoke come out as it heats up without any visible fire.
"See? The more jiggle--the hotter something gets while freezing is the opposite." The firefox demonstrated leaving a molten rock cooling down in the shape of her palm.
"...But not all Ballers are the same and merely commanding elementals to shrink them doesn't work. Just what happens in the tiny part of the world...?" I marveled.
"I know right? Those mysteries evade even thousand-year-old Divines." Anayu supplemented.
"Hmm... So, just hoping to discover an ability with ambient mana isn't gonna work, huh? Something will surely go wrong taking long to rank up, and that can't happen again...no choice then, you need Mana badly." Ayumi pondered while biting a claw.
"Ayumi?" I question puzzled.
"Sighs..." The firefox closed her eyes exhaling before turning to me. "Marie, Big sister practically raised you, but I...haven't really done anything, yet you have always been there for me." She announced with a heavy expression.
"Really? You are underestimating emotional support then." I casually said.
"That's important!" Confirmed big sister.
"But it's not enough to keep you safe." She refuted shaking her head. "I will get you Mana crystals, but you can't meet other people until at least Rank 5. Anayu will supervise your training, and I'll come visit when possible to see your progress. Don't disappoint me." She declared with a serious tone.
"Wha--?! What are you planning?" I asked anxiously.
"Oh, my... Already decided eh?" The black fox affirmed.
"Yes, my mind won't change...it's the only way, and if something is inevitable, might as well reap benefits," Ayumi spoke as if deciding desperate measures.
No-no-no-It can't be! It can't be... You wouldn't marry Zorbaz just to help me with rank!!? I conjectured aghastic.
"Well, I'll support you, but listen to me when the time comes," Anayu said before leaning on my right side.
"What do you mean?!!" I question switching my gaze between the girls ignoring me.
"What a noisy servant." Ayumi reproved moving her left arm. "I'm sore from running up and down in the mountains." She said sliding the cloth off her chest and letting loose the two round masses. "Massage them for me, will you?" The firefox requested pulling my hand between her warm breasts.
"W-w-wha-wha??!" I panicked pulling away.
"Huhuhu... Too soon, little sister...let her finish healing." The fox on my right said inspecting my back.
"This is my reward and consolation for when Marie isn't in my life anymore. I don't want to miss the chance to give her something to remember me." The red-haired beast person announced.
No... No... You can't just go live with that guy! You'll have to birth his children, you know? Is that why she wants me to touch her body? Not fair...losing Ayumi to that hateful beast person...just thinking what he will do to her body--Arrrghh! I realized while my vision blurs.
Ayumi noticed tears streaming down my cheeks and reached out with her left hand towards the back of my head before pulling us closer until we remained at a palm's distance where her hot breath felt like burning my skin, then slowly approached me while closing her eyes.
"B-but-but we are both g-mwphfff?!!" I realized what she was doing before my lips were sealed by hers.
"Don't be narrow minded. Gender is a state of mind and sex is irrelevant for Divines." Big sister rebuked.
And just like that, a life-changing subject was averted...
-Sundown. Regefire estate. Liana's POV-
I'm looking out the window inside Shaila's room to the right of her bed while holding my broken arm which the healers couldn't spare mana to treat. The sun rays bathe the landscape in golden color preluding nightfall with a cold wind whistling and rattling the windows in our gloomy estate. A heavy atmosphere engulfs the people waiting for Shaila to wake up while the healer finishes treating her wounds, and making sure no scars remain.
Ugh! The liveness of this place is gone with most guards dead, and depressed maids...poor Hilda, they should have done that to me... I affirmed hearing her distant crying. So many people died for nothing today...friends, boyfriends, mercenaries and sex mates... In the end, even our Dragon ended up eating people just like the rumors...geez, this will send all men running away from me, but it's a good thing I'm going to the capital, and if I'm lucky, I can find someone really big down there... Wait--I never thought of this, but what if I put a request in the guild at the capital?! I'm so smart! I ponder about nonsense trying to escape the dreary situation.
*Whishhh!* A blanket movement on the left called my attention.
"Ngnnnnn! W-where? Where is this?" Shaila inquired puzzled while sitting up in bed.
"You are safe now. This is your room." Eleonor greeted sitting on a chair waving a fan.
"Welcome back sweetie," I said patting her head.
"Ugh! My head... What happened?" The white-haired girl asked.
Oops! I was afraid to hug and hurt you...or rather I'm in no position to hug anyone. Well, I'll hug you lots later since we are sleeping together. I affirmed feeling the throbbing pain in my arm.
"You were attacked while unconscious by a magician losing control, but luckily, we arrived on time and Rigel rescued you." Mother recounts.
"...So, he just ended the fight?" She retorted.
"Now. Now. Don't act silly. You are just confused by the trauma and breathing dangerous gases. Your body was a mess and we just finished healing you with great effort." Eleonor explains.
*Plaf!* I facepalm myself. "Sorry...bug." I lied after getting their attention.
"Un..." Shaila uttered gripping the blankets while looking down.
Are you joking?? Mother wasn't the best person out there, but she get worse each year--almost like brainwash... Of course! The Elders couldn't control Grandma who's famous, but using mother, they could manipulate her and Rigel for the good of the family... I ponder sitting on the bed.
"...Where's Nefi ?" Little sister inquired looking at me.
"Who?" Eleonor asks.
"It's her Dragon," I reply to mother and turned to Shaila. "Blue...was badly hurt and went to the forest to heal after leaving some instructions. He'll visit as soon as he can." I debrief.
"I see..." She said with a darkened expression.
I have to thank Nefiru too, but how? I would just fuck him if he were a man, but he's not and the Dragon hates me...I should ask why already. Oh! But he loves magic, so I could get him some crystal dust from the Guild as he wanted... Yep, that'll do. I asserted.
"Don't worry if your pet dies. There are many varieties in the capital, and Mommy can buy you another pet on the way to your new home. The Bidlake estate!" Eleonor revealed proudly.
"What?!" Shaila's face turned ugly.
"Mother is right. You are not safe here, and even the dragon approved." I interjected in a hurry.
"He did?" Shaila asked with her mouth agape.
"We'll both accompany you. A change of scenery will be good for all of us." I explain vaguely.
"I see..." She muttered defeated before laying down.
"Get some rest, my wolfie sister. We'll take a bath later..." I instructed before walking to the door.
*Bang!* The door opens with a slam and Rigel comes out with a pale face.
"Madam! We are surrounded!" The blue haired magician nervously informed.
"Wha--!?" Mother uttered getting up.