Lily sat near the crackling fire in her common room, holding her longbow in one hand while she used the other to coat the bowstring in beeswax. She’d noticed a tiny fray in the string during her hunt that morning, and these things required tending to right away. A wound to her bow felt as severe as an injury to her arm, and letting it fester was inexcusable.

She slid her fingers over the fraying bowstring, reversing her path when the fray’s bump pricked her fingertips. The myriad trinkets from her hunts that hung from tight braids in her shoulder-length hair and her ears clinked together as she worked, adding merry chimes to the fire’s dance. Her dark brown hunting leathers, boots, and pale cloak hung a little ways from the hearth, drying in the flame’s heat after the afternoon rains.

“We both did well today,” she murmured to her longbow. “Khasstead hasn’t seen a haul like that in weeks.”

The bowstring warmed in her hand, and she plucked it taut a few times, letting the beeswax work its way between the fibers. There were many lessons her mother had passed onto her, but caring for her bow and her bird like family members was queen among them all. Lily often spoke with her weapon as she worked, and the spirit within the wood always seemed to listen.

A knock at the door came just as Lily was satisfied with her work. She dismissed her bow and stood, smoothing her green dress against her lap. After a silent march across the wooden floor, she swung the door wide to find a grinning Sylva on her doorstep.

Lily smiled. “I had a feeling you’d enjoy today’s trappings.”

“Yes, Lily. We all do. However, that isn’t what brings me here.” Sylva shook her head. “There are two men in Khasstead.”

Lily’s heart skipped. She’d waited nearly a decade to hear those words. It had been some time since a man had journeyed over their hills. Oftentimes, they wondered if someday that would cease. But…two? “I-is that so?” she managed.

Her grin widened. “It is. And one of them has agreed to bless you with a kitten.”

“Sylva! Spirits cradle you! You are a gift.” Lily was breathless with excitement; her ears trembled, and her tail straightened behind her. She knew that with the rapid onset of her aging mother’s ailments, it wouldn’t be long before she became the leader of Khasstead. Having a descendant would put both Lily’s and Wren’s minds at ease.

Sylva echoed the thought as she took Lily’s hand. “It is my honor to aid in continuing Wren’s long-held lineage. I can think of no one better deserving.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.” Lily squeezed Sylva’s hand. “What must I do?”

Sylva gestured over her shoulder. “I thought it best if you join us for dinner first. The company in my cabin could use your light.”

Lily let the door remain open as she moved to collect her boots and cape. “What do you mean?”

“The man who agreed to help you, and his companion that will remain behind when he leaves, they…ah. Well, it feels as if their hunts have not been kind.”

“Hm.” In her twenty-eight years in Khasstead, Lily had experienced many poor hunts. But she had triumphed over many more. There was a delicate balance to strike between success and failure, and she’d met a number of travelers and traders who sought more weight on their successes. “Which island are they from?”

“Ni. Though, as we know, every journey has its perils.”

Lily fingered the golden clasp on her pale cloak—an emblem in the shape of an arrow. She would have to guard her excitement close to her heart. Overwhelming a target was a surefire way to lose her opportunity. She straightened her shoulders and turned toward the door. “I understand.”

“You are the wisest of us all, Lily. Now, come. Let us not keep our guests waiting.”

The rain had dulled to a light mist, and Lily was happy to wear her warm cloak about her shoulders like an embrace. Pip, her speckled felleck, swooped down from the edge of her roof and landed on her arm. Lily gave the green and yellow bird a hunk of meat from her [Cat Pack] and stroked the back of his neck. Satiated, Pip chirped happily before returning to the skies, joining Sylva’s jet-black hunting partner in trailing them.

They walked briskly to Sylva’s cabin, passing two young women returning late from their hunts—Odelle and Noam. Their ears and hair were soaked by the rain, but they murmured excitedly about a warren of Encroachers they’d discovered nearby. Lily smiled, glad to see her lessons with them had borne fruit.

As soon as they stepped inside Sylva’s home, Lily surveyed the room with wandering eyes and ears. A seasoned man in plate armor stood with his arms crossed, and his hard gaze took her measure immediately. Beside him sat two dark-haired catgirls, one wearing a smirk, the other attempting to sit still, but Lily caught her fingers writhing beneath the table.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

On the sofa near the hearth sat a second man, younger than the first, flanked by a yellow-haired catgirl and another who carried the scent of the forest.

“Everyone, this is Lily,” Sylva said.

Lily placed a hand on her chest and bowed. “It is a blessing to cross paths with you.”

The yellow-haired catgirl shot to her feet. “It is indeed! I am Ceres of Shi Island. These are my companions, Matt and Keke of Ni Island.”

Lily straightened and smiled. It was good to see at least one of their number in high spirits.

Matt raised a hand in a weak wave, and Ceres nudged his shoulder with one fist. Lily was certain it was meant to escape her notice, but nothing moved without her knowing.

Matt knit his brow, then rose to his feet. “Nice to meet you, Lily.”

Keke did the same and offered her a quick bow. “I’ll be staying with you from today on while I train to be a [Hunter].”

“So Sylva tells me. Khasstead welcomes you, Keke.” Lily turned to the second group. “And who else do I have the pleasure of meeting?”

The man opened his mouth, but the short-haired woman was faster. “I’m Kirti. Zahra. Cailu.” Kirti flicked her fingers toward the others as she introduced them. “Tell me, Lily. Do you truly speak with trees?”

Cailu laid a hand on Kirti’s shoulder. Lily noted the deep indents on her skin from Cailu’s fingertips. This wasn’t his first frustration with her. “Please, do not concern yourself with entertaining my companion. She often opens her mouth without forethought.”

Lily exchanged a look with Sylva. It was an interesting group, to say the least. “I pray you find the forest and its fruits hospitable during your time in Khasstead, friends.” She circled the common room, and Sylva followed close behind. “My mother, Wren, is the leader of our clan. I apologize on her behalf that she could not be here to greet you personally; she is bedridden, I fear.”

“I’m so sorry, Lily,” Keke said.

Lily nodded. “That’s kind of you to say. She’ll be glad to meet you, Keke.”

Keke nodded. There was a sadness in her golden eyes that Lily couldn’t place. But she felt the earliest threads of a kinship with the young woman. Those who understood the forest always found it in others.

Sylva stepped behind Lily toward the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready, everyone. Let’s move to the table.”

They huddled around Sylva’s table, which was made to fit five people at most, and she spooned a hearty stew into their wooden bowls.

“Lily provided the meat for today’s meal,” Sylva announced proudly. “Her hunt this morning treated her well.”

Lily swelled with pride. Providing for her clan and its guests was a great accomplishment. “Sylva is too kind. Her [Cooking] is unmatched in Khasstead.”

“Let us hope I live up to that compliment.” Sylva laughed.

“I am certain you will. It smells delicious!” Ceres exclaimed. She’d taken a seat next to Lily and turned to face her. Pointing to the ornaments in her hair and on her ears, she asked, “Did you make this jewelry yourself?”

“I did. They’re from my rarest Encroacher hunts. Everything from our prey is used, from the meat to the fur to the teeth. Many of us wear pieces of our proudest catches to honor their sacrifice,” Lily explained.

“My father shared similar principles, Lily. It’s good to see them practiced outside of Ichi Island,” Zahra said. Some of her tension drained from her shoulders as she spoke.

“A wise man indeed.” Lily lifted her spoon and stole a glance at Matt. He took a bite of his stew, then filled his spoon and watched as the liquid dripped back into the bowl. “Is this your first time in Nyarlothep, Matt?”

Matt blinked, then swallowed. His raised brows betrayed that he hadn’t expected her to call on him. “Yeah.”

“How do you find it?”

“Big.” He took another bite. Keke caught his eye and gave a near-imperceptible shake of her head. “Sorry. It’s been a long day. Nyarlothep’s great, from what I’ve seen so far. Nothing’s ripped off my head yet, so I’ve got that going for me.”

Lily chuckled. “I’m certain we could find you an adequate foe for the task if you desire it. But I fear you won’t see much more of this land afterward.”

The first hints of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah. It’d be a little hard to hit Second Class that way.”

Lily saw her opening and pressed. “What Second Class will you train for?”

Their back and forth continued, and Matt slowly opened up to conversation. Keke and Ceres chipped in, and Zahra’s tension evaporated as she added her own thoughts. It wasn’t long before the spirits in the cabin were elevated with laughter.

Matt’s initially guarded stare warmed toward Lily, and her heart sped. She’d never met her father and didn’t know what to expect when the time came. There was a tightness in her chest she couldn’t explain and a nervous energy at her core. But Matt laughed easily and had such a handsome smile. The threads of her attraction gathered as they emptied their bowls.

When dinner ended, Matt touched Keke’s shoulder and whispered something in her ear before following Lily outside. A cold evening breeze danced along Lily’s skin, and she paused to look at the stars. It was a cloudless night, and the thousands of twinkling lights always brought her comfort.

“Everything okay?” Matt asked, stopping at her side.

“Yes, forgive me. I…I’m nervous,” Lily admitted.

“Well, you helped make that the most comfortable dinner I’ve ever had with Cailu.” Matt shoved his hands into his pockets. “Least I can do is try to make you more comfortable for this.”

Lily smiled. “Thank you, Matt. I can’t tell you what this means to me.” Pip descended from the sky and landed on her shoulder. He nibbled at one of the trinkets in her hair. “For all of us.”

“Right. More birds,” Matt sighed.

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s no problem. Glad I can help.” Matt pulled one of hands free and slid his fingers between hers. “Lead the way.”

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image [https://i.imgur.com/xgoz1Xj.png]