Keke sat on the edge of Sylva’s porch, watching the raindrops trickle from the roof. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, searching for the trees’ scent beneath the water. A sliver of green wound through the moisture, tickling her desire to wander beneath the canopy and search for more Encroachers she’d never seen. Like she’d done with her mother when she was a kitten.
‘Quiet now, Keke. We don’t want to startle them,’ Elona cautioned as they approached the grouping of brilliantly colored squirrels.
‘There’s so many!’ Keke marveled. One flicked its tail as it chewed on a nut, and she resisted the urge to giggle.
Elona nodded. ‘Plenty of silver whiskers here for Nauka, I would think.’
“Hey.”
Keke’s eyes snapped open as Matt took a seat next to her. The rain had dampened the sound of his footsteps, and his voice startled her. “Oh! Hey!” Keke smiled and rested her head against Matt’s shoulder. His skin was warm and familiar, but he smelled different. He always smelled a little different when he spent time with another girl. She suppressed the urge to wrinkle her nose. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.” Matt rested his hand on top of Keke’s. “Surprised Cailu didn’t kick the door in with our ass-in-seat time.”
Keke laughed. “Our what?”
“The time that our asses need to be in their seats. Just shit my dad used to say.” Matt chuckled. “You really going to be okay out here?”
“I’ll be fine. I’m sure the girls here could shoot down a Defiled before it knows Khasstead exists.” Keke twined her fingers with his. “And as soon as you’re ready, we’ll go home to Ni Island.” It felt strange calling it ‘home’ when Khasstead’s forest felt more natural to her than Junonia ever had.
“I’ll work hard at [Battleguard] camp,” Matt replied. “And I’ll—”
“Ah, Matt. Are you finished, then?” Cailu interrupted from the doorway.
“Speak of the elf,” Matt grumbled. “Yeah. I’m ready.”
Keke’s heart hammered against her chest. It was the first time in months she’d go to bed alone. Wouldn’t wake up to Matt’s tickling or gentle kisses on the forehead. But she couldn’t think like that. That kind of yearning was a dangerous slope—Cannoli’s mother had proved as much.
She steeled herself, squeezed his hand, and smiled. “I’ll see you soon.” She kissed his cheek. “Write to me.”
“I’ll have to have Cailu teach me how to send a letter.” He tipped her chin so their eyes met, then brushed his lips to hers. “Be safe, Keke.”
“You too, Matt.”
He hopped away from the porch and joined Cailu, Ceres, Zahra, and Kirti. Keke watched as they made their way back to the carriage. Matt took one last look over his shoulder before they vanished into the darkness.
“Keke? May I show you to your cabin?” Lily’s soft voice pierced Keke’s attention.
Keke shook her head and blinked, turning to face the white-haired catgirl. “I get my own cabin?”
“Yes. We had ample time to prepare thanks to Cailu’s missives.” Lily touched Keke’s shoulder. She smelled like Matt. Keke’s grip on the porch boards tightened. “I will admit, I have never traveled outside Khasstead. So, I can only imagine the difficulty of this parting. But if there’s anything I can do to ease your burden, simply say the word.”
Keke took a deep breath, concentrating on the sound of the rain and the breeze through the tree branches. Her jealousy wasn’t Lily’s fault. The emotion should have never been there to begin with. She swallowed against the building lump in her throat. Watching him leave was one of the hardest things she’d ever done, but admitting her weakness now, when she was here to train, was out of the question. “Thank you, Lily.”
“Of course. We are sisters in the hunt now, and it is the least I can do.” She stepped back, giving Keke room to stand. “Sylva tended to your fire today, but it will be yours to stoke and care for as you please.”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I’ll be sure to thank her again.” Keke rose to her feet and smoothed her hands over her leggings. She hadn’t left [Combat Mode] in what felt like ages. Ever since they’d begun traveling over Ichi Island, she didn’t feel safe sleeping in anything else.
“If I may say, your equipment is quite striking.” Lily motioned to Keke’s top and quiver. “I have never seen such fine workmanship of leathers.”
“Cailu was generous in purchasing gear for our Party before we came to Nyarlothep.” It was a half-truth; he’d forced it on them all. But she didn’t want to speak ill of him after he’d done so much for their Party.
“Oh. Not Matt?” Lily raised a brow.
“Matt hasn’t been in Nyarlea very long. We’re still working on his savings.” Keke bit her tongue and blushed. Including herself with him had come so easily. “I-I mean—”
Lily lifted a hand. “Please, you needn’t guard yourself so carefully. You are safe here. Now, this way, please.” She dropped her arm and fished a lantern from her [Cat Pack] before setting off to the south.
Keke followed close behind. She didn’t know what to say.
Lily filled the silence. “Tomorrow morning, you will meet my mother, Wren. She is very excited to make your acquaintance, though her illness carries her to sleep in the early evenings.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, what is she sick with?”
“I suppose you’ll find out anyway. Some time has passed since she showed the first signs, and you are one of us now.” Lily’s expression was difficult to read in the lantern’s dim light. “My mother has a wasting sickness that gradually saps her [Strength] and [Vitality] to render her as frail as a newborn kitten. Against her wishes, I called upon a [Priest] from Ronona and then a [Bishop] from Saoirse’s temple in Falselle to help her. Both could only provide temporary comfort in their healing. The effects always return.”
Keke gaped. From Aurora’s stories, there was very little a [Bishop] couldn’t heal. “Where did it come from?”
“A Defiled, I believe,” Lily replied quietly. “We have successfully downed many Defiled in both Khasstead and Ronona. However, five years ago, a terrifying presence swallowed our village whole. My mother and a full Party of [Sniper]s sortied to defeat it.” She fiddled with one of the trinkets dangling from her ear. “Mother was the only one to return alive.”
Keke’s heart broke for Lily. To experience so much relief and then have it shattered… It was a sensation Keke was intimately familiar with. “It sounds like Wren saved Khasstead.”
“She did. She is a hero many times over.” Lily shook her head. “It is difficult to remember that no cost is too great when it comes to the lives of others.” She looked down and touched her stomach. “I only wish to be half as brave for my own daughter.”
Lily’s daughter. Matt’s daughter. Keke pushed the thought away. “I’m sure you’re that and more.”
“You are very kind, Keke.” Lily stopped in front of a cabin with a single oil lamp on the porch, twinkling like a beacon in the darkness. “This will be your home while you train.”
Keke ascended the two stairs to the door and touched the handle. “No lock?”
Lily shook her head. “We have nothing to fear from one another. You will soon learn that Khasstead shares her bounty amongst all of her devoted hunters. It is our way.”
“I’ll remember that.” Keke pushed the door open and stepped inside. A modest fire crackled in the hearth, and a table with two chairs sat in the center of the main room. The walls and floor were bare, save for three empty baskets set to the side of the fireplace.
“Your cabin is yours to decorate with treasures and wonders from your hunts. I encourage you to make it your own.” Lily moved to the left wall and brushed her finger over the aging wood. “The spirits and experiences of past hunters will guide your arrows true. We honor them and the Encroachers we pursue with our work.”
“Mind if I ask you for inspiration?” Keke asked. Cannoli would have loved this. “I’ve never been great at decorating.”
Lily smiled. “Of course. Myself and the other [Hunter]s and [Sniper]s would be honored to share the tales of our trophies. We have a few skilled hands in jewelry and accessory [Crafting] as well.” She touched the adornments on her ear. “They assisted me in creating my own.”
“That would be wonderful. I have a few carvings from Ichi Island that I’d like to do something with.” She was relieved that the scales would be useful after all.
“It is rare that we see materials from Ichi. I’m sure the challenge will be well received.”
Despite separating from Cannoli, Matt’s absence, and her unfamiliar surroundings, excitement bubbled in Keke’s chest. Discovery, tracking, crafting, nature… Every fundamental piece of hunting called to her being, and she finally had the chance to hone it into something greater. This undertaking was hers and hers alone.
She wandered into the single bedroom that extended from the living room. A cot with furs blanketing the thin mattress was propped against the far wall, and two more woven baskets flanked either side.
Keke tilted her head, but before she could ask, Lily said, “The baskets serve multiple uses; storage, carrying furs or hunting materials, bringing your clothing down to the river for washing—whatever you may need. They are easy to clean and the fibers do not stain.”
“Ah. Thank you.” Keke smiled. “I don’t have much to store, admittedly.”
“In time, you will. But I digress. The hour is late, and we rise with the sun.” Lily performed a quick bow. “I will leave you to it.”
“Right. Thanks again, Lily.” Keke watched Lily leave before muttering, “[Civilian Mode].” She snatched one of the furs from the bed, wrapped it around her shoulders, and then sat beside the fire.
Keke was alone in Khasstead.
image [https://i.imgur.com/a2cO5Ie.png]