Needless to say, Mau didn't get to have that huge fish she was promised on her birthday.

She wasn't all that disappointed though, as she woke up in her own bed. She was clean of blood and gore, which was good. But every muscle in her body was sore from exertion, and she felt completely groggy as she sat up and rubbed her eyes.

She couldn't help but mewl in surprise when she felt a pair of arms wrap tightly around her, and she tried to wriggle free, until she realized it was her mother.

"Ah..." Mau breathed, not quite relieved, but not quite comforted, either.

Her mother was purring, nosing at her hair and holding her a little too tightly for comfort.

"C-can't breathe." Mau wheezed, which prompted her mother to lighten up just a bit.

When her mother finally released her, they met eyes as her mother's hands set on her shoulders.

"What happened?" Mother demanded, half hysterical. "I heard the village was attacked by goblins, Thrain brought you home unconscious, he wouldn't tell me a thing and leaves that with you-" She trailed off, motioning for the short sword resting on the nightstand beside the bed. Somewhere along the way, Thrain must have procured a scabbard for it, because it was sheathed.

"Mau..." Mother pleaded. "Mau please. Tell me what happened."

Mau shut her eyes tightly. She knew this day would eventually come. She had destroyed any ability to hide behind being a child when she revealed her combat ability against some meager goblins. Word was going to spread around the village.

If there was anything she had learned over the course of her hundred lives, it was that there's no love quite like a mother's. In all her lives they had been there for her whenever she needed them, at any time, regardless of how hard or soft her upbringing was. But never before had she told any of them- not a single one- that she was not really their child. Even though they had bore her and birthed her, the Hero only had one mother- long ago- from a world that the Hero barely even remembered at this point.

Something in this one- this poor haggard woman that worked her tail off and her hands to the bone for her- reminded Mau of that mother from long ago. She couldn't lie to this woman.

Mau's shoulders heaved in a tired sigh. She still felt exhausted from the exertion in town, but she was up and awake now, and there was no avoiding this conversation. When she opened her eyes again, there was something in them that made Mother gasp, nearly shrink away even. There was no missing the hardened edge in Mau's eyes; eyes that had lived for far too long to simply be an ordinary kitten.

"I killed the goblins." Mau admitted. "I killed their leader. I took his sword. It's mine now. I'm going to need it."

Mother stared, incredulous; wanting to disbelieve. But the tone in Mau's voice was too firm and too serious to call the kitten a liar.

"... Mother. There's something you need to know about me." Mau started to speak, words coming unprompted. "I'm not just your little kitten. I'm a hero- a reincarnated hero. I've killed thousands of goblins and orcs, hundreds of ogres, countless monsters, and ninety-nine Demon Lords. I was reborn in this world to fight- to kill- the hundredth Demon Lord and save the universe from the inevitable coming darkness. I'm the only thing holding that darkness at bay."

The grave tone Mau so seriously conveyed this all in silenced Mother. The woman stared. Shocked, bewildered, perhaps even a little hurt on the inside at realizing her little kitten was destined for such hardship.

The woman reached a hand up, fingers sifting through Mau's jet black hair, lifting the silky soft locks briefly as she frowned.

"... You didn't hit your head..." Mother muttered. "And... I think I knew..." She admitted after a pregnant pause. "You were always lying to me... I just knew. You were hiding something, stretching truths, and evading straight answers for so long... I'd always wondered what kind of child could have such secrets from their own mother." She said, voice heavy and sad. "But you're still my little kitten... You're still my little Mau; even if you're here to kill a Demon Lord or every monster under the sun... You're still my Mau that purred in my arms the day you were born..."

The woman's words shocked Mau. She could only stare. She had been honest for the first time in so long. She didn't even expect the woman to believe an ounce of what she had to say, and yet... Her mother accepted her, just like that. Something in her- some part of the Hero's mind- wondered if all her mothers over every lifetime would have accepted her so readily in the same manner...

She didn't have much time to think on the matter before Mother clasped her in her arms once again in another tight embrace. Mau's own arms moved without prompt and before she realized what she was doing, as they slipped around Mother's waist, returning the hug tightly. The woman had accepted her even after she had essentially said 'I am not truly your daughter'. And something about that blind devotion and uncaring selfless love made the Hero's eyes burn.

Mau's fingers curled, gripping tightly into her mother's dress, rumpling the soft fabric, and for a good moment that stretched on into almost an eternity they simply held each other. Both Mau and her mother were reluctant to release one another, but eventually they did.

Mother rubbed at her eyes with the back of one hand, wiping away the lingering tears that had welled up with a shivery breath and sigh.

"What can I do?" Mother finally asked. "What can I do to help you on your... Journey...? Quest...?" She said, fumbling the words.

Mau shook her head slowly.

"You've already done a lot for me. I can't ask for much more." Mau answered honestly. "I'm going to have to start training. I'll need equipment and gear, travel supplies... But I can't ask you for any of that, you work yourself half to death just to feed me."

Mother shook her head.

"I'll work harder. I'll scrounge every penny; you'll need it all." Mother said hastily.

Mau frowned.

"I-"

But before she could form a response a heavy knock sounded at the door to their little cabin, and a familiar voice called through the door.

"Miu? Mau? It's me. May I come in?" Thrain, the innkeeper was standing outside, waiting.

"We'll talk later. Let me get that." Mother whispered as she stood up from the bed and made her way to the door, opening it.

Thrain was silent for a beat, weight shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other as he stared Mother down.

"I came to check on Mau." He said, finally.

"She's awake... Would you like to come in? Shall I make some tea?" Mother offered, standing aside to let the old dwarf in.

"Water'll be fine." He replied as he made his way into the single room home, lumbering for the bed and plopping himself in a chair nearby.

He stared intently at the little kitten, and she stared back at him.

"You sure gave us one hell of a surprise." He finally said. "Just a kitten and fighting like a seasoned adventurer... I thought I was running out to rescue you when you took down those goblins quick and neat, lass..." He paused. "Where did you, of all people, learn to fight like that?" He asked point blank.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Mau frowned.

"You wouldn't believe me." She said, which made the old dwarf chuckle.

"Try me, lass." He said.

Ho boy, she just went over this with Mother, how was she going to explain it to Thrain? Mau squeezed her eyes shut tightly, ears pinning back as she fidgeted with the bedsheets.

"I'm training to become an adventurer." It wasn't a lie. It just wasn't the whole truth, and that made the dwarf chuckle again as he stroked his grey beard with one hand.

"You killed those goblins like a professional. And you say you're 'just' training..." He mused. "Well an adventurer is going to need more than rusty daggers and clubs to get by."

Mau blinked.

"I cleaned up the sword a bit and found a scabbard for it, but by all rights it's yours, after you killed the hob like you did. But you'll need more than just a new blade if you're going out into the world." He said, turning to look at Mother.

"That is, if you're mother's alright with you leaving and all."

Everyone fell silent. Mother eventually spoke up after a long beat.

"She... She's going to leave the nest sometime." Mother admitted hesitantly. "I'd rather have her ready for anything instead of empty handed, if I can help it."

Thrain nodded slowly, attention returning to Mau.

"For now just rest. You wore yourself out something fierce. But come see me at the inn when you can." He said while rising to his feet. "I'll have some things for you. You can consider it a birthday gift."

Pausing only long enough to take a drink from the glass of water Mother brought him, the old dwarf took his leave. Mau realized how haggard he looked as he stepped out into the daylight and the door shut behind him. He must have been busy helping the other villagers put out the fires the goblins had started when they raided the village.

Mau started to sit herself up, swinging her legs off the side of the bed.

"Where are you going?" Mother asked, shocked.

"I can't just stay here." Mau said. "The village is in danger. Where there's one goblin there are ten more. Where there's ten, there's twenty hiding, and where there's twenty hiding is where they have their lair." She said. "If goblins have moved in close to the village, this won't be the only raid they're plotting and I..."

Mau trailed off as Mother set a hand gently on her shoulder.

"You just woke up." Mother said. "Please. At least take a little more time to rest and recover before you go save the village and then the world."

This made the kitten pause, the pleading look in her mother's eyes told her everything. The woman didn't want her to go, but saw that there was no choice in the matter.

Mau sighed.

"Alright." She relented. "I'll just... Close my eyes a little longer." She said, laying herself back down.

Mau woke up the next morning, feeling more rested than she had ever felt in her life before; for this life anyway. Sitting herself up in bed, she hopped off the straw mattress and quickly changed out of her nightclothes into a fresh dress that had been left at the edge of her bed for her. Mother was already awake, sitting in the corner of the cottage, stirring a bowl of porridge over the fire. It wasn't much, but it was breakfast, and the two ate in awkward silence, before Mau finished her meal.

"I should go see Thrain." She announced, slowly rising from her chair at the table. That's when Mother set something down on the table in front of her.

It was the short sword that Mau had earned. Not only did it have a fine scabbard, but it looked like Mother added a worn belt to it, for Mau to strap the weapon to her hip.

"The belt was your father's... I thought you could... Put it to use." Mother said haltingly, clearly reluctant to part with one of the last remaining keepsakes of her husband.

Mau picked up the blade, turning the belt over in her hands as she stared down at it, fingers running over the smoothly tanned, fine broken leather. Mau rose from her seat and looped the belt around her waist, shifting the blade and scabbard to her left hip, slid the belt into the loop and tightened it. It looked like Mother had punched some holes into it the better adjust it for Mau's skinny waist, but the belt fit perfectly.

"... Thank you." Mau whispered, scootching up onto the tips of her toes to embrace her mother one last time before she headed out the door.

The country breeze gently fluttered Mau's dark hair as she stepped out into the cool, clear, spring day. The silhouette of the village was just visible in the distance, and she made her way down the road. The entire trip she was turning over possibilities in her head; where the goblin lair could be, how many there were, whether they were being led by a chieftain or a shaman or worse... A goblin king. Knowing the lair must be fairly new in the region, the likelihood of the latter two were slim, but she didn't want to be surprised by not considering and entertaining the possibilities.

It was an hour's walk into town, and when she arrived in the village the air still smelled of burned lumber and blood. Heads turned, and Mau could feel the villagers stares all on her as she hurried her way to the tavern. No one said anything. No one so much as waved or greeted her. They all simply stared, some slack-jawed and others in disbelief. Here was the little hero that made the goblin attack break, and they were all too dumbfounded to say a thing to her.

Ducking into the inn, she slammed the door shut behind her. There were several locals inside as well, and their heads soon turned to stare at her all over again. Before a great big hand plucked Mau up by the scruff of her neck.

"Wah!" She bleated, immediately going limp as Thrain grasped her and dragged her quickly into a door behind the bar.

He set her down in a chair and folded his arms across his barrel chest while he sat across from her and she irritably rubbed at the back of her neck.

"So." He began. "I don't know where you learned to fight like you did. But I can't say I've ever seen one as young as you stand toe to toe with a hob-goblin and win the encounter."

Mau pursed her lips. He wasn't done speaking, though, so she opted to remain quiet and see just where this was going.

"My question is, Mau, what do you intend to do with those skills of yours. You don't plan to just leave this town and your mother behind to become an adventurer do you?" He prompted, quirking a bushy brow expectant for an answer.

"Not yet." Mau answered without hesitation. "I have to deal with the goblins first." She said.

"Deal with the goblins?" Thrain asked.

She nodded.

"Where there's one there's often a lair nearby. And where there are hob-goblins there's a lair big enough to be a threat to the village, if they aren't exterminated." Mau said.

Thrain nodded, understanding.

"Aye, you speak the truth." The old dwarf conceded. "I may be old now, but I spent my younger years doing my fair share of adventuring and treasure hunting. Goblins are like rats... If you let one live, they'll repopulate quicker than ever." He scowled.

Mau nodded again.

"That's why I'm going to kill them all. Before they threaten the village again." She said. "Before they threaten mother, or you, or anyone here ever again."

Thrain frowned.

"I thought so." He said at length, fixing Mau with a hardened gaze.

"Considering the damage you did when they attacked, it'll be some time before they're feeling bold enough to try it again." He said. "... I don't like that one as young as you is so ready and willing to throw yourself into the den, but while we have time... I'll get you everything you need... So what do you need?"

Mau blinked. She hadn't expected old Thrain to be as willing to help as he was. For as long as she had known him he had been like a jolly grandparent. One that would do everything in their power to keep their grandchild from coming to harm and out of the way of danger. But she most certainly wasn't going to turn the help down.

She glanced down at the sword belted to her hip and pursed her lips thoughtfully.

"I'll need two or three good daggers. Some armor, something light and easy to move around in. Better boots and a good pack of basic things. Rope, climbing gear, pitons, food, armor and weapon care things." She rattled off in a list of the most basic supplies she could think of.

Thrain nodded and rose from his seat.

"Alright... Come along then." He rumbled gruffly.

"We'll start by getting you fitted for some armor..."

❧

It was about three weeks before all the gear Thrain had put together for Mau was ready. She met him back at the inn at the crack of dawn. When she arrived and knocked on the door to the inn, it creaked open as though Thrain had been waiting, impatiently, on the other side.

Thankfully there was much less scruffing this time as he led her to the door behind the bar counter.

"I got you everything you asked for." He said, setting a moderately heavy looking backpack down on the table. Laid beside it were two pristine new daggers in a sheath each, and a small set of armor. It consisted of a light metal breastplate, shoulder guards, elbow guards, gloves, and knee pads, attached to leather backing and straps. It certainly seemed like it wouldn't hinder her movement while protecting her vitals and joints.

Mau nodded as she went over the contents of the bag, running a mental checklist in her mind of everything she had asked for. True to his word, Thrain had gotten her everything she requested. But then her eyes fell upon the armor. Slowly she ran her fingers over the thin steel plating, evaluating it in her head. It was just about perfect; all she had to do was try it on.

"If you need help putting it on-" Thrain started to speak, only to trail off and watch in bewildered awe. To him she was still a kitten, never in his mind would he have expected her to know how to put on the armor and adjust the various straps and attachments. He assumed she would need help in that regard, and was more than a little shocked as Mau began to slip on the various armor pieces and adjust them to her specifications.

"You're just a kitten full of surprises aren't you?" He muttered as she finished tugging on the last strap and adjusted her boots by tapping her toes to the floor. The armor fit perfectly, and complimented the sword and dagger worn at her hip as she set the second dagger into her boot for safe keeping.

"You're serious about this, that much I can tell." The old dwarf sighed. "But where you learned to gear up like that, I guess I'll never know, huh."

"Maybe I'll tell you. One day. But not now." Mau answered him. "Right now I have a goblin den to exterminate."