Hut n° 125...

Once again, Stella and Lien stood at the door of a hut, steeling their resolve to convince yet another mage. Only now, they had an extra pair of paws to aid them. Technically two?

Speaking of...

"Can you please keep Peat elsewhere?" She begged Lien, who responded by crossing her arms and pouting. They'd have to improvise, then.

Euraidd paced relentlessly, muttering some inaudible words under his breath, probably practicing what he'd say to his sister.

"You okay there, dude?" Stella asked, her eyes carrying genuine concern.

The guard finally stopped, assuming a rigid posture. "I'm ready!" He puffed his chest.

The girl wasn't all that convinced, but they did not have the time to postpone this any longer. The Knight might return tomorrow, for all she knew.

She knocked on the hut's door. It didn't take long for Hufen to open it. Her casual clothes were a lavender cropped tank top and a boho skirt of the same color that reached all the way to her ankles. Stella can't help but be stunned by the Wolf's attire, especially her exposed midriff...

Well, you can't say she doesn't have a type...

Luckily, the cream-colored Monoke's eyes first glanced at her brother. Her curious expression quickly turned into an irritated scowl.

"Hmpf. Bold of you showing your face outside work." She crossed her arms. "Let me guess, Verp is back, and you found a way of making him even more disgusted at me." Poisonous sarcasm and contempt dripped from her words.

Stella held her laughter. "His name's Verp?"

Euraidd clasped his paws together. "Can we talk in the hut? Please?"

Hufen's eyes glimpsed the two girls. "I suppose these two came for emotional support?"

The Human scratched her head with a bashful smile. "We're here for some business of our own."

She hummed in acknowledgment. After a few more seconds, alternating her eyes at the three, technically four, visitors, she uttered a relenting sigh. "Enter."

Hufen's hut interior was the polar opposite of her brother's. The walls were coated with a pleasant salmon color, each piece of furniture was perfectly placed, and, more importantly, no underwear on the floor! The only similar details were a television, a DVD player, and a poster on the wall. It portrayed a Nguruvilú, different from Kristal, adorned with red, green, and purple jewels all over their elongated body, swimming between water hoops. The name Joya was plastered at the top.

"Please, sit down." She motioned at the table with four chairs. How convenient.

After everyone obliged, Hufen poured a few glasses of water, except for Euraidd. "Sorry, bro. I forgot to refill the tank." She smirked mischievously.

The golden Wolf huffed. "I'm not thirsty, anyway." He rolled his eyes.

The female mage crossed her legs, tapping her foot impatiently. "Go on."

Her brother was about to speak, but-

She pointed at him. "Nope. Not you." Her finger shifted towards the girls. "You two."

Stella clutched her hands together. Hufen's expectant stare fed her anxiety by the second. "I-I'm here to invite you to a surprise party we'll throw for The Silver Knight when he's back from his patrol. The only one left is-"

The whiteish Wolf held a paw. "I know about your little party already. Locci told me. I don't plan on going." She shot an ugly stare at Euraidd. "And you can thank this good-for-nothing brother of mine for that. If he goes, I won't."

"We know that!" Lien interjected. A frantic, moving bulge could be seen on her tunic. Suddenly, the pup started giggling, her eyes watering. "Stop it, Peat! You're tickling me!" She gripped her hidden pet.

Hufen blinked twice, staring at the Wolf child. But then, her eyes returned to the other two visitors. "Wait a minute..." She pointed at her brother again, taking an accusatory tone. "Is this bastard about to apologize so I can go to the party?!" Her jaw was on the floor, infuriated.

Before anyone could explain further, the female mage stood up, pulled her sibling by his floppy ears, and dragged him towards the door. "I won't stand for this bullshit any longer!"

Stella and Lien quickly intercepted her way to the exit, their arms open wide.

"Please, ma'am! Hear your brother out! He means it this time!" the Human begged.

Hufen scoffed. "As if! He always comes crawling here, I accept his apologies, and then he does what he does best after a few days! Meddling on my freaking life!"

Euraidd moaned and whimpered in agony. "I know! I keep doing more than you asked for! I-I just wanted to make your life easier!"

His sister roared. Her eyes flared with frustration. "Messing with my love life is a new low, Euraidd! I never asked for your help! You don't even CARE about romance! So, WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT MINE?!" She tugged his ear with more force.

The golden guard hissed in pain. However, he maintained his tone and broke through. "I-I'm your brother, you know. We don't hang out as much as we did since we started to live in separate huts." He sighed. "I guess I was too focused on ensuring we don't drift apart like... You know..."

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Hufen's eyes widened, and so did Stella's. Lien was quiet after the guard's words. Did she pick up on that?

"Raidd, I..." She clutched her head, averting her gaze from everyone. "T-That's not the same!" She flailed her arms as if she wasn't sure what to do with them. "You and me are not the same as..." She shot a concerned glance at the pup. "M-My point is! We're not drifting apart! I won't let you!"

Euraidd slowly stood up, his eyes gleaming with unshed tears. "You mean that?"

Hufen's eyes started to water as well. "Of course, you dumbass!" She punched his shoulder. "You think I'd let you go while you live in that dumpster!? No freaking way!"

The male mage's tears started streaming down his cheeks. "Sis..." He pulled her into a tight hug. His sister's sobbing was heard soon after.

While the siblings reconciled, Stella turned her attention towards her friend, who was still as static as a statue. Peat climbed to the pup's head, nibbling her ear, but not even that was enough to take a reaction from her.

The girl was scared. What could she do to comfort the pup? Her heart accelerated with apprehension. Her world narrowed down until it was only Lien. Her Lien.

Her storm of thoughts quieted when her eyes locked on the Wolf's paw. In a reflexive act, Stella reached out to her hand, gently squeezing as a subtle gesture of reassurance.

Finally, Lien's head turned slightly in her direction, tightening the grip between their hands. Without words, she leaned her head on the Human's shoulder. Just like that, the girl's heart resumed its relentless pounding.

After the twins' hug was finally broken, Hufen lifted both eyebrows when she remembered the girls' presence. "I made a scene in front of two children..." She covered her face with her paws in shame.

Euraidd tapped her shoulder with a shy grin. "You can put that on my tab as well."

Stella shifted her feet anxiously. "We can let you two alone, no problem." Lien took her head off her shoulder.

Hufen waved her paws placatingly. "No way! Let me make it up to you somehow! Except for the party! I'm on the fence on that."

It was better than refusing outright, at least.

"I know!" The female twin slammed her fist onto her palm. "Who wants a LBCS season 1 marathon?!"

All three visitors looked at each other, then back at her, puzzled.

"Love Between Claws and Stakes." She clarified, her smile unwavering.

Euraidd huffed, which Hufen immediately cut it off. "You wanted to spend time with me, right?"

"I-I mean, yeah! But-"

She flicked his nose. "No buts! Unless you didn't mean all that talk before..." She feigned a dramatic, tormented expression and tone. "Argh! My poor heart-"

"Fine!" He howled. "I guess it will be fun poking fun at how cheesy this show is..."

Hufen beamed. "I expect nothing less!" Then, she diverted her attention to the girls. "You two are in? I can contact the captain so you can spend the night here, Lien."

The pup bounced on the floor like a rubber ball. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" She stopped, sniffing her tunic. "Where's Peat?"

The white Wolf cocked an eyebrow. "Who's Peat?"

Then, Stella felt something sniffing her ear. "There you are, little guy!"

When Hufen locked eyes on the rodent, a piercing shriek came from her mouth, echoing through the small, compact salmon walls.

That would be Ratatouille's ending if it was realistic. Hah! Realism is a flimsy concept for someone like me, so who cares? Not you, most likely.

Let me spare you the suffering and skip a ton of hours.

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[Dora, you should stay away from me! What runs in my veins is the blood of a predator! A creature of the night!]

So. Fucking. Cheesy.

[Harris, I know what you are! And I trust you! I feel drawn to you, somehow, and I can't let go!]

A doormat of an underage main character and her broody, not-at-all creepy 180-year-old vampire boyfriend. Why would an immortal being even bother with fucking high school?! It couldn't be that exciting!

[Are you ready for the consequences, Dora? Are you ready to join me in eternal life in trade for your soul?]

[Yes, Harris. Make me your immortal bride...]

Stella wasn't sure if she wanted to barf or laugh. Euraidd clearly shared the same sentiment, Lien was... cleaning her pet rat with her tongue, and Hufen carried a genuine, content smile.

Before the two lovebirds kissed, a third person barged in, leaping from a tree and landing between them. The third wheel always got the short end of the stick, huh?

[Adam!?] Dora cried.

[Don't fall for these bloodsuckers' pretty words, Dora! A life as an undead bat will only bring you pain and suffering!]

Harris stood on his way to the personality-devoid damsel. [Don't you dare question my love for her, you filthy mutt!]

"Do you think I could turn into a Human on the full moon?" Lien whispered.

Stella chuckled, then murmured back. "Plans for tomorrow night? I'm in."

[That's it!] Adam started to growl, his eyes flashing into a tacky yellowish color and fake fangs "growing" in his mouth. [You and me! A duel for Dora's heart!]

[Fine! I'll do it to prove my worth!] As it happened in every single past episode, both male leads tear off their shirts, an obvious tactic to appeal to the teenage target audience. Stella wasn't a fan of the overly toned abs and pecs.

The vampire's pale skin started to sparkle like a disco ball once exposed to sunlight. The werewolf had begun his transformation into a hideous CGI coyote. Finally! More action scenes! They were so hilariously bad they became comedic masterpieces to the girl's eyes.

Unfortunately, the last episode of season 1 ended on this cliffhanger. Everyone but the rat was yawning so much that each one was shedding a puddle of tears.

Hufen prepared the sleeping bags. She had enough ready for a fifteen-people sleepover! Meanwhile, her brother only had one chair at home.

"That was Love Between Claws and Stakes. What were your impressions?" She eagerly asked.

Lien was nuzzling Peat. "Boring."

Euraidd gulped down a glass of water in an instant. "As agonizing as I expected."

Stella was already tuckered out and comfortably lying in her bag. "The funniest thing I have ever seen."

Surprisingly, Hufen's smile brightened. Maybe she didn't care much about that shitty series, after all. "Thank you guys so much for this night! I was gonna mope by myself, otherwise."

After the lights went out and the twins went to sleep, something tugged Stella's arm.

"Psst. Can you do me a favor?" Lien whispered.

"Of course."

"Can you hold my paw while I sleep? I'm not used to sleeping without my mom."

"What about Padda's house?"

"I took a little while to sleep there." She tugged her arm again. "Please?" Her sweet voice carried a tone of faint desperation. It made Stella's heart clench.

The Human couldn't let the pup down. However, holding her paw would mean the one who wouldn't sleep would be her.

Whatever. What harm could this actually do? Besides her heart, of course.

"Okay." She reached for her paw and gently squeezed it. "Can you feel my hand?"

The pup nodded. Fuck, Stella could kiss her if she couldn't get a grip on herself.

"Thank you." Lien's voice melted all her sense of self. "Goodnight, Stella."

The Human's lips involuntarily curved into a faint smile. "Goodnight, Lien."

And, as expected, Stella couldn't sleep, knowing she was holding the pup's hand like a cheesy married couple. She was living the dream AND the nightmare.

She needed to calm her heart down before she made an irreversible action. She wanted to confess to Lien so much, to prove the sensations of their lips brushing each other, to embrace her fully and without reservations.

Relieving herself from those feelings was not an option here. Stella would have to brave through this hormonal torment.

...

Something was crawling under her tunic.

"Fuck you, Peat..."