Rory’s POV

I heard the door crack open and someone sneak inside my little room. The candle by the bedside had gone out while I was asleep. Shit. I left a candle burning while I slept! Suddenly a warm figure crawled into bed with me.

Rory, this is not the time to worry about burning candles! I scolded myself internally. My grip tightened around my dagger as I saw a white fuzzy tail…

“Emalynn?” I whispered.

“You woke up? I thought you were sawing logs.” She moped while sitting next to me on the small bed.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Ema? I could have killed you!” I exclaim, sitting up with the dagger still tight in my grip.

"You are too slow to catch me, Rory." She stated matter-of-factly.

This is not the conversation I thought I would be having first thing in the morning. "Not even close. I have won 347 of our races and tied 17 times as kids. You won 5 races when we first met, but none since then. Do you like making me brag first thing in the morning?" I gave her a smile.

"I will beat you again one of these days." She poked me in the side forcing a laugh to spill from my sleepy face. She started tickling me.

"Aren't we too old for this crap?" I giggled.

"Never." She grinned.

"OK. Ok." I pushed her away. "What did you come in here for?" I asked her.

"Well, I am bored out of my mind. I have already slept, cleaned my bow and arrows, sharpened the arrows, and rebandaged my shallow wounds. What else am I to do?" She crossed her arms in a huff.

"I see your point. Let me get cleaned up, and we can get something to eat." I said, pulling myself out of bed.

Emalynn grabs my arm. "You are going to want to wait on going to the bathroom. It's occupied by some loud people…"

"Oh, so Uncle Axel is here." I respond nonchalantly.

"So it's not Elias and Leah?" Her snow white ears popped up in surprise.

"No. Yuck." I said, shaking my head dramatically. "Aunt Leah is mated to my Uncle Axel. My uncle sensed she was near and… I guess you know what happened."

Emalynn looked deep in thought while processing my words. "So, mating is like being married?"

"Yes and no. They appear the same, but mating only happens between beast folk…" My cheeks burned red.

"Why? Can it happen between other species and beast folk? That's what happened between your parents right?" She asked with no shame at all.

My whole body was red with embarrassment, and a pit of disgust formed in my stomach at the thought of my parents mating. "It's complicated. Maybe Leah can explain it."

Emalynn studied me closely when ears popped up and a wicked smile settled on her face. "Rory, why are you so flustered about mating? I know someone had to have given you 'the talk' by now. We are adults, just breathe."

I balked at her. "Roll back a second, Ema. You can't just flip from innocent curiosity to all knowing, confident deviant!" My whole body was calm. I hate these conversations because they always make me uncomfortable. I don't want to even consider getting a mate or getting married. My life is too complicated for that crap. Then there's the whole creepy bonus that comes with mating. Who wants someone just invading their thoughts? Not me. I want nothing to do with telepathy, thank you.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Don't look so serious. Your face could be contorted that way forever." Emalynn jokes, and I decide to pull the blanket over my head to hide.

Adult or not, mating has always been an embarrassing subject for me. I understand the mechanics of the process, but I have yet to meet a male that would make me want to do it. Plus, I have my own insecurities about my own body. Imagining bodies moving together to mate is just awkward. The sounds that you would hear make me cringe. Ugh.

Emalynn pulls the blanket off my tomato complexion and cracks up laughing at my exasperated expression. If she wasn't my best friend, I would punch square in the face. She knows how this talk bothers me. Why must she tease me?

"The answer to your question is because of your hilarious reaction. I may be childish and ignorant about hunting and battling tactics, but at least I am knowledgeable about aspects of everyday life." Emalynn explained to my surprised face. "While you amped up your training over the last year, I explored the joys of everyday life. I went on a few dates too. You always train or go on missions unless I drag you away."

"Isn't your dream to be S rank?" I questioned. It feels like I didn't know Emalynn as well as I thought. She did have some maturity under her playful nature. How did I miss that?

"Yes, because I want to compete and be the best. I surpassed everyone at my level right now. Yet, I still want more some day. To enjoy life or fall in love. You have been so down for a long time that I decided our time together should always be fun." She gave a reassuring smile. "Since we are stuck together for the rest of our lives, you will have plenty of time to have fun now."

I laughed at her version of our situation. "You make being on the run for the foreseeable future sound like a vacation."

"No vacation. Just an awesome adventure." Emalynn smiled.

I was happy she wanted to stay together after the past few days. However, I need to be sure that she understands what kind of life we will lead. "You won't be an S rank or have a chance to find love if you really want to stick with me. It will be constantly sneaking around and camping. Different looks and identities that may change all the time. No home to go back to."

"All the more reason for me to be with you. Besides, we will be less lonely together. Maybe one day we can even leave Gleaca behind. We could be world travelers!" She clapped her hands with excitement. There's the playful Emalynn that I know and love.

"I think I need to learn to control that wild form of mine first before we visit other lands. We don't need a world wide manhunt after us." I reasoned with her.

She gave a nod in agreement. "Let’s go check on Elias and find some food." I suggest as I heard Emalynn’s stomach growl causing an echo to bounce off the stone walls and ceiling. Her cheeks reddened like she had been painted red. "I will spare you from the jokes. Let’s go wake up Elias. He's probably as hungry as you." We climbed off the bed, and I did a quick tidy up of the room and blew out the candles. Emalynn followed behind as we knocked on Elias’s door. I heard him snore and pushed the door open.

"Elias." I paused to listen for a response. He stirred and grumbled out louder snores. "Grumpy old man, wake up." I shook him from his slumber.

"Child, go away." Elias bid.

"Not a chance, Uncle Elias. You must get up and move again or you will roll out of bed painfully." I urged him.

"You know, I am just waking up. Your logic doesn't affect me." He retorted.

"Very well. Don't say that I didn't warn you." I turned and waved to Emalynn to commence the operation wake up call. She nodded. Suddenly, my fluffy white friend became a smaller brownish version of herself. Her monkey form has always been adorable. She quietly snuck over to the grumpy man's bed. "Brace yourself, Uncle."

Emalynn jumped on Elias’s back as he laid in his bed. I watched little Emalynn, about a third of the size Elias, just bounce around on his back. I couldn’t stop the laughter spilling out of my mouth. Emalynn’s little paws made a splat with every bounce against Elias’s skin, and Elias would respond with a groan.

Splat, groan, splat, splat, groan.

It sounds like a terrible musician groaning in frustration at his broken drum.

Elias turned his body to get away from Emalynn’s paws pounding him, however, Emalynn just landed right on his gut. He groaned out loud, making me fall to the floor with laughter. Poor Elias asked for it. I know Emalynn won't stop until he is out of the bed. Elias once again rolls, but luck is not on his side or mine as he falls off the bed to the floor, naked, in front of me.

Eww. I quickly cover my eyes. "Uncle Elias, the blanket!" I shouted in a hurry. I hear pull the blanket over himself. I open my eyes to see monkey Emalynn hit the wall behind the bed and the room fills once more with my laughter. "I swear our family should join a circus."

"Or perhaps, just let me wake in my own time, Rory." Elias said sternly.

Emalynn’s puffy white form returned, standing tall on the other side of the bed. "You have been asleep for three days. How much more do you need?"

"Shit. I guess that I needed it." He took a minute to survey the room. "Why are we at the safe house, Rory? What happened?"

"The short version is that my secret was revealed during that battle with the dark elf. My body took on a wild form that I can't seem to control. The dark elf was a water clone. We escaped through underground tunnels and wound up here." I said quickly. I am at the point that I want to move past the last few days. "Also Aunt Leah and Uncle Axel are 'occupying' the bathroom." My cheeks burned red at my last statement.

"Wow, I missed that much? Is that why I am naked?" He said sitting there in disbelief. I nodded at him. "My damn age is starting to affect me. I must be becoming senile. I hate being old. You two better not get old on me or I will kick your asses."

We left his room so he could get dressed. Entering the small kitchen, I found fresh yachi bread probably brought over by Uncle Axel. I made quick work of the bread with some sweet berry cream and served it on the little table near the couch. Emalynn watched as I brewed tea on the small stove after lighting the burner. I had her pull out cups for the tea while Elias hobbled to the couch. I left the tea to brew and lit a few lamps in the living room. Emalynn made Elias a plate, and the kettle whistled, beckoning me to the kitchen. Bringing in the tea, I served everyone a cup. Looking around, it all seemed so normal and domestic. Two things that I have never had before in my life. Even at the guild, I was always onto the next assignment, training or hanging around Emalynn.