Emalynn POV

Light filled the little blue room at the inn as I stirred in my bed. Last night was so much fun. That fox beast knew how to show a girl a good time. What was his name? D…Darren? No. it started with a D… hmm… It’ll come to me eventually. Getting up, I felt a rush in my head. Ugh. Guess I got up too fast. My eyes blinked adjusting to the bright light coming through the window. I saw a girl snuggled up in the bed next to mine. She seemed familiar to me, but where have I seen her before? Her red hair splayed out in a knotted mess blocking her face. Who was she?

I turned to look in the mirror only to find myself, staring at an unknown face. Green eyes like my mother’s were staring at me, and my fur was amber like my eyes once were. Did I do something weird last night? That’s a dumb question. I always do. Looking closer, I noticed the star pendant around my neck, causing my memory of yesterday to return. I chose to look like this, and the redhead over there is Rory. I mean…Ro. Ugh. This will take a while to get used to.

Walking back over to Rory, I gently shook her arm. “Ro, you need to wake up.” No response. Ok. New plan. I shift into my little monkey form. My fur stayed it’s amber hue instead of becoming brown like usual. That’s new. Oh well, jumpy time. I get on the bed next to Rory and start jumping, causing her body to bounce like a ball.

“Uh…uh…ugh…” Ro groans as she starts moving.

I continue my jumping when I am suddenly slammed with a pillow, knocking me off the bed. My head hits the ground hard as I hear Ro’s laughter from the bed. “Serves you right for the bouncy wake up call,” she said.

Shifting back to my simian beast form, I pop up from the ground. “Not my fault that you are a heavy sleeper,” I called back to her. Her stomach growled filling the little room. All I could do was giggle at my friend’s sudden embarrassment. “Come on, we have to get up or we will miss breakfast.”

Rory’s freckled tomato face faded as she got out of bed. She was still wearing the blue and silver gown from the gala. “Partied too hard last night, Ro?” I asked as I slipped off my nightgown into my last set of clean clothes.

“Huh?” Ro uttered standing up to see her gown still on. “I was tired after all that damn dancing Katar made me do. I guess I forgot to change.”

“Oh? So, you did have a good time, huh?” I snickered. I pulled on my green halter and black pants, securing a few knives on my body just in case.

“Haha. Yeah, tease the new red head who had a damn elf on her heels all night.” She said sarcastically, ripping off her gown in favor of black shorts and a blue top.

She’s still sour over being forced to attend the gala last night. “It wasn’t that bad, was it? Katar seemed nice enough.”

Rory sighed, “He’s nice, but he’s also pushy. He wouldn’t stop asking questions and being flirty. I barely had a chance to breathe.”

All I could do was laugh at her frustration. She is not equipped to handle guys at all, and now, one has set his sights on her with no plans to stop courting her. We both finished cleaning up and getting ready for the day in time to get down to the dining area to eat. Breakfast smelt delicious as we got our food from the kitchen. The innkeeper informed us that Uncle Elias had returned to his sister’s manor this morning, and that he wanted us to go by the manner after breakfast. Rory continued her tale of Katar’s attempts to court her last night while I told her of the handsome fox shifter. I still can’t remember his name. We finished eating and made our way to Madam Kaya’s manor.

“Good morning, ladies,” Madam Kaya welcomed us in her study when we arrived. “I trust you had a good night’s sleep after the gala last night. I know Katar can’t stop talking about you, Ro. I would say you passed your test well since Katar told me every detail you shared with him. I would say he’s smitten with you.”

“How interesting since he didn’t care much before I was a redhead,” Rory commented.

Madam Kaya only laughed when Uncle Elias and Katar walked in. Rory suddenly seemed uncomfortable, but Katar grinned like a child in a candy store. His mom was right. Katar is smitten.

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“Ms. Rosewyn, I didn’t expect to see you so soon.” Katar greeted Rory.

“Save it for later son. They are here for work.” Madam Kaya interjected. Katar nodded and his mother dismissed him.

Rory relaxed again once Katar left the room, and Madam Kaya went to explain our jobs. We were her errand girls, doing whatever task needed to be done. Within two weeks, we would have enough money and supplies to leave for the Wizard’s Guild just beyond the Evergreen Forest. There, Rory and I would search for information about her ring and the wizard who created it in the hopes of her learning how to control it. It all seemed easy on paper, but I had a feeling our journey would not be so easy.

Two weeks later…

The next two passed by awkwardly as Rory and I ran around town for Madam Kaya. We did everything from delivering packages to acting as security for the farmers as they traveled to nearby towns for trade. Watching Rory learn to sew was my favorite job though. We had to help the local seamstress with a wedding gown, and Rory had never sewed a day in her life. Her fingers were constantly pricked from the sewing needles. She sewed her shirt to the dress while we were mending the dress, so I had to cut her free.

Katar had come by the inn each day, trying to court Rory. She reluctantly went to dinner twice and for a walk three times with him. The rest of the days she claimed to be too tired or busy shopping with me. We did go shopping for supplies and new clothes, but I think Katar saw through her excuses. The townspeople greeted us every morning on our way to manor. We had developed a new normal here, but our time was almost up. We need to leave soon for the Wizard’s Guild, so Rory doesn’t have to keep hiding her emotions.

“Ema, come on. Madam Kaya is waiting in her study.” Rory said, dragging me toward the manor.

The sun was already going down after we spent the day helping farmers plant a new plot of vegetables. I knew my face was covered in dirt, and Rory had weeds and dirt in her hair. No one can say we didn’t work for our pay because Rory and I gave it our all. We even discovered some hidden talents like Rory can bake and I can sew. The manor was coming into view, so I challenged Rory to a race. She was super tired already, which means I actually stand a chance at winning.

“Ready…Set…Go!” I called, charging toward the front door of the manor.

Dust of the road kicked up into the air as we sped toward the manor. A farm dog barked as we raced by its yard. Rory may be tired, but she wasn’t going easy on me. She got ahead of me as we turned the corner toward the manor. It was a straight shot to the door, I pushed my legs as hard as they could go. Rory beat me by a second as we both went tumbling through the door. Laughter filled the parlor as we lay on the ground. The maid came in to see the dirty mess we had brought in with us and nearly had a panic attack. Her fussing reminded me of Myrra chasing us through the mess hall every week.

“No one would believe you were Master Elias’ nieces if they saw you behaving like this,” the maid scolded us.

“Come on, Gina,” I teased. “We were just having fun after working in the field all day.”

“At least, I know where the dirt came from.” Gina, the maid, commented. “Go to the guest room and get cleaned up before Madam Kaya sees you.”

“Yes ma’am,” We answered in unison, getting off the floor. We headed up the stairs to the guest room. It seems Gina must have known we would be a mess because there were clothes laying out for each of us.

“It’s shower time!” I sang, enter the amazing bathroom. Rory laughed at me as she went into the other bathroom. One hot shower later we both reemerged and got dressed. We wore simple spring dresses with floral designs, which was totally Gina’s style.

“Shall we go see Madam Kaya and Uncle Elias now?” Rory asked, tying up her long red hair.

“I guess, but wasn’t today the last day of work? Once we go see them, our little vacation is over.” I sighed, brushing out my amber fur.

Rory smiled. “I enjoyed our stay, too.” She sat down in the chair to rest for a moment. “But we can’t stay. At least, I can’t. I have to master my new wild form and the polymorphic ring. Hopefully, I will find answers at the Wizard’s Guild, but that’s not a guarantee. The journey is mine to take. But, you could stay here if you want. I don’t mind.”

This girl, I swear, she never changes. Always trying to be selfless for everyone else. “Ror- Rosewyn Sillber! I am not abandoning you. Do you hear me? Quit trying to get rid of me.”

“Yes ma’am,” Rory giggled.

I got up and grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the room to Madam Kaya’s study. Rory has a way of winding me up sometimes. She’s lucky I love her or she would have an arrow in her head. I opened the doors to find Madam Kaya at her desk as always. Uncle Elias sat across from drinking whisky by the smell of it.

“Girls, you're early,” Madam Kaya greeted us.

“Early for what?” I asked before Rory could get a word out.

“Dinner, of course. I can’t let you leave tomorrow without feeding you well tonight.” Madam Kaya grinned.

“Thank you, guys, for everything.” Rory said with a sad smile. She didn’t want to leave yet either.

“Room for one more at dinner?” Katar asked, walking into the study. You see Rory visibly flinch.

“Of course, son. You are always welcome.” Madam Kaya answered.

“Splendid.” Katar grinned as he offered to escort Rory and I to the dinner table.

“We will be there in a minute, Katar. We need to speak with Madam Kaya for a moment.” Rory kindly rejected him.

“I will save a seat then, Ms. Rosewyn.” Katar nodded, leaving the study.

Rory let out a deep breath as he exited the room. “Still not used to him?” I teased.

Her face became flustered at my words. Uncle Elias and Madam Kaya laughed with me at her expense. She had no defense after two weeks of his constant pestering to spend time with him. I wonder what he will do when we leave tomorrow. Rory did her best to calm her emotions because she knew we meant well.

“We leave tomorrow after breakfast,” she forced herself to say. “We purchased passage to the Wizard’s Guild with a traveling merchant. He was headed there anyway.”

Everyone’s face turned somber at her words. We would all miss each other and the time that we spent here. Madam Kaya handed Rory the rest of our pay, and Uncle Elias escorted us to the dinner table. This was our last dinner together before we left Pine Row behind.