My ears twitched as I heard voices outside the door, down the hall “I would love to help mentor Tama! She is a wondrous young woman with many desirable.. er.. combat traits!” Tama heard Teranthia say from down the hall. Her voice sounded like she was excited. Another voice came through as they got closer “Tera, You have that look in your eyes that you always get when you..” A man's voice started to say but was instantly cut off. “When I want to help tutor and guide someone with so much promise!” Teranthia finished, cutting the man off before he could finish his sentence.

Talia’s voice came from the other side of the door, “I am sure the two of you will be lovely guides, and nothing more Tera! For these new and powerful adventurers”

Three forms entered the room. Talia came in first and walked behind, sitting herself behind her desk. Teranthia followed after, entering the room only to make a beeline for me.

She stood leaned in on her knees and smiled at me. I smiled back. “Nya! Hi Teranthia!”

“You can call me Tera, Tama,” Tera said with a strange smile on her face Tama didn’t recognize her.

The third person to walk in the room was a tall man with a chubby physique, He had black hair and brown eyes. He kind of looked like Jiggle if Jiggle was a human.

My eyes went wide as I looked at him. I felt my tail move faster and my ears begin to twitch.

“Nice to meet you two,” He said casually, “My name is Rylan, and I am happy Tera and I get to be your mentors.

“Tama is very happy Rylan is her guide!” I said before I could stop myself. My ears flattened and I felt my cheeks heating up. “Tama meant, she is happy Rylan is here to help train her!” My vision grew hazy as the heat built as I looked at him.

I felt like I was about to cry and cowered in my chair looking at Saki for help. Saki stared at me in disbelief. She looked over at Rylan, then me before she just shook her head and covered her mouth.

“It is a pleasure to meet you Rylan, What my friend is trying to say is she is happy you are both going to be training us,” Saki said, covering for me, I looked at her gratefully and she rolled her eyes at me.

“Yes, I as well am very happy to serve.. I mean help you! In any way I can!” Tera said with a giggle, as she spoke she began to gently massage my head.

I leaned into it, my tail going back and forth and I began to drool slightly. I continued to stare at Rylan. He was so cute! He reminded me of Jiggle, but so much. More!

“Tera, your tendencies are showing again. Also, can you please stop staring at me Tama, It’s kind of weird.”

My face began to heat up and I quickly looked away. I heard Tera speak “Dammit Rylan! You made her shy. Get out! I will take care of them for now, meet us out in the guild hall.” I wanted to argue, but I was so embarrassed, had I really been staring that long?

“Alright, whatever” I heard Rylan say. I looked up to see he left the room. Suddenly I felt Tera’s hands on my cheeks as she faced me towards her. Looking into her eyes. “Don’t worry about him Tama, I’ll make sure he doesn’t get in your way.” The look in Tera’s eyes made me worried, why was she looking at me like that?! Was.. was that drool on her lower lip?!

Tera leaned in and whispered in my ear “You can touch me wherever you want in private”

My tail stiffened and my ears flattened as I pulled away from her grasp. “Nya, Tama is thankful for that, but Tama is..”

She simply smiled as I pulled away before talking over me “Don’t worry, she giggled. I don’t bite. You can if you want. I’m a good girl.”

I had had enough and I jumped out of my chair and landed on the other side of the room “Tama doesn’t want to touch anymore! Saki said it was bad!”

Tera simply giggled as she looked at me and said “Of course, we have to get to know each other a little better!”

“I think what she is trying to say, Tera, is she is not interested” Saki spoke up with a raised eyebrow.

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Tera scowled and looked at Saki “Oh look, it's the troublemaker, again. It's Teranthia to you little fox”

“That’s enough Tera, If you can’t be professional then I will find someone else.” Talia’s voice was cold as ice, her tone unwavering. Tera flinched before turning to face Talia and bowing. “I am terribly sorry Matriarch Talia, I don’t know what came over me.”

I noticed she said that even as her eyes wandered to me. She had a look of longing like I was something she wanted more than anything. It was the same look I gave Serenity when I held her. Desire, I shivered involuntarily.

I didn’t remember her being like this earlier. She had been so kind and patted my head. She said I could get as many head-pats as I wanted. She even came in and rubbed my head and ears.

Now she kept giving me a look that made it clear she wanted to do things to me. Things I didn’t understand, but her eyes promised it.

I stood against the wall, my back pressed against it, tail in front defensively and ears perked listening for the sound.

Talia sighed before responding “Very well Teranthia, make sure you all make It back safe.” Tera nodded and bowed again.

“Always Matriarch Talia,” She said in a respectful tone.

“I hope you know, you don’t have a chance with Tama, and if you keep trying, I will personally intervene,” Saki said with a flat tone, her ears alert and her tail casually swaying behind her as if none of this mattered.

Tera once again glared at the fox before putting on a forced smile “I understand well, I trust that we can work together to finish this peacefully and without any trouble.” She said She sounded like she was gritting her teeth.

“Tama completely agrees with this! Tama doesn’t want any trouble! You will protect Tama right Saki?” I said, fear coloring my voice. I had fought undead, goblins, boars, big mean men, a lot of stuff. But nothing, not even Talia with her super strength, had put fear into me like this girl in front of me.

She held no weapon, no malice, yet she represented something I did not understand and she seemed intent on teaching me in a way I felt I didn’t want to be taught.

Tera turned to me and with a wide loving smile stated for everyone to hear “I just want you to know Tama, just for you, I’m not wearing a bra or panties.”

“Last warning Tera” Saki said, her voice ice “Leave Tama alone or I will make you suffer.”

Tera tensed, looking between Saki and Talia. Finally, she said and smiled at me. “I am sorry Tama, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to give you more head pats.”

I looked at her uncertainly. On the one hand, I really wanted head pats, on the other hand.

“Do you really think that’s gonna work on her?” Saki said with amusement, she isn’t that simple Tera.

“I told you my name is Teranthia to you!” Tera said in a huff before leaving the room.

I walked up next to Saki and whispered “That totally was going to work on Tama”

Saki sighed and nodded before whispering back “I know Tama, don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” She pulled out her silver badge and looked at it again. “After all, we are meant to be friends forever, I can’t let anyone take them from us, from me.”

Saki turned to Talia instantly and spoke “You can’t be serious, she is going to take Tama the moment I’m not looking!” Her voice is full of frustration, her tail twitching and her ears flat. That woman is hornier than a sailor at a brothel, and twice as forward!”

“I understand your fear Saki, but rest assured, despite Tera’s strong words, she is extremely submissive to those she finds powerful. Tama has caught her eye. No won’t sadly be an option with her, but if you learn to guide Tama, she can control the situation with ease. Tera wants to be controlled, there doesn’t have to be any sexual undertones. Just make sure Tama shows Tera her place, and everyone will be satisfied.”

Saki looked at Talia with an unreadable expression. “You expect Tama, TAMA, to dominate someone with her words?” Saki’s ears flattened and her eyes narrowed at Talia. “Are you insane?”

“No Saki, I am being pragmatic. Tera is the literally weakest threat socially you can imagine. She talks a lot, but she is easy to dominate. Something Tama needs to learn to do if she is going to survive. Either she will successfully dominate Tera, which should be simple if you guide her, or this will go on for much longer than necessary.”

“What about her boyfriend? That Rylan dude? Can he keep her in line? If she is so submissive, why did she kick him out?” Saki said indignantly.

“Because Rylan lets her push him around, he doesn’t stand up for himself. She likes him because he is easy to use.” Talia said simply.

Saki huffed before turning to me “Tama listen, this might be uncomfortable but I need you to listen carefully. You need to be controlling of Tera. If what Matriarch Talia says is true, this shouldn’t be hard. I know you can do this! Think it like the way you teased those guys outside the gate.”

My ears quivered and my tail wrapped around me. “Does Tama have to?”

Saki sighed and nodded looking sadly at me. I felt her tail wrap around me and she leaned in and hugged me. I was shocked at first, but after a moment, I did the same. It felt nice, it felt.. right.

I felt my resolve firm and I stepped back looking at Saki “Tama can do this! She is the greatest ninja ever! Second only to her sensei!” As I spoke I stood straight, my ears perked up and my tail stood at attention.

Saki smiled at me, her ears twitching as she giggled. “That’s right Tama, this is my area of expertise, I will guide you! After all,” She pulled out the silver badge again and rubbed the surface before looking into my eyes. “I am the Vulpine Mastermind! I won’t let my friend down!”

I felt my heart beat slightly faster, I was ready. I could do this. I turned and walked towards the door, each step purposefully. I heard a cough behind me and stopped, turning around.

“Um, Tama, we still need to come up with the plan..” Saki said sheepishly. I looked over to Talia who had covered her mouth and looked to be trying to hold back laughter.