Prelinsa woke to a stiff cold, as the bright sun of a winter morning poked through the holes in her shelter. Yawning, she stretched her arms, her body aching from resting on cardboard and cobblestone. The makeshift shelter that she and her mother built did little to keep out the elements, let alone provide a comfortable rest, and a bit of snow had found its way inside overnight. The shelter itself was just large enough to fit three people – made of scrap metal and discarded blankets, it was bound together with whatever could be found into a sort of hut. It was propped up by the interior wall of a collapsed, abandoned building, the likes of which were abundant in the slums of the North Realm.

Speaking of, her mother was not in sight. Prelinsa could tell from residual scent that she’d left the shelter. The young half-pokkit got up and poked her head through the door flap, before emerging fully. Many other shelters like hers were built along the wall, making it a crowded place. Most of the shelters had campfires in front of them. The roof of the building was long gone, and an overcast sky was visible overhead. Fellow homeless people were out and about, eating whatever they had scrounged up. The more fortunate of them were getting ready to go to work.

A chilly breeze whipped by, causing Prelinsa to squint, and huddle her battered scarf and stubby tail closer to her body, while pulling her fox ear down. Her breath condensed and blew away in the wind. As the wind died down, amid the rubble and the confusing, tangled scents of the Commune, she made out her mother’s scent trail leading down a nearby alleyway. It led to a nicer part of town, so mom was probably looking for food to bring back.

“Morning, kiddo!” A voice nearby called out – familiar over the bustle of the crowd. It was a middle-aged cat-eared woman – an ailuran – wrapped in a winter coat and a blanket, sitting on some sheets of cardboard. Her frizzy, black hair was adorned with a beanie cap, and had some snowflakes trapped in it. She sat in front of a fire, which danced and flickered, and prodded it with a makeshift poker to keep its shape.

“Good morning, Missus B,” Prelinsa replied, for that was the only name she – or anyone else – knew the woman by. Missus B. was one of the leaders of the Commune – the little makeshift village that they all lived in, on the outskirts of the city of Kalmia. She helped take care of infighting among other things. But despite that, they were close enough that she was keeping watch outside the shelter. She sat down to join her on the cardboard. “Is mom out in Central Kalmia looking for food again?”

“Sure is! That Marianne really looks out for ya.” The cat lady said.

Prelinsa frowned, as her one fox ear lowered. If it could, her human ear would’ve done the same. “I wish she didn’t have to. It’s so dangerous.”

Finding food in such a nice place as Central Kalmia was always a bit dangerous for slum dwellers – the rich often didn’t take kindly to them, and at best, the police turned a blind eye to any “incidents” that happened. But sometimes, it was worth the risk for a nice meal. If one was lucky, they might even find decent meat, barely expired and still sealed in the plastic. Rich people were so wasteful in their habits – just the thought made Prelinsa’s stomach grumble in annoyance. The last time she’d eaten anything really substantial was some days ago.

Missus B. laughed at Prelinsa’s words. “Nonsense! That just shows how much she cares for ya! Why, if my daughter were still here, I’d do the same for her. Can’t stop a mother from feeding her hungry kid.”

“I just feel like I’m holding her back.”

Missus B. grabbed Prelinsa and hugged her gently, patting her on the back. “Oh, you’d make her sad if you said that to her face! She’d never think anything like that. And if she ever did, she’d never live herself down for it.” She pulled back, her feline tail flicking in annoyance. “Your father’s the real villain here. Running away and leaving behind such a lovely wife and kid. All ‘cause the kid’s ‘not right’ in his eyes. If I ever meet him, I’m gonna give him a good punch in the face!” She made a fist and did a mock punch for emphasis. With her strong build, it would definitely hurt too.

Prelinsa smiled faintly. “Thanks, Missus B.”

Her fox ear perked up as she heard familiar footsteps approaching. Then, from the alleyway emerged Marianne, carrying a rucksack on her back. Her scarlet-red hair and long bushy tail looked grungier than usual, but didn’t detract from her fiery golden eyes. Her big, vulpine ears, which stuck out from the sides of her head like wings, had woolen warmers over them to shield them from the cold. She’d also gotten into some kind of fight again – there was a bit of blood staining her clothes, and probably bruises under her clothes. Despite this, she carried herself as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

“Mom! You’re-” Prelinsa suddenly coughed a few times, covering her mouth with her arm. The first cough was quite deep and produced an uncomfortable itch in her chest, and it brought up a few droplets of blood with it, which splattered Prelinsa’s sleeve. Upon seeing this, Marianne rushed over and knelt down, a look of worry on her face. She rested her hands on Prelinsa’s shoulders.

“Prelinsa! Sweetie, calm down, I’ll be fine. Don’t talk, just breathe.”

Prelinsa nodded silently, wheezing slowly for several seconds as her breathing stabilized.

“…Are you okay now?”

Prelinsa quickly nodded again, mentally cursing her own sickliness. It had been getting worse lately due to the cold.

“Are you sure?”

Prelinsa nodded once again.

“…Good.” Marianne finally seemed convinced. She stepped back, pulling the rucksack off her shoulders and rummaging through it. “I brought us some food. Some for you too, Missus B.” She pulled out a sorry looking loaf of bread, expired packs of snacks, and some partially-full plastic water bottles. She began handing them out to Prelinsa and Missus B.

“Marianne! Ya didn’t have to!” Missus B. exclaimed, raising her hands.

“Please, I insist. You’ve done so much for us. This is the least I can do in return.”

“Well then, I won’t refuse. Bless your good heart,” Missus B. said, accepting her share of the spoils.

Prelinsa ripped off a piece of the bread, crunching through it with her canine teeth. It was dry and stale, but not the worst she’d ever had. At least it wasn’t moldy. She opened the water bottle she’d been handed to rinse the bread down. The water had a slightly bacterial taste to it, but it would probably be fine.

Marianne pulled off her jacket to examine her wounds. Prelinsa looked over, and sure enough, there were a few new bruises and scrapes visible. Once again, her fox ear sank. Marianne noticed, and looked apologetically at Prelinsa.

“Prelinsa, would you get me some medicine and bandages from the shelter?”

Prelinsa nodded and clambered into the shelter to find them, rummaging through what few medical supplies they had. Meanwhile, she could hear Marianne and Missus B. conversing.

“So, Marianne! Any new news from Central?”

Prelinsa heard Marianne taking a sip of water.

“…I heard from Grinda that they’re planning to station more guards around the alleyways. It might become harder for me to travel there.”

Missus B. ripped a bag of snacks open.

“Pff, of course. Those Silvermoons’re trying ta keep trouble from the slums outta Kalmia. Fair enough, that! But when it comes to keeping trouble from coming our way, they won’t lift a finger.” She crunched down on some stale chips. “Rotten crooks, the whole lot of ‘em. And they wonder why the slums’re so bad.”

Prelinsa emerged from the shelter with cloth, an old expired tube of antibiotic lotion, and a roll of bandages. “Here, mom. Let me help you with these.”

Marianne smiled.

“Thank you.”

Prelinsa applied some of the lotion to a rag and began cleaning a bruised scrape on Marianne’s arm.

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“I wish I was as strong and healthy as you, mom. Then I could help out with getting food, and protecting the both of us.”

“Prelinsa, sweetie, thank you. I know you’re worried about me,” she said. “But you’re doing plenty for me already, just by being here. As long as you’re around, my heart will always be full.”

Prelinsa bit off a strip of bandage from the roll and began tying it around the wound. “What good is that if your stomach is empty? Yesterday, Gloria’s gang stole our food and it was all because you had to protect me,” she said bitterly. “So there wasn’t enough for us both. Then you gave your share to me and went hungry.”

“Prelinsa, I’m your mother. I’m willing to go hungry for your sake. That’s how much I care about you.”

Prelinsa finished tying up the bandage.

“Hmm. Well, I don’t like seeing you go hungry, mom. Or getting hurt. You know I care about you, too.”

Marianne reached over and patted Prelinsa’s dirty blonde hair with her free hand. Prelinsa closed her eyes in surprise, her stubby fox tail swishing.

“I know you do, sweetie.”

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“Argh, I lost again!”

“Kiddo, you’re too easy ta read. You wear your heart on your sleeve!” Missus B. laughed. “Well, on your ear and tail, in this case.”

After they’d finished eating and tending to Marianne’s wounds, Marianne had left to continue her job hunt. Then, Missus B. had pulled out a deck of cards and she and Prelinsa were now using it to kill time.

“…One more round,” Prelinsa insisted.

“Ya really don’t like losing, huh? Well, that’s not a bad thing. But I gotta take a piss after all that. Watch the fire for me, would ya?”

Missus B. stretched her arms, got up, and headed to the toilet area of the Commune, her feline tail swishing behind her. Meanwhile, Prelinsa picked up the makeshift poker and began poking at the fire. Not long after Missus B. left, a scruffy teenage boy – a lycan with wolf-ears and a tail – swaggered towards the shelter – a bit older than Prelinsa. His hair was a dark gray, which contrasted with his orange eyes.

“Hey, Prelinsa! When your mom gets back, tell her to marry my mom already,” he said arrogantly.

Prelinsa rolled her eyes, still sitting down as she tended to the fire.

“No way, Vincent. How many times have you bugged us about this?”

“My mom’s got a job in the factories,” Vincent bragged. “Soon, the two of us will have lots of money and get out of this place. We can bring you and your mom along, and you’ll be living a way better life.”

“Well, I heard the factories are in trouble lately, because the mana streams over there are all drying up. So your mom might not have her job for much longer,” Prelinsa retorted. “Besides, what good is following you if you’re both going to hurt us anyway?”

“Why, you-!” Vincent snarled. “Who else is gonna take someone like you in? You’re too ugly, with your weird ears and short tail! Nobody wants you, that’s why your dad left! Besides, you’re sick, right? I heard you’re probably gonna die young, and that only legendary magic from one of the Great Clans can cure what you have! So if you want to meet them, you should follow us out of the slums!”

Prelinsa twitched as she felt something burn inside. Of course she wanted to learn legendary magic and rid herself of her sickly constitution. But meeting one of the Great Clans was a pipe dream, even if one had lots of money. Besides, one of those Clans – Clan Silvermoon – ruled over the North Realm, and far beyond. No matter where one went in the Greater Realm, they were walking on Silvermoon Empire soil. Yet the Silvermoons weren’t doing anything to help the poor and homeless.

“The answer hasn’t changed,” she said huffily. “Mom said she’ll never marry your mom, so stop using me to try and convince her. It makes you look pushy and desperate.”

A few people had stopped what they were doing, and gathered around, a bit worriedly.

“Oy! Calm down, you two!” One of them called out.

Vincent willfully ignored the bystander, as his temper rose. “You’re the one who should be desperate, Prelinsa!” He said, pointing his finger at Prelinsa in an accusatory manner. “You stupid half-breed! You should be clinging to me and begging to get out of here! But you’re so dumb, you don’t even know what’s good for you!”

“Oh, I know what’s good for me,” Prelinsa countered. “It’s being far away from you and your mom. Now piss off!”

“Arrrgh!” Vincent yelled angrily. There was a crackling noise, like bones popping, as his body transformed into a longer shape, causing most of his clothes to rip off – only his compression top and bottom remained, made of strong and stretchy elastomers. His hands and feet morphed into paws, causing his shoes to drop off as gray fur grew all over his body, and his human face elongated into a long snout with sharp teeth. In moments, he’d gone from his humanoid ‘earfolk’ form to a large, muscular wolf, and he lunged at Prelinsa!

Prelinsa’s eyes widened as she rolled out of the way. As a half, she wasn't able to shift to counter him. Vincent landed on the spot where she’d just been, kicking up a cloud of snow and dust. This caught the attention of even more people nearby. Murmurs spread quickly.

“A fight? Anyone gonna try and break this up?”

“No way I’m getting involved with a lycan! Even if he’s just a brat!”

“Someone get help! Call Missus B. back here!”

A couple of people ran off, while others watched the fight tensely.

“I’m gonna make you regret turning me down, Prelinsa!” Vincent roared, slamming a paw down to try and pin Prelinsa. Prelinsa rolled again, and scrambled to her feet, backing off. She held her scarf over her mouth and nose to avoid inhaling any dust. Vincent crouched, and prepared to run at Prelinsa again. Prelinsa’s senses were a bit sharper though, and she avoided him as he leaped, taking several steps back towards the fire. But all of a sudden, she felt a familiar horrible feeling in her chest.

“Hack! Urgh!” She coughed up blood, stumbling.

The next moment, Vincent tackled her and pinned her to the ground with his front paws on her chest. Prelinsa gasped and squirmed, trying to break free as she stared up at him. But there was no chance of her overpowering the lycan, especially in her current state.

“Prelinsa!” Missus B. shouted over the crowd, having returned. However, there was little she could do to help with Prelinsa trapped.

“Apologize to me and my mom!” Vincent ordered, pushing down harder. “Apologize before I really do hurt you!”

Prelinsa lay there for a few moments, struggling to breathe as she glanced at the flickering fire next to her. Then, mustering as much strength as she possibly could, she seized the red-hot poker from the flames with her right hand and whacked Vincent with it.

“AAAAAHHHH!” Vincent screamed in pain, recoiling as he reverted back to his human form, clutching his side tightly. The poker had ripped and burned straight through his top, making contact with skin underneath. Prelinsa took the opportunity to scurry free, wheezing as she clambered back to her feet, brandishing the poker towards her wounded foe. She coughed twice more, wiping blood from her mouth with her free hand.

“…That’s what you get, asshole,” she muttered.

“What’re you lot doing? Get him fixed up!” Missus B. instructed some of the bystanders. They quickly complied. “Prelinsa! Put the fire stick down!” She ordered, racing over. Prelinsa quietly complied, dropping the poker back into the fire.

“Ya shouldn’t’ve provoked him like that,” the older woman scolded Prelinsa, crossing her arms. “Ya know what kinda kid he is. And you’re not well enough to be in a fight. Gotta take better care of yourself!”

“Sorry, Missus B,” Prelinsa said, staring at the ground.

“My gods. You kids’re gonna give me a heart attack.” Missus B. sighed. “Oh! But don’t worry, Prelinsa – I’m not angry with ya,” she added, relaxing her arms. “Just… I am upset, ya know? Marianne’s counting on me to make sure you’re safe while she’s gone. So I can’t just have ya getting into fights like this.”

“Right. Sorry,” Prelinsa said, again.

Missus B. patted the half-pokkit on the shoulder. “Well. I’m glad you’re okay. At least, as ‘okay’ as someone can be for coughing up blood. Take this, it’ll help,” she said, handing Prelinsa a vial of some gross-looking purple liquid. Prelinsa sniffed at it, scrunching her nose. It smelled bad, but she uncapped it and swigged it down in one go. It tasted exactly as good as it smelled.

“Bleah.”

Missus B. scratched the inside of her left ear as she surveyed the people tending to Vincent’s wound. “Now, how am I gonna explain this one ta old Gladys? At least you didn’t get beaten up. I dunno what I would tell Marianne if that happened.”

“Well, I know mom’s going to be upset either way,” Prelinsa commented.

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Sure enough, Marianne hugged and fussed over Prelinsa quite a lot more than usual after she returned that evening.

“…Gladys was furious that you hurt Vincent,” she said quietly, referring to Vincent’s mother. She stroked Prelinsa’s hair as they sat in front of the campfire. “I know she’s a bad person, but for now, we still need her strength to help defend the Commune. Luckily, Missus B. was able to calm her down.”

“Sorry, mom.”

Marianne hugged Prelinsa tighter.

“Don’t be – I know it’s not your fault. I wish I could give you a better life, so we wouldn’t have to worry about these things.”

Prelinsa leaned into her mother some more, closing her eyes.

“I know you’re doing your best, mom. I’m proud of you.”

“I’m proud of you too, sweetie. They told me about this morning. But I’ll still always be worried about you, no matter what.”

“Mmm. Thanks, mom.” Prelinsa opened her eyes again, looking her mother in the face. “Did they tell you what Vincent offered me?”

“They told me a little. But I’d like to hear it from you.”

“He said that if we followed him out of the slums, we would be able to meet one of the Great Clans, and learn legendary magic that can cure my sickness.”

“Well, you didn’t believe him, did you?”

“Of course not,” Prelinsa said. “Besides, legendary magic can’t be that easy to learn. Mister Smith told me about the Path of the Phoenix once.”

“Oh, and what did he say?”

“He said that people who learn it are called Phoenix Warriors. They’re the most powerful mages in the entire world. They can cure any sickness, heal any injury, and even live forever. But most people can’t do it, and burn to death trying to learn. Or sometimes they become cursed with phoenixfire and burn in pain for the rest of their lives. Only a few people can become strong Phoenix Warriors.”

“Hmm. Well, I don’t want you burning yourself, Prelinsa. Promise me you won’t do something so dangerous, okay?”

“Mom. There’s no way I’ll ever get that chance, you know?”

Prelinsa mumbled. She snuggled closer.

“But I’ll try.”

“Thank you, sweetie. I will find a safer way to cure your sickness.”

The two of them watched the campfire as the stars twinkled overhead. Prelinsa slowly grew drowsy in her mother’s comfort, while thinking about the bombastic tales Mister Smith had told of legendary fire mages.