Tosh’s... awakening, as one might call it, was still the talk of the Society.

It was a little worrisome, but not because they found it so amazing and wonderful... since it was a wonderful thing. Rather the issue was simply because they were allowing the wonderful miracle to override their recent worries and the last few days’ events.

Most of the society seemed to have forgotten that there’s a potential enemy right beyond their front door. Waiting. Planning. Possibly sharpening their claws.

Though I couldn’t blame them. Tosh coming back from the recess of his mind was a miracle. And in truth, most of them don’t even see Fly and her people as enemies... they’re hoping they become fellow members. Most in their own way already see them as members. Members of the society who, like they had been in the past, were being abused by a tyrant.

People who needed to be saved and forgiven, not hated and killed.

Hopefully those beliefs and hopes weren’t misplaced.

Rounding a corner, I noticed how empty the hallway was. It was later in the day, but it was a little strange... I wasn’t too far from the main lobby area. Though I was on the third floor. One not really frequented much, especially not by the human employees.

“Vim!”

I turned to watch Renn hurry around a corner, running up to me with a huge smile. Not far behind her, hurrying but not running, was the eastern human. Lamp.

Lamp had returned this morning, and she’d been sticking to Renn ever since. It was actually a little bothersome... If the two became too close with one another, it’d be a pain when it came time for them to separate.

Plus... Renn had once mentioned she was tired of burying those she loved. Humans, particularly.

Hopefully she’ll not weep too much.

I slowed to a stop as Renn reached me in the middle of the hallway. I kept a small eye on Lamp as she slowed in her approach... as if intentionally doing all she could to give us some space. It was ridiculous, since she couldn’t understand this language anyway.

“Lamp’s going to work under Brandy for a few years,” Renn said, speaking quickly.

“Well, not a surprise. There’s only a few here who she can even converse with,” I said.

Renn nodded. “They’re going to make her some kind of auditor? One that keeps an eye on all the different branches?” Renn seemed to find it interesting, but didn’t seem to understand what that meant.

“They intend to teach her this language, and make her write reports and such in her own language, yes. A useful tactic,” I said as I nodded.

She frowned and glanced back at Lamp, who was now stepping up to us. She smiled and nodded at me, but remained silent. She must think we were talking about something important.

Well, to Renn it probably was important.

“Are your people safe, Lamp?” I asked Lamp.

She nodded. “Yes. Thank you, Vim. Several wanted to return with me but... we don’t want to intrude too quickly. I hope to prove myself as to earn their right to come here too,” Lamp said.

I heard the rehearsed words, but could also see and hear the honesty in them.

“I’m sure it won’t take long.”

Renn smiled as she watched the two of us talk. The happy grin on her face told me she really enjoyed what was happening... though something told me it was a little simpler than just her being happy over Lamp being accepted into the society. She had that weird grin on her face whenever she watched and listened to Lamp and I speak to one another.

Lamp turned to Renn and smiled at her. “Will you tell her how much I love her?” Lamp asked me.

“No.”

Lamp turned, and for a tiny moment looked aghast... but then burst out into laughter.

Renn perked up as Lamp tried to cover her face as she laughed excitedly. Although I had been only a little serious, as she laughed I began to regret not being completely so.

That laugh was so pure and lovely that I could see why Renn found her attractive.

“What’d you say to her?” Renn asked with a smirk.

“I put her in her place,” I said.

Renn’s smirk died as Lamp got her laughing under control, she began to snicker and mumble under her breath about how much she adored us.

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“Don’t be mean to her,” Renn’s smirk grew again as she studied Lamp, but I could hear the serious tone in her voice as she spoke to me.

“She was the one being mean to me,” I said with a sigh.

Renn obviously didn’t believe it as Lamp sighed and wiped her eye. “I wish I could talk to her,” Lamp said.

“You will be able to in time,” I said.

“Would you teach her my language? I bet she’d learn it quickly,” Lamp said.

“So you can woe her and steal her from me? Not going to happen,” I said.

Lamp nearly broke out into laughter again, but this time kept it to just a few giggles. “Right! Wouldn’t want that!”

Renn’s smirk grew into a large smile as she watched Lamp giggle away. “She’s beautiful when she laughs,” Renn said.

I groaned.

“What?” Renn looked at me.

“I don’t share,” I told her.

“Share... are you saying you’re claiming her?” Renn asked, her smile disappearing.

“Of all ways to take those words, that’s how you do so?” I asked her.

“Ah... well...” Renn’s face became a little red, and I realized she had understood what I meant from the beginning. She had simply been trying to play it off with a joke.

“Is she your wife, Vim? I asked Brandy and she just laughed and told me to go away,” Lamp asked.

Great.

“Let me ask her,” I said.

Renn glanced at Lamp, likely expecting a response from her since I had just said something... but after a moment she finally looked back at me.

“Lamp wants to know if you’re my wife,” I said.

Renn blinked and frowned, then looked at Lamp. “Not yet.”

Lamp glanced at me.

“She said not yet,” I said.

Lamp’s scar curled as she smiled. “I see.”

She really did, didn’t she?

“What’d you tell her?” Renn asked, interested.

“Exactly what you told me,” I said honestly.

Renn studied me for a moment, and I could tell she believed me but there was still a part of her that didn’t.

“Why’s she frowning now?” Lamp asked as she pointed at Renn’s face.

“She thinks I didn’t tell you the truth of her words. Or maybe thinks I’m teasing her, or you,” I said.

“Are you?” Lamp asked.

“Don’t think so...” I said with a shrug.

Lamp seemed to find that amusing, and Renn’s smile returned as she watched the two of us talk. “I like how calmly you talk to her, Vim. You talk to her like you do our members,” Renn said.

“She’s a member, Renn. Even if human,” I said.

“I know... but not everyone treats the human members as kindly. I just...” Renn shrugged as she spoke.

I nodded, understanding what she meant. If she had any idea how rare it was for predators to act the way she did, then... Well... no...

She probably does know how rare it is now. She might full well comprehend it now.

I shouldn’t look at her as someone so innocent and without experience anymore. Even if she acted like such an individual often.

“Vim, would you tell her I’d like to walk around on my own?” Lamp asked.

“Your own?” I asked her.

She nodded. “This is my new home... When we were here, we weren’t really allowed to walk around and see it... So...”

Not the oddest request... but it was still odd, thanks to it being her first real day here. Though maybe that was the point. She wanted to get her bearings.

“Renn, Lamp would like to walk around on her own. She’s probably excited and wants to see her new home,” I said to Renn.

“Oh? Was I not doing a good job of showing her around?” Renn asked.

“Doubtful. She’s been with you all day Renn. Let her walk around a bit,” I said.

Renn didn’t seem too happy with the idea but she looked at Lamp and nodded.

“She says it’s okay?” Lamp asked.

“She’s upset you don’t want to keep walking around with her, but yes it’s okay,” I told her.

“Aww... I didn’t mean it that way!” Lamp’s face contorted into a pained expression as she looked at Renn.

“What’d you say to her!” Renn immediately went to Lamp’s defense, and stepped closer to her. She grabbed Lamp’s hand, and glared at me with a look that told me she’d fight me if she had to.

“She didn’t mean anything mean about it Renn. She enjoys your company,” I told her.

“Oh...” Renn and Lamp stared at each other and smiled, as if they understood one another.

I sighed at the sight of them and wondered if maybe I should just teach Renn her language. Lamp will eventually learn this one, thanks to Brandy and the rest, but Renn was smart. She’d probably learn it a lot faster if I actually spent the time to teach her it. Not to mention once I taught her enough, her and Lamp could at least communicate to a point.

“She’s so precious,” Lamp whispered to me as Renn held her hands.

She was. But I didn’t like hearing others say it. Least of all someone who was staring at her as if she was some long-lost lover.

Where did that affection stem from? It had started not long after Brandy and I had brought them back here. For Lamp to have grown so attached to Renn, even with their language barrier...

An odd movement in the air drew my eyes away from the two women and behind me, but I saw nothing and no one. This hallway wasn’t too far from the main hallways and hubs, but it had been relatively quiet and empty the last few hours... Yet...

“Vim?” Renn noticed me studying the empty hallway.

“Hm...” I frowned and wondered which way I should walk. I had felt something, but wasn’t sure what it had been.

“What is it?” Lamp noticed the way Renn was looking around.

I was about to answer, to tell Lamp to head back to the main lobby... but a small figure rounded the corner down the hallway, from where Renn and Lamp had come from.

“Vim!” Merit had not shouted, yet her voice had been loud all the same. Both Lamp and Renn turned to look behind them, back down the hall.

Renn’s hat shifted as her ears perked beneath it.

“They’re here,” I said.