Opening my eyes, I took a small breath and calmed down as I realized it had just been a dream.

Staring up at the ceiling, shining and sparkling from the morning’s sunlight reflecting off the glasses and cups on the table beneath the window… I relaxed and closed my eyes.

It had been a dream.

Just a dream.

“Morning Vim.”

My toes twitched, and for a very tiny moment… I wished I had been back in that nightmare.

Opening my eyes, I turned my head and took in the sad smile on Renn’s face. I looked at her smile long enough to dedicate it to memory, as to enjoy it in my thoughts throughout the rest of the day, and then looked back up at the ceiling.

“Hm,” I greeted her back, and wondered what I had gotten myself into.

Renn and I had been sleeping next to each other longer than I wanted to admit. It had started from the beginning, somehow. I had allowed it, and somehow or the other… Renn had simply kept on doing it. Even before I had started to even consider having a relationship with her. To be honest I had done it without much thought originally. I had simply thought she’d be like all the rest. Someone who showed up for a tiny moment of my life and then disappeared. Someone I’d only see a handful of times over hundreds of years at best. Like so many others.

Jokes on me.

Yet although it started long ago… it was only recently she had actually been sleeping so close to me. Half the time she slept not just right next to me, but on me. Holding an arm, or something. Even now I could feel her breath on me, she was that close.

I wasn’t used to this. In more ways than one. It wasn’t like I didn’t know what it felt like to sleep with someone, but… well…

I usually went years without such a thing happening to me. Entire decades sometimes. And when it happened, it was usually for only a few nights at best.

Never continuously. And even more so, never with the same person.

This wasn’t something I was used to. Nor did I know if I wanted to be or not.

Though it wasn’t like I had anyone to blame but myself. Not only was I allowing it, and sometimes finding myself longing for it… this time it was entirely on me. I had been the one to suggest we share a room for once.

Usually we didn’t. Not when at a Society location. For many reasons.

Still…

Remaining in bed, I fought the urge to roll out of bed and get up. Although I could, and Renn wouldn’t grow too upset with me… I knew she’d pout all the same.

For some reason she enjoyed talking for a bit upon waking. To the point she looked forward to it.

“It feels warm, but I can smell rain,” Renn said happily.

I nodded. I smelled it too. The storm wasn’t here though, likely a few days away. If it was even heading our way at all.

Her tail was in the air, coiling and swaying. The way it was moving told me she was lying on her stomach.

I did my best to not glance over at her. If her tail was in the air then…

Yes. The blanket was off us. Had I pushed it off? Her? It was warm, but not warm enough to justify pushing it off completely. It wasn’t even on my side, or at my feet. Hopefully it hadn’t been me, I usually never moved at all during sleep… so if it had been me…

If it had been me, it made her sad smile on her face make sense. That and the nightmares.

I must have been fidgeting. I didn't feel sweaty, but I usually never did sweat anymore. Not even when under duress. Though I had noticed it had happened a few times recently.

“They rang a bell this time. A few minutes ago. I think it woke you… Why’d they do it today and not yesterday?” Renn asked.

“It’s because today’s a morning sermon day. They do it three times a week,” I said as I watched the sunlight slowly grow brighter. Better it than her.

“Ah… wait. Is that going on right now?” she asked, and sat up a little.

I nodded, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed the way her hair rolled off her shoulders.

“Hmm…” she grumbled, and I knew it was because she was weighing her desires.

Stay here in bed with me? Or run off to hear this supposed sermon?

“We’ll be here for a while Renn,” I told her, against my better judgment.

Damn. Even when I knew, and was doing my best to not indulge in her, I still couldn’t help myself!

“I know… but I’ll also have you for many hundreds of years too,” she said.

I blinked at her very serious tone, and couldn’t help but smile at her. “That’s true.”

She grumbled again, and must have made a decision. She sat up more, and then went to clamber over me.

As she crawled over me, to climb off the bed, I used every ounce of willpower that had been instilled in me from my birth as to not grab hold of her. She hurriedly hoped off the bed, and ran over to the dresser where we’d placed our clothes.

Praising myself for letting her go, I turned a little as to lie on my side. To watch her get dressed.

She did so quickly, her tail squirming the entire time.

“Want to join me?” she asked happily.

I scoffed.

Renn smirked at me, and once she was finally dressed she stepped away and to the door.

She hesitated before the door, her hand lingering near the handle… and then glanced back at me.

“Have fun, I’ll see you once it’s done,” I said to her.

“Mhm… let me know what you dreamed about later, okay?” she asked gently.

Going still, I watched the woman who had a firm hold of my heart give me a sad smile and nod at me… then she hurried out of the room.

I sighed as she shut the door behind her.

“Careful Renn, really…!” I heard her mumble to herself as she hurried down the hallway, to the stairs.

Smiling at her, I rolled upward as to sit on the edge of the bed.

Unlike Renn, I didn’t sleep naked. Not because I didn’t wish to, but rather the opposite.

I knew why she had stopped wearing her nightgowns. At least she did when we weren't on the road. Even if she hadn’t said the reason for it aloud… it was obvious.

She was a sly scheming little creature sometimes.

Though I had to admit I was enjoying her little attempts. The barely noticeable ways she acted, spoke, and especially the way her eyes focused on me sometimes made me question if I was actually seeing what I thought I was. If I didn’t know her better, I’d actually doubt she was trying to seduce me. It was so subtle sometimes I wondered if she even realized what she was doing half the time. Which was terrifying. If she could be so alluring like that without trying, how dangerous was she going to be when she no longer hesitated?

Rubbing my face, I tried to keep myself from laughing at my own thoughts.

“I’m falling apart,” I whispered.

In more ways than one.

Sweating without strain. Exhaustion beyond mere tiredness.

Sleeping so often. Nightmares when I do.

Wounds reopening days later after they healed.

Desires I’d not felt in centuries.

Something was terribly wrong, and I wasn’t sure where to even begin to fix it.

Hopefully Renn wasn’t just a symptom. Hopefully my attraction and desire for her presence was natural and real… and not a byproduct of whatever was wrong with me.

Why did Beak have to die? I could have used her wisdom...

After a few minutes of wallowing in the chaos that was my mind, I compartmentalized my own fears and worries and stood from the bed.

Deal with it later. I had stuff to do.

Several of the members here had given me requests. Some simple and easy, others I’d need to deal with elsewhere. Like the one from Ursula… or well, one of the two she had.

Dogs. Pets. A more common request than Renn had seemed to realize. She had been so excited to tell me what the timid woman had wanted. To her it had been a very beautiful, and fun sounding, request. She was looking forward to fulfilling it. Though part of that might just be her looking forward to traveling with a bunch of puppies when we returned here later.

I was often asked to bring back such things. If not pets, then livestock, or seeds for farms or something. Or objects not commonly found, or easily made. Especially from those like the members here. Where they couldn’t get it themselves, being so secluded or unable to venture into human towns. So to me it was simple and normal… which just went and showed how strange it’s been the last few years. For Renn to have such a request for the first time was a little depressing, considering she’s been with me for so long.

Pausing in front of the larger window, I stared through the thin sheet that was being used a curtain. The courtyard was down below, and it was bright. The grass, flowers, and tree were lit up well. They weren’t even swaying much, from a lack of wind.

I could smell the rain in the air… but it was faint. Either the storm was far away, or circling us nearby.

In fact it was faint enough that I was surprised Renn had noticed it.

Taking a deep breath, I lost the smell of the rain. Renn’s scent overpowered it.

Regretting that deep breath, I sighed as I went to get full dressed.

How’d she smell so good to me? It made no sense at all.

Maybe I’ll get lucky and she really will lose her smell, even to me. Although I’d probably end up regretting such a thing, it would at least keep me from feeling like some weird pervert.

Leaving the room, I shut the door and wondered how long it’d take for the members here to realize I was sharing the room with her.

As far as I was aware no one had, yet. But it’s only been two nights so far. And those here went to bed early and rarely wandered around during the night. Plus this section of the church was not very frequented. The floor beneath us was, but not this part of the second floor. It was where the visitor rooms were, and other storage rooms. When no visitors were here this hallway likely only had people walk through it once or twice a month at best.

Leaving the hallway, I headed downstairs. Instead of heading to the actual church though, I went the opposite way. To find Sharp.

It took a little longer to find her than I had expected. She hadn’t been in the church at all, but in one of the small single story houses behind it. Past the cemetery, and near the barn.

Walking into the house, I frowned at the smell of bugs and insects.

“This isn’t a hobby, Sharp,” I told her as I walked down the short hallway, and into the room where she was.

“Yes it is,” she argued. She was sitting at a desk, carefully guiding a large cave spider into a glass jar.

Glancing around the room, I counted what were likely thousands of bugs. Spiders, beetles, flying insects and more. Most were in glass containers, large jars, and not glass boxes. Likely because it was all she knew how to make. Some of them looked a little wobbly, as if about to fall over and break, thanks to the fact they weren’t entirely uniform.

Hobby. Sure.

“Want me to teach you how to properly make glass?” I asked her as I stepped over to the desk. To see the jar she was putting the cave spider into.

“Would you?” she grew excited, and looked up at me with expectant eyes from behind her rags.

I nodded and reached over, to nudge the large spider. It didn’t want to go in. Once in the jar, she slid over a thin wooden lid. Pieced together with thin strips of wood. Perfect for airflow… but…

She fastened the lid to the jar with a band of twine. She had to tie it firmly, but carefully… lest it broke the jar, which had impurities all over its opening.

So this is why the rest of the girls were so bothered. It wasn’t the insects, but more likely the fact their enclosures kept breaking. Sharp had most likely made all of these jars, and had done a poor job at it. They likely often broke and shattered… Thus releasing the things imprisoned within them.

“That’d help a lot… it’d also stop everyone from bugging me,” Sharp said with a sigh.

See? Knew it. “I’ll teach you. It’s easier than you think,” I said.

“Mhm,” she nodded, and I noticed the tiny smile beneath her bandages. One of the bandages had caught on her lip, thanks to how coarse it was.

“Renn could also teach you too, by the way,” I teased her.

Sharp’s smile immediately died. She glared at me as she stood up, and stepped around me to put the jar onto a shelf.

She placed it next to other spiders. A few were even much bigger… one was a bright golden yellow, and one of the biggest natural spiders I’d ever seen.

Stepping over to it, I studied the creature. It was almost so big it didn’t fit the jar it was in. It was bigger than Renn’s head, ears included. “Where’d you get this?” I asked.

“A few miles away, near a pond. It had made this huge web, big enough to catch people,” she said proudly.

I bet. It looked like it could eat a full sized person. “It’s an orb weaver, I think. I’ve never seen one so big,” I said.

“Right? I had hoped it had been a girl, but it’s a boy. Useless,” she sighed.

Right… that was even stranger. Usually the females were bigger.

Although fascinated, I hadn’t come to admire her collection. “I have a question for you, Sharp,” I said.

“Hopefully I don’t have an answer,” she complained.

“Did Frett and Tim do something stupid? Did they try to have a kid or something?” I asked.

Sharp paused… then she stepped away from the shelf she had been studying. “Yes. They had a child together. It died not long after it had been born. I’m surprised she told you,” Sharp said.

I grimaced. “She didn’t. Hadn’t. But Abel and a few others want me to… find a way to mend their relationship. I had assumed that something like that had happened, but didn’t want to press either of them in case I was right,” I said with a sigh.

I had thought maybe they had simply tried. Not that they had succeeded. Or well…

“I’m glad you’re so astute. If only you’d be so aware in other ways,” she grumbled.

I ignored her quip and glanced over to another shelf. The beetles in the jars on that one were numerous, and scuttling around. It looked like she had put bones in the jars, for them to eat. Or clean, maybe. Looked like deer bones. “Where’re your moths?” I asked.

“Oh. Over here,” Sharp actually sounded excited as she stepped out of the room to lead me to them.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Following her back down the hallway, we went to another room. One without a window. Likewise with the other one, it had a bunch of glass jars… most having cocoons or crawling caterpillar things inside of them.

Sharp hurried over to one of the biggest jars. It was several times bigger than the other ones, and had a huge caterpillar in it. It was munching on leaves, and it was funny to see that a normal sized leaf was smaller than it. “I can’t wait to see what it becomes,” Sharp said as she smiled at the thing.

I studied the small abrasive woman, and was glad to see she seemed happy.

“It’ll turn into…” I started to tell her it was a regal moth, and would be red… but I shut up when she glared at me.

Right.

She smirked and nodded at me, glad I hadn’t spoiled it for her.

It was funny that she was like Renn in certain ways. Or maybe women in general just liked surprises? I'd known quite a few who had hated them though...

Oh wait. “Uh… I know you don’t want me to say anything… but that one needs dirt. To dig into and bury itself,” I told her.

Sharp frowned at me, and then turned to look at the jar.

It was full of leaves and grass, but not dirt. At least, not enough. The tiny layer of dirt and soil was far from adequate.

“How much dirt?” she asked.

“I don’t know… but it might need more than that jar can give. It’s huge… you might also need to keep the soil moisturized and stuff too…” I frowned as I realized I didn’t know as much about insects as I should.

“Really…?” Sharp sounded sad as she reached up to touch the glass of the jar. She only tapped it with a fingertip, as to not accidentally shatter the glass by having it touch her skin.

I nodded. “How about we make a larger enclosure for it? I’ll help you out,” I offered.

She nodded, saying nothing else.

“So… does no one else know then, Sharp…? Everyone just thinks they’re fighting for simple reasons,” I said, going back to the topic I had come here for.

“As far as I’m aware only I and Ursula know. She had gone to Ursula first, to see if she knew how to save the baby. Ursula came to me,” Sharp said.

“Why did they not let anyone else know?” I asked. It was so strange. How’d she even get pregnant and carry it to term without anyone noticing anyway? Sure they all wore hefty robes and stuff but…

Though… Sharp had said born and died, but that didn’t mean she had carried it to a full term. An early miscarriage maybe.

“I don’t like talking about this,” she mumbled.

“You think I do…?” I asked.

Sharp sighed and stepped away from her giant jar, to glare at me. “Tim’s a jerk, Vim. He was sleeping with Frett and one of the human girls. The married one. Basically it’s a bunch of stupid drama that has coalesced into a horrible environment. Frett’s ashamed, and doesn’t want anyone to know. Tim’s afraid of being banished for being a piece of shit and the rest of them are too holier-than-thou to even realize what’s happening,” Sharp said.

I closed my eyes and groaned. “You’re kidding,” I said as I rubbed my temple.

“Exactly. Either take Tim away or just let it be. I offered to kill him, but Frett won’t let me,” Sharp said with a sigh.

Shaking my head, I decided I’d need to go talk to Frett. Privately. And soon.

“Why’s such drama so common in these convents? Seriously,” I complained. This was why I hated these types of places.

“Because there’s nothing else to do?” Sharp gave the obvious answer.

I begrudgingly nodded.

“Don’t torment Frett though. She’s finally back to normal. It took almost a year before she even smiled again,” Sharp said gently.

“I’m sure. I won’t. I do need to talk to her, though. If Tim is causing such discord then I need to at least address it. Even though it’s all personal stuff, which I’m not usually one to stick my nose into, I need to at least make sure Frett is okay, mentally and physically,” I said.

Honestly I didn’t care at all for such drama. It never ended well, so…

“If you need Tim to disappear just let me know. I’ve hated that man since he arrived. I knew something was wrong with him,” Sharp offered.

“You hate everyone Sharp, that’s not a good indicator,” I said.

“That’s not true. I don’t hate you. I just despise you,” she said.

Smiling at her, I nodded. Right.

“Plus I think I’m pretty good at telling if someone’s going to screw up. Everyone does, always, so I think my method of hate first, judge later, is a good way to do it,” Sharp defended her way of life.

“Sure… sure…” I said as I heard the wind pick up.

Right. Incoming storm, likely.

Stepping back, I nodded to her. “Thank you for telling me…” then I hesitated… “The baby… had it been human or?” I asked. Tim was a half-breed. Though his father’s blood was strong in him. Usually a child from a mixed parent like that was normally always human entirely.

“I don’t know Vim. It was deformed… I don’t want to talk about this anymore. It just makes me angry,” she said.

“Sorry. Thank you for telling me. In a couple days we’ll do some glass work, okay?” I offered as an apology.

She nodded, and went to return her attention to the insects around her.

Stepping out of the room, I sighed as I left the small house.

Drama. I hated drama. I usually always stayed out of such drama. I didn’t force my will on anyone… and to me, intruding in personal relationships was one of the worst things one could do. Such ground was holy, and I did not dare tread upon it.

But this type of drama usually led to disaster. Tim two-timing was not a big deal. It was common amongst the men in the Society. It was why Landi had been so successful. Non-human men were surprisingly weak and easy to manipulate, when it came to such things. Though I shouldn't praise the human ones too much. They could be just as bad.

Yet this wasn’t just infidelity. It was something that might break down the social agreement here at the Crypt. It could tear them all apart, and ruin this place. If I didn't at least verify that Frett and the rest were okay, and no foul play had been involved... Then my attempt at being unintrusive could end up causing more harm than not. If I did nothing only to return and find people dead, or for others to have fled and left the Society...

I couldn’t afford to let that happen.

Maybe I should take Tim elsewhere. He’s been here for a hundred odd years, but…

Heading back towards the church, I passed by the tombstones and statues. I did my best to not stop and study some of them. They reminded me of those I used to know. Those who had earned their spots here. Buried amongst friends and fellow believers in their faith. Too many were not simple tombstones, but ones crafted with purpose and design. Some were the animals those buried beneath had been created from. Others had their life's purposes above them. As to let everyone know who they were with a glance. A few were even huge, bigger than me.

And... Although I knew the truth of their gods, I still hoped all those buried here were up there with them all the same.

I bet they were all looking down at me with sad smiles. Ashamed of how badly I had failed them all.

Considering who I hoped was watching above me was likely just as ashamed made it even worse.

Entering the church, I closed the large door behind me and turned to greet Prasta. She hurried over to me, smirking up at me.

“Vim, your wife is very adorable,” she said.

My eye twitched, and I feared learning what had happened.

“Is she?” I asked. I had meant my question to verify many things, not just the fact that Renn was adorable, and Prasta had realized it. She laughed and giggled at me.

“She is! She wanted to sing with us, and got all red in the face as she did. She didn’t need to be so embarrassed though, she’s got a very beautiful voice,” Prasta said.

Oh…? I was now a little jealous. I’d never heard her sing before. Something told me she was probably good at it. Her memory and good hearing probably helped.

“Though I was looking for you not to tease you, but to ask you something,” Prasta then said.

“Hm,” I nodded. I had assumed so. She had run straight up to me upon seeing me, after all.

Prasta went to say it, but then hesitated. She glanced around first, and once sure we were alone, she smiled and nodded at me. “Before you leave, would you please make some insect cages? For Sharp?”

I blinked, and smiled at her. “Yes. I was just visiting her. I plan to teach her how to make proper glass enclosures, and she’s agreed to it.”

Prasta let out a relieved sigh. “Thank the Gods,” she said.

My smile widened and I nodded. How amusing. “It’s not her fault. I’m sure you can imagine how hard it is for her, what with her skin,” I said gently.

She nodded, knowingly. “I know… but Vim it’s gotten bad. A few weeks ago a bunch of flying bugs got free. They stung and bit something fierce. Kassy got sick from them, and was in bed for days because of it,” Prasta said.

I frowned. “Kassy?” I asked.

“One of the humans. She’s fine now, but who knows what might happen next time, you know?” Prasta said.

“Right. I’ll make sure to fix it… one way or another, before I leave,” I said.

“Thanks, Vim! You know how Sharp is… It’s so hard to get through to her sometimes, so I don’t think she’s really realized how badly her new hobby has bothered some of us. Poor Gary is terrified of bugs, to boot, and now he can’t even go near the cemetery anymore. That’s how scared he is of them,” Prasta said with a sigh.

Gary was scared of bugs…? Funny. His bloodline subsisted on such things. Anteater and all. “Well, hopefully soon it won’t be an issue anymore,” I said.

Prasta nodded. “Right…!” she then turned, right as Renn stepped around the corner. She had heard her too.

Renn noticed us, and a huge grin formed on her face as she picked up the pace. She was alone, but was now wearing something different than what she had worn this morning.

“Did you convert her, Prasta?” I asked worriedly as Renn approached, her gray robes swaying thanks to her tail.

Prasta giggled. “Not yet. But she looks good in them…! See her ears? Frett made a headdress without a top a while ago, for some reason, so she gave it to her. Fits her perfectly,” Prasta pointed out.

Ah. Right. She did have something of a headdress on, like the rest of the women here, but Renn’s ears were still visible. It was more a headband than a hood.

Renn came to a stop a few feet from us, and lifted her robe to showcase it to me. “What do you think?” she asked as she twirled a little.

“I like it. You’ll never be able to seduce me in that thing,” I said.

Renn’s happy twirling came to an abrupt stop as Prasta guffawed and stepped back from me.

“What the heck Vim!” Prasta went to laughing, unable to believe what I had just said.

Thanks to Prasta’s reaction, Renn’s original and immediate disappointment faded and she returned to grinning at me. “Don’t worry Prasta. The fact he said such a thing means he actually finds it very appealing on me. He hides his little truths in his jokes,” she said.

Feeling naked all of a sudden, at being called out so readily, I did my best to hide my unease as I glanced at Renn. She was smirking at me in a way that told me her confidence was legitimate.

And it wasn’t misplaced… which was what was so scary.

Renn and I smiled at each other for a moment as Prasta contained her laughing fit. She stepped over to Renn once she finished, and patted her shoulder. “That was great! It’s too bad you’re not planning to stay here, Renn, It’s been so dreary lately,” Prasta said.

I watched Renn’s happy smile die a little in worry. She glanced at me, likely now fretting over what Prasta had just made obvious.

Had she not noticed it until now? Though it was likely everyone was like Prasta, using Renn as an excuse to be merry and ignore the heavy air they’ve all been experiencing the last year or so.

“To be honest it’s been a little dreary for us too, so I’m not sure if I’d actually be any better Prasta,” Renn said gently.

“Probably. But that’s the world right now isn’t it…?” Prasta sighed and shook her head. “Like that human girl. I’m glad she seems happy enough, it’d be tough for me to live with people who killed my siblings,” she said as she crossed her arms.

“We did, Prasta, not you,” Renn said softly.

“I mean the Society,” Prasta clarified.

Renn frowned, and I knew she didn’t like looking at it in such a way. But it was the truth. A very real one.

“I’m going to go help with lunch then. Don’t tell anyone but I was supposed to be helping already,” Prasta said with a smile.

“I’ll tell the dead,” I warned her.

She gave me a look, and then shivered. Then she turned and hurried away. “Don’t you dare!” she shouted as she ran off.

Renn watched Prasta run off, and her ears fluttered. “Did… did she just believe you?” Renn asked.

“She did,” I said.

“Why…?” she asked as she side glanced me.

I shrugged. “Did you join their convent?” I asked her, deciding her new attire much more interesting than Prasta’s weird misconceptions.

Renn grinned and shook her head. “They’ve all invited me, but no. You’re not getting rid of me yet,” she said.

Hm. “It does look good on you though. Why is that?” I asked myself more than not.

“I used to wear this type of dress all the time. Nory wore them… so when she’d make clothes, she just made a set for me too,” Renn said as she messed with the robe a little, in a way that told me she was speaking the truth. She was used to wearing such a robed dress.

“Huh…” I wasn’t really sure what to think of that. I could faintly remember Renn telling me about Nory’s devotion, even though she had suffered because of it… but…

“Does it really look good on me…?” she then asked.

I nodded.

“You once said it wouldn’t, you know,” she told me.

“I… I did…?” I asked. When?

She nodded. “In the beginning. We were clothes shopping and you told me I couldn’t pretend to be a nun because I get a greedy smile when I eat and stuff,” she said.

Blinking, I realized what she meant. I honestly couldn’t remember that conversation… but…

Well…

“That does sound like something I’d say,” I said. And it was right. Renn was too gluttonous and greedy to pretend to be a nun, or some kind of holy woman. She was scrawny enough, sure, but that illusion would disappear the moment she sat down to eat or was walking amongst a stall or store. It was why I always opted for us to be seen as mercenaries or traveling merchants.

She smirked and giggled at me. “Right…?” she said happily.

I smiled at her as she swayed a little, as if hearing some distant song. Likely did, if she’d just been singing with the rest of the girls.

“Have you noticed anything… off about this place?” I asked her carefully.

“Hm…? How so?” she asked.

“Those who live here, mostly,” I fished for her insight.

“Ah… well… Like Prasta said, there’s a weird… sadness here. At first I thought it was just because so many of the members were like Ursula. People who had troubled pasts, or generally… depressed. But I think it might be something else. There’s a weird unease on everyone’s faces sometimes, as if they don’t want to be in the room with certain people. But I’m not really sure who is the issue, or who isn’t,” Renn said.

Huh. So she had noticed. Interesting.

“From what I can gather it’s Frett and Tim. Or at least, they’re the source,” I said.

“Oh…? I’ve only said a few words to Tim. Frett seems fine though? She was just with the rest of us, singing and stuff,” she said.

I nodded. “I plan to talk to her later, to hear the whole story,” I said.

“Hm… want me to ask her? Or…?” Renn asked.

Shaking my head, I glanced around to make sure we were still alone, and would be for the foreseeable future. We were, I didn’t sense anyone around us. “No. I’ll handle it. This one’s a little more touchy than Ursula’s issue,” I said.

“Ursula is the opposite of touchy, that’s for sure,” Renn said lightly.

“Right?”

Renn smirked at me, and then huffed. “Sometimes you need to be a little more understanding, Vim,” she said.

“Huh…?”

She nodded, and although her smirk had died she wasn’t frowning just yet. “I get it. You’re indifferent because you have to be. But… sometimes I wish you weren’t so bound by your rules,” she said softly.

Hm… I wonder what I had said, or did, to make this come about. Likely something to do with Ursula. Had I actually said something rude to her somehow?

“You don’t know why I’m upset with you, do you?” Renn asked.

“No,” I said honestly.

Renn smiled, but it was a sad one. “I can see that. It’s okay. You didn’t actually do anything too bad… it’s just…” she raised her hands, and while staring at her palms… she closed them into fists. “You’re like that. You’re either open and accepting, or firm and unyielding. There’s so little middle ground for you,” she said.

“You’re going to have to explain that little better Renn… what did I just say that makes you think I’m being too extreme about?” I asked.

“You wrote off Ursula’s issue, Vim. You saw it as something minor. Something not worth really worrying about. It’s just sad. She deserves better,” Renn said.

Ah.

I shifted, a little uncomfortably, and nodded. “She does Renn… but I cannot help her. Not enough to make a difference,” I said.

“I know. You… we… are going to do what we can. And it won’t likely be of any help. I get it. I’m not faulting you, or blaming you… I just…” Renn shrugged, and I realized she wasn’t sure what to say or think about it.

I wasn’t taking Ursula’s request as serious as Renn wanted me to… but she also knew there wasn’t anything else I could do about it. I’d agreed to spend a little time each day until we left with her. To try and help her get used to being near men. Yet… what could I do more than what I had agreed to?

Plus Renn had to know if there was a way to actually help her, in a real capacity, I’d do it. In a heartbeat.

“You’re angry at me because you hate the situation… and there’s nothing we can do about it,” I said as I understood.

She nodded. “Yeah. I’m sorry,” she apologized.

I smiled at her and shook my head. “It’s fine.”

“No it’s not. But just… let me be upset, please,” Renn said gently.

I nodded. Sure. Be upset with me all you want. She didn’t realize it, but that emotion she was feeling was a form of love all on its own.

She loved me, and expected better from me. So when I wasn’t able to be better… well…

She grew upset with me. Because she wanted the one she loved to do the impossible.

She sometimes acted like a mother. So strange. Usually I’d be annoyed over being treated in such a way. I was older than anyone. Even my own mother hadn’t treated me so. Yet when she spoke in such a way, or shook her head and sighed at me… I couldn’t help but feel warm and smile. It made me want to keep annoying her, just to see that face and hear that tone she got when upset with me.

It made so little sense. And…

Her ears fluttered and she huffed. “I think I’ll go help them cook. The food they’ve been making is so simple and bland, that I just can’t enjoy it… so maybe I can get my enjoyment through the food in another way,” Renn said.

I nodded, and smiled at her. “Have fun,” I told her. That was a very nun-like way to look at life. Fitting.

Renn was about to turn, to leave… but she didn’t make it.

She paused, frowned, and then glanced back at me.

I blinked at her, and she blinked back.

The two of us looked down at our hands… or rather, mine. I had grabbed hers, to stop her from leaving.

Without intending to.

I coughed, and let her go.

She smirked at me as I awkwardly tried to comprehend what I had just done. “What is it Vim?” she asked kindly, seemingly willing to forgive me for the obvious. She could have teased me, and I’d have deserved it.

“Well…” I wasn’t sure how to say it, without making it seem serious. It wasn’t. Not really.

After all we had time. We would be here for weeks.

We didn't need to do it now. Hell, we didn't need to do it this trip either. We could do it on another visit or...

Renn tilted her head at me, and her ears fluttered. Her golden eyes bore into me in ways that shouldn’t be possible, yet she did it all the while without a hint of impatience or annoyance.

She’d be happy to just… stand here. Quietly. Looking at each other. She was that strange.

Even stranger was I’d begun to want the same.

But more than that right now…

“What is it Vim…?” Renn asked warmly. It was obvious that she was more than happy to wait for me to gather my nerve… but, knowing me better than she should, she also knew sometimes what I wanted was a little push.

I feared the day she realized I actually liked it when a woman was a little forceful.

“Don’t uh… take this wrong okay?” I said first.

Her tail went still beneath her robes, and she nodded.

“It’s not that big a deal. Though I’ll ask you to keep it a secret all the same,” I added.

Her pupils contracted, and she nodded again. This time a little slower.

Feeling stupid, I realized I had probably just made it worse. She’ll interpret it oddly now… but…

How else was I supposed to say it? How else was I supposed to handle it?

I’d never invited anyone before, after all. Never even told anyone about it either.

Which was why I wanted to tell her. It was why I wanted to show her.

I wanted her to be special to me. I wanted to treat her special. She was special.

So…

Rennalee’s tail started to sway again, making her robes swish and sway, and her smile warmed and deepened. A tiny blush appeared on her face… yet she remained quiet. Waiting for me patiently.

Damn.

“Want to visit their grave? With me?” I asked her, before I became even more anxious. Before I asked for something even more ridiculous.

Her happy smile shifted, becoming one that told me she was unsure and didn’t understand. “Who’s grave?” she asked gently.

“My parents.”