Two days after leaving the Western Empire, Milla Basset is almost home, covering the last few miles on foot. Milla had explained to Rinzen that she wanted to keep the exact location of the treehouse where she lives with her two closest friends a secret, but Rinzen's no fool: he saw right through Milla's bluff. Milla had then revealed that she simply wants to surprise her friends, an idea that Rinzen was more than happy to go along with, dropping her off at the requested distance away mid‑morning.

Milla takes her time walking the remaining distance, content to simply drink in the sights, sounds, and especially the aromas of home. I missed this place so much… I'm so happy to be home. I just hope Lilac and Carol are in.

Milla gets her answer when she comes within earshot of the treehouse and hears two very familiar voices bickering about something that probably doesn't matter that much anyway. Heh… Just another day at the treehouse. Smiling to herself, Milla drops down on all‑fours and silently creeps closer. They won't be expecting this…

"All I'm asking is to have the top bunk for a change," Carol repeats, her back to the small bush she's standing in right front of. "Is being on top really that important to you?"

I'm glad no‑one's here to take that out of context. "Remind me: how many times have you fallen out of bed this week?" Lilac asks.

"Four, but that's beside the point," Carol answers. "Also, cats always land on their feet."

"Not from four feet off the ground," Lilac corrects.

"No‑one gets hurt from a four‑foot fall either," Carol informs. "Especially not trained ninja like us."

"The answer's still no," Lilac states with finality.

Carol sighs in frustration. "What is it ab‑"

"RRRRRUP!"

Almost jumping out of their fur at the loud soprano bark, Lilac and Carol instinctively react and drop into combat stances… only to collide with each other and fall to the ground in a tangled heap.

A moment later, the source of the loud soprano bark pounces from behind the bush and lands on top of them both, her tail wagging furiously. "I'm baaack!"

"What on‑" Lilac starts to exclaim before she recognises the adorable affectionate grin starting back at her from under an unruly mop of long ginger hair. "Milla!" she smiles, happy to see her friend after so long apart.

"Great to have you back, Magic Mutt!" Carol adds, pulling the hound down into a warm embrace with her and Lilac. "We missed you loads!"

"I missed you both too," Milla replies, returning the hug. "It's great to be home."

"We're glad to see you safe and well," Lilac replies. "After reading your letters, we were really worried that you might… I mean I… You're here now, that's all that matters."

"You wanted to come and help me, didn't you?" Milla guesses.

"Well… yeah," Lilac admits, blushing.

"You'll tell us everything that happened, I hope?" Carol asks.

"Of course!" Milla giggles. "I uh… I hope you don't have anything planned for the rest of the day."

"Not anymore," Lilac assures. "What time is it, anyway?"

A loud growl emanates from the wildcat's stomach.

"…I think that means it's lunchtime," Carol blushes.

After lunch, which Milla helps prepare (and during the preparation of receives compliments from Lilac and Carol about her new outfit), the hound tells her friends the full story of what happened in the Western Empire. As she tells the story, Milla's emotions fluctuate in response to the events being described, and on a few occasions, she has to stop and take a break to gather herself, breaks that Lilac and Carol take advantage of to digest what they're hearing.

Eventually, Milla's story comes to an end.

"…I stayed at Empress Kelsang's palace as an honoured guest, but after a week, I was so homesick I just had to come home. Rinzen kindly offered to drive me, and I accepted as I wanted to get home as quickly as possible. We stopped at the Dmar Wamo in Lamkha on the way to check in on Champo, who thankfully was unharmed and back at the inn. The marmots were there too, and they apologised for being so mean to me a year before and promised to learn from their mistakes. After that, I bid farewell to Champo, and after two days… well, you know the rest," Milla finishes. "Oh, and don't worry: I asked Rinzen to drop me off far enough away that he didn't find out where the treehouse is," she adds in assurance.

With the story over, Lilac and Carol take a few moments to reflect on everything Milla's just told them.

"I had a feeling that you'd get into some trouble," Carol eventually replies. "I gotta admit though that I never expected it to be anything close to that sort of scale."

"There were so many times I wished you were both there with me," Milla admits.

"From the sounds of it, we really should have gone with you," Lilac replies.

"I'm not so sure," Carol opines. "I mean, I know I would have been a help, but I'm not so sure about you," she adds, unable to resist a cheeky quip at Lilac's expense.

"Very funny," Lilac deadpans.

"I know you mean well, but I'm glad I did it alone," Milla smiles. "I learned more about myself and my abilities than I ever would have with you both watching over me."

"I must admit, you've proven yourself far more capable than I thought," Lilac replies. "In fact, there may be a few things you can teach us now," she adds with a smile.

"Well… maybe," Milla blushes. "I still have a lot to learn from you and Carol as well."

"If you don't mind, can I look at your piandao?" Carol asks.

"Of course," Milla nods, holding the sheathed weapon out.

Carol takes the sword and unsheathes it, checking the balance and straightness of the blade. "This is some fine craftmanship," she comments, clearly impressed by the piandao. "If you hadn't told us it's Tiāngǒu's own blade, I'd swear it's less than a year old," she adds, resheathing the blade and handing it back to Milla.

"It's also the only thing left of my family aside from his bangles…" Milla tails off, tears in her eyes.

"Do you need a moment?" Lilac asks.

Milla takes a deep breath and dabs her eyes dry. "No, I'm fine," she assures. "I just… So, what did you two get up to while I was away?"

"Oh, nothing much," Carol answers nonchalantly. "Just travelled to a parallel dimension where Lilac almost died and I actually died," she adds, causing Lilac to facepalm.

"What‽" Milla exclaims in shock.

"Carol, you really need to think about how you say things more often," Lilac groans.

"We were going to tell Milla anyway," Carol shrugs. "May as well get the shock out the way now so we can focus on telling the story."

Lilac sighs in defeat. "I guess," she admits. "It all started when we were coming back from Shang Tu one morning about six months ago. We were racing as usual when we passed an unconscious fox in a clearing. Worried, we turned back to check he was alive, which he thankfully was. We brought him back to the treehouse to patch him up, and when he woke up, he told us his name's Tails, and he's from a planet called Mobius…"

Meanwhile, in his miniature laboratory in Red Scarves HQ, the wyvern is reviewing the notes he made during his latest experiment when he hears a knock on the door of his sanctum. Who dares to interrupt me? Growling softly to himself, the wyvern switches from his notes app to a video feed showing the corridor outside his sanctum. Ah, it's just Spade reporting in.

The wyvern leaves his lab, ensuring the door is fully closed behind him, then opens the main door into the sanctum. "Good evening, Spade," he greets, stepping aside and inviting the panda‑cavy chimera into his sanctum. "You're a little earlier than I expected."

"I saw no reason to delay, Leader Julian," Spade explains as he enters the sanctum. "I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time."

"Not at all, not at all," Leader Julian Cummings assures as he closes the door and takes a seat. "What's the latest news regarding Team Lilac?"

Spade takes a seat opposite Julian. "Milla Basset has safely returned to Dragon Valley after her year in the Western Empire, and she's brought a piandao back with her."

"That is excellent news that she's back safely," Julian smiles. This may complicate matters… Or it may be just the opportunity I need… I must tread carefully.

"Is something wrong, sir?" Spade asks.

"Hm? Oh, no, I was just thinking about how someone so young has seen far more than most of us over twice her age have seen," Julian answers. "She is a truly remarkable young woman, as are her friends. I just hope their lack of discipline doesn't get them into a situation they cannot escape."

"Which is why we monitor them," Spade agrees. "I just wish being assigned this task didn't fuel those asinine rumours about me and Lilac."

"An unfortunate consequence of your duties, I'm afraid," Julian sighs. "You and I both know all too well the longevity of an unsubstantiated rumour regarding an imagined romantic relationship."

"No doubt fuelled by the handful of missions we worked on together before she abandoned us," Space recalls. "Still, no point in worrying about it."

"Absolutely," Julian agrees. "Is there anything more to report?"

"Only that Lilac and Carol continue to bicker like sisters," Spade answers.

Julian chuckles softly at the reply. "If it wasn't for their obvious differences, it'd be easy to assume they are sisters, given how close their friendship is. Thanks for the update."

"It's my duty," Spade acknowledges. "Speaking of which, it's time I returned to it."

"Of course," Julian nods. "And hey, try not to fuel the rumours too much, eh?" he adds in jest.

"I'll try," Spade assures, playing along. "I'll report in tomorrow," he adds as he rises to leave.

"Only if you have something worth reporting," Julian replies. "Otherwise, you're free to do whatever takes your fancy."

"Wilco."

Julian waits until Spade has left the sanctum and the door has closed behind him before dropping the mask of joviality. I must find out what happened to Milla while she was away. I cannot afford to underestimate her newfound potential if I want my plans for the vixen to succeed.