It was near the dead of night when the small group of cloaked figures walked into City D. They were only nine in number, but they all stuck to the shadows as much as possible on entering the main street center. Much of the city was already rebuilt from an attack by a massive giant of a man-turned-monster four years ago. The group was hesitant, but they knew they had to find a place quickly for shelter and safety.
"Scout," a young, cloaked woman whispered from the middle of the group. Several of the figures quickly jumped away to do just that. From the group of nine, only three remained standing still.
"Lady Mitsumi..." a gravelly voice from a rather tall figured rumbled.
"Hush. I know. We don't have much time," she sighed and revealed the golden snake that was wrapped around her right wrist. "We need to do what we can. Our last home..."
"Was destroyed..." a soft, hissing, feminine voice sighed out.
"Yes. By those that don't understand. Some did, but..." the cloaked woman shivered and shook her cloaked head. Her wrist dropped back down to hide under the cloak again.
"We cannot be discovered by heroes. Not until we can show that we mean only well. How can we do that?" the gravelly voice growled out. "The last place...they saw we were doing good! I wouldn't be surprised if our last place got taken over by the same ones that ran us out! We should go back and...!"
"No," the cloaked woman said with a firm shake of her head. "That would only fuel the fire. We took what was of most value to us."
"Yes. Some old keepsakes, building supplies, the hardier foods, the money...and each other..." the hissing female nodded sadly. She trembled softly at the soft touch the young, cloaked woman gave her shoulder to show it was all understood.
"Kianna, you will need to watch for the others," the young woman said gently. "I am thinking that we could build a new building in the form of a restaurant. I know it can be done. We sold materials before in the form of that warehouse with all of you supplying what you could safely find. I know you all hid from the public eye from our last business, but I think I have a way to put all of you out there in a specific way now. I was going to try it before we got shut down.
"We have quite enough in the way of funds from our last home, too. In fact, we were doing just fine until that random group of people decided to run us out! Muscling in on their business? Doubtful. We were just far more successful at it. I'm sure the customers we had are already giving them an earful. As for finding a new place...we can do this. It may be highly possible that some of our old customers will find us again with the right advertising. Even if we have a different form of business. But, just to even secure a building...it would need to be done during the day..."
"And you would not be as you are now," the feminine voice grunted.
"Yes. It will be...risky. I may not remember how to find you all if I got out on my own," Mitsumi frowned. She looked up when one of the cloaked figures jumped back over to them. It was actually hovering in the air as it was not able to touch the ground. "What have you found?"
"There is an abandoned section of City Z. It is some time away, but after the main attack from that Monster Association that was torn asunder, there are still places habitable there. Water and electricity still power the section in question. I listened for thoughts, as you know. We could see about working in City D and living in City Z. Or, if we find somewhere suitable for a business close by, we can live and work in both areas," the cloaked figure said eloquently.
"Well, right now we need a new home," Mitsumi said. "We will spend a day getting situated. While we get acclimated, we will search for a good business venue. We will gather ingredients, get familiar with our surroundings, and then see what else we can do to get started. If this place is truly abandoned, we may be able to acquire two places. One to live in and another to stockpile. Just keep me busy with small crafts and cooking during the day. I don't want to forget and start wandering around. I will need Zenchu close by. He is the most human in looks."
"Yes. As long as he covers his eyes," the gravelly voice mused.
"That will be easy for him. Come. I can take you all to where we found shelter in this abandoned place," the eloquent voice chuckled.
"Can you call the others, please?" Mitsumi asked.
"They are already waiting at the location I found. The hours of the night are fast closing in these summer months. We should go," the eloquent voice warned.
"Of course, Inichi. Shall we go on foot?" Mitsumi asked with a touch of mirth in her tone.
"Do not mock my abilities!" Inichi scowled to get her laughing softly. "I am one of the strongest empathic monsters there is!"
"Do not let such arrogance foul your mind," she warned and lightly tapped the floating figure with a gentle flower with pure white petals resembling drops of dew on a long, green stalk. The cloaked figure paused and seemed to droop. The flower held no magical purposes at all, but it was a simple symbol of purity to the group. It was how she gently reminded them to keep true to themselves.
"Alas. Once again, you are able to bring me to my senses. My lost humanity...the monster I have become tried to overtake my thoughts. I am...completely humbled and in awe of you, Lady Mitsumi," the cloaked monster trembled. She rose up a small hand and gently pat on the top of the cloaked form.
"As she does to us all. We should go," the gravelly voice grounded out.
"Of course, Rendor. I shall take us all to the place in question," Inichi said. A blue, circular sphere surrounded the small group and it was quick to float and follow the floating, cloaked figure at a rapid pace in flight. The journey was swift this way, and the sphere was soon dropped carefully in front of the stairway to a sturdy apartment complex building. Mitsumi was moved up to the fourth floor and led into the small apartment.
"All clean!" a robust female voice sang out.
"The kitchen is far too small..." a heavy-set voice seemed to pant out. "I need to get some water..."
"The sink still works," a youthful voice said to show that water could be given freely.
"There are others living around us, but not too close. This place is perfect," a feminine, tinny voice sounded.
"No bed mat. Not good," a rather commanding voice said. "Maybe we can get a bed if we invest in more space. I'd rather a bed than a mat, anyways."
"I'm here," Mitsumi sighed and dropped the cloak to reveal herself as a stunning, beautiful girl with black hair done up in a Bao Bao hairstyle with jeweled pins and wearing a soft pink kimono. She blinked her dark brown eyes at the others and she folded her hands in front of herself to show she was ready to listen to them. The golden snake bracelet on her wrist glinted in the light, but she fully ignored it.
"We need to stock up," the heavy-set voice said and discarded the cloak to reveal himself as a large octopus monster.
"We need furniture, too," the commanding voice said and removed the cloak to reveal himself as a lean, over-muscled, clean-shaven human with slitted eyes. His face was a bit longer and pointed at the chin, but he had survived far longer than most monsters did from experience and old leadership. His brown hair came down his back like a shaggy mane, and he flicked a tail that was built to be much like a spiked whip. His ears were even slightly pointed, but easily hidden under his hair. If one looked closely at his long hands, they would see clawed fingertips that were retractable. "This place is severely lacking."
"Making such things is easy," Inichi said and discarded his cloak to reveal himself as a floating dark blue, circular monster with massive red eyes with black cat pupils and a mouth filled with sharp teeth. He appeared to have a lightly pointed tip at the pinnacle top point of his body to look almost like droplet of water, but it was rounded to be a bit like an antennae. The underside of him was flat in case he really did need to land, and he was around three feet around in width at four feet in height to get through most doorways. The antennae stalk he had took up a foot of his height. He set aside the cloak with his thin, three clawed fingers on a set of ultra-thin arms. "I can search for materials."
"I know where to look for food!" the cheerful, robust female said and tossed aside her cloak to show herself as a bird monster resembling a colorful peacock. She already started to check over her tail feathers to ensure none of them got cramped up under the cloak. Even her feet had nasty claws on them. Her mouth was beak-like to include her nose slightly into a solid piece to be more skin than anything. When she stretched out her arms, her massive wings were in full view before settling back down to show she could easily fly.
"Why did those others run us out?!" a rather heavy voice snorted out.
"You know how others are, Tsuruga," Mitsumi frowned and watched the figure discard the cloak to reveal himself as a massive bull monster with pitch black fur and glowing red eyes. He didn't have the nose ring, but he didn't need it. He could easily remind one of the fabled Minotaur of legends from the rest of his body build. He scraped a back hoof against the ground and rubbed his large hands together to show he was ready to help out in any way.
"I can still scout around," the tinny-sounding voice said, and she revealed herself as a chameleon-based monster woman with intense curvatures of the female form. Her eyes were just like that of a chameleon to let her see everything all around her in different directions, and she was already testing her camouflage abilities against the wall. Scales covered most of her body, but she wore basic clothing in the form of mini shorts and a tight shirt to show what modesty was needed. Her long tail was curled up behind her to keep out of the way of her movements, and her shorts had a hole cut in them to adjust for her tail.
"No. Well...only in our general vicinity," Mitsumi said and yawned. "Zenchu, I do not need a bed. Once I...change...you know this side of me sleeps. Unless I need to try and do more in a semi-lucid state. However, it would be good to have if I ever get cured of this."
"We need to get that snake thing off you!" the human-like monster growled.
"One day we will," Rendor said and took off his cloak to reveal himself as a massive monster that was more like a tiger, yet he had a lion's mane. His hands were more like paws, but they were formed enough for him to grab things. He stretched them out to expose his own set of retractable claws before settling back down. "Two years with her having that. Far too long. I know we've all known you since you've had it, but...we need to do what we can to try and get rid of it."
"Yes. You helped us do much, Lady Mitsumi," the soft, hissing female said and removed her cloak to reveal herself as a feminine wolf-like monster with retractable cat claws. She ran her claws through her grey-blue mane of hair and looked at the others. Her tail wagged a bit to show she was in a somewhat pleasant mood. All of the monsters, other than Inichi, wore bits of armor and clothing. The warrior monsters tended to wear the harder bits of cloth. "Shall we sleep in shifts tonight? New places can have new dangers..."
"That would be a good idea," the youthful voice said and removed the cloak to show he was a rather colorful fish monster resembling the pattern between a clown fish and a tuna. He actually appeared to be more of a child than an adult, but his resourcefulness always shone through. He clasped his webbed hands together and sighed. Then he looked at Inichi with his large fish eyes and a small frown on his large lips. "Something wrong, Inichi?"
"Not that I can tell. For now," the floating monster mused.
"Protect if you must. I should probably nap for the meantime. While I do, if any wish to do the same...do so now. I would highly suggest that we remain here for three days to decide what to do, where to go and how to proceed. Do we have any food here at all, Orotsu?" Mitsumi asked the octopus monster.
"There is nothing here," the monster sighed. "The appliances work, but all is empty. We do have some provisions from traveling, but that will only last two days. We need to do some heavy stockpiling. We also have what is hidden along the outskirts of town. We need to transfer it here before thieves find it."
"How much do we have? I can do the shopping with Lady Mitsumi during the day," Zenchu nodded. "Start up a list."
"The apartment next to us is empty!" the chameleon monster woman said. "We could break down a wall and claim it."
"You think so, Kamiko? Hmm. I can charge into it," Tsuruga snorted and tossed his horns into the air to show he was ready for action.
"Not right now. Others are here and sleeping around us. Let us wait until there are not many around. I will give the signal for when. As for the supplies, I can get them and bring them next door. Just open the door for me," Inichi said. "I will also see if I can sense any other thoughts from those around us to slowly expand. If none are on the floor we are on, we could just take the whole level."
"Branch out slowly," Mitsumi said. "We do not want to crowd out those that also need refuge."
"True," Fumio nodded.
"My transformation...it will be soon..." Mitsumi winced and shivered hard. "Just...keep an eye on me..."
"All the time," Zenchu nodded and moved to let her rest against him. He knew of the pain the transformation would give her. He also knew how much she thrashed around and fought it. He would be able to hold her until it was safe to let her go. The only thing he didn't like was how he had to hunch down a little to keep from hitting the seven foot tall ceiling. At ten feet tall, he towered over everyone around him. "And this place is way too small..."
"Beggars cannot be choosers in such times," Kianna chuckled. "If we succeed in our plans at last, we may be able to build ourselves a decent home."
"We will see..." Mitsumi murmured and fell unconscious in Zenchu's arms.
"The hour of dawn is among us," Inichi said softly.
"That it is. We will rest, scout and build up our resources. Just as she said," Zenchu nodded and watched the others quickly move to rest or head out to secure what could be safely gotten.
