"Lia!" Leta's voice could be heard on the other side of the door as the child relentlessly knocked on it. "Are you awake? Milo is making breakfast!"

Cassandra's dark world came to that of the light as her eyes opened. At first, everything around her was blurry; both visuals and sound. She only realized where she was when she gazed ahead, seeing the various craft tables and drawings that littered the room. That was when she felt the urge to look to her right.

There was Lia – just as disturbed from her slumber as she was. "Yes!" Her voice fell into a grumble as the fawn pulled the blanket over her eyes to conceal the daylight, "I'll be right down…"

Leta remained persistent, "I'll go wake Cassandra!"

Before the brunette could even interject, Lia dropped the blanket from her face and turned over toward the door; wide awake as ever. "I'll take care of that! Go help Milo. We'll both be right down!"

"Okay!" Leta replied with a jolly tone. The patters of her footsteps could be heard as she ran down the stairs immediately after. Only someone her age could have such energy in the morning.

"Ugh…" Lia fell back into bed, poised to throw the blanket back over again and procure a couple more minutes of sleep. It was only when Cassandra's hand brushed up against her wavy hair that the fawn's green eyes opened up. "Good morning, beautiful."

"Good morning," Cassandra said with a smile as she rotated her body to face her. Both women were still nude from their activities during the night. She could feel Lia's thin fingers tracing along her stomach. The sensation was slightly ticklish, which pushed a soft giggle through her teeth.

The two shared several kisses as they stayed in bed. There was something so sweet about the taste of Lia's lips. The way her face felt in Cassandra's hands as their mouths met was nothing short of addicting. A slow pullback followed the last kiss of the set as the two moved closer, arms around each other.

Lia lay on her back as she stared up at the stone ceiling. "I'm not ready for today."

"Yeah." Cassandra sighed as she rested her head against the fawn's shoulder. "Me neither."

"Well…" Lia's head turned to her with a dash of optimism. "It's not over yet. So, at least we still have that."

"I'm looking forward to these festivities that your town has in store. Have you gone there before?"

"It's been a few years." Lia rolled the corner of her mouth, signaling that she had never been particularly excited about them.

"You don't sound so enthused."

Lia's brow briefly raised. "I don't get out much, remember? I never found a reason to spend my day with all those people. Everyone is dancing and singing. People paint. Others make food."

"That sounds like something you would enjoy." Cassandra moved closer, pressing her body up against hers. She tried to come off as encouraging, but part of her wanted to know why the woman had been so unwilling to take part in what should have been a fun occasion.

"It is." Lia reached over and took Cassandra's hand, holding it against her stomach as the warm air under the blanket softened their bodies. "I love to do all that. I just feel out of place. Leta and I are the only fawns in this area, and she was so young at the time when we last went." Another sigh was breathed out from her as she felt herself encountering reminders of how much she had damaged her relationship with her sister over the years.

"Leta wanted to go every year, but she missed out on some of them because I didn't want to go," Lia said with a bit of gloom in her voice. "I know it wasn't fair to her, so, Milo started taking her. I went once and I had nobody to talk to. I'm just sitting there with my little sister, while all the adults are hanging out with one another. I get so wrapped up in my head, sometimes. Leta should have been enough, and seeing things the way they are now, I was a fool to think otherwise."

Cassandra lifted her head and kissed the fawn. It lasted long enough for Lia to caress her cheek as they did so. "You're worth everyone's time, and Leta is worth yours."

Lia kissed her again. "I know. I just don't know what I'm going to do once you leave." Her face took on a form of sadness as she contemplated the future ahead of her. "I'll be a bit of a mess, that's for sure."

"You're breaking my heart." Cassandra's hand found itself on Lia's chest. "None of this is easy for me, either. But, we'll manage. That's what people like us do."

"Yeah…" Lia gave a half-smile at that statement. It carried some confidence, mixed with a natural bitterness. "It's what we do."

"Hey.' Cassandra tapped her nose. "Enough moping around. I'm hungry."

"Me too," she laughed, right before she glanced at their naked bodies. "I'm just glad that Leta can't shift around yet. She probably would have appeared right next to my bed. I'd rather not have this discussion with her – or especially, Milo."

"Last night was fun, by the way." Cassandra grinned as she traced her fingers up the center of the woman's abdomen.

Lia leaned in for one, last kiss. "Very."

Breakfast had been very enjoyable. Milo's cooking consisted of various vegetables found local to the region, alongside eggs of animals that Cassandra could never remember the names of. With the anticipation of large quantities of food available at Acomb, the meal itself was fairly light. It was just enough to satisfy one's cravings for the next few hours.

Lia had gone in to try her hand at some of the cooking, much to Milo's challenge. The eggs were prepared by her, which proved to be simpler than she had remembered. "My cooking skills are not lost, but merely suppressed by how unbearable it is to go about it," the fawn had remarked during the course of stirring the eggs over a flame. Everyone in the room couldn't help but laugh when she let out a loud groan after seeing some burns appear along the sides of the solidified food.

It was no wonder why she hated cooking.

Cassandra enjoyed the company of her close companion as they took turns working on the food, conversing with Leta as the child occasionally entered the castle's small kitchen. Milo's presence had been prominent during the process. He only departed when Leta called upon him to assist her with utensils that she could not reach.

Once the man had left the room, Lia was not hesitant to grab the woman next to her and engorge herself on her lips. A brief, but swift moment of passion. The secrecy of it was nothing short of exhilarating. It was clear that the fawn had not yet had her fill, wanting to make use of every moment that she had.

Cassandra did not mind one bit.

When the meal had been completed, it wasn't long before Milo was found packing some of his supplies atop the library table. The man made use of an opened leather bag, neatly stacking various vials and items inside as he hummed a quiet tune to himself. Cassandra and Lia had been inseparable throughout the entire day, venturing into the library together as they enjoyed the time they had.

The fawn casually approached him and peeked over his shoulder as he continued to gather what he needed to pack. "You're finally moving out, I see."

His little song came to an end as his cheeks lifted with a chuckle. It only halted his packing for a split second before he resumed his task. "Yes. I am leaving the castle to you. You made eggs for breakfast. I am confident that you can manage this place quite well."

Like the daughter she was, Lia wrapped her arms around him and pressed her head against his arm. "I will miss you, Milo. Safe travels. Your castle will be well taken care of."

The man only chuckled harder. "Ah, all my concerns can finally be put to rest now."

"Do you think that is enough medicine?" Lia broke her little act, resuming her normal demeanor as she glanced down at the supplies.

"I hope so."

Cassandra walked over beside her, turning her eyes to Milo after she bore witness to the considerable number of resources that were being packed along. "Why are you taking so much medicine with you?"

The man threw another glass vial into the bindings inside the case. "It is customary for poils to gift necessities to one another during celebrations. Since myself and Lia are the town's best source of medicine and healing, we take it upon ourselves to gift the people with what we have."

Lia chimed in, adding some context to the explanation, "My powers can heal trauma, but illness is tricky. It is possible, but I have to know what their exact ailments are. Milo is a very smart man, and he knows what to do. His medicine is great, and the people here need it."

The brunette smiled as she looked on at him, seeing yet another example of how good of a person he truly was. "This town is lucky to have you. Both of you."

"We try," Lia replied with a smile as she turned her eyes to him. "This is what our vision of a better future entails: fawns and poils working together. Our ancestors believed it was possible. Some even foretold of such a day. But, conflict throughout the centuries made it difficult. I always questioned why I was brought here."

Milo suddenly stopped his sorting, keeping quiet as a heaviness hovered above him.

"But…" Lia went on, "I think I know why now. Maybe my elders saw something that none of us did. I don't know. All I know is that I am fulfilling my purpose here, with the people of this town." Milo's mouth curved into a concealed smile as he let out a breath, grateful that the sins of the past had been washed over by the hope of a brighter tomorrow. All he ever wanted since that day was to know that he had not destroyed the lives of the two fawns he raised.

As soon as she said that, he gave her a hug that was immediately reciprocated.

Cassandra saw how she clung to him. She wondered how often Lia's resentment for her situation had placed a barrier between their relationship. She imagined that the woman was not always as angry as she could be. There had to have been plenty of pleasant moments shared between the two. He provided her with art supplies so that she may pursue a hobby she had never known she enjoyed. Despite the tension, Lia had never tried to escape this place. She must have known in the back of her mind that she was loved.

Cassandra's breathing stifled for a moment as she thought about how much anger she had built up over the years. It never made things easy for Bela or Daniela, but that didn't always stop the trio from finding happiness in each other's company. She recognized how such wrath could only go so far, and that her violent actions against the redhead had crippled their relationship.

The only thing that she could believe in now was that their bond had to have been stronger than the punches she placed on her. It was a terrible thought, but the desire to rectify her actions was genuine. To her, that was what counted.

If she and Lia could move past their worst deeds, then hopefully, so could she and Daniela.

As Milo continued his packing, Cassandra noticed a strange, pink vial sitting on one of the tables across the room. It struck her memory, as she recalled seeing a similar glass tube in Milo's hands when Lia had attacked her. The fawn had a peculiar response to the sight of such a thing, and acted quickly to destroy it before it could be utilized.

"Hey, I have a question." Cassandra pointed to the vial. "What is the purpose of that pink liquid."

"Hmm," Milo grunted a bit as he and Lia locked eyes. There was a hint of shame on the fawn's face, even though she knew that it didn't matter anymore. "It's meant to temporarily block a fawn's powers."

"How so?"

Lia stepped up to the plate, clearing her throat as she took Cassandra's hand. She wanted to remind her of her gentle she was, and how violence was not supposed to be part of a fawn's handiwork. "It explodes into a cloud when thrown. The mist enters our bodies, inhibiting our energy. It's hard to create such a thing, as it requires liquified energy from us – which only comes from our blood."

She shrugged her shoulder with one last addition to that statement, "Even then, it's tricky. Most fawns don't contain enough of the needed materials. Some surges can generate a wave of a similar effect. It costs them their own powers for the time being, but it can stop another fawn's as well. I guess nature intended for us to not walk off the beaten path, would you agree?"

"So…" Cassandra stopped her words, not wanting to revisit the past anymore, but Lia decided to face the truth.

"In my case, it would have stopped me from using my powers on you." She paused to reflect on how she had come so close to falling from grace at that moment. "Thankfully, I was rescued from such things."

Cassandra could feel the warmth in Lia's hands growing. Her fingers circled the skin at the center of the brunette's palms.

Lia gave the vial one more glance before her green eyes shined at the pale woman who had captured her heart. "I am thankful for so many things because of you."

"As am I."

Milo still had one more thing to add, "The real reason I kept these vials around was that I feared Lia's powers would someday get the better of her. The elders in her village told me that she carried the potential to be their strongest surge. I had seen first-hand what can happen if a fawn's powers got out of control. I feared that it would one day happen to her, so I drew her blood and used it to make them. If it was ever needed, then I would have it."

He spared the vials one more glance before his eyes drifted down to the half-filled leather bag. "I'm not a fawn, obviously. I couldn't properly teach her. She had to teach herself. I at least owed her a few second chances."

Lia's face broadened with a smile as her green eyes shined at him. "That's what a father is there for."

His head bobbed for a second before he looked up at her. "Always."

With the help of Lia's abilities, it only took seconds for everyone to arrive in Acomb. Holding hands in unison, the bodies of the four materialized from the blue particles that the fawn had created. Cassandra chose to appear with her head uncovered, wearing another one of Lia's old dresses. There was no fear in the brunette's heart at what the others would think of her. If Acomb was truly the kind of place they said it was, then she would be accepted without hesitation.

Milo was the first to step away, carrying his hefty leather bag against his back. "Perhaps I'm getting too old," he remarked. "But, traveling like that always leaves me lightheaded."

Yeah…it is a little too swift for my liking.

Lia giggled as she glanced at the other two. "Cassandra and Leta are handling it quite well."

Milo only responded with an affirmation of his previous statement, "Then it is decided: I am old."

"That was decided long ago, Milo," Lia replied, which prompted the man to glance back at her, only to find amusement in the smug grin she gave him.

Leta did not hesitate to respond to the environment around her. The girl was giddy with excitement; nearly skipping as she took her first step forward. Acomb was bustling with people. It seemed as though everyone had come out to enjoy the day. For such a small settlement, the number of villagers had to have been close to a hundred – if not a little more.

So many people. I'm sure they all remember me quite well…

Before the brunette could stew in the memories of her last visit here, she found her focus disrupted as Leta began tugging on her gown. "Cassandra, can you believe it?! Look at everything!"

With a laugh, she knelt to hug the girl, pulling her in. The child's energy would not be contained. Even with a strong hold, she was still able to hop up and down with glee.

Lia came around from Cassandra's right, kneeling as well as she addressed her sister, "Am I going to have to find you, again?"

"Uhm…" Leta pressed her tiny, little finger against her bottom lip as her eyes swayed around. "Maybe."

"Ugh." Lia bowed her head. "Lucky for you, my senses have elevated since last time. That – and I suppose no dhins were invited for this gathering. So, perhaps my concerns are without merit."

Leta's eyes widened. It was hard to tell whether she was scared, or enthused. Perhaps, it was both. "Dhins?! Could someone actually bring one here?"

Cassandra patted the girl's shoulder, turning her eye to Lia as the two women chuckled. "I'd say we've had enough of dhins. Now, if someone had cooked one and offered it…"

"Gibbin probably did!" Leta cheered.

Oh…how I forgot about that man…

"Gibbin, huh…" Cassandra spoke through her teeth as she smiled.

Lia rolled her eyebrows. "The man's always got a story to tell someone."

"You're telling me," Cassandra replied.

Milo shuffled the bag over his back as he smiled at the women. "I'm off to go find Brewton, see if he has a place for me to store these supplies so I don't have to carry them all day. You ladies go off and have some fun. Try not to run into Gibben, if you're not ready for his annual performances."

Lia turned her attention to her sister and Cassandra. "If anything, I'll just take us somewhere else." She held out her hands, the blue glow still shining underneath her skin. It was comforting to know that in a pinch, they could disappear. The brunette could only guess how often the fawn relied on such abilities to save herself long conversations.

A boisterous voice erupted from the background, "Ah! Milo!"

And here's Gibben.

With a sigh, Milo tilted his head as he gestured for the girls to go elsewhere. If someone had to make the sacrifice, it would be him. "Gibben, a pleasure to see you."

The hefty butcher came strolling up, just as Lia took the other two and vanished out of sight in an instant. As the remnants of blue particles floated in the air, Gibben let out a belch as he polished off a string of dried meat that he had prepared for the festival. "Pleasure is all mine, good friend." He pointed to where Lia had been. "I see you brought the whole castle with you!"

Milo nodded as he kept a coy smile on his face. It wasn't an encounter of animosity. The two went way back, having known one another for many years. Their kinship had been born from their desire to provide for the community. While Milo fancied himself as someone more refined, he still held a place in his heart for the vulgar woodsman. "You can credit Miss Cassandra for that."

"Oh, really?" He raised a bushy brow, wiping his mouth with the back of his wide forearm. "How's the lady doing? I was worried she killed someone in there."

Milo rolled his head. "Cassandra's not killing anybody – I promise."

"Ah!" Gibben moved in and gave Milo a strong pat on the back. Though his friend was just as large as he was, the butcher was built with such a burly frame that bending to his contact was inevitable. "Hope she's still got the killing spirit in her! That woman's born for the hunt! I need to put more dhin on people's plates, anyhow. Damn predators have been moving closer to this town. Might as well thin the herd a bit."

"Care to talk about this as I look for Brewton?" Milo displayed the leather case on his back. "I have medicine in here that I think he'll want to look over."

"Sure thing." Gibben pointed to the opposite corner of the town, past the center square. "He's meeting with some of the other townsfolk right now. Bunch of old men strolling about over there. He must feel right at home."

Milo began to move that way, Gibben following suit. "We're old."

"Yeah," Gibben said with a sharp laugh. "But, he's older."

The three girls found themselves in the middle of the town square. Cassandra stood by Lia as they got closer to the dancing crowds. Huddles of young ladies and men having the time of their lives, singing as they circled around with bells and other odd instruments. The theme of their melodies was that of an upbeat celebration – akin to what her world would have thought of as Folk music.

This town certainly is alive, I can say that. Strange, actually. I would never have seen anything like this in my village. Miranda really took everything from those people.

Leta gravitated toward the crowd, and while Lia was initially apprehensive about letting her join in, the fawn lowered her arm as Cassandra's hand cupped around it. "She'll be fine," said the brunette.

"This is something I'm going to have to get used to, I guess."

"She's growing up." Cassandra and her looked on at the girl as she cheered, skipping along with several other kids who took part in the gathering. "She knows how much you love her."

Lia cast a soft breath as she eyed the adolescent poils dancing with the young fawn. Her hands bonded together as she held them down in front of her, posed in thought. "I don't what I'm afraid of, in all honesty. I know that I'm not going to lose her. Look how much fun she's having with those kids."

"She's having a lot of fun, indeed."

"She is." Lia's eyes drifted to her fur cape that she proudly wore on her back; the same kind that Leta also sported today. There was once a time in this world when a fur cape was a death sentence for fawns. She had heard the stories of poils hunting them down centuries ago, slaughtering them over fears of the powers that they possessed. To live in a Locwitary where Leta could proudly wear her cape in the company of so many of these people was striking.

She had known of Acomb's hospitality, but old wounds took a lifetime to heal. Her sister's young age did nothing to stem the tide of fear that the memories of that terrible day brought on. She had been friends with some of the children that were murdered during the massacre. Young fawns were not immune to the evil that existed in this world. She had seen the bodies. She had smelled the blood.

She promised herself that Leta would never find herself in their place.

Seeing things the way they were now was just another reminder of how long ago the past was. Even if it felt like yesterday, she knew that she had to move on. It wasn't going to be an easy journey, but if a mass murderer could restore her faith in forgiveness and love, then her sister could surely restore her faith in the communities that still lived in this world.

"So…" Cassandra nudged Lia with her shoulder. "Care to dance?"

The fawn was so caught off guard. Her eyelids blinked rapidly for two seconds as she stammered to get the words out of her mouth. A quick run-through of her finger through the braids of her hair was the comfort mechanism that she chose at that moment. A nervous smile grew on Lia's face as she gestured at the crowd. "Uhm…with all these people around?"

"No, in the woods." Cassandra laughed.

"Well…" Lia turned to her, seemingly more content with that option. "That's not a bad alternative. I'm sure Leta will be okay while –"

Cassandra immediately grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the middle of the crowd. "So, that's a yes!"

"Cassandra!" Lia groaned as she tried to drag her feet in a half-hearted escape attempt. Once she was pulled in, she gazed at the poils around her, studying their movements. "Wait. I need to know how they dance."

"How do fawns dance?"

"Very differently," she said as her green eyes continued to scan around meticulously. The poils shuffled their shoulders up and down as they stood in place, occasionally hopping around as they danced in circles. Lia was cautious of the amount of space that she had between her and everyone else. "We hold hands and twirl our bodies. Our capes flutter in the wind." She began to get analytical. "It's more based on arm and leg movement when stationary. When not holding hands, we are supposed to mimic the leaves and branches as the wind –"

"Great!" Cassandra took her by the hands, ready to put a rest to Lia's apprehension. She knew that deep down the woman wanted to dance. "So, like this then?"

Before Lia could get another word out, Cassandra heaved her arms to the side, taking her slender body along with it. The fawn nearly stumbled before she caught her footing, adopting the same path of travel as the brunette. They rotated in a clockwise fashion, palms intertwined as they circled about. There was no distinct method to the way they danced, despite Lia's previous concerns about how she would stand out.

And stand out they did.

The crowd turned and cheered along as they watched the two enjoy their moment together. Cassandra could hear the whoops and hollers past her ears as her surroundings morphed into a blur. The poils were excited to see the fawn in the middle of everyone, partnered by the mysterious woman who hailed from a faraway land. Some shook their instruments in the air, while others joined hands and repeated the pattern. It created such an enticing ambiance that Lia found her insecurities falling apart as she danced along with the brunette who electrified her soul.

Neither knew the right moves, but they went with the flow, spinning and holding each other as they twirled about. The crowd became a sea of joy as everyone ignited into a mass of cheers. Laughter came from the fawn's mouth as she gleamed around, feeling like she belonged in a place she used to cast aside.

Cassandra felt the same way, realizing how her sheltered existence had kept her from blossoming out. In her world, there had never been a way to indulge in such delights, but even still, her time had been spent bathing in blood. There had only been death and nothing else, but this was life.

In the last twenty-four hours, she had lived more than she had in the last seventy years.

Dancing with Lia felt so natural. To hold this beautiful woman's hands and watch the happiness grow on her face as she carried her around was the greatest thing ever. She had often raised her nose at such things. Daniela would go on and on about romantic stories, while the brunette often dismissed her sibling's ambitions as "worthless." She could never have imagined that someone out there would steal her heart away.

This is what love feels like. I love her.

The dance only ended for the women when the desire to eat once again reared its ugly head. The rest of the villagers in the group continued their fun, while Cassandra and Lia walked away with their hands held. Leta followed them as they made their way towards the square, where the food would be. The girl was winded as ever, but that did nothing to curb her enthusiasm.

"That was so fun!" She shouted as she paced around them. "Did you see my dancing, Lia?"

"Yes, Leta." Her sister smiled as she patted the child's head. "I can only dream of one day reclaiming the energy you have. To be a kid again would be grand."

"You say that, but I can't wait to be as old as you," she replied, which made Cassandra burst out into a fit of cackles. With a smile on her face, Lia smacked the brunette on the side of her arm.

"Ow!" Cassandra continued to laugh.

"I am not old," Lia said as she shook her head. "You're making me feel like I'm Milo."

Leta spoke again, adding more fuel to the fire, "Well, you are both adults."

"Not that kind of adult, Leta…"

"Still old to me!" She resumed her dancing as she followed them.

"Ugh…" Lia brought her hand up to her brow to massage it. "Why do I bother?"

"Relax." Cassandra leaned in, resting her free hand against Lia's shoulder. "All you need to do is stop acting like an adult. Daniela told me that, once."

"Perhaps she was right."

The sudden eruption of a familiar voice stole their attention. "Cassandra! Lia!" It was the slightly nasally draw of a young poil who was proficient in the art of making others groan under their breath.

And, that's Vasan…

Sharing Cassandra's sentiment, Lia could not forgo the urge to voice her own opinion, "Here comes the sweeping bird with his heart on his wings."

A slight chuckle was breathed under Cassandra's smile. "He's not that bad."

"Yeah, I know." Lia held her hand tighter.

As they turned their heads, they could see the young man walking up to them. Dressed in his usual white long-sleeve shirt and dark, brown trousers, Vasan was the spitting image of what one would consider a peasant. He reminded Cassandra of the many young men that lived in her village throughout the years; his attire symbolizing the lack of wealth he held, yet, with the desire to appear presentable.

Still, she did not look down on him. Despite the way his voice stirred some of her patience, the impact that he had had on her in the past was not to be forgotten. He was an awkward lad; one not adept at social interaction. He lacked confidence at most times, but he managed to fight his own barriers when it mattered most. It earned him a layer of respect from the brunette.

She had learned to not regard others as lower than herself. They were both broken people who knew loss. The way he reached out to her challenged the way she viewed herself. It was that next chance to be forgiven, even though she did everything she could to drive him away. He understood regrets – his born from his perception of inaction. Because he didn't want her to walk away with the mental wounds she bore, his efforts would always be remembered.

He was a deserved friend – and he had her trust.

"Vasan," Cassandra grinned as she stopped in place. "Long time, no see."

He smiled at the first utterance of his name, pausing a glare as he noticed her head wound. The hesitation only lasted but a second before his eyes lit up in total, unfiltered attraction. His affections for her were nowhere near abandoned, that was for sure. Nonetheless, he did not allow himself to submit to a clingy mess. She wouldn't appreciate that – whether she did feel for him, or not. "I'm surprised you both are here."

She nodded with a tiny smirk and a roll of her eyes. "Well, I was a little hesitant to show up; given that I expected this town to hate me."

"No worries!" He waved his hand around in the air, dismissive of such concerns. "I've been saying nothing but great things about you. Acomb may have seen your bad side, but I know the real Cassandra."

Lia bit her tongue, turning her head away. From the corner of her eye, Cassandra could see the reaction.

She's fighting the urge to argue with him. I love it.

"Thanks, Vasan." Cassandra tilted her head. "I don't need my last day in this world involving being chased away by the locals." That was when she instantly felt the firm tap of Lia's hand against her side. When the man's eyes opened wide, that was when she knew how often her unthinking words complicated her life.

"It's your last day?!" He spoke so loudly that both ladies were surprised that the entire town didn't stop what they were doing and turn around.

Lia let out a groan, mildly annoyed at Cassandra's impulsiveness and what it led to. The brunette turned her amber eyes toward the fawn, brushing her finger against her slender thigh. "Hey, I'm sorry, okay? It slipped out."

The frown on Lia's face gradually eased up as she looked at her. With a small click of her tongue, she turned her attention back to Vasan, releasing her hold on Cassandra's hand as she did so. With a steady approach, she advanced toward him, leaving the man anxious as to what she was about to do.

"Vasan…"

"Y-yes, Lia?"

Her hands found themselves on top of his shoulders; eyes set in a sharp stare, mixed with a calm but direct voice, "I understand how upset you are to hear the news. Yes, Cassandra is leaving today. She is going back to her world. If you wish to remain in my good graces, you will abstain from mentioning it to anyone in this town. The last thing we need is people asking questions when she simply wishes to enjoy what our world has to offer." Her palms gently tapped him before they were withdrawn.

The fawn left him with one, last promise, "You will get to say your goodbyes."

Catching his breath, Vasan nodded; adamant about fulfilling his oath to the pale-skinned lady with alluring, dark hair. "Yes, Lia! I will not cause her any concern. You have my word."

Cassandra stepped closer, placing herself just a foot away from him. "Thank you, Vasan. Thank you for everything that you've done for me so far."

"Always." He smiled like the happiest man in the world. He must have been, she figured. The glint in his eye was like that of a treasure-seeker trapped in a cave made of gold. He had everything he wanted in his life standing right in front of him.

The tragedy was that he knew she wasn't his to take. But, that did not stop his admiration. Even her friendship was a worthy outcome in his eyes.

Sensing that all would remain well, Lia backed off from the lad, offering him a smile in place of her thanks. It was the kindest she had been to him in the last few years. Their history was somewhat of a rocky one. As rare as her visits to Acomb were, she remembered the day he approached her, going on about how he "never knew how beautiful a fawn could be."

Her fur cape had enamored him just as much as her green eyes and freckled nose, but as soon as his hand touched the drapes upon her back, her fury had made itself well-known. From then on, she had opted to retain her aggression in one form or another when it came to the man. However, it wasn't until Cassandra had crossed paths with him and the two achieved the impossible, that she had begun to consider the truth behind his bleeding heart.

As much as he still irked at her patience, she had found herself on the same path in life as he was. While she had been more subtle about it, it was evident how much the fawn sought love. She could not blame him for what he wanted.

As they departed for the square, Vasan took the time to stick around and watch them as they held hands. He did not even have a second to debate it before he felt that heavy, sweaty hand come resting on top of his shoulder.

"Ah!" Gibben laughed. "And the ginyol finds itself tracing the dhin's tracks in the dirt."

"Do you think I still have a chance?" He glanced up to ask.

Gibben flicked his brows upwards as his vision narrowed in on how affectionately the two ladies walked together. He could already decipher the truth, which only made him chuckle at Vasan's blindness to the fact. "Nope."

With a defeated sigh, Vasan hung his head, having accepted the truth that some things were just not meant to be. He felt that he needed to believe in what Cassandra had said to him in the past. Her circumstances and everything in her life made her the polar opposite of what he needed. Love with a woman from another world would not be bound to last, and he deserved someone that he could hold forever.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, but swallow it he must.

Gibben gave him a heavy slap on the shoulder, along with another round of his chuckling. "Hey, cheer up scout! Try me new strip!" He held out an already-bitten link of dried meat that had been cooked with an assortment of spices. As much as Vasan wanted to refuse the offer, he opted to accept it.

"Thanks, Mr. Gibben. Wish I could be like you. I'm sick of feeling like a coward."

The bearded butcher smiled with glee. "Hey, you got more guts than any man I've ever seen in this town. You walked right up to her and spilled your heart out. She tore the damn thing apart and you came begging for more. Done that a few times in me life. I tell ya, women can be more dangerous than the fiercest beasts out there. That takes bravery, dear boy."

"Yeah." A sudden feeling of accomplishment washed over his soul, which granted him a warm smile. "Yeah, it did."

It was already a few hours into the festivities and the day was still young. Sitting at a table around the edge of the square, Cassandra and Lia enjoyed a small plate of some of Gibben's cooking that the man had so graciously offered to them. A helping of ginyol had been reserved for the brunette, which made it seem like he had been secretly anticipating her appearance here.

Either that, or the large cache of ginyol carcasses he kept hung up on the trees near his shop had something to do with it. Seeking a slight bit of validation, Cassandra chose the former.

Leta had joined them for lunch, but when she witnessed a small group of children getting their faces painted, she wanted to join in. As usual, she asked her older sister for permission to venture off, but Lia did not wish for her to have to tip-toe around her directions. Not when they were in the company of such considerate folk, and not on the last day that they would get to spend with the woman who had rescued their sisterhood.

"Please, go out and enjoy yourself, Leta," Lia said. "When Cassandra and I are done eating, we will come join you."

"I can't wait!" With that, the girl had dashed from the table before the older fawn could take another bite of the dhin that Gibben had made for her. It left the two ladies at the table giggling with fondness at the sight of such excitement and innocence.

Lia had to cover her mouth to avoid spitting up any of her food. "Something tells me that she will never outgrow her childhood at this rate."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"No." Her green eyes looked on as Leta stood comfortably in the company of the other children. The way she waved her hand and greeted the kids spoke massively about how a better world could shape a young life. There was no hesitation to make friends. No worries about the intentions of others, when the past had spoken about nothing besides carnage. "It never was."

Some of the girls pointed to Leta's cape, which she proudly showed off to them. It brought comfort to Lia's heart as she watched some of the poils try to fashion their own garments into a similar item. The older fawn hummed a sigh of happiness as she sat there. The presence of her lover's hand on top of her own only added to the enjoyment that the day's afternoon had brought to her.

"I wish I could be here to watch her grow up," Cassandra stated as she wrapped her fingers around the back of Lia's hand. "But, I know she will live well. There is no fear to be had in that."

Lia nodded as she turned her head back to the brunette who was seated next to her. She set down her fork, resting that hand over Cassandra's. "A world without fear is what I've always wanted for her."

Milo had been gone for a while, only returning occasionally to check in and see how the women were doing throughout the day. He had joined them in some games and conversations in between his meetings with the town officials. It was nice to spend that sort of time with him, Cassandra thought. She had never interacted with a man who held a father-like role for her. It was comforting to be in the company of someone like that who appreciated and cared about her.

She could see the way the young poil girls held their father's hands as they walked along. They felt so safe and secure in those moments. She wondered if she had been the same way with her own father, back all those years ago. Memories that had been scrubbed from her mind could never be regained, so she could only imagine how her childhood years must have been.

Human nature seemed to carry on across these realms, and from what she saw in this town today, happiness born from a child's love could not have been restricted to just one world. She wished that the villagers she lived amongst could have had better lives, and that was what drove her mission to go back and rescue them. Those people did not deserve to live in squalor; mindlessly serving some tyrannical witch who cared nothing for their lives.

It was a solemn moment of reflection for the brunette. She enjoyed the environment that she was in. The love. The freedom. All of it. As tempting as it was to stay, in contrast to the hell that awaited her, she believed that this town could also be found elsewhere across universes.

What these people have here – I can make in my world.

Lia's eyes narrowed at Cassandra's head for a second. It stirred at the brunette's curiosity, as she wondered what the fawn could have been seeing.

"Everything alright?" Cassandra asked, only for Lia to reach out and touch the side of her head.

"Your hair used to be stubbly when I first met you. It looked so freshly shaven. In the last few days, it seems to have gotten darker." Her fingers swayed back and forth against the soft stems. "I think your hair is growing, Cassandra."

"What?!" She immediately went over to feel for it herself. It was a strange sensation. Never in the last seven decades had hair growth ever crossed her mind. She did not know what to feel for, but as she repeated the same motions as Lia, she noticed the extra bit of ease with which her digits coursed against her scalp.

My hair…it has gotten longer!

"H-how?" Cassandra was at a loss for words; almost hardly able to speak.

"I guess whatever that Miranda-lady did to you paused you in death. When you died again and came to my world, you started living again."

That's got to be it! That's why I don't have my powers! That's why I bleed! I am human again!

A set of tears befell her eyes as she felt the steady onslaught of emotion that accompanied such a revelation. She remembered collapsing in front of Milo, hearing Ethan's voice in his final moments. Whatever he had done in that world had to have broken the Megamycete's hold on her – what remained of it. With all the connections shattered, and her body restored to her own, it was no wonder why she had sensed such change over the last few days.

She was free from every binding that had ever been placed on her. Free to resume living once again, and growing with the days as they passed by. As Lia came to her side and held her close, the brunette could only think about how much this journey had changed her. She could not find complete happiness in returning to her world.

She wanted to stay here for so many reasons – which only continued to multiply by the hour.

What was the right decision, anymore?

A while later, Gibben emerged from behind the two – hard to see coming for such a big man. "You ladies enjoying me fine cooking?"

Lia giggled as she rolled her eyes, turning her head over her shoulder. "Yes, Gibben."

Cassandra nodded as she took another bite. "Very delicious."

Through his long, busy beard, Gibben smiled and clapped his hands. "Ah! My new recipe is a success! I was worried that I had put too many extra ingredients into the mix. Spoils the taste if you do."

Lia glanced down at the meat with the slightest hint of suspicion. "Well…we're not dead, if that's what you're wondering."

A chuckle went under his breath. "Poisoning ain't my way. That just ruins everything. You know, I was a swordsman back in me youth."

"I know, Gibben…" Lia rested her head against her palm, preparing herself for yet another one of his long stories. It seemed it would have to be the cost of the free meal. "Where's Milo, by the way?"

"Finishing up with sorting the medicine out and helping some of the older folks. Kind man he is. Saw him chatting it up with this blonde lady at one point. Young one, might I add. Maybe he's still got it," he said with a laugh, much to Lia's disgust.

"That's…lovely. Well, thank you for the –"

The man raised his finger in the air, almost having to stop himself from running off before he could speak. "I still got me old sword buried in one of me chests. I'll be right back with a fresh ginyol! Wait till you see how well I can chop one up!"

The fawn's face grimaced at the thought. "No thanks…"

Cassandra interjected. "I'd love to see it!" Lia's eyes turned to her immediately. Before she could even say another word, he was already heading away toward his butcher stand.

"Why did you agree?" Lia groaned.

"It gives us time to leave," Cassandra stated her true plan, much to Lia's relief.

"Please, let's go." The fawn took her hand and they stood up, ready to escape from the area – but not before the brunette grabbed one, last strip of ginyol for herself.

Leta was still hanging out with the other children, conversing about the things they enjoyed doing. The young poils had told stories of their traditions; holidays celebrated between families, meals, and practices during specific times of the year. Milo had not been a religious man by many sorts, though he had made the effort to inform the two fawns under his care about his culture's ways. It was never an attempt to circumvent everything the fawns were raised to believe.

In fact – he always went the extra mile to provide them with every source of information available about their ways, besides what Lia's books detailed.

Listening to the boys and girls was enlightening for the young fawn. As they stood together in a group, enjoying the various snacks that had been made available as others got their faces painted, Leta could feel herself growing evermore excited about the future that this town had. She couldn't wait to grow up and see these poils blossom into the adults that they were always meant to be. Her eyes drifted momentarily as she scouted the rest of the area for Cassandra and Lia, hoping to wave them over so that she may introduce them.

The two women were nowhere in sight as of yet, but she did not worry. She knew that her sister would never allow herself to go too far away.

One of the boys had brought up the question of her powers, to which Leta was keen on explaining, "Have you ever heard of surges?"

Another girl, whose face was painted with a series of green dashes, chimed in as she ate her food, "What is that?"

"So, imagine a fawn who can move some things around without touching them," she replied as she waved her hands around, mimicking the actions in question. "Now, a surge is a fawn who can do that – but with even greater powers! Every fawn has some form of power, but only a few get to become surges!"

"Are you a surge?" The boy asked, looking amazed at such a prospect.

"Yes!" Leta smiled, hopping up off her feet as she answered him. "I just discovered my powers a few days ago! I didn't even know I had them!"

A woman's voice from behind her suddenly halted the group's conversation. "Congratulations."

Leta turned around and saw a slender woman with pale skin and blonde hair glancing down at her. She wore a long-sleeve burgundy gown, collared with a white, rounded neck. Her long, wavy hair shined down her shoulders and back, glimmering in the light of the Specter Moons. There was a smile of kindness stretched across her face as she eyed the young girl, likely having overheard much of their conversation.

"Why, thank you." Leta smiled back, her happiness undiminished. "Your kids are very nice! I've been having such a great time with them."

The other children looked at her with puzzlement, which the blonde quickly addressed, "Oh, forgive me, but these are not my children."

The young fawn's smile dropped for a moment, embarrassed as ever. "Oh, I'm sorry!"

The woman chuckled as she kept her eyes on the rest of the poil children. "Not to fear. Children are a gift, as are your powers. You're a surge, correct?"

"Yes, I am!"

"I've never met one before," the woman said as she knelt. "I've heard so many stories of surges. Alas, it appears as if Joulin is without them." Her smile broadened as her eyelids curled. Her hand reached up to grace the side of Leta's bushy hair. "Was without them. What is your name?"

"Leta." The girl did not move, slightly frozen at the sudden contact. "Yours?"

Cassandra and Lia had circled the town square, confident that they were now a safe enough distance away from Gibben and whatever prolonged showmanship he had to demonstrate. As the fawn stepped forward toward the dancing crowd, she spotted Milo as he emerged from one of the buildings with Brewton.

"Lia, how is everything going?" Milo threw his empty case over his back as he made his way over to them.

"Quite lovely." She glanced over in the direction from where they had come from. Sure enough, Gibben was just approaching the table with his sword in hand, head swaying in all directions as he searched for the two women. "Care to occupy that butcher's time for the next couple of minutes while Cassandra and I go search for my sister?"

Milo sighed as he and Gibben made eye contact. The hefty brute was already on his way toward them with a grin on his face. "Of course. I guess he's going to do that sword trick again. Hope he doesn't cut this hand this time…"

"Thank you, Milo," Lia giggled. "Have you seen Leta, by any chance?"

"Oh!" Milo immediately turned and pointed to the crowd of children at the other end of the square. "She's right over there. Been there since I dropped off the last of the vials." The man lowered his arm as he pinched his eyebrows. "Oh, Marlett seems to be talking with her."

"Who is Marlett?" Lia's eyes turned toward the crowd of children, where she noticed a blonde woman standing. The child with the fur cape in front of her was no doubt her little sister. Cassandra stood by the older fawn as she stared ahead, wondering if everything was alright. There was something in the way her companion glared at her that she did not like.

"I just met her earlier," Milo said. "She's a traveler that is new to the area. Lucky for her, she got here just in time for this celebration. Quite a friendly young woman. Told me she takes care of animals and used to live on a farm further out over the mountains."

Cassandra's hand went to hold Lia's, but she quickly moved it aside. Lia did not seem to be happy at all. "I've never seen this woman before."

The brunette tried to laugh off her concerns. "Well, of course. She's not from here."

Lia did not waiver. "Her name isn't Marlett."

Milo raised his brow. "Why would you say that?"

"Because Marlett is a poil's name – and she is a fawn."

As soon as she had said that, the blonde lady across the square suddenly stood up and turned her head in their direction. With a devilish pinch to her brow, she looked Lia dead in the eyes, invoking a foreboding sense of dread in the fawn's heart.

Leta could see the expression of contempt on her face as she stared ahead, only to maintain that same, sinister glare as she turned her head back and looked down at her. The child found herself growing scared. "S-so, why are y-you here, Falena?"

"Because you're here." She immediately grabbed Leta's left arm, gripping it as tightly as possible. The woman pulled the child in, face tense with rage as she sought to gain control of her.

"Help!" Leta screamed as she resisted as best she could. The other children shouted and dispersed, clearing the area as fast as they could. A nearby adult – one of the other children's fathers – came running up as he was not too far away from the scene, alerted by the commotion.

"Hey! What is going on?" The strong, young man stopped mere feet away in front of the blonde woman, who did not address him. Leta continued to try and break her grip, pushing her feet against the dirt as she tugged in the opposite direction. "Alright, miss, let go of the girl and we can talk about –"

Falena groaned before she released Leta and swiftly turned around. With a quick movement of her arms, she cast forth a blue glow from her palms that extended to the ends of her fingers. The man's throat became compressed by an unseen force. He could feel the fiery sting of a thousand tendrils as she used her powers to gain control of his lower jaw, swarming around it and creating immense pressure. His eyes widened at the immediate onset of pain, but just when his hands started to rise, she threw her arm back.

His mandible erupted from his skull, tearing the skin and muscle in a flash of pink and red that sprayed down his grey shirt. The jaw flew before it struck the ground, ricocheting in the dirt and spinning around before it landed again. The man collapsed onto the ground, convulsing and gurgling as more blood burst from his wound. Bubbles of air from his lungs formed under the heaps of crimson that covered the crater, popping as the last bits of his life fled from him. Leta let out an ear-piercing scream, along with the rest of the children and shocked townsfolk.

Emotionless at what she had just done, Falia only kept her eyes on the man who she had just killed for a second before she shouted into the air, "Now, Narratha!"

Without warning, atop the building next to them, another fawn suddenly appeared out of thin air. With blue particles trailing off of her now-materialized body, the redheaded fawn gazed down at the crowd with a vicious smile stretched across her face. Donned upon her back was an unusual, large white fur cape, which clashed with the brown stitched vest she wore, as well as the dark, green skirt under it. Her sandals laced themselves around her calves, all the way up toward her knees. Strapped along her waist was a short, curved sword.

None of that matched any traditional fawn attire.

Nothing about this fawn was traditional.

With her smile still gleaming, Narratha dropped to a knee as she extended both arms at her sides. Palms up in the air, she looked toward the sky as her arms closed in over her head and pulled apart. A blue rift found itself in the clouds above, while sparks of energy radiated along the ground. The swath of fawn fire could be seen through her palms as she narrowed her fingers, creating magic across the town.

That was when the first shrieks sounded.

As Narratha stood up, she used her powers to push herself off the roof of the building, hovering several feet as she seemed to trail something with her eyes. The fast-paced sound of an animal crawling on the sides of the stone structure could be heard, before the path of travel ascended to the roof itself.

Narratha only hovered higher as her eyes continued to follow whatever it was she was seeing. Her grim smile tightened further as Leta and the rest of the people bore sight to a large set of sharp claws peeking over the edge. A loud hiss cut the air, before a red body followed in tow. Its face was the stuff of nightmares, baring down at the vast amount of prey that it had before it.

Only, the creature did not have any visible eyes.

Its head was nothing but a large, exposed brain, superior only to a mouth filled with long, bone-crushing teeth. Against the very fabric of nature itself, the monster's body was without skin, composed of bloody, smooth muscle that glistened in the rays of the sky and a back of exposed bones. It leaned over the edge of the roof, ready to pounce. But, before it would, the beast's incredibly long tongue jetted out from its mouth like a whip.

The sound of more of those creatures could be heard all around as the blue rifts opened up the door to another world. A world filled with creatures that Locwitary could never dream of. Creatures that served no other purpose in their existence, but to kill as quickly and efficiently as possible.

To the people of Locwitary, they were abominations; the devils of an uncharted universe.

But, to those of the world they heralded from, they did have a name.

Lickers.

NOTES:

Looks like all good things must come to an end.

Everything that has been held near and dear will face the wrath of Narratha as she pursues her path of vengeance, bringing forth the terror of another world in its wake.

I know everyone is excited about what happens from here on out, and I don't plan to keep you waiting in between chapters. So, the next release will be on Friday, July 21st. I plan to release the next set of chapters all at once, along with accompanying artwork for all (which can be viewed on AO3). I know it's a bit of a wait, but at least you'll get to binge all the action that is to come.

So, what to expect? A lot.

With the lives of everyone in Acomb at stake, as well as their own, Cassandra and Lia find themselves embattled against a deadly duo whose purpose is more nefarious than imagined. Surrounded by bloodthirsty creatures derived from the sins of the past, survival becomes a constant goal as danger lurks at every turn. When the dust settles and the embers of blue fire fizzle out, what remains will serve to change the course of every life left standing.

Two worlds will collide.

Two lives written in violence.

This is her end. This is her beginning.