Pangram

by starfallseeds

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

9. I

Illusion

n. a thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses ; a deceptive appearance or impression.

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There was silence, and for a very long time, no one said anything. The only audible sounds around them were the echoes of footsteps atop of well-worn paths, and the occasional breeze blowing by. Even though it was snowy and windy at their previous camp, Orochi and Nishiki walked through a brisk forest where only surface layers of ice and frost appeared. It would get colder and colder as the day went on, surely.

But for now it was bearable.

In fact, it was almost nice. But Orochi knew better than to disrobe any extra layers in front of the other foxes, who watched her every movement. She glanced upward and saw Nishiki's tall figure in her view. She glanced sideways, too, and spotted a leash of foxes trotting through the icy roads. She glanced behind her, and saw countless sets of vulpine eyes accusing her.

They probably hated her for whatever spell she supposedly cast on Nishiki, since his behavior from earlier was far different than anyone expected. Hell, it was probably a shock to Nishiki, too, since he was so used to killing and fighting humans in these mountains that it must have been like second nature to him.

The fact that he was changed now, was it because of the collective effort of humanity on Kamui's end? Was it the gathering of humans in their makeshift army, one that consisted of nothing more than their siblings, their siblings' retainers, and other supporters of a neutral cause, so long as it furthered survival above all else? Was it their influence that made him different, far different from the human-fearing, death-mongering creature he used to be before any of this happened?

Was it because of Orochi that he changed? It was a silly idea, if anything, but Orochi would be very pleased if she somehow managed to be responsible for Nishiki's sudden change of heart. She liked being part of people's lives, indispensably so, and Nishiki was no exception. While she was definitely not the sole reason he changed, her presence clearly altered the way that things were usually done in this hamlet, so she had that going for her, if nothing else.

Of course, she was as scared as anyone in her situation would be. There were vicious beasts on all sides of her, and of those numerous beings, only one existed that was on her side. The rest were enemies, as far as she was concerned. The rest were threats to her general safety, something she always worked tirelessly in securing.

Something that she wouldn't give away so easily. If the foxes truly wanted her life as their own, then so be it. But as long as she and Nishiki still had life in their lungs, then she wouldn't die so quickly. The magic running through her veins deemed it so—the thoughts racing through her mind assured her of such a thing. For once, her heart and her head were in accordance, and Orochi's entire being filled up with a resolve so steely, not even the hottest fires could break her will.

Let's hope that feeling stays where it is, she thought. There's no dying in today's horoscope.

.

.

.

It was too easy for the wolves to believe their fake marriage and mating. Pieri almost worried that they had her fooled, instead, and that everyone could tell their status as "mates" was nothing but a folly. After all, the skepticism and hostility they showed before almost entirely vanished up to now, and no creature—beastly or not—could change so easily. How could anyone be that gullible, anyway? These were monsters, essentially, that had the power to rip her to shreds if they wanted to. They had the power to see through the thin veil of lies and excuses, and they could punish both Pieri and Flannel for their trickery, if nothing else.

They could kill her at a moment's notice.

And yet, they did no such thing, especially since the children of the pack gathered around her, flocking to her like moths to a flame. The "happy couple" began the introductions to the multiple wolves in Flannel's pack (and Pieri lost count after fifty—she also forgot most of the other names past the usual Rock, Sky, Denim, Tartan, and Ginger) soon afterward, although Pieri returned to the children's den by popular demand.

There were twin girls, Ruby and Sapphire. One of them went up to Pieri and sniffed her hair loudly. "You guys are actually married? I read about that in a book, but basically you two are mates, yeah? You smell so sweet that I want to throw up, though! Like...strawberries. Are you for real?"

"Super for real!" Pieri cheered. "Yeah, I wanna throw up sometimes, too, but my favorite smell isn't strawberries. I like the scent of blood."

The twins smiled, their tails thumping against the sodden ground with delight. "Really? I like the smell of blood, too! It's delicious!"

The other kids exploded in agreement. A young boy went up to Pieri at this time, and presented her a "wedding gift" of sorts. The bird was dead and cold in his hands, and Pieri ogled at the way its feathers still ruffled at her touch.

Anyone else would have been disgusted, and Pieri was taught on a near daily basis that these things were disgusting, yet those reminders weren't near her, and so she wasn't disgusted in the least. She gasped happily, and brought the corpse close to her chest. "Thank you! Pieri accepts this gift with all her heart. She loves killing birds! The best part is watching them fall out of the sky when you kill them!"

"Me too!" Fern exclaimed, mirroring Pieri's maniacal expression. "But, Mama and Flannel always say that we shouldn't just 'kill for the sake of killing.' They said we should only kill what we need in order to survive. It gets really boring, though."

"Whoa, he told Pieri that, too!" Her face fell into a frown, as she said, "It's hard to understand it, but if he says it a lot, then it must be important."

"Must be."

"Hey, Pieri, if you and Flannel are mates, then that means you're important now, too!" Dandy, a short-haired pup with a slight speech impediment, cried out to her. "Does that mean you're gonna live with us? If you do, stay in our den! It's waaaay cooler than the one for the adults. Stay with us, Pieri!"

"Yeah, stay with us!"

"You're cool!"

"And you smell like blood!"

She smiled at them, happy at how receptive they were towards her. Of course, she didn't have it in her to tell the truth, and shatter their illusions with the fact that she and Flannel weren't actually mates—their entire happy arrangement nothing more than a cover-up.

They would be devastated if she told them.

She'd be dead for the same reasons.

"Let's talk about that kind of stuff later," she said quietly. "How about you kids listen? I know a fairytale that...some lady used to tell me. I'll tell it to you, too."

The kids gathered around her, and she stroked her hands through their hair, humming as she recited a fairytale most bloody and gruesome.

It felt like home.

.

.

.

Flannel was lost in a cluster of wolves, all of who surrounded him and swarmed him in affection. Their whole body was alight with ecstasy, from their perked-up ears to their wagging tails. They were so happy that their leader had returned that they barely gave him enough time to greet them all at once. Flannel limited his interactions to nuzzling or a slap on the back, maybe even a hug if he could manage it.

He had nearly forgotten the scent of his fellow wolves, having been drowned in human notions and motions all the while. And as he disappeared in meshes of black and white, he figured it was just as well.

He thought about how hard it must have been while he was gone, and instantly the warmth that surrounded him worked against him, chilling him to the bone. What kinds of struggles did they face without their leader? How could they possibly love him, when he abandoned them for so long, without ever coming back to explain why? How could they still care about him, when he virtually discarded them, as if they were objects to be thrown away?

Yet their howls weren't painful or sorrowful, not in the least. And their smiles were so wide and bright, it was hard to believe they were struggling before this. All good things came to an end, but family was forever.

So why was he so sad, still?

As he embraced his fellow garous and managarms, he realized all this time that the sadness lived inside of him. And it only came out in moments like these, where it felt like the world was simultaneously in his arms, but also somewhere far away, at a distance that he couldn't reach.

This was his home, and yet, he could not stay.

But this was his home, so he shouldn't leave.

Pieri had her hands full with the kids, so she wasn't around to hear all the things that Flannel heard from the adults. So many of them were embarrassing ("How'd you two meet?" "When did you fall in love?" "Is she bearing pups yet?" "You plan on having children together?") and Flannel could only handle so much. But when he switched the topic around, he became bombarded with well-wishes and complaints. The new pups were going to be born soon, the children needed to be taught proper hunting techniques, there was a small poacher raid (luckily no one got hurt) not too long ago, and a myriad of other things that needed a leader's presence. In those few moments in time, Flannel understood how his absence affected the tribe.

Though, he couldn't return now. He still had unfinished business with Kamui, and if he stayed here—which was so tempting to do because of how easy it would be—he would never get things resolved. He also would never see his friends again, and while he might have had a soft spot for Pieri, he cherished the others, too. Elise, Harold, Sakura, Kazahana, Elfie, and Nyx, just to name a few.

He also cared a lot about Nishiki, who was arguably his best friend. Remaining at Mount Garou would mean that Flannel would never get to see Nishiki, and that reality weighed more heavily than it should have.

For once, Flannel sympathized with Kamui, because now he had the impossible choice of choosing between the family he had always known, and the family he was just starting to love.

.

.

.

The largest tree in the forest looked like one tree split into five at its base. Each branch bent outwardly, so it looked like the fingers of a hand clawing upward to make a cup. There was an opportune space in the middle of the base, where Nishiki took up residence, and he invited Orochi to sit near him—not quite in the seat of the tree, but a little off a ways where she would still be by his side.

She didn't hesitate, and stared up at the tree in awe. Even in the midst of winter, it had healthy leaves, and the bark was smooth, supple. She rested her hand against it, and thanked it for distracting her from the all the regret that existed within her. After all, she might have single handedly jeopardized Nishiki's relationship with his entire family.

It was a pretty big deal.

"It's said that the first youkos were born underneath this tree," Nishiki said. It was less awe-inspired and more expectant, as this was the home where he had spent so many years of his life growing up in. "So, as tradition goes, we have every important meeting and discussion underneath this tree. As head of the hamlet, I sit in the palm of its hand, in the center so everyone can see me."

"Wow," she muttered. This whole experience put her at a loss for words, although she couldn't deny the worry that rooted itself within her, as well. "Then, is it really okay for me to be here right now? I'm an outsider, after all."

"Fufu. You'll be fine, I promise. Don't be so scared about everything."

"I hate how you're so considerate of me," she admitted. "I don't know how you're doing it right now. I pretty much ruined everything, didn't I? So how is it you're worried about me and not your family?"

"Yeah, you really messed things up," Nishiki agreed. There wasn't any true hatred in his voice, though, which Orochi was thankful for. "But it was also my fault for letting you come in the first place. Still, what's done is done. Let's just see this through together, okay?"

"Alright. The least I can do is sit this out with you. I can't promise that I won't bite back if they say anything nasty, though!"

He laughed, his lean frame shaking with noise and hilarity—an act that belied the straight posture, serious look, and regal appearance that Nishiki maintained up until that point. "What an 'Orochi-like' thing to say! You're free to do what you want, but obviously I recommend that you stay quiet. They don't like you very much, y'know."

"Ah," Orochi murmured. She became distracted as the foxes began to gather around them. Some were in their fox forms, sauntering around the soft earth before resting on their haunches. Others were seen in their human forms, hands folded into their laps and knees pressed into the firm ground.

Regardless of the form, they all managed to stare at her with the same accusatory hatred, and she shrunk from their crimson gazes. "S-Should you speak so openly about this? I'm sure they can hear us…"

"Oh, they heard us this whole time," Nishiki pointed out. "Our hearing is very good, and just because we pulled ahead by a few yards doesn't mean that they couldn't hear us anymore."

"T-Then—"

"Like I said, you'll be fine. Let me do the talking, though, okay?"

"Okay. I trust your judgement, Nishiki. In this situation, if nothing else."

"Thank you." He smiled brightly, but retained a sense of calmness as the last fox filed in. He didn't have to clear his throat as his voice resonated loudly, vibrantly, and brightly for all the forest to hear. He began with some opening remarks, all while Orochi curled in on herself—partly from the cold, partly from the fear.

She hated not having control in a given situation. As divine and fateful as she could be, there existed many things out of her control, and even out of her sight. When Mikoto died, she knew it would happen, and did everything in her power to prevent it, until the realization came that she could do nothing at all, because everyone had a course to take and those roads were decided long before they were even born.

Just as she watched the beloved, late queen put herself on the line for her, she watched wordlessly as Nishiki defended her in front of his own family and friends, risking all the love and security he had with the other foxes in order to protect Orochi, of all people.

No matter what came out of it, only one thing was sure: this meeting had to end well, and for everyone involved.

She wouldn't live to see another day otherwise.

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.

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"I need to talk to you."

Pieri, who was play-wrestling with the kids, paused in the middle of it. Sapphire was her combatant, and the little she-wolf looked surprised and displeased at the sudden interruption. The other pups were equally stunned: Dandy, Fern, Ruby, Quartz, Mille, Velvet. Many red-and-black eyes stared up at the leader, although he was only focused on the singular one in his sights.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Pieri sighed, and released the wrestle-hold she had on Sapphire just now. Sapphire, in turn, unclamped her mouth from Pieri's leg. It was a play-fight more than anything, so there wasn't any blood, but there were teeth marks left in the impressions of the bare skin near the ankles. Flannel scoffed while Sapphire rubbed the dirt off her face.

"Okay," Pieri gave in. She stood up at full height, and turned to face the children. "I'll be back! Save some good fighting for me, too, okay?"

"Okay!" They chorused. Fits of laughter and bouts of play-fighting erupted as Pieri and Flannel walked away from the den.

She followed his lead as they walked along the main pathway, which veered away from the main tribe and into the forest ahead. For a few minutes, they strode along this length, until Flannel quickly pulled her off to the side. They stumbled into a small ditch, and Flannel glanced around, ears perking as he sensed for any interlopers nearby.

There were a few garous further down the road—a couple of older kids chasing down rabbits—but they were far enough from them that they were out of earshot. Flannel sighed, and let go of Pieri's hand with visible relief in his eyes. "Okay, the coast is clear."

She wrung her wrists, although her voice wasn't nearly as anxious as her movements implied. "What's wrong, Flannel?"

"They think I'm here to stay. No, they want me to stay."

"Uh-oh."

"Yeah, 'uh-oh' is right. I, I think I might have an idea of what to do, but I wanted to hear your thoughts on it."

"You want some advice?"

"Not exactly, but I guess it could be taken that way?"

"Hmm...Pieri is not so good at this family business," she said. "It's complicated since they think we're mates, huh?"

"Yeah, thanks for that," he mumbled. "I mean, it was a good idea at first, but now it's kind of a hassle."

"It was better than nothing! And if you hated it so much, then why bother keeping it up? You kissed Pieri's head and everything, so they think it's real. Why not just tell them the truth?"

"I didn't hate it! I-It's not a completely bad idea, y'know?" The thought of and I kinda liked kissing your head lived and died on his tongue, but it died quickly enough to spare him the embarrassment. "What I mean is, since you were smart enough to come up with that, maybe you have another idea to get us out of this mess?"

"Pieri doesn't have any idea," she said. "The only solution is to kill them if they resist."

"That is definitely not happening."

"Then tell them the truth! Marx once said to Pieri that 'honestly is the best policy.' Lasward says things like that, too, so it's the best advice she can give based off what she knows."

"And does being honest work out for you?"

After a quiet moment of deliberation, she shook her head fervently. "No, the truth always gets Pieri into trouble. Marx will be like, 'Pieri! Did you kill those women?' and Pieri says 'Yes, I did! They said bad things about Lord Marx and Lasward and they tried to murder their children to get money, so she killed them right away!' but she gets in trouble anyway so she's sure that the whole honesty policy is stupid and false."

"I wonder why he said that, then," Flannel agreed, unsure why someone would bring up the idea that honesty was a good solution, but then go completely against it. Kamui's like that, too, he suddenly thought. Maybe it's a royal thing? "But let's say that I do tell the truth...what then?"

"What do you mean?"

"Won't they hate me for lying to them?"

"Depends," she said. "Would you hate them for lying to you?"

"Yes," he answered immediately. "I mean, not forever, but, uh, I would definitely feel angry. I mean, they lied, and they kept secrets from me! Family, wolves, those things should be open and free."

"Then maybe telling the truth is not a good idea. At least, not right now."

"So then what?"

"Why don't you stay here, then?"

Silence.

"Flannel?"

"..."

"Flannel? Hello?"

"But if I stay here, then what about you?"

"Pieri remembers the way back!" She smiled. "She even remembers how to get back to the portal that Lilith gave us in the beginning. She'll be fine on her own."

"Kamui and the others will be worried, though."

"Do you need Pieri to cover up for you?"

"I…"

He didn't know. Did he need her to cover up for him? Staying home was a valid and understandable option. As he thought to himself before, the whole goal was to stay with Kamui's forces long enough to find his way back home. Of course, they got caught in some complicated matters along the way, and he met some incredible people and fought by their sides, but at the end of the day, continuing his reign over Mount Garou was the main objective.

Should he leave when, technically, he had everything he wanted?

One look at Pieri's face was all he needed to answer that question.

He couldn't stay just yet. He had to see this whole war through, and he still wanted to hang out with Nishiki, Pieri, and the others back home. His other home, that is. While it hurt to leave his family behind a second time, it would be better to get all the complications out of the way before he returned for good. At least then, there would be a sense of satisfaction and completion, and he wouldn't feel so guilty either way.

He voiced his resolve as soon as it formed. "I still want to go back. I think I'll stay until the war is finished, until everything settles down. And once it's all done, I'll come back here, for good."

Pieri smiled widely. "That sounds like a plan! So how about this: you tell your family that you still have some business stuff back with the humans. We can lie and say it's human stuff involving Pieri! Because they think we're mates, they'll believe us when we say that. Then, we go back to the others, and continue working until our goal is reached."

"I think that'll work," Flannel agreed. "Okay, we'll go with that. Thanks, Pieri."

"Hehe! Don't thank Pieri yet, we haven't even done anything! Let's go back before they get too worried about us," she advised. "Pieri will start with the pups. Oh, they're so much fun to play with!"

"They like you a lot," Flannel noted. He started walking back to the main threshold, and Pieri matched his stride easily. "I'm happy for you."

"Pieri likes them too! And guess what? She learned the difference between Ruby and Sapphire! As well as Fern and Dandy!"

"I get the confusion between the twins, but Fern and Dandy? They're completely different wolves!"

"Give her a break, she's meeting these people for the first time!" Pieri pouted cutely, eyes narrowing in a way that was more exasperated than it was deadly. "At least she knows the way to and from the village! You're the head of the wolves and you don't even know!"

"T-That's not fair! I know my directions! It's just—"

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Pieri thinks you do not!"

"Well, I think that I do!"

"Hey, you two."

They didn't realize that they already returned to the wolves' den in the midst of their squabble. The fear of realization washed over them: would the others doubt their love after seeing such a childish argument had broken out between them? Were they about to be found out by the garous and mánagarms alike? The answer depended on who it was that found them just now, and one look was all it took to know.

It was Brook, the village elder who made it known that they're largely exasperated by Flannel's actions. But for once, she wasn't frowning in displeasure. She seemed happy to see them, if the crinkled eyes and happy smiles were any indication of such. "Now, now. I know you're newly mated, but there's no need for a lover's fight, yes? How about you two come along and help me with a stew? I know that Pieri is a human, so you appreciate cooked meat instead of raw, yes?"

"Yes!" Pieri cheered. "We'll gladly help! Thank you, Brook!"

"You're welcome. Flannel, don't just stand there all wide-eyed! Be useful for once, and carry the cauldron. It's too heavy for me to hold in this form."

He grumbled, "You could just transform and carry it, y'know…"

"What was that?"

He heaved the heavy iron cookery in his hand, rolling his eyes and sighing deeply. "Nothing, nothing…"

Needless to say, it was moments like these where Flannel found himself grateful to be home. And with the sight of Pieri in his eyes—who was so happy and pleased simply by talking to wolves and learning about them—he decided that there was no place he'd rather be.

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.

.

"Why did you return with a human beside you?"

"What is your relationship to this woman?"

"What is the meaning of all this?"

The questions kept coming, and Orochi herself had a hard time keeping up. It wasn't the first time she was involved in a hearing like this. As court diviner and former retainer to Queen Mikoto, she spent many days and nights seated by a leader's side, quiet and thoughtful as the inquiries and worries piled on and on. There were many occasions in which the Queen, elegant yet playful as anyone could be, had many sleepless nights as she tried her hardest to sort things out.

It was just like those days, only this time, Orochi's mind was blank. She didn't have any courtly advice to give, and she certainly didn't have any sagely thoughts stirring in her mind. Hearing a cacophonic chorus of complaints and accusations from the numerous foxes was enough to induce a headache, although it wasn't only her head that suffered.

Her heart ached dully. This wasn't her family, but if it was, she'd be crushed at the thought of them turning against her like this. Her hands tightened into stressed fists as she clenched at the fabric of her folded knees. Okay, she suddenly thought to herself, if we get out of this in one piece, I am definitely apologizing to Nishiki. And I absolutely owe him now, but is there a way to repay him without him wanting to repay me back? There must be someway…

"Are you saying that you renounce your feelings towards humans? Have you forgiven them for all they've done?"

"Of course not," Nishiki denied. The words were knives to Orochi's heart, and a magnet towards her mind and ears. She listened carefully to his every word from thereon out. "I haven't forgotten what they've done, either."

"So then why—"

"I just don't think we should stoop to their level."

Everyone became silent. Nishiki continued without hesitating.

"Humans deserve to die for what they did. But if we keep thinking and acting with that mindset, won't we become the same as them in that regard?"

"...Yes, I'm aware that two wrongs don't make a right," an elder from the back called out. "We're all well-versed with such a moral issue. What's your point, Nishiki?"

"What I'm saying is, sometimes it could be fun to stray from the norm. We don't have to kill every human. What fun would that be, if they all dropped dead now?"

"That's true," a child from the front agreed. "It's fun to play with them!"

A surge of sadistic excitement coursed through the crowd, as a murmur of agreement and glee resounded the same. Orochi's chest ached even more with each whisper and giggle.

Nishiki continued. "So, this human that's accompanying me right now is a bit different than usual, too. There's a threat out there greater than humans and foxes— greater than all of us combined! So I'm trying to stop it, and in order to do that, I have to be with humans. She's here to accompany me on a divine mission of sorts. Do you understand now why I can't have you kill her?"

"I want the details of this so-called threat," another elder demanded. "However, let it be known that I don't doubt its existence. There's no reason for you to protect her otherwise."

"I agree," another elder said. Orochi watched the other foxes—the children, adolescents, and adults alike—for a reaction, but as soon as the elders got involved, the rest remained quiet. "Very well, we understand your intentions, Nishiki. We feared this sorceress got the better of you, but it seems that's not the case."

"Perfect," he mused. "And, it goes without saying that my return is temporary. So, I have to leave again." There was a palpable energy of disagreement, to which Nishiki carefully added on, "But as soon as this matter is resolved, of course I'll be coming back for good!"

The atmosphere lightened up somewhat—Orochi could see as much as some shoulders lost tension, and a few of the louder voices quieted down—but for the most part, the other foxes were still on edge.

"Very well," the first elder from before agreed. "Then, the elders will hear your more in-depth explanation at the hamlet. The rest of us will proceed with a returning ceremony, which has been prepared long ahead of time for your inevitable return. Your human companion is free to join us, as well."

Just like that? Orochi was lost in the entire conversation, at least verbally. She was paying clear attention to everything else, and she became a bit desperate in this situation. She opened her mouth to speak, although her words were lost when the children up front screeched. "Party time!" they called out, and bounded through the woods in a hasty attempt to return to the village as quickly as possible.

Other foxes followed suit, and some of the elders left ahead of Nishiki. When he made it clear that he wanted to walk back alone (or with Orochi, which was almost the same thing), they strode ahead of him, until the clearing was empty except for the two soldiers. The only thing that remained of the meeting was the flattened ground where foxes sat, and light footprints embedded in the wintry ground. Orochi stared at one clear paw print with intensity, before she stood up at full height.

Nishiki was standing, too, and he towered over her without imposition. She felt threatened, all the while.

Were his sentiments true? Did he truly hate humans, and think they all deserved a premature death, just as he said? Or was that a ruse to fool the elder foxes (who seemed to hold a lot of power over the tribe, despite Nishiki's position as head of the hamlet) into submission? She wasn't quite sure either way, but Nishiki's bright smile diffused most of her nerves with its sincerity.

She was still doubtful, but it was hard to go against such a charming face.

Maybe that was his true leadership shining through, after all.

"Well, that went surprisingly well." She finally managed to talk, voice a bit dry after having been quiet for so long. "I'm amazed, Nishiki. You were so eloquent and demanding. Nothing like—"

"Nothing like how I usually am?" He hummed delightfully, obviously pleased that Orochi got to see a more serious and impressive side of him. "I'm not usually that stiff, haha! It's the elders' fault for forcing me to be like that sometimes. In a way, I'm not that different from the human royals, huh?"

"Yes," she agreed. "Although, it's still a bit different from Kamui and the others. Even though this reminded me a lot of court hearings and trials, especially the ones I used to oversee with Queen Mikoto. But, in this case, the only ones that got to say anything were those blasted elders! Tell me, Nishiki, how come they're allowed to have so much presence?" Orochi frowned, an expression that didn't quite suit someone as smiley as her. At least, that's what Nishiki thought as he watched her brows draw together and her lips downturn. "They berated you a fair bit, too."

"I guess the best answer would be that even though I'm the leader, they're, like, really close to me. They advise me and they've been around longer than I have. Longer than my parents, too." He smiled fondly, but the expression read as sad and listless, somehow. Orochi's stomach turned over, and she tried not to patronize him just now. "Anyway, they've got the village's best interests at heart! They're kind of weird and old-fashioned about it, but still."

"I see…"

"Don't look so down! If you couldn't tell, I was starting to get tired at the end," Nishiki sighed, and his ears moved inward. "Meetings like these are so boring. I'm glad you were here! Just seeing you gave me some strength."

"Is that so?" She didn't even try to stop the smile forming on her face. "Well, I hardly helped. If anything, I complicated things further for you."

"On the bright side, I did get them to receive humans a bit better. I wasn't kidding when I said that they're not as trusting about humans as I am."

"Yeah, you weren't. They wanted to tear me to shreds the entire time!"

"It's understandable," Nishiki hummed. "Although it turns out that your being here helped a lot. Since we're on this divine journey together, it'll be easier to leave in a few days like we planned. Then we'll head back to Kamui and the others, and it'll be like we never left!"

"You make it sound so easy," Orochi groaned. "Are you sure that everything's okay, though? The air was so tense and—"

"Orochi," Nishiki whined. "Stop it already. Everything is okay. And if it's not, then it'll be okay."

"I know, I know. You can't blame me for being worried." She went silent for a few moments, taking in the wintry air, and the solitude around them. "Thank you, Nishiki. Thank you for everything up until now."

He perked up visibly at the new praise, and laughed as he said, "You're welcome! I guess we're even now, right?"

"Guess so."

"Anything else you want to say before we head back?"

"Yes. It's about what you said earlier. Talking about humans like that, saying that we all deserve to die, and that it's fun to play with us...did you truly mean that?"

He said nothing. His smile melted into a completely neutral expression, and his eyes became unreadable—blank as a slate, yet completely filled. She worried that she angered him somehow, crossing a line that shouldn't have been seen in the first place. Or worse, that those were his true feelings, and everything else up until now had been a lie. Maybe his kindness was false, too, and his charm and humor were all crafted for this very moment, where he broke out of his facade, and reached out with silvery claws to cut her into tiny pieces, making her into tonight's main course…

...Nishiki sprung forth and nuzzled Orochi with the softest touch possible, all but neutralizing those horrid thoughts in her mind.

Her cheeks grew warm, and his gentle purring resonated peacefully in her ears. Then he said, "I used to mean that. A while ago, if you or any of the other soldiers wandered too far into these mountains, I wouldn't have had a second thought about killing you. But I've learned so much about humans since then! It'll take them a while, but I can make the others come around, too. You won't get hurt as long as I'm here, okay? So please, please, please stop worrying about that, Orochi. Promise me."

He held out his hand to her, and she squeezed it hard without letting go. Of course, putting total faith and trust into another person was easier said than done, but for Nishiki, she didn't mind trying. The frown on her face lessened, and she mustered all her strength to match his smile in brightness and sincerity.

It was only a fraction of the sunshine he naturally radiated, but it would have to do for now.

"Okay, Nishiki. I trust you. I'm sorry for everything up until now. I'll try to be less of a bother."

"That's great! And hey, did you hear what they said earlier? They've got a welcoming party waiting for us! It's time to show you humans what a real celebration is like!" With a flick of his wrist and a quick flip into the air, Nishiki transformed into his true form, and Orochi got a good look at his youko build.

She had seen plenty of foxes up until this point, and now that he was in front of her properly, she could say for certain that he was the most beautiful one of the bunch. His fur was so smooth and shiny that none of the other foxes could compare. The amber color that bled into bright red at the end of the strands was captivating, too, and his eyes shone with utter brilliance. There was also the trinity of the fox fires that floated around him at all times, shimmering blue and gold while emanating a warmth. Yet the fire didn't burn, not even when one of the spheres passed over her completely.

Nishiki was so beautiful and elegant that it was easy to forget that he was equally bloodthirsty and violent. But if his words meant anything, then he wasn't as mindlessly hateful of humans as the rest of his hamlet had been, and he was even hopeful in getting them to change their ways. It was certainly an uphill battle on his end, since the elders' mindsets were set in stone.

Though he did admit that he would've killed her without hesitation if they met in different circumstances. Yet the fact that he protected her up to this point, and even vouched for her kind as a whole, meant something. So Orochi clung to that meaning with all her heart, because the alternative truth was a bit too ugly for her liking.

"I guess so! Let's be on our way, then!"

"You said it! Hop on, Orochi!" He lowered himself, tail swishing behind him playfully. "This is your express ticket back to the hamlet, haha~"

"Wait, are you sure?" She took a step back out of caution. "I won't be too heavy or anything?"

"You won't be," he said. "I'm way stronger than I look!"

"What about your fur? I don't want to accidentally pull it out or something!"

"It doesn't come out that easily! Now, hurry up before we miss everything!"

Orochi hesitated, but forgot her fears the moment she climbed onto his back. His body was smooth and steady underneath her, surprising her with the amount of muscle in comparison to fur. Maybe it was because she was used to his tail, but she assumed that his whole body was soft and fluffy.

She was so wrong, and she wasn't afraid to admit it when he started moving, fast as lightning and just as forked. Running in multiple directions, only to suddenly screech to a halt and start again. The forest reduced to colorful blurs in her vision, Orochi clung tightly onto Nishiki's scruff, and buried her head in his fur. It was warm, clean, and comforting. It helped keep her steady where she otherwise might have gotten sick.

She drowned in his scent, all perfume and sunshine. The warmth enveloped her, and as they disappeared into the greenery, Orochi realized that—slowly but surely—she was growing ever fonder of the youko underneath her.

She couldn't help but wonder if he thought the same.

.

.

.

Brook's stew was heavenly. Pieri gaped at the rich, delicious taste of the meaty stew, and shoved down three whole servings before deciding to talk. "You cook so well! Pieri wants to know the secret!"

"I learned how to cook human food a long time ago," Brook explained. She was an elder and it clearly showed, but there was something youthful and endearing about the twinkle in her dull eyes. "When I was younger, I liked to steal books from a nearby human settlement. Turns out they were a group of traveling performers, and the books I stole were cookbooks meant for their chefs. I picked up on it, and began cooking in secret."

"Well, it's delicious! Pieri is serious! It's better than most human food!"

"I'm glad you think so. Most wolves eat raw meat, and even then, there are a lot of human tastes that don't stick with us. If it wasn't for this nosy brat here, then no one would even know this little talent of mine." Despite the annoyance in her voice, her eyes shone with a warm affection. "Since he got himself a human mate, I guess my hobby will actually be useful for once."

"I can cook, too," Pieri insisted. "But not as good as this."

"Y'know, I've had your cooking only a couple of times before," Flannel noted. "But I remember it was actually pretty good. I'm kinda picky, so if I say that I like something, I really like it."

"You? Picky? As if!" Pieri snorted. "You like any type of trash!"

"It's treasure to me," Flannel muttered. "There's a saying like that, right? One person's trash is another person's treasure?"

"Yup! It means, what someone thinks is useless might be incredibly useful for someone else." She fished out a scrap metal from her pocket, and handed it to Flannel with enthusiasm. "There you go! For you!"

"What? Seriously? I can have this?" He sniffed it vigorously, and his tail wagged a mile a minute. "It even has rust! Thanks, Pieri! You're the best!"

She laughed softly, and reached forward to nuzzle him with an even softer touch. "You're welcome, dear~"

They would have continued this overly affectionate act, but Brook intervened with a huff. "Alright, you two. That's enough."

They both stopped, confusion in their eyes. "What do you mean?" Flannel asked. He didn't realize that he naturally dropped his arms, and instinctively took a step away from Pieri at the same time. "What are you talking about, Brook? Ahaha…"

"You can drop the act around me, y'know. I can tell that you're not actually mates."

"What—"

"And Flannel, I don't know if you've noticed, but no one else is around us. I told them that I was giving you some elder advice, so they're all somewhere else. That is to say, this is a safe place to stop pretending."

"That's…" He glanced around and sniffed, but couldn't detect any nearby presences. The closest one was in the children's den, where he could tell that Sapphire and Ruby were fighting over who got to play with Pieri next. As cute as that debate was, he returned his attention to the matter at hand. "How...how did you know?"

"For as long as I've been alive, I've seen love in all forms. In your parents, your siblings, and every other wolf in this tribe. I know what is genuine and what is not. The others aren't able to tell right away, but I am." Her gaze was stern, but not disappointed or angry as they feared it would be. And she put back her long, straight her over her shoulder, adjusting her appearance to the young Pieri before continuing. "You're not mates. Perhaps there is love, a budding interest, but I know for a fact that you are not married, a couple, mates, whatever you want to call it. I won't even ask if I'm right, because I know I am."

"...Okay," Flannel relented. "Okay, we're not actually mates. Are you gonna tell the others, too?"

"Can you explain yourselves first? Why did you go along with the idea that you're mates? Mind you, you're doing a good job. Everyone else believes it wholeheartedly. I don't think there's a single wolf besides me that sees through the act. So why pretend, then?"

"I, uh, wanted to come back home. I've been gone a while."

"I know. Last we saw you, you said you wanted to head out to Amuzia. You didn't come back, so we all assumed you were lost again. But when Silver and the others started looking for you, you were nowhere to be found."

"Yeah. Well, I was gonna explain this to the others, but now's a good a time as any…" He placed down the bowl of meat stew, and Pieri followed suit. She stirred the remaining food listlessly, while Flannel began his explanation. "I was in Amuzia, although the city was attacked. So I tried to defend it, y'know, 'cause Amuzia is neutral territory and pretty welcoming to beasts."

"Yes," she said. "I'm aware of Amuzia's neutral status. But you were attacked? By who?"

"It was more like a what," Flannel clarified. "They were invisible warriors! But they had to be there, because people were dying left and right, and the city was being destroyed."

"...Hmm…"

"Then, this army comes along, and they help me out. I'm already lost, but now I'm worse for wear. So I decided to stick with that army until they helped me come home."

"And I'm assuming that Pieri is a soldier in this army?"

"Yes," she squeaked, a bit surprised to see herself come into the conversation so early. "Pieri's truth is that she is a retainer to a Nohrian royal. The crowned prince himself, Marx."

"Interesting. King Garon is one of the few royals that has had a lasting, official peace with our people. That doesn't stop individual hunters and third party poachers from attacking us, but the Nohrian Army doesn't mess with us anymore. In a way, we're grateful to him."

At the mention of the king, Pieri seemed somewhat downtrodden. She only nodded. "Yes, that's true. Well, in any case, Pieri is glad to hear that the wolves suffer just a little less. She knows the icky things humans have done to this tribe."

"Good. Although, we should focus on the matter at hand. So, please, Flannel. Continue." Brook's face was completely serious, and stayed that way, even as the stew sat warming on the fire. It would remain untouched for some time, though.

Flannel gulped. "So, after meeting Pieri and a bunch of people in the army, I decided to stick it through until the war's over. But recently, something happened, so I was able to come back for a while. It's just, well, it sucks to come home after being gone so long, only to leave right away. I couldn't come up with a good excuse for why Pieri was here, so we pretended to be mates."

"Why are you here, then?" Brook asked. "If you're not mating, and if you have no ill-intentions towards us, what's the reason for coming all the way to Mount Garou?"

"I asked her to—"

"I wanted to come," Pieri admitted. She spoke softly and kindly, as if this was the right answer all along. Flannel couldn't even correct, much less call her out on her odd way of speaking just then. "Uh, Pieri means to say, she wanted to tag along. So she did! She's not Flannel's mate at all, but she likes his home! The wolves are nice; they smell like home. The pups are all friendly, too! She wishes she had siblings like them when she was younger!"

"I see." Brook murmured. "Well, I think I understand what's going on. This is all a misunderstanding. I mean, I figured as much the moment the two of you were swamped by the others' presence. The sudden declaration also gave it away. Unfortunately, this lot is as sorry as Flannel is at times, so it's easy to give into the others." She laughed in spite of him, and continued to speak. "Very well. I won't tell the other wolves your true intentions, but I'm counting on you to settle things."

"Thank you, Brook!" the two of them chorused. They stared at each other after realizing their synchronization, wide-eyed and gaping until Brook's impatience rose through.

"You're welcome, but don't be so thankful, yet. Flannel still has to break the news somehow, right?"

"Yeah," he said. "I think the next hunting patrol is starting soon, so I'll announce it when the time's right. Pieri, maybe you could stick with the children until then? They're missing you already."

"Okay," she agreed. "She'll do that! After cleaning up the stew, that is."

"Alright. See you in a little while."

"Bye Flannel!"

"Bye."

He dashed away, eager to tell the other garous and mánagarms the situation. He wouldn't give away all the secrets, but he would tell them there was some human business he still had to settle with Pieri, and so he would be gone a second time. Hopefully, though, the next time he returned to Mount Garou would be the last.

He was also too embarrassed to be in Brook's presence any longer, so he was grateful towards Pieri, since she stayed behind in order to clean the stew. There were little leftovers, so Pieri downed whatever was left of it and heaved the cauldron away to wash it in the nearby river. Brook assisted her by stacking the bowls and spoons, and rinsing those in the stream beside her. It was quiet between the two women, but Brook finally broke the silence.

"You may not be his mate, but you certainly care a lot for him."

Pieri nearly dropped one of the bowls, losing it to the stream. She covered up her mistake quickly enough. "You think so?"

"I don't know humans as a human would, but I doubt very many of them would be as helpful as you have been in this situation."

"..."

"The way you care for him is the way we all do, I suppose. And the other wolves have taken a liking to you, too."

"Okay, and…?"

"You're not his mate now, but even so, I wouldn't mind if you came to visit us a second time." Brook sighed heavily, and leaned back to watch the darkening night above them. Her hands paused in their work, and Pieri watched as the current ran over slightly calloused and wrinkled hands, washing away the filth from her sharp claws. The bowl was loose in the elder's grip, but never entirely lost as she her grasp remained tight.

This she-wolf was old, but not senile. She knew a connection when she saw one—she knew intent when she heard it. "It might sound odd, but you would certainly fit in here at Mount Garou. If not, I'll tell Flannel that if he wants to keep introducing humans to us, they had better be humans like you."

And to that, Pieri had no words. She hadn't been told that she belonged anywhere, or was wanted anywhere by other people for a long time. The last time that someone was this kind to her, she ended up becoming his retainer, and pledging her life and allegiance to him. Now that she had done that, she was in Kamui's army, bonding with Hoshidan and Nohrian forces alike, and going places she'd never been before.

The fact that she was at the riverside of Mount Garou attested to that fact. To think that things would have turned out any differently if she denied Flannel's offer, or even done something as small as tell the wolves the truth from the beginning! Any number of things could have prevented her being here, but she was here and there was no changing that.

She was a stranger to family, or any family in general, seeing as her own had been fractured years ago. But if family was like this—if family consisted of rambunctious children, shady adolescents, a kind older woman that made food for everyone, and a common link between them all—then she wouldn't mind creating her own someday.

Or, she might just take up Brook's offer, and join Flannel's family herself. He always interested her, and they both reeked of bloodshed and tragedy. Whether or not the mating business interested her was another matter, but if it took one lie to get to this point, then maybe the truth would get her even farther.

The two of them finished cleaning up, and they parted ways soon after, with Brook retiring to the elders' den, and Pieri heading into the children's retreat.

Ruby, Sapphire, Fern, and Dandy were all there to greet her, and they sprung to their feet at her arrival. "Pieri! You're back! Do you wanna play some more?"

"Can we hear another story?"

"I wanna show you my butterfly wing collection! What do you think?"

Their reception was inviting, if not overwhelming, so she couldn't help but smile at all of them and sweep them into the same warm, enveloping hug. They snuggled against her, and she laughed at the ticklish hairs poking into her skin.

Then, with a sweet laugh, she said, "Yes. Yes to everything and anything. Let's get started, right away!"

.

.

.

The party wasn't anything like Orochi imagined. There were decorations, and some were similar to the Hoshidan court decor she'd seen time and time again. The teru bozu hanging from thin wires, colorful streamers set awash the dens and trees, and flowers growing in pretty patches, sprouts poking out from pots. Some of the foxes in their human forms looked different, as they wore ceremonial robes of white and red. The ones that were still foxes had necklaces dangling from their necks, and the same foxes had bright fires floating in the air around them. There was one major fire set ablaze in the middle of the village, burning bright red-and-blue and licking the night sky.

Orochi dismounted Nishiki, and gawked at the sight before them. Meanwhile, Nishiki transformed back to his human form, and followed a group of elders into one of the dens wordlessly. She watched as his figure disappeared into the distance, and when he was entirely gone, she swallowed hard.

All that was left was the party in question, but none of the foxes seemed eager to celebrate in her presence. Many of them watched her with suspicious eyes, but worse was when there were clear signs of animosity. Even as whimsical, almost musical notes came from some rudimentary wind chimes blowing in the breeze, the air was silent and mirthless as ever.

Orochi took a seat on a lofty tree stump, and breathed in deeply. She still had her magic scrolls on her person, but it would be fruitless to bring them out. Even if she didn't want to attack anyone, she was sure that the mere image of the scrolls would cause a ruckus among the foxes. The last thing she wanted was to damage the little trust that Nishiki managed to instill in these people. She could only hope that his meeting would end soon, because it wasn't much fun to wait in silence.

The foxes got to work soon enough. There was a clear chorus of songs resounding through the air. It sounded as if the music was played throughout the village, and yet when Orochi looked, there weren't any instruments to be found. None of the foxes were equipped with anything remotely musical, so she wondered how the sound was so clear.

"It's the wind chimes," someone said to her. "They're not like the ones you're used to, probably."

"That's right," she agreed. Orochi looked at this new fox in the eye. From initial looks, they seemed as if they were on the younger side. They weren't a child, per se, but there was a certain nervous and naive energy that radiated from them, something that smelled like adolescence.

All these foxes were starting to make her feel old, now!

The fox in question had short-medium hair, parted to their right and combed back. It was a similar shade to Nishiki's, albeit several tones lighter. Their eyes were also a dark brown-bordering-on-red hue, with long lashes and thin lips that curved into a rather cute smile. They wore white ceremonial robes, which on closer inspection, were just altered, white versions of the standard haori that Orochi noticed were common of the foxes. Her eyes were trained on the trailing edge of the long sleeve, and careful to notice the somehow-immaculate nails that this particular individual had.

"And who are you?"

"My name is Yoruko."

"I'm Orochi."

"Orochi…" they murmured her name, and scratched at their temple in defeat. "No, I can't say I've heard of you."

"Have any of you heard of any particular humans before? I was under the impression that you're all the homebody types."

"It's hard to travel when most people want your fur on their coats," Yoruko snapped. Their anger burned for only a short time, before their voice became ashes and smoke, instead. "Oh, but I'll be honest with you, Orochi. I don't think you're a bad person."

"You don't?"

"No, I-I mean, I'm a younger youko, so the elders and everyone else are always telling me that I'm too naive to understand, but…" They frowned after trailing off, and held their own hands tightly all while trying to complete their sentences. It seemed like a hard effort, and Orochi wondered if they struggled with speaking as a whole, or if they were just unknowing of how to talk to a human properly, without trying to trick them into dying, for once. "Uh…"

"Let me guess. You don't really see why you should hate us humans, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I can't answer that in an unbiased way for you. I'd say that no one deserves to die the way that youkos and humans do when they interact with each other. It'd be nice if we could all get along."

"But we can't?"

"But we can't," she conceded. "I mean, humans barely get along with each other, so it's almost impossible to get along with non-humans."

"But Nishiki said we could," Yoruko pointed out. "He said that one day, we wouldn't have to kill the humans that pass through here."

"That's—"

"And he believes in you, so you should kinda believe in him, too."

Orochi gaped. She didn't expect this vulpine youth to be that observant, but she supposed she had the wrong idea about these foxes from the start. She expected that everyone would hate her or ignore her, which wasn't the case with Yoruko. She assumed that they would all dislike humans, or at least, never change their views on humans. Yoruko disproved that, too. And she supposed that it wasn't just Yoruko, either. There were plenty of other foxes that, given the chance, would be open to the idea that the relationship between humans and beasts had room for improvement.

She closed her mouth, and swallowed the hesitation that formed in her throat. "You know what? You're right. I jumped to conclusions without really thinking about it. I read a fortune earlier in the week that I'd have a rough experience to go through. This has to be it."

"You're a diviner, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"My mother said that diviners used to be the companions for the ancient youkos. Since the foxes are the bridge between Heaven and Earth, the diviners were the translators that told the humans what the foxes were saying," they pointed this out rather hopefully, and even took up residence beside Orochi, cross-legged and starry-eyed. "So that's really cool!"

"I'm glad you think so," she said. "To be honest, I should have never gone along with him. But when I heard that he wanted to see his family, I got so curious. Your entire tribe is revered with something like a legend, I'll have you know."

"Oh, I know! Mariya talks about humans all the time, too, actually."

"Who's Mariya?"

"I am."

Orochi turned around on the stump, and saw another youngster. This one had long auburn hair worn in voluptuous waves. They also wore the standard ceremonial outfit, although they were a bit more stylish with the sleeves and hems than the other foxes seemed to be. They had narrow, golden eyes, with a natural pout that was both beautiful and endearing.

Yoruko smiled widely, with a slight blush on his face.

Orochi tried to replicate that obvious kindness. "Mariya, is it? I'm Orochi."

"So I've heard," she said cautiously. Mariya was hesitant to approach them, but Yoruko's smile and insistence made her give in. "Oh, alright." She sat on the other side of Orochi, and on her knees, it seemed she was shorter and more lithe than both Orochi and Yoruko combined.

The human smiled. "So, I'm told that you have an interest in humans?"

Mariya blushed wildly, and buried her face in her sleeves. Orochi couldn't hear her clearly, but she thought she heard: "It's not a big interest, I was just curious in the same way everyone else is…"

"She's lying!" Yoruko chided. "She reads about humans all the time. She always takes the books that travelers leave behind, and—"

"Yoruko! Stop that! It's embarrassing!" Mariya cried as she hid in her sleeves even more than before. Despite the serious look on her face earlier, it would seem that this fox is quite sensitive.

Orochi tried not to laugh. "It's fine. People read about foxes all the time, so I suppose it's fair to do the reverse once in a while."

The young she-fox peeked up from her hands. "You really think so?"

"I know so."

"Okay," she muttered. "Okay, fine. I am interested in humans. I mean, Nishiki goes out all the time to hang out with them, right? So I thought there might be something worthwhile about them. That's why I read all the time, and why I'm one of the first foxes to observe humans as they pass through the hamlet."

"Really? Did you watch me, then?"

"Yes," Mariya answered without hesitation. "It's my job, of course."

"And what did you find out about me?"

"Nothing much, but your aura is different from usual."

"You can read aura?"

"Yeah she can!" Yoruko interjected. "Mariya is great at reading people. Most foxes are, but she's got a keen sense of it."

"It's nothing," she insisted. "But it helped in the sense that I could tell you weren't a bad person. At least, you're not like the usual humans who come through here."

"But you said it was different? How so?"

"Uh," Mariya stammered. "Uh, well, just more powerful than usual? I overheard that you're a diviner, so that might be the reason why."

"I see…" Orochi's nose scrunched up, but the bitter expression faded away soon afterward. "Well, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If anything, you kids should enjoy the party, or whatever."

"It's a ceremony to welcome back Nishiki," Yoruko pointed out. "I guess we're all just waiting for the elders to deliberate."

"In the meantime, let's eat." Mariya stood up, and walked over to the other side of the blue-and-red fire, where she returned with a tray in hand. "We have lots of fruit with us today. Berries, mostly because they're Nishiki's favorite." She offered the sweet fruits to Orochi, who stared at the colorful array in awe. "Try some?"

She didn't immediately react. It was here that she finally understood what Nishiki meant when he said that not all the foxes were so bad. Even though everyone seemed apprehensive of her at first, and even though they all accused her of bewitching their precious leader, there were moments like these where Orochi remembered that—in the end—they were all living in the same country, and that if they simply looked past the physical differences, they'd find that they had more in common than they initially thought.

Although it was only the kids that seemed open to her, Orochi knew that with time, she could also bond with the adults this way. And maybe, when this madness finally ended there would be no boundaries between the foxes and humans at all!

The simple thought of it made her smile, and it all came from a singular gesture from a young youko's goodwill. Laughing, Orochi picked out a ripe mango and some bright pink berries, before saying, "Perfect timing, Mariya. I'm starving."

.

.

.

"Well, if it's Leader, then we've got no choice," Silver huffed.

"Yeah," Lace agreed. "The alpha knows best."

"When will you be back?" Cotton asked. "Will you be gone for a long time again?"

Flannel sighed. He was able to announce to the hunting party that he would have to leave with Pieri again. The reason for that being Pieri had some "human business" and he needed to help her attend to it. It was convincing enough that everyone agreed to it, but not before they voiced their concerns.

Flannel wasn't the smartest guy, but he knew how to deal with his own people, at least. "There's no telling how long I'll be gone," he admitted. "But I swear, I'll be back. Until then, I'm trusting you all to watch over things while I'm gone."

There was a quiet chorus of agreement rippling throughout the adult hunters, but none of them seemed completely satisfied by this arrangement. Too bad, Flannel thought. That's how it's gotta be.

"Hey, keep those chins up. I haven't gone yet, and we've still got a whole pack to feed. So what are you all standing around looking sorry for?" He smiled widely, his sharp canines glinting in the moonlight, all the while. "Are we wolves or aren't we?"

They shouted, rounding and rousing each other's spirits with every syllable. Some of them nuzzled Flannel affectionately, a gesture in which he returned in full. It took others a while to get as inspired, but when everyone eventually agreed, their mindsets shifted completely.

The moon was high above them, and Flannel morphed back into his true form. Those that hadn't already transformed did so, and dozens of wolves aimed their heads skyward, and howled as loudly as they could, in hopes that the Moon Goddess heard their cries.

Then, Flannel dashed into the woods, hot on the trail of some nearby deer and mountain lions. Silver ran after him, followed by Lace, Cotton, and the rest of the hunting party. They matched his movements perfectly, and spread out as the scent of prey grew stronger and stronger. With red and black eyes twinkling in the dark, they moved like shadows, and blurred like stars—bright and dull colors mixing together, melting and disappearing before their very own eyes.

Flannel smiled.

It was really good to be home.

.

.

.

Morning had come. Orochi watched the sunrise from a sheer cliffside, just a little way off from the main hamlet. Last night's festivities were slow to start, and at first, only Yoruko and Mariya dared to approach her. However, after the music continued to play, it seemed as if some spell had broken, because the others began to interact with her, as well.

Her favorite moment of the night was when she played card games and gambled with some of the older foxes. One of them was an older woman, a kyuubi-no-kitsune with exceptionally long tails and even longer hair. Her name was Nori, and she looked to be around Orochi's age (maybe even older) and had the same amount of wisdom and charm. She smiled cleverly at the diviner, and invited her to join in their games. It was MahJong, and Orochi almost felt bad for the other players involved.

Back home, they called her the Game Demon of the Court. This round would exemplify her talent and well-earned nickname in full.

So she spent all night playing MahJong, eating delicious fruit and meat, and drinking some version of sake she hadn't yet tried. The games continued on unabashedly, even as Nishiki emerged from the elders' tent, looking exasperated but smiling all the while. He joined in with Orochi, Nori, and the others, and soon a loud, boisterous game of MahJong was shared between everyone.

The next morning, Orochi awoke early, and walked towards a sheer cliffside, which had the most magnificent view of the sunrise. The light seemed pale and bright as it rose behind the hills, and soon the gray morning had brightened into something soft and glistening. She remembered watching a similar sight with the late Queen Mikoto—the two of them (and sometimes Yuugiri, although that kinshi knight would rather watch the night sky, instead) seated in the queen's balcony, standing tall above the rest of the palace and kingdom as night slowly shifted into day.

She wondered if Mikoto could see her now. Violet eyes cast skyward, and Orochi muttered quiet words beneath her breath.

"Good morning, Lady Mikoto. How are you?"

There was no response, of course, but Orochi waited for a small breeze to settle down before continuing. "Are you proud of me right now? No, you probably think I'm silly for causing all this trouble, huh? It's just like before." She sighed deeply, and stretched one arm to reach for the faded outline of the moon—a sliver of white against a pale blue background, still visible despite the sun's presence. "I never learn, do I?"

Lost in her own thoughts, Orochi didn't notice Nishiki sauntering over to her, in his human form of all things. She only realized he was there when he sat down next to her, and dangled his legs over the edge of the cliff. For a while, he was silent, and the two of them were motionless as the sunrise completed itself in full, and a perfectly round sun was visible in the low horizon of the sky.

There were heavy, dark clouds right above it, however, signalling rainfall within the next hour or so.

"Orochi," he said quietly, so as not to startle her. "We should leave now."

"You're right," she murmured. "Is it alright to leave right now, though? Shouldn't we wait for a proper send-off?"

"That won't be necessary. I already talked to the elders yesterday. I told them about the problems with the invisible forces, as well as some other things. It was enough to tide them over. They'll also make sure that everyone else in the tribe gets the message~" Nishiki elaborated. "So it's better to leave now, while most of them are still asleep."

"Okay." Despite saying that, Orochi made no effort to actually move. The only thing that changed was her face, which dampened into a sorrowful expression. "Nishiki, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about everything. I know I said this before, but I should have listened to you and stayed home. It wasn't right for me to come along and ruffle the feathers of your fellow foxes." She blinked once, twice, then amended her words with: "Er, ruffle the fur, I mean."

"Like I said before, it's okay." Nishiki giggled, in spite of her. "I mean, it would have been way better if you didn't tag along, but because you did, things got a little more exciting around here! Not to mention that it helped open their eyes about humans just a tiny bit." He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she nearly jumped at the contact. He went on to say, "Y'know, Yoruko and Mariya talked about you last night, too. It seems like you've got a little fanclub going."

She laughed. "Oh, please. They're just kids! Once they grow up, they'll hate me proper and full, as they should."

"Not if I can help it," Nishiki countered. "C'mon, Orochi, you gotta trust me more than that!"

"Fine, fine. Let's just get going. With all this talking, the others will all be awake and then we'll never get out of here."

"I agree."

Nishiki stood to his feet, stretched, and let out a happy yawn. "If we go now, we should get back to the meeting place before noon!"

"Wait, are we going down in your true form?"

"Yes, is that a problem?"

She looked up at him, and saw his smile and impossibly kind eyes. Even if she caused him and his family so much trouble, he acted as if nothing major had happened. Orochi could only hope that things were as well as Nishiki said they were, and that his kin had understood what it meant for him to be with the humans. Sure, she had the support of two young youkos, but if she learned anything from her time here, it was that the elders had great influence over the tribe. Hell, they had influence over Nishiki, and she never thought he was the type to be persuaded so easily.

Still, no one killed them in their sleep, so that was a good sign, at least.

Orochi stood up, and climbed onto Nishiki's back after he transformed. She clutched a fistful of his fur between each of her hands, and laid down as flat on top of him as she could. Once she was situated, his body moved instantly, and she closed her eyes as the two of them descended down the cliff side—the youko completely unfazed by the sheer height of the fall.

When she opened her eyes again, she could see the sun rising higher into the sky, its pale light disappearing behind the cover of clouds. Her hands instinctively tightened their hold.

"Don't be afraid!" Nishiki laughed. "I'm not gonna drop you, or anything."

"I know," Orochi murmured, voice muffled into his fur. "I know."

.

.

.

Pieri and Flannel returned to the portal in the late afternoon. It was in the same place that they left it—half a day's travel from Mount Garou, glinting subtly to remind them of its presence, but not enough that outsiders could detect what it was. Pieri rode on Flannel's back all the way down, the garou having transformed into his wolfish appearance earlier in the day. It was a bit unwieldy to travel this way, since garous and managarms were bipedal creatures, but Pieri felt like she was ten feet taller when she sat on his shoulders, or when she wrapped her arms around his monstrous neck.

She almost seemed disappointed as they stepped through the threshold.

When they returned, they found themselves just outside of the army's temporary base: the cave in the icy mountains that was carved out and manipulated for their use, complete with a furnace and a whole space dedicated to hammocks. Lilith was there, too, and she looked relieved that they made it through safely. The two of them approached the dragonling first.

"You're back!" she chirped. "I trust the journey was safe."

"It was," Flannel confirmed. "Thanks for helping us out."

"Yes, thank you! Pieri has a gift for Lilith since she did so much for us." She reached into her travel bag, and pulled out an odd "flower crown," so to speak. Instead of flowers and twine, this crown was made from broken wire and acorns.

Luckily, Lilith was pleased all the same. "For me? Oh, thank you!"

"Where'd you get that?" Flannel asked. "We didn't make any stops on the way back."

"The twins made some accessories for us to wear. Pieri asked for an extra one to give to Lilith!" She smiled proudly at her accomplishment, and rummaged for another accessory, too. "Here you go, Flannel! They made you a patch to sew on your shirt." It was a poorly sewn trinket, but in big, uneven letters, it said WORLD'S #1 ALPHA.

He almost sputtered. "Whoa, for me?"

"For you!"

"I guess I have to tell 'em thanks when I see them," he sighed, but accepted the gift graciously. "Speaking of seeing people, is Nishiki back yet?"

"Yes, he is! He and Orochi arrived just ten minutes before you two did."

Flannel's eyes widened. His heart sank into his feet faster than he could feel it. "Orochi?"

"Hey, you two!"

Pieri and Flannel spun around, and were face-to-face with the Hoshidan duo of Nishiki and Orochi. They were very happy to see them, and obviously glad that they made it back from their journey in one piece. Flannel's eyes flickered from their smiling faces, to the way their arms were linked to one another—a friendly display, more than anything.

He hated it.

"Pieri didn't know that Nishiki and Orochi were having fun with portals, too!" She clapped her hands together, and jumped in place a few times. "Did you also go to the mountains?"

"Yes, actually." Nishiki raised a curious eyebrow at Flannel—who merely shrugged in response—before he looked back at the cavalier. "I guess you went with Flannel, too. Glad to see you're back safe!"

"And it went by so smoothly," Orochi commented. "I won't even have to lie that we were all out on a divine journey as a cover up."

"Aw, Pieri didn't need a cover up in the first place—" she giggled maniacally, and leaned forward a bit too much— "she would have killed anyone that threatened to tell on her and Flannel."

"Thank goodness it doesn't have to come to that," Orochi said. "Maybe next time, though, there won't have to be all this secrecy."

"Do you think," Pieri gasped, "that we could all have a field trip somewhere next time? To some mountains? Even the sea?"

"Now that sounds like an idea worth getting behind."

"Oh, she's so happy! Pieri will go to Marx right away to talk about it!"

Orochi's face blanched. "Wait, Pieri—"

"Be right back!" She sprinted away, leaving the other three behind in a confused stupor.

"I'd better go after her," Orochi groaned. She turned to face Nishiki and Flannel—Nishiki more so than Flannel. "I'll see you around?"

"For sure! Bye, Orochi!"

She laughed, and gave his arm a small squeeze, before turning on her heels and chasing after Pieri.

On the topic of Pieri, Flannel was grateful for her part in all of this. If it wasn't for her, then he might have abandoned this cause completely, and stayed home in the mountains where he belonged. But because of her presence (and her insistence, in a strange way), he was able to return to where he was needed most.

Although, Flannel missed the company of a certain someone else, and was all too happy to be back at Nishiki's side. He thought that the two of them could reminisce together, and catch up on the few days that they were apart.

Instead, he watched with painstaking envy as Nishiki got along with Orochi of all people, and even when the diviner left, he could still feel her presence before him. The way they held arms earlier, their close distance apart from each other, and the way they smiled at one another said more than words could ever convey. It was obvious that she was smitten with him. Hell, she was falling for him, why else would she blush so much? Why else would she play with his hair, and his stupid hair pin that she gave him herself? Why else?

She was falling for him. And the way she looked at Nishiki was the same way that people looked at the sun.

It was as if he was her light.

And that right there was one of the defining moments of Flannel's life—it was the exact moment he realized that he cared for someone so much, that he couldn't stand the jealousy that arose when he saw that person hang out with anyone else. He liked Nishiki so much, he began to despise the relationship that grew between him and the diviner Orochi.

A relationship that did not involve him.

He was so caught up in his thoughts, he forgot that Nishiki was standing there, and the fox now wore a look of confusion. "Flannel," Nishiki asked. "Are you alright?"

Flannel broke out of his green, envious stupor long enough to stare him in the eyes. Judging from the confused expression he wore, it was clear that Nishiki had no idea what Orochi was feeling towards him, despite her blatant displays. It was a small comfort to him, but it wasn't enough to clear the madness entirely. Still, he scourged himself, and forced his terribly possessive thoughts to remain thoughts unspoken, all while he feigned a sense of happiness.

"Yeah," he said. "I'm fine."