Alika stepped up next to Audas, a concerned look on her face as the others headed out into the main hall without much fuss. That being said, Katori did hesitate and glance over at the two of them, pausing just short of the entrance. Her sister dipped her head forward with a small, reassuring smile. The white furred wolf nodded, returning her own petite smile as she finally walked out.

  Visibly relaxing, Alika turned round to face him. The smile was gone, and what Audas got instead was narrow slits for eyes. “Look.” She started, “I can’t stop you going out of town, but you need to know the Fort is probably the worst place you could go first time out.”

  “Short of Vancouver itself?” Audas mused, crossing his arms with ears erect.

  “Aye, but by towns? The Fort’s the worst.” Alika replied, her skin pinching underneath her fur.

  Audas couldn’t help but note that Alika hadn’t actually relaxed much at all, she still seemed as stiff as a billboard. She’s clearly bugged out by this, especially when Reyes extended the offer… what is she so worried about?

  He narrowed his own eyes, “What’s so wrong with the place then?” he asked, curious.

  She stiffened further, tugging at a strand of hair. “Fort Stark’s a big town, like the Hub and Northharbor… but we don’t see eye to eye. The people there have a… different way of going around things.”

  “Or rather.” Audas replied, already going cold as realised what she was on about. “They have a rather radical point of view.”

  Alika hesitated, as if fussing over her next action before finally, she nodded. “I won’t throw it all at you, but I would just be careful and… well…”. She sighed, shaking her head as one fist clenched. “Just… stay out of trouble.”

  “That’s still not explaining much…”

  She looked up at him sadly, chewing on her lip as if still debating everything internally,. “Alright, I can’t tiptoe around this.” She rolled her shoulders, as if in defeat before letting out a long deep sigh. “They’re xenophobic and they butt heads with the other settlements all too often. We’ve had more than a few fights over it.”

  Xenophobic. That word stung all too close to home. Hate was a powerful emotion that he was all too familiar with. Humans perhaps? It has to be.

  Audas frowned, “Reyes didn’t seem half bad though.” He said, looking over Alika closely to examine her reaction.

  She visibly slumped and her eyes blankly stared over his shoulder, into the distance. “There wasn’t much to set anyone off on that tangent, but’s Reyes is the exception, not the rule. They don’t like someone lecturing them about who’s right and wrong. Believe me! I tried and I nearly went home in a body bag!”

  Her voice shot up enough to nearly startle him, certainly enough to make him lean back. Alika’s gaze snapped towards him, almost immediately flicking away as she reached for her neck. “Sorry… I just had a rough time there last time.”

  The surprise faded into the night, he had more than a few rough encounters with unsavoury figures even before the Burningham raid. The negotiations he had to support as a member of the Merryhunters were problematic enough. “I gave you all enough grief before, I don’t blame you going off on one.” He replied with a nod.

  Alika grinned, struggling to stifle a laugh. “Okay, you got me.”

  It disappeared once more, as she restored her original, serious impression. “Just… be careful Audas. Watch what you say, get the work sorted and get out. You’ll know what I mean when you get there. Promise?”

  Well, I’d be damned if I’m not going to be careful.

  “Promise.” Audas replied, voice thick with understanding and respect, taking a second to give her a little bow of his head. “We’ll be careful.”

  The smile returned, gleaming in the bar’s warm light. “Thanks.” She gave him a tap on the shoulder, bringing a smile of his own to the surface. “Now come on. You’re going to need an early night.”

  He huffed back, amused. “I didn’t even drink.”

  She laughed, “You went off duelling with a bunch of bandits with minimal experience after nearly dropping dead outside of town a month ago. You’re gonna need it!”

  He snorted as he rolled his eyes, “Alright, you got me now.”

  Still grinning, Alika tilted her head to one side, grey eyes focused on him. “Well… good night Audas.”

  “Night Alika.”

  With that, Alika walked on out, leaving Audas alone in the bar. He stood there for a minute, giving everyone a chance to clear the hall before he finally strolled out himself.

  Albeit, that was as much intended to give himself some space. His mind kept going back to the Fort and Alika’s warning. What had happened to her down there? Did the Fort Nyúlfur hate others of their own species? That last thought sent a shudder down his spine. Humans had hated each other for years, but from what he had seen of the Nyúlfur, the thought of them despising each other was… unthinkable.

  Audas had no doubt she was telling him the truth, but as he climbed up the stairs towards his den, he realised he would need to prepare. Maybe he could dig up some records of the Fort. Maybe that would give him some kind of foundation to prepare on?

  He reached the balcony leading towards his den, his hand already instinctively searching for his key. Alika doesn’t seem keen to talk about it. But I suppose I can ask Dray. Hell, Kaine could give me a rund-

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  That’s when something thumped into his side. He grunted and felt the key slip from his fingers, the ring of brass disguised by the dull thud of something heavier striking the floor with a flap of scattering paper. “Sorry!” he barked out, already down on the floor. The key’s nose poked out of a heap of paper, half covering a single leather book. Something moved silently next to him, so silent that he barely registered it. That was, of course, until he reached for the leather tome, only for his golden hand to brush a white furred one.

  He blinked, looking up to find Katori staring at him.

  “Err… hello.” He managed to splutter out, his heart suddenly racing in his chest.

  Katori merely tilted her head a tiny fraction, returning an almost hidden smile.

  Half the paper and the key held in one hand, he let go of the book. “Sorry!” He said, more certain of himself as he stumbled back. “I didn’t see you.”

  He pulled a meek grin that barely felt real, “Actually, where did you even come from?”

  As they rose, the white furred woman motioned with her head at a little alcove that had been built into the wall. A table with inbuilt drawer just barely filled the space and left enough room for a single person to hide from sight. “Ah.” Audas noted with a dry tone, rubbing the back of his head to hid his curling hands “That.”

  Wait, why was she even up here anyway?

  Katori’s green eyes seemed to sparkle in what white light was on hand in the hall and a faint giggle just barely feathered his ear drums. Unable to resist, he felt his eyebrows drift up his forehead, making his smile feel a little more real. There she goes… whatever people skills she has must be rubbing off on me.

  She flicked away a strand of blond hair, before bringing two fingers into a cross and bowing her head forwards.

  Once again, Audas blinked, dumbstruck at the signing. Then, like a lightbulb in the dark, the message clicked. “The first aid back on the road?” he asked, keeping his tone soft.

  She nodded, placing the hand onto her chest and waving it towards him.

  “Are you… thanking me?”

  She grinned in response, returning a relaxed nod.

  Okay… I can communicate with her without Alika giving me hints… sort of…

  “Well, I’m glad to have been of some help.” He replied, bowing his head. “Honestly though, you did most of the work down there. I was just a pair of extra hands.”

  Her smile grew larger, but Katori seemed to shrink in as she tried to cover it with her free hand. Without the pressures of the battles aftermath or others to distract his train of thought, a sense of scale came over him. At least on how tiny she was compared to himself. At least half a head, if not a full head shorter. Small for a Nyúlfur as far as he knew of. But still massive compared to a human.

  Katori’s green eyes flicked downwards a couple of times, as if beckoning for attention. Once again, it clicked. “Oh! Sorry.” Pulling the key out of the papers and handing them back over. “They should still be okay.”

  With a weak, but happy smile of her own, she took the papers into hand. And as he grinned back, he couldn’t shake off this awkward sense of… drag? Delay? Long-Windedness?

  He resisted the urge to facepalm, No. Now I’m just being an idiot.

  It was nerves.

  Audas was damned nervous, as if he was trying to-

  No. Do not go there.

  “Well… I better get going.” He managed to say, stepping to one side. “Have a good night Katori.”

  Nodding in seeming thanks, Katori strolled past and back down the gantry. He watched her go, tearing his eyes away as she reached the main hall balcony before slipping into his own room, his foot booting the corner and nearly sending him tumbling inside.

  He slid the door shut, and sighed with relief. Damn it… what the hell am I doing? What is it about her?

  He didn’t hate Katori. The way she grinned and carried this sense of calm with her… how could he? How could anyone for that matter?

  So what was it about her that kept tripping him up? Was it the muteness? Or just how small and innocent she seemed?

  He didn’t even bother considering that other distant possibility.

  Audas stared at the longsword propped against the far wall, clean and resting in its scabbard. Maybe it was the aftermath of the battle, the leftover stress would make sense what happened with Kaine after all…

  Rolling his shoulders, he stepped towards the bed, maybe he sho-

  The door shuddered as something hammered against it. His ears snapped up. No one had come round to his den since he arrived, save for Alika leaving a note. Something urgent?

  He threw open the door, only for his core to turn to ice. The brown-grey furred Nyúlfur towered in front of him, blocking out the lights of the main hall with his sheer bulk.

  “Dorian.” Audas said, keeping his voice low, unwilling or unable to be intimidated, “Do you need something?”

  His grey eyes narrowed, “You could say that.”

  “Then what is it?” he asked, keeping a hand fixed on the door handle.

  He took a step towards Audas, seeming to rise another inch as he leaned into the doorway. “What did you say to my sister?” he snarled.

  Audas blinked, “I wasn’t-“

  “Don’t bother playing that card, you’re too smart for that.” Dorian cut in, “What did you say to Katori?”

  Fucking hell… he must have spotted us.

  Audas sighed, glaring back up at him. “Dorian, I’m not trying to cause any trouble.”

  “You’re not answeri-“

  “I said sorry!” Audas snapped back, enough force behind his tone to send the bigger Nyúlfur’s head slipping back. “We bumped into each other; I helped get her stuff back together and wished her good night. That’s it!”

  Dorian’s mouth started to open again, but Audas beat him to the punch, “And for the record, I said the exact same thing to Alika just now.”

  Dorian huffed, his eyes burning through the former human, “Of course you did.”

  Audas sensed a lip peel back, exposing a canine. “Can’t we just move on already? I’ve already risked my neck here, if you haven’t heard.”

  “Oh, I’ve heard.” Dorian replied, a low growl rumbling up from Dorian’s throat as he leaned back forward. “And I’ve never seen anyone get to grips with swords that quickly.”

  “Maybe I’ve just got a knack of it?” Audas countered firmly, fingers tapping on the door handle.

  “No one got to grips with it in less than a month!” he hissed, “You’re still lying about something. How about you cough it up!”

  “Get out.” Audas barked, finding himself rise to Dorian’s level, enough that he could properly glare into his eye sockets. “You don’t know a thing about me.”

  Dorian was right in his face now, hot, but odourless breath brushed against his fur. Audas could feel heat flush through him, simmering before the bigger Nyúlfur.

  “Stay away from them.” He uttered, voice pounding his drums. “Or-“

  “You can’t stop them from seeing me.” Audas replied, voice dripping with venom. “They can do what they want.”

  Dorian’s teeth flashed, fully bared for a moment. “I’m watching you. If you try anything that puts them or anyone here at risk…” he stabbed a finger into his chest, nearly shoving him back into the room. “…I’ll kill you myself.”

  Audas’ eyes narrowed to near-slits, his face neutral even as the venom in tone became even more poisonous. “I don’t intend to.” He let the canine slip out into the light again, “And if you try to kill me, I’m not hesitating.”

  “I’m not afraid of doing it.” Dorian growled.

  “Neither am I.”

  The big Nyúlfur’s lips peeled back again, another threat seemingly ready to fire off. But then the teeth were hidden away, his jaw clamped shut. And with a final, frustrated grunt he swivelled round and stormed out of sight.

  Grinding his teeth, Audas slammed the door shut. The dull crack still rung in his ears as he plopped down onto the bed.