---

Rachel gave Felix an amused smirk as her ears shifted to the left; he ran up to Elena, kneeling to check her pulse.  “Hey, Elena!  Is she okay?  What was...”

“She’s just unconscious,” Rachel chuckled, turning to survey the street as shouts and rushing feet exploded from the nearby houses and apartments.  Her tail twitched with excitement when the sound of cocking guns hit her ears.  Well, this is escalating faster than I thought.

Scarlet puffed out a breath, giving her a look while stepping forward to comfort Felix.  “She’s breathing.  I can see some bruising, but that’s all, and there are some not so happy people coming.”

Rachel turned to face the men and women swarming from the houses like bees.  Maria wouldn’t like me taking out her entire block, but it’s not like this was my fault.  Still, it’s a little concerning how hot my blood’s getting.  Scarlet might need to step in if I get too carried away.

“Yo, Felix!”  A woman yelled, pistol in hand as she ran across the street.  “What’s up?”

Felix shot to his feet, holding up his hands while glancing around at the flocking gang.  “It’s cool!  It’s cool!  Aye, Adriana, put that shit away…”

The group slowed around them, and Rachel could hear the tension in their muscles, stomach twisting with anticipation.  The wind picked up, pushing her long pink-hued white hair to the left and carrying the stress-induced chemicals released from their skin.  She licked her full lips, fingers twitching, ready for action.

One of the men she recognized from the hospital; he pushed back a few people to see her.  “What’s up … yo, Rachel?  She’s cool, but what’s goin’ on with Elena?”  

“Cool?”  Adriana sniffed as a few men gripped pistols, shotguns, and rifles, noses twisting while glaring at her.  “Na, Adán, I saw this pelo largo loco punt Elena across the street!”

“Yeah, I did,” Rachel turned to face the woman, cracking her neck with a testing grin. 
“I didn’t start it, but I’m more than willing to lay down anyone else that wants to start something.  If you want to act tough, then I won’t play around.”

“Rachel,” Scarlet groaned, scratching her left arm while shrinking back from the angry faces.  “I don’t think Maria would like us taking out all her friends.”

“Damn,” Adán grunted, looking around before forcing a few guns down.  “Chill, y’all, chill; I’ve seen her with the Queen.”

Rachel turned to give Scarlet a glance.  This is taking too long…  Scarlet pushed her lips to the side, eyes opening wide to tell her not to escalate things, but Rachel either wanted it all to start or end.

“Ain’t nothin’,” Adriana growled.  “I know what I…”

Rachel shot forward, snatching the gun out of her hands before anyone could react; the burst of wind she generated made them take a step back in shock as Rachel puffed out her chest, smile widening at their building surprise.  “Hmm?”

She dangled the gun in her hands, glowing dully from the quarter moon filling her with Lunar Energy, and the constant stream gave her a sense of serenity that contrasted the heat in her veins.  “I could turn this up in two seconds; be careful how you come at me.  I’ll tell you right now; Maria would tell all of you to stand down.  Take the advice.”

Not one person spoke, and the weapons rose again, their focus darting to the pistol dangling in her fingers before moving to her smirk.  Rachel’s glowing red eyes scanned each person, and when the guns didn’t fall, she hummed, vision narrowing as her ears dropped a little, entering her vision.  “I’ll give you one last chance; I’ve got places to be, and I didn’t come here to start a fight, but I was never one to turn down a brawl.  What’s it going to be?”

Zoe’s arms were tightly pressed against her chest, ears pulled back, and tail stiffly held at her side.  “R-Rachel?”  Zoe stammered.  “P-Please don’t hurt anyone.  They helped me.”

“No, no!”  Scarlet darted between her and Adriana; arms stretched out.  “We’re just here to check up on Zoe; c’mon, Rachel.  We’re not here to fight!.”

Felix cleared this throat, pulling everyone’s attention as he darted to a few men, forcing their guns down.  “She’s right!”  He took a few deep breaths to calm down before saying, “Elena started it.  She asked to fight Rachel; you know what she’s like.  Still,” his lips pursed, brown eyes sliding to her, “that was a bit much.”

“Much?”  Rachel asked, hearing movement in the house behind her, and everyone twitched as she simulated what she’d seen Maria do before, removing the clip and taking the bullet out of the chamber; they dropped to the ground as the mob watched with confusion.

“If you think that was too much?  I could have done much worse.”  The sound of twisting metal pierced the silence as she crushed the gun; a lump dropped down each person’s throat as the steel folded around her fingers.

“Shit,” Adriana murmured as Rachel tossed her the scrap metal.  “Didn’t have to ruin it…”

Several members mumbled, “Maldita irreal…”

[Damn unreal]

After a few long puffs of air and glances between each other, they lowered their weapons.

Adán gave her an uncertain look, vision darting from the twisted gun in Adriana’s palms to Rachel to Elena, and finally, he took a long breath before asking, “She’s good then?”

“Unconscious, but alive.  She’s tougher than I thought; I had to use a bit of power to handle her like…”  She paused as an older woman exited the house behind her.

“Elena?  ¿Qué está pasando, Felix?”

[Elena?  What’s going on, Felix?]

The crowd parted to reveal a Hispanic woman in her early fifties, and she ran forward to check on her daughter; Rachel frowned, hearing the scraping of metal against bone inside the woman’s back.  “Escuché gritos ... ¿por qué mi hija yace en el suelo?”

[I heard screaming … why is my daughter lying on the ground?]

Felix released a low moan while scratching his scalp.  “Ella está bien, pero comenzó una pelea con esta liebre y fue noqueada.”

[She’s fine, but she started a fight with this hare and was knocked out.]

Pursed lips and nervous shifts ran through the crowd as the woman looked up at her.  “My Elena started it?”

Rachel shrugged.  “She did, and how many times do I need to repeat myself?  I just knocked her out.”

The woman’s focus moved back to her daughter’s face, pulling back her mix-colored hair; her transformation was reverting, thick fur receding into her body.  A soft sigh passed through the woman’s lips, and her tone was tired.  “She’s going to be the death of me.”

“She’s tough,” Rachel offered, mouth dropping into a frown as Zoe came back into view.  Zoe’s never seen this part of me; of course, she’d be freaked out right now.  “I could see Maria acting like her when she was young; she’s got a good defense, though.”

“You know Maria?”  She asked, eyes still on Elena.

“Yeah, we’ve grown pretty close since I helped her rescue Felix from Terrell’s gang.”  Rachel smirked at a few men that shifted nervously at the revelation.  “You haven’t heard about a crazy liebre blanca?”

[liebre blanca: i.e. white hare]

Scarlet quickly knelt beside the woman, laughing nervously.  “She went easy on her; Rachel wasn’t trying to hurt your daughter.  She’s not hurt that badly; I can tell with my abilities.”

“Wow,” the woman gave Rachel a weak smile.  “I guess Elena found a new girl to idolize … umm,” she took a deep breath, clearly trying to deal with the pain in her back.  “Can you help me get her inside?”

Rachel’s smile fell a little while moving to pick up the unconscious teenager, and the group backed up, lost with what to do next.  “I’d rather she didn’t idolize me.”

The woman shook her head while slowly walking up the porch steps, holding her back; by her tone, the woman didn’t want her daughter to idolize her either.  “It’s just the kind of girl Elena is … this way.  My name’s Zarita.”

Rachel followed her inside, taking Elena to her room and laying the unconscious Beastkin on her bed, drool was starting to come out of the girl’s mouth, dripping on her pillow.  

The house was fairly normal, and had pictures of Elena and Zarita; she noticed the only images of a male were in Elena’s room.  There were a few photos of what Rachel assumed was Elena’s mother and father, together and happy.  I guess she loves her dad, but her mother seems to not have the same view.  A complicated, broken family?

Elena had a typical teen’s room, complete with an area to do her makeup, images of numbers, fighters, and friends on the walls, and surprisingly a few stuffed animals and posters of Honey Badgers.

Zarita smiled while tucking her in, glancing at a poster.  “She got these animal ones recently … Elena’s pretty proud, and if she wanted to fight you, then she wanted to see if you’re worthy of her respect.  She’s a good girl … a little too emotional, but she’s got a good heart.  Her dad’s legacy had a pretty big impact on her.”

“You don’t approve?”  Rachel asked, ears twitching as she heard Adriana complaining to Felix about her gun, and Scarlet was trying to comfort Zoe.  I could have tried to make her submit, but my instincts told me she wouldn’t.  That was the quickest way to end the conflict, but it did cause quite the mess.

“Thanks for helping Felix,” Zarita whispered, obviously ignoring her question.  “Elena was ready to run off with the Queen to get him back once she heard.  He’s like an older brother to her, and she’s pretty protective of the people she loves.  She was pretty upset, but I won’t take any more of your time.  Oof … that’s going to leave a pretty bad bruise,” she winced, fingers pulling back Elena’s hair to reveal a nasty goose-egg that was forming.

Rachel sighed, scratching her neck before shifting a few loose locks back.  “My instincts told me she wouldn’t back down or quit unless I knocked her out.  She’s a fighter.”

Zarita looked like she was trying hard to hold back tears.  “That, she is … umm,” she swallowed before taking a shuddering breath.  “Could you leave me alone … I don’t blame you, but I’m just a bit emotional right now.  Thanks for going easy on her.”

“Yeah, no problem,” Rachel mumbled, walking to the door.  She turned before leaving, watching a few tears run down Zarita’s cheeks while she rubbed her daughter’s arm.  Would my mom be like that if she really knew what was happening beneath my facade?  Could she accept my urges to rush into conflict?

With the whole room in focus, she knew there was more to the girl than met the eye.  I thought she was like my cousin, but maybe there’s more to her than I first thought.  She’s looking for a strong role model to follow, and she’s got the nerve to push for it.  She must work hard; she’s got heart.

Rachel exited the house, and immediately the tension of the men and women that remained skyrocketed.  Zoe hesitated for a moment before approaching her with a smile, hands behind her back, ears twitching, and tail flicking to the side; she was clearly agitated.  “Hey, Rachel, umm … this is all pretty surprising.  Um, hi!  I, eh … I didn’t expect you were so gangster,” she laughed.

“Sorry you had to see that,” Rachel chuckled, giving her a forced smile to ease the mood.  “I came here to help you, not get in a fight with a teenager.”

“You’re a teenager, too,” Scarlet pointed out, waving at a few men and women as they returned to their houses, giving her unsure glances on their way.

“Not for long,” Rachel replied with a wink.

Scarlet’s smile grew, and she closed the distance with a few steps.  “Hmm?  When’s your birthday?  You’ve gotta tell me!”

“Okay, okay, but we can talk about that later.”  Rachel said, raising her hands defensively.

“Aww, it’s like one sentence!”

Rachel’s focus had already moved to Felix and Adán as they joined them.  “They’re not too happy with me,” she mused with a low hum, lifting her head to give the retreating gang an innocent smile.

“Well, you don’t have to provoke them,” Adán mumbled.  “I’ve heard a bit about the things you did to Terrell’s gang … I’m just glad things didn’t escalate.”

“Umm,” Zoe cut in, hands behind her back and feet shifting while she looked down at the grass.  “All of that was, umm—true?”

Scarlet rubbed her left arm.  “I don’t know what you heard, but Rachel and I did help save a bunch of people with the military in South Beach.”

“And … what are you?”  Zoe asked, swallowing quickly, “Oh, you don’t have to tell me—I talk a lot when I get nervous, heh … not that you make me nervous … shoot…”

“No, it’s fine,” Scarlet giggled.  “Umm—I’m a … Mythickin Vespertine Reaper.  That’s what I am!.”  She gave Zoe a hopeful grin, showing her fangs

“Well, that’s not intimidating at all,” Zoe said, reflecting her laugh.  “I’m a Domestic Cat Beastkin over here … a little kitty and you’re both the real big lionesses.”

Rachel turned her attention to Felix as he smiled at her statement.  “Yeah, umm—yeah … I can see why my sister likes you, though.  My sister’s just like that; she’d stick her neck up an angry mob … I’m starting to think that’s a Mythickin thing, huh?”

“Hmm, I don’t know about that,” Rachel chuckled.  “I know some Mythickin that wouldn’t be so forward, but who knows; we’re all changing since The Oscillation.  Anyways, we’re wasting moonlight.  I just wanted to get some of the details from Zoe before helping her out, and then we’ll be out of your hair.”

“Ah,” Adán mumbled.  “So, you’re friends with this chica here?”

“I don’t know about friends,” Zoe whispered, ears falling back.  “I’m just a stupid cat-girl.”

“Hey,” Scarlet chided.  “Don’t talk about yourself like that!”

Rachel gave Zoe a soft smile.  “You helped me just after I changed, Zoe, and it’s because of you that I started to think about this system like a game.  I don’t think I would have discovered everything I did unless I met you.  You gave me clarity.”

“We barely met, though … we’re at most acquaintances.  You don’t have to help me; you’ve already done so much for me.”

“What are you talking about?”  Rachel huffed, putting her hands on her hips.  “I haven’t done anything; it’s Maria and her group that’s taken the heat.  I need to go pull this scumbag out of the mud, beat him black and purple, and throw him back into the gutter.”

“I don’t even know where he is, though,” Zoe mumbled.  “I’m useless.”

Scarlet’s black lips creased and she flicked Zoe’s forehead, making her bluster, “Ouch … hey…”

“I told you not to do that!  Why do you keep putting yourself down?”

Zoe rubbed her forehead, tears coming on, more from her emotional stress than any pain Scarlet might have caused, and she sniffed, avoiding eye contact.  “My family’s missing … I was stupid enough to think a well-paying part-time maid job was legit, and then—then I make trouble for everyone … I look like a little kid, now … I don’t like it.”

“Hmm?  I think you look super cute!”  Scarlet reassured, hands lifting to pet Zoe’s ears, but they only made it a foot before freezing, twitching slightly as she giggled, “I just want to pet you, but that’s just demeaning, isn’t it?  I’ve wanted to do it to Rachel for days, but I’ve been holding back!  It’s hard, though, you know?”

She giggled as Rachel lifted an eyebrow.  “No, really!  When you were sleeping by the—in the Montana military base,” she caught herself with a laugh.  “I was so tempted!”

“No,” Zoe mumbled, cheeks flushing as she gripped her right arm.  “Not really … it’s sweet.  Thanks for trying to cheer me up.  I just don’t want to cause anyone any more trouble.”

Rachel folded her hands behind her head, ears leaning forward.  “Yeah, I’m not about to let people just pet my ears; not even you, Scarlet,” she smirked at her friend.  “That being said, it’s about time we handle this problem.”

“How?”  Zoe asked, wiping at her eyes.  “I don’t know where he is.”

“Are you forgetting about Rachel’s ears?”  Scarlet winked.  “We’ve already found him, and with what we discovered, it’s more than enough of a reason for us to take him out.”

“You’re going to kill him?”  Zoe asked, eyes going wide.

Rachel shook her head.  “I thought about it; I mean, with how many Beastkin girls he’s been rounding up, it’s pretty damning, but I also have another plan,” she said with a smirk.  “A fate many might think worse than death.”

“Oh?”  Scarlet asked, eyebrows lifting.  “You haven’t told me about this plan yet?”

“You’ll see.  Anyways, I just wanted to check up on you and see if you’re okay.  By the way, what did he do to you?”  Rachel asked, eyes narrowing.  “That’ll affect how I move forward.”

A lump dropped down Zoe’s throat as her hand tightened around her arm, ears fluttering a little.  “I—umm, nothing … no, really.  I have some decent hearing, too … I got out before it escalated, and he just stalked me.”

Rachel’s nose twitched.  “I can guess what he was going to do to you, though … I’ll handle it.  I also have some plans that might help with your money problems.  We’ll see if we can get everything solved tonight.  You gotta eat, right?”

“Rachel…”  Zoe sniffed, breaking into quiet tears.  “T-Thank you…”

“I’ll make some calls for some other things, too,” Rachel hummed thoughtfully.  “Plus, this gives me something to do, and I’ve been itching to get moving since getting back home.”

“Alright,” Adán grunted, turning before walking away.  “I’m goin’ in, then.”

“I’ll call my sister and tell her what went on,” Felix yelled after him, and he lifted a hand in acknowledgment.  He turned to Zoe with a bright grin.  “You can stay at my sister’s place until Rachel gets back.  You’re coming back tonight, right?”

“Oh, this won’t take long,” Scarlet’s fanged smile turned sinister.  “This is cake compared to what we’ve dealt with over the past week.”

Rachel nodded.  “It’ll be over in ten minutes, tops, but the fallout might take a bit more time.  Just know it’s all over, and I’ll give you a call if I can’t make it back tonight.  Don’t worry, though; I’ll give Maria a call myself, Felix.”

“Oh, okay.  She’s been on a sunrise schedule,” he said, giving them a thumbs-up.  “I talked with her yesterday; she’s been making a lot of waves,” he chuckled.

“I heard,” Rachel nudged her head back the way they’d come.  “Well, Scarlet, let’s kick down some doors.”

“We could just teleport in,” Scarlet offered.

“It’s all about the show?”  Rachel explained.  “For what I have planned, we’re going to need to make a lot of noise.”

“Oh?  I’m starting to get excited!  But … we can still teleport in, though, right?”

Rachel’s left eyebrow lifted.  “You really want to teleport in there?”

“I mean, there was this scene in the anime Alexa and I watched that looked so cool!  He just popped in like, wassup, bitches!  It was so awesome, and then, oh, he took out the first guy with a chop to the neck!”

“Ah … okay,” Rachel nodded between her explanation of the scene; Felix and Zoe just watched her with wide eyes, probably trying to connect her recount with Scarlet herself performing the actions.

Blood flowed out of Scarlet’s arms, forming into a large scythe before she danced back, whipping it around her body in an expert manner to demonstrate several attacks that the protagonist used with a sword.

Rachel hummed doubtfully when she finished.  “Eh … we’re not going to kill anyone.”

“Oh, wait … you said that before, didn’t you,” Scarlet chuckled, flipping back her hair before scratching her scalp with a soft chuckle.  “I … umm, yeah, I feel a little silly now!  I promised Alexa I’d show her some cool things.  I was just practicing!”

“Uh-huh,” Rachel smiled.  “I’m glad you’re bonding with her … I think I judged her a bit too harshly.”

“She’s pretty shy,” Scarlet giggled.  “She really loves your brother, though!”

“I bet she does,” Rachel sighed, wanting to get off the topic.  “We can teleport in; that’s fine.  I’ll work it out.”

“You sure it won’t mess things up?”  Scarlet asked, forehead creasing with concern.

“It’s fine.”

Zoe cleared her throat, whispering, “That’s all cool, but … please, just be safe.”

 “You don’t have to worry about us!”  Scarlet quickly gave her a thumbs-up.  “We’re super OP.”

“Quit showing off, and let’s go get ‘em,” Rachel giggled, body heat rising as anticipation rushed through her veins.  I could do this twenty-four hours, seven days a week!  C’mon, crystals, force the President’s hand, and let me feel this rush every day!

---