When we left the closet together, Nikita raised a glass to our honor and sarcastically congratulated Gwin for joining the club. Grekkans must have a sense for picking up when things get hot and heavy because it’s not like we were kissing all that loud. With flushed cheeks and a plethora of curse words, the feisty lass starts laying into her drinking buddy.

This playful bickering doesn’t last long, as I announce my intention to visit the Pet Shop now. Nikita volunteers to escort me, saying that we can’t be too careful- especially now that we’ve successfully taken down one of the Duke of Dewhurst’s most essential minions.

Gwin walks out with us but splits off to head on home. Although she didn’t ask for one, I kneel before her and give her another soft kiss to say goodbye. The tiny, spiky-haired redhead isn’t getting used to this at all. Gwin leaves our company blushing and stammering, steaming hotter than the flames of the forge I intend to build for her.

Nikita and I then begin the walk to the market alone. I ask her about the encounter she had with Fleetfoot, but not much information is gained.

“It really wasn’t that special,” Nikita shakes her head, cupping her chin. “As far as assassination attempts go, it was pretty weak.”

“How reassuring,” I scoff.

“You can roll your eyes all you want, Chief, but I’m serious. They have some way to turn invisible, and I don’t think they counted on anyone being able to sense them past that. Really rookie stuff right there.”

“...You’re sure it was Fleetfoot?” I recall the threatening presence who appeared before Zutiria and myself and can’t for the life of me say the two descriptions match.

“When I pointed em out, they turned visible, taunted me, and threw a dagger at me before running away again. They had that mask you described, too, so I’m pretty sure it was them.” Nikita shrugs.

“...They revealed themself and went so far as to taunt you?”

“Yeah, I was kinda stunned by the stupidity. Even if they were hoping that mask would work on me, which it didn’t, well... I dunno bout that one, Chief. Food for thought.” Nikita stops in her tracks as she thinks to herself.

I thank Nikita for looking out for me even when I wasn’t aware she was doing so, and she that white, sharp grin of hers. “Don’t mention it. Opal gets what she wants, and she wants you kept safe. I’d sooner win a wrestling bout with Heracles himself than I’d win an argument with that old witch!” She bursts out into outrageous laughter.

We make idle conversation the rest of the way to the Pet Shop. It’s good to just have a chance to talk to the Grekkan one on one like this, and our chat mainly covers the many decisions and tactics I made while commanding the girls last night.

As a former mercenary commander, Nikita found herself impressed with some of the split-second choices I made. That being said, she’s also brutally honest whenever pointing out a mistake I made or something I could have done better. As we talk about my experiences leading the girls, I feel a warmth burn inside the Grekkan, begging to explode. There’s a passion in her voice, no matter how hard Nikita tries to hide it.

Before I have a chance to try to dredge more of it out of her, we arrive at the Pet Shop. The market is winding down for the night, and the large tents that made up the adoption site are almost entirely dismantled by now. Looks like Snow was telling the truth. They really are going to be gone in the morning.

“I’ll come back and pick you up whenever you and the kitties are ready to go home. Gonna go have a drink over there,” Nikita points toward a dark dive bar just on the market’s edge. “Don’t worry about coming to get me. I’ll know.” 

Taking a deep breath, I clench my hand around the diamond collar stored safely in my pocket. Despite my usual reserves of boundless confidence, I find it hard to push myself into the big top where I know Snow is waiting. My eyebrows narrow, and I put my foot down.

“Do what you want,” I repeat to myself and step forward into the Besthal Pet Shop.

Despite making a big deal about it in my mind, I end up getting stopped casually before I can enter. Scrap, the bouncer I met six days ago, runs up to me and pulls me aside. “Dude, we’ve been waiting for you all day! ”

“Ah, Scrap, wasn’t it?” I get a closer look at the Dogfolk man, noticing how radically different he is from six days ago. Before, this bulky, tanned man with golden retriever features looked as if he would’ve bitten me if given a chance. Now, his face is contorted into a derpy smile, his tail wags at the sight of me, and his eyes are wide with reverence.

On a whim, I place my hand in front of the bouncer like I was asking him to shake. “How are you today?” I ask politely, only to watch in surprise as he puts his paw in my hand.

Scrap wags his tail, happy to perform a trick for me. “Well, we’re all a little on edge because of what happened, woof, but what do you expect? Anyway, Snow had me out here waiting for you. She doesn’t want you to come inside.”

Before I can even start to feel anxious, the golden retriever-esque man starts laughing and pats me on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, she’s not mad! It’s just that, hmm. How do I say this, woof...” The Beastfolk thinks hard, straining his face to a comical extent. “Pretty much every unadopted girl in the tent wants to see you if you know what I mean.”

I fight a losing battle to contain my ego after learning that. “I think I get the picture,” I say while imagining that very picture perhaps a little too vigorously.

“Hey, before I go get Snow...” Scrap looks to the side, his eyes becoming shifty as his tail droops. “It sounds like you’re gonna end up with some pretty big credit the next time we’re in town, yeah?”

“...I’m sorry, Scrap. I’m not looking to adopt any males, despite how much of a good boy you seem to be.”

He blushes before laughing and shaking his head, “Oh heck no, that’s not what I was getting at! I told you last time I had some sisters up for adoption, yeah? I was wondering if you’d take a look at one of em next time... it’s just that... um... woof, how do I say this...” Scrap looks away even harder, revealing the whites of his eyes the same way that stressed dogs tend to.

This man’s piqued my interest. “Go on, Scrap. I’m listening.”

His tail starts wagging now that he knows he’s not a bother. “Well, everyone had kinda written Peri and Cherry off as a lost cause, yeah? They’ve been helping out all day, and all they can talk about is how amazing working for you is, how patient and kind you are, and just... all this other junk, woof. This sister of mine that I’m talking about is, uh...”

“Another lost cause?” My eyebrow raises, and Scrap nods his head.

“Kinda. Look, I might be a dog, but I’m not gonna beg, so...”

“I promise to meet her when it’s time, Scrap.” I give the Dogfolk a pleasant smile and watch his ears rise at the sudden happiness my word gives him. His tail starts wagging up a hurricane because he’s a good boy.

There’s no reason not to meet her. On the contrary, there’s a lot of reasons to take him up on his offer and at least see what his younger sister is like. If Scrap’s sister is another girl the tribe has had trouble adopting, then she’s likely to be discounted just like my kittens were. With a little bit of work, both of them ended up working out just fine in the long run.

“Thanks so much, Master!” He barks at me from happiness, and thankfully he’s able to force himself to resist the urge to jump up and lick me. “I’ll go get Snow for you, now.” He scampers off on all fours while I stand here outside the large tent, hand still clenched around the leather collar in my pocket.

After an agonizing period of waiting for what feels like minutes, Snow steps out from behind the flaps of the entrance. She’s wearing her standard uniform dress and she has a cold, business-like air about her that doesn’t strike me as very welcoming. Color me surprised.

“I’m glad you were able to make it, Guild Master,” Snow bows. “I can go call for Peri and Cherry now if you wish, but I assume you’d like it if we could have a talk first, nyaa?”

“Yes, if you wouldn’t mind,” I tell her in no uncertain terms.

I watch as the prissy-kitten considers this before nodding her head almost impassionately. “I’m sure there’s a nice secluded alley we could sneak off to, nyaa. Come along now.” Snow walks away at a brisk pace towards the nearest back street, not even so much as waiting for me to follow along.

Giving the collar one final clench for good luck, I pursue Snowball.