The sun went down and the first of the three moons began to rise in near completion. Reta leaned over the balcony with her hands on the rail, her eyes staring at her fate, embracing herself for the days ahead. A knock on the door followed by the squeak of someone entering caught her attention, turning around only to find Umeko freeze as soon as they locked eyes.
Reta threw her hand in dismissal and returned to looking outside, turning her back on her. "You have nothing to fear, the transformation begins when the light of the full moon shines down upon me."
"I see." Umeko felt slightly at ease, calmly approaching her and looking outward as well. The view consisted of planted acres spreading across the front of the house, split down the middle for the path leading to the front doors. Off in the distance they could see layers upon layers of a fragrant forest surrounding the sides and rear of the building, flowing up and down with the hills of the valley. Leaves bristled by the cool breeze of the night, with sounds of crickets chirping and frogs croaking, echoing through the woods. When Umeko scanned across the area, she felt uneasy with how vulnerable the setting felt, as if in a moment the forest would swoop in and engulf them before they could even react.
"To easy." She remarked, leaning into the rails. "To be ambushed in a place like this. And the structure is so heavily dependent on wood, a small fire would turn both the house and the hills ablaze and leave nothing but scorched remains by sunrise."
Reta took a deep breathe and nodded. "It comes to show how weak this one is, she is no cunning tactician nor is she a fighter."
"She seems to focus on profits and gain, better for her to construct a fortress and remain tucked behind stone walls for protection. Does this Gaijin not have a clan to follow or a culture to commemorate? She only returns late in the evenings, kissing the pages of those books she is ever so fond of. No partner of any kind, nor any friends or family. I can see why she is keen on supporting you and that Nekomata with her mate. Without you three, she has nothing else."
Reta hung her head down, contemplating Umeko's words. She agreed with her, but it surprised her when she realized that she herself had not put these thoughts into words before. Thinking back, she wondered if her distaste and distrust in Janette was a subconscious reaction to how she saw through her before. But then again, she was not all pitiful in her eyes.
"There is something more to her." She began, catching Umeko's interest with a turn of her head. "Janette, yes. It is clear to us that she favors a profit or an advantage wherever it is presented, but not to a selfish extent. Were it to be so, then I must question why she had stayed with us for this long."
"What do you mean?" Umeko inquired, looking at her with curious interest. "You see more in her, did she prove herself favorable in battle?"
"No, in a battle she is a coward. One who shrivels up and wilts like a flower in the summer heat. But when I found myself trapped in our encounter with the slime, she pushed through. She did not kill it, quite frankly a child could have matched her success, but she distracted the creature and bought me the time to survive and land the killing blow. It is odd to state, but I owe her my life in a way. And she and I do not get along well."
"So she is weak and foolish." Umeko turned her head forward, unimpressed.
Reta snarled in return. "Is it ever so foolish to grant aid to one in need during battle? She was useless in a fight and yet she remained, an action I find admirable in comparison."
"You know better, in our ways it is kill or be killed. Strike when the time is right, may the strongest survive and prosper."
"I remember." She scowled and looked away. "I do not wish for your presence here. Leave."
"You want to be alone?" Umeko asked.
"Yes, it's something you have proven yourself to be adept to."
Her friend scowled back and hissed under her breath. "That isn't fair, Mizuki. Were I to have spoken against them, they would have both of our heads that night. You are fortunate they banished you instead."
"Fortunate!" Reta snickered, scratching her nails into the wooden rail. "Oh how fortunate indeed! Blessed me, blessed be Mizuki by our Goddess, may she have pity and mercy at my existence. May she forever be amused at Mizuki's misfortune, always eager to give but never enough to be valued. Never, no matter how hard, how painful, how willing! And only to be asked for the last thing left, only then to be banished."
She spun around, her eyes seething with a raging fury as her fists shook and her voice cracked. "Being banished was the best thing to have occurred in my life. You mock the Gaijin, but they took me in. Gave me shelter when you did not. Allowed me to help them and taught me how to assist when you did not. And when I reached out to question my presence when I felt unwanted, they explained themselves and offered me comfort from our misunderstanding. Them, the supposed Gaijin! How can this be, to be raised to uphold our laws, to work for our clan, strengthen our children and care for our elders, only to find the outsiders to be more welcoming to me."
"And now here you are because of them. You give me news of my father and for what, to find pleasure in scarring my wounds? Did it bring you joy to sink the dagger deeper into my heart Umeko, is that what you want?"
"Mizuki~"
"No! Not anymore, Mizuki died that night. I was declared Norowa Reta then, and that is who I am now. Be gone, pregnant or not I do not wish to see you here. To pretend that we baked bread and held good will."
"Is this a bad time?" They both turned to look at KuliKuli smiling nervously at the door with Felix peaking over her shoulder.
He caught one glimpse and nudged KuliKuli's paw. "We should go, it's not a good time."
"No, stay!" Reta demanded, pointing angrily toward Umeko. "You can leave, they can stay. Their presence is far better suited than yours."
Umeko stared in silence, her shoulders sinking with a look of defeat. There was pain and regret in her eyes, and despite the many words she wished to share she bit her tongue to remain quiet. She bowed her head and calmly walked away, avoiding the look that KuliKuli gave her. Once the door closed behind her, Reta sighed with a mixed feeling of relief and exhaustion as she practically fell to her knees with her arms fallen over the rails to support her.
KuliKuli hurried in and offered her help, only Reta shook her head in refusal. With a determined look, the Nekomata huffed and sat on the floor by her side, choosing to stare outward in the same direction as hers.
Felix looked around, admiring the clean and detailed look of this bedroom, but focused on the presence of a friend in need. He stood to her left opposite of KuliKuli. None would look or speak to one another, choosing instead to share in this moment of solace.
Perhaps a minute had passed, or perhaps it had been five minutes instead. But once Reta breathed in deep and exhaled, she felt her anger subside as a feeling of comfort seeped through her. It soothed her to be in their presence, but gazing into the starry night sky served a constant reminder of the short time that remained for her. She lifted her hand into the sky, her fingers spread wide as she tried her best to catch the near full moon before it would return again.
"Thank you."
KuliKuli smiled and placed her paw over her hand to keep her warm. "Anytime."
"I think," Reta breathed in as she prepared herself. "After what you may have heard, it is likely you two have questions."
"Well-" Felix began, only for a flick of KuliKuli's tail on his butt to startle him. He turned to her and was met with a glare as he kept his lips sealed and shook his head.
Reta giggled, perhaps the first time she had expressed joy in so long that they felt it was but a fleeing memory. "Please, it is only fair to ask. You have my permission, you may ask and I will answer."
The two locked eyes with KuliKuli looking uncertain, but as he seemed eager to know she nodded back before they returned to their friend.
"We have a lot of questions really. What's your name, is it Reta or Mizuki?" He asked.
Reta nodded and continued to look outward and embrace the view. "I was once named Mizuki. The night when I was cursed was the same night to which I was banished. I was given the name Norowa Reta, the wolf without a home. It is who I am to this day."
KuliKuli felt her heart drop as she approached with another question under a whimpering voice. "Is the curse why you were banished?"
Reta shook her head and stood up, retreating back inside to sit on the bed. "It would answer all of your questions if I explained myself instead."
"You don't have to." Felix mentioned, as both he and his mate sat down with Reta in between them.
"I want to. It is time I hold nothing back and leave no more secrets from you." She declared in a low yet rasp voice, her hands quivering as she began to explain to her friends. "It is time I tell you the story behind the Wolf."
"It is in our tradition that the firstborn of each family would be raised and given to the warrior chief once they reach a certain age, preferably by age five. The firstborn are believed to be the strongest and noblest representation of each family, a way to give back to our people and to uphold the teachings of our Goddess. She represents the finest and mightiest of warriors, a fighter who embraces the conflict of war to protect their kith and kin. They are trained ruthlessly throughout their adolescence, their minds and bodies broken down so that they may be crafted into the perfect warrior. It is seen as a sign of honor and respect to break your knuckles in training, as it is believed that the bones would heal stronger and more durable to make for a stronger punch. They put their lives into the care and skill of their sword and in hand to hand combat."
"My brother was firstborn and the source of joy to our family name. He arose effortlessly within his class, he mastered the blade and found little difficulty in sweeping even the heaviest man off his feet when it came to sparring. Not a day went by without Mother praising her son and sharing his feats to the mother's of the tribe, or to see Father smile from ear to ear when he arrived to visit them. I looked up to him as well, in my eyes my brother could do no wrong and the others agreed. He was the embodiment of our finest and deadliest, the glory of our Goddess and the village tribe's champion. He was the best, the only regret was that he did not live long enough to sire any children to carry the name."
"What about you?" KuliKuli asked, scooting close enough that their thighs touched.
Reta sighed, "I was the second and youngest of our family, granted the freedom to pursue a calmer life should I have desired it so. But I saw the way our parents looked at him with pride, or how the elders would whisper about his feats, or the women would gossip about his youth and how he looked when shirtless. It was no secret that he was desired by many, and he earned it."
"I grew to discover that their was a disadvantage for being the younger sibling living in the shadow of her brother's success. I wanted our parents to finally see me as more than just a mouth to be fed. Children would ask me questions about him, or tease me for being so frail in comparison. Neither approached me as a friend unless it was a ploy to get closer to him. I wanted to be seen as well, I wanted to be acknowledged not as a sibling but as someone with value to give. I volunteered to undergo the training despite being a few years older. They accepted me by his request."
"But I did not come to look at him in envy, nor did I ever blame him. My brother was my best and closest friend, someone who listened when I spoke and saw my presence when I was near. He offered me words of comfort, insisted that I do my best but warned me that it would be foolish if I desired to join just to prove myself. I was more than just a shadow to his eyes, but were I not so stubborn nor he so naïve then perhaps fate would had played differently. I pushed forward and experienced the same ruthless training. My bones shattered, my will repeatedly crushed, and I found myself crawling at the back end of the group while others stepped over me. I met my brother and asked that he trained me when he can so that I may be good enough to avoid expulsion."
"And he did. He was reluctant, many times he would parry my sword and sweep me off my feet and leave me prone. I could see it in his eyes, he admired my determination but looked at me with pity. I knew what he thought, that I was not good enough, that I lacked the strength and instinct to survive. My reaction needed work, my hand to hand combat was sloppy, and with the sword in my hand I was like a child swinging a stick while the others surpassed me. No matter how hard I tried, I would fail. I would get back and train harder, study longer, only to fail all the same. Umeko was my sparring partner in training, it is how we came to meet. I would find myself under her command as she took charge. Miraculously, I was given the title of a warrior. But my parents did not greet me with joyful smiles nor did they drink in my honor."
"I suspect that I was granted the title because of my brother's name. No matter, I was a warrior all the same and the village be damned, I was eager to prove myself to them! Come one season, we would find ourselves attacked by beasts in the dark. Wild kin had invaded our forests and hunted our farmers, snagging children out from their beds without a clue as to where they came from. The attacks had passed and for several weeks we hunted, but to no avail. They would return again, and this time we were ready. My brother was the one who led the hunt, he returned with half of his men and wounded, but still kept the strength of ten men as he refused to fall to his knees in spite of the beast he had slain. We feasted well that night in his honor."
"But to our surprise, the beasts had returned. They picked off the families of nobles, one by one, they killed with a reason behind it. The victims were some of our best, it was by no coincidence that they be targeted specifically while their neighbors were spared. My brother had yet to recover from his wounds, although he insisted to join we convinced him to stay. I wanted to hunt this beast myself, I wanted to return and make him proud, to show him and the others that I exist and that I too can rise to the battle. Umeko led our group, we searched for hours into the night but returned only to see the beasts had ravaged our homes once more."
She shuddered as the memories came back to haunt her. "Our homes were set ablaze, families had to bury their young, even the wounded were given no mercy. We took our brother in by mother's insistence, she cared for him and never left his side. He suffered injuries as well and she sought to replenish his strength so that he may save us once more. Every night, I struck my fists into the wooden pole to strengthen my resolve. I needed to get stronger, I needed to be better. To save my brother as he had saved us before. But I was not prepared for what happened next."
Reta breathed in deep and closed her eyes. "I chose to stay that night, despite Umeko's orders. I could not leave the village even if we had warriors ready to defend with their lives. I wanted to personally protect my family, and she reluctantly agreed. No beast arose that night, Umeko and her warriors returned and I was scolded. The next night I had no choice but to go with them, only to once again find nothing. Upon our return, we had spotted the beast as it was fleeing from the village. We followed and tracked it down, its claws were broad and easily shred through our armor like wet paper. But we persisted, and I found myself ready to dig my blade into its neck. But it spoke to me, it begged for mercy. I saw those eyes and I hesitated, and in my moment of weakness it escaped. I was punished for my failure, it was only a matter of days until I was a warrior no longer."
"For you see, I recognized that voice and the shock had left me unable to comprehend what happened next. I confronted my brother the day after, I demanded answers. I saw him look at me with the same eyes that ruthlessly slayed our fighters and ate through our wild stock. Our mother knew, she protected him and I would come to learn the truth. He and his men were cursed, you see, the beasts that attacked us are no wild beasts but Werewolves. They appeared normal but the light of the full moon would reveal the monstrous beasts inside. Against his judgement, he and his men swore to hide this secret and seek a way to rid themselves of this curse. But he was the last, for the others were slain or took their lives when they felt it was hopeless."
"Perhaps it was my naivety and need to protect him as he had done for me. I gave him an hour to compose himself, but demanded that we share his secret to the remaining nobles. He would flee, and I would find him feasting at what remained of our mother's lifeless corpse." Her voice shook as tears began to roll down her face, sniffling and struggling to keep her composure. "I killed my brother that day. I put his life at ease, I threw myself in front of our father when he lunged at him in hunger, and I embraced my brother one last time as I sank my blood into his heart and he buried his teeth into my shoulder. Do you know what he said? He told me the secret to removing the curse was to pass it on to another. To bite someone else and free yourself. He had learned of this, but it was too late. The curse had taken hold after so long, he could only whimper an apology before he fell."
"I lost him. I lost my mother. My father was a sobbing mess. And yet, I reported myself to the others. I told them everything, and they asked my to drop to my knees. Umeko offered to help, they said this was the best I could do to restore our family name with what little resemblance of honor it had left. I told them how to rid of the curse, and they felt I was making a plea to save my own skin. I was given one final order and I refused. Because no matter how much I gave, or how hard I tried, it was never... never enough."
She gasped and buried her face into her hands, met by the shared embrace of her two friends. "The full moon draws near... if I cannot find a way to rid of this cure, the transformation will be permanent. But I swear, as long as you two may have me that I will give everything to protect us. To protect you."
KuliKuli leaned in and kissed her shoulder, cradling her friends head against her chest and sharing in her pain. Felix slipped behind them and wrapped them both in his arms, keeping a moment of silence together. The two women wept over the memory of Reta's past, while he held them under his protection. They would lose track of time, but no words were shared that night. Not a word, not even a whisper. They would grow tired in time, finding themselves cradled together in the same bed without the energy to remove their clothes. They fell into each other's arms, keeping Reta in between them and refusing to let go until the moons had passed and sun would rise.
The sun went down and the first of the three moons began to rise in near completion. Reta leaned over the balcony with her hands on the rail, her eyes staring at her fate, embracing herself for the days ahead. A knock on the door followed by the squeak of someone entering caught her attention, turning around only to find Umeko freeze as soon as they locked eyes.
Reta threw her hand in dismissal and returned to looking outside, turning her back on her. "You have nothing to fear, the transformation begins when the light of the full moon shines down upon me."
"I see." Umeko felt slightly at ease, calmly approaching her and looking outward as well. The view consisted of planted acres spreading across the front of the house, split down the middle for the path leading to the front doors. Off in the distance they could see layers upon layers of a fragrant forest surrounding the sides and rear of the building, flowing up and down with the hills of the valley. Leaves bristled by the cool breeze of the night, with sounds of crickets chirping and frogs croaking, echoing through the woods. When Umeko scanned across the area, she felt uneasy with how vulnerable the setting felt, as if in a moment the forest would swoop in and engulf them before they could even react.
"To easy." She remarked, leaning into the rails. "To be ambushed in a place like this. And the structure is so heavily dependent on wood, a small fire would turn both the house and the hills ablaze and leave nothing but scorched remains by sunrise."
Reta took a deep breathe and nodded. "It comes to show how weak this one is, she is no cunning tactician nor is she a fighter."
"She seems to focus on profits and gain, better for her to construct a fortress and remain tucked behind stone walls for protection. Does this Gaijin not have a clan to follow or a culture to commemorate? She only returns late in the evenings, kissing the pages of those books she is ever so fond of. No partner of any kind, nor any friends or family. I can see why she is keen on supporting you and that Nekomata with her mate. Without you three, she has nothing else."
Reta hung her head down, contemplating Umeko's words. She agreed with her, but it surprised her when she realized that she herself had not put these thoughts into words before. Thinking back, she wondered if her distaste and distrust in Janette was a subconscious reaction to how she saw through her before. But then again, she was not all pitiful in her eyes.
"There is something more to her." She began, catching Umeko's interest with a turn of her head. "Janette, yes. It is clear to us that she favors a profit or an advantage wherever it is presented, but not to a selfish extent. Were it to be so, then I must question why she had stayed with us for this long."
"What do you mean?" Umeko inquired, looking at her with curious interest. "You see more in her, did she prove herself favorable in battle?"
"No, in a battle she is a coward. One who shrivels up and wilts like a flower in the summer heat. But when I found myself trapped in our encounter with the slime, she pushed through. She did not kill it, quite frankly a child could have matched her success, but she distracted the creature and bought me the time to survive and land the killing blow. It is odd to state, but I owe her my life in a way. And she and I do not get along well."
"So she is weak and foolish." Umeko turned her head forward, unimpressed.
Reta snarled in return. "Is it ever so foolish to grant aid to one in need during battle? She was useless in a fight and yet she remained, an action I find admirable in comparison."
"You know better, in our ways it is kill or be killed. Strike when the time is right, may the strongest survive and prosper."
"I remember." She scowled and looked away. "I do not wish for your presence here. Leave."
"You want to be alone?" Umeko asked.
"Yes, it's something you have proven yourself to be adept to."
Her friend scowled back and hissed under her breath. "That isn't fair, Mizuki. Were I to have spoken against them, they would have both of our heads that night. You are fortunate they banished you instead."
"Fortunate!" Reta snickered, scratching her nails into the wooden rail. "Oh how fortunate indeed! Blessed me, blessed be Mizuki by our Goddess, may she have pity and mercy at my existence. May she forever be amused at Mizuki's misfortune, always eager to give but never enough to be valued. Never, no matter how hard, how painful, how willing! And only to be asked for the last thing left, only then to be banished."
She spun around, her eyes seething with a raging fury as her fists shook and her voice cracked. "Being banished was the best thing to have occurred in my life. You mock the Gaijin, but they took me in. Gave me shelter when you did not. Allowed me to help them and taught me how to assist when you did not. And when I reached out to question my presence when I felt unwanted, they explained themselves and offered me comfort from our misunderstanding. Them, the supposed Gaijin! How can this be, to be raised to uphold our laws, to work for our clan, strengthen our children and care for our elders, only to find the outsiders to be more welcoming to me."
"And now here you are because of them. You give me news of my father and for what, to find pleasure in scarring my wounds? Did it bring you joy to sink the dagger deeper into my heart Umeko, is that what you want?"
"Mizuki~"
"No! Not anymore, Mizuki died that night. I was declared Norowa Reta then, and that is who I am now. Be gone, pregnant or not I do not wish to see you here. To pretend that we baked bread and held good will."
"Is this a bad time?" They both turned to look at KuliKuli smiling nervously at the door with Felix peaking over her shoulder.
He caught one glimpse and nudged KuliKuli's paw. "We should go, it's not a good time."
"No, stay!" Reta demanded, pointing angrily toward Umeko. "You can leave, they can stay. Their presence is far better suited than yours."
Umeko stared in silence, her shoulders sinking with a look of defeat. There was pain and regret in her eyes, and despite the many words she wished to share she bit her tongue to remain quiet. She bowed her head and calmly walked away, avoiding the look that KuliKuli gave her. Once the door closed behind her, Reta sighed with a mixed feeling of relief and exhaustion as she practically fell to her knees with her arms fallen over the rails to support her.
KuliKuli hurried in and offered her help, only Reta shook her head in refusal. With a determined look, the Nekomata huffed and sat on the floor by her side, choosing to stare outward in the same direction as hers.
Felix looked around, admiring the clean and detailed look of this bedroom, but focused on the presence of a friend in need. He stood to her left opposite of KuliKuli. None would look or speak to one another, choosing instead to share in this moment of solace.
Perhaps a minute had passed, or perhaps it had been five minutes instead. But once Reta breathed in deep and exhaled, she felt her anger subside as a feeling of comfort seeped through her. It soothed her to be in their presence, but gazing into the starry night sky served a constant reminder of the short time that remained for her. She lifted her hand into the sky, her fingers spread wide as she tried her best to catch the near full moon before it would return again.
"Thank you."
KuliKuli smiled and placed her paw over her hand to keep her warm. "Anytime."
"I think," Reta breathed in as she prepared herself. "After what you may have heard, it is likely you two have questions."
"Well-" Felix began, only for a flick of KuliKuli's tail on his butt to startle him. He turned to her and was met with a glare as he kept his lips sealed and shook his head.
Reta giggled, perhaps the first time she had expressed joy in so long that they felt it was but a fleeing memory. "Please, it is only fair to ask. You have my permission, you may ask and I will answer."
The two locked eyes with KuliKuli looking uncertain, but as he seemed eager to know she nodded back before they returned to their friend.
"We have a lot of questions really. What's your name, is it Reta or Mizuki?" He asked.
Reta nodded and continued to look outward and embrace the view. "I was once named Mizuki. The night when I was cursed was the same night to which I was banished. I was given the name Norowa Reta, the wolf without a home. It is who I am to this day."
KuliKuli felt her heart drop as she approached with another question under a whimpering voice. "Is the curse why you were banished?"
Reta shook her head and stood up, retreating back inside to sit on the bed. "It would answer all of your questions if I explained myself instead."
"You don't have to." Felix mentioned, as both he and his mate sat down with Reta in between them.
"I want to. It is time I hold nothing back and leave no more secrets from you." She declared in a low yet rasp voice, her hands quivering as she began to explain to her friends. "It is time I tell you the story behind the Wolf."
"It is in our tradition that the firstborn of each family would be raised and given to the warrior chief once they reach a certain age, preferably by age five. The firstborn are believed to be the strongest and noblest representation of each family, a way to give back to our people and to uphold the teachings of our Goddess. She represents the finest and mightiest of warriors, a fighter who embraces the conflict of war to protect their kith and kin. They are trained ruthlessly throughout their adolescence, their minds and bodies broken down so that they may be crafted into the perfect warrior. It is seen as a sign of honor and respect to break your knuckles in training, as it is believed that the bones would heal stronger and more durable to make for a stronger punch. They put their lives into the care and skill of their sword and in hand to hand combat."
"My brother was firstborn and the source of joy to our family name. He arose effortlessly within his class, he mastered the blade and found little difficulty in sweeping even the heaviest man off his feet when it came to sparring. Not a day went by without Mother praising her son and sharing his feats to the mother's of the tribe, or to see Father smile from ear to ear when he arrived to visit them. I looked up to him as well, in my eyes my brother could do no wrong and the others agreed. He was the embodiment of our finest and deadliest, the glory of our Goddess and the village tribe's champion. He was the best, the only regret was that he did not live long enough to sire any children to carry the name."
"What about you?" KuliKuli asked, scooting close enough that their thighs touched.
Reta sighed, "I was the second and youngest of our family, granted the freedom to pursue a calmer life should I have desired it so. But I saw the way our parents looked at him with pride, or how the elders would whisper about his feats, or the women would gossip about his youth and how he looked when shirtless. It was no secret that he was desired by many, and he earned it."
"I grew to discover that their was a disadvantage for being the younger sibling living in the shadow of her brother's success. I wanted our parents to finally see me as more than just a mouth to be fed. Children would ask me questions about him, or tease me for being so frail in comparison. Neither approached me as a friend unless it was a ploy to get closer to him. I wanted to be seen as well, I wanted to be acknowledged not as a sibling but as someone with value to give. I volunteered to undergo the training despite being a few years older. They accepted me by his request."
"But I did not come to look at him in envy, nor did I ever blame him. My brother was my best and closest friend, someone who listened when I spoke and saw my presence when I was near. He offered me words of comfort, insisted that I do my best but warned me that it would be foolish if I desired to join just to prove myself. I was more than just a shadow to his eyes, but were I not so stubborn nor he so naïve then perhaps fate would had played differently. I pushed forward and experienced the same ruthless training. My bones shattered, my will repeatedly crushed, and I found myself crawling at the back end of the group while others stepped over me. I met my brother and asked that he trained me when he can so that I may be good enough to avoid expulsion."
"And he did. He was reluctant, many times he would parry my sword and sweep me off my feet and leave me prone. I could see it in his eyes, he admired my determination but looked at me with pity. I knew what he thought, that I was not good enough, that I lacked the strength and instinct to survive. My reaction needed work, my hand to hand combat was sloppy, and with the sword in my hand I was like a child swinging a stick while the others surpassed me. No matter how hard I tried, I would fail. I would get back and train harder, study longer, only to fail all the same. Umeko was my sparring partner in training, it is how we came to meet. I would find myself under her command as she took charge. Miraculously, I was given the title of a warrior. But my parents did not greet me with joyful smiles nor did they drink in my honor."
"I suspect that I was granted the title because of my brother's name. No matter, I was a warrior all the same and the village be damned, I was eager to prove myself to them! Come one season, we would find ourselves attacked by beasts in the dark. Wild kin had invaded our forests and hunted our farmers, snagging children out from their beds without a clue as to where they came from. The attacks had passed and for several weeks we hunted, but to no avail. They would return again, and this time we were ready. My brother was the one who led the hunt, he returned with half of his men and wounded, but still kept the strength of ten men as he refused to fall to his knees in spite of the beast he had slain. We feasted well that night in his honor."
"But to our surprise, the beasts had returned. They picked off the families of nobles, one by one, they killed with a reason behind it. The victims were some of our best, it was by no coincidence that they be targeted specifically while their neighbors were spared. My brother had yet to recover from his wounds, although he insisted to join we convinced him to stay. I wanted to hunt this beast myself, I wanted to return and make him proud, to show him and the others that I exist and that I too can rise to the battle. Umeko led our group, we searched for hours into the night but returned only to see the beasts had ravaged our homes once more."
She shuddered as the memories came back to haunt her. "Our homes were set ablaze, families had to bury their young, even the wounded were given no mercy. We took our brother in by mother's insistence, she cared for him and never left his side. He suffered injuries as well and she sought to replenish his strength so that he may save us once more. Every night, I struck my fists into the wooden pole to strengthen my resolve. I needed to get stronger, I needed to be better. To save my brother as he had saved us before. But I was not prepared for what happened next."
Reta breathed in deep and closed her eyes. "I chose to stay that night, despite Umeko's orders. I could not leave the village even if we had warriors ready to defend with their lives. I wanted to personally protect my family, and she reluctantly agreed. No beast arose that night, Umeko and her warriors returned and I was scolded. The next night I had no choice but to go with them, only to once again find nothing. Upon our return, we had spotted the beast as it was fleeing from the village. We followed and tracked it down, its claws were broad and easily shred through our armor like wet paper. But we persisted, and I found myself ready to dig my blade into its neck. But it spoke to me, it begged for mercy. I saw those eyes and I hesitated, and in my moment of weakness it escaped. I was punished for my failure, it was only a matter of days until I was a warrior no longer."
"For you see, I recognized that voice and the shock had left me unable to comprehend what happened next. I confronted my brother the day after, I demanded answers. I saw him look at me with the same eyes that ruthlessly slayed our fighters and ate through our wild stock. Our mother knew, she protected him and I would come to learn the truth. He and his men were cursed, you see, the beasts that attacked us are no wild beasts but Werewolves. They appeared normal but the light of the full moon would reveal the monstrous beasts inside. Against his judgement, he and his men swore to hide this secret and seek a way to rid themselves of this curse. But he was the last, for the others were slain or took their lives when they felt it was hopeless."
"Perhaps it was my naivety and need to protect him as he had done for me. I gave him an hour to compose himself, but demanded that we share his secret to the remaining nobles. He would flee, and I would find him feasting at what remained of our mother's lifeless corpse." Her voice shook as tears began to roll down her face, sniffling and struggling to keep her composure. "I killed my brother that day. I put his life at ease, I threw myself in front of our father when he lunged at him in hunger, and I embraced my brother one last time as I sank my blood into his heart and he buried his teeth into my shoulder. Do you know what he said? He told me the secret to removing the curse was to pass it on to another. To bite someone else and free yourself. He had learned of this, but it was too late. The curse had taken hold after so long, he could only whimper an apology before he fell."
"I lost him. I lost my mother. My father was a sobbing mess. And yet, I reported myself to the others. I told them everything, and they asked my to drop to my knees. Umeko offered to help, they said this was the best I could do to restore our family name with what little resemblance of honor it had left. I told them how to rid of the curse, and they felt I was making a plea to save my own skin. I was given one final order and I refused. Because no matter how much I gave, or how hard I tried, it was never... never enough."
She gasped and buried her face into her hands, met by the shared embrace of her two friends. "The full moon draws near... if I cannot find a way to rid of this cure, the transformation will be permanent. But I swear, as long as you two may have me that I will give everything to protect us. To protect you."
KuliKuli leaned in and kissed her shoulder, cradling her friends head against her chest and sharing in her pain. Felix slipped behind them and wrapped them both in his arms, keeping a moment of silence together. The two women wept over the memory of Reta's past, while he held them under his protection. They would lose track of time, but no words were shared that night. Not a word, not even a whisper. They would grow tired in time, finding themselves cradled together in the same bed without the energy to remove their clothes. They fell into each other's arms, keeping Reta in between them and refusing to let go until the moons had passed and sun would rise.
