Isher Notra

Lien:

"Alright, Lien. This is Stella's last day in Pantsti."

After putting on her least worn tunic, the young pup's feet wouldn't stop hopping as her blood ran hotter by the second.

"This has to be perfect. We NEED to win. How lame it will be if you lose to Ms. Hanaken!"

She slapped her face with both paws, the pain directing her resolve as a fierce, warrior-like scowl etched on her face.

"No time to mess around, Lien! Stella is counting on you, especially after you left her face Yuki-onna on her own! I need to... lock-in?" Her expression softened with confusion when she tried to grasp one of Stella's Human lingo phrases from memory. "Is that right?"

"Tizohi almighty, Lien. I've never seen you so worked up before a fight."

All the fur on Lien's body bristled when her mother, who was previously thought asleep, cut through the silence with a playful remark.

"H-Hey!" The pup quickly turned to the captain. "How're you doing? Feeling..." She chuckled shyly. "...alright?"

"Wow." The word came out from Tash along with a snicker. "How about you sit down and let me have a crack at soothing your nerves?" Two dull, muffled thuds were produced beside her. "I won't bite. Besides, the fight is a few hours from now, still."

Lien took a deep breath in acceptance, slowly walking to comply with her mother's request. "This is so weird. I've never felt this way before diving into a battle. Never!"

"Not even when you fought the likes of Grýla and Yuki-onna?" Tash questioned.

"No!" Lien shook her arms frantically to emphasize her feelings. "I mean, I was so afraid when Yuki-onna flew past us with that crazy amount of Saniya or when Stella passed out after drinking that pego jam or when she was... stabbed."

She took a few seconds for a breather as she reflected upon the common denominator.

"So what makes this different, then?" her mother pressed forward.

The pup exhaled, deflating as her recollections dragged her deeper into gloominess. "First, this is Stella's last day. I wish I hadn't slept the whole of yesterday, so we could've done more stuff before we parted ways. This fight is all we have left now..."

Not a single second had passed before her mother's paw gently ruffled her mane.

"This is the first reason, yes? What more is there?"

While Lien appreciated the comfort, her fingers fiddled with each other, restless without an end in sight, regardless of how much she wanted to. When was the last time she felt such... shame?

"When Stella and I fought Yuki-onna, the sorceress taunted my packmate into fighting her again after Mr. Gentō was frozen. Then-"

"The Queen swooped in and dragged you and the Baku to the sky, assuring you everything was under control and Stella would be fine," her mother completed with remarkable accuracy. "Did I leave anything out?"

The pup's tail slowly lashed on the sleeping bag as a few more seconds of quiet settled in.

"Do you know how to read minds, too?"

That question brought a burst of uncharacteristically loud, inhibited laughter from the captain.

"N-No, no!" she blurted out between gasps while her paw stroked the pup's cheek. "I... I was..." Ten seconds passed before she regained her breath. "I was privy to everything you've done in Chikukei through Queen Malka and Gentō. Frankly, I already had a hunch of where this gloom is coming from, but it's nice to hear confirmation..."

"Wait." Lien gently squeezed her mother's arm. "So you know about-"

"About how you foolishly yet bravely fought Hari-onagu, the Weasels, Yuki-onna's army of clones, and the real deal..." A strange silence broke her sentence. "...And 'Mx. Shade.'"

"Oh." The pup tilted her head. "Why're you speaking like that about Mx. Shade? Is anything wrong with them?"

Tash's paw descended to her shoulder, granting her a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry about it. Just promise me to come running to tell me if you ever speak to them or feel their presence again when you wander in and out of Pantsti."

Lien nodded. "Deal!" A smile graced her lips, slowly fading away as her mind took longer to process her mother's second request. The ending, in particular...

"Out... of Pantsti?" Her eyes narrowed as her face turned closer towards her mom's. "I don't... think I'm gonna escape again for a while, Mom..."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Another chuckle. What was it with the captain this morning? Was she replaced by a changeling? But wasn't that a Fairy thing? Why would the capital's High Priest take the time to prank her all the way over here?

"Soon enough, you won't need to sneak around..." her mother spoke with a lingering, melodic tone, covered with subtle anticipation.

Lien's mind retreated into itself, focusing one-hundred-percent to decipher the captain's implications. Her tail swished in circles like a helicopter, not that she had any idea of what it was.

Dang it all to heck! It seemed like, as extensively as she locked into something, more quickly her focus slipped away! Why did Tizohi construct her brain like this?!

Lien's fists closed and tightened. What did her mom mean by her not needing to sneak around anymore? Would she accompany her on every expedition through Sayama from now on? No, the captain wouldn't leave her job to babysit her every single time...

...Would she?

...

......

What else could it be? If Tash was referring to the prolonged vacation she earned, that'd be tricky. Lien was in no hurry to leave Pantsti just yet. So what if by the time the young huntress's drive to explore reignited, the older canine was back into service?

...Why was this matter so complicated, anyway? It would be easier if Lien were an-

...

......

.........

That. Was. IT!

Lien sprang out of the sleeping bag, a boiling energy electrifying her every nerve as her heart hammered with the need for an instantaneous answer.

"I'M GOING TO BECOME AN EIRA?!" she howled as loudly as her rested vocal cords allowed. Too bad she hadn't thought about her mother's ears until the excitement quelled a tad.

"Y-Yes, you will..." Tash hissed. "Damn, you're loud. I should've seen this coming, though."

"Oops." Regardless of regret, the pup hopped closer like a bunny, ecstasy clinging to her like the stench of a devastating flatulence. "What made you change your mind?!"

"Well, for starters, you would just run away for the hundredth time, regardless of what I order you."

Lien held no shame in that. It was very reassuring to hear her mom admit it so casually, however.

"Hōkō warned about this since you've reached eira age, but I was too caught up in my fears to admit he was right. When I first discovered you were running around in a literal warzone, I was petrified, angry even."

Lien's feet scraped the floor anxiously, her paws united behind her back.

"But when I've heard everything you've done from them, I saw the story of a brave, loyal Wolf who can hold herself against danger better than most adult Monoke I've ever met. Not only in combat, but your quick thinking also allowed us to reach victory against Yuki-onna."

What was this feeling? Her mother had never praised her so much in such a short time. It was... electrifying, similar to when Stella showed her affection, but with a slight difference that was tough to identify. It tickled somewhere different in her mind, that was for sure.

Regardless, her tail was spinning faster than a blender at full speed, and her heart threatened to burst. Was this a dream? It had to be!

And Stella was groaning about her disclosing every detail of their adventure to Mr. Gentō. How else would they spend their time while Yuki-onna took her beauty nap? Seriously!

Captain Tash let out a louder laugh that broke through the awe-induced digression. "See? You and Stella are a powerful duo, but I reckon you're still formidable on your own. So you don't need your pretty little airhead worried with silly stuff. You girls have all the time you need to hang out and figure out more about yourselves."

That last remark quickly captured Lien's attention and anchored it back to the start of the conversation. Maybe she did tangent herself too often.

"I guess you're right..." The pup shyly chuckled, crossing her arms as sober reality rained back in. "But I still need to make up for being a coward at the end. She is my packmate. That's more important than someone else's word, even if it's the Queen's."

"I understand what you mean," her mother confessed, a subtle mix of rustling fabric and her sleeping bag decompressing indicating she was standing up. "Do you think I was a well of boundless courage when your father and I went on exploring Sayama?" She scoffed. "Not by a long shot. There were times when our fear took the better of each of us. The way to move forward is to accept our mistakes, learn from them, and strive to do better next time."

Her father, huh? To hear him mentioned from the cagey captain's lips solidified this day as a blessing from Tizohi. Or the idea that her mom was a changeling. The balance wasn't tilting to any side, yet.

"Okay," Lien stepped closer to her mother, her forehead leaning on the older canine's bare, fluffy chest. "No need for pressure, then?"

Tash's arms wrapped around her like the world's most comforting and reliable blanket, warming her heart with maternal tenderness. "Eira or not, you are a Wolf warrior. Go all out, fight to win, but never forget to have fun. Regardless of the outcome, I have a gut feeling Stella will appreciate you by her side to the end."

By Tizohi's antlers... Lien's mother had just rearranged her lingering worries into a sound solution. Stella was never one to be angry when she lost a friendly match, at least not against the pup. Instead, the Human packmate always relished a good fight, even if she wasn't the victor.

It's about the process, not the outcome. Amazing.

"Mom?"

The captain hummed.

Lien's embrace fortified. "You're the smartest Monoke I know."

Tash reflected the same intensity back. Now, that was some Wolf-style hugging, almost shattering each other's bones to display undeniable affection.

"Damn right, I am. Never question that."

And so, a shared, warm laughter ensued.

...

Not as warm as what trickled down her mane.

Knock knock!

The twin thuds from the door diverted her attention. Her gut already had an idea of their originator.

"Time to strategize, Lien! We won't beat Hanaken by just winging it!" Stella's shout rang out, loudly muffled to the blind canine's sensitive hearing.

Lien's tail lashed with enthusiasm! Her heart raced as the weight of the ever-narrowing time pressed down back on her conscience.

Still, this time, her entire being reacted as it always did: electrifying with sparks of excitement! A new challenge meant a new experience, a new avenue for growth!

...Huh. Lien supposed she understood what Hōkō hammered repeatedly into her and her classmates' ears, now.

"I'm coming, Stella!" Lien let go of her mother, sprinting towards the d-

She stopped right before her paw could slam the door open, instead only pressing against it gently. A small beam of self-consciousness broke through the impulsive fog.

The pup turned her head slightly in her mother's direction. After a few seconds of silence, a smile tugged her lips while she flashed her a thumbs-up.

Although she couldn't see it, she pictured the captain reflecting her gesture.

"Show no mercy, my pup."