“I, Bunny, love Silver!” called their newest traveling companion from her seat in the sidecar Teddy had recently installed. Her now-white hair blew in the wind, and her arms were spread wide to the sky above. For the first time since he'd met her, the smile on her face was genuine.

  Their progress had been exceedingly slow due to the abundance of sha'dew. With every battle, Teddy grew more reckless, or as he called it, “trusting of his companions”. For his part, Ed hoped they would reach the town soon. They hadn't made it far the day before for two reasons: they'd left late in the afternoon and this sudden influx of sha'dew. There was a problem nearby: a source of woe that attracted the creatures.

  “I can't believe she got the name of your stupid mount out of you. I thought that was a secret,” Ed teased the stoic blue knight. He hadn't outwardly reacted, but Ed had felt a quick wave of embarrassment from the man.

  “It's just a designation,” replied the blue knight as he turned one of the many buttons, dials, and levers on the handlebars. The movement was swift and polished and would have been barely noticeable had the wind not immediately kicked up.

  This made Bunny actually put on her safety goggles and lean happily into the wind. Her voice no longer rose above the sound of rushing air. Ed grinned mischievously.

  “I have sonic powers. Extremely precise sonic powers,” Ed began showing off, “Or I could speak directly into your brain. You can't shut me up.”

  “Of course not. Why should I do such a thing? We're almost to town according to the map, which we are still, rightfully I might add, hiding from the girl. I didn't want her to suspect we were having a private conversation. She isn't as stupid as werefolk would have us believe. Ye, on the other hand, are frustratingly dense,” Teddy replied telepathically over the sound of his brain's humming, “We could have been communicating much more efficiently had ye tried this earlier. Good thing ye are an idiot. It fits me plan better.”

  “Your plan? Plan for what?” Ed asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Teddy always had plans on top of plans. Most of them weren't very good unless one judged plans by Teddy's entertainment value. He was always entertained by his own plans.

  “See? Dense. I've mentioned me plan to ye on multiple occasions.”

  Raising an eyebrow, Ed ventured with a mental groan, “Is it your plan to eradicate all trees?”

  “No. Shirly convinced me that I was simply being overemotional and irrational about that particular topic,” Teddy replied almost sullenly, “I was referring to me grand plan.”

  “Which one was that?” Ed asked cautiously, mentally kicking himself. A huge chunk of him didn't want to know more. However, he was also uncomfortably sober and trying to resist the urge to drink and ride. This was perhaps the distraction he needed.

  “Don't fret the details,” Teddy replied calmly as he pulled the rifle from his back. Perfectly balanced, he took a couple of shots, his hair still blowing in the wind, “That should get us to the crest of the hill. We simply must do something about the sha'dew situation here.”

  They stopped at the top of the hill overlooking a fairly large town and looked down. The buildings were the common sort often found in Callie, which is to say they were an oddly cohesive mix of one to three-story buildings. The buildings were all of natural materials: wood, stone, dirt, and the like. Some looked like hills with doors. There were tree houses and houses built into large trees. There were dwellings that looked almost normal, despite the garish colors and paint patterns, with wraparound porches and large, inviting doors. The cacophony of clashing colors seemed at once an eyesore and a wonder to behold. Every building seemed different and unique, yet strangely similar with rounded corners and smooth edges.

  “Crescent Gorge Bridge Town is one of the largest in this area,” Bunny declared proudly as if she were responsible for it, her smile becoming serious, “We should be able to collect information as to the whereabouts of Callie-Beta-Alpha Kitsune. Don't trust any werefolk! Remember, Bunny is from Mechma.”

  “No. Ye are from a Karthalan colony. No one is stupid enough to believe ye are from Mechma. Mechma has standards,” Teddy corrected as the steelhead idled.

  “What he means is your accent could almost be Karthalan. It works better for the narrative,” Ed snapped irritably, “Stop being a mean little bug. First, you dress her up in that ridiculous outfit, now you insult her and Karthala in one swoop.” He wanted a drink, which would be delayed if his knights got to fighting.

  “Ye are the one who argued, not an hour later, that she couldn't possibly be from anywhere in High Mountain. Do you know how much work I did to make the edits ye requested?”

  “I requested? Since when do you do anything I request? I specifically requested her to look hot and look at what you dressed her in!” Ed snapped back, the earlier happiness from his friend arguing with him all but forgotten in his frustration.

  “Bunny looks ugly?” whispered the girl, her smiling lips quivering as she examined her long fingers as if afraid to look up, but not knowing where else to direct her dampening eyes. Not a drop fell, but her eyes began to shine with soft tears. She mumbled to herself, “Bunny will not cry. Bugaboo does not approve of crying. Emotions go in boxes. Not being pretty is ok. Bad feeling goes in the box. Neatly label. Put on the shelf. Kitty was pretty, and Kitty was a coward and fled. Bunny will not run away.”

  The silence that followed was deafening.

  His jaw tightening, Teddy’s apathetic voice bordered on anger as he pronounced, “First and foremost, ye idiotic parsnip, ye will apologize to Bunny. She is a person. Bunny is on a noble quest, and ye want her to degrade herself by wearing her shredded clothing? That is most unbecoming, and I shan’t allow it.”

  “I didn't say that, bug! I just meant she should wear something more Callian. I told you how she should be dressed, and you came up with this. She should be dressed more...you know...” Ed argued, feeling cornered as he motioned with his hands. He was on the back foot of an argument he hadn't tried to start, but very much wanted to finish. What was all of that about boxes? Sure, he could read the girl's mind, but that seemed invasive.

  “Ye should be ashamed. Bunny is our guest, and ye are treating her poorly. I am, however, surprised to find ye were correct about something. I knew exactly what ye wanted me to do and did the opposite as much as I possibly could, ye miserable wrench of an ass. Even a stopped clock is correct once a day, though the damaged clock is correct far more often than ye. Ye are a bratty little twit of an impudent pumpkin.”

  There was no force to his statements, as if he was simply stating well-known and undisputed facts in a lecture hall to small children. The sky is blue. Eddy is a miserable wrench of an ass. All well-established, undisputed facts of life that no one could argue with.

  “You want to go? Let's go. I will crush you like a bug right here and now,” Ed snapped back angrily as his words and intent were twisted unrecognizably.

  Surprisingly, it was the Bunny girl who shot up, the ever-present grin twisted into something sinister, “Lunansol! Eddy will apologize to Teddy. Teddy is not a bug. Also, get a new insult, nerd. This square used 'bug', like five times. Mix it up a little, rotten lutefisk."

  The unexpected fire shocked all the men. Few people could stand up to Eddy, mostly because his gift made most people love and adore him. They stared wide-eyed as she continued to bellow and pose.

  “Teddy worked hard to make Bunny’s mecharmor. Bunny loves Bunny’s LAS. That stands for Light Armor System. Teddy did what Eddy said because Teddy wanted to, not because of loser’s commands. This outfit would be scandalous in Mechma or High Mountain. Bunny will wear the pants because Bunny doesn’t care what Eddy or Callians think. Sul knows Bunny is combat-ready and looks fine as Lune. Bunny knows. Teddy knows. Stone knows. Is Eddy smart enough to know?”

  She glared at Ed with a defiance that was akin to a bursting dam. All her emotions and frustrations poured out as she straightened herself to her full height. She wanted someone to punch, to take out her anger on. She wanted, maybe even needed a release valve for her pent up emotions. Even seated upon his high horse, Ed felt small.

  It was glorious. No one had spoken to him like that from the heart in ages. The joy felt as though it moved up from his toes until it filled him, and laughter erupted from his mouth. Any argument from him was gone.

  “Sorry, Teddy. You did a great job, man. Sorry, Bunny, you look great,” Ed excitedly proclaimed, “It’s been a while since someone said something real to me. You wouldn’t believe the stuff I’ve been saying to try to get Ted back to normal. It’s my lucky day today. I knew this Callian mission was the best assignment ever,” Eddy declared, his eyes shining with tears and a huge grin on his face, “Welcome back, man. I missed you.”

  “Don’t say nice things to me. Ye know it makes it worse,” Teddy stated before taking a long drink from his canteen, “And no drinking until dinner.”

  “Maybe I’ll just say nasty things about Bunny here,” Eddy laughed with a sly grin.

  “I’ll kill ye if ye do,” Teddy replied, indifferently taking a bite of porridge.

  “I know you will, Teddy, my friend. I know you will. It’s so great to have you back. I’ve been brainstorming insults and stupid things I know you’d never in your right mind stand for. Sorry again for the psionics. I’ve been trying to fix it. Do you know how agreeable you’ve been?”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Yes, I was there. You think I enjoy thinking your foolishness is the greatest thing since the SGHUD?” Teddy quizzed indifferently, “At least ye are sober so ye may remember this conversation.”

  “My man! I missed your sass.”

  “I assure ye, I never sass. I’m a good Mechmian, I have no emotion to sass with, ye uneducated carrot,” Teddy stated while Bunny wondered if she heard a small amount of sass or was projecting it on Teddy. Like Ed's anger, hers too had dissipated for the moment.

  “This is gonna be great. We are going to save a princess,” Eddy excitedly began before he was interrupted.

  “Princess-equivalent. Callie-beta-alpha. It’s not that hard,” Teddy corrected in a bored tone, pouring himself more tea. Bunny wondered if bored was an emotion.

  “Whatever. This is going to be great! I told you this trip would be just like old times. Me leading the way into fun and adventure. You ensure the fun and adventure can happen, like the evil genius you are. Stone is doing his best to thwart or at least temper our mischievous schemes. Best of all, we can be real friends again. Not brainwashed pretend friends,” Eddy went on dancing in his saddle, which got an annoyed huff out of Steve.

  Stone looked over at Teddy with a pleading look as he gave Regalia an unnecessary reassuring pat. The large animal took that to mean she could move from the path and nibble on some tender grass.

  “Right. Eddy. Ye know we care about ye It is for ye that we must insist ye awaken in the bloody morning and take exercise with us. And no more day drinking.”

  “Oaky dokey, Smokey,” Eddy chirped contentedly as if he hadn't already been trying. He hadn't had anything to drink since breakfast, which had been several hours before.

  “Stone is going to start dragging ye from bed in the morning again,” Teddy warned flatly.

  “You think he can manage it if I don’t want to get up? You know how I can be in the morning,” Ed inquired hopefully. He didn't necessarily want to get up early, but he did like the attention, and he liked that they cared enough to force him.

  “He broke free earlier after he smashed my face in. Still, as a contingency. Stone, for Eddy’s own good, ye must drag him from his bed for morning practice. It’s for him. If ye care, ye will help him,” Teddy stated evenly, looking at Stone.

  “Retainers 141:16!” Stone merrily agreed, pounding his chestplate in salute. His heavy white armor clanked as if it had more to say than the knight did.

  “I know we pretend you are 'in charge',” Teddy stated, using his fingers to make air quotes, “but, just to be clear as a clean crystal reservoir, I am in control, and we do as I say. I have the plan.”

  “But, I’m in charge,” Eddy pretended to pout, but his mirth was apparent. He decided not to worry about Teddy's plan. It usually was something decently harmless, but always entertaining.

  “Exactly,” Teddy agreed, “Now, let's go shopping in town, find out why there are so many sha'dew, and find out more about the kidnappers. Oh, and as a reminder, the amanofuchigoma is illegal in Callie. The town is too large to simply camp outside the walls. Not to mention, to overrun with sha'dew for Ed to stumble back to. We'll stay in an inn tonight. I do hope everyone remembered to pack the necessities. I did warn ye.”

  As one, Stone and Bunny glared at the blue knight. Neither had realized the crystal-like tent was illegal. After a deep breath, the wererabbit replied with a tight smile.

  “I am Sir Bunny of Karthala. I hate all of the backwater rules. I do not care that I slept in an illegal tent. Callie must someday evolve and stop relying so heavily on raw power. I promise not to mention the i-am-a-fuc-in-go-ma tent crystal thing, but I make no promises about running water.”

  “Gosh darn Callie. There’s no running water? That’s. Its. We have flying carriages in Mechma, and Callie doesn’t have blasted running water?” Teddy asked, his tone of voice not showing the concern his word choice did.

  “I am just messing with you. Callie is still using pipes, teleportation, and aqua magic, though,” Bunny said with a chuckle. Eddy’s bright laugh and Stone’s deep chuckle made her feel like a real part of the team.

  “I am laughing at your lark. It was droll. Well done,” Teddy stated in his usual way. He did not laugh.

  “That’s not how laughing works, Teddy,” Bunny sighed as Eddy and Stone laughed harder. Teddy might start the team meetings, but she was going to be the one to finish them. Once again, her thoughts felt clear to Ed. If she had been a real knight, he would have tried to convince her to come to the next Choosing Ceremony.

  The market bustled with werefolk all haggling animatedly. Though Callian towns didn't have districts per se, traders tended to coagulate in a certain area naturally. Teddy had stayed behind with the mounts, so it was just the three of them walking around. While he wasn't the best with a sword, Ed was an expert when it came to haggling.

  Despite the noise, the greenery growing in harmony with the town gave the place a certain calmness. Smiles and hugs made the packed market feel quaint and welcoming. A welcoming illusion that was shattered as a group entered, supporting an injured minotaur. The injuries were in various stages of healing. The group deposited the nine-foot-tall creature on a bed of straw in a manger.

  “Someone actually using the begging straw in Callie?” questioned the girl softly, “It's a tradition to keep a beggar's corner, but Bunny, I, didn't know anyone actually used it.” She was still putting a bit too much emphasis on her pronouns. It sounded awkward, but she was trying.

  The group joined the forming crowd, there to gawk at the novelty. A beggar! Such things seemed impossible. Why was the minotaur not healing? Was this an art show performance? The crowd's internal questions were louder than their external ones as they listened to the tale woven.

  The minotaur spoke of the caste system. The inequities that followed it. Ed closed his eyes and let the picture be painted. The minotaur had once been young and healthy, with two strong horns upon his furry brown head.

  Minos always did his best to serve the master of the farm, a werewolf who ran the ranch with an iron claw. Many of the lower caste were proud that their ranch was owned by a predator-were like Balto. With dark gray fur, Balto was of the highest caste, which put their ranch above some of the others in the area. Ranches operated by lower-predator and upper-prey were. Belonging to such a pack gave them status. For a time, Minos was just as proud as anyone else on their ranch.

  However, one day at the market, Minos met Mina. She was a gorgeous cream color, with black markings. One such marking formed a heart over her eyes like a mask. She was the most lovely minotaur he'd ever seen. He introduced himself, and her voice was that of music in the field. He'd thought he'd been in love before, but after meeting Mina, he knew how wrong he'd been. She was perfect, from her sense of humor to the kindness she had for all. Best of all, she was in love with Minos.

  Before long, Minos was begging his supervisor to find his love work on the ranch. As was the custom, the pack leader paid a spouse price to the losing pack's leader. Minos worked hard, and after a year, she joined him. It was then his troubles began.

  He had perhaps gone overboard, working long hours, to earn Mina's place. He was tired of overtime, and Mina wanted him home. It started small, an insult here, a snide remark there. Then out came the whip, the club, even claws and fists. Every day, he was beaten. After a time, he stopped healing as quickly. Yet, he endured for the sake of Mina.

  Then their calf was born. As perfect a minotaur as there ever could be. Mino could finally marry Mina. Their ceremony was plain, but full of love. The supervisor's harsh words and deeds meant nothing to Minos as long as he had Mina.

  One day, Minos came home after a day's labor to find Mina and their child gone. He searched for her, of course, but she had disappeared. There was no one holding him to that pack without Mina, so he confronted Balto. The werewolf claimed ignorance, but Minos knew better. Balto's wife wore a new necklace that shone brightly. Minos, hurting and worried, tried to beat answers out of his once proud master. He did not win. How could he go against a predator-were? They, despite their more compact size, were stronger and faster.

  Instead, Minos left the ranch in search of his family. He begged the crowd to assist however they could. He begged for information, for food, for his wife and child with tears in his pleading eyes. A few kind souls dropped money in his trough.

  Callians love a performance, and when Ed opened his eyes, the crowd had grown considerably. The front rows had taken seats on the ground; the middle row went to their knees as if to ensure as many as possible saw the man's plight. The gathered crowd was silent for a moment as they waited to see if there was more.

  A slightly slimy green-skinned werefrog croaked to clear his deep throat before speaking as if to start a conversation, “That makes what Callie-Beta-Alpha did to Bambi seem tame.”

  This statement garnered significant interest among the crowd. With prompting from the group, the frog told his tale.

  Every citizen in Callie knows of Callie-Beta-Alpha Kitty. Her hair as gold as autumn leaves, smile as warm as the spring, eyes of summer's green grass, and skin as white as winter's snow. She was beautiful on the outside, but in her soul, she was ugly.

  The werelion was a berserker, and it is well documented how talented she was. Berserkers and knights traveled from across Callie and beyond for the opportunity to train with her. Kitty would even fight, lower predator and upper prey, with all her might. Showing these poor souls no mercy.

  One day, Bambi arrived at the castle with her family. She was a young, pretty thing with soft brown eyes. Everyone loved her, for she was sweet and kind as well as pretty. She is also talented, quickly rising through the ranks until Kitty took notice. She was better-looking, with greater muscle mass and more talent than Kitty.

  Everyone knew Bambi was better than Kitty in every way. Jealous and fearful of a possible loss, Kitty had the guards throw the young doe and her family out. Not only did Bambi lose her nobility, but her father lost his position.

  Ed's arm hurt, and he realized it was because the wererabbit beside him had it in a death grip.

  Her eyes looked hollow as she whispered, “Kitty was awful in many ways, but wouldn't have done that. Kitty would never have considered the possibility that someone else could even come close to being as beautiful and strong as Kitty. Kitty - she was conceited and vain.”

  “Don't believe the stories about Kitty's much exaggerated bravery, Bunny. Kitty is a coward who left sister for capture without a fight,” a wereram beside her snapped haughtily as if he held all the answers.

  A weretiger scoffed and rolled his eyes, “No! Kitty killed a ton of CRA before dying in the forest. Now Kitty is a ghost taking revenge! Known facts.”

  “Werefolk can't become ghosts, nerd,” someone else called from the crowd.

  A dryad's wet, bubbly voice accused, “Kitty killed an innocent family of sleeping werebears and left just enough gees for a meal. That's all Kitty thought three bears' lives were worth!”

  “Kitty also bullied servants. Never appreciative. Percy was butchered like a pig at the market for bringing the wrong drink!”

  The crowd had been silent during the story of the minotaurs, but now it seemed everyone had a story and an opinion about Kitty. They shouted over one another, slowly taking sides. Cheers rose from one side or the other as points were made. The cacophony of noise rose to match the architecture. Beside him, Bunny shook uncontrollably. Her eyes were wide and wild, her smile tight and unwavering. Ed pulled her away toward where Teddy waited. It was going to be a long night.