"Merecritt? Which one?" Mina asked, already halfway to a smirk.

  Biscuit shrugged like the concept of accuracy was beneath her. "Uh, I dunno. They all look the same to me."

  Mina fought a laugh. I could tell by the way her cheek twitched.

  "What? It's true! They're totally copying our neko vibe!" Biscuit gestured with a paw.

  "That's… not how it works."

  "How would you know? You're not even a neko. Right, fellow neko?" She turned to me with these expectant eyes, as if we were in on some big cosmic joke.

  I just blinked at her. I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. Was I supposed to respond to that?

  "Uh... Yeah. Sure. Totally. I mean, why not?" Mina's tone was so flat I almost cracked up.

  "See? She gets it!" Biscuit beamed and immediately nuzzled her head against mine, purring loud enough to vibrate bone. "You're kinda cute, you know. You remind me of me. A little."

  I tilted toward Mina, doing my best to discreetly mouth Who is this? while pointing a thumb at the oversized fluffball now claiming me as her spirit twin.

  Mina just exhaled. "Commander Biscuit, Jalkra's Ten Pillar… also Diantha's—" she cleared her throat with a cough, "—housecat. I mean, bodyguard."

  Ah. That explained exactly nothing and somehow too much.

  "She's also a complete goof," Mina added. "Unlike the pink one…"

  "I know," I said, as a vague memory flickered back to me. "I remember her being described that way."

  Biscuit's eyes lit up. "Described? Oh. I see. You're silver, fluffy, and you have that mark. Aha! I've found you!"

  I nodded slowly. "Yeah...? And?"

  "You're a Merecritt, right?" she asked, her gaze probing my face as she doubted herself. "You've gotta be the one Lord Jalkra's been trying to track down. Which means…"

  She paused, ears twitching.

  "…which means he isn't gonna get what he wants," she finished, sounding almost disappointed.

  Then her mood flipped again. "Buuut, I was told not to mess with you until the heir's born. So…"

  "Then that's good," I added quickly. "No fighting. Win-win."

  Mina glanced sideways, catching on. "Ohhh. I see what you're doing."

  I shrugged. "I'm not looking for a fight. Not when we're finally starting to feel like a family."

  Biscuit's grin widened. "Good! That's what I like to hear. Do what you want, that's my motto."

  And just like that, her expression snapped. The shift was instant. Playful was gone, replaced by something feral and sharp. Her freakishly long claws slid free, and her pupils narrowed to pinpoints.

  "But what I want is to tear you apart."

  My instincts immediately screamed for me to back away, but I stood rooted to the spot, caught between the urge to defend myself and the desire to understand this creature.

  Mina stepped in front of me, shoulders stiff. "Biscuit. Chill. We just met. No need to go full murder kitten yet."

  Biscuit flicked her split tail, letting out a low hiss. "You don't understand. The Merecritt isn't just another footnote in Jalkra's plans. You're the hinge. If you slip free, it all unravels, and then the Grimgore Warlock will have both our heads."

  I swallowed hard. Grimgore Warlock. That sounded like a nightmare in waiting. What did that mean for us? For our families?

  "What exactly does 'tear apart' mean in this context?" I asked, carefully neutral.

  Biscuit's eyes gleamed with a blend of agitation and confusion churning in her gaze. Then her voice dropped, chillingly soft.

  "It means that my lord still intends to capture you. Not just for himself, but for that twisted gremlin teacher of his, the Warlock. You're meant to be some prize in their games. And if it's required to protect him and his master's schemes, I won't hesitate to eliminate any obstacles."

  My chest tightened, dread sinking like a stone in my gut. Why were they so intent on capturing me? Particularly as a present to some warped warlock.

  "Look," Mina said. "We don't want any trouble. Surely Jalkra wouldn't want you to act recklessly."

  "That's exactly it!" Biscuit declared, her demeanor suddenly playful again as she bounced back on her paws, as if a switch had turned off the danger. "Since when do we hug our enemies? We hunt, you know, like a game!"

  She winked like that was supposed to put us at ease.

  I exchanged a worried glance with Mina. "It's not a game when people are involved," I said cautiously.

  Biscuit just tilted her head, totally unfazed. "Everyone makes it so grim these days. But hey! If you can prove you're not a threat, I'm all about peace."

  "And how can we prove that?" I asked.

  "Well," she said, her half-closed eyes glinting with a cruel light, "it could be as straightforward as a lil' challenge. After all, I need to see if you're worthy of standing next to Lord Jalkra! What do you say?"

  Mina grinned, punching her fist into her hand. "Nah. Because unlike before, I'm sure I can take you on now."

  "Oh, I like your spirit, Mini! Let's make this fun. A classic test of agility and strength—"

  "Enough, you darn hairball!" A voice interrupted just before a pillar of water drenched Biscuit.

  Biscuit yelped as her assailant, a figure with a humanoid stature, stepped into view. She had the appearance of a woman with green skin, adorned with patterns across it. Her feet were flippers and her seaweed hair was noticeably blue. She was chewing on a fishbone while a cannon made of a turtle's shell was slung over her shoulder.

  This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

  "Whirlkool, how could you!" Biscuit swayed herself frantically, splashing droplets of water everywhere. Her playful demeanor evaporated, replaced by irritation. "Oh, so you want to be shredded apart."

  "I warned you, Biscuit," Whirlkool said coolly. "No theatrics. Not again. You remember how well that turned out last time."

  Biscuit huffed, resuming to shake off excess water from her fur. "Well, I was just offering a harmless game."

  "A game with stupid high stakes, I assume?" Whirlkool rolled her eyes, her flipper tapping impatiently against the ground. "You need to be careful. After all, we're not in the mood for another disastrous face-off like the last time."

  "But I want to see what they can do!" Biscuit insisted, her excitement bubbling again. She turned to Mina and me, her eyes widening. "You two need to prove yourselves, right? How else can I trust you?"

  "We'll pass," I said, choosing my words carefully. "You're not exactly the most trustworthy gal when it comes to matters of neko-ness. Believe me, I would know." My paw flicked some droplets from my whiskers, and I added with a teasing smile, "Let's just say I've seen a few 'cat-astrophes' in your wake."

  Her ears perked up, and she replied with a playful glint in her eyes, "Oh, come on! You can't hold my past 'purr-suasions' against me forever! I've learned from my 'feline' folly. Trust me."

  Whirlkool raised a brow, her mouth twisting into a smirk. "Trust? Surely you know trusting Biscuit is like trusting a wave not to crash. But," she turned her focus back to her companion, "if you must have your little challenge, let's at least make it a rite of passage instead of a battle to the death?"

  Biscuit rolled her eyes, a grin spreading across her face. "Okay, okay! But consider this: I'm just trying to keep things 'pawsitive' around here!"

  That was my cue.

  I stepped forward, placing myself squarely between Biscuit and Whirlkool. My extendable ears unfurled—hands at the ends mimicking a gesture I'd learned from GamaGen. Open palms, curved fingers, different for every species. The universal sign of I come in peace, but also please don't kill me.

  "The name's KiAera," I said. "How about we all try starting over, instead of tearing each other apart first thing?"

  It wasn't perfect diplomacy. But sometimes peace just needs someone willing to say: Can we not?

  Biscuit exchanged a confused glance with Whirlkool. They both seemed taken aback by my forwardness, a momentary silence settling over us as they processed my intent.

  Whirlkool sighed, her flipper waving dismissively. "Look, I get what you're trying to do, but we're warriors of Jalkra. You can't just expect to smooth things over with a declaration of peace."

  "Still," I pressed on, "maybe we can find common ground. There has to be a way for us to coexist without conflict."

  "I don't want to coexist with Jalkra," Mina grumbled.

  "That's fair," I said quickly. "But what if we look at it another way? Perhaps working together could yield more positive outcomes for all of us."

  Whirlkool tilted her head thoughtfully. "You really think we can just put our differences aside like that? We've all been affected by his decisions, and the scars run deep."

  Biscuit let out an exaggerated sigh. "It's not like any of us had a say in Jalkra's choices. We're all trying to navigate this chaotic pool together." She leaned closer to me, her eyes glinting with hypnotic curiosity. "You seem different from the others. You have something about you that stands out."

  "Thanks, I think?" I replied, a bit unsure about her assessment. I could feel Mina's skepticism radiating next to me.

  Whirlkool shifted her weight, contemplating. "Maybe you're right. It's been too long since we've had a moment of unity. But what happens if that unity crumbles under pressure? We need to ensure it doesn't."

  "Then let's create a framework," I suggested.

  "Frameworks are divine." My gaze turned toward another voice. My heart almost hiccupped as I first spotted the oversized, spider-like limbs hanging above, their body suspended from a kaleidoscope of webs.

  But as my gaze trailed further upward, I found myself staring at a girl's face with multiple eyes. She greeted me with a smile but turned her gaze away, blushing. I knew what she was: a Jorogumo, a girl with an arachnid lower body.

  But there was a better picture. Her dress was lovely, with an Eastern aesthetic mixed with a Lolita style, even draping elegantly around her legs. Floral motifs adorned the fabric, and her hair cascaded like silk down her back, interspersed with tiny silver bells that jingled softly with her movements.

  "Apologies for dropping in unannounced," she said, her voice was melodic and soft. "I was just... observing." Her eyes blinked in synchrony, giving her an eerie but strangely charming appearance.

  "Biscuit, Whirlkool," she continued, noting their presence with a nod, "you both seem to be causing a ruckus again. What is it this time? More challenges to prove your worthiness?"

  Biscuit, momentarily distracted, flicked her tail and grinned. "Oh, just a little test for our new friends here. Apparently, they're supposed to be special or something."

  "Special?" The Jorogumo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean by that?"

  "None of your business, Ume," Mina interjected, her tone slightly defensive. "But we're all just trying to figure things out without ripping each other apart."

  Ume nodded slowly, her expression contemplative. "I see. I can appreciate the desire for harmony. It's rare in these parts, especially when Master Jalkra pulls us in all directions."

  She turned her gaze toward me, her eyes locking onto mine. "You seem to carry a weight with you. There is more to you than meets the eye, KiAera. Something that even Master Jalkra might not comprehend."

  "I just want to protect those I care about. It seems you all may agree," I said as my gaze swept across the group.

  "That's commendable," she replied with a gentle smile. "And perhaps therein lies the key to our unity. Protection requires strength, but it also demands understanding." She gestured at the space between us. "Maybe we can shift our focus from division to cooperation."

  Biscuit jumped. "Oh? A collaboration? I like the sound of that. We could make it a festival. Like a gathering of sorts? Tasty food, games, and—"

  "Biscuit! Ume! Whirlkool! I need you in here this instant! You must see my newborn child!" That was Diantha's voice calling from within the clinic.

  "Yes, Lady Diantha," they exclaimed together, although poorly in unison.

  The trio exchanged glances. It seemed like they were deciding whether to start an argument over the dissonance. Although Biscuit dashed away before any of them could speak. "What? A newborn? Oh, that's amazing!"

  Whirlkool rolled her eyes but followed at a brisk pace. "Seriously, Biscuit? You're more excited about a baby than the fate of our realm? Get it together!"

  Ume lingered for a moment, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "There is something special about new life," she said softly, turning her attention toward me and Mina. "Perhaps we should all embrace this moment and unite in celebration rather than strife."

  The energy outside waned as the trio hurried inside the clinic, leaving me and Mina standing in the doorway, momentarily overwhelmed by the rapid turn of events. I exchanged glances with Mina, who still bore an expression of disbelief.

  "Well, that was... enlightening," I said, shaking my head as I tried to process everything that had just transpired.

  "Enlightening is one word for it," Mina responded, crossing her arms. "I don't know what to make of these creatures, especially Biscuit. One second she's threatening you, and the next she's talking party plans."

  I chuckled lightly. "At least it seems they have their ways of working things out. Maybe that's a good sign?"

  "Or a bad one," she muttered. "You might find yourself in a furry mess if we're not careful."

  Just then, from the clinic, the sounds of celebration began to emerge: a chorus of excited squeals followed by the ringing of bells as Biscuit and Whirlkool chattered animatedly. Ume's soft melodic voice chimed in, mingling with the others.

  "Come on, we should see what's happening," I said, nudging Mina forward.

  Reluctantly, Mina followed as we stepped into the clinic.

  The atmosphere inside was completely transformed from just moments before. As I stepped into the sunlit interior, I was greeted by an endearing sight: Diantha cradling a tiny one wrapped in a soft, woven blanket, her face radiant with joy. Thanks to Sapshorla, the air was thick with the faint scent of herbs and fresh flowers. Pzion, Perl, Loa, and surprisingly Tilz were bustling around the room. GamaGen and Liozel were absent, probably having already departed.

  "Oh, look who finally decided to join us!" Diantha beamed, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Everyone, this is my son, Denji."

  A collective "Awww!" erupted from the group as they gathered around Diantha. I peeked over Ume's shoulder to catch a glimpse of the swaddled child. His face peeked out from the fabric. He now had a tuft of delicate silver hair that mirrored mine, and I felt an unfamiliar pang of kinship toward him.

  Biscuit gasped. "He's so cute! I can't believe we've got another one in our ranks now!" She looked at the others. "This is the perfect excuse for a festival!"

  "Yes, we need to celebrate this little one's arrival! I'll bring the drinks!" Whirlkool added, her flippers sliding together excitedly.

  Mina grinned savagely. "That sounds great. What are we having for tonight?"

  Ume glided closer, her many eyes twinkling. "Perhaps we can make this a tradition—a celebration of unity. Let this child be the first of many to remind us of what we stand to protect.”

  I watched them, astonishment blooming within my chest. "We can have the two share a celebration. I think it would be very nice for Liozel and Denji."