They sat in a hastily assembled command tent, the three girlfriends munching on breakfast while the leader of the rescue team got his reports all cleared up. He was a portly fellow. Balding, wisps of red hair still clinging on, but full of life. Not to mention clearly knew his way around this job as he talked with a couple scouts before they hurried away.

“Well, this was a fine mess. I do say it would have been much worse without your intervention,” the man said with a clipped manner of speech. Each word was crisp and clear in a rhythmic manner that made him immediately easy to listen to. “The name is Istik. You will likely want reports. Out of the original sixty that entered the Seed, fourteen have escaped with their lives. Excluding yourselves, of course.”

Ann felt a wave of nausea hit her, losing interest in her breakfast. They’d lost that many? Shit, there were, what, twenty-two when they got there? Lucia and Coleen were included in that number. They’d lost eight researchers in the mad scramble to get out of the place. She felt… hollow. This wasn’t a victory. Not a glorious rescue. They’d barely gotten out alive. The rightful source is novel✶fire.net

She felt a hand on her shoulder, and surprisingly, it was Lucia. The woman didn’t say anything, just nodded. That nod had a solemn thanks in it, though. Even though they hadn’t saved everyone. They’d saved some. More than the none that would have survived. Bren was also giving her a consoling look.

“Feck,” Kat muttered, her blue eyes dark. “The bastard who did this will pay.”

“Yes, investigations are well underway on that already,” Istik said, somehow maintaining that chipper tone. “Rest assured, highness, they will be brought to justice.”

“They will suffer,” Lucia growled. That firm consolation Ann had seen in her eyes was replaced by a burning fury.

“Either way, our job ‘ere is done,” Kat said. She still looked agitated. “Feckin’ fourteen. Shoulda been more. DAMN IT!” the princess stood and slammed the table, then stormed out of the tent.

“I understand the frustrations the princess harbours. Go tend to her. I need this camp orderly to best see to the survivors,” Istik said, dismissing them.

Everyone hurried out of the tent after Kat. She wasn’t being destructive, thankfully, but was stalking out of the camp toward the Seed.

“Kat!” Bren called after her. “Kat, come back. We did the best we could.”

No response. She still stalked forward.

“Kat, love, please!” Ann implored. When she got to the princess, her hand was shrugged off as she tried to stop her. That stung. She’d never seen Kat this angry before. Well, ok, when she’d bit Rosalyn, she was angrier, but this was a new type of angry.

Lucia shouldered past her and kicked at Kat’s leg. She cursed as the woman’s sturdy shins hit her own, but was successful in tripping Kat. As Kat rolled on her back, the Thrundol pinned her down.

“You saved us,” Lucia growled. “Do not make it worse.”

“We could have saved more. Should have saved more,” Kat bellowed, throwing Lucia off her. “The time we had. Coulda feckin gotten tae ye way faster. Maybe we coulda saved that Trint guy too! Another merc could have saved more of the people.” Kat stood and approached Lucia aggressively.

“Could, maybe, but did you?” Lucia shouted back. She met Kat’s posturing with her own, shoving the princess, who didn’t budge. “Ask survivors. Think they are angry you saved them? You rode all day, yes?” Another shove, Kat still unmoving. “Then fought through city, then saved us and back out. Four of you. Compared to twenty-two of us. Not a failure.” Lucia shoved harder, and this time Kat let herself be moved.

Lucia crouched beside her, balancing on the balls of her feet. “Look at your girl. She is green. Can tell she’s never done this. Never taken these losses. You are princess. You know how this goes.”

“Doesn’t mean I cannae be better!” Kat spat to the side as she lay there.

“Kat, how many times have you told me the same shit?” Ann growled, joining Lucia. “Fuck, babe, I get angry every time I feel like you’re running ahead of me. I’m supposed to be this big ol’ Chosen warrior, and I’m still struggling. We did the best we could. I hate how many we lost, too. It makes me feel sick. I hate it so much, but there was nothing more we could do.”

Kat made to speak, but Lucia cut her off again. “Should have seen this one,” Lucia laid a hand on Ann’s shoulder. “When you got people out, she was fighting. Once everyone else was out, still fighting. Almost couldn’t stop her. Did your best. It is ok.”

Kat laid back and just stared at the sky. Ann could see her jaw working as she ground her teeth. After a while, she sighed and let her body relax. “Feck.” Her voice was choked up, and she covered her eyes.

“Hey, it’s ok. Oh, come here, my big brute,” Rosalyn crooned as she rushed forward and cradled Kat’s head. Ann laid her head on the Druid’s shoulder and they stayed there for a few minutes.

“Sorry,” Kat whispered. “I got so feckin’ angry.”

“It’s fine,” Ann said back, patting her stomach. “It’s been a shit day and we’re all barely hanging in there. Bren’s got two Gods binding him in Oaths, you’re pissed off at not saving more people, Lucia barely made it out of there, I can’t imagine Rosalyn’s too happy with how things happened, and I’m currently suppressing any trauma at visiting a place that looked like my old home! We’re fiiiine.” The words spilled from her mouth in a torrent and she giggled a little unstably.

“We need to not be in a fight for a minute,” Rosalyn decided. “Well, not in a Seed, at least. Or not that one. Too much happened way too fast and we’re all falling apart a little. Let’s take the day and just kinda talk? Yeah?”

“Seed won’t calm down for days,” Lucia nodded. “Want to clear it. Revenge. Vengeance?”

“Vengeance,” Bren nodded. “I agree. Plus, the bodies will be cleared out by then.”

“Should we head back to Korvas?” Ann asked, a little unsure.

“Nah, trials won’t start fer a while,” Kat said, sitting up. “Figure we stop by that town we came through an’ see if we can help. Somethin’ smaller.” Kat looked over at Ann, then down at her knees, eyebrows knitting. “Erm, Ann? Ye always ‘ave fur above yer knees?”

Ann looked down, then scrambled back. Sure as Kat had said, the fur that normally stopped just below her knees had crept up to just covering the bony kneecaps. “What the fuck?”

“Warped?” Lucia asked, suddenly on alert.

“No, no, it’s… hold on,” Ann said, and pulled up her sheet. She pushed aside the fact that she’d levelled. It was an even level anyway, and she just tossed the points in Dexterity. No, the concerning part was her Race. Lupine (Warped 2.2) is now what it read. “Ok, maybe it is a little bit. Lucia, hold on,” Ann cried, raising her hands in defence as Lucia drew her knife.

“Explain,” the woman growled, not backing down.

“Remember how Bren told you I was a Chosen? This is part of why. I was in a Seed for a long time, and I mean a long time. Like, thousands of years, and this is all it did to me. Orenous, damnit, ok, here’s the full thing,” Ann sighed as she launched into the recounting of her life. She was getting better at it, for better or worse, so this time, by the time she finished explaining, she didn’t feel near as tired.

“Odd. Do not look like hag,” Lucia said, red eyes curious instead of wary. “Look good for hag, actually.”

“I am not a hag,” Ann grumbled.

“Eh, if that old, you are hag, hag,” Lucia laughed. “Sorry for threat.”

“Nah, not the first time someone’s thought I was a monster,” Ann shrugged.

“Oh, you should have seen what the Orenous Mother Superior did!” Rosalyn piped up. “Called her an abomination and all sorts of mean things! She was really scared, even though Ann is the sweetest thing. Then we mfff.” Ann cut her off before her rambling could continue.

Kat, meanwhile, threw her head back and cackled.

“Not important!” Ann said, hearing her voice crack as she tried to change the topic. “Point is, I’m changing and so far it’s not dangerous? I guess I get a bit more furry this time, though that trait hasn’t had a decimal point before.”

“It is uncommon,” Bren said, taking a closer look at Ann’s legs with Rosalyn. “The trait is tied to your interaction with corrupted cores, as far as we can tell. Did you see any of the corrupting magic in the Seed?”

“No, not that I remember,” Ann said, thinking back. “Though I was covered in a lot of Warped blood, gunk, stuff.”

“It is possible that is what did it,” Bren guessed. “Maybe covering yourself in enough of their gore had some of that magic seep into you via contact? That would be worrying, and a way past your blessings. This, however, is not something I believe we should test. Not only for the abhorrent nature of the test, but we should be limiting our exposure to that magic, regardless.”

“Orenous said fer us tae help ‘er keep doin’ this shite, though?” Kat pointed out.

“Yes, but do you really want to clean Ann off after she bathes in Warped viscera?”

“Hey, gonna just put it out there that I don’t want to do that in the first place!” Ann said, waving her hand in the air. “Kinda at the bottom of the list of things I want to do. Top being held by Kat and Rosalyn.”

Oh, she caught that, Lucia. She saw the way the Thrundol avoided her eyes, and a smirk spread across Ann’s lips.

Bren just sighed. “I swear, your mind grows more perverted by the day.”

“Guilty!” Ann laughed. “Probably Orenous’ fault.”

“Nah, this is ye, love,” Kat said, poking her in the ribs. “No way that Goddess made ye like this.”

“So, the question of what we want to do remains,” Bren said, steering the conversation back on course. “I would personally be fine aiding the cleanup operation here, then heading back to Korvas. We can revisit the seed once it has been confirmed the aggression level has calmed down.”

“Would also need to visit the city,” Lucia said, raising her hand. “Filla needs repairs. Barrel needs work. Won’t shoot right until done.”

“Filla is the rifle,” Ann explained to a confused look from Kat and Bren.

“Not tae mention we had a few things we didn’t pick up in our hurry,” Kat said.

“Oh, yeah, the devices from Wendyl, and if we want to take her up on that offer, plus whatever the queen was having made for us, remember?” Rosalyn chirped, counting on her fingers.

“Shit, I did forget about that second thing,” Ann said slapping her forehead. “We were already on the road by the time it was supposed to be ready and… oh fuck, I missed training with Remmi.”

“I am sure your instructor will forgive you for these circumstances,” Bren said consolingly.

“Nonono, not then. The day before. I was supposed to see her again after the fight club, but we got in trouble and all the rest of the shopping and I completely forgot. I’m gonna die,” Ann groaned.

“She won’t kill ye,” Kat said, slapping her back. “Nae, she’s still gotta get ye stronger tae make it a proper fight!”

“Then she will beat you into a pulp,” Bren said, laughing as well.

“Fuck,” Ann muttered, then picked at her new leg fur. It was sleek and multi-layered like the rest of it, keeping her legs warm. “Wonder what happens when I shave this?”

“Look weird,” Lucia said, leaning over to look. “Shaved dogs look weird. Probably just grows back.”

“Yeah, and this much fur and keeping it down would be a bitch. Ugh, if it grows up further, this is going to be a problem.”

“Maaaybe you’ll get a skill for that?” Rosalyn posed. “I mean, you already got something to make your hair move and pick stuff up. Maybe there’ll be one to help with keeping it clean and not all gunky?”

“Well, my hair is already pretty easy to take care of. Maybe,” Ann shrugged, getting up.

“So, ye wanna talk a li’l about what happened in the Seed? The city an’ all that?” Kat asked as they headed back into camp.

They meandered a bit but made it back to the larger tent that was assigned to Kat, Ann, and Rosalyn. Thankfully, it had aired out enough that Lucia didn’t comment on a smell. They settled in, with the girls sitting on one bed, while Bren sat on another. Lucia didn’t sit so much as perched on the corner near Bren.

“So, since everyone’s caught up, that city is really fucking close to one from my time. I kinda told you that, but just going over it a little,” Ann started. “It’s so fucking close. The streets are fine, but, like, the signs are illegible, the road markings are the wrong colours.”

Bren got out a notebook and started scribbling. Lucia looked curiously over his shoulder.

“Things were just right enough that I could accept it as being real again, but just off enough that something was wrong. It… imagine being home, in your room, but the colour of your ceiling is a shade lighter than it used to be. That table is the same material, but it’s square instead of round. That kind of thing.”

“Disorienting, for sure,” Bren hummed as he noted.

“Yeah, well, I guess I stopped processing that consciously once the Warped came and, well, you heard Lucia say I was fighting like crazy?”

“Like beast,” Lucia corrected.

“Yeah, well, think that all was starting to hit. Weird things like memories of my dad, an old friend, a familiar location. Just, shit, I’m really trying not to think about it all the time, because if I do, I’m just gonna be a puddle of homesick uselessness.”

“Maybe talking about it might help?” Rosalyn suggested, crawling her way into Ann’s lap and snuggling in.

“Sure, let’s try, I guess,” Ann shrugged. “Not like it could make things worse. I’ll tell you about the dad thing. Was a while ago, but everything was a while ago. I was, what, four I think? Dad had taken me out to downtown Edmonton. Honestly, that might be what that Seed is sitting in. Anyway, it was a really warm summer day, and we were out getting a few things we couldn’t in the suburbs. He had this thing for older tech and knew a few places that worked with the stuff. We went out and visited a place that sold typewriters and old VCR sets.”

Ann watched as Bren made a note to ask her later on that one. It made her smile a little.

“I remember everything being so big. The city was massive and the counters in the stores were way over my head. For some reason I still remember the smells. Old wood and carpet. I remember the owner of one of the places gave me this ancient game to play while he and dad talked. I was pretty happy with the beeps and lights it had. No clue what it was, but I remember being happy.” As she spoke, Rosalyn relaxed into her chest, and Ann brought her arms around her in a hug.

“So we were walking between shops and saw a person selling ice cream. My parents really wanted to keep me off sweets when I was little, so I’d never had any. Guess dad decided it was way too hot and that it wouldn’t hurt. I remember him handing me the cone, and how I could barely hold it. Just a single scoop, but it was huge! Gods, his smile. It made me happier than the ice cream did. It was cold, and I got brain freeze, but it was really tasty. Then we spent the rest of the day walking around and talking about nothing. It’s one of my earliest memories, but I’d completely forgotten it until just then.”

“Sounds like good man,” Lucia said gently in her truncated manner of speech.

“Yeah,” Kat agreed. “Wish I coulda met ‘im.”

“You?” Bren asked in joking exasperation. “I would have loved to meet him. There is so much I could learn from someone like that.”

“Guess you’ll have to settle for the daughter,” Ann laughed. “But, yeah, that was the big one. That popped up in my head while we were fighting the awful pigeon harpies, and I just kinda lost it. All I could think about was staying alive and making sure they stayed dead.”

“Hey, ye did good fer the situation,” Kat said comfortingly, wrapping a muscled arm around Ann’s shoulders. “Shite like that’ll pop up at the worst times.”

“Yeah, just worried it could get someone hurt,” Ann said, leaning into the hug, taking Rosalyn with her.

“That’s what I’m ‘ere fer,” Kat reassured. “Gotta protect me people. Feck, guess that’ll include ye too, Lucia.”

“Will try not to need it,” Lucia shrugged from her perch.

“Trust me, even if you do not, she will,” Bren advised, closing his book. “Especially if you do not want it.”

“Hey, I… ok, aye, I am that bad,” Kat grumbled. “I’m workin’ on it.”

Conversation turned to plans for the next few days before they returned. They decided not to stop at the town and just return to Korvas. There were a few things they needed to get done there before they returned.

As they spoke, Ann noticed that Kat had been itching at the back of her neck.