Pals Mentioned:

  SpoilerJolthog, Vixy, Direwolf

  [colpse]Once introductions were made, Persephone and Aoi joined the group in returning home to their little camp. The conversation mainly revolved around events of the past hour and Aoi herself received multiple compliments from humans and Pal alike. Which naturally turned her a bright shade of red and caused multiple assertions that she didn’t quite know what came over her. However, once there was finally a lull in the conversation, Lily finally cleared her throat as if intent on changing the subject.

  "So, Sephie, I don't think I've ever seen Lifmunk in this part of the isnd. I'm curious what brought you here? Out exploring?"

  The question caused Juniper to go silent as she looked to the Lifmunk for an answer. Ever since Lily mentioned that this particur kind of Pal didn’t normally hang around here, it left an uneasy feeling in the back of Juniper’s mind. It wasn’t anything so remarkable, right? But considering everything she’d learned so far, it just didn’t feel…right.

  In response, Sephie looked around the woods they currently walked through, before eventually returning her attention to Lily. "You're right, we don't. It's not a bad little forest but it's not home." The Pal paused and Juniper thought she could see something akin to sadness briefly pass over her features. "And home is a pce I can't go back to. Not now, anyway. Or whatever is left of it."

  Lily's features also shifted from curiosity to concern over the course of the answer but it was Juniper who beat her to the punch. "Why not? What happened to your home?" Yeah, this was definitely making the hair on the back of her neck stick up.

  Sephie turned to look at Juniper and shrugged. "It was destroyed.”

  “Your home is gone?” This time it was Aoi’s turn to ask and Juniper could hear the worry pin in her voice. Though, whether it was for her new Pal or her own safety, she couldn’t tell. Probably a mix, if she had to guess.

  “Yup,” Sephie confirmed. “Some humans came the other day and took as many of us as they could. Killed any that resisted, too." Sephie came to a stop and looked down to the ground before stomping on an already broken stick, reducing it further still. “Would’ve taken me too but I managed to give them the slip.” That st bit was said with a bit of pride but that determination soon faded and she looked up and around once more. "It seems safe over here, though. I haven’t seen any of those same people either."

  "It usually is," Lily abruptly added while stepping up and holding the Lifmunk’s gaze. "Do you know who did this to you?"

  "It was that group that lives by the tower, I think.”

  “You think? Or, you’re sure?” Lily pressed.

  “I can’t be certain, it looked like them but they don’t usually leave it, right?”

  “They don’t,” Lily confirmed before crossing her arms. "What were they armed with?"

  "Uh…pistols, mainly. Some had clubs too."

  “Interesting. And what were they wearing?"

  Sephie dropped her eyes away for a moment and she sucked in her bottom lip to chew while she thought. “Well, it wasn’t like they were wearing uniforms…” She continued to think but eventually looked back up and shrugged. “Lots of bck, I guess. As coordinated as they could be given the circumstances.”

  “That sounds like them but this behavior doesn’t.”

  “Yes, which is why I can’t be sure. Everyone knows to stay away from them but they haven't ever been this aggressive. It doesn't make sense."

  Lily only hummed her agreement before it looked like she might ask another question. However, Juniper stepped up and pced a hand on her shoulder, causing her to close her mouth and look over in confusion.

  “Let’s give Sephie a break from the interrogation, shall we?” No need to go picking at scabs too soon, especially since this was time better spent bonding with Aoi and getting to know the rest of them. Who knows, maybe she’d remember more in a day or two when she settled in. Or would be willing to share more if there was something she wasn’t comfortable divulging yet.

  The question caused Lily’s expression to soften somewhat and she turned and nodded a few moments back towards the Lifmunk. “Right. Sorry, Sephie.”

  “That’s alright, it’s not the kind of thing you hear about often around here. It doesn’t surprise me to see the famous Lily would be interested in such a thing.”

  “The famous Lily?” Juniper asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “I told you; people know me.” A wink followed Lily's assertion before she moved toward her Katress. The two briefly locked eyes and whatever unsaid communication passed between them was all it took for an agreement. "If you’ll excuse us for a moment, Mist and I need to talk." She pced a hand on Mist’s arm then and shepherded her away from the group. Presumably so they could chat in private.

  Of course, this worried Juniper but she resisted the urge to go join the two in favor of trying to be welcoming to the newest member of their little team. "Well, I'm very sorry to hear that, Persephone. You're in good hands now, though."

  "I'll say," the Lifmunk quipped before returning her attention to Aoi. "Good but we'll make them great."

  "T-thanks," Aoi said sheepishly from the side, whereupon she brought up her hands for a better inspection. Which caused smiles and giggles from around the group.

  Conversation continued as they walked and Juniper was able to learn more about what was on the other side of those foothills. Of particur interest was a plethora of new Pals she hadn't even heard of before. Jolthogs, Vixy, and Direhowls? There were so many! And of course, this mysterious group that had begun terrorizing the area. It was that topic that was at the forefront of Juniper's mind throughout their journey home. When they finally did get back, Juniper turned to Aoi and put a hand on the small of her back.

  "Aoi, how about you take the girls and show Sephie the camp?"

  "Oh, okay!" Aoi eagerly stepped forward with a gentle push from Juniper, who smiled and offered simir pats or brushes of hair as Aurora, Vesta, and Flora walked by.

  Only once they were some distance away did Juniper turn and search out Lily and Mist. They'd still followed the group on the way home but we're not standing further toward the cliff, along the forest’s edge.

  "I don't like this," Lily offered without any preamble.

  "Yeah, I kind of figured that," Juniper replied before putting her hands on her hips. "Care to expin why? Besides the obvious."

  "It's this group. They've been assholes for as long as I've been here but mostly kept to themselves. This behavior is new and I don't know if it's limited to Pal nests."

  A change in behavior like this was never a good sign. Naturally, Juniper wondered what might bring on such a thing but right now the effects were more important. "Are you thinking about the town? That it might be attacked?"

  "I am and it’s a possibility," Lily admitted. "It is guarded but the surrounding area isn’t. Plenty of people like living away from others and they’ll be vulnerable against an organized group with weapons. I even helped settle some there…”

  Well, no wonder Lily was on edge! “I’m sorry, you must be worried.” Lily only nodded and brought a hand up to rub at her temple. No doubt, this wasn’t how she saw her day going, especially after such a lovely start.

  Attacking Pals at least made some sense in Juniper's mind. Well, pointless violence never made much sense to her but going out to capture Pal's at least had a purpose. Still, it didn’t sit right with her and she knew it didn’t sit right with Lily either. For different reasons perhaps but that didn’t exactly matter right now. Which could only mean one thing…

  “You’re leaving again, aren’t you?” Juniper asked point bnk, before crossing her arms in front of her chest. Both Lily and Mist looked at each other and Juniper's eyes shifted between the two looking for someone to answer.

  “She’s really got you figured out,” Mist said after turning to Lily and shrugging.

  “It’s not exactly difficult.”

  “Alright, yes. We decided to leave and go investigate,” Lily admitted with an exasperated sigh.

  Juniper noted the “we” and wondered how much heavy lifting that word was doing. “And when were you pnning on leaving? Or telling me?”

  Following the question, Lily actually managed to look sheepish for a moment before averting her gaze. “Tonight, when you fell asleep.”

  “Mhm, I see…”

  “I was going to leave a note!”

  “I bet you were.”

  “Look, I don’t like saying goodbye, okay? It just feels…weird. I’m sorry.”

  Juniper felt another joke form in her mind and travel to her lips; however, this time she choked it off and took a step forward instead. “Yeah, I get that.” She brought up an arm and wrapped it around Lily’s shoulder before squeezing her tight and gently pulling her toward their little cave hideout. “I’ll help you get ready if you promise me one thing…”

  Lily smiled at the touch but tilted her head in curiosity at the request. “What?”

  “Stay tonight and leave in the morning, please.” There was no mockery or hint of anything lustful in Juniper’s tone, just an earnest desire to not have Lily leave so soon.

  Before she responded, Lily brought her eyes back to Juniper and eventually let a small smile form on her lips. “Fine. How can I leave after you asked so nicely?”

  “Thank you, Lily.” Now that she was turned in her direction, Juniper stole a soft kiss and then turned to whisper in her ear. “You better make that note in the morning extra cute…”

  “Gross,” Mist quipped. “I would tell you two to get a room but there’s only one.” As she spoke, the Katress raised her hands over her head in a long stretch that had her up on her tippy toes. “I didn’t want to leave yet, anyway. Shame to pass on that bed.”

  “A real shame,” Juniper agreed. “Now come one, let’s go join the others.” At the very least, they could all enjoy one peaceful night together. That was very much something she looked forward to and the thought of it finally brought some joy back to the forefront of her mind.