Saki

  I felt my tail wrap around my body and my ears droop. I felt like shit. First I had failed to kill a few wolves, panicking in battle.

  Then I had the audacity to judge the man who had raised Tama when he didn't have to into the person she was today because she didn't heal me all the time?

  Was I really so horrible I couldn't think logically for five seconds? Healing took energy, and while Tama had a lot of energy, it wasn't endless.

  Of course he would have taught her to be pragmatic. I could even see her trying to heal every little scratch. It was a very Tama thing to do. So he had to teach her in a way she would understand.

  Slowly, I stood to my feet and stepped forward, embracing Tama in a hug as I spoke. "Thank you, Tama. I understand now. Your sensei truly was a great man, if nothing else, because he gave me you. You are truly my best friend, and the ocean to my desert, the rain to my drought."

  I felt Tama tense when I mentioned the word drought and then she began to cry into my shoulder. I didn't understand, but I simply held her as she sobbed, her tail wrapping around me and her ears drooping.

  We stood there alone in the forest for what felt like only a moment, but must have been much longer as the small bit of sun that had been fading through the trees slowly faded and darkness replaced the forest around us.

  It was so dark I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. I brought up a hand and summoned a foxfire bolt, the ball lighting up the area around us.

  Tama wiped her eyes and smiled at me. "Ready?" she asked. I nodded and we vanished from the forest.

  We appeared in the camp Tera and David had set up while we were gone. Tera looked up as we returned and rushed past me to grab Tama. "Empress Tama, please don't leave like that so suddenly. You scared me!" She said as she sobbed and held Tama tightly.

  I just shook my head. Tama looked uncomfortable but patted Tera and said, "Tama is sorry, Tera. She will tell Tera when she leaves next time."

  "Thank you, Tama. That's all I ask, and maybe where you are going," Tera said. She sounded relieved that Tama had given in so easily.

  David looked up at the three of us. He said nothing, simply nodded once and pointed to the stew cooking over the campfire.

  I quickly walked over to it while Tama was dealing with Tera. If I hurried I might get some before Tama ate it all. That's when Tera spoke: "Um... Saki, why are you naked?"

  I froze as the realization hit me like a rock. When I had transformed earlier, my clothes had fallen off, but I had never put them back on.

  My face went red and my tail instinctively covered my breasts as my hand covered down below. I turned to face Tama, only to see her holding my clothes out to me with a smile. "Nya, silly Saki! You can't be naked in front of people!"

  I snorted at the incredulity of Tama telling me to get dressed. Accepting the clothes, I paused, then instead of putting them on I dropped them and turned to get the stew. Like hell I was going to miss out on food because I was naked. I got my bowl before turning back to Tama. She was smirking at me. "Nya, Saki really likes her food, huh?" she said.

  I snorted again and said, "No, I just like to actually be able to eat before you finish everything." I grabbed my clothes and watched my bowl and Tama carefully as she got her food, and put my clothes back on.

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  Tera looked like she wanted to ask more about why I was naked. But thankfully, she stayed silent. Which is when I realized I had to get much better at fighting, and part of that was using everything at my disposal.

  I have avoided using my true form in front of Tera and David, but I would have to if we fought the Lich's army. I would be hindering the whole team if I didn't.

  I was scared to tell the truth about it, but Tama was right here, and I knew she would never let anyone truly hurt me. So, I formed a plan to confess, but not yet. It needed to be the right moment.

  First, I needed to gauge sentiment. "So, David, what do you think of spirit creatures?" I asked casually, as if striking up small talk.

  "Depends on the spirit," he responded simply.

  "Same," said Tera with a shrug.

  While I hadn't asked her, it was good she was joining in on the conversation.

  "Well, what about fox-based spirits or cat-based ones?" I asked, pushing a little closer.

  "Is this about you being a Kitsune, Saki?" Tama asked between mouthfuls of food.

  I froze as Tera suddenly coughed up the food she had been eating. David didn't seem overly worried. He didn't however look over to me and ask, "What's Tama talking about, Saki?"

  "A fucking Kitsune," Tera screamed as she stood, her hand suddenly on the hilt of her blade as she looked at me.

  She went to take a step forward, but Tama was suddenly standing in front of her, Serenity out and pointing casually at Tera's throat. "Nya, a Kitsune," she said as she took another bite of her clearly over-sized bowl of stew.

  "Calm down, Tera," David's voice spoke up suddenly, causing me to look over at him. He took another bite before continuing. "It doesn't really matter if Saki is a Kitsune or not. She has fought with us and almost died with us. That makes her a sister in combat in my book. Also, do you really want to piss off the overpowered ninja who kills things for utility and sport?"

  I stared bewildered at David. I mean, he was right, but to say it so bluntly was just... yikes.

  "How do we know she hasn't brainwashed Tama and is doing the same to us! She is a wild beast and needs to be put down!" Tera said, her voice shaking. Though she didn't moveTama's blade was still at her throat. I doubted she would have done anything if Tama had ordered her not to, but this was Tama. Violence was her answer for conflict.

  "Not possible! Saki's charm doesn't work like that! She told Tama herself. She also told Tama it's why she dresses like that!" Tama said defiantly.

  "I have to agree with Tama on this," David said casually as he took another bite. "Saki has never shown any inclination towards hurting us, and her manipulations up to this point have been non-magical and transparent."

  Tera looked between the three of us in disbelief. "You can't be serious. She is clearly manipulating us! This is all a sham! She could even be working with the Lich!"

  Silence filled the camp at her statement and a cold wind seemed to blow in from nowhere.

  Then Tama spoke, her voice quiet, each word deliberate. "Tera, sit down, and be quiet. If you threaten or insult my royal advisor again, you will be removed from my sight by force."

  Slowly, Tera sat back down and looked down without another word. Tama sheathed Serenity and walked over to me, sitting down and taking another bite of her stew. She said nothingI just stared at her.

  David shrugged and said, "That's one way to handle it."

  I nodded as I looked at Tama. She wasn't smiling anymore. She sat there quietly eating her stew. Then she stood and spoke loudly: "Tama is going to bed now she is super tired! Does Saki want to come with Tama?" Her voice had shifted to upbeat and happy again and when she looked at me her smile had returned, but I noticed for the first time, it didn't reach her eyes fully.

  Slowly I stood and nodded. "Yeah, let's get some sleep."

  I was worried about Tera, but I reasoned Tama would stop her. But just in case, I made an illusion of me and Tama next to where we were and made us look like the ground.

  Tama simply grabbed me as soon as I transformed into my tiny fox form and laid me on top of herself. She didn't even use a blanket.

  Internally I shrugged. Tama felt comfortable and honestly sleeping on her naked body wasn't that bad. Her skin was smooth and soft. I clearly warmed her slightly too with my fur. I grew my tails out and covered her in them. She grabbed them like a blanket and smiled as she closed her eyes to sleep.

  I closed my emerald green fox eyes as well and rested, able to easily fall asleep with Tama here. She would protect me, and I her.