(39) Constructing A World

A crackling fire, the gentle heat warming her face.

“Papa, what happened to my mama?”

A pause, a silence that stretches just a little too long.

“She passed when you were born, Little Cub. But she loved you very much.”

Running, the wind biting at her cheeks.

Mud gripped her boot, sucking her down into the mire. A strong hand grabbed her around the waist, hoisting her to her feet.

Running.

Shink-shink.

Whooshing projectiles wizzed past her. Branches and leaves clawed her face.

A squelch. A scream.

“Father, we must rest.”

“Do not slow down for me, Little Cub. I am fine.”

Back and forth, sliding across the deck. Salty spray buffeted her, drying her face out. Smells of decay wafted up from below.

A badly-concealed rustling of paper.

“What is that, Father?”

“Nothing, Little Cub. Just something to stop the ache.”

A dark alley, the smell of damp and mold filled her nose. Her arms ached as men dragged her by their crooks. Her feet hurt from pounding the cobbled stones.

“Father! Papa!”

She screamed so hard that blood sprayed from her mouth, and her voice went hoarse.

“Don’t worry, Little Cub. We’ll be together again soon.”

————————————

Tara awoke not with a start, but instantly and calmly, as if she had merely closed her eyes for a few moments. Wet trails ran down her face, but she quickly wiped them away. She sat up, glancing around the room.

She immediately noticed that Nephthys was gone, though not far away, as indicated by the glowing doorway in the center of the room. What even is that? Some sort of gateway teleportation spell? Tara had not even heard of such a thing!

Where did she go? Where would she even need to be so late at night? The obvious answer was Nemesis, but surely even she could not create a gate hundreds of miles away…right?

Scratch.

“Ow,” Tara said, rubbing her cheek where Aka had just licked her.

Aka lay just before her, lounging on the three-quarters of the bed that Tara was not occupying. Her tail thumped the mattress as she stared.

“What?” Tara asked.

Thump!

“I don’t speak tail. I don’t know what you want from me,” she said.

Thump!

Aka stared straight into Tara’s eyes, as if probing her soul, her tail thumping regularly.

“I’m fine,” Tara said, turning away, rubbing her tear streaks, where Aka had just licked. “It doesn’t even bother me anymore.”

Thump!

“I don’t need coddling. I was only eight back then. I’m way older now. I don’t need help.”

Thump!

Aka stared at her. She could feel her gaze on the side of her head, even without looking.

“What?! What do you want?! I can’t do anything, okay?! There’s nothing I can do to do—nothing I can change, so just forget about it!” she yelled, her eyes closed and arms in the air.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Thinking about it does no good…”

Aka yawned as she rose, slowly and unconcerned, the way only cats can. She stretched her front paws, her back arching.

“Oof—” Tara grunted, Aka falling onto her lap.

She started purring and, though gentle, the vibrations radiated through Tara’s body. Aka was so large that only her right shoulder could rest in Tara’s lap, while the rest of her was sprawled across the bed.

“You’re too big for this…” she said, bending over at the waist and hugging Aka.

She grabbed handfuls of fur and sighed, the softness against her cheek soothing against the purring soundscape. Before long, her breaths were long and slow, and the room quieted once more.