Walking through the busy market district I look around in awe, “There are so many people that look like you here, ane!”

  “Pfft, of course there are. It’s where ‘people that look like me’ come from after all, haha.”

  “But it’s strange, there really aren’t many people with more than two or three tails. I’ve only seen one person with five so far.”

  “Well, if you have as many tails as me you’d probably try to become a mage so they’re more likely to live outside the town. Also, it’s just pretty rare to have more than four.”

  We then move a bit further and Rayla excitedly points at a small butcher shop, “We’re here!”

  Excited, she takes me by the wrist and makes me follow her to the store where a middle aged woman is manning the stand. She looks like an older, slightly less pretty Rayla with three tails.

  “Hello there, how can I help you?”

  “Kekeke, you can help me by smelling me first!”

  Rayla stretches out her arm and the slightly skeptical looking woman smells it before instantly changing facial expressions to surprise then happiness, “Oh my, Rayla! What are you doing here!? I thought you were going to Talon!”

  Rayla’s mom then gives her a big hug and nuzzles her cheeks.

  “Kekeke, twas but a ruse! I’ll tell you about it later. Also, this here is Thoma! He’s my little brother now!”

  Rayla’s mom raises an eyebrow and holds out her hand for a handshake, when I try to hug her tails she moves them away and asks, “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Uhm…Greeting you?”

  Disgusted, she says, “I gave you permission to shake my hand, not my tails.”

  “Oh…Sorry Ma’am.”

  “Mom…What are you doing? He was just trying to say hello.”

  “Just look at him, he was practically lusting over my tails.”

  “What are you talking about!? It’s normal to say hello like that.”

  “Yeah for us, not for them. Just for your information Thoma Ahad, I do not acknowledge this relationship you have with my daughter. As for you Rayla, I highly suggest that you stop associating with him in this inappropriate way.”

  Getting annoyed, Rayla asks, “Mom…What are you talking about!?”

  Letting out a sigh, Rayla's mom looks at her with pity, “Look Rayla, you’re young. It’s easier to get attached at that age and even easier to be manipulated. This guy is obviously just trying to be a creep.”

  “Alright, stop. First of all, I was the one that said I see him like a little brother first. Second, you’re being incredibly rude to him without even knowing him.”

  Crossing her arms, Rayla's mom stares Rayla down, “Oh? And you know him? You’ve met him like what, five months ago? How can you call and especially treat someone like that as family especially after he caused you to get demoted?”

  “He didn’t get me demoted! It was my own mistake and he nearly died because of it!”

  “Oh? So you feel guilty now and that’s why you let him treat you like this?”

  “What!? No! I can’t listen to this any longer, come on Thoma let’s go.”

  Looking really angry, Rayla takes me by the wrist and drags me away from the shop.

  “I can’t believe she would say these things about you! I mean what’s wrong with her?”

  I then stop walking and say, “It’s okay, she is just trying to look out for you.”

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  “Look out for me!? More like, has it out for you!”

  “Come on Rayla, she is your mom. You haven’t seen each other for a long time, don't get too mad.”

  Frustrated, she stomps her foot on the ground, “I’m only getting mad because she is being hurtful towards you!”

  I give her a warm smile, “That’s okay too. To be honest, I didn’t expect her to like me. We’re going to leave the country soon and who knows when or if we’re coming back. This might be the last time you can see your family, so please Rayla, just try to enjoy yourself. I’ll stay in the inn for the time being.”

  “B-but how can I enjoy myself without you!? You’re my family too, you know!”

  “Yeah, but they’re your real family. She is right, I’m just someone you met, they raised you and took care of you for most of your life. Family is really important Rayla, go and make some happy memories with them while you still can. Please, I don’t want you to regret this.”

  “...”

  Thinking for a bit, she seems to calm down again but she still seems very frustrated, “Are you really sure?”

  “Yes, go make some good memories Rayla. Memories of your family you will never forget.”

  “Alright oki…I’ll try.”

  “Thank you, I’m going to get myself a room. How long do you want to stay?”

  “Uhm…Maybe four days?”

  “Alright, I’ll see you when you’re ready to leave. Go and have as much fun as possible.”

  “Okay…”

  I then go to the inn and get a room.

  —---------------------------------------------------------------

  Meanwhile, Rayla returns to her mother’s butcher shop.

  “Have you calmed down now?”

  “Yes, mom.”

  She gets a smile on her face, “Great, your real brother just came back from an errand. Come, let’s surprise him! You two can come as well, you seem quite pleasant.”

  Sher Aka and John just silently nod at each other and continue observing for the time being.

  They then all go into the back together, just in time as a two tailed, very scrawny looking young man comes back into the shop, carrying a small box. He’s wearing a long blue apron over his clothes and has a kind expression, “Mom! I’m ba-Uhm sorry, who are you three? Wait…Sniff…Rayla!?”

  He drops the box, hugs Rayla and nuzzles cheeks with her, “I didn’t know you were coming!”

  “Ah, well it was on the way, so we came by for a bit.”

  Happily looking over to Sher Aka and John his tails wag as he says, “Are you two, her colleagues? Nice to meet you!”

  “Likewise, my name is Sher Aka.”

  “I’m John, nice to meet you.”

  “It’s my first time seeing an Elf, you’re so pretty!”

  “Thank you for the compliment.”

  Marcelle then leans into a whisper and asks, “So where is that creep that’s been hanging out with Rayla? I can totally smell some guy's scent on her.”

  Sher Aka, with a gentle smile, acts like she’s thinking really hard, “Hmm, I’m not sure which creep you are referring to but her little brother Thoma Ahad is currently staying at the Inn.”

  “Uhuh…So that creep convinced you too, huh? You know they’re not actually related right?”

  Keeping up her smile, she answers, “Neither are my brother and I, yet we’re still family. I don’t think blood relations matter much as long as you love one another.”

  “Maybe not to your kind but to us it does.”

  “Oh? I was not aware that Beastfolk cared much about blood purity. You learn something new every day.”

  “Well…No it isn’t quite like that. Let’s just say we’d be less concerned if she brought home a ‘little sister’ instead.”

  John interjects, “You do know women can love each other romantically as well right? I for one am into guys.”

  “Ah that’s nice so I don’t need to worry about you too then.”

  “What?”

  Rayla’s mother then claps her hands together to interrupt the conversation, “Say, how about we close early today? Let’s go visit Gino at work and buy some groceries, I’ll make a feast for you! You’re also invited of course Ms. Sher Aka and John.”

  Rayla asks, “What about Thoma? Can he come too?”

  “No. I don’t want that man in my house.”

  “...”

  They then walk the streets together and catch up on the things that have changed in Sovar since Rayla left, while Rayla stays mostly quiet and only answers when directly asked something. After a bit of walking, they come upon a woodworking shop where a handsome and athletic, three tailed young man is currently engraving some wood.

  Marcelle jogs up to him and yells, “Gino! Rayla is back!”

  “What?” Gino looks around and, with a smile, slowly walks towards Rayla and gives her a hug, “It’s been so long, welcome back sis, you’ve grown up to be quite beautiful.”

  Nuzzling cheeks with him she replies, “Thanks Gino! How have you been doing?”

  “Ah well, I've been doing the same thing I’ve always been doing. The only exciting thing that happened while you were gone was that I proposed to Moira.”

  Brushing some saw dust of his clothes, Rayla answers, “Ah so you finally did it, huh? She’s a super kind lady. I'm sure you two will be happy together!”

  “Ha, I hope so too. What about those two? Are they your colleagues?”

  “Yeah, this is Sher Aka and this is her little brother John.”

  Holding his hand out for a handshake, he gives both of them a warm smile, “Nice to meet you two, I’m glad Rayla finally ditched that pervert.”

  John shakes his hand with a fake smile and answers, “I wonder who your family keeps referring to, the only one I know that is very close to Rayla is her little brother. I don’t know of any creepy people she's seeing.”

  Gino gives him a fake smile back but looks him straight in the eyes with an intimidating stare, “I’m sure you’re quite aware who we’re referring to and he’s certainly not her brother.”

  Marcelle then interrupts the two and slaps Gino on the back, “We’re all having dinner tonight, are you coming?”

  Glancing over at John one more time before going back to a kind expression, he answers, “Sure, what time?”

  “Around seven.”

  “Gotcha, I’ll see you then, I still have some work to do here.”

  The group then go to buy some groceries together and return to Rayla’s home.