Umbra releases us from her realm, and we hurry to the next town. I hope Vene and Meredith wait for us. Damn we need to steal some horses or something. Walking is taking too long.


    "Shiroi are you doing ok, you''re falling behind."


    She looks up at me trying to catch her breath. I should leave her behind, I''m almost heartless enough to do so. No, I need her, she''s a valuable asset. An asset, what''s wrong with me, she’s, my friend. Shiroi falls into the mud.


    "Just leave her, she''s a Ruksha, they thrive in the marsh," Umbra whispers.


    “No, she''s my friend I can''t do that.” I lean down and pull her up. “I''ll fucking carry her if I have to.”


    "Suit yourself, but I still think you should leave her,” Umbra says rolling her eyes.


    I pick up Shiroi and continue through the mud.


    “I wouldn’t leave you Umbra,” I say looking over at her.


    “That’s because I’m useful,” Umbra replies rolling her eyes.


    “Shiroihana is my companion, as are you, I hope we too are your companions, I’d hate for us to just be, useful,” I say looking away.


    I make it another half mile before I start to feel faint myself.  A large shadow moves over me. Then I hear it, the sound of large wings cutting through the air. I''m a little delirious from exhaustion but I think the ground shakes. A familiar voice booms over me and I feel large claws wrap around me. Everything is dark for a while after that.


    When I wake, I hear arguing outside of the wagon. I''m not sure how I got here, but I''m certainly grateful. Leaning over I can see Shiroi resting peacefully. I better step outside and see what''s going on.


    "Shadow foot, why would you wait until he was in mortal peril to call me, you know I am eager to assist."


    Umbra crosses her arms.


    "Look Mr. I can fly, we had it under control until lizard girl fell over ok, it''s not my fault he''s such a softy like his mother."


    Drako leans down an irritable scowl adorning his scaly maw.


    "Be reserved with your tongue when you speak of Lady Aurus, she was the best you had, without her you would be some barbarian''s plaything."


    Umbra throws a rock at him.


    "Fuck off you giant iguanodon."


    I step forward and yell.


    "Both of you stop, we are weak this way, we need to work together."


    Umbra steps past me brushing her shoulder against mine. I watch as she walks behind the wagon to throw a fit. Damn her pants are tight, she must have spent a fortune on materials to make her ass look that good.


    "Ah Dirk, admiring the view I see, I assume by her jealous outburst against Shiroi that you two have, enjoyed a leisurely night?" I sigh and scratch my head. "Don''t worry, it''s good to have passion, and a bit of fun, did you bond with her though?"


    I look up at him confused.


    "You mean we aren''t bonded, but we had sex?”


    Drako laughs loudly shaking the air.


    "That is a physical connection, the bond is spiritual, there is a ritual, but beware the bond is kind of like a matrimony, you will both be bound until death, your mother''s death is why she was able to fight with you and not just be a sharp blade."


    "So, if I do bond with her, what does that entail?"


    Drako’s large claws rake against his chin as his large dark eyes peer up at the sky.


    "I don''t know, I was sure she would have offered to bond, perhaps she has too much to offer you, and you too little to offer her?”This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    He looks down at my crotch.


    "Hey, fuck off you perverted lizard!” I yell.


    “I only jest,” he says with a chuckle.


    I thank Drako for picking us up despite my insult to him. He offers me a ring to summon him. I graciously accept it before stepping  around the wagon to speak with Umbra. Her arms are crossed and there’s a sour look on her face.


    "What do you want, oh am I in the way of you getting to Shiroi, well let me just move along then."


    She steps aside and kicks a rock down the trail. I pull the sword from its sheathe and set it on the back of the wagon.


    "I need a warrior to help me fight, Meredith is too soft, Shiroihana is too timid in battle, Veneficus is too reckless, I saw strength and maturity in you Umbra, that''s why I shared my body with you." I stare into her golden eyes for a moment before I turn around.


    I look out at the woods, "my strength is not just my sword, I am a warrior now, my strength is that of my companions, but I will fight alone if I must."


    "Whatever," she says looking away. I head toward the woods. "Wait you can''t be serious."


    I walk for a bit still headed toward Caldera. Everyone will be safer if I go it alone from here. When I have Crimson Fate, I will return and reunite Umbra with her sister. Perhaps she will offer to bond then. I''m not even sure that''s what I want, but we would be stronger together.


    The closest town doesn’t make for a good respite. It''s overrun with slavers. The hood on my cloak does a good job of shielding me from unwanted attention. Half bloods aren’t welcome here, hell they aren’t welcome anywhere it seems. I should try not to make a scene since I don''t have my companions. Tavern probably isn''t a good idea. I''ll take the brothel.


    As I push heavy wooden doors open a wave of blue light washes over me. I don''t think I''ve ever been in a brothel like this. My mother used to heal the girls from the brothels in nearby towns. So, I saw them a lot. The girls all seemed so nice at the ones I went too when I was younger, excited to see me, excited to be complimented for their beauty.


    I step up to the counter and a black scale Ruksha woman greats me. I look down at her chest without thinking. Her breasts are huge.


    "Ah a momma''s boy, Sedatia likes a momma''s boy, perhaps you would like a peak at Sedatia?" she asks. She snaps her fingers, and I look up. "Five shillings and Sedatia will reveal her joyful bosom."


    I set a gold coin on the table.


    "An ale, and make it without your top, another coin if you''ve a half Neko girl."


    She pulls down her top. Sedatia does not disappoint. I barely see her make the drink as I stare at her chest. I''m feeling particularly lustful right now. She pulls her top back up as I enjoy my ale.


    "I''ll check if there is a Neko girl available," she says and stepping away.


    I sit drinking my ale for a few minutes until she returns. Damn, I don’t feel so great. The exhaustion is setting in. I’m so tired, but I’m sure if I tried to lay down to rest sleep would elude me.


    "My apologies, we only have one more Neko tonight, we won''t get her in until after sundown, perhaps Sedatia can entertain you until then?"


    I toss a coin on the counter.


    "I do need a bath."


    This is a dirty place filled with dirty people. Even after I bathe, I don''t feel clean, not in this place. I just need to let go and enjoy myself, what''s a few girls getting paid to do what I''m paying for?


    Sedatia''s hands are rough and well practiced. She''s been doing this awhile and she''s good at it. I''m definitely getting what I paid for with her. I can feel her large breasts pressed against my head as she rubs her hands down my stomach. I grab the edge of the tub as she goes lower.


    "You seem nervous, should Sedatia stop?"


    "No keep going, I don''t usually enjoy my bath this much,” I reply.


    She smiles and reaches down between my legs.


    Sedatia leaves me in a private room with nothing on but my towel. She leaves my gear in a chest at the end of the bed.


    "The girl will be in shortly, do be gentle with her, you''re her first customer."


    They bring her in a half hour later. Not even a girl, they bring in a large box and set it on the floor. I step over and pull down the sides revealing the bars of a cage. I try to control myself. I know what she is though. I pull the box apart and grab a key off the nightstand. There''s a young neko girl curled up in the back of the cage. I unlock it.


    The girl doesn''t move. She’s visibly distraught, her body shaking with fear and, rage. Her furry black ears are folded down. I hold my hand out to try and calm her. She gets up and crawls toward me like she''s stalking prey. I lean closer and she leaps forward biting my hand. I use it to pull her out of the cage.


    I can feel warm blood dripping off my fingertips as I pull her onto the floor. She looks at me viciously like she wants to kill me. A half blood, and young, probably taken from her full blood mother, they must have separated the litter. I see blood run down her cheeks and grab her throat.


    She chokes letting go of my hand. I put her gently on the floor and she turns away from me. My bloody hand turns her eyes to me, they’re a beautiful teal color.  I''ve never seen a neko with teal eyes before. They start to water as the fear within her takes over. I run my fingers over her soft black ears.


    "Please don''t touch me, just leave me alone, if you''re going to use me like one of those other neko, just kill me."


    She''s not wearing much but a cloth. She’s trembling in my arms when I lay her on the bed.


    "Please, I saw how they used my brother, please,” she says begging me.


    I lean down and sniff her neck. She smells like charred meat. They''ve been holding her in a meat wagon all day with the other fresh cuts of meat. There’s a rage of my own welling up inside me.


    "What''s your name?"


    She looks at me hesitantly.


    "Tiru."


    I drop my towel so I can put on my trousers. Stepping back to the bed I hold my hand out again.


    "Don''t bite me this time, ok?”


    She looks up and holds her hand out. They are soft, she''s young, they''re selling children here. These monsters are selling children.