I threw my clothes on in a flash and darted out the door, traveling the length of the hall as sweat trickled down my temples. I nearly clipped a girl in my path; she narrowly dodged to the side with a tiny yelp. “Sorry!” I yelled over my shoulder, continuing on my way.

I barreled down the three flights of stairs and fought the urge to jump the banister as I entered the dining hall. The hall was quiet, and a few patrons were just coming in. Two of them passed looks of surprise as I cut between them. When I reached the entrance at last, I shoved the front doors open and scanned the crowd for Yomi.

The sun barely peeked over the horizon, offering more than enough light to pick out a small girl in dark robes in the meager crowd. One by one, I wandered around the central square touching the shoulders of catgirls in hopes one of them would be Yomi. I vaguely remembered what Ravyn said about San Island housing some of the best spellcasters in all of Nyarlothep, and a deep sigh escaped my throat.

That aside though, none of the robed figures I found were Yomi. “Damn it,” I mumbled.

Maybe the Guild Hall!

Soaring through the streets, I ran at a speed I’d never managed before. My brain couldn’t stop thinking about what all of this meant. Just what did the iPaw define as a successful “mate”?

You know that already. You just don’t want to think about it.

Within minutes, I was in front of the Guild Hall. My legs begged me to stop, my lungs felt as if they were about to burst. I heaved forward with my hands on my knees to catch my breath.

“Mister, are you okay?” a catgirl dressed like a beginner’s mage addressed me with a look of concern in her eyes and a pink hue around her cheeks. She bore brown hair and gold eyes—just like Keke. She fiddled with the points of her fingers for a few seconds, then reached for me with one hand. “I can help you if you want. I know a lot of herbal remedies—”

“Where’s Yomi?”

“Y-Yomi?”

“Did I stutter? Where. Is. Yomi? Do you know her?” My blood was beginning to boil. I breathed through clenched teeth.

The girl drew her hand back. “S-sorry, I don’t. But if you—”

“Let me help you, then. She’s kind of small,” I said, motioning at where she stood compared to my height, “hangs out with Cailu. Brown hair, wears purple ro—” Wait, was it purple? It was, right? Maybe it was black? Fuck, I can’t remember. “She sounds like wind chimes and smells like cinnamon.”

“Like cinnamon? U-um, I know who Cailu is but… I’m sorry, I don’t know who Yomi is,” she said, shaking her head. “But if you’d let me try some—”

“No thanks.” I dismissed her with a wave and made my way up to the front doors of the Guild Hall. I pushed one open and surveyed the groups around me. There were plenty of cloaked catgirls, but even at a glance, I knew none of them were Yomi. “Does anyone know Yomi?” I called out.

Heads bobbed to the side, and murmurs of “no” and “is he okay?” echoed through the room.

“She left a couple hours ago,” said the lady at the front counter.

I approached and rested a hand on the counter. “Did she say where she was going?”

“Back to Nyarlothep. With Cailu and Naeemah. Is something wrong?” She reached across the desk for my hand, and I quickly withdrew it.

“Could I reach them before they get there?”

“No, I’m sure they’ve already arrived by now.”

“How in the hell is that even possible?” Uncomfortable murmurs and whispers surrounded me. The front desk lady frowned and squirmed.

“[Dark Priests] have access to [Warp Portal]. It allows them to—”

“Thanks, I’m pretty sure I can put the rest together.” I knew it wasn’t these girls’ fault, a tiny voice in the back of my head told me to can it, but it was swept deep beneath the riptides of blind rage.

I turned and made my way out of the Guild Hall. Words couldn’t express how goddamn angry I was. It took everything I had not to scream. A wet dream would’ve been far preferred over this.

How could she just walk in, Enchant me, fuck me, and then just take off like that? What if…

I couldn’t even complete the thought in my head. All I could do now was just hope that Yomi knew what she was doing and that if she got pregnant, she would take care of the kid.

Maybe I really wasn’t ready for this.

The sun was rising by the time I got back to the Lucky Star. Ravyn was standing out front. I barely passed her a look when she grabbed my arm.

“Where have you been, boy?” she demanded.

“Nowhere. What business is it of yours anyway?” I couldn’t care less for what Ravyn wanted, and I wasn’t in the mood to be teased. I shook my arm away and pushed the door open to the dining hall.

To my surprise, Ravyn followed without a word. However, each glance I made behind me was met with a sharp stare of disgust.

What else is new?

It seemed like any time I had a question or tried to learn something that I was met with some sort of patronizing laugh from Ravyn, Keke’s look of confusion, or Cannoli’s uncertainty. So fine, that’s how it is, then. Didn’t seem like I could do anything right, so why not just accept it.

The dining hall was bustling with patrons now that the sun was up. I hadn’t been awake that early since we started staying at the inn, but it seemed to be a popular joint for breakfast. Keke and Cannoli yawned as I took a seat between them.

Do they leave a seat open like that on purpose?

“Good morning, Matt!” said Cannoli. Buttons ran a few circles around her collar bone, stopping at the end of her shoulder to look at me. I rested my chin on my palm and watched as Buttons tilted his head curiously.

“Good morning,” I said back.

“Are you feeling okay?” said Keke. She put a hand on my shoulder, and a chill shot down my spine. Though it wasn’t the usual chill of nervousness or anticipation.

I readjusted in my seat and sat up. “Yeah, I’m doing alright. Weird dreams is all.”

Ravyn took a seat in front of us and motioned for a waitress. A catgirl with a considerable bosom and long sky-blue hair approached with a tray and notepad.

“Good morning, Ravyn,” the waitress said with a smirk. “You’re up earlier than normal. Boring night last night?”

“Oh, clam it, Daffy, and get me my usual.”

“Whatever you say.” The woman took a short time to write down Ravyn’s ‘usual,’ then looked to us. “What about the rest of you?”

“Rice porridge and a hard-boiled rocco egg, please,” said Keke, taking her hand off my arm.

“And to drink?”

“Cheapest tea you have, I’m easy.”

“Understood. For you, miss?”

“Oh, oh! I’ll take a nyapple crepe and some nineapple juice!” Cannoli said, clapping her hands together happily.

“And you, sir?”

My stomach was in knots, and my head was pounding. “Water.”

The waitress frowned. “Just water?”

“Just water. Please.”

She flipped her notepad shut and shrugged. “As you wish. Be back in ten.”

“Matt, what’s wrong?” Keke asked once the waitress was out of earshot.

“Nothing. Just bad dreams.”

“They were weird before. Now they’re bad?” asked Ravyn.

“The two are not exclusive to each other,” I snapped back. Buttons went wide-eyed and dug underneath Cannoli’s collar. I sighed. “I have a lot on my mind.”

“Was it at least enjoyable at some point?”

What the fuck? The chair screeched as I pushed it back. I leaned forward, putting my hands on the table. “You wanna tell me what you know?”

“W-what’s going on?” Cannoli squeaked.

“What’s gotten into you?” said Keke. She put her hand on mine, and I jerked it away in an instant. “Matt…”

“Just what the hell are you up to, Ravyn?” I snarled.

Ball jumped down from Ravyn’s shoulder, and for a short time, we stared daggers into each other. “We should talk.” She shot glances between Keke and Cannoli. “Privately.”

I stomped into my room and sat back in my bed. Ravyn followed soon after with slow and methodical steps, shutting the door behind her. Ball flew to the top of one of the bedposts, perching silently while Ravyn dug him a cookie from her [Cat Pack].

“I’m sorry you have to go through this, Matt,” she began.

“If you’re not going to explain anything to me, then I don’t wanna hear it.”

Ravyn breathed deep. “I’m sure Keke has told you to some extent what is expected of you.”

“Sorta. With about as much information as you all like to give me.”

Ravyn paced around the room for a while, the heels of her shoes clicking against the wooden floor. I had so many questions, but Ravyn’s snarky attitude had taught me that if I didn’t word it right or deliver it in the perfect tone, then I was just setting myself up to be ridiculed and laughed at. So no, this time she could come to me.

“I left San Island for a lot of reasons. The Defiled were a big one,” Ravyn began again.

“Were they always like this? Attack towns with a thousand tigers?”

Ravyn paused. “No. Nyarlea used to be so much more peaceful. That was before my time, though.”

“So Cailu isn’t lying about them getting worse.”

“No.”

Ravyn continued to pace the room, and I continued to think. The sheets were still balled up in the corner I’d thrown them in, leaving only the blankets strewn over the mattress. I stood up and moved to the side of the fireplace, leaning against the wall and crossing my arms. I needed something that would break my mind away from the thoughts of the previous night.

“Was it Yomi?” Ravyn asked suddenly.

My face grew red-hot at the thought of Yomi and her skin, her touch, her nipples, the tattoo around her belly button. I nodded.

“I had a feeling. Yomi’s been going through a rough time.”

Rough enough to force a dude to get her pregnant? “How’d you know?”

“Know what?”

“That Yomi and I… that last night—”

Ravyn shook her head. “After all the shit that went down yesterday, I used [Future Sense]. It’s not a perfect Skill, but it gave me a good enough idea.”

That’s voyeuristic as hell. “I see. And you didn’t try to stop it?”

“Matt, you said it yourself. Who you sleep with isn’t my business.”

I sighed. “You know her, then?”

“Somewhat. We had a falling out. Bitch was too full of herself.”

Surprising. If anything, she seemed a bit self-conscious. “What did you mean about her? Rough time how?”

“I don’t have to tell you what a cunt Cailu is. Yomi hates him. Absolutely detests him.”

“Then why stay with him? Why not just take off and go do her own thing like Espada?”

Ravyn shook her head. “You don’t understand. It’s not a law, but if a catgirl outright refuses an order from a man, then she could find herself ostracized, arrested, stoned, cast out as an improper catgirl. She’d be seen as a hindrance and a wound in society’s side. I’m almost positive that Espada was exiled from Nyarlothep; I just don’t think she wants to admit it.”

What in the hell? What gives us that right? “Won’t Cailu be pissed to lose his Priest?”

“You’ve seen the lines for that asshole. I’m sure he’ll find another [Bishop] or [Dark Priest] in Nyarlothep. As much as he boasts hooking up with as many girls as possible, he prefers to keep the same party. Fucking hypocrite.”

“Sure.” If this was supposed to make me feel better, it wasn’t working.

“Listen, it’s no secret that men are in extremely short supply,” Ravyn continued, “and so we have to protect them. Ni Island isn’t the greatest place in Nyarlea, but it’s safe for people like Espada and me. Yomi can find her own way now. You gave her that.”

‘Safe for you,’ huh? “Mmm.”

“Look, you’re right. I’ve done enough pussyfooting, so I’ll answer the questions that I know you’re afraid to ask..” Ravyn came closer and leaned against the wall next to me. “As stupid as you are, I can tell that you care. First of all, your daughter will be fine. Yomi comes from a long line of [Priests] and [Dark Priests]. She knows all of the Orders, and she’ll be provided with plenty of midwives.” Ravyn clicked her tongue. “Bitch is lucky.”

My lip trembled, and I fought back the incoming emotions of seeing my child born. “What if she doesn’t have a kid? I mean, it’s not guaranteed, right?”

“No. It’s guaranteed.” Ravyn shook her head. “It’s just how our bodies work.”

Great. “I see.”

“Secondly, this is as much of a boon for you as it was for her. She gets to leave Cailu’s company, and you knocked up a girl. Congratulations, you had sex.”

“Ravyn, it wasn’t like that.” I hated to admit it, but I felt the hot pricks of tears behind my eyes. This wasn’t what I’d planned. At all. I’d spent so many nights fantasizing about what my first actual time with Keke would feel like.

Ravyn reached for my hands. They were surprisingly calloused for someone who spent all their time indoors. “I know, I’m just saying. You had your cherry popped, yeah? Hooray.”

“I feel like a used piece of meat.”

Ravyn nodded and avoided my gaze. “A lot of girls here would sympathize with you.”

“It shouldn’t have been Yomi.” Ugh, you’re begging for Ravyn to laugh at you, man.

“Maybe not. But we can’t change that now.”

I frowned and blinked back the tears. “Are you feeling alright? You’re being a bit too kind here. What’s the catch?”

“Keh. Kehehehe. My, my. What a suspicious boy.”

“I just don’t trust you.”

“Itai,” she mused. “That’s okay. Distrusting boys have their appeal too.” Ravyn continued to stare down at the floorboards. “Look. I know what you’re feeling right now; I’ve been there. I’m just trying to make sure you set realistic expectations.”

“That girls may wake me up and fuck me at their every whim?”

Ravyn chuckled but wouldn’t meet my gaze. “Devo and Popo got halfway there, didn’t they?”

Forgot about them. “Guess you’re right.”

“Shouganai.”

“Not to change the subject, but where did you pick up Japanese?”

Ravyn furrowed her brow, then relaxed. “Ahh, those words I say sometimes. It’s a dumb habit I picked up.” Her voice grew distant, her face buried in pensive thought.

“Do you even know what they mean?”

A rare shade of pink decorated her cheeks. “Of course I do.”

“Would it be rude of me to pry?”

Ravyn thought. “Yes. Maybe we’ll talk about it some other day.” She let go of my hands. “If we make it that far.”

“Haha. Yeah, I guess we’ll see.”

“Rest easy, Matt. Yomi and your daughter will be fine. Even if you never meet her, she’ll be happy. I promise.”

“I just wish she would’ve asked me.”

Ravyn snorted. “And what would you have said? Would you not have told Cailu? I’m guessing she Enchanted you and put you in a reverie.”

“Nothing gets past you,” I said, scratching the back of my head.

“Honey, I’m a [Sorcerer]. Even if I don’t know the specifics, I’ll sniff out the magic in the air.” Ravyn pinched her nose in a playful manner. “And this room reeks of that twat’s magic.”

I forced a smile. If I was being honest, much of what she said wasn’t making me feel much better, but if what she was telling me was true, then at least my child would be safe. “I didn’t even know her.”

“Get used to it. If you want to get attached and learn their life stories before you fuck, then you’re going to get hurt.” Ravyn cleared her throat.

“Right.” Silence swept over us. There wasn’t much to do about this, I suppose. Another question did come to mind, though. “So, catgirls have to obey men?”

Ravyn nodded.

“No matter what?”

“Within reason. Like I said, it’s not a law, but you’ll find yourself an outcast if you make repeated offenses.”

“What would you do if another man demanded sex of you?” I realized how the question came off, but still, I couldn’t help my growing concern at the thought of some other dude making unreasonable demands of my girls.

Wait. My girls?

Ravyn didn’t bat an eye. “I would fight him with everything I had.” She glanced up at the preening parrot. “And I’d let Bally eat his balls.”