It took around a minute for Aife to recover from the soul searing pain. Once she sat up, though she looked pretty good, as if nothing had changed. The same could not be said about Kanina who for some reason now sported a rather tiny pointed hat with stars on it.

Sui moved straight to the rabbit in question and poked at it with her power. It was… very strange. She could almost feel it, like it was just barely outside of her range but her fingers were brushing across it.

The rabbit jumped backwards as soon as it realised Sui’s appearance, and tried to stare her down. This, was a poor decision it seemed, because Sui simply stared back, her desire for knowledge about the strange hat that it wore burning in her eyes, which was just barely restrained by some other feeling.

Such an interesting specimen. The hat doesn’t seem to be connected to her head but it is also still part of her… how strange? I wonder if my dress is actually closer to that hat in actuality. Hmm, maybe that is why I can’t manipulate it?

I can feel it better than the hat, but that might just be because it is mine… in fact… am I really sensing it through my thread control at all? Or is it perhaps that it is linked to me? Maybe a combination of the two.

Kanina shivered under Sui’s gaze, as she further examined the rabbit in question. Hmm, it doesn’t seem like she has any special awareness of the hat. Though… can she feel touch through it? What if it was taken off? Ooh I want to test this. This could be a huge breakthrough.

While Sui was practically salivating over the strange hat, Trina was hugging Aife against her… or well, it was more accurate to say that Trina was hugging herself against Aife considering the size and strength difference, but Trina was trying.

She tried not to show the concern on her face, but she was shaking, and as the person being hugged, Aife could easily tell this. Even if she couldn’t, she knew Trina well enough to take a guess anyway.

“Hey, I’m fine Trina, it’s fine” said Aife

“It… dammit, it isn’t Aife. How can you be so calm? Sui should have warned, you or… or, you shouldn’t have done it” said Trina

Aife sighed. “You’ve known Sui almost as long as I have, you know what she’s like. I doubt she even thought of it as a consideration. A bit of a pain is temporary and I’m sure she’d pay it many times over for small advantages”

“That doesn’t make it ok. Surely even you can admit that she should have told us! I mean seriously I’ve never seen you in so much pain” said Trina concern lacing her voice.

Aife sighed “Look, let me ask you just one thing. If we find a good companion for you, say a magical raven or an owl would you do it?”

“Yes” said Trina before her brain could properly realise the mistake she’d just made.

Aife smirked at her girlfriend, as if the world had just proven her correct. “Dammit Aife, that doesn’t make this right” said Trina

Aife just shrugged “But clearly it didn’t matter did it? Even you admitted that knowing what will happen hasn’t changed your decision. How do you think that makes me feel? I don’t want to see you writhing on the ground in pain, but I know you’re going to do it anyway because it is more than worth it”

“I… dammit, you’re right, fine. Whatever I guess it didn’t matter” said Trina

“I’m really not sure why this surprises you Trina. Remember that time Sui accidentally threaded that needle through herself in sewing class? She just sorta went huh, and was about to rip it out of her skin so that she didn’t have to cut the thread. I had to stop her remember?” said Aife

Trina cringed “I still don’t get how that never made a scar” said Trina

“Why would it? It was just a small needle” said Aife

“Well, what about that scar on her hands? From when she sewed her fingers together, why did that scar” said Trina

Aife shrugged “Dunno, she was younger maybe? I never saw her do that one… Oh, what about that time she watched that guy burn his hand in chemistry and just shrugged before throwing the beaker of boiling water on his hand” said Aife

Trina’s wince grew deeper “Don’t remind me. She was only able to escape punishment because the guys sleeve was on fire. I still remember the screams” said Trina

“Yes, but are you starting to see my point? She would have only mentioned it had we asked, and you didn’t even follow up with your usual ‘is there anything I might ask to know after the event has happened’ question” said Aife

“I get it, I get it, gang up on Trina day it is” said Trina

Aife didn’t listen to her ranting girlfriend and just gave Trina a quick kiss. “It’s fine, I still love you”

Trina went bright red and changed the topic of the conversation, as subtly as a red stain on a white dress. “So, Kanina hey, why did you choose that name?” asked Trina

Aife smiled but accepted the diversion. “It’s Old Norse, so it seemed appropriate” said Aife

“What does it mean?” asked Trina

“Rabbit” said Aife

Trina’s blush vanished and she narrowed her eyes. “You named it Rabbit? Why? What the hell is wrong with you?” asked Trina

“What? I bet you Ito means thread, same as Sui means needle, so really, am I the bad guy here?” asked Aife

Trina sighed “Well, as you just so seemed to love telling me, Sui is a special case, and I know what to expect, so I shouldn’t be surprised. You on the other hand, I had higher hopes for.” Said Trina

Now it was Aife’s turn to grimace “Look… it’s… well, I bet nobody will figure it out”

“Hey Sui” shouted Trina from Aife’s side. Sui’s head snapped to attention, and Kanina bolted away back to Aife when Sui’s gaze left her. “What do you think Kanina means?”

Hmmm, well, knowing Aife, I’d say the chances are it is Greek, Roman, Old Norse, or maybe Icelandic? Possibly Latin but I doubt it… anyway, if Trina is asking me it’s probably Old Norse or Greek and it means something, she considers stupid.

So, we have… warrior, great companion, and rabbit on the table, and judging by the fact that I’m being asked I’m going to guess that Trina is less than happy but Aife believe nobody will figure it out so…

“Rabbit. Aife named her rabbit companion rabbit and it’s either Greek, or Old Norse, maybe Roman” said Sui without hesitation

“Nobody will figure it out huh?” said Trina with both eyebrows raised. She had wanted just the one, but was unable to copy Aife’s signature technique.

“Yeah yeah, I get it, but the contract is done and the name is already on her status I bet” said Aife

“Huh, that actually is an interesting point. Could you change the name?” asked Trina

Ito crossed her legs form her perch on Sui’s shoulders. Trina glanced at the spider and then at Sui who said “Apparently not”

“Huh, I wonder why” said Aife

“Hey, Aife” asked Sui “Can I look at Kanina’s hat”

“Hmmm no” said Aife

“Why not?” asked Sui

“Well, you should have asked her instead of me, I mean you can understand Ito, right? That and you are clearly scaring her” said Aife

Sui frowned “Yeah… but I don’t understand her like I do Ito. Can you understand Kanina?”

Aife opened her mouth to answer but then closed it. Scooping the bunny at her side up and settling it into her palm Aife looked at Kanina and smiled “Sui thinks I can’t understand you. How about we prove them wrong somehow”

Kanina shook her head at Aife

“I don’t follow” said Aife

Kanina stared back at Aife

“Can we not talk like those two?” asked Aife

Kanina shook her head

“Why not? You can clearly understand me, so what makes them different” asked Aife

Kanina shook her head again

“You don’t know? I guess it’s just yes and no questions?” asked Aife

Kanina nodded

“Well… bugger” said Aife