Panthana arrived outside the Federation, on the dark metal walls. She noticed that the wind had picked up, whereas a few minutes before, everything had been calm…

The desert sand was being carried by the gust and the view was not clear, but Panthana had seen much worse. She had asked if the Kemono she was looking for was here, and it was confirmed that she was making a tour of the eastern and middle eastern protective walls. She didn't want to hang around too long, even though she shouldn't have to do much today. There was always the possibility that someone would need her help, especially since most of the Kemonos on the team she was on were already busy... She was sure that Kagekuri was still in the living room, but he wouldn't be able to handle anyone who needed help... She shook her head and began to walk forward on the large Federation walls. Panthana rarely went outside: she didn't like the desert that much. She was so comfortable inside the Federation that she didn't see the point of going outside. Those who often had to fight the Longers saw the desert more or less every day; something Panthana would find really unpleasant... It was just sand for miles around, nothing interesting was there except monsters who wanted to end humanity. Staying inside, meeting and talking with her friends seemed much more fun. She knew there was a need for Kemonos to go out and fight the Longers or protect the Federation from attack: she was just glad she wasn't one of them. It was true that she was sometimes called to fight against Longers that were close to the Federation walls, but that was nothing compared to what some Kemonos did…

- The wind is really blowing hard... she noticed.

Panthana had spent the night with Kagekuri and the weather had been so calm, so this surprised her. Besides, the weather forecasters hadn't said anything about a storm. She continued on her way while looking around. Although she couldn't see the desert itself because of the sandstorm, she had no trouble observing the structures around her. Constructed of a very dark metal, they rose meters and meters from the desert. Where Panthana stood, on the defensive wall, was not much compared to the highest point of the Federation: about 541m high. No matter how tall the walls were, if they were too tall, they would not be able to easily reach the desert in an emergency. There was another wall around the main Federation building, but going on it was only for certain high ranking officers and other Kemonos who had the job of moving their little finger ONLY in case of a big emergency. Panthana noticed that a Kemono was standing on the wall, watching the horizon with squinted eyes. She greeted him.

- Hello!" she said.

The cat-eared Kemono turned to Panthana and waved without greeting her with his voice. She stopped in front of him and noticed who this Kemono was.

- What are you doing here, Marew?" she asked.

- …

He put his hands in his coat pockets and turned to Panthana.

- Nothing special, I was just walking around, he admitted.

- I see! The weather's not so good, eh…

- ... It's a storm from nowhere, but nothing supernatural. It should calm down soon.

- Hmm, you think?

He nodded.

- I'm sure it will," he said.

- I trust you! Hey, Marew.

- ... ?

- Have you seen Nano around?

He smiled weakly at her.

- She passed by here a little while ago, she was going to the west side of the wall. I would have seen or smelled her if she had come back to the Federation, so she's still out there.

- Eeeh, I see! Thanks, Marew!

She waved to him before running. In her run, she shouted:

- How much is 348 times 602?!

Marew sighed and took his hands out of his pockets and put them next to his mouth so that Panthana could hear his answer:

- 209496 !!

- Thank youuuuu!!!

Panthana laughed and ran, looking around. As expected, Nano was still around…

- Which is strange... she thought.

She didn't think too much about it and kept running. After a while, she found Nano, sitting with her eyes closed. Panthana stopped in front of her and smiled when she saw her. Nano opened her eyes and looked up at the lightly dressed Kemono.

- Need me?" asked Nano.

Panthana nodded and sat down in front of her.

- I was looking for you!

- To what do I owe this honor?

Panthana watched Nano with a big smile. She didn't get to see her often, but she thought Nano was so... badass! Her long blue hair reached the middle of her back and was styled in spikes in some places. Her pink eyes always gave Panthana chills, so much determination and "coolness" inside them... Just like Panthana, she didn't wear much on her body, but she knew it was because the clothes prevented her from having much mobility. She didn't show anything indecent and wore belted panties around her waist. She had high socks that ran from the bottom of her thighs to the tips of her toes. She had bandages on her right thigh, but it wasn't because of an injury: she just liked the look. She wore a sort of cape that went from her shoulders to the waistband of her panties and down her back. She was easily recognizable and her skin was dark, a little more than Ambre's. Her expression was often very cold and neutral, but Panthana knew her well enough not to be "frozen" by Nano's personality.

- I'll need your help, if you want to…

Panthana touched her index fingers and looked at her with puppy dog eyes. Nano clicked her tongue.

- You like to make that expression when you ask me something, don't you?" she said.

She cracked her shoulder as she stretched and sighed heavily. She looked into Panthana's eyes.

- You know I'm often busy?

Panthana nodded.

- I know that, but I think you could help me.

- Do you have to pick me above anyone else?

- I'd rather ask you, but I guess... no?

- Then I'm not interested in—

- W-Wait!

Nano closed her eyes and sighed again. She lay down on the floor, her hands under her head.

- What?" Nano said coldly.

- You know the human that Maslow found?

Nano opened one eye and looked at Panthana.

- Na?

- Yes, him!

- ... Let me guess. He wants to chat with Lady Maslow, so you thought you'd come and get me to ask Lady Maslow to chat with him because without an appointment she won't do it?

- ... That's... Yes, that's right…

Panthana blinked her eyes while pursing her lips, fleeing a little from the gaze to take a cute pose. Nano stood up suddenly and watched Panthana with squinted eyes.

- Already, I repeat myself: you don't have to do the cute Kemono with me for me to accept one of your requests.

Panthana scratched her hair and blushed.

- Then, even if I understand why you are asking me this, you could talk to Ambre or Myah and you could have the same result. I know I'm one of the closest people to Lady Maslow, but asking ME in particular makes me think you've got something up your sleeve.

- E-Eheh…

- Anyway, sorry Panthana, but Lady Maslow is currently not at the Federation.

Panthana made a shocked face, her eyes wide open. She was still sitting, looking up to watch Nano as they spoke. Mouth agape, she couldn't find her words and had to stutter a bit before she managed to speak.

- M-Maslow is not here...?

Nano shook her head and sighed. She walked forward and stopped at the edge of the wall. She watched the sandstorm raging outside and placed her hands on her hips. Panthana got up and came to join her and looked at the sandstorm as well.

- Do you listen to the news from the mainland?

- On the radio "Spital News"? I listen to it every morning when I get up, yes," said Panthana.

- So you've heard about the Inave case?

- Inave is an old ruined city where a level 10 Longer was found, but asleep, right?

Nano nodded.

- They call it a level 10 Longer, but many say it's only a level 9 and that the media is exaggerating, including the scientists who are turning on the case.

- They talk about it a lot, that there are Alarez special forces on the job and experienced fighters watching the place.

- Right. That's where Lady Maslow is headed right now... or maybe even there already, I don't know.

Panthana didn't hide her astonishment and was speechless when she heard this. Maslow was the Constable, so to see her leave like that, without telling the Federation Kemonos, seemed impossible... When she was going somewhere, she always said so three or even four days before. Also, when it happened-

- Why are you still here then?! asked Panthana.

Nano sighed and crossed her arms.

- Lady Maslow sometimes leaves without us, even though we are her Protection Team…

Nano turned her gaze to her friend.

- She doesn't need us to protect her, she'll never be defeated anyway.

Panthana felt a chill down her spine. Nano had said it in such a way, with such confidence and without hesitating on her words…

- Afterwards, I must admit that I'm not happy that she's leaving without us," Nano continued. Even if the Protection Team exists only to make sure that Maslow doesn't have to fight, we still have to be close to her, even when we sleep. She may not need us even on a case like this, but leaving us alone in the Federation and telling us to protect it while she isn’t there... Tsk.

She clicked her tongue and sat down, letting her legs dangle in the air.

- She has other people for this job, I'm so bored..." Nano said.

Panthana didn't know what to say, but she could see that her friend was feeling sad. She had always had a cold expression on her face; or almost all the time; she was still a Kemono with emotions who loved Maslow. Panthana stood and finally touched Nano's head, which made Nano's fox ears react.

- She'll be back soon, I'm sure!" said Panthana.

Nano puffed out a cheek and did not speak. She continued to watch the sandstorm with Panthana and still waited for her friend. A few seconds of silence passed when Panthana smiled and broke it.

- So, about what I came to ask…

She removed her hand from Nano's head and scratched her cheek.

- I wanted to ask you something else, too…

Nano asked her what exactly she wanted without looking at her. Panthana decided to stop beating around the bush.

- I really want Na to be able to talk to Maslow, so I'd be happy if you could talk to him, but I also wanted to ask if you could... be with him?

Nano squinted, her eyes still focused on the sandy horizon.

- Be with him...?

- I know you're not the most comforting or sympathetic person, but you're still a good person who can go more or less anywhere she wants in the Federation. Na lost his memory, you know?

- I know, Lady Maslow was quick to mention him the day after she found him.

- Aaah, I see! Well, I think it would be nice if he could find out a little bit more about the Federation and all that, you know…

Nano stood up slowly and looked Panthana in the eye.

- ... So you want him to come with me on my routine so he can learn more?

Panthana nodded with stars in her eyes.

- Exactly! You'd be great for this job, since you can go anywhere you want, you know the Federation very well and you could guide it easily!

- Whereas I am cold and quickly bored?

Panthana nodded again, grabbing Nano's hands.

- Yes! I know I could ask other Kemonos, but I think you would be perfect for this! Besides, since you don't have to be with Maslow right now, it would do you some good, right?

Nano didn't know how to react to her friend's excitement, so she just pulled her head back a little.

- I still have to protect the Federation and move around... she said.

- Perfect then! He can see other Kemonos and learn more about the Federation!

- Yes, but…

Nano withdrew her hands and weakly pushed Panthana to the side.

- First thing, be careful, you'll fall if you stay there.

- A-Aaahah…

Panthana moved a little while smiling with embarrassment.

- Then... Why me? I understood that you wanted someone to show him around and explain the Federation, but I don't know, ask Ambre!

- Ambre is always with Maxia.

- Myah!

- She's always busy with her work or she's with her boyfriend.

- Yourself?!

- I wouldn’t mind doing it, but if I'm needed, I don't think I want anyone around. Conversations are private when I'm working.

- I-I don't know, ask... Salida? Nivea? Anyone else?!

- I don't know if Salida would be a great guide and Nivea... Are you kidding me?

- I don't know, but why me? I'm busy too!

Panthana looked down, which surprised Nano.

- ... I know, but…

She scratched her cheek.

- I thought you could love some company...~

Nano watched her with wide eyes. She stood still while watching her and opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Panthana sighed and apologized.

- I'll see if Panthera or someone else can show him the Federation, so... I mean, I'd still like you to talk to Maslow about it, okay? I think it would do him a lot of good.

Panthana turned on her heels, apologizing again before walking away. Nano clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

- Panthana!

She shouted her name and the Kemono stopped before turning back to Nano. The latter frowned and clicked her tongue against her teeth... but blushed.

- I-I'll pick up Na tomorrow, 9:00 am. Make sure he's in your lougne by then, but I'll take care of him until Lady Maslow returns!" she said.

Panthana opened her mouth with a big smile and ran to Nano before taking her in her arms. She thanked her by rubbing her head against her friend's cheek and then let her go. She promised her that Na would be there in time and ran off. Nano lay down on the floor and showed irritation on her face.

- She always gets what she wants, shit... she thought out loud.

Nano closed her eyes and lay there without saying anything more. She didn't necessarily want to be anyone's guide, but maybe it would do her good...? She was in her thoughts when a person sat on her. Nano opened her eyes suddenly and was about to prepare to attack when she noticed the person sitting on top of her. Nano gritted her teeth.

- I've waited too long for you!" she shouted.

The Kemono stuck out his tongue.

- I had to talk to someone to see if everything was okay, impatient you!

- I swear, Kin, you are slow…

- I am not perfect, surprisingly!

He laughed while getting up and helped Nano to get on her feet. She didn't thank him for that and dusted herself off.

- I saw Panthana running away from you, did you talk?

She nodded, but said nothing to him. He blinked.

- ... And what did you talk about?

- None of your business, but I'll have to babysit someone.

Kin smiled teasingly.

- Panthana finally has a child~?

Nano hit him on the head and he fell to the ground pretending to be dead. She looked at him for a long time before shrugging her shoulders and returning to the Federation. Kin ran after her and shouted:

- You're not nice, Nanooo!!!