- How did you know where I was?" asked the minty-haired Kemono.

The two Kemonos were walking back to the Federation, led by Kituhn. He had a guitar strapped to his back and was walking like it was just a normal walk.

- I was one of the last ones to enter the Federation when the order was given. I heard you were still out, so I waited, but soon became impatient.

He clenched a fist and turned his gaze to Maxia.

- We're friends, don't think I've forgotten why we don't want you to fight for long.

Both have fox-like attributes, but their physical difference is clear. Maxia scratched her cheek, an embarrassed smile decorating her face.

- Ahah, I didn't necessarily want to fight that long, basically...

Kituhn sighed.

- Whatever, I'm sure the Federation is around here... What crappy weather, though. A sandstorm after the good weather, arf.

- It's not that bad, I guess, it's just that you can't see anything... If you go the wrong way, you're dead...

Kituhn didn't say anything and kept walking ahead of him, certain that they were going in the right direction. Maxia trusted him; she had no choice, anyway. She touched her chin and began to think.

- So many Longers... The sandstorm must have made them want to go out, I guess...?

Na woke up around seven in the morning, up even before Ronaa, who had promised to call him at eight. He came out of his room dressed and sat down on one of the chairs in the dining room. He laid his head on the table and let out a long sigh.

- Already awake?

A female voice rang out, one that Na recognized immediately.

- I slept with difficulty... he admitted.

Kaide sat next to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek as a "good morning". She looked at his face.

- Nightmares?

He nodded. Kaide smiled at him.

- Ahah, it happens! I hope your next night will be filled with sweet dreams!

Her good mood touched Na who smiled in turn, even if it was not as intense as Kaide. He thanked her for her words and the Kemono got up.

- I didn't say anything special, though! she said.

- Thanks anyway...

- You're welcome.

She went to the kitchen and asked him if he wanted a particular breakfast. Not knowing much about cooking, he just told her that she was allowed to surprise him. She put her hand in front of her forehead and said:

- All right, chef!

After a sweet and delicious breakfast, Na left the Faction and arrived in the long and huge corridors of the Kemono Federation. He was still impressed by it... There were a few more people than last time. Some were going to work, some were joining their Factions, some were chatting with their friends, others were just walking around... Na started walking: he still had a good hour ahead of him before the meeting with Nano. He still wondered what she might look like.

- From what Panthana told me, she should be an impressive person... he thought.

As he walked, a Kemono bumped into him and they both fell on their butts. Na closed his eyes and held his head, rubbing it.

- W-Wa, sorry!

The Kemono got down on all fours and approached him.

- Are you okay?! she asked.

Na opened his eyes and nodded. The Kemono blinked and quickly noticed that he had no Kemono attributes. She touched his face, which surprised Na.

- You are...?!

She stepped back in surprise.

- You are the human?!

Some Kemonos stopped, wondering what was going on. Na scratched his hair with a shy smile. His throat was frozen, now that so many Kemonos were around him... The Kemono in front of him got on his lap and took his hand, squeezing it tightly.

- I-I... My name is Lucia! Nice to meet you!

- J-... My name is Na... Nice to meet you.

- Sorry for running into you...!

- It...

"It's okay" was what he wanted to say, but too many eyes were on him. He felt bad... He didn't like being the center of attention like that. His legs were shaking: getting up was not an option. The Kemono in front of him seemed nice, but intrigued by Na, she didn't notice his discomfort in this situation.

- I was looking for someone and my head was full of thoughts, so...

She scratched her hair and her fox tail wagged in all directions behind her back. Na swallowed loudly and fled the gaze of all the Kemonos. He wanted to leave... He didn't like to be here, in the middle of so many people...

Suddenly, he was caught and he let out a cry of surprise. The Kemonos around him stepped back and Lucia stood up.

- Leave him alone, poor guy," said the Kemono who had just caught him.

The Kemonos said nothing and let the Kemono pass. He walked forward with the human in one hand and walked away from the scene. Lucia waved to Na, even though she didn't see him, saying goodbye.

- Forgive me again!!!

Na looked up and wanted to watch the one who had caught him, but he was quickly put back on his feet and almost fell. The Kemono caught him laughing.

- Are you okay?" he asked.

Na turned and looked at him. This was not a Kemono he knew, but his friendly demeanor reassured him. He had-

- I have to go, see you soon!

He patted his back hard and started to run. Na fell to the ground again, but this time he got up more quickly. He looked around, but the Kemono was no longer visible... Another Kemono stopped and smiled.

- You ran into Kin, don't worry!

Na turned to the Kemono and questioned him with his eyes.

- Well, it doesn't matter if you don't know him. We don't see him that often anyway!

The Kemono put a hand on his shoulder before leaving with a smile. Na blinked, not really understanding everything that had just happened...

- Oh, Kin! You ran into Kin? Hey, ahah!

Panthana laughed and offered him a glass of water; he happily accepted it and started to drink. The Kemono sat down next to him and crossed her legs.

- That's right, Kin is a member of the Protection Team!

Na put down the glass and turned to Panthana, interested to know more. The curiosity in the human's eyes quickly made the Kemono realize that he wanted to know Kin, which made her smile.

- I don't know Kin very well honestly, but from what I do know, he's a horny little guy who is everywhere. He's so everywhere that he's nowhere.

- What do you mean?

- Kin, he's a member of the Protection Team, so he must be around Maslow a lot, right?

- Seems logical...

- However, it's a bit the opposite.

A question mark formed over Na's skull. Panthana finished her glass of water and continued her explanation.

- He protects Maslow by protecting the Federation. He's everywhere at once, but he never stays in one place, so he's nowhere, you know?

- ...

He had trouble understanding her, but he could see the idea. However, it surprised him. He would have thought that the members of this team would stay close to Maslow...? What was the point of visiting the entire Federation to protect the Constable? Panthana touched her hair.

- Kin likes to move around, but I'm still surprised you met him in the Federation corridors," she continued. He's a good friend of Nano's, he's a good person with a big heart, but...

- But...?

Panthana looked Na straight in the eye. There was no sadness in her gaze, but a kind of concern radiated. Na wondered why she was giving him such a look.

- Let's say he has the same "problem" as the others in the Protection Team.

- Problem?

She hesitated to talk about it. It wasn't something private, or even secret. Nevertheless, did she want to talk about it with Na? Was it something important, after all? She could keep quiet or even change the subject. Her eyes met Na's.

Curiosity.

He was showing so much. He was interested in every word Panthana said. Every sentence went into an ear and stayed in his skull. His eyes were shining with curiosity. She smiled and agreed to tell him.

- You know they have to protect Maslow, right? Then it should be obvious.

Na stared into her eyes.

- All five of them, the members of this team, don't care about their own LIVES.

Na blinked and his heart missed a beat. He should have known better, and yet he hadn't even thought about it for a second. Panthana's reflection disappeared from his eyes and his emotions took over.

- Maslow is our Constable, every Kemono respects her. Even a good part of the humans respect her, actually. She's not just anyone," Panthana explained.

She crossed her arms.

- She is an extremely powerful Kemono, even though I have only seen her power once. She is a Kemono that commands respect, a Kemono that you can only look at with big eyes. She is impressive.

Panthana was not exaggerating any words. She was not close to Maslow, but she had already had a chance to talk with her. She had seen her more than once. How could she not gasp at her.

- Maslow is the most important Kemono for the Federation. I don't see a future without her. Well, of course, one day another Constable will take her place. But that's not going to happen now. We still have time before Maslow leaves his place.

Na listened to her every word with the utmost attention. Learning so much about Maslow made his heart swell, even if something had hurt him.

- In short, Maslow is too important to lose. Whether it's to us or even the current war against the Longers, Panthana continued.

- She is important to the war? asked Na.

The Kemono nodded, her arms still crossed.

- Not only is her power beyond comprehension, but she is very intelligent, motivating the fighters and managing the Federation towards a better future. If we let it happen, the Longers will crush us and the war will be lost to us. We are important even to humans. Maybe not so much to the Morrises, but that's another thing...

She sighed.

- The Protection Team makes sure she is safe at all times. Even though they never have much to do, they're very diligent about it. Who would want to mess with Maslow, especially in the Federation? For them, this question is irrelevant.

Panthana raised a finger.

- They say to themselves that it is possible that the next second—

- —our Constable will be attacked.

Another voice finished Panthana's sentence. Na was startled and turned his gaze. The Kemono next to him did the same and was shocked that she had not seen it coming.

- N-Nano?! she asked.

Nano jumped on top of the couch and sat next to it between Panthana and Na, making a place for herself by pushing them. She watched them both before crossing her arms in turn.

- I've been here since the beginning of your explanation about Madame Maslow. I was wondering if you would notice me, but I see that you haven't.

Nano turned her gaze to Panthana.

- I got here early, sorry.

- You don't have to apologize, you could have at least said you were here... Panthana let go while scratching her hair.

- I wanted to see what you were saying about Mrs. Maslow and our team.

She then turned her gaze towards Na and observed him attentively. Brown hair in a mess, eyes showing naivety and purity. He was indeed a human, but she already knew that.

- So, do you think we're idiots?" asked Nano.

Na blinked in surprise.

- U-Uh?

He didn't understand why she would ask him something like that. Nano waited for an answer and Panthana moved her head to see what Na would say.

- Why... why would I think you're... idiots?" he asked.

Nano squinted.

- We are a group of five, all less powerful than Madame Maslow, who seek to protect her at all times, even if we very rarely have to move a finger.

Nano gave Na a serious look.

- The five of us are ready to give our lives to Mrs. Maslow at any time. For any reason, as long as it benefits or saves her.

Na opened his eyes wide. Give their lives... Sacrifice. Sacrifice themselves.

- ...

They didn't care about their own lives: what mattered to them was Maslow's. Why was it so important? Na didn't understand it, yet he understood it. Yes, she was powerful. The Constable of the Federation. An important, imposing Kemono.

- ... Your lives...

But he had a hard time understanding this mentality. Na looked up.

- Take your lives seriously!

An expression that Panthana didn't think she could see on his face. A look that Nano observed with attention. His eyes did not burn, but they expressed more than words. Nano sighed heavily and leaned in close to Panthana.

Not out of fear of the man, just to get a better look at him.

- We take them seriously. Very seriously.

Na squinted.

- Yet you don't care if you die...

He didn't like that mentality. He had seen a friend killed in front of him, so LIVING was important to him.

LIFE itself was important.

It was to be cherished. Take it seriously. Respect it as it should be respected. Because when a person loses it, when death wins, then that's the end...

- No, that's not true," Nano said.

Na looked up again, his eyes met the Kemono's. Behind them, Panthana was listening silently. To hear Nano talk so much was very rare... Especially since she had started the conversation by herself. However, it was something Panthana enjoyed seeing. Nano clicked her tongue.

- Just because we are willing to sacrifice ourselves for Mrs. Maslow doesn't mean our lives aren't taken seriously, especially by ourselves.

Nano didn't appreciate the human's remark.

- Our lives are important. If we were not alive, then we could not protect Madame Maslow. If we were to die for no reason, without sacrificing our lives for HER, then it would be a waste.

She gave him a serious look.

- We are willing to sacrifice our lives to protect, help or save Mrs. Maslow. Not for any other reason. That's exactly why we stay with Mrs. Maslow so often and don't get much rest," Nano explained.

- ... !

- It's because we don't want to risk our lives that we don't stay often with others.

Na understood, now: he had been a fool. He still didn't know how they could agree to sacrifice themselves for one person, but when he thought of Bibi, he could understand them, although only a little.

Nevertheless, they knew that their lives were important. They were not fools who would dare to throw their lives away.

Na apologized and bowed his head, but Na said nothing. She didn't have to forgive him, because he didn't have to apologize. Giving his opinion was something acceptable. She would not judge him; even the other way around. He had dared to confront her when she was the one protecting the Constable. She was not just anyone. Few would dare to look her straight in the eye with such a look, and yet...

- He knows who I am, but I guess not having his memories makes him more naive. More childish.

Nano had no intention of judging who he was. She had agreed to Panthana's request, so she would stay by Na's side until Madame Maslow returned. When she returned, she would arrange a meeting with her and not bother with him anymore.

She will not get attached to him. She has no reason, no advantage in that.

- Anyway, I'm here to pick you up, Na," Nano finally said.

- ...

- You'll come with me while I check that everything is okay in the Federation. I'll try to be a good guide.

- I can't wait to see the Federation!

Nano stood up and looked quickly at Panthana.

- I'll give him back to you around 8:00," Nano said.

Panthana smiled at him.

- You have to tell that to his Faction, not to me.

- Hm, he has a Faction?

- Sheerah's.

- Eeeh, Sheerah...

Nano knew her, but not personally. She turned to Na, who had already stood up, and beckoned him forward. He did so and they both left the room. Panthana watched them leave with a smile, wondering if Nano would enjoy Na's company... A Kemono sat down next to Panthana and questioned her with her eyes.

- What is Nano doing with the human...?" asked Chianina.

Panthana laughed and didn't answer, leaving Chianina in total confusion.

************************************************************************************

- It doesn't make sense...

The Kemono touched her cap and squinted. She checked the numbers again, but she noticed that she was right: it didn't make sense. The Kemono next to her asked if everything was okay, but she shook her head.

- We have... a problem..." she admitted.

He asked her what was wrong. She tapped with her index finger on the paper that was a little to her right. The Kemono looked at it, wondering what was going on.

- The numbers show that the water rose by 17% in one week, which does not make sense. More and more water is rising on the shore and it's not stopping. There has been no change in the trajectory of Lura, nor earthquakes from the depths of the oceans, so logical explanations seem impossible. There is only one conclusion I can make without it being illogical," she admitted.

- What is it...?" asked the Kemono, a cap identical to her friend's on her head.

- I'm afraid of what I'm going to say... I hope I'm wrong, I want to be wrong. Nevertheless, I don't see anything else. After so many observations, even if only for the duration of a single week, I am forced to make this conclusion. I can't think of any other reason. It stresses me out, I'm afraid I'm right.

She turned to her friend. Her eyes crinkled and a drop of sweat ran down her forehead.

- Something gigantic is moving into the ocean.