I wake up feeling oddly full of energy then realize that something big and fluffy is wrapped around me. I chuckled and found the head, rubbing Suko's head before trying to get out from under her, as I didn't want to wake her up.
Just as I'm about to sit up I see her eyes open and she looks at me with two amber eyes, seeming curious. What had they said about her eyes being amber again? She licked me before I could think of it, seeming happy to see me.
I rub her head and get up, using my stretch to keep her from pushing me down again. "Hey hey, I need to get going, I still need to meet with the others, and so do you, so can you change back?"
She looked at me like I was talking weird, and didn't seem to want to change back, I shrugged and motioned for her to follow as I went to get dressed. "I guess you can stay that way since it won't be too bad and you can still understand us."
I look through my clothes as Suko nudges a dress I don't often wear. A more modern outfit than you'd expect in a human city, it amused me to wear something like that here so I nod and rub her head as I grab it. I started to put it on as Suko looked out the window, it seemed like she was a different person but still the same to an extent.
I pet her and go to my door with Retsuko following me as I see a royal guard by my door.
"Really? I don't need protection like that, I'm probably stronger than you."
"I'm sorry miss Sendria, it is Lady Saphire's orders"
I sigh and head down the hall, one of the Guards following me as I make my way to my grandmother's room, wanting to talk with her.
Once I got there I looked at Suko, who was still in wolf form and her head smiling a bit.
"You still want to stay in your wolf form?"
She just looks at me like it was obvious so I shrug since it doesn't matter much, everyone knows who she is.
I head in, seeing Saphire at her desk. She looks up at me and I go over and hug her.
She hugged me back, helping me feel better.
After a few minutes, I hear Suko wine and pet her, chuckling.
"You are a needy one huh? I'm guessing you're her wolf huh? Seems like it, and I hope you act well."
"Now Sendria dear, don't act like she's a real wolf, she's a grown woman, even when her wolf side is in charge. Just like you."
I felt like she was hinting at something else and looked at Saphire, seeing the look she was giving me told me what she meant. It was the old knowing yet understanding look that told me she understood what I did and why.
I sit down and sigh, not sure where to start as Suko rests her head on my lap.
"So do you know what you did? Or do you have a different idea of what happened?"
Her tone wasn't accusing at all, but more like the gentle nudging I often got from Mother.
"I know what I did..but it's all just so much..I know Father did things like this early but I'm not him..why does he act like I should be doing more when I barely explored outside our kingdom?"
"I know Sendria dear, and normally we wouldn't put much on you, but I believe you can see why they are worrying so much. you're their daughter, their only child, and a symbol to many of us."
She rests a hand on my shoulder and kisses my head, I smile a bit but it still troubled me, it felt like there was something more but what? It's not like there's anything to hide from me to make them afraid. Right?
I look up at her face, seeing her pride, her happiness, and her worry in her eyes.
"What aren't you telling me? It feels like everyone is hiding something from me."
"There are many secrets in this world, Sendria, things your father knows because of his rank, things I know that he doesn't. Feeling like things are being held for you isn't untrue, but it's because you don't need to know them, or aren't ready"
What she said was true, and I know there are many things that I don't need to know, but it felt like there was something else. I wasn't going to get anything from Saphire, but I don't know where to go..what now?
"Sendria dear, I can see that you are doubting me, and I understand that, but trust that we care and want to keep you as safe as we can, ok?"
I sigh and nod, I know they want to protect me, it's just frustrating that things are being kept from me.
"Ok, I get it...I guess I'll go talk to my father huh?"
"You can if you wish dear, take your time"
I was glad it was my choice, I need to talk with the others, and get ready for any mission.
I get up and now before leaving, I ask the royal guard outside where May and Dylan are while I pet Retsuko. She nuzzled my hand and I smiled a bit before heading off to find May and Dylan, and I need to get us working as a team along with Grey.
*********************
I walk into a small training room, it was nice with some weights, a few dummies, and a fight ring. I saw Dylan and May using the weights as Grey practiced on a dummy. I get an idea and sneak up behind him, wanting to jump him.
A few feet from Grey, he spins around and I duck his swing, tripping him up and then falling on him. Grey catches me and once I see that he recognizes me he laughs and hugs me, I hug him back and nuzzle him.
I feel the other two standing by us and look up smiling.
"Hey, how are you? Sorry, I went away for a bit, I had things to think through, but I think I'm better now."
I get up and help Grey up, looking at Dylan and May. Dylan looked a bit annoyed but I could also see he was worried, May was difficult to read as always.
"Are you going to run off again or will you stay with us? We do need you leading this group, Sendria." May was direct but at least honest. I knew that she was right since I was made the leader of our strike force for a reason, even if I didn't understand it.
"I am, but we need to learn how to work together right now before our first mission..we all have our own ways to fight, which means we need to see how we can work together."
"That sounds like a leader now." Dylan spoke up, smiling a bit."
I walk to the fighting ring. "Who wants to fight me? We need to understand how all of us fight."
Retsuko changes to her werewolf firm and walks up, but May puts a hand on her shoulder. "Amber, what are you doing? Why are you taking control? Retsuko needs this, so she can work better."
She looked at May and seemed to be disappointed but her eyes changed back to their mismatched state. I noticed they were both Amber before, I need to work on noticing things like that, it could have been bad.
Retsuko walks into the ring and takes up a typical fighting stance, it still amazes me that May's scar was caused by Retsuko. I take my own stance, presenting my side as I raise my hands, slightly curled to be ready for anything.
As we were both ready Dylan snapped his fingers and a flash happened. I rush at Suko with a punch to her gut from the right, my left ready for a straight punch to her chest. Suko spun around with a closed fist coming at my face like a backhand as she spun, causing me to block with my left hand.
I try to grab her arm and go for a flip as Suko crouches down and using my own force on her arm, jumps and kicks my side, rolling away as I stumble a bit and hold my side. I held my side where she kicked and kept my eyes on her as she rolled to her feet, I could see in her eyes that her wolf found this fun. Seeing how she had landed the first hit hurt my pride a bit but I had to admit I had underestimated her.
"I guess you really are good, and I can see how Dylan can lose if he ever took you lightly for a moment..let's get serious."
I could see their concern, but I waved them off, as we would still stay within the limits of the duel, and I can step it up more if Suko lost control.
Suko seemed to be confident as she slowly advanced, keeping her hands cupped. I knew that she probably had her claws out normally, and I would too if I didn't use a sword.
As she got within a few meters I lunged forward but stopped a few feet to kick as she leaped back, leading me to crouch as I put my foot down. I am ready to attack if needed, but she just watches me, probably knowing that my strength can surpass hers easily.
I slowly stand up and start shuffling forward, trying to get closer. Suko stays still watching me, I stay just out of range then spin, using my tail to try and hit her face, keeping my eyes on her, but as I turn my head to match my turn, she had ducked during my laps of vision and was rising to uppercut my chin, I raise my hands to help block it and try to use it to spring off. Suko punch connects with my hands and I push back, landing a few feet away, but I could tell she put enough strength that it could have hurt a lot, it seemed she wasn't holding back much. I growl a hit, getting worked up, I need to treat her like my father, Suko was deceptively good.
I started to walk around, trying to get on her right side when a hit, but she matched me while staying still, only now I realize she's in the center of the ring, meaning it was easier for her to push me out if she wanted to.
I was starting to get frustrated, she had played me from the start, a glance at May and Dylan told me that they had expected this, and it was surprising, since Retsuko always seemed so carefree about things, making it hard to see her as a fighter.
I start to wall closer while still going in a circle, knowing I was looking like an amateur, if my father was here I would be scolded for hours.
Once I was just in range to barely reach her, I stopped watching her carefully, trying to inch closer, one hand low, the other up to block my face as my tail flicked impatiently. Suko did a feint to my face then a real punch to my gut, I catch it and pull her forward before I headbutt her then kick her in the stomach as she stumbles, I rush forward to keep it up, going for my own uppercut, trying to knock her out of the ring, then see her catch it as her own goes for my gut, I catch it then try to push her out, feeling her strength as she seemed to almost match me, but I could tell I was pushing her back. Before she got too close I could tell the look in her eyes and jumped up using our grips to go sideways and kick her out, she seemed surprised and stumbled out of the ring coughing.
May went up to check on her as I watched, waiting a few moments to make sure Retsuko didn't let her wolf out. I could see Dylan nod as he walked up, I felt a hand on my shoulder and put my hand in it, looking to see Grey.
I look at Retsuko. "You almost beat me, I'm surprised how good you are."
I offer my hand to help her up, and she takes it and here up chuckling. "You did well too, me and Amber almost had you buy you wised up a bit quicker than I thought you would, and at the end, I had gotten cocky."
"Maybe but I don't think I can fight May now..though I think it might be good to have her fight someone else better at close range than me..like Grey" I glance at him and smile, seeing him look a bit nervous, probably knowing a hit about may.
"Don't worry Grey, I won't use my knives."
He shakes his head "Doesn't mean you can't wipe the floor with me, I know you're great at close combat, where I like some range with my hammer."
She walks into the ring, takes her coat and knives off, giving them to Dylan. "You won't always have it, now come on."
I hear him sigh and look to see him walking it the ring, I go sit with Dylan, retsuko beside me as we watch them square up"