After getting a quick rundown of how Yarno worked, the loyalist stood up and gestured them towards the door. As Niro requested, she wanted her loyalist to bring the family to Hotfit Street.
The numbing air greeted them outside, with the entire street going quiet. Unlike before, there weren't any Variants going around, at least not as often.
Pearl caught a few Variants here and there, but it didn't seem as lively as before. Everything felt empty about this new place. Kyrosborne, as pretty as it looked, was no Krugi.
"Life out here drains from cities quickly, huh?" Ether commented.
"Hmm? Oh, you mean the lack of Variants wondering about?" the loyalist glanced both ways as she walked. "That's because they were on their lunch break before, now they have to go back to work."
She looked over her shoulder, locking eyes with Pearl. "Did you bring some boons? We're going to Hotfit Street to get you guys some warm clothes."
Ether glanced at Pearl, waiting to see protest against getting her clothes that were meant to block out the Yarnin cold. Yet she didn't seem bothered, only checked her pockets to confirm she had the boons.
"Great, let's pick up the pace," the loyalist suggested. "It looks like some mild rain, maybe snow, is going to hit eventually. Don't want to get caught up on your first day, right?"
***
Shops lined sidewalks, the giant windows barricaded figurines stationed in different positions. Modeling what different outfits looked like on different Variants.
Hylo instantly got glued to the odd-looking clothes. She wondered how'd she looked in some of them, picturing herself as different Variants in order to mimic the mannequins.
Etherna watched alongside Hylo, trying to see if there was anything in the passing stores to fit them. Yet most clothing was for adults. Jackets, hoodies, even capes and gowns.
"Neddy!" Etherna called out. "Where can we find clothes for -"
"Oppa-khim!!!" Azir interrupted. "In the shop. Oppa-khim is in the shop!"
The loyalist laughed, realizing what he wanted. "Well, this is the place where I buy my offspring their clothes. I'll wait for you all outside, enjoy shopping for the first time."
Ether picked up Azir, holding him gently in his arms. Then he opened the glass door leading inside, keeping it open for the rest of their family to go in.
Upon entering, the warm feeling of a scorching fireplace washed over their bodies. Making Ether's cheeks go from an easy tan to a warm pink.
"Hmm?" the worker poked their head out from beneath the counter. "Ah! Hiiiii!"
Azir jumped after hearing another Yonie, he turned to the counter where the worker was. He wore a warm-looking gown, a fine crimson to match the color of wine. The fine white fur poked out from his collar.
"Oh! It's an Ascent Thresher," Pearl marveled. "Hello little one. Wow, you guys look a lot different from I expected."
The worker warmly smiled, welcoming them into his store. He gestured up at the gowns hanging on the wall behind him. Designs, a concept that seemed foreign to the newcomers, decorated each one.
Making the gowns seem unique from the ones in Imbushko. Ether stared up at them, wondering which designed was the Oppa-khim Azir was so obsessed with.
"Neddy, up there. I see the flap flap there," Azir's innocent whisper instructed.
Ether looked at the highest row of gowns, instantly locking onto the design Azir wanted. The worker also stared up at it, except he had a frown on his face.
"I'm sorry," his head tilted down. "My Yomie - Yomieeee is out buying some fooood, so I am working for her. And I can't reach thaaat!"
Pearl glanced at the counter, putting a pause on her shopping to see if she could help. But Ether was already working on it.
Thanks to it being warm enough inside, he was capable of manipulating the heat into tugging the gown off the hanger. It dropped over the Yonie's head, covering him almost completely.
"Oop, sorry. I just wanted to help," Ether apologized.
"Ebaaah..." the Yonie took the gown off his head, looking at Ether with a fixed stare of utter amazement. "You have special Yonie powers too?? Waaaait! You're a Yonie - Yonie!!!"
Ether cringed, awkwardly chuckling and glancing at Pearl to see if she could come over and break up the awkward moment. But she was back to helping Hylo select her own outfit.
"I uh... am Zesher, yes. A - and that's the gown Azir wants," Ether tried changing topics. "How many boons is that?"
"Ten silver thorns, please," the Yonie requested.
While the rest were doing some shopping, Etherna looked up at a mannequin of a cub. The completely featureless body stood with its arms spread over its head, almost reaching for someone.
"Ferals aren't that innocent," Etherna mumbled. "Not even the cubs. Why is this one so innocent?" she studied the ankle-length pants and short-sleeved hoodie. "What Feral is this?"
"That's not a real Feral," a stranger's voice caught Etherna's attention. "Say, I've never seen you around Kyrosborne. Are you new?"
Etherna slowly turned around, locking eyes with a native Feral. Rough gray blades along their forearms and long, stiff hair made it clear which type this one was.
Which frightened Etherna even more, she would've wanted to lock eyes with a Scaler instead of an Ascent. Except, this Feral seemed different. He was wearing what Etherna assumed was war paint.
"I - I am..." Etherna struggled to speak. "Uh..."
"We are new, yes!" Hylo walked over. She grabbed Etherna's hand, then confidently smiled at the Feral. "I am Hylo and this is my beloved sister, Etherna."
The Feral grinned his usual toothy smile. "Adorable names. Do you two already have you want selected?"
Hylo glanced between her arms and Etherna's, then she nodded up at the Feral.
"Good, follow me to the counter. I can put it all in a nice bag for you two, while little Vemme gets the boons for it," the Feral replied.