I was wandering the halls again around dinner time. I haven't seen Ishi in a while and I wanted to chat. When I went back by her room, the clothes were gone. I knocked on her door and she didn't answer. One of the nurses for the facility told me that they saw her come and go an hour or so ago. I was more than a little bummed that she didn't say anything to me.
I kept walking around, being nosy and checking things out. I was lost again, however I ran into Kori this time.
"Good evening, Kori!" I said in a voice that was much more welcoming than I felt.
She smiled back at me, "Nice to see you again, Mika. How are you?"
"I'm feeling much better. The medicine helps a lot."
"That's good to hear. Are you done with your confinement too then?" She asked.
"Yes, but I have to remain within the facility unfortunately." I pouted.
She giggled, "That's too bad. I was just going to see if Ishi wanted to head to the tavern for dinner. You could have joined us." She smirked.
"Too bad. Ishi isn't here by the way, don't know where she went off to either." I shot back.
She looked amused, "Really? That sneaky leopard."
"You could always have dinner here with me if you want, since Ishi is gone." I offered.
Somewhere in the back of mind I think I was just trying to keep Kori away from Ishi, but on the other hand I also hadn't had a decent conversation in almost 2 weeks. I'll take what I can get.
She had a large smile on her face as she accepted, "That sounds wonderful! I'll have someone bring us some food."
We went down a series of hallways and she showed me a small dining room. She stopped one of the staff on our way though and asked her to get dinner from the tavern and bring it back for us. We sat across from each other at the table.
I have no idea why I have this dislike of her, she seems very nice. I need to become friends with her and accept her, as my beast instructed.
She stretched before sitting down. When she doesn't say anything, she almost gives off a childlike innocence. I can definitely see the attraction, she is beautiful and her appearance is flawless. There was a brief awkward silence when we sat down; I didn't know what to say to her.
"I heard your mate left for the peak. You must be sad without him." She said.
I wasn't sure if she was being empathetic or if she was mocking me. I decided to be the bigger person and assume the best.
"Yeah, I am. I'm a little sad that I didn't even get to say goodbye as well. Is it dangerous where he's going?" I asked.
"Hmmmm…" She looked thoughtful before answering, "Kind of. They have to pass the Chuti den in order to reach the peak."
"Why don't they just go around?"
"Because of the terrain. It's very steep up that way, the only path to climb to the top is right near the Chuti." My face must have showed my worries because she quickly added, "Don't worry too much, the group all have scent masking elixir with them. As long as they use that and move slow, the Chuti shouldn't notice them."
That's the same method we used with the Chimera. I guess it works for a lot of things.
"That's good to know. I still worry, but you helped put my mind at ease. Thank you." I told her.
She gave me a genuine smile. She was actually quite cute, I couldn't help smiling back.
"So, can I ask about the tails? I've been dying to know." She leaned forward eagerly, her eyes burning with curiosity.
"Oh, um.. I don't actually know. They just kind of appeared." I shrugged.
"Really?" She looked disappointed. "I was hoping for something a little more interesting." She pouted.
"Haha, sorry. That's all there is to it. Suben seems to have some theories about my condition. He's going to per-" I was mid sentence when she cut me off.
"Don Suben?!" She stared at me intensely, leaning across the table.
"Um.. Yes." I was confused about her reaction.
"You met him?!" She asked.
"Yes, earlier today. why?" I asked back.
"How did you meet him?"
"He came to my room to get me." I replied.
"So he already knew about you.." She murmured as she sat back down.
"Did he not know about me? Isn't he in charge here?" I asked back.
"No he didn't. Some of the conditions set were to keep your condition and treatment here a secret from everyone. Ishi won't be happy about this."
Hearing her say Ishi's name made my hair stand on end, I felt my blood get hot and I was angry for no reason. I took a breath to calm down.
"Ishi doesn't have to know." I told her.
She looked amused. "Oh?" She asked with fake concern, "You would keep something like this from her?"
"Are you saying that you would prefer to tell her that you broke the conditions of whatever agreement you made?" I said back, annoyed.
She snickered, "I was joking. Of course, I understand. I was just surprised is all. you two seem very… close." She winked.
"Why do you are Karlos always make it sound weird?! Yes we are close, She's a close friend!" My annoyance was surfacing again, despite my attempt to rein it in.
"I just find it interesting that you are as close with her as you are to your mate." She said bluntly.
I guess there is something to be said about honesty. My irritation reduced greatly as I processed that. She is right.
"I guess you are right.. We are a pretty close group." I said thoughtfully.
"So you can see why it might be a little confusing for us, then?" She said.
"Yes. I apologize for getting so angry."
Things went smoothly after that. She complimented my clothes and I told her how I made them. I finally got the chance to ask more about this village. She told me some of their history. She was talking about the treaty with the arctic wolves when the girl arrived with our food.
Good food made the atmosphere even lighter. We were getting along very well and had a lot in common. We were talking about our shared characteristics and beast attributes as we finished our meals.
"Are there red fox Demi-humans?" I asked her.
"Not that I know of. However we are pretty isolated up here, so who's to say." She shrugged.
"It's pretty impressive how you have managed to survive underground here like this."
"Right?! I think so too." She agreed
"I would love to tour the farms when my confinement is over." I told her.
"I'll take you! I love going there!" she offered.
"I would love that." I said.
"It's a date then!" She chimed in, with a big smile.
I laughed and smiled back, "It's a date."
"What's this about a date?" I heard Ishi's voice from the doorway behind me.
I turned around to see her leaning against the doorframe looking very displeased.
"Ishi!" I called happily.
"There you are." Kori said with an ambiguous tone.
Ishi was wearing the clothes I made her, and they looked damn good on her too. My tails were swishing happily as I stood up to greet her.
"Do you like them? Do they fit okay?" I asked, pointing to the clothes.
"I do. They are quite warm, too." She said disinterestedly. She looked over at Kori and asked, "Now what is this about a 'date'?"
Kori approached with her usual smugness and told Ishi, "Once Mika is done with her confinement we are going sightseeing together." She cracked a huge smile as she threw her arm over my shoulder.
"She's going to show me the farms!" I said excitedly.
Ishi had her usual disdainful expression as she looked us over. Her tail wasn't swishing which told me that she was in a foul mood. Kori didn't seem to notice or care.
"Should we do this again tomorrow, Mika? I had a lot of fun with you." Kori asked me, completely ignoring the look that Ishi was giving her.
I felt a little weird being in the middle of their lover's spat, but I also wasn't going to turn away her company either. I looked up at Ishi.
Kori grabbed my face and turned it towards her, "What are you looking at her for? You don't need her permission, she isn't your mate!"
Ishi growled and pushed us apart. My face was red from embarrassment, among other emotions I couldn't identify.
"No touching." Ishi warned Kori.
Poor Kori. Ishi clearly feels insecure about us hanging out. I need to make it clear to Ishi that I have no interest in her new girlfriend.
"Ishi, do you want to have dinner together too?" I asked her.
She looked down at me with an odd expression. Like, as if she was surprised I would ask her.
"Let's talk somewhere else." She said to me before looking at Kori.
Kori threw her hands up in surrender, with a mischievous look on her face. "I was just leaving anyways. No desert tonight." She smiled sweetly at Ishi before leaving.
I felt that irritation again.
Ishi grabbed my arm and led me away. We were in the hallways by our rooms when she slowed down and looked at me. I looked up her curiously.