Aurora froze as the woman leapt out from the alleyway, her blue fiery tails swirling around her like a magical breeze. The sudden appearance startled Aurora, and she instinctively took a small step back, her boots scraping against the ground.
"Um... excuse me. Are you here—" Aurora started, trying to collect her bearings, but the woman interrupted her, cutting her off with a quick, confident movement.
The woman stepped forward with deliberate grace, and before Aurora could react, she leaned in, sniffing the air around her. First, she sniffed at Aurora's chest, causing Aurora to stiffen, a mixture of confusion and unease painting her face.
"Wh-what are you doing?" Aurora asked, awkwardly glancing down at the woman, trying to figure out what on earth was happening.
Without missing a beat, the stranger leaned even closer, sniffing her hair with an odd intensity. Aurora couldn't help but blink rapidly, her eyebrows furrowing as she tried to process what was going on. She looked around nervously, wondering if someone had spiked her drink or if she'd just wandered into a strange dream.
The woman didn't stop there, though. She proceeded to sniff at Aurora's back, all the while keeping her eyes focused on Aurora with a strange, almost amused expression. Aurora shifted uncomfortably, feeling like a confused animal being inspected by a zookeeper.
"What are you doing?!" Aurora repeated, her voice rising slightly, though she couldn't hide the odd mix of curiosity and embarrassment that washed over her.
Finally, the woman took a step back and nodded in what appeared to be satisfaction, as if she had just confirmed a deeply important piece of information.
"You're part of the Phoenix Crew," she said matter-of-factly, her voice smooth and confident. "I knew I'd run into one of them eventually."
Aurora blinked, her mouth slightly open in disbelief. The paper she had been clutching tightly to her chest now felt like it weighed a ton, and her mind raced to catch up. "The Phoenix Crew?" she echoed, looking at the woman in confusion. "What? Who are you? Why... why did you do that?"
The woman flashed a playful grin and stood up straight. "The name's May. Pleased to meet you." She gave Aurora a straight pose, arms nipped on her hips, as though they were old acquaintances, leaving Aurora utterly baffled.
May's behavior and the sudden reveal of her name only left Aurora with more questions than answers.
Aurora's heart skipped a beat as May quickly snatched the paper from her hands, her own shout of "Hey!" echoing in the alleyway.
Before she could even make a move to grab it back, May expertly dodged to the side, her blue fiery tails flicking like they had a mind of their own, making Aurora stumble forward and then lunge sideways in a completely uncoordinated mess. Aurora's arm swiped through the air with dramatic, but utterly useless, flair as she missed the paper by inches.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Aurora said, her face turning bright red with frustration.
But May, grinning mischievously, casually sidestepped her, making a little mock-curtsy in the process, as if she were performing some sort of dance. Aurora's momentum carried her forward, and she nearly face-planted into a nearby crate. She pulled herself up just in time to see May reading the paper aloud.
"'488,000,000… Moon Knightess... Dead or Alive… Bring the Moon Knightess to Geyser Island...'" May read with a tone of absolute seriousness, making Aurora's eyes widen.
"Give that back!" Aurora shouted, her hand outstretched, but May simply winked at her and took another exaggerated step back, holding the paper just out of Aurora's reach.
"Oh, this is juicy," May continued, her voice dripping with playful amusement as she skimmed through the rest. "Hmm… intriguing… Could this be about someone special?" she teased, enjoying the spectacle.
Aurora huffed, flailing her arms in a desperate attempt to get the paper back. "Stop reading it out loud! I'm right here, you know!"
May ignored her protests, making little shushing motions as she continued to read, completely delighted by the situation. Aurora's embarrassment was almost palpable, especially as she realized her earlier clumsy attempts to grab the paper were now something of a running joke.
Finally, May folded the paper and handed it back, but not without adding a teasing comment: "You know, you're lucky I don't make you chase me for this like a game of cat and mouse. I was beginning to think you had some sort of ninja skills with those very dramatic lunges."
Aurora scowled at her, holding the paper back to her chest. "You're insufferable," she muttered, but despite her words, a small smile tugged at her lips, despite the awkwardness.
May only grinned wider, clearly pleased by Aurora's reaction. "I like you already"
Aurora's gaze was fixed on May's tails, her confusion growing. "Are those... tails? Three of them?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. May glanced over her shoulder, giving a playful wiggle of the flaming appendages.
"Yep, they are. What's the big deal?" May responded casually.
Aurora hesitated, eyeing the tails closely. "Is this some kind of unique ability? It kinda reminds me of Tim's flames..." The mention of Temoshí caught May's attention, and she raised an eyebrow.
"Temoshí? Oh, it's probably just a coincidence," May said nonchalantly. But Aurora shook her head firmly.
"No way. This is way too familiar to his flames. Who exactly are you, May?"
May let out an exaggerated sigh, planting her hands on her hips with a determined look. "Forget about it. There's no time for this. I heard some screaming—I'm guessing that was you. What the hell happened?"
Aurora's expression softened, her previous curiosity turning to sadness. "I... I was with a friend. We were trying to get her to a doctor, but then two men in masks, acting like mimes, showed up and took Yumiko. I... I don't know why they want to take her to Geyser Island."
May didn't waste a second, nodding with understanding. "I see. Let's go." Without another word, May's body began to shift and transform. The flames around her grew larger, swirling and intensifying until they enveloped her completely. The fire extended, coiling around her body, shaping and molding into something far greater.
Aurora stood frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief, as May's body began to shift before her. At first, it was subtle—just a slight shift in her posture, a flicker of movement. But then, the flames that surrounded May ignited with a fierce intensity, licking the air as they wrapped around her limbs, growing higher and wilder. It was as though the fire itself was alive, coursing through her, tracing her body as it intensified.
The flames roared, swirling up her legs, her arms, flowing around her torso like a living aura. May's figure began to stretch, her form elongating gracefully. Her body twisted, her muscles rippling as her legs became more slender and powerful. The flames wrapped tighter, forming a silhouette that seemed to hum with magic and power.
Aurora gasped as May's back arched, the fire expanding and unfurling like an intricate fan. Six more tails sprouted from her, each glowing with a vibrant, mesmerizing blue. The flames in the tails twisted and swirled, flickering with life, their movement fluid and graceful as if they had a mind of their own. The fire created intricate fur-like patterns, shimmering in the dim light, the flickering flames casting a spellbinding glow.
As the transformation continued, May's face elongated, becoming fox-like, her expression still human, but now tinged with an otherworldly beauty. Her eyes shone with the same brilliant blue, gleaming with a wisdom that seemed ancient. The transformation was now complete: standing before Aurora was a magnificent three-tailed Kitsune, her form tall and lithe, with a brilliant blue flame-like fur that danced in the night.
Aurora couldn't tear her eyes away, stunned by the sheer elegance and power in front of her. "W-Whoa..." she murmured, struggling to take it all in. The air around them felt alive with energy, as if charged by the very flames May now controlled.
May, now fully transformed, tilted her head and flashed a playful grin. "Impressed? I don't normally do this on short notice, but we've got somewhere to be." She flicked her tails with a casual swish, the fire around her glowing brighter.
Aurora, still in awe, stammered, "Y-Yeah, I've never seen anything like this. You're... a fox spirit? But why the flames and the tails...?"
May laughed softly, the sound carrying a melodic quality. "It's my power. Not exactly something you find in the typical fairy tale, but you'll get used to it." She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing with purpose. "Come on! Hop on my back! Are we going to keep talking about my tails, or are we going to Geyser Island?"
Aurora snapped out of her daze, nodding quickly. "Right, Geyser Island. We need to go."
With a graceful leap, May shot into the air, her tails extending behind her like fiery ribbons, propelling her higher into the sky. Aurora, still slightly awestruck, scrambled onto May's back, and in the next moment, they were soaring through the air, the flames swirling around them as they headed toward Geyser Island, the unknown dangers awaiting them on the horizon.
With urgency in their steps, May and Aurora ran through the lively streets of Casinova Island, dodging vendors and crowds as they made their way toward the docks. The air was thick with tension, but neither of them slowed down. They could hear the distant rumble of a ship's engines, signaling the Duo Veyra's departure.
Bursting through the final stretch of the bustling marketplace, they arrived at the docks just as the Duo Veyra's ship began to pull away from the pier. The two masked figures stood at the helm, their eyes locked on the horizon. Without hesitation, May opened her mouth and shot a brilliant blue blast of fire from her fox mouth, the attack crackling with intensity, aiming straight for the ship.
But before the blast could make contact, the Duo Veyra reacted with their eerie mimicry. They formed a shield from thin air, a shimmering barrier that absorbed the fiery blast. The ship, undeterred, continued to sail out into the open sea.
May growled in frustration, chasing after them, but just as she was about to leap into the water, a sudden flare burst into the sky, blinding her and Aurora. The flash stunned them both, causing them to falter and lose their footing. As the light faded, they could see the Duo Veyra's ship moving swiftly into the distance, their figures becoming smaller and smaller.
May stood on the water, keeping Aurora on her back, her feet lightly skimming the surface as she glanced at the retreating ship. With a deep breath, she turned to Aurora. "We can catch them," she said, her voice firm with confidence. "I can run faster than any beast, even across the water."
May's eyes narrowed as she saw the Duo Veyra's ship quickly vanishing into the distance, their figures fading into the vast expanse of the sea. But as she took a step forward, Aurora grabbed her shoulder, halting her for a moment.
"Wait!" Aurora's voice was firm, but laced with urgency. "We can't just leave without leaving a sign. We need to let the others know what happened, that Yumiko's been taken... that they're going to Geyser Island." She glanced down at the ship they had just arrived on, knowing it was the perfect opportunity. "We'll leave a message. Something for the crew to find when they get back."
May raised an eyebrow, considering Aurora's suggestion. "A message, huh? You think they'll get it in time?"
Aurora nodded, looking at the ship's deck. "We won't be able to catch up with them if we keep running after them aimlessly. But if we leave something on this ship, they'll know exactly where we went. It'll buy us time, and they'll know where we are."
May paused for a moment, clearly weighing the options in her mind. The flame from her tails flickered as she thought. Finally, with a quick nod, she agreed. "Alright, I'll follow your lead. Let's do it."
In an instant, she crouched low, allowing Aurora to climb back onto her back. Her tails flared up once more, a dance of fire that lit the surroundings with a brilliant orange glow. With Aurora firmly positioned behind her, May shot forward, her body engulfed in a blaze of fire, sending her dashing toward the ship.
As they reached it, May leapt onto the side of the vessel, her fiery tails lighting the way. Aurora jumped off with a graceful roll, immediately moving to the ship's railing where the crew's supplies were kept. Her hands flew as she grabbed a piece of cloth and some charcoal from a nearby crate. Quickly, she scrawled the message with shaky hands, her thoughts racing.
"Yumiko was taken by the Duo Veyra. They're heading to Geyser Island. We'll follow soon. Don't forget us."
With the message completed, Aurora tied it to the main mast, making sure it was visible for anyone who would board the ship next. May stood close by, her flaming presence illuminating the scene, watching Aurora work with quiet determination.
"We've done it," Aurora said, breathing a sigh of relief as she stepped back and looked at the message. "Now they'll know what happened and where we went. We can't leave them in the dark."
May's fiery tails flicked behind her as she nodded. "Good thinking. But now, it's time to chase after them." Her voice was filled with unwavering confidence.
Aurora climbed back onto May's back, and with a powerful burst of flame, they shot off again, their speed pushing them across the water like a living comet. The sea beneath them rippled with the force of their movement, the waves crashing into their sides as they sped toward Geyser Island.
The wind howled around them, but May barely noticed. Her focus was unshakable. Her flames grew hotter, more intense, as she sprinted across the water, her speed increasing with each stride. Aurora clung tightly to May, her hair whipping around her face as they raced forward. The distant silhouette of Geyser Island loomed ahead, but the journey was far from easy.
To be continued...