AFK - Away From Keyboard

Chapter 9:

Emica's POV:

We were on our way to the next closest town. Ren walked a bit ahead of us, so that if by chance a goblin or the like appeared he would be able to "protect" us.

A few times I brought out my new ocarina and played a little melody at Myra's request. She wanted to know what it was after seeing it in my menu. Whenever I played it, Ren would give me his strange look. I wonder if he doesn't like the way the ocarina sounds, or maybe I play it badly...

Now Myra and I walked hand-in-hand, pointing out everything that caught our eyes.

"I like pretty things." Myra declared, placing a flower in her hair. "That's why I love this world. The clothing, the flowers, the scenery. Everything is beautiful. Say, why do you always wear that plain, short, tannish dress? You would look so much nicer in colors!"

"It's really more of a tunic..." I corrected with a tiny smile. "I wear it with leggings so I can run more easily. As for color, I prefer to avoid attention so bland is a good way for me to go."

Ren muttered something about the tall grass being annoying.

Myra laughed. "So you think practically. Well I'll try not to nag you too much, but you absolutely have to let me dress you up one day. Maybe I'll paint a picture of you or something."

It was my turn to laugh. "I don't think I could stay still long enough. And I'm so clumsy I might ruin it somehow."

Myra opened her mouth to say something, but instead she let out a shriek. Something was clawing and biting her arm. The actual creature was invisible, but I saw the slash marks as they appeared.

Quickly, I pulled an arrow from my quiver and stabbed it into the invisible beast.

Myra stopped screaming just as Ren reached us. The beast had appeared after I stabbed it. It was a goblin, only it had a pig's snout and glassy eyes.

"You killed it..." Myra stammered.

"Would you rather she let it eat you alive?" Ren asked, kicking the goblin over.

"No...no I just...you don't look like..."

"The kind of person who kills monsters?" I smiled wryly. "I don't...unless they're hurting my friends."

"Another point on the mystery girl chart." Ren smirked while the goblin dissolved into light, rewarding me with a few gold coins.

"Great! Now I'm titled as the weakest team member." Myra groaned and rubbed her arm.

Something moved in a patch of tall grass, catching my eye. Was it another goblin?

Ren's eyes followed my gaze to the grass and he too saw the slight movement.

"Wait here a sec." He whispered into my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. I hate it when people whisper in my ear.

Ren inched silently towards the grass, then quickly pushed it aside. "Huh?"

"What is it?" I asked, ignoring his command and hurrying over to where he stood. I ducked under his arm and looked down at the grass. There laid a small white kitten. It's blood dyed fur and slashed body convinced me it had been about to be the goblins meal.

"The poor thing!" I picked up the now mewling kitten and cradled it in my arms. "I think maybe I can help it!" I opened my satchel and took out a few ointments and some bandages. The kitten was so young that it's eyes hadn't even opened yet. My heart was completely captivated by the tiny thing.

"Oh how cute!" Myra squealed when she saw the squirming kitty.

Ren watched as I did my best to fix up the animal's room. "What are you going to do with it?" He asked.

"I'm going to keep her." I announced while fondling the kitten's ears.

"What are you going to name her?" Myra asked. "She's white, fluffy, beyond adorable..."

"My friend just names their animals after whatever month they got it." Ren shrugged. "August was the weirdest dog I have ever seen."

"I'm just going to call her Snowy." I laughed at my lack of imagination.

"She does look like an ice queen." Ren smirked.

Myra rolled her eyes. "More like a snow ANGEL!"

The kitten quieted down and was now sleeping contentedly.

"So cute!" myra would yell every few minutes once we began walking again.

"I like the new addition." Ren said once Myra was out of earshot. "She doesn't scream all the time."

"Just wait until we need to sleep." I smiled. "You'll prefer Myra then."

"I'd replace ANY girl with snow queen." Ren stroked Snowy's head. "Any girl...except probably..."

"HEY, can I hold Snowy?" Myra asked, appearing in between us.

"Um..." Not to be selfish, but I really don't want anyone else to hold my kitten. 

"Actually, I'll wait." Myra changed her mind. "I don't want to hold her wrong and hurt her worse."

I sighed with relief as Myra ran ahead again to observe a brook gurgling near by. "Sorry you were saying something." I smiled apologetically at Ren.

"I uh...I forget." He shrugged carelessly.

"Oh...okay?"

Snowy purred quietly. She was so soft and adorable I just wanted to squeeze her.

Myra appeared next to me again. "She's so cute and sweet I just want to squeeze her in my arms and never let go!" She tickled Snowy's paw.

"Me too." Ren winked.

"You're not talking about the cat...are you?" Myra asked suspiciously, confusing me once again.

"You are." Ren smiled strangely, confusing me even farther.

"What? Of course I am...you..." Myra's face twisted with confusion much like my own. "Stop trying to confuse me! You filthy flirt! You benumbing baboon!"

Ren laughed. "I haven't even begun yet, that was only a little banter. Yue and I can show you what real flirting is like."

"I don't know what that is...you both probably know more about it than I do." I announced as I stroked Snowy's fur.

"Are you sure about that?" Ren asked with an accusing tone that made my blood boil.

"I've never flirted before in my LIFE! I don't even know how!" I cried, a little shocked outrage crept into my voice.

"Don't worry, I can teach you." He gave me his strange smile again.

"No thank you." Myra and I said at the same time.

Myra flashed a victorious smile. "That's Yue three, Ren nothing."

I slowed my pace so I was walking behind Myra and Ren. "I'm going to have Snowy keep me company. At least she makes SOME sense!"