The Missing Stone

Hello, again

"WHAT NO-" Mao squawks, before seeing who Mildred is facing. "Oh, hello there, handsome."

"Really Mao?" Chester asks, exasperated.

"And who might you be?" Claude asks, eyes lingering on Mildred's ears. Mildred doesn't answer.

He's practically my height!

He pats her on the head nonchalantly when he doesn't get an answer before heading over to the professor and Dimitri. Mildred doesn't bother listening. Instead she turns her attention to the woman from Gronder Field.

The professor's sister.

"Maybe we should talk to her?" Aelura suggests. "I'm pretty sure the Alliance and Kingdom are allies now." Mildred shrugs.

She approaches, adopting a friendly posture and stance. "Hello," Mildred greets. "Are you the professor's sister?" The woman's eyes soften. Not exactly a smile, but less of a scowl.

"Yes," she answers, voice flat. Much like her brother. "I am Lilith." Mildred's ears tilt forward as both a sign of interest and relaxation. Lilith's eyes fixate on her ears.

"My name is Mildred," Mildred says. They stare at each other awkwardly. Mildred shuffles on her feet, fidgeting. Lilith cautiously pets her head, staring in wonder at her ears.

"Are these real?" Lilith asks, moving around Mildred. "You have a tail too?"

"Lilith," her brother breathes, drawing her attention. She smiles, swiftly walking to him. The twins embrace, and Mildred hears Aelura sniffling.

"FINALLY THEY'RE TOGETHER I'M SO HAPPY!" She wails, and Mildred subtly leans away from Aelura's spirit. Like that would do anything.

Claude and Dimitri walk over, observing their teachers reunite.

"Soo," Claude starts, rocking on his heels. "Byleth?" The professor pulls away from his sister to acknowledge him. "I saw you at the shore." Byleth glances briefly at Mildred, his eyes widening ever so slightly.

"What do you mean Claude?" Dimitri asks, looking like a confused puppy.

"Oh if only I had my waterskin," Aelura growls.

Byleth shakes his head very slowly, face set in a very small scowl. Claude raises his eyebrows, but backs off. A hand lands heavily on Claude's shoulder.

"Claude," Dimitri almost growls. "What do you mean?" Claude puts a hand on top of the one on his shoulder.

"That's not my story to tell," he replies, wincing slightly under the pressure of the blond's grip. He glances at Mildred before flitting his eyes elsewhere.

Why can't people just look me in the eye?

"Who are you?" Someone with pink hair, pink sleeves, pink boots, pink everything flounces over. Mildred blinks at her.

"I'm Mildred," Mildred says. The pink woman coos at her.

"I'm Hilda! And you're adorable!" Hilda reaches to pet Mildred, but pauses with a questioning look. Mildred nods.

"Oh my goddess- Marianne!" Hilda calls, running her fingers through Mildred's hair. "Come here and meet Mildred!"

"Do you know Claude?" Mildred asks, unconsciously purring in response to Hilda's petting. Another woman with light blue hair and soft brown eyes appears from around the corner.

"Why yes! I'm his old classmate after all," Hilda says, then straightens from her petting. Mildred unconsciously pouts at the loss. "Claude is absolutely crazy about everything. He even asked me to protect the bridge! Too much responsibility for someone as delicate as me."

"Hilda you called for me-" The woman with blue hair, presumably Marianne, cuts herself off at the sight of Mildred. "Oh goddess, what a magnificent creature!" Her voice is soft, yet her passion burns brighter than the sun. "May the goddess protect you and bless you with great fortune and luck!" She prays, eyes sparkling as she caresses Mildred's ears.

"What's all the commotion-" Another woman with a bow and orange hair marches over. She stops in her tracks, all three women turning to the newcomer with bright smiles. "What in the world? You're a cat?!" Mildred blinks owlishly at her. Marianne giggles softly.

"Leonie this is Mildred," Hilda says. "Mildred this is Leonie, captain Jeralt's... first apprentice." Hilda groans exasperatedly at the end.

"That's right! Captain Jeralt is the best and you will remember that!" Leonie exclaims. Mildred blinks again.

"Where is he now?" She asks, instantly regretting her question as Leonie's face falls, proud smile turned downward in grief. Mildred gets the message instantly, moving to give the archer a hug. Leonie returns the hug, recovering quickly with another fact about Captain Jeralt.

"Captain Jeralt was the Captain of the Knights of Seiros- Hey!" She's cut off as her only listener is tugged into Hilda's chest.

"Aw come on," Hilda whines, and while it's fake Mildred can't help but feel sympathetic. "How come you gave her a hug and not me?" She tightens her hold, pushing Mildred's face further into her chest, making her slightly uncomfortable.

Aelura appears to have fainted. Mao is laughing to the point of tears and Chester is sitting on the ground beside her with his eyes shut. Mildred wraps her arms around Hilda to return the hug before pulling away. She holds her arms open for Marianne, who shys away with a soft, "No thank you."

"Are you guys coming to eat or what-" Another newcomer. A burly man with curly hair and tanned skin stands with his mouth agape around a chicken leg. "WHAAAT? She's a cat!? But how? Is it one of Claude's experiments or is it magic?"

"This is Raphael," Hilda sighs, rolling his eyes. "He loves everything edible and muscly."

"I'm Mildred," Mildred introduces herself for the third time today. "I would love to eat!"

"That's the spirit!" Rapheal grins, beckoning with the chicken leg. "Do you like fish? Because we always have a lot of fish just for Flayn-"

"Flayn?" Mildred asks, following. Raphael turns, walking backwards to the dining hall.

"Yeah! She loves food more than I love my muscles! And if you haven't noticed, I love my muscles." He takes a large bite into the chicken leg, chews, and swallows. "She's also Seteth's little sis, and is quite the little roarer!"

"Seteth's...sister?"

Cethleann?

"Yeah!" Raphael walks into the dining hall, motioning with his half-eaten chicken. "This is one of my favorite places!" With that he leaves her to explore, lining up eagerly for some food. Mildred looks around desperately for a head of vibrant green hair. The dining hall in Deridru is similar to the one at the monastery, except with a large door on one side leading out to a balcony overlooking the sea. She walks out on it, finally finding who she was looking for. They're the only ones on the balcony, the sun's shadow obscuring Mildred's form.

"Cethleann," Mildred dares to whisper, and the girl with green hair whips around, startled. "Is that you?"