Justice for the Forest-Beasts

Chapter Fourteen - In Which There is a Party

When they reached the house, Estelle knocked on the front door. The house had recently been painted a light blue color, and it looked very new and pristine. The pathway that led to the house's front door was neatly shoveled, with the snow piled at either side of the path. In the summertime, the path would be lined with small flowers instead. The surname "Inorlan" and the house's address were painted in neat, green letters on a small sign that hung on the front door.

Colette answered the door, and she was happy at the sight of the twins. For a moment, Estelle could see the confusion on her face as she noticed Rain, but she did not address xyr presence as she beamed, "Your Royal Highnesses, happy birthday! Are you here for Petra?"

Estelle nodded, "Thank you. Yes, ma'am."

"Alright, alright, come on in!" She stepped aside to let the three inside, "We can't afford to lose much heat, it's been getting so cold out recently!" Estelle was sure that buying a little bit more wood than usual wouldn't have any more of an effect on the Inorlans than it would for the royal family, but she politely chuckled along.

The group stomped their boots off on the pathway just outside the door, before hurriedly stepping into the house and removing their boots. Rain closed the door behind xem and the twins, then stood awkwardly until the twins stood up straight once again, their boots lined up neatly beside the Inorlans'. Rain didn't have any boots to remove, so xe only scanned the room curiously.

"I'll go get Petra. Give me just a moment, please," Colette said before hurrying upstairs.

They waited for a minute or two, before Colette returned with Petra following behind her. "You fools, don't you know what kind of trouble you've been stirring up by running off so much?" Petra said as she came down the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she noticed Rain and said, "Oh, you came with the bird-beast?" Petra stopped at the bottom of the stairs, while Colette hurried off to the kitchen.

"Yes, xe's been staying with us for the past few days," Estelle said, "Actually, we have a favor to ask. For all three of us."

"Alright, I'll see if I can help you," Petra said, "Come on, don't be afraid to make yourself comfortable. Take a seat."

Petra and the others all sat down on the two couches in the Inorlans' living room. Only Petra seemed to really be feeling comfortable.

"Alright, I'll get right to the point, I suppose," Estelle said, "Is it okay if Rain stays here with you for a while? Ideally, until the party?"

Petra was surprised by the odd favor, but she didn't decline, "Why do you need xem to stay here?"

"The Queen doesn't like xem. Xe's been sent to the dungeon three times in the past month, and I don't need to put xem through that again. I'm hoping that, during the party, she won't want to make a scene, arresting xem and all that," Estelle explained. She hoped that Petra understood her thought process, though she wasn't sure her explanation was making much sense.

"Let me ask my mom," Petra said as she stood up, "The request's coming from you two, so I'm sure she'll say it's okay."

"Alright, thank you so much," Estelle said.

"Thank you," Lucian signed, but Petra had already turned around and headed to the kitchen.

The group listened closely to Petra and Colette's conversation, perfectly audible from the living room.

"Excuse me, Mom," Petra said.

"Yes?" said Colette.

"Their Royal Highnesses are asking if we are alright with letting Rain stay in our house until their birthday party. Do you think we could do that?"