Safe Haven

The Shocking Reveal

Reina happily made paw steps back to her dorm, walking side by side with Erin. Her belly was full, and she felt accomplished with her day. The best kind of feeling!

"So... I can't stay long 'cause I wanna get some sleep tonight, but wanna hang out for a bit longer?" Erin asked, and Reina nodded quickly. She looked away bashfully, feeling a bit embarrassed for excitedly agreeing so soon after being asked. She looked back and saw Erin smiling sheepishly, so she smiled too.

"I have something to tell you about, by the way," Reina began to explain, "something happened earlier, and I wanted to let you know." She finished saying, looking over at him with that same light smile. Erin nods.

"I'm all ears." He replied.

-

"We're back!" She announced to no one in particular as she opened the door. Erin stepped inside as she held it open for him, closed soon after as they walked to her side of the room. She plopped onto her bed and Erin sat next to her, like before dinner.

"So, what did you want to tell me?" Erin asked sincerely. He looked into Reina's eyes intensely, worry plaguing his expression. Reina looked away for a moment, gazing out the window. She took a deep breath.

"Well..." Reina began, "Earlier--when I was in my room--Charm came by to speak to me." She said. Erin raised an eyebrow.

"That ninetales that got me and Haven busted for arguing earlier?" He asked, a twinge of annoyance in his voice. Reina felt a bit awkward.

"Yeah... Well, she was only stopping a fight, y'know?" Reina began, trying to defend the ninetales. This time, both Erin's eyebrows raised. He laughed quietly.

"Ehh, sorry. I didn't mean to get all spiky around you. I don't hate Charm--I love her in fact," Erin began to explain, "she's just hard on me 'cause I've known her for a while, and she expects big things or whatever." He said, finishing his explanation. Reina gave him a curious look.

"Really? How long?" Reina asked, interested in learning more about him. Erin looked up for a moment, closing his eyes. He smiled.

"A few years. At least, that's how long we've known each other." He states, "Back when I was younger and she wasn't co-leader of the Guild, I would see her around." He explained, now gazing fondly out the window.

"How did you meet, though?" Reina asked, even more curious. If Charm wanted Reina to find someone trustworthy, then she imagined a friend of hers would be well-suited for the job. Erin stopped staring out the window as he snapped out of his trance, now facing Reina.

"I think it was sometime after she became co-leader. I was wandering around the Guild, looking for something fun to do while my dad worked on incoming admissions." He explained, and as he did so, Reina couldn't help but stare at him. She found learning about him... fun. No matter what it was she learned about the eevee, she enjoyed it. Or maybe it was just him in general? She pondered as he continued to explain.

"And she found me, scolded me for wandering around, and took me in." He said, "Took me in as in made me do chores, and gave me snacks when I was hungry. And scolded me some more." He finished, seeming satisfied with his words. Reina smiled.

"Sounds like she really cares for you. She's caring in general, I suppose." Reina said, seeming to talk not only to Erin but also to herself. Erin gazed at her curiously.

"What is it that she said to you, anyway?" He asked, carrying on with his gaze. Reina looked shyly back at him.

"Well, she helped affirm me, and stuff. She was um... very nice." Reina explained, blushing a little bit from embarrassment. Why was she suddenly so nervous? Maybe it was that look he gave her.

"Oh, okay! That's good, I'm glad she was able to help you." Erin said, a smile replacing the strange look he just had on his face.

"And there was the time after that," She began to speak anxiously. This one was kind of a weird experience. "She asked me to come outside with her, so I did. The room we were in beforehand had been very populated, and it was overwhelming me--I guess..." Erin listened thoroughly, still facing Reina, "Then she spoke about..." she paused, unsure if she should share this with him. She assumed, though, that he would already know given his experience. "Her power, and how she had sensed my feelings and thoughts." Erin's eyes were wide, and she wondered if she should have shared this at all.

"Almost nobody knows about that power--" He paused, looking behind and around him anxiously, "Reina, don't share that with anyone else, okay?" He said, clearly feeling strongly about the topic. Reina nodded.

"I won't, I promise. I just... She said some stuff about how she sensed I was very... strong? And that--" Reina tried to continue to explain, but she was interrupted when a series of knocks hit the door. She paused, body stiff. Erin turned his eyes, also not moving.

"Hello? Coming in." A voice said from behind the door. Soon enough, though, that door was open, and none other than the silver eevee had walked through the door. Haven had an agitated expression on her face when she entered the room, and that expression remained unchanged when she saw Reina and Erin.

"Um... Why are you here?" Reina asked nervously, fidgeting with her paws. Haven raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I guess we're roommates," Haven said dully, continuing to walk toward her bed.

She stopped fidgeting with her paws as she felt her body still in shock. What?