Raithe Quest

Raithe Quest 8 - Family Meeting

Once she had calmed down, Raithe gathered everyone into one room that she had affected directly, and a few that she had not simply congregated there. Joi, for example, sat beside where you were nervously seated. You reached down and pet her head idly, noticing that as her roots grew out, her red hair that reminded you of Kara was in fact purple and pink. It was not a huge detail, but it was a funny coincidence, to think that she chose that colour, of all things, to dye her hair. The poor bunny. Kara sat back, mostly just soaking it all in with a familiar, black expression. There was some minor recognition that there were far more Foxes in the room than usual, but not enough to consider it any sort of sentient response. Jeane placed herself on the opposite side of the seating area to Raithe, strategically. Luire sat with you, and Teuta was standing, tapping her artifice foot on the floor.

As you fidgeted you felt a hand squeeze your shoulder. It was Vura standing a little behind you to the left. She leaned down as Raithe paced back and forth.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

You were not sure what to say. "I don't know."

"That bad, huh?" She knelt down beside where you're seating and tried to get a good look at you.

"More worried about the outside or the inside?"

"Both." You admitted.

Vura cocked her head to one side. "Mmm, nope. Think that's still you in there." She winked at you.
"Shame. Bet you were wishing you'd get some crazy, bombastic personality to go along with those ears. Instead you're still just Fin."

You smiled weakly. "You think?"

She made a face like it was obvious and nodded. "Oh yeah. I can tell."

You did not ask her how, because you knew she was just trying to make you feel better. It worked. You steadied your breathing.
"Thanks."

"Oi."

"What?"

"Do you think becoming beastfolk means you can hold your liquor like one? We should test it." Vura offered conversationally, ruffling your wavy, short dark hair.
"Woah, soft..." She commented.

You laughed, covering your mouth. "Thanks a lot." You finally felt well enough to stop fidgeting and look up to Raithe. She was much more nervous than you were. Heilan stood behind her, at attention. You stood up.
"Raithe, it's time to tell us what happened." You felt a pang of guilt as you confronted her, and a blush washing over your cheeks. You backed down quickly as she stopped and turned.
"I-If you want." Your ears flattened to your head and your tail curled down.

Raithe rushed forward in response to your posture, hugging you and stroking your hair. Her hands idly rubbed up and down your ears, scratching and petting them until they stood up again.
"No... No no. I don't want you to be like that, Fin." She claimed.

"You can tell me when I'm wrong. You have that right. You can tell me when I am doing something I shouldn't." She paused, hesitantly adding.
"And you can ask me for the truth whenever you want it..."

"Y-you're squishing me." You groaned.

"Sorry!" She let go of you, lifting her hands to your face.
"Are you okay?"

You nodded. "I think so. But... What happened? Why did this happen? Did you-"

"No! I did not intend for this to happen." She added under her breath.

"So soon..."

You squinted. "So you intended this to happen over time?"

"L-listen. It was unavoidable with you, because you were already being guided along the process by Kara, and you had reached the point of no return. One way or another you would become one of us. But I was hoping I could've had more time..."