Exposed

Together

'There is a black figure. It's following me!'

'Kiwa, I've been watching you since you returned to the river a few days ago. There's been no black figure.'

'Then, I'm going crazy?'

'Maybe someone's trying to communicate with you from the spirit world? You always struggled with keeping the two dimensions separate.'

'Spirits looks like scary black figures?'

'No, do I look like a scary black figure?' Suijin said gesturing to himself.

'No...'

'You spent a lot of time with me in these waters when you were little. You were always so paranoid about something. Once, you learned how to control the gateway between dimensions, you became a lot more confident.'

'So, do you think black figure is just a spirit?'

'Possibly; if you'd like I could reteach you how to walk between dimensions.'

Ki smiled and nodded. Something about Suijin felt fatherly. These waters with her former teacher truly felt like home, but they didn't have her family in them. She thanked Suijin and confirmed she'd be back soon. Her tails began to sway as she swam back to the surface of the plunge pool. She broke the surface of the water and looked around. The sun was setting, turning the sky a deep orange. She walked out of the water, droplets of it falling off of her fur. She shook herself off before walking back into the forest.

'Kiwa!' Jae called out as he saw her figure walking through the trees.

'Are you okay? What happened?' 

'Nothing,' Ki said reassuring him, 'I just overreacted to something. Everything's fine though.'

'Was it Joey?'

'Kind of...'

'You don't have to be with him Ki. Just because he's mated to you doesn't mean you have an obligation to be mated to him.'

'Why are you against this? Is there something I should know about? Do you just not like him?'

'No, Joey is great. I just- I don't know, Ki. It doesn't feel right to let you be with him.'

'What better way to become integrated with the pack? If I'm mated with one of their own, they're more likely to accept me. Joey is a good thing, I promise' Ki decided.

Jae sighed, but nodded anyways. He looked over his little sister in all her glory. Her nine bushy tails spread out behind her and her glowing white fur held a type of beauty he'd never seen before. She looked just like their mother. He could see her falling in love with Joey, them getting married and then having kids. They'd raise their litter out in the cave just like Jae and Ki were raised with their siblings. He couldn't help the sigh that he released, but this time it was full of disappointment. He turned away from her and began walking towards the house. Ki followed, her footsteps light and delicate. She was faster than he was, it was as if she were casually hovering above the ground. He carefully watched her walk in front of him. As they reached the pack house her fur began to shimmer and soon it was orange again. Jae furrowed his eyebrows at the scene. Ki's tails then bunched together so you could no longer distinguish between them. She turned to wait for Jae, who had stopped walking out of puzzlement. Jae shook his, clearing his thoughts and walked side by side to the pack house with his sister.

As they walked through the door, heads turned. Many were wondering why their alpha has run out of the house so suddenly. 

"Ki," Joey called out, trying to move closer to them.

Jae ignored the stares and walked out of the room, leaving Ki with Joey.

"Are you okay? I was worried. Did I do something?"

"No, everything's fine. Let's go on that date sometime, okay?"

With a bright grin, Joey responded, "Yes, definitely. How about tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow? That's a bit soon..." Ki said taken aback.

"I know, but I want to get to know you. I want you to know me. I want us to be mates."

"I already said I'd be your mate, Joey."

"There's a lot more to being mates than just saying you're mates," he chuckled.

"Like what?"

"Well, for starters, I'd like to mark you soon..."

"Mark me? Then everyone will know..." Ki whispered, blushing. 

Laughing a bit, Joey confirmed, "Yes, everyone will know that you're mine. That's the point."

"We've just barely had a conversation and you're already-"

"Ki, we're mates. Mates mark each other. It's normal. Don't be so embarrassed," he said amused, watching her reddening cheeks.

"Normal human people don't do those things, so it's normal to be embarrassed!" Ki defended.

"You're not human," Joey pointed out.

"Right..."

He chuckled and pulled Ki into his side, giving her a slight hug. It was then Ki noticed that they had an audience. Now, the entire pack will know she's mated to Joey by tomorrow morning and she isn't even marked yet.