Crystal Folly

Vacation Preparation

The sun was rising on a cold December morning. The ground was covered in snow, and a few snow foxes were roaming around. Seconds later, Stella came outside to sit in the snow, cooling off from a heated debate. She watched as more snow began to fall, then felt the need to go back inside. It was then that three of the others decided to start up a conversation.

"So we're just gonna ignore the fact that all seven of us are being sent on missions that don't even require the entire team?" Milo inquired, obviously annoyed by the fact that he's been in several situations where he wasn't needed at all. He, Arthur, and Sadie were conversing about recent actions that Fari Varis have been taking

"How can we ignore that? It's been so long since more than just Ender and Johann alone could handle things that I'm pretty sure I need practice," Arthur replied. Upon hearing their names, Ender and Johann walked into the room, took notice that there wasn't enough space for them to sit, and transformed into their base kuro neko and shin no neko forms before sitting underneath the table.

"I think it'd be a good idea to ask why they're doing this, maybe we can get some answers," Sadie suggested while polishing her golden bow. "We're on good terms with Stefon and Alicia, maybe we can-".

"Alright everyone, it's about time for you guys to have a two-year break!" a voice over the intercom system informed, cutting her off. Ender and Johann's ears perked up, surprised to hear this.

"A two-year break?!" Arthur and Milo both shouted at the same time. In another room nearby, Stella began packing her things and freezing items she no longer wanted.

"So, how are you two spending this break? Hunting and meeting up with us every once in a while again?" Arthur asked after calming down a bit. "Or are you two finally gonna tell everyone else after a week or two? I can't keep this secret forever, you know."

Milo replied, "A bit of both. Hunting first, though, if we don't see anything better to do. At this point, I'm surprised Stella hasn't heard by now as loud as we get sometimes."

"Woah, take that back into context, Milo! We don't do anything like that!" Sadie yelled. Arthur nearly choked on his water.

Arthur, after breathing normally for a few minutes, asked, "Before I even ask anything else about you two, has anyone else notice anything different between Stella and Ender?"

"Different? Do you mean smells, actions, or appearances, because I've noticed two of those three," Milo responded.

Sadie pondered on the question a few minutes before answering. "Well, Stella's always wanted to go with Ender when he went off to do something, mostly for air support or transportation means, but now she's always begging to go for things that usually don't need two people to do. And Milo, what smells different? I know you brought it up for a reason."

In response to this, Milo told her, "Actually, there's nothing in that department, sorry, but I do notice that they've been mirroring each other more often, even with color patterns that aren't usually complementing each other." Shortly after saying this, he returned to his human form and sat down at a nearby table, the chair sliding back a bit when he did so.

This turned some gears in Sadie's mind. "That sounds like one of them came up with the idea, which was probably Ender. If that's the case, it's safe to assume that something big might happen, so it's no wonder those two get along better these days."

"Alright everyone, it's time to pack your things and get ready to leave! The bullet train will be here within the next fifteen minutes," Jerry shouted over the intercom, causing Stella to freeze her tail in the opposite room because of the shock.

"Dang it, Jerry, not again! This is the second time this week!" Stella quietly yelled into her watch. A sheepish "sorry" was the reply. "Well, at least dragons travel light. Not sure how cats are, though. I'll bet there's at least one yarn ball in Ender's travel bag," she whispered to herself. Before leaving her room to have her tail thawed by Sadie, she quickly scanned it to make sure nothing essential was left behind. She began hearing muffled chatter as she drew closer to the room, although she couldn't pick anything up besides Ender's name and her own.

"...and when we get on the train, we'll-" Milo was saying before he heard the door slide open and Stella walking in. "Um, well, when we get on the train, we're gonna finish this discussion of, um, our next, uh...guys, what was the name of the game again?" he stammered when she reached the table.

Stella laughed and said, "You guys made this way too easy, but I'm not gonna pressure you into telling me." She stopped laughing for a few seconds before adding, "Well, maybe Milo, but that's because I don't like him." Then, remembering her tail was frozen, she asked, "Also, Sadie, or Arthur, if you've gotten better control of your cooler flames, can you melt the ice off of my tail?"

"Sure thing, Stella," Sadie replied. "You got everything, right?" she asked after the ice had melted.

"Yeah. Let's go get those two and Luna so we can go, the train will be here any minute now," Stella replied. Her tail slightly shivered as it began to dry, and she left to get the trio, knowing what might lie ahead of them all on the train.

"She didn't know we were here, did she?" Johann asked soon after she left. When there were no responses, he told his brother, "Let's make sure we have everything we need for this trip. And seriously, bring some yarn so we're not bored."