She nervously followed the stranger into his home. He shut the door behind them, peering one last time into the street. Astraea observed her new surroundings. This stranger's home, although not an uncommon size for lower class anthripes, was still bigger than her Gran’s cottage.

“You live here?” She still couldn’t believe it. How does he make his earnings?

“Yeah, my housemate and I.” She doubled back in surprise,

“You’re not alone here..?” Can I trust the two of them? What if they try to steal the crown?! She held her satchel closer.

“Oh no, I couldn’t afford this home without him. Hey, Niko, come down here!” Astraea heard movement from the upper loft of the hut. They have a second floor?! From over the banister of the loft, the anthripe called Niko arrived, peering over the wooden edge he called out,

“Oi! Alastor, did you bring home a girl?!” He grinned a toothy smile, then leapt over the banister. Astraea panicked, ready to rush to his falling aide, but then he landed nimbly to his feet like a cat. He stood up straight then walked forwards, allowing Astraea to observe the new stranger in better lighting. He had messy jet black hair that stuck out in feathery tufts, he was a bit shorter than Alastor, but still somehow had long gawky limbs, and was skinny as a twig. He stuck out an olive toned hand, and Astraea saw that he had green eyes with slit pupils.

“You’re a lycan!” She gasped, shaking his offered hand.

“Yes, and you’re quite rude, not even introducing yourself!” She paused for a minute, her mouth gawking in embarrassment. “Oh, I’m only teasing!” Niko laughed. Alastor rolled his eyes, placing a hand on her shoulder, he said,

“Niko this is,” Then he paused, “I’m sorry, I actually haven’t even gotten your name yet.”

“It’s Astraea.” She shyly met Alastor’s gaze, “Astraea Gwillin of Osefield.”

“Uh. Strae. Uh.” Niko sounded out the syllables and placed a finger to his chin in mock contemplation. “That’s quite long… What about… Just Rae?!”

“Niko you can’t just go around renaming people! Besides it’s no longer than my name!” Alastor sighed. Rae… She thought about it for a moment.

“Well I didn’t think you’d enjoy it if I called you Al, or Ass everyday!” Niko gibed. Alastor groaned, but couldn’t hide his amused smirk.

“But still-”

“I like it!” She interrupted.

“Ah!” Niko embraced her. “See?” He teased. Alastor raised his hands in mock surrender. Rae laughed and slipped out of the hug.

“Now, I hate to pester, but I think we need to talk about what happened to you tonight, and why you needed my help,” Alastor gestured for Rae to follow him as he led the way to his eating alcove, a small round table with four chairs in the center of it. The three of them sat down, and he continued, “Why were the king’s guards after you?”

“Wait, what? Are you a fugitive?!” Niko inquired excitedly.

“No! Well… Maybe I am now…” Rae looked up to see their obviously confused expressions. How do I know if I can trust them? Well, they haven’t done me harm so far… In fact, they’ve only been kind and helpful! Maybe Anthripes really can stick together… I mean, don’t we all have a common enemy against the king..? She took a deep breath and slowly reached into her satchel. She then withdrew the crown and carefully placed it on the slightly splintering table.

“What in celestials name do you have that for?!!” Niko shrieked, jumping up from his chair, practically bristling at the sight of it. Alastor’s eyes widened with fear before he glared accusingly at Rae,

“What have you done?! Do you know what could happen to us simply by harboring you here?!”

“I know, I know! Please understand, the last thing I want is to drag you two into my mess! But I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t desperate to get away! You know what the King does to people like us! What he’s probably doing to my guild right now…” Her voice grew quiet and her bottom lip quivered.

“What… Happened to your guild..?” Niko cautiously sat down, his eyes now replaced with a look of concern.

“It’s sort of a long story, but… I belong to a thieves guild known as the Noctus Corsairs. I only joined them because it became the only way to make enough money for my sick gran!”

“You’re gran is sick?” Niko’s eyes grew wider. Rae nodded, and continued,

“Tonight we were supposed to steal this crown and make our escape through the drain systems, but… Somehow we all got separated. I can only hope they managed to escape, but… Knowing the king…” They probably didn’t… What if it’s all my fault?! She placed her palms over her eyes and bowed her head in defeat. “And now I have no clue what to do with this stupid thing, or how to get out of the mess I’m in!” She felt a boiling urge to smash and destroy the crown right now and be done with it. But she knew it wouldn’t fix anything. It would only make everything worse… Kolas would want me to find a way out of this… Rae finally looked back up at the two anthripes who were now sharing an unspoken communication through looks. Niko cocked his head insistently and Alastor groaned in defeat.

“We can try to help you out of this, but first sight of the guards, I’m out!” He decided.

“Thank you, really..!”

“What if we just tried returning it?” Niko shrugged.

“Absolutely not! Not after everything my guild sacrificed for me to get this in the first place!” She waved the golden diadem in outrage.

“And besides, we’d never get past the guards. They’ve probably upped security by now.”

“Okay then… What about selling it to whoever your guild was going to?” Niko suggested.

“That’s the thing, I have no clue who Kolas wanted to sell it to. He wanted to keep us as uninformed as possible in case anyone was… Captured…”

“Oh…” The lycan grew quiet then. The silence between them seemed to stretch on for hours until Alastor finally sighed,

“Well, since none of us seem to know what to do with it, why don’t we go ask someone who will?”

“And who would that be?” Rae asked dubiously.

“The Oracle. Looks like we’ll be going to a party tonight.”

                                                                    ***

Niko rifled through a trunk in his room filled to the brim with clothes as he explained,

“Every full moon, the hostess, also known as Lilith- scary woman really, holds an anthripe party in different locations to avoid being found by the king. It’s sort of a… Human protest event? But with taste, so... “ He looked her up and down, judging her current outfit. “Not really your scene…” He smirked.

“You sound just like Kolas.” She groaned.

“Well, whoever he is, he seems like he knows what he’s talking about!” Niko laughed. “Anyways, tonight's theme is masquerade, which really works out perfectly for you!” From his trunk he withdrew a black gothic dress with thin straps and a slit in the long flowing skirt, and after handing it to her, withdrew the top half of a large cat skull that had been fashioned into a mask. Rae took it with trembling hands.

“It’s… Not real, is it..?” She gulped.

“Oh of course not! It was carved from birch wood and painted!” Rae sighed with relief, before Niko added under his breath, “Course, other guests might be wearing real skulls tonight…” Oh for celestials sake..! Trying to push down her inhibition she continued,

“But still… I don’t really understand why we have to go to the party in the first place. Is the oracle supposed to be there tonight?”

“Well… we don’t really know…”

“What?!”

“But don’t worry! As a somehow successful clothier in cleaso- Not that I’m bragging…” When he noticed Rae’s growing impatience, he hurriedly went on, “Uhm, I managed to hear from a higher up anthripe the location of Miss. Lilith’s little soiree tonight- and- and Alastor while working in a tavern in Eastern Oberon was able to hear from reliable sources that Lilith knows where to find the oracle!”

“So really this entire night could just be a huge waste of precious time.” Rae glared.

“Hey! You’re lucky to have found two complete strangers willing to waste their precious time for you!” Niko countered.

“You’re right… I’m sorry…” She sincerely meant it. They didn’t have to do any of this for me… And yet they’re still risking their safety for someone they don’t even know! “Thank you for everything, really.” His green eyes softened,

“You’re welcome. Now get changed!”

                                                                  ***

Rae descended down the steps, the black dress trailing behind her. I feel so exposed… Did he have to choose a dress with a slit in the skirt?! My whole leg is sticking out! She reached the main floor and sarcastically presented herself, trying to ignore how insecure she really felt.

“You look really nice. I hope it’s not weird for me to say that…” Alastor rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. I guess he feels as awkward as I do right now… It made her feel a little better.

“No, it’s fine. You look nice too.” He did. He wore a navy long vintage coat with flared wide notch lapels and underneath it black pants with a silver belt and cuffed boots and a white button shirt with a ruffled neck tie. “The ruffles are a little funny though.” She laughed.

“I told you it looked weird!” He groaned to Niko. The lycan simply shrugged innocently, then approached Rae and asked,

“May I?” Gesturing to her hair.

“Oh! Sure?” What’s wrong with it? It was a little messy, but still partially done from her earlier event.

“You should show your ears,” Niko explained, as if he could understand her thoughts. “Not only will they be necessary for admission to the party, but you should be proud of them! They’re a part of who you are, and not even the King can take that away from you.” As he spoke, he pulled her hair back into a mused and fluffy ponytail, proudly displaying her pointed ears, then tied her two small remaining braids around the updone hair like a ribbon. All my life, gran had taught me to hide my ears… I've never been allowed to be proud of them… Rae couldn’t help but wonder if he knew just how much his words, and the simple action meant to her though.

“Now remember, taking these backstreets should lead you to the Eastern side of Oberon. Head for the overgrown trees where no one’s been building, and look for the stone steps that descend into the ground. Take the left tunnel to find the entrance to the party.” Alastor nodded, and began to turn to leave before Rae yelped,

“Wait! Niko, I know you’ve done so much for me already, but please… Can you look after my gran until I return? Her name’s Maia!” He took her hands and nodded,

“Of course.” Ever so grateful, she removed from her satchel, the map that had still sat rolled up at the bottom of it. Telling him to ignore the red marks on it, she pointed to where her gran’s cottage resided in the field.

“It’s not far from the bridge between Oberon and Osefield. I- I should be back by next morning, but she likes tea- and for me to read to her- and be careful of the cockatryons! They like to peck or headbut you with their antlers!”

“Rae... “ He smiled at her knowingly. “I’ve dealt with plenty of sick and elderly while growing up. She’ll be alright with me. Now go! And hurry back!” She began to turn towards the door before remembering Kolas’ gifted clothes. She paused, a hand hovered over them.

“Wait, Niko… One more thing,” She pulled out the lace cape and silken gloves and gingerly handed them to him. “Take these, please. They’d be safer with you.” His eyes widened with a look that said You were hiding these all along?! Then he rolled his eyes and shooed at them,

“Go! You’re verging on rudely late, instead of fashionably late!” Alastor put on his wooden wolf skull mask and Rae adorned hers.

“Come on, I doubt the king's guards will be able to find us there.” Together they left the house and began quickly making their way through the streets, sticking to the shadows once more. This is much easier in black! She thought, recalling her annoyance at having to flee in an all white fashioned cape just a mere hour earlier. As they made their way through the town, they realized that hardly anyone would be out of this hour. Except maybe the rare gravedigger. They eventually slowed to a walk, allowing Rae’s thoughts to run rampant for the thousandth time that night.

“Why didn't you two try to take advantage of me, and steal the crown for yourselves? Why go through all of this trouble to help me? Why trust me even?” Alastor grew quiet for a minute, before he murmured,

“Well… You haven’t given me a reason not to trust you so far…” Then he peered down at her. “Besides, shouldn’t Anthripes try to stick together in times like these..?”

“Yeah…” She gave a small smile.