"Go ahead," I said, and hoped she'd not squeeze it too tightly. Although it'd not hurt, it was a pain to get the hair to stop itching whenever it was messed with.

She touched it, but did so gingerly. Barely grabbing it as if afraid I'd snap at her if she did, when her fingertips touched my tail, I twitched.

How long had it been since someone else touched my tail? Before Nory, at least. She, although had loved me and never found me odd had always been off-put by my non-human characteristics. I had never faulted her for it, since humans found it so difficult to accept.

They waged war against others, over schools of thought, skin color, or even the languages they spoke... why then was it strange they waged war on us, who actually were different?

For the same reason I couldn't blame Nory for always being a little distant from me, thanks to her human instincts and fear... I could also do nothing but gently smile at the young girl who studied and touched my tail with awe.

I could very well be one of the first people she's ever met, like me. Like her. Who was I to deny her such a simple joy?

"Hm... are your ears this soft too?" the young girl asked, glancing up at my head.

Frowning, I glanced at the crowd watching us. In silence.

Glaring at them, I realized I found the placid expression on the protector the worst. Even though Crane and Lughes had stupid smirks, his blank face bothered me more.

Bending down, I realized she really was young. Couldn't be more than a handful of years old. Was she a fox? Some kind of cat like me? A badger maybe? I couldn't recognize her smell. What little of it I could smell, mixed in with all the other countless odd smells here.

Paints. Wood. Stone. Snow, old and new. Sweat. Feathers of a wet bird. Dirty wool of a sheep. A pond smell permeated the stone floor, from beneath. I could smell now also the leather she wore. Her hat especially smelled weird, even though it was still on the ground near Vim's feet.

Little hands gently brushed the top sides of my ears, and I went a little still. Yes. That was uncomfortable... but I had to endure it.

For that smile at least. For such innocence, I'd do far more than endure.

"Wow... Vim, she's soft!" the little girl turned to speak to the man who was glaring at me.

"I'll take your word for it," Vim said, and then glanced away from us. "Any other newcomers I should know about?" he asked Lughes.

"Oh shush, let us enjoy this," Crane though was the one who answered. And she did so with a stern tone.

You tell him!

"My name is Lomi," the little girl pulled her hand back, and smiled at me.

Seems I made a new friend.

"Renn. I'm a type of cat, or at least a part of me is," I said, smiling back at her.

"I'm a fox! A red one!" she then hurried forward, wrapping me in a hug.

Thanks to my bending down, like Lughes, she wrapped her arms around my neck. Unlike Lughes, I didn't have a large puffy beard to protect me from her large and thick coat. It was cold, and still had some snow on it.

Her embrace would have been wonderful if not for the cloak.

No...

"Nice to meet you Lomi," I said, giving her a return hug all the same. I gave her a gentle squeeze, remembering how I had so much enjoyed such a thing when I had been young. It brought back memories of my parents. My older siblings, and especially my younger brother.

She giggled, and for the tiniest moment... I broke.

My eyes became watery. My breath caught in my throat. The sounds of Vim and someone else arguing, probably Amber, became distant.

Quickly controlling myself, I blinked a few times to get the water out of my eyes before Lomi noticed. Or anyone else.

Taking a small breath, the girl and I separated, and I smiled gently down to her. She beamed a happy smile back, and I was glad to see she hadn't noticed. Even though she had been wrapped around me.

Too young to have noticed a heart break.

Stepping back, and standing up, I glanced quickly to those who had watched us. My tail went still, and I felt the hairs on the tip of my ears stand up as I realized the reality.

They had all noticed.

Looking away from the mixture of warm smiles, and looks of pity, I took a small breath again and cleared my throat.

"So! A feast! Vim, would you please go get something fancy? Maybe a turkey?" Lughes asked, glancing down to the young girl... who had now retreated to Vim's side.

She had been excited to meet us, but yet it seemed that earlier awkward demeanor was her true self. Shy maybe.

"Turkey," Crane said with a flat tone.

"What? Look at her! Vim's dragged her through sleet and snow! She needs a hearty meal!" Lughes loudly declared, as if he dared anyone, even a fellow bird, to complain.

"I don't know if I agree there, but I do agree she looks cold. Come on in, child, let's get that layer of ice off you and a warm drink in your hand," Crane said, stepping towards the girl.

The girl stepped back, half a step, and glanced up at the man she stood near. For protection. For guidance.

Studying the look, I watched in awe as she calmed down when the man looked down at her and nodded. "I'll get our dinner. You'll be safe here," Vim said to her, in a calm voice.

Lomi visibly relaxed, and then nodded as she took Crane's offered hand. To be guided into the back of the building.

Amber waved gently at the girl as they passed, and we all watched Crane take her away. The way she guided the girl with her hand gently on the girl's back, reminded me of the way birds walked with their newborn young. Covering them gently, guiding them.

"Renn, would you go with Vim? The merchant down the street will have one. Get a big turkey; if they don't have one just get something you would like... I'm sure as a fellow hunter, you'd know best what she'd like," Lughes said, happily content with himself.

"Huh?" I went stiff.

"I'll get started on everything else with Crane. You lock the store up, old man. I don't know why you left it open in the first place" Amber grumbled as she stepped closer to Vim, as to bend down and grab the little girl's hat. It had been forgotten in the moment. After looking at it for a moment she turned and went to the back of the building to join Crane and the girl.

"Pha. Storm. Snowstorm. These humans have no idea what real storms are," Lughes grumbled as he too left the lobby. It took only a few seconds for me to be left behind, alone.

Staring at the empty hallway, devoid of the people who had just abandoned me, I slowly glanced to the man who was staring at me.

Doing chores was nothing I couldn't handle. I enjoyed it. Cooking was even something I really enjoyed... but...

"Well? Go get a jacket at least. And a hat," he said, gesturing for me to hurry.

"Oh... oh... okay," I nodded, and it seemed the embarrassment in the air wasn't done with me quite yet. Feeling stiff I hurried to the stairs.

I knew the reasoning behind it. I was the only other predator. She and I may not be the exact same, but we were far closer than anyone else I'd met.

Yet... Vim was a predator too wasn't he?

Grumbling at them, I wondered if it was not so much them utilizing me since I was available but for another, simpler, purpose.

They probably thought nothing of it. Yet at the same time, even as air-headed Lughes were... he was still far older than me. Still wise, in his own way.

He probably thought me spending some time with Vim would give him the chance to tell if I was a danger to them, or not.

Honestly I did want to talk to him. But...

I'd rather spend time with Lomi than him.

Hurriedly putting on the jacket and hat, the only things I owned, I hoped he'd not find me at fault for anything.

If the protector declared I was no good, I had a sinking suspicion they'd immediately cast me out. No matter what I said or did.

"Hhmghm," I made an odd noise as I left my room and headed back downstairs.

Keep it together, Renn. Even though you're feeling more emotions and excitement than you have in decades, don't let it get to you. Keep it together.

Vim was patiently waiting for me. I found him studying a painting, one that hung a little off-center on the center shelf. It was a painting that I found a little bland compared to the rest. Just a simple village, right before harvest. Most of the painting was a burnt orange, replicating the waves of wheat under a lazy summer dusk.

"I'm ready," I said to him, after a few moments passed and he ignored me.

"Hm." He turned, and for a moment studied me. At first I expected him to complain, or say something about my attire, but he said nothing and simply turned. He opened the door, and then turned to me.

Standing there, allowing the cold wind to buffet inside, I realized he was holding it open for me. Quickly leaving the store, I felt silly.

Yes. Men sometimes did that. Quickly stepping out, I flinched as the cold wind attacked.

Watching Vim close the door, I tried to think of the last time someone had opened a door for me. Or rather, a man. Nory had, surely. Before her I had been alone for awhile... and before then, I had been traveling with a pair of children. So...

Suddenly I felt out of place again, as I realized Vim was staring at me. I had gotten lost in thought, and we were standing outside in the ever growing snowstorm.

"This way," I said, and almost said it again when I realized he had probably not heard me. The wind was stronger now, and I had spoken softly.

His nod stopped me from repeating myself, and I was forced to remember that he was like me. Even if he looked completely...

Yes. He did. He had human ears. Human eyes. His pupils were normal. His body seemed normal...

I could see now why they couldn't tell me what he was.

He might not even know himself.

In fact, with the wind blowing at me from behind him... I should now be able to smell him. Being out of the building, and thus away from all the paint and smells.

Yet I smelled nothing but the stink of the city. The freshness of the breeze, and the chill of the snow.

He either had no scent, or it was so soft I couldn't smell it even while walking a few feet from him.

The wind picked up again, and I reached up to keep hold of my hat. It'd not fall usually, it was a little too well made for that, but it'd be my luck that it'd fly off when I was trying to make a good impression on the society's protector.

Walking with the protector, I hoped my heart would settle soon.

It wasn't right that I felt as disheveled as I probably looked, thanks to this storm.

I was too old to feel like this.

This was too important, too precious for me to ruin. I needed to ensure I secured my place in the Non-Human Society. At any costs.

I'd never be able to live with myself, if I ruined this opportunity. The mere thought of spending centuries alone, all because I failed to meet whatever standard they had...

Trudging through fresh fallen snow, I forced my head clear. Forced my thoughts away, and out.

It'll be fine. I just needed to weather this storm.

Nothing new.

I've done this before. Kind of...

Well, not really.

This was a first for me. Blatantly so...

Yet... I'd accomplish it. I'd find a way.

Or at least, I'd survive it.