She had olive, freckled skin, while a yellow headscarf wrapped her hair out of sight. Her arms were folded, her brown gaze potent as she stared at Jemi, who was in the middle of packing a satchel.

“Ying,” Jemi said. “Shouldn’t you be having dinner with the rest?”

The woman she'd called Ying raised an eyebrow, amusement tugging at her lips. “You’re one to talk. And dinner’s long over.”

Jemi sighed lightly. “I had things to do. The Queen wanted a report of the battle.”

“Seems like she wanted more than just a report,” Ying inclined her head at the belongings and equipment strewn across the floor. “You know, if you’ve got a new mission, we’re not letting you go alone.”

“Yep!” Another girl poked her head in from the corridor. This one had a younger face, dark brown skin and a head of coiling green-grey hair, tied in tight twin braids. She bore a cheerful smile, and in her hands a steaming bowl. “Aaaand, I also saved you some of Bern's soup!”

“Asha, you too?” Jemi rolled her eyes, sitting up. “Figured you guys would be stalking me.”

“Don’t be a sourpuss,” Asha stuck out her tongue, “that’s Ying’s job.”

“I’m a pixiu, not a cat,” Ying grumbled. Indeed, below her headscarf, she hid a pair of twitching, fuzzy ears, and two short horns sagittal of her forehead. A single flicking tail stuck out from the back of the woman’s tunic.

“Heheeee!” Asha giggled. As she did, one could see the two rows of wickedly-sharp teeth within her mouth. A croc’s teeth. She pushed the bowl in front of Jemi, and then bounded over to pull at the taller girl’s headscarf. Ying gave a grumbling growl and made a show of pushing her off, but ultimately did not resist as Asha tugged the scarf off, rubbing her ears gleefully.

Jemi couldn’t help the fond smile that rose to her lips watching them. She drew the bowl of soup towards herself and took a warm spoonful. Then another, and another. The old tortoise Bern had a talent for making something primarily based on cabbage taste good.

Finally, the vivacious grey-haired girl seemed to have her fill of nuzzling Ying’s fur, and relinquished her victim. Her large reptillian eyes landed on Jemi, who had by now finished the soup and was wiping her mouth.

Brightly, she asked, “So, who do we need kidnapped this time?”

“We’re not kidnapping anyone,” Jemi huffed, standing up with her cutlery. She dunked the dishware into a washbasin. “We’re going to make an ally.”

Asha blinked. “Oh? That’s easy.”

“It’s Ennanis Zoleil.”

Asha gawked. “You’re pulling my tail.”

“Unfortunately, I’m not,” Jemi said. She raised the bowl from the basin, overturning it and letting the excess water spill back. “Still want to come?”

Asha put her hands on her hips. “Of course! We always go everywhere together. This time’s no different.”

“Hm. But Zoleil’s not on Mount Casca anymore, is she?” Ying pointed out. “She’s in the undercloud. She could be anywhere.”

“Not anywhere,” Jemi shook her head. “Ol’ Nessie can tell us where he ran into her. Can’t you, Lochlan?”

Her gaze was directed at a corner of the room. It was empty, and Asha and Ying glanced at each other awkwardly. But then, slowly, there was a movement through a crack in the wall, and a mousy-haired boy appeared from around the outside corner, like a fish coming to the surface.

“Sorry for spying on y’all,” Lochlan mumbled apologetically. “I had just thought that… since Ennanis was in the undercloud, you’d definitely have to do something about it. And I could help with that.” After a beat, he frantically added, “If you need my help, of course, I don’t mean to intrude-”

“Who wouldn’t want to have the help of a good friend on their side?” Jemi interrupted, smiling. Then, gentler, “I’d really appreciate your help, Nessie.”

At those words, the boy relaxed, colour returning to his pale face. He looked to Ying and Asha. Ying smiled at him encouragingly, while Asha grinned widely, nodding at him with enthusiasm.

“Well,” Jemi concluded. “What are you all waiting for? I’m not helping you pack your bags.”

“Aye aye, Cockadoo!” Asha saluted. “We’ll get to it right away!”

“What are you, some kind of angel soldier?” Ying barked in laughter. “Out with you, alligator.”

“I’m a makara. Makaras are part elephant, part crocodile, ya doofus.”

“Whateverrrr.”

“Grrr, ya big, stupid cat!”

The lot bickered as they shuffled out of the room. A soft look on her face, Jemi watched them.