When we returned to the booth, Keke had joined Ceres and Cannoli and an empty glass stood stalwart before her, the foggy sweat of its absent contents still present.

“Careful, there. We have more traveling ahead of us,” I said as I slid in beside her.

Ravyn squeezed in beside me, her shoulder and thigh pushing into mine. It wasn’t really a booth for three people, but I wasn’t about to tell her to sit next to Ceres.

Keke looked up at me with haunted eyes and flushed cheeks. “Matt,” she murmured.

My heart skipped with worry. Instinctively, I threw one arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Hey, what happened?”

She shook her head. I looked at Cannoli but couldn’t catch her gaze.

Ceres adjusted her braid and squared her shoulders. “Many catgirls perished to the beast’s polluted breathing prior to your valiant arrival, sire. There is not an exact count as of yet.”

“Fuck,” I breathed, tightening my grip on Keke.

Keke leaned her head on my shoulder. Cannoli snagged one of her hands from across the table and held it tight. Ravyn returned to idly shelling peanuts for Ball.

“Some of them looked like they were burned to death. Others’ faces were purple. Like they choked,” Keke whispered.

The waitress brought another drink for Keke. She immediately lifted it to her lips and threw back half before setting the glass down and returning her head to my shoulder.

“All of Sorentina owes you a great debt,” Ceres said to Keke. “Without your assistance, we may all have suffered the same fate.”

“Ara ara, why isn’t anyone around here protecting this damn place?” Ravyn snapped a peanut shell in half.

“Our ranks are thin and spread between the four major cities and three outlying towns of Shi Island.” Ceres took the bowl of peanuts and spread them on the table, grouping them into seven clusters. “Venicia, Sorentina, Jeona, and Catania are the major cities. Badyron, Leche, and Anyona are the three towns.” She positioned the peanuts distanced far enough from one another that it helped me build a better mental map of Shi Island. “The number and strength of the Defiled has increased drastically as of late. The more our population dwindles, the harder it becomes to reassign our forces.”

“Where do the Defiled come from?” Had I really never asked this question before? Great job, hero.

The girls exchanged looks, then shook their heads.

“Anywhere. Nowhere. It is impossible to say,” Ceres continued. “Much like Encroachers, they appear and coexist on our island. However, while many Encroachers do not display aggressive behavior patterns, I have never seen a complacent Defiled.”

“She’s right,” Ravyn replied begrudgingly. “Even in the libraries of Nyarlothep, there are only guesses at the origins of roaches and Defiled. No one knows.”

“We have fended off many a Defiled on our own. However, the damage is devastating at times.” Ceres stared longingly at the table as if she were looking at her companions rather than a few stacks of peanuts. “We have lost too many.”

“Why aren’t more people fighting?” Cannoli asked. “It seemed like there were a lot of girls in Venicia who knew how. And at least a few in Badyron.”

Ceres sighed. “Too many are torn between the defense effort and Shi Island’s values of service, grace, and urgency.”

The color was beginning to return to Keke’s cheeks as she finished her second glass of ale. She licked her lips and leaned up straight. “Can’t you do both?”

“That is my firm belief, my lady. There is no need to sacrifice one for the other. However, Celestia sees things very differently.”

I bumped Ravyn’s foot beneath the table with mine and caught her eye. Her wrinkled facial expression said she still refused to let Ceres into our party, but the knowing glimmer in her gaze told another story.

“So you know Celestia?” I asked when Ravyn poked her tongue out at me. She clearly wasn’t going to help on this one.

“Every catgirl on Shi Island knows Celestia,” Ceres said, her tone flat.

Cannoli gasped and clasped Ceres’ arm. “Did you know she’s hiding the island’s man away?”

“Cannoli!” Ravyn growled.

Keke and I stared at her wide-eyed. We know you like to make new friends, Cannoli, but that was a little… forward.

Ceres’ eyebrows raised, and a smile twitched at the corner of her ruby lips. “We have all harbored suspicions, yes. However, this is the first confirmation of such a rumor. It is not out of Celestia’s character to do so.”

“I feel so bad for him. Being locked up like that.” Cannoli’s shoulders slumped, and she moved Buttons from her shoulder to the table. “I want to help him.”

Buttons wandered into peanut island before scooping one up with his long tongue and snapping it with his jaw.

I cleared my throat. “Ceres, I think it’d be best if we stayed overnight before heading back to Venicia. Can I give you an answer tomorrow about joining?”

“My life is yours, My Lord. I will wait however long you see fit.” Ceres nodded. “I shall continue to assist in Sorentina’s restoration efforts until you call upon me.”

“Where can we find you?” Cannoli asked. Her eyes shimmered when she stared at Ceres like she was looking at her childhood hero.

“The Guild Hall is just across the way. Any of the girls there will easily be able to get me a message.” Ceres stood and bowed. “I await your response.”

“Thanks, Ceres,” I replied.

After she left, Ravyn took her seat and slammed a fist into a stack of peanuts. Buttons jumped and skittered back to Cannoli.

“She can’t join,” Ravyn said.

“Why not? You heard her! She doesn’t agree with Celestia!” Cannoli frowned and guarded Buttons against Ravyn’s wrath. “She’s so strong! And cool! And pretty!”

Damn, Cannoli. Making me jealous over here.

“It’s a really high risk,” Keke said, laying one hand on my thigh. “She could be playing us all for fools.”

“No one plays me for a fool, bitch,” Ravyn growled. “I don’t trust her.”

“You don’t trust anyone,” Cannoli whined.

“I think we’d be making a mistake by not giving her a chance,” I said before Ravyn could yell at Cannoli. “She knows a lot about combat and the island as a whole. We have more strength in numbers. Hell, that’s why we’re trying to break this guy out, isn’t it?”

“And what happens if she turns our asses over to Celestia before we can get him out, hm? Mission failed?” Ravyn snarled and stood. “You want to be the one to explain to Cailu that we fucked up because you couldn’t say no to a pretty face?”

“Hey! That’s not nice!” Cannoli said, tugging on Ravyn’s sleeve.

“Baka!” Ravyn tore her arm away. “If we’re staying here anyway, I’ll get my own damn room.” She scooped Ball to her shoulder and stalked out of the bar without another word.

We watched in uncomfortable silence.

“Matt, don’t leave her alone like that,” Keke advised after a time.

“You sure?” To me, it seemed like I was the last person Ravyn would want to see.

“Yes, Keke’s right. Go talk to her,” Cannoli added. “Something’s really wrong.”

I pulled a handful of Bells from my [Cat Pack] and left them on the table. “Take your time to rest up and enjoy a few drinks, alright?”

Keke kissed my cheek. “Thanks.”

“Don’t get charred to a crisp, okay?” Cannoli said brightly.

I chuckled. “I’ll try.”

Thankfully, Ravyn was the only fiery, red-headed catgirl with a bright blue bird to grace the inn that afternoon—or probably ever—so the maid running the inn led me right to her room. I waited for the hostess to leave before I knocked.

“Fuck off, Cannoli,” came the response.

“It’s me.”

There were a few heartbeats of silence, and then the door creaked open. Ravyn had changed into [Civilian Mode] and hugged the stuffed parrot Cannoli had gifted her against her chest. “What?”

I wanted to say something about the plushie but figured this wasn’t the time. “Can I come in?”

Ravyn narrowed her eyes, then swung open the door and stormed back to the bed. Taking a seat on the edge, she stared at me expectantly as I closed the door. I leaned against the wall across from her and crossed my arms.

“How do you know Japanese?”

Ravyn blinked. “What?”

“You’ve been here for every choice, mistake, and step I’ve made in Nyarlea. I want to understand you better.” I shrugged. “I want to hear your side of things, Ravyn.”

Ravyn hugged her plush tighter. Pain twisted her features, and she grimaced. “I— Mou ii, I just…”

I waited.

“I learned it from Finn. The guy on San Island before Cailu,” she murmured in a voice barely above a whisper. “He taught me.”

“You guys were pretty close?”

Ravyn nodded, avoiding my eyes.

It was weird seeing her like this; vulnerable Ravyn. I wanted to hug her or tell her everything was okay but was too afraid to do either. “What happened?”

“He was impulsive.” Ravyn’s gaze locked onto mine. The fire I was so accustomed to seeing there had returned. “He trusted the wrong people, and that got him fucking killed.”

“I see.” Well, that answered a few questions. “I’m guessing he went against your advice?”

Ravyn paused and chewed her lip. “I didn’t speak up.” She reset her jaw. “And I won’t make the same mistake again.”

I nodded. “I know I said before that I don’t trust you. But that’s not true. I trust you with my life. So, if you really think Ceres is bad news, I won’t let her join.”

“Really? Just because I said so?”

“Just because you said so.” I moved to the bed and took a seat next to her. “Don’t let the power go to your head.”

Ravyn tugged on my sleeve, mirroring the sensation I’d experienced behind the inn. “Hey.”

“Hmm?”

Ravyn leaned forward and kissed me.

I froze, and the moment ended just as it had begun.

She grinned and stood, making her way back to the door. “Don’t let that go to your head.” Opening the door, she puppeted the plush parrot in flight and pitched her voice like Ball’s. “Get out, Matt! Squawk!”

I ran a hand through my hair and stood, trying to still my breathing while my lips still tingled. “What do I tell Ceres?”

“Let me think about it, okay?”

“Alright.” I left the room with the echoes of her warm skin on mine.

Well, it’s a start.