Isher Notra

Stella:

"LIEN!"

The skeletal Monoke cackled at Stella's agony. "How cute! I enjoy hearing you squir!"

Stella's blood boiled with the combination of her friend being captured by another freak once AGAIN and the creature's taunting. Her fist clenched with violent intent, only for her head to spin by this minimal strain. Blood loss wasn't a joke.

"Put... PUT HER DOWN, YOU ZOMBIE!"

The pale woman's bulged eyes appeared to widen even more. "I don't know what that is..." Her feet started separating themselves from the grass.

The bitch knew how to fly. Of course...

A sickening grin marked her facial features while her hair wildly rippled through the air. "Dut it nakes ne desire your denise even nore!"

Stella involuntarily shook as the ghost flew towards her with a demonic giggle! Of course, Asra was there to take her butt out of the flames.

"Close your eyes!"

The girl already complied with the first word spoken. She was aware of his tricks by now.

"BLINDING HALO!"

The Human girl's world was covered in shadows once again. The Knight's voice and the creature's laughter were the only indicators of the state of the outside world.

"I saw your little trick on the Kanaitachi! This is nothing-"

SLASH!

The zombie's words were reduced to a pathetic whimper. Asra had let out a loud gasp soon after. What was going on?!

Slowly, Stella's eyelids dared to open again. The first thing she saw was the pup freeing herself from a long patch of black hair. Had the Knight taught that undead wench a lesson?

Well, the truth was close enough.

Covered in violent blue sparks, Capt. Tash stood between the hero and their assailant. Her growl reverberated through Stella's soul, even from that far away.

"I'm done with this! Whatever you are, DON'T! MESS! WITH MY DAUGHTER!"

The battle turned into a breathtaking light show. The captain slashed through the woman's hair, which could be used in more ways than one. The specter encased herself in her own strands, which proved an unexpected success. Whatever was hanging on her scalp appeared to be made of steel.

Then, she counterattacked the squad leader with her natural weapons. It shaped itself into a blade-like form, forcing the captain to dodge. This dance continued for almost a minute until-

"LIGHTSPEED BARRAGE!"

Stella didn't notice the hero had distanced himself until he shouted his signature move. Flashing behind her, he yanked her hair and used to turn her into a wrecking ball. Asra used the opportunity to slam the undead to the ground several times. Then he finished the combo by throwing her into the air.

From two claws from the captain, a blinding lightning bolt crackled, then shot at the pale woman! However, she blocked the spell by forming a cocoon with her wild hair.

The captain growled. "Damn you!"

The zombie cackled. "That was an incredidle show, cattain!" Her strands turned into an entire arsenal of sharp edges, pointed at all of them. "Dut it nust cone to an end!"

An incorrect statement, proven by a rapid water jet hitting her horrid face. Everyone else turned to see Euraidd and Hufen back to their feet. And they were not the only ones.

Bursting from the ground like a mole, Tarb jumped higher than the Human could ever expect and bit the mad lady by her ankle. She screeched in agony, swinging her foot time and time again for it to end.

The last but not least memorable guard, Locci, sucked in a massive quantity of air, similar to Lien's super breath. However, he kept taking in more and more until it created a vacuum where the woman couldn't fly against the current.

She squirmed and cried a rageful scream. "You disgracephul dogs! You think you can deat ne?!"

Everyone else flared their aura to the maximum. The Wolves shared the same white and transparent aura with Lien. The old Kappa had read to her that each species of Monoke tended to share the same style of aura.

But before they could launch a combined spell, a raging hurricane spawned between the guards and the woman! It pushed everyone back, including Stella, who had hit her back on the rough surface of the hill. It stung, but she was mostly fine. Maybe it was the adrenaline kicking in.

Lien was rolling away by the harsh winds. The Human wouldn't forgive herself if the Wolf girl got hurt again.

She dashed towards the pup, almost being carried by the vortex. However, she burrowed her fingers into the dirt so hard she could have sworn it broke a few fingers. She had quickly grasped Lien's hand with her free one before she eluded her again.

The typhoon kept going but wasn't retaliating against the Dragon's Guard. It just gained more and more altitude, and then it tilted itself right before it rocketed into the horizon, beyond anyone's reach.

What a shitshow.

Everyone was trapped in a few minutes of silence, except for Tarb's timely cough. Stella watched the guards with apprehension, especially the captain. With the rage she had just shown against the skeleton-like creature, the Human realized she was threading in thin ice by staying close to her daughter.

Tash stood there, motionless through the quiet torture. Not even the pup was feeling courageous enough to engage. Fortunately (or unfortunately), she broke out from whatever her mind was being clouded with.

"Everyone." She pointed in a seemingly random direction. "Now."

Stella looked puzzled at the captain's orders. Was she talking to them as well? Paying attention to Lien, she clearly didn't have the answer either.

The captain turned to them. "You stay." Her voice lacked the cold confidence from earlier, which was understandable. If only she wasn't so damn scary, Stella could feel more sympathy for her.

Welp, there was nothing else she could do. The Human sat on the ground and recollected her thoughts. Sitting on grass wasn't as comfortable as expected, but it was better than laying on the harsh concrete. Besides, she had a loyal companion who was as affected by this madness as she was.

The girl's right-hand fingers stung a bit each time she made negligible movements with them. Thankfully, nothing was broken, just sore.

Speaking of broken, she had hit her back on that hill full force, hadn't she? Stella went through less painful situations and was out of commission for days in the aftermath. This wasn't normal.

If there was one person who could detect something wrong with her, it was Lien.

"Lien?"

"Hm?" The pup turned her head. Stella's question faded as she finally realized her friend's fringe was gone. Her grey eyes were in full display, and they were beautiful.

"Not the time, stupid thoughts." The girl took a few seconds to go on with the conversation. "What happened to your mane?"

Lien slightly tilted her head. "I... don't get it. Is something wrong with it?"

Of course, she wouldn't have seen it. Stupid Stella!

"Oh, it's just that your fringe is gone."

The pup touched her own face to verify. "Huh. You're right! It must have been when I fought those little bullies!" She scowled.

Stella's heart skipped a beat when she remembered how furious Lien was when she was stabbed. No one had gone this crazy for her before, and the girl never expected this coming from the Wolf herself.

Her face was burning. "W-Were you hurt?"

Lien shook her head. "Nah, I'm fine. My ankles and wrists are a little sore, that's all."

Stella's heart felt like an overheated engine. Her mind was clustered with... not family-friendly thoughts...

You know... like holding hands, petting, wrapping their arms on one another. Oh wait, that's called a hug.

Blegh! Just mentioning it makes me feel dirty!

"Thanks, Lien. You shouldn't have gotten into so much trouble for me."

Lien struck Stella's arm with a playful punch. "Silly! We're a pack, remember? It's what we do!"

"I see." If that's true, the Human should start pulling her own weight. But how? The strength gap between them was impossible to ignore. She should get into training to at least hold her own against these hostile creatures. Her weird growth still wasn't enough.

Right! Her original question! Silly Stella!

"Lien, do you feel anything different about me?"

The pup answered quickly, to the girl's surprise. "I did feel that your Saniya was a little different since we escaped the lair. I thought it was just my imagination."

Stella's eye twitched. "My Saniya is different? Wait, you can feel Saniya? Like a sixth sense?"

"I never told you that? Weird." Lien scratched her neck with her feet. "Yeah, your signature felt more intense after waking up this morning. How are you feeling?"

Stella flexed her arms, then clenched her right hand, ignoring the ache. "I'm feeling stronger than usual, more durable, too. Not that's worth anything. I'm still useless."

The pup was about to say something, but the Knight barged in on their alone moment. "Hello, girls! I have some interesting news-"

"LIEN!" The captain's voice prompted everyone to stand up and get on high alert. "Come back here!"

The blind pup's face alternated towards her friend and mother until she reluctantly obeyed the latter. "Coming, Mom." Her face and ears were downcast, and her tail stood almost motionless.

The girl felt bad for her friend but had to focus on the hero and cut him off before he could spew his nonsense again. "Okay, Knight? This isn't working!"

That was enough for his normal voice to resurface. "W-What?"

"I mean, all of these people trying to kill me! Or trying to get my dreams, or whatever's the deal with that Pig!"

He returned the gesture. "Is not a Pig, is a Baku."

"Whatever! There's those ninjas, that zombie lady-"

"A Yūrei."

Stella clenched her jaw, holding herself from not kicking him where the sun didn't shine. "My point is, I need to get stronger like you! I can't keep going like this! You guys were almost all wiped out!"

She expected any resistance, but nothing came. The guard nodded in agreement. "You're right." Then he was back at his hammy voice. "That is why you're in luck, Stella! Because..." He made a gesture of a drumroll. "We're staying a lot more time in Pantsti now! Enough so I can guide you to the harsh yet fulfilling road of Saniya training!"

Oh! That was... unanticipated.

"Seriously? What about the queen?"

"I know that was our initial plan, but there's Monoke actively trying to get you! Now, I cannot reveal the full details, but until we are sure of your safety, the best move is to keep you in Pantsti. Trust me, that place is the safest zone among all safe zones!"

Stella sighed. Not in frustration but in relief. "Thanks, As-"

He covered her mouth with his hand. "Secret identity, Stella! Remember?!" He whispered.

She whispered back. "I gotcha. Sorry."

She started snickering from the silliness of it all. Life-threatening dangers aside, everything around her was so ludicrous nowadays. She had been silenced by a freaking superhero while a pack of humanoid canines in armor was only a few meters away.

"Hey! Are we going or what?!"

Oh right. The Humans needed to go. Keeping the upset captain waiting was a far cry from a rational choice.

Then again, what was rational good for anymore?