Chapter 21: A Place to Call Home

The rustling grew louder as more branches snapped in the distance. Katrina jumped out of the water, lowering herself onto all fours and began hissing loudly. Her tail stood straight with the fur poofed out, tripling in size.

"Someone’s coming," Katrina hissed.

The tree line nearest the pool began shaking violently, shaking leaves off. The deep shadows between the trunks twisted as if wrestling with an unwelcome intruder. Then a hand broke through, grabbing at the branch pulling it back until it snapped. Splinters scattered around on the ground.

From the darkness a turquoise head popped out. Twigs and leaves riddled her hair. Our eyes met and she burst into tears.

"I got lost..." Sarah muttered as she stepped through the brush, hanging her head low.

Dragging her feet the whole way, she stepped into the pool, slowly lowering herself down. She didn’t stop until her entire head was under water.

"Should we do something?" I asked, starting to get increasingly concerned by the second. "She’s not coming back up..."

I waded over reaching my hand down. She jerked under the water, launching herself up and into my jaw. Stars blinked in my vision as I stumbled back.

"Shit Sarah, that hurt!" I barked, rubbing my pulsating chin. "What are you trying to do anyways? Drown yourself?"

"I’m so embarrassed... you’ve been here waiting on me and I couldn’t find my way here," she explained. "It’s almost like the area changed somehow," she sniffled, rubbing a tear away. "Sorry it took me so long," she finished, hanging her face into the water again, bubbles followed.

"Damnit," I laughed, forcing her head back up. Our eyes met and her cheeks became flush. "Pretty..." the words escaped my mouth, flustering her further.

The familiar blaring notification rang out from my cellphone. Leaving the pool, I grabbed it, opening the notification.

[ QUEST COMPLETE: A Spark with Sarah ] [ REWARD: +100,000 Favor Points ]

"These favor points are getting out of hand," I muttered. "I’m just being rewarded for being me," I said, continuing to read.

[ BONUS UNLOCKED: First Impression Assessment ] [ Target: Sarah (Goddess of the Hot Spring) ] [ Special Trait: Divine Clumsiness – An ancient goddess with extraordinary power and an extraordinary ability to embarrass herself. ]

Clumsy is right...

Out of nowhere a light began to glow around Sarah’s neck, the light fading shortly after, leaving a black collar. The same one that had appeared on Damara previously.

A faint purple hue clung momentarily before fading away, leaving the material an obsidian black. It gleamed in the sunlight.

"What is this?" Sarah asked, grabbing at the collar.

I took the next hour carefully explaining everything. Sarah listened as her eyes shimmered in the setting sun. A few times during the explanation her face turned bright red.

"Outside of pleasure, what do you get from all of this?" She asked, her tone flat and rigid.

Her question almost made me stumble backward. Her demeanor had changed into something completely different than moments ago. The weeping, clumsy girl had dissolved instantly into a watchful immortal demanding real motives. She peered into my eyes waiting for an answer.

After some thought, I had one. "I want to live some sort of a happy quiet life this time. And to use the gifts Celestia gave me to make that happen," I stared back, locking our eyes together as I finished. "Now I’d like to make your life better. If you’ll let me."

"Sam’s a really great guy Sarah," Damara chimed in from the waters edge. Her chest leaned up against the stone side and squished her boobs.

We left after another half an hour had passed. Katrina complained about her clothes being soaked the whole way. Grabbing my phone, I ordered her a new outfit, finding the market only had three pairs of bottoms with a hole for the tail.

As we stood in the living room, Katrina stared at both Damara and I.

"Can you two leave the room please?" She asked, her tail stiff. "I don’t want you to see—"

I looked at Damara and cracked a grin. Soon after it grew to a wide smile. As an idea formed.

"Stay here with her," I said, heading toward the stairs. "I have an idea!"

In the next closest empty room, I opened the Celestial Market app. Taking my time, I carefully picked out several things to make Katrina’s room unique and welcoming.

I filled her dresser drawers with women’s clothing, praying the system would get the size right. As I continued to shop an alert flashed on my phone.

It was an advert, a clearance item. My cheeks hurt from how hard it made me grin. Without hesitation I purchased the item. Placing it on top of her dresser.

"If I were a betting man, I’d say she’ll get the hang of it the quickest," I said, ordering and throwing over a leopard print comforter. "This might be a bit on the nose..." I muttered tucking the corners away. "At least it’s soft."

With a few more small additions the room was complete, and my favor balance had nearly depleted. Every corner felt transformed from cold, vacant space into a cozy refuge built just for her.

Closing the app, I heard a muffled cry from downstairs, followed by several loud thuds. The wooden floor below me rattled. The sudden violence in the sound shattered the peaceful quiet of the manor. I shoved my phone away before running out of the room.

Hanging my head over the railing, I looked below. On all fours Katrina was hissing at something. Obscured by the height difference, I couldn’t see what it was.

"Sam! We need help!" Damara yelled.

Panic ripped through me, stripping away any shred of hesitation. Something inside me clicked as my body grew hot and my vision red.

Whatever had dared to step through our doors was about to find out exactly what I would do to protect them.