Foxy lead me to the back of the pub and walked through the door without a second thought. Even as the people back there looked at the two of us with confused expressions. Several of them, mostly Beast-Kin, could feel how strong we were just by sense and immediately stepped out of our path, or rather Foxy's path as she lead me through the tight corridor.
I could've sworn that she came here before me, just to know where to go for when she did this, because she stopped at a door that looked not unlike the others and put her hand against it. She pushed a little visible mana into the door and it slid open and into the wall, revealing a small room and what looked like a podium in the middle of it for something. Foxy took out her Guild Coin, also Black and Silver--a sign towards what order of the Guild we were a part of-- and tapping it against the podium for a few moments.
Suddenly, it lit up with a panel of symbols and she pushed a few in a specific order that turned the entire thing green and the podium sank into the floor. The door closed behind us both and she just leant against the wall as the entire room suddenly went down. I wasn't used to this kind of thing yet, and accidentally let out a yowl of displeasure upon feeling the sudden weightlessness, as well as not having my Skill activate for me.
"Oh, don't be such a scardey cat, kitten" She teased and I glared at her as the thing descended, "You've been on plenty of these throughout your time here. Shouldn't you be used to this by now?"
"Nyo!" I hissed back, "I hate these styupid machines and the annyoing feeling they give me. I'm falling but nyot, and you know that but make me use these anyways!"
"It's so adorable when your Feline side comes out." Foxy teased. I turned away, my face heating up with embarrassment.
"Stupid Fox," I grumbled
She perked an ear and hummed, "What was that?"
"Nothing." I responded as the doors opened. I immediately dashed out of the strange contraption and onto solid ground once again. Why was this location underground?! I hated being underground!
"I know you don't like being in places where you can't see the sun or smell fresh air, I don't either, but try to bear with it for a little while." She asked and I nodded hesitantly, "I'll try not to be too harsh towards you these next few days if you don't cause any trouble..."
"I'm not a child!" I growled and she chittered haughtily, walking off amused.
"I know," She grinned as I caught up to her, "It's just so fun teasing you..." I stepped away from her instinctively. Noticing her arm twitch slightly and her jaunty facade slipped a little--eye twitching, mouth frowning-- but as quickly as it showed she hid it and focused on something else, "Alright where to first?"
"Mission Hall..." I answered meekly, looking at the vast sea of shady people going to and fro before us cautiously. We passed various organ and suspicious meat sellers as I followed Foxy through the market part of the Underground and soon we arrived at a dark-toned building that had an insignia of a claw on the door and sign-board hanging above.
Talon-Marks and Hits
Sometimes I hated being a part of The Underground, and everything to do with it, but not only was I payed well, I also found a group of others that I fit in with here. So it wasn't all that bad in the end, just most of the people were. Just as Foxy reached the doors, a familiar Wolf-Kin came crashing out of it, howling angrily at a Bear-Kin as they broke past the doors and crashed to the ground just outside of the place.
Foxy sighed and flicked a hand in their direction as they separated, trying to go and attack each other again. What looked like a transparent sheet of glass appeared between the two as they struck, but rather than striking each other, the resulting blast sent them both further apart--in opposite directions. The wolf went farther than the bear because of the weight difference between them, but that didn't stop him for getting up again and immediately trying to charge at the other, who was still struggling to get to their feet.
A box of the same transparent material surrounded him and Foxy groaned turning towards me with a wry smile, "Well at least it wasn't you getting in trouble first." I didn't answer her. I was too distracted by Wreign's state: his eyes were as blood red as the aura surrounding his body was, and it was starting to suffocate me. Foxy turned to him again with a scowl and the box started to shrink smaller and smaller with every hit, until the wolf was in a box barely wider than he could extend his arms.
"Are you done having a tantrum Wreign?" She hummed stepping up to tap him on the nose, through the reflective wall like it wasn't there for her. It probably wasn't for her, and that still confused me as to how her Magic worked, but--like Wreign's was--hers was extremely powerful and seemed to have no limitations on it's usage. "What's it about this time?"
"That frosty spotted, walking rug rushed my kill and tried to off me on the job!" He roared and everyone looked at the bear, who I now noticed was in fact partially white on the paws and tips of the ears, but otherwise he was a really dark brown. "He took my mark and attacked me afterwards!"
I haven't seen Wreign this pissed since the time he poured a large basin of blood over the team, getting a whooping and 'pool time' from the others in return. "Is this true Mark?" Foxy asked and the Bear-kin shrugged, his shoulders not exactly supporting the movement, but managing it anyways. This chapter is updated first at novelping dot com.
"What? He was toying with the poor creature and was keeping it from dying on him. I only tried to restrain him afterwards to get the guy to calm down, but Wreign clearly took that the wrong way..." Foxy looked at Wreign with a scornful look and he seemed to be catching up to the situation.
"What did I tell you about playing with your food Wolfy?" She mused, "That's a Feline thing, you shouldn't be doing..."
"Hey! It was an Orc that took pleasure in tearing apart children!" He shot back, "I figured teaching it a lesson on the pain it was causing was the least I could do before finishing the damn thing off. Giving it Mercy like that fool did was not something it deserved." He didn't meet Foxy's eyes but he knew his point came across.
She sighed and I stepped back, behind her, as the walls disappeared. "Alright. I get your point, but you couldn't have done this outside and saved us a giant headache Wolfy?" She had a point, and he knew it. He just stared off to the side not seeming regretful in the slightest towards his previous actions, occasionally shooting the bear a glare and, contrastingly, a warming smile in my direction.
Damn wolf was way too into theatrics...I swear. Then again, Foxy wasn't much better, and I probably worse when it came to....certain things, so I couldn't judge...much.
Our group was called The Underworld Terrors--Five for a reason after all; everyone just changed the number at the end if it increased or decreased, since it had been 'Four' until I'd joined, when it became 'Five'. I was just 'finding my place in the group' apparently, and 'they would be sure to show me the ropes'...whatever that meant.
"Apologize to Mark, Wreign," Foxy ordered and he growled.
"I will not."
"Apologize."
"No"
"Wreign, if you don't apologize you won't get the chance to tease Kitty at an event I have planned for this week." She threatened, that got his full attention.
"Wait, actually?" Really?! Why was making fun of me more important than anything else all the sudden?!
"Yes, in two days..." She confirmed and Wreign immediately disappeared from his spot and appeared before Mark in a low bow.
"I apologize for almost ripping off all your limbs and boiling you alive earlier." Mark paled at the revelation, but Wreign didn't move until he spoke: just wagging his red patterned tail slowly behind him.
"Al--Alright. I forgive you." He squeaked, unbefitting of a bear his size, then again I would've been the same way or worse if a high level brawler like Wreign was threatening him during an apology. Though he certainly wouldn't be opposing Wreign for a while if they teamed up again so there was that...
"Great!" Wreign shot up and grinned at the bear before disappearing again and appearing before Foxy with her hand in his, side-eyeing me evilly, "What was this about a future event involving dear Red?" You are reading on novelping . com, the official source.
She took her hand back, claws extended as her hand dragged out, "I got a favor from her that I am cashing in for the next two days after tomorrow, and I thought that maybe you'd like the chance to be there..."
"Yes! Absolutely!" He grinned at me, his tail wagging furiously behind him. "I wouldn't miss it even if the world was ending." I shrank further behind Foxy.
"A few nights out can't be that important can it?" I murmured and they both grinned towards my inquiry.
"It totally is."
"I'm not missing this kitten."
"I--I have things I need to do Freija." I looked up at the Fox demon I was hiding behind but her eyes held no relent for my future suffering. "Foxy?" That seemed to snap out of it and she grabbed Wreign and directed the three of us to the Mission Hall.
"Alright. Lets get what you need done, done. I have to get to planning for tomorrow and the following day, and since you have no say in this, I'm doing everything." I let my ears and tail droop this time, clawing for a desperate respite from Wreign at least.
"Kitten I ain't gonna get in the way of Foxy for this. No way will I interrupt whatever she has going on up there, not even for you." Well, there goes my hopes for a little less to have to deal with...
"Don't worry. It probably won't be that bad." He reassured but I didn't believe it: When Freija went all out on something, it was everything or nothing with her.
"What do you need first?" Foxy asked and I pointed to the 'claims' counter.
"I have to turn in the mission note and proof of completion, then get a few potions, a new Concealing Stone, and stronger arrows..." I was practically dragged over by her to the front of the line, where Wreign stood in-front of the others in line when they tried protesting, shutting up upon seeing him.
"Go on," Freija motioned and I nodded. Getting out the notice for the mission and the hit attachment that went with it, along with their swords from my Storage Ring and setting all of it on the counter.
"I'm here to retrieve compensation for a partially completed mission." I said and the clerk looked at everything surprised and then at Foxy's dangerous glare; Taking everything and putting it aside before getting out a document quickly and pushing that towards me.
"This is the confirmation of completion for both parties. We both sign: you here, me there." She pointed to two spots at the bottom of the page, "Then I'll go and retrieve the payment for the successful hit." I heard Wreign's loud growl from behind me and tensed uncomfortably. I really should have brought all of that out before coming inside, but with everything happening it completely slipped my mind. I signed the page, and she signed as well before running off to get the payment for the completion.
She came back with a small pouch and slid it over, "Unfortunately, you don't have any information about the cave exploration or anything about what was found in it so I can't give full credit..."
"That's fine," I hurriedly took the pouch, storing it in my ring as I turning away to leave, Foxy and Wreign following closely behind.
"Now that that's over. Time for some shopping!" Foxy gleamed and hopped ahead of the both of us to lead the way. "No time for rest! Lets go girls."
"Stop calling me that!" Wreign growled, "I am male, and proud of it."
...He didn't deserve my pity.
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