Captain Tash:

  Fan... Fucking... Tastic...

  This day was just perfect. Just peachy. No complaints to note here! She had just received some good, old cryotherapy - a soothing ice bath and massage, all brought by the capable, bony hands of the Icy Sorceress herself. Hell, she even got a sick-looking, katana-shaped popsicle! That oughta trend with the youth, right?

  And look at the company! She has her squad comrades, some Basan, including her beloved cousin, and, of course, a member of the species that ruined her life! Who held his secret identity for a whole year from everyone else, yet somehow she was the only one who was seeing a problem with it! Golly, what a pile of bull-

  "Excuse me? Ma'am?" A high-pitched voice pestered her right ear.

  How could she forget? The Amikiri, Hanaken, and the Baku had this "change of heart" after Yuki-onna froze their asses weeks ago. She was this close to sending these pathetic clowns packing to a jail cell. Still, oh-so-righteous Knight pleaded their case with his annoyingly saccharine fake eyes. Her companions, a bunch of smooth-brained morons, backed him up. Gah! Why must EVERYONE around her be so... so...

  "I-I know I..." The crustacean stuttered as he fidgeted with his snapping claws, creating a grating, rattling noise in the captain's ear. Literally every single detail about him made her despise him to her core, down to his green hair, which assaulted her eyesight with its vibrant color.

  "...threw your daughter down a hill..." That bit came as a whisper, but Tash heard it clear. "B-But in my defense, it wasn't my intention! I was aiming for the Human!"

  Of course. The two times her daughter was at real risk was by defending that Human brat. Because, of course, Lien had to find and befriend a second one. One wouldn't suffice, no ma'am! And now, it was her turn to bleed and turn into an ice cube for that little shit!

  Tizohi Almighty, her family was cursed... Who would be next? Tarb? About fucking time...

  ...

  ......

  He was still... talking...

  "...Deep breaths, Tash. Murder is still illegal, and you can't plead self-defense." She muttered to herself.

  The Amikiri's yellow eyes searched hers. "What did you say, ma'am?"

  "I SAID TO STOP BOTHERING ME, YOU GLORIFIED LOBSTER, BEFORE I EAT YOU WITH BUTTER!" She snarled. The crustacean immediately fled behind his buff bodyguard. No one dared look her in the eye after.

  Finally, they had stepped on Pantsti's territory. Venghaan said some parting words to the Lycan Squad, probably some self-gratifying bullcrap she didn't care to hear. She wanted her bed. Now.

  As if her luck wasn't six feet down under already, the rotund Baku scrambled from his hiding place behind a tree, bearing a smirk that would prompt her to shatter its pearly yellows if she hadn't discharged a good chunk of her rage on the Amikiri.

  "Life has a special way of surprising us!" He arrogantly adjusted his yellow and green, fluffy bathrobe that he had probably stolen. "There you stand, thanks to the illustrious-"

  Tash pushed him aside, making him trip on a rock. "Back off, shorty. Be grateful I'm not breaking your spine yet."

  Hōkō didn't needle her head with inane small talk for once. Good.

  Her feet dragged through the dirt, leaves, pine cones, and the occasional branch she would use to make her daughter fetch. You know what? That would be the first thing she would do on her well-deserved week or two off. When was the last time they did anything together? Her lack of instant recollection was concerning...

  Mmm... Her beautiful village... The Moon showering the humble rock formation with its graceful glow was a sight worthy of a minute of pause to behold it properly. Unfortunately, the cold breeze reminded her too much of the unfortunate twists and turns her night had suffered. The growing stress threatened to swallow her whole, and she knew that wouldn't go well when the HQ would analyze the mission's report. So she started humming a familiar tune, not daring to utter the lyrics, no matter how low she would whisper.

  "One rabbit ate two carrots that came in packs of three..."

  Rows and rows of prying eyes were fixed solely on the battered captain. Hmpf. As if they had never seen an injured officer before. Sure, Sayama wasn't very hectic with crime these days until the Tizohi's Chosen came along. Still, why must her people be so invasive all the time? How fortunate for them that she had family here. Otherwise, she would pack her stuff to the capital as soon as she woke up...

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "Then four owls fought for five hours until the clock counted to six..."

  Tarb volunteered to escort her to her hut. Geez, is he taking real responsibility? That crazy, old Owl she arrested for disturbing the peace with babble about the end of times might have been onto something, after all...

  "Their seven chicks cried for Mom and Dad, hoping they weren't dead..."

  Her hut... A welcome sight for her sore eyes...

  "But for eight days and nights... They would all be fed..."

  She pondered about her daughter. Luckily, all that commotion didn't wake her up. Yes, Lien was peacefully slumbering. No harm to be done with her precious pup. Her only...

  "The rabbit? His fate wasn't as sublime... as he had to be cut into-"

  "Sister." Tarb's deep voice cut through her lyrical distraction. She instinctively backed off right before his paw would touch her shoulder. "Can we talk?" His eyes desperately searched hers. "Tomorrow, I mean. After you're well and good again."

  The captain clumsily leaned her back on the door as if she had tasted her first sip of alcohol all over again. "Talk about what?" She growled, her voice barely above a whisper. "What is there left to talk?" The last word came out dripping with venom.

  Her brother pressed his paws together, taking a deep breath. "You know..."

  She clenched her jaw, shaking her head. Her eyes didn't even dare meet his. "No... No."

  "Please." He begged. "I want-"

  "You WANT?!" Tash's paw almost slipped as she left the wall's aid, but she succeeded in remaining steady. "That's funny because you didn't want anything for eight. Fucking. Years..."

  Tarb was... slack-jawed, silent... Perfect.

  She poked his chest plate with her claw. "And let me be clear..." Her eyes burned with disdain, reflected on her brother's frightened orbs. "You won't even DARE to bother me outside work. You won't try to finally grow some balls and be a big brother because that ship-" She slammed her fist on the wall, creating cracks and falling debris. "THAT SHIP! HAS ALREADY FUCKING SAILED!" She snarled.

  Her brother flinched, breathing heavily with apprehension. Tash's wild expression slowly eroded with time, but her eyes did not break contact with him once. "Goodnight, Tarb." She turned to the door and quickly shut it in his face.

  Home. At long last. Although the lack of light made her cozy abode look dreary and depressing, it matched her current feelings all the better...

  Besides... the only light Tash needed was right there, slumbering in bed.

  ...Or so she thought. Tash knew Lien enough to pick up on her natural sleeping patterns, how her daughter's chest expanded more visibly, inhaling and exhaling in a loud snore that the captain was all too familiar with. Stepping closer to analyze, she saw the pup... shaking?

  Fuck. The child heard the outburst, didn't she?

  "Lien?" She knelt, her paw hovering above her daughter's shoulder. "You're awake, aren't you?"

  Lien turned around, her chin quivering by pushing back tears that formed at the edges of her milky eyes. "T-They hurt you...?"

  The phantom pain of Yuki-onna's blade piercing Tash's torso came in, almost as powerful as the actual event, backed up by her clenching heart.

  "My pup..." The captain's eyes glimmered with unshed tears as she wrapped her arms around her frightened daughter.

  "Yes." She ruffled the pup's mane. "But I'm fine. See?" She pulled her closer, almost breaking down by the warmth of her own daughter. "Can you feel me?" She cooed. "I'm not going anywhere." She kissed Lien's forehead. "Not until I'm an old, nagging coot."

  Lien chuckled. "Do I have to change your diapers like grandma?"

  Tash's smile brightened. "You better." She playfully tackled her pup to the ground and started tickling her by repeatedly biting her belly. The child's giggle was everything for the grizzled Wolf, her only motivation left...

  Unfortunately, the sweet sound had no healing properties. The captain's entire body became even sorer with this simple activity.

  "Darn it!" Tash clutched her sides, the remnants of laughter lingering in her voice. "No comments about my age, young lady." She reprimanded with a cheeky smile. "It's just..." She sighed. "It's been a lot..."

  Lien squeezed her tummy, her bright, toothy grin a breath of fresh air. "Mom?"

  "Hm?"

  The pup's face straightened. "Give Uncle Tarb a chance, will you?"

  Tash stood silent for a few seconds, then muttered. "I can't promise you that."

  Lien nodded. "I knew you'd say that..."

  Those words stung. Tash knew her resentment was so evident to her pup. Hell, she wasn't making much effort to hide anymore... And with that Human so close-

  "Mom?"

  Tash's eyes broke from the elephant-shaped stain on the wall and returned to her daughter.

  "I'd like to sleep alone tonight." Lien rolled back to face the wall.

  The mother felt dejected. She complained about the pup's clinginess for so long, yet it felt wrong when this routine broke. Her daughter... was growing up. That was a good thing!

  ...Right?

  "Of course." Tash stood up and slowly crawled up to her own bed. Her weirdly empty bed... Why was she hoping this would be a one-time thing so much?

  "Night, Mom! Love you!" Lien shouted, a little louder than necessary, but... still welcomed, anyway.

  "Love you too!" Tash softly smiled. "Goodnight, my pup..."

  Some of the captain's worries were alleviated when the pup's infamous snoring started. Not even a bear could compete with that tiny menace.

  But do you know what the best part was? It was so freaking loud Tash could focus solely on that and be driven to sleep. No unwanted thoughts about her brother, the Humans, or that pale bitch stood before Lien's nightly noise disturbance.

  Well... That wasn't exactly true... Some of the Yūrei's words broke through, compelling her to do something reckless like a siren's call.

  "The Tizohi's Chosen fight for a safer Sayama, wiped clean from Humanity's filthy touch."

  "Your daughter deserves this."

  She did, didn't she?

  "Your daughter deserves this."

  ...

  ......

  Tash glanced at her sleeping daughter one more time before rolling to face the wall, giving up on forcing herself to unconsciousness. Her exhausted body would do the job for her sooner or later.

  ...Or so she hoped.