<Episode 31>
Jackal slowly rubbed his temples, listening to Cried.
He had thought Kittia might have a special ability ever since he heard about her family history.
Icarus was a name passed down through generations of the goddess's cats who weren't controlled by the Blue Moon's madness.
Moreover, Kittia had even said herself that she had a special power. Although she herself didn't seem to know what that power was.
"Could some of Icarus's power have passed to Kitty when they died?"
"Right now, that seems like the only explanation. It's the only connection between her and the Blue Moon."
Cried replied. Jackal couldn't easily dismiss this issue.
"But I thought the Icarus's abilities were only passed down to the oldest kid."
"That's what the Mana Records say. But the most logical explanation for her amazing ability to heal is that she has some special power connected to the holy relic."
He had noticed it when she didn't even frown at the imitation Blue Moon, but to think she really possessed a special ability.
It's kinda weird, since beastmen's powers usually transfer to the animals closest to them when they die.
'I don't think Kitty saw her dad and brother die.'
But for now, the best guess is that the power was somehow passed down through their bloodline.
Jackal took out the imitation Blue Moon he had kept in his office drawer. Good thing it's in a special box, or the magic-sensitive foxes would've gone crazy fast.
"C-Could you please put that away? Just looking at it gives me the creeps."
"My daughter says it feels warm."
"...You've really taken in a handful of a cat, huh?"
Jackal fell into thought for a moment.
Since a fake gem salesman snuck in while we were getting clothes fitted, it looks like the panthers are already after Kitty.
That means we need a guard who's super sensitive to those fake Blue Moons they carry around.
"Cried Foxstein. I want you to guard my daughter from anyone with those fake Blue Moons, and keep an eye on the magic flow, for now."
"Will do. She's pretty interesting to me anyway."
Maybe he could even find a clue to help rescue the captured foxes. Cried's eyes narrowed.
Jackal added a few words, seeing that smile.
"Don't get any romantic ideas about her."
"I understand."
"Don't even think about touching her paw. And no touching her cat ears or tail."
"Yes, well..."
"Don't speak to her more than three words. Treat her like a wolf."
"......"
"Don't just stare at her. Look only at the sky and the ground as you walk."
"Seriously? Then why even make me a guard?"
"Your job is to protect Kitty the second you sense a Blue Moon."
"So, I'm basically a human shield, got it."
Cried got up, looking grumpy. He couldn't stand the wolves' weird possessiveness.
As Cried left the room, Jackal quietly ordered Elliot.
"Look into this guy, Jerian, who's acting like the leader of the cats."
His gut was telling him there was more to Kitty's secret.
* * *
"Awoo..."
"Kitty, are you alright?"
A gentle voice was heard above me. I blinked and raised my head. My head was throbbing, but it soon calmed down.
Karis was looking down at me, trying not to laugh.
"Looks like you've got a hangover, kiddo."
"......"
Memories of yesterday came flooding back, and my cheeks started burning up. If I wasn't in cat form, they'd be bright red by now, huh?
Karis carefully massaged my paws and then called for the doctor. I quickly shifted back to human form.
The doctors who finished checking me out were wide-eyed.
"Yesterday was amazing, but today is even crazier."
"That's insane healing for a normal baby cat... I mean, baby wolf."
They said the catnip was completely gone from my system. But I couldn't even crack a smile.
It's 'cause I remembered biting Eden's hand yesterday. Ugh, I have class today.
And even besides that, it was a huge problem that I got wasted on catnip in front of everyone. They're gonna think it's 'cause I'm a cat.
'What if there's a banner outside my room saying I'm a cat?'
I gave Karis puppy-dog eyes. Karis, totally misreading me, gave me a huge breakfast.
"Baby wolves get into catnip all the time. Don't sweat it."
"Oh... really?"
Feeling a little hopeful, I perked up my ears.
"Yes. Just don't go near catnip next time."
"Sorry. I won't go near it, even if I smell something sweet."
I went to my room, changed, and then dragged myself to the training grounds. Then, someone I wasn't expecting greeted me.
"Hey, I heard you were pretty wasted yesterday."
Cried said in a gentle voice, offering me a glass of milk.
"It's milk warmed with honey. It's still warm."
"Cried..."
Cried had snuck me snacks before, but this was the sweetest. I calmed my stomach with the warm milk.
Cried took the empty cup and smiled.
"Jackal ordered me to guard you."
"From today?"
"Yep. I'm pretty stoked about it."
Cried's smile totally gave away that he was hiding something, but if Jackal put him on it, there was nothing I could do.
'Is he worried I'll get into the catnip again?'
I mean, if I smell something sweet again, I might just run towards it, even if I don't mean to...
I shook my head and greeted Elliot, who was coming over. Elliot chuckled at me too.
"Hey, I heard all the gossip. You messed up big time, I hear."
"Haa..."
A sigh escaped me as I remembered biting Eden. I looked at Elliot with sparkling eyes and asked.
"Teach, how do you get a guy wolf to like you? Can you tell me a, like, grown-up way to do it?"
That way, Eden wouldn't tease me for being a cat.
Elliot shrugged and shook his head.
"After your last question, I decided something. I'm not answering any more of your tricky questions. I like my job, you know."
"But... if someone as reliable and cool as you answers, it'd be super helpful."
Eden seemed to respect Elliot a lot too. I started buttering Elliot up.
"Besides, you're the hottest wolf around, right?"
Unlike Eden, Elliot's ego went poof right away.
"Well, well... I knew you had good taste, but it's kinda embarrassing to hear you say it so straight."
Elliot kept going, not looking embarrassed at all.
"How to get a guy wolf to like you, huh? Let me show you, it's like this."
Elliot stared off into space with these dreamy eyes and then raised an eyebrow.
"Umm, is that it?"
"Yep. If he's into me too, that's all it takes."
"What about the rest?"
"The rest is up to the face."
"Ah-ha..."
I carefully wrote down Elliot's words in my mental 'How to Talk Like a Wolf' dictionary.
I'll just ask him one thing every training session.
"So, did Jackal and Karis get married 'cause they raised their eyebrows at each other?"
"Oh man, if I told you how they got married, I'd definitely get fired..."
"My brothers said your abs look all bumpy and hard, like a turtle shell."
"Wow, those guys are really observant..."
"They said it was a hundred-year-old turtle?"
"Looks like they're paying attention in biology. Karis and Jackal had an accident... umph."
"Accident?"
So they got to know each other and got close after an accident, huh?
"What kind of accident was it?"
"Well, you could call it a fender-bender. Let's get back to the lesson."
Even though it was chilly, Elliot was starting to sweat bullets.
I was dying to know what kind of accident Jackal and Karis had, but I focused on the martial arts lesson.
As time went on, I started freaking out more and more about the afternoon class with Eden.
As the lesson was wrapping up, Cried came over and told me.
"Kitty. Young Master Weevers is here."
"Teacher?"
He must be so mad that I bit him, to come all the way out here. With nowhere to hide, I shuffled over to Eden.
Eden was looking at me with a strange expression.
Better to get it over with. I said, kinda squeaking.
"Eden, I'm so sorry... You can bite me back as much as you want, 'til you feel better."
"......"
"A-Anywhere you want!"
My voice came out all shaky like a baby lamb, I was so scared. Eden reached out his hand.
Was he gonna flick my forehead? I clasped my hands together and squeezed my eyes shut. My cat ears popped out 'cause I was so freaked.
But I didn't feel any pain.
Pat, pat—
Eden gently stroked my cat ears and hair. His face was turned away, so I couldn't see if he was still mad, but his touch was really gentle.
"Um, Teacher?"
"What."
"Aren't you going to bite me?"
"Later."
Eden's voice was kinda low when he said that, and I tilted my head. I thought he couldn't stand me, but he wants to see me again?
"Anyway, why are you always so scared of me? Did you think I was gonna hit my own student?"
Eden continued to stroke me as he spoke. Hearing the words 'my student', I suddenly remembered what Theo and Deon had said.
"Don't give Eden any reason to think you guys have a special relationship. Got it? He might get obsessed with you."
Could this be...
I narrowed my eyes and asked Eden.
"Is this wolf obsession?"
Eden chuckled and immediately replied.
"Nope."
"Oh, okay. It's still confusing."
"Do you believe everything I say?"
"Duh, you're smart, aren't you?"
Eden's eyes crinkled like he was happy.
"Yeah, so keep asking only me from now on."
"Will I ever understand this whole wolf obsession thing?"
"Yeah. Because you're my student, I'll teach you. You don't need to know about other guys' obsessions, Kittia."
Maybe asking him to be nice when I was wasted actually worked? Eden's tone seemed a little softer.
From a distance, Cried was looking at me, grinning like an idiot, with this weird look.
