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_ Setchi _
"Ha! You saw that right?!" I heard Bambi snickered.
"Yep! It landed right in his face. Good job, kiddo." I snickered, rubbing his hair before turning over to the folk who was far from us. He was on the lobby platform as he was turning and looking around, trying to figure out where that ball of mud came from. We both chuckled sinisterly before flinching from Paradise's voice from behind us. "... I swear, you both are gonna cause us TROUBLE on the FIRST DAY!"
"But we didn't get caught~" I chimed, turning towards them with a smug grin.
"Yeaaaaaa." Bambi jumped on in with his smug expression.
Paradise glared at both of us, sighing in annoyance, "Why do I have to take care of two children?!"
"I'm not a child." I huffed.
"You're an overgrown child if I ever saw one." They snapped.
"Overgrown?!" I glared at them. "I am not overgrown!"
"Well, now you are," Paradise spoke. "Come on, it's cold out there."
I huffed as Bambi whined, "Awwww, you always ruin the fun!"
"Well, I WANT our two big BOYS to not get sick!" Paradise grunted.
"Fine." I walked forward, stepping back inside. "I won't get sick then, but I don't want to stay in this house right away. Why don't we explore the colony?"
"You and Sut can do that," Paradise said. "I ... I don't know if I trust the people of this colony."
"What is this I'm hearing?" I folded my arms and turned over to them. "I thought you wanted to venture out into the big world! What happened to that?"
"I'm being cautious, Setchi." Paradise pat their brother's head. "I don't trust that leader."
I frowned, "I ... suppose we should be on our guard. I'll tell you anything out of the ordinary when we get back then."
"Alright---"
"Can I go?" Bambi asked, beaming with stars sparkling in his eyes.
"No, you cannot," Paradise told him.
"Aw--- why can't I?!"
"Because it's dangerous out there." They told him as I turned away. Dangerous. It may seem like that, but ... it can't be too bad if you don't try something new, Paradise. Oh well, maybe next you will. I walked over to the staircase and traveled down it, spotting a figure on the couch. I grinned widely before sneaking over. I grabbed the couch and shook it, causing Sutato to flinch and get up. I smiled innocently up at him as he glared down at me. "Wanna go take a tour around the--- ACGF." A book was thrown at my face I as grabbed and stared at it.
"... t-tor?" I heard him ask as I looked up, "Yep. A tour around the colony! Wanna go?"
Sutato looked nervous, glancing over at the door and back at me. "Don't worry, I got your back if anything goes wrong," I told him, standing up straight and walking around the couch and over to him. "We first have to get a map and figure out where to go from there."
He slowly nodded as I handed him his book back. "Okay, good. Let's get going before heavy snow began raining upon us." I said, watching him nod as I took the lead. I opened the door, waiting for him to walk out before closing the door and locking it. We made our way onto the larger platform, halting in place as the area doesn't seem crowded anymore. There were some groups of humanoids here and there, but they were all located in corners. Good! I don't wanna deal with people today!
I flinched when something was thrown at the back of my head. I slowly turned back to the house, glaring at Bambi who was on the second floor's balcony. I could see him laughing in his steps as I hissed. Oh when I get back, that little brat gonna get a slap! I wipe the mud off of my hair and attempted to get it out until I flinched from the name being called, "SETCHI!" I turned my head over to a redhead waving at me in the distance. She had the brightest smile on her face as she darted over to us before falling flat on her face. Both Sutato and I blinked down at her before walking over to help her up.
"Damn, this humanoid-running is weird," Carla muttered before wiping herself off and standing still. "How did you even get used to this quickly, Setchi?"
"Magic." I lied, turning over to a lilac-haired feaolk who stood in silence, watching us. I narrowed my brows before turning over to Carla. She stuck her tongue out at me before turning over to Sutato, who was biting the end of his pen. "Sut no." I glared at him.
Sutato stopped and stared at me, narrowing his eyes before taking the pen out of his mouth. "Thank you," I said before looking over at Purity. "Now, why is she here?"
"She wanted to ... join us for a tour," Carla said, looking nervous. "I don't know if that is fine for you guys."
I narrowed my eyes, not trusting her one bit. "... Sutato, what do you think?" I asked, turning over at him. He looked nervous too but he gave a small nod of his head. I sighed and turned over to her who was smiling. Wipe that smile off of your face, I still don't trust you.
"Goodie then!" Carla chirped. "Wait--- Where are Paradise and Bambi?"
"They're standing inside the house. Paradise doesn't trust this colony nor the leader so ... yeah." I answered, shrugging.
"Oh. Well, we can always wait on Castit." Carla smiled.
"I don't know." I slowly turned over to where that half-icy house was at. I stared from across the entrance of the residential area. "I know he would love to come with us but ... I have a feeling he's a bit busy with you know who."
Carla grumbled quietly, folding her arms. "WELL. That wolf has ice powers, right? So with my flames, I can break into the house, kick that wolf's ass, and get Castit out of there so he can come with us. Peacefully, without any teasing from that damn wolf."
I looked nervous at the image of that, "Let's not ..."
"We can go without him and not waste time. It's gonna get cold soon." Purity spoke at last.
"Awww, I don't want to leave Castit behind." Carla frowned, glancing at her.
"Maybe next time if the wolf doesn't have him trapped with ... it's teasing..." I shivered, shaking my head.
"... Okay ... I guess we can." Carla slowly nodded, glancing at both of us. Sutato had a frown on his face before nodding; I sighed nodding as well. I turned and walked forward, leading the way for the group. We walked out of the residential area and over to a tall pole in the center that displayed multiple signs on it. I stood by the railing, glancing down at a box that held some ... things. I don't know what they are. I watched Sutato take one as he opened it up and gazed at it.
I heard Purity gasp as I rolled my eyes, "A map!" She said, walking over to him as Carla stood on the other side of him. I walked around and stood behind him, staring at the map as I realized I couldn't read anything on it, but it did display the entire of the whole colony in picture mode. So you have that. Purity leaned into the map, touching the bottom, left part of the map. "We're here ... to the ... right of us where were came from earlier this morning." A tiny platform on the map that led to the huge gathering place was located on the left of the plus section. Another would be going south, where the houses and residential area were at.
"Up north leads deeper into the colony, the first building I see is the ... hospital building." Purity read out as both Carla and I blinked in astonishment. "We can go there in case ... there is anything wrong with us."
"As in what?" Carla asked.
"Diseases, hidden ones specifically." Purity told her.
"Oh. Alrighty then." Carla nodded.
"Yeah. Let's keep the map for places after the hospital." Purity said as Sutato nodded, folding it up and placing it in his jacket. Soon Purity was leading as I was still nervous about her actions. Carla seems to trust her and Sutato ... is the little on the trusting side. So ... I guess I should ease up on her and give her a chance. We sauntered together, passing some folks along the way. The massive platform bridge was large enough to fit them all as the first building was coming up.
The building seems to be the works of a Nature Elemental, where the pathway to it was large vines coiling around a fallen tree. Our group halted in front of it, staring at the work with wide eyes. The vines from the natural bridge were wrapped around the wooden internal and formed an archway while the rest ran underneath the wooden platform, the outer internal, and latched onto the nearby tall trees. I was the first to step onto the bridge and padded forward as I wanted to view more of this place. As I near, there was a figure who stood by someone who rested in a hammock. They were given something that seem to be unknown to my eyes, however, I assumed it was medicine from the way the ill patient was appearing. So this is the hospital.
THIS IS THE COOLEST HOSPITAL EVER. Flowers were growing on the vines and the archway. I halted underneath it as I gazed at the flower, looking beautiful as ever. "Oh. Hello!" I glanced over to the voice, glancing at the figure who smiled softly with a gentle expression. Something from their aura made me feel light. As if I could rest here without any issues coming at me forever. "Are you guys the newest members of Lake Safiy Colony?" They asked with a sweet, honeyed tone. They placed the bowl in their hands on the wooden counter as they turned and walked over to me.
"Uh--- Yes! We are." I nodded, answering a little late as I felt like I was in wonderland.
"Good! I'd assume Aurora forgot to tell me to test you guys for illness." They spoke, turning and walking over to a table that had tools. Oh... well. Yeah. She did. But we went here ourselves ... yeah, you get the point. I nodded. "Oh, Aurora... getting rid of the diseases in this world is the most important instead of touring. Is she with you or is Pearl with you?"
"We're on our own with a map," I answered, frowning as my ear fins closed up and lowered.
They let out a sigh, "She's lacking behind even more than ever." They grabbed one of their many needles, checking it before looking over at me. "Your friends may enter through the entrance. I will check all of you there."
"WE'RE GETTING CHECKED?!" Carla shouted, whose mouth got wrapped around vines immediately afterwards.
"SHhhhh, I have a patient here. Be respectful and follow my orders." They hissed at her as their hand was emitting a light green glow. It soon faded away as the vines release Carla.
"We will ma'am!" Purity spoke before turning over to Carla. "That is how they check us for diseases, Carla."
"I didn't know!" Carla stared back at her. I snickered before watching Purity enter first. Carla enter second and Sutato and I entered at the same time since he didn't want to leave my side. I could see he was getting anxious again and I did my best to comfort him.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhII3SrE6t
...
We entered the room, lit up and layered with beds. We all choose to sit on one as we chat a little before getting interrupted by the medic.
"Hello you, honeybears. I am Peruvian, the doctor of this colony. I will be checking you all for diseases, illness, etc. as it is required before moving ahead in your tour." She announced, walking over to Carla first, who flinched and stared at the needle intensely. Peruvian appeared to have deer ears, a deer tail, and deer hind legs, making me assume she's a deolk. But she's also a nature elemental. Such rarity and beauty! She had brown hair with green eyes and appeared to sparkle like an emerald.
"Hold still, dear." She told Carla, who slowly nodded with fear of the needle in which I chuckled at her reaction.
Soon she was finished with her as she stored that needle in a safe container before grabbing a new one and moving on to each of us. In a moment, she finished collecting what she wanted from us as we were told to wait in the waiting room. Carla groaned beside me, "We should have not gone to this place at all."
"I'm sorry, do you want to later discover that you were sick and growing worse?" Purity asked her.
"No! But there gotta be some other way instead of that!" Carla shouted.
"Oh shush, you survived," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Heh, like you did any better than her." Purity snorted.
I narrowed my eyes at her, shifting my gaze into a glare. "Don't treat me like I'm your friend," I spoke coldly, making her flinch.
"Hey! Hey. She was just joking, Setchi!" Carla waved her hands in front of my face.
I rolled my eyes and turned my gaze away from her. I don't care if she was joking, she doesn't do that around me when we're not friends. I leaned back against the chair when Peruvian stepped in with some papers. She halted and gazed down at all of them before combing them together and lifting her gaze up. She smiled down at all of us, speaking, "You honeybears are all cleared of diseases! Though ... one of you... your blood samples are complex and unique."
"... How can blood be complex?" Purity questions.
"... It's ... complicated," Peruvian said, turning over to Sutato who frowned. He waved in the air before pointing at himself. "Yep. It's you. We might need to get you to check further if you want to drive further into them. It's all your choice, my dear. For now, you are all free!" Peruvian smiled.
"FINALLY. LET ME AWAY FROM NEEDLE HELL." Carla shouted, bolting out of the hospital.
"Carla!" Purity rushed after her.
Sutato slowly nodded, standing up with me. "Can I talk to you alone?" Peruvian asked me as I turned to her.
"I guess." I nodded before turning over to Sutato who frowned. "You can wait outside, can you?"
He frowned deeply as Peruvian noticed this. "It'll be quick, I promise."
He turned to her before nodding. He took a breath in and out, walked over to the entrance, gave me one last glance, and walked out. I frowned at his departure before turning back to the deolk. "Aren't you a sneaky folk?" She said, narrowing her eyes with interest.
I widened my eyes, looking confused. "What?"
"Did you think your blood samples would hide who you truly are?" She questioned.
I grumbled, getting it now. "... Well... DNA can't lie so you have that."
"True, true! It's just ... exciting to meet a dragon shifter like yourself." She smiled. I frowned, lowering my ear fins. "Oh don't worry! I won't tell the others if you want that."
"Good. I don't want anyone to know about it." I nodded slowly.
"Good choice! Folks around here would be bolting all over the place if one of your kind showed up out of nowhere. Though ... I'm sure you know it will be harder to hide it as the future continues." She said, turning away.
"I know it will be."
"Good. For now, farewell Setchi." She spoke before leaving the empty room through one of the white doors. I stared at her before blinking in confusion. I didn't tell her my name. I don't think none of us did. Did one of the councils tell her about us? I shrugged and walked forward, exiting the hospital. Sutato was pleased to see me as he stood close to me while staring at the two girls on the bridge, looking like they were arguing. I sighed before walking forward to interrupt them so we can continue on.
Once we were done looking at the map and pointing at a spot where we wanted to go, we headed forward. We passed all kinds of folks who walking right past us, but most of them were feaolks, making me assume that is the most common folk around here. We came across the spot we wanted to be at as Purity jumped with excitement. I raised a brow, staring at her. "They got to have a mall. Please tell me they have a mall!" She smiled widely.
Carla, Sutato, and I looked confused as Carla asked, "What is a mall?"
Purity turned towards her, gasping, "A mall is where you can get anything you want!"
"... Like ... what?" Carla asked.
"Like new clothes than those ones that Gali made you put on." Purity narrowed her eyes. "Come on! It'll be fun!"
Carla turned to us, "You guys wanna come?"
I nodded, "It can hurt, can't it?"
"Besides, not only you can shop for clothes, there are places where you can play games, eat food, get your hair gone, nails done, and more." Purity smiled at me.
"... Games?" I tilted my head as Sutato poked me, shaking his head no. "Awww, come on!" I huffed, bouncing in my steps. He shook his head no once more before pulling his own clothes. I grumbled and folded my arms, "FINE, I guess we can look at clothes. Ugh."
Sutato glared at me as I glared back at him. We were glaring at one another for longer than a minute as we were interrupted by Carla, "ALRIGHT. Stop it you two! Let's go before we waste time."
I grumbled as I turned away, huffing. "OH, stop that." Carla rolled her eyes and followed after Purity. I followed behind as Sut followed me. We entered the birch building as every shelf was made out of wood, in fact, everything here was made out of wood. The four of us walked around before jumping at Purity's screams. She was bouncing up and down, shouting that "THEY HAVE A CLOTHING AREA! THEY HAVE A CLOTHING AREA!" Before any of us could answer, she grabbed Carla's arm and dragged her into the shop.
I blinked at their departure, watching Carla scream for my help but I just stood there. I turned my head at Sutato who frowned slightly. "It's ... alright. I guess ... Purity is obsessed with clothes or something." I told him. He turned towards me before nodding. He glanced back at the clothes shop, looking curious about it.
"Do we go in?" I asked.
He nodded without looking at me as I smiled softly. I took the lead, walking in the doorway and turning right, assuming the girls went left. We entered some aisle, glancing at some shoes. I halted and stared at my talons and back at them. Well, I can't try them out. I frowned. But they look so pretty! Ugh, why did I make myself have talons?! I turned around towards Sutato who was eyeing a pair of black shoes with a moon print on the side of them. "You wanna try them on?" I asked.
He turned his head over me, nodding with a smile.
"Go on, I'm sure the members of this place won't mind," I told him, walking over.
He turned and grabbed them and sat down, taking off his old ones and placing one foot in them. I narrowed my eyes, noticing how small-sized they were. "comfort-no ... not comfortable."
"Uncomfortable is what your trying to say?" I asked.
He nodded, giving me a small smile before dropping it and turning down at the shoes. "I assumed ... each shoe belongs to a size since ... I think each folk's foot is different from one another." I guessed, gazing at them.
"Aww..." He frowned, taking them off and glancing at the moon print.
"We can try to find something similar and much bigger," I told him, smiling.
"... okay." He nodded, putting his own old shoes on while putting them back on the shelf.
"Aye! New members!" We both flinched from the voice, turning towards the figure. They appeared to have two horns coming out on each side of their cheekbone, however, the left one was broken. "Greetings! I am Torrent! One of the workers of the mall." They introduced themselves, walking over to us.
"Hello..." I said quietly, lowering my ear fins as I was getting a little shy.
"Don't be shy! I won't do a thing to you! In fact, if you haven't read the sign on the window, any new members that come in can take one item of each section for free. For example, for shoes, you can make one for yourself, for clothes, it's also the same way!" Torrent explained.
I widened my eyes, "That's really good."
"Indeed!" They nodded with a smile. "Well, call me if you need me! I'll be in the center!" They waved before turning and walking away from us.
"I guess we can take one of each for free," I mumbled.
He nodded with a smile as excitement was in his eyes. "Similar size? Shoe size." He asked.
I chuckled with a smile, "Sure we can."
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7ZTx70nkW
...
"What did you get?~" I heard Carla say beside me as she leans over my shoulder.
"Stop being noisy!" I hissed, pushing her away gently.
"Come on! I wanna see what my gay friend picked!" She stretched her arms out and tried to hug me as I continued to push her back with my free hand as my other hand had the bag with my stuff in.
"... I'm not gay, what are you talking about?" I questioned, narrowing my eyes at her.
"..." She blinked, staring at me. "... You sure?"
I stared at her, "I am pretty sure I am not."
"... So then Purity lied then." She said, frowning
I narrowed my eyes, "What? She told you that I was? When was this?"
"When we went in the shopping thingy alone together." She answered.
"Why would she tell you this?" I asked. Why ... I don't understand but this is starting to lead me into thinking she might do something bad to Sutato since ... Purity offered to walk with him in this shop in front of us. He was nervous at first but decided to give it a go. I felt worried trailing up my spine as I was shaken out of my state.
"Hey! Come back down from the heavens, Setchi! Stop thinking in your head for once. I said that I don't know why she told me this." Carla said before blinking, "... She may be thought that you and Sut were very close to one another?"
"Wow. Okay--- all of a sudden, if someone and another of their same gender are standing next to each other, they're suddenly gay for them? Is that her stupid logic?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"Apparently so." Carla frowned.
"Ugh. This is why I don't trust her." I hissed, lashing my tail around.
"... I uh ... also thought that ... you shopping for some clothes and thought you were that..." She slowly spoke, smiling nervously. I turned towards her and glared at her. "Yeah, yeah. I apologise for that. That was a bad stereotype."
"Very much so." I hissed.
"Sorry." She spoke, displaying a guilty expression.
"How about we don't assume each other sexualities and romantic attraction until we tell one another, alright?" I suggested.
"... Romantic? I thought that goes with sexuality."
"Sexual attraction and romantic attraction are two different things," I told her.
"Oh... How come? I was told they meant the same... unless ... I'm getting this wrong. Romantic is having feelings for one another, right?" She asked.
"Yes."
"And ... sexual feeling is just the desire for sex, right?"
I shivered and looked away, "... I guess? I don't know, never felt it."
"Well, it goes like this. Some person spotted someone and goes, "Huh, I wanna do the do with that person, I wonder what it'll feel like." That should how it goes. Unless it's different for everyone. Some have it worse than others." She explained.
You just said "sex" a second ago, how can you not say it again?!" I said, staring back at her.
"It's a habit!" She huffed at me.
"What do you mean it's a habit?!"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
"Ugh anyway, I don't understand how someone can look at that person and say that they want to have sex with that person. Like, how?!" I said, raising my arms up before putting them down. "I don't have those thoughts and I think ... I never will."
"... Perhaps your a-sexual?"
"A Sexual? You mean asexual?"
"..." She blinked at me as if she never heard of the word. "... I don't know."
"Well ... there you have it. Then again the term itself isn't related to sex at all. It's just the lack of sexual feelings or attraction." I told her.
"... How does that work?" She asked.
"... It just happens." I shrugged, "We just don't feel it."
"Oh. Interesting..." She nodded her head before shaking it. "Shit how long we were talking?"
"... I don't know."
"Wasn't that enough time for Purity to get done with Sutato? ... It's sure taking a while for them to get done."
"It sure is." I nodded, turning towards the door. "Imma go in."
"Wait! How about we don't?" She said. "I'm sure they'll be out anytime." She added on, acting a little weird. I slowly turned towards her, eyeing her down. Why does it feel like she's ... hiding something from me?
"...No." I turned and rushed forward, entering in.
"WAIT!" I heard her call behind me as I dodged out of folks' way and into the opening. My ear fins widened as my hearing began enchanted for a moment. I glanced around, hearing all certain kinds of voices around me. I snapped my head over in the direction of a familiar voice. There. I turned my head over to the hand on my shoulder, glancing at Carla. "Wait! Please-"
"Shut." I hissed at her. "You're hiding something and I don't like where this is going."
She frowned at me as guilty presented on her face. "... Purity wants to make up some time and she did tell us if she was taking a while, then we are free to leave."
"I'm not leaving without Sut," I said. "Why are you suddenly trusting her instantly? Didn't she try to kill Sut once and you didn't want to forgive her right away? What is going on, Carla?"
Carla frowned, avoiding looking at my gaze as I narrowed my eyes, sneering at her. I turned and darted towards the familiar voice I heard in the far distance. I quietly snuck into an aisle, halting beside on tall shelf as I heard the familiar voice. I lashed my tail as I listened in to the conversation.
"Where are you going?" I heard Purity's voice, but this time, it doesn't sound like the friendly type. Did she lie about her behavior to us and the apology she made? The silence was met as it sounds like she was talking to herself the next, "No. I don't think you wanna go out there."
"You want to get away from me? Why? I didn't do anything wrong." She said as I crept over to the edge, poking my head around the corner. I could see Sutato standing or trying to get away from her as her hand was on his wrist. I narrowed my eyes, feeling the rage build up within me. "And also." She grabbed his book, tossing it away from him as she yanked him back to the table, "Stop writing down what you're trying to say in your head. Speak. I've seen you do this with the others. I'm sure you can speak perfectly to me."
I hissed quietly as my tail lashed, hitting the shelves as I didn't hear anything hit the ground. I flicked one ear fine before turning over to Carla who held the things in her arms. She still had a guilty expression but she soon dropped and put the things back on the shelves. She soon crouched beside me as I glared at her. "... Purity told me ... to tell us to not intervene when she tries to make up for her mistakes in the past with him. That's ... that's why ... I got nervous. Not ... nervous about that but ... she kind of threatened me if I didn't tell you."
"So. She didn't mean that apology when I hear her literally, TRYING to control Sutato?!" I hissed quietly, not noticing the smoke coming out of my mouth.
"... I ..." Carla widened her eyes, shock filling her entire expression as I turned and peeked around the corner again. I could see Sutato struggling to pull his wrist away from her as she pulled it back, holding a strong grip on it. "Don't try to leave--- hey what are you doing." He fell to the ground, appearing to be shutting down as he began to wail out. "Jeez ... why are you trying to attract more attention to you or to us in general? Tsk--- didn't realize how much worse you can get."
That's it. I stood up and walked into the frame, lashing my tail around as smoke come out of my mouth. I swiftly walked over to her and shoved her away from him, "Carla help me here." I shouted to the shelves. I spotted the redhead coming around and over to him as I turned back to Purity who glared at me. "Great ... it's the manchild again."
Boo who. I turned over to Sutato and grabbed his arms as his wailing quieted down and he seem to finally shut down completely. Both Carla and I helped him to his feet as we guided him over to the shelves.
"You're really going to leave?!" I heard her shout as we left. "No. You come back---"
Carla turned and walked back over to her, spilling out shouts at her. I held Sut up, guiding him out of the area as he had his hands over his ears. I frowned and exited the place for good. I led us in the direction of our new home, hearing him release quiet wails here and there before finally arriving there. I opened the door, closing it as I told Paradise to help me. They immediately came to my aid and helped me up into one of the rooms on the second floor. We led him inside as I told him, "We're safe from the dangers in a safe room---" I paused when he hugged my torso tightly, clinging onto me.
"Or you can do that and rest to sure." I smiled softly, wrapping my arms around him as I sighed quietly. I rubbed his back and turned my gaze up at Paradise. They crossed their arms and leaned against the wall, frowning at me. "... Can I ask what happened now?"
"... Well ... you can turn Purity away as she isn't to be trusted anymore," I told them. "I'll tell you the rest later."
They nodded, turning over to Bambi who walked into the room. He frowned, turning and running out. "... I'll go fix something to try and calm him down." They told me before leaving out of the room. I nodded before resting my head on his, closing my eyes. I continued trying to calm him down as I thought one thing in my mind:
What a damn asshole you are, Purity.
202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HOYP79NBy
- End of Chapter 13
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