"Is my Pakaa safe?"
"Of course they are. Come on, let's go see them."
We went out of the lair, descended the tree and walked around. She observed that her people were safe.
Then she stopped.
"What's your goal?"
'That's complicated, so…'
"I heard rumors about you. So I came to see what's up."
Silent and tense.
I walked in front of her and stopped. Then I gave a 90 degree bow.
"I truly meant no harm. Sorry if I was brute."
She's puzzled. But more lax now.
"Well," she started acting like herself again, "What now? You satisfied yet?"
I smiled.
"I like you."
She didn't react.
"So I was hoping we could be friends."
Still silent. Tense. Hesitating.
"...not for free, of course. I do owe you that."
Nidelee had a questioning look.
'I need her genuine favor to some extent. After all, I need her to follow my orders later. War demands sacrifices, and if she's not favorable of me, then she and her people won't jump to their death.'
"You love your Pakaa, don't you? I mean, of course you do. So what do you think about me helping you protect them, forever."
"...What?" She let out.
"You were so tired that you passed out after a little bit of strain yesterday. That's probably due to the increasing attacks of hunters lately,"
"Tsk-tsk." I shook my head. "You should've killed them from the start."
I noticed her face of acknowledgement.
"So, for example," I walked towards a purple flower and grabbed it. "I can use these flowers that you keep throwing around. Inscribe some runes so it makes a barrier."
I turned to her and opened my arms. "No one would even be able to spot this place."
'Yes, that's feasible. Might take me a while though. Before, I was researching runes so I learned a lot. This is not far from what the vines do. From my understanding, Ixitali inscriptions are variations of the basic elements. Records state it takes after the world runes.'
'That's how they could perform elemental rituals on kids and constructs. They're knowledgeable about runic tech.'
Nidelee thought foe while then said:
"I refuse."
"..."
I let her continue.
"We can be friends. But don't… do what you said."
I dropped the flower.
"Why? Isn't that good for you? Your Pakaa would be safe, wouldn't they?"
"But we would be lost."
Silence.
"...Lost?"
"Yes. I can't explain."
I touched my chin.
'That's... She's not lying. An instinctive response? Hm. By "Lost" she must be referring to her people, their character… it's identity.'
"I see. So it's about, uh, how do I explain this so you understand… it's like when you have a useless pawn. You're alive, but living is suffering."
She brightened up.
"Th-That's it!" She shouted, eyes sparkling.
"You very smart!"
"Oh, thank you, that's kind of you. You're my main so that's a given."
She gave a puzzled look.
'Hm? Whatever. If she won't accept the deal, then pushing won't do anything.'
Sigh.
"Fine. But let me take care of them at least. I need to relieve some stress."
Cubs came to deliver her a petal with water. She took it and drank.
"Hey, so," I started. She offered me a sip. "Oh, no," I waved my hand declining. "I'm fine, I can't feel thirst. So, I got a look at you earlier, right? That brought up some questions."
She waited.
"Why do you transform into them?"
She held her gaze, then spoke:
"I was left in the jungle as a cub. Growing up with Pakaa made me Pakaa." She placed a hand over her left breast.
"When mother died I felt like a cub again… left in the jungle." She clutched her hand. "But I am not left. I have my family. And I must protect them, protect their happiness."
I nodded.
"Mm, I respect that. But that's not what I'm referring to. I asked why you only transform into a cougar."
"I'm not able to be anything else." she answered.
"Figures."
'So is a mental block.'
I stepped back, creating a gap between us. Nidelee watched, already expecting the unexpected.
I dropped my chin, my shoulders following. Arms fell to my sides.
Light folded around me, condensing quietly. I held still, focusing.
The air around me thinned.
Bwoosh!
A flash swallowed my frame. Nidelee shielded her face by reflex.
When the light faded, she went still. But not scared. Around us, the Pakaa did the same.
I didn't feel anything in particular. My body simply changed limb by limb; crystal fangs and claws, flaxen fur spreading across my skin. Then my frame, broadening, robust, adjusting into place.
My slit dark eyes locked onto Nidelee's.
"Tadaa~" I bowed like I had finished a presentation.
'I had tried this back at Ixaocan, but it never worked out.'
I can see elemental and emotional flow, but the way she morphs uses layers I can't see yet. Like instinct and life force, I presume. So how did I do it? Simple; I mimicked her and merged everything I'm able to into my body. That way, even though I can't manipulate those hidden layers, I can still make use of the ones I already own.
'The end result is a fusion between human and animal, like herself. Which is fine, because few would notice the difference.'
"How…" she let out in disbelief.
"I learned that from you," I approached and swirled around her body like a cat, my tail sliding across her neck. "Not bad, right?"
"And there's more."
Swish.
I leaped back with a jump, creating a gap again.
I closed my eyes and focused. Light engulfed me whole.
Bwoosh!
My frame condensed, smaller and smaller. Arms turned to feathers, face sharpening into a beak.
I became a toucan.
"See? It's like you do and I just turned into a bird." I tried to flap my wings, but noticed my body was too large, and my wings still bore small fingers. "Mostly. I need more practice."
Nidelee was still shocked when she said:
"But how? It's the truth?"
In a flash I turned back into a human, then placed my hand on her shoulder. "Yes, girl. Didn't you see it?"
She looked straight into my eyes.
"Are you… like me?"
"..."
"Yeah… kind of, I guess."
She smiled brightly and jumped at me into a hug. We fell to the ground with her clenching herself against me.
'What the—'
"Family!" Her head rubbed my chest. "Found family!"
"What? That's not—"
'Wait, this is good for me. That's the favor I was talking about.'
'But it's a bit strange. Did she act like that in the lore? Details keep changing so I'm not sure—Oh right, I get it now,'
For the next minute or so I indulged her aggressive affection.
'She's young.'
.
Later,
Once she stopped, I shared with her about the Void and that I would need her help once the time came.
She looked serious. And agreed to cooperate.
I gave her a mission for the next few years. To gather a force. Something of great importance that would become even more than just numbers. A limb.
I also told her to keep watch for a vastayan girl who could shapeshift similarly to her, that she could be part of our family. It was Neeko.
'If she becomes family, then she becomes a soldier.'
On the ground,
Just before leaving,
I flicked my master rank badge to her. She caught it.
She flipped it, sniffed it, even tried licking it.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Precaution. Use that from now on." I straightened my mantle.
"If someone utters the words Ixaocan, Yun Tal, or Qiyana, just show them that."
"...?"
"They are allies."
WOOOSH—Wind swirled around me with a thought. Clothes, grass, fur and trees billowing.
"You're going to see the hunters now?" She asked, her hair billowing stray.
I had given her pointers on speech.
'She improved fast.'
"Yes,"
I smirked.
"I'll level them out."
.