When I was young, I remember being taught a bunch of things, my brother taught me the basics of common that I expanded on even after he was gone. He taught me ways to move to dodge attacks, and watch for openings. In all of it I can only fathom just how hard it was to teach me.
Little Fox as I have nicknamed her because she isn't used to the concept of names yet keeps asking me questions I already answered.
"What does this word mean?"
She would ask while pointing at a sign while I'm forced to be calm and say things like.
"Oh, that one means restaurant, place to get food in exchange for food money."
While internally I'm screaming.
WE WENT OVER THIS AN HOUR AGO, HOW HAVE YOU ALREADY FORGOTTEN!!!
The worst part is the fact that she is improving fast with only so many of those questions, and yet it still sends an unconscious twitch to my right eye every time she slipped up on something we had already covered. This was only made worse by the fact that she still hadn't learned basic manners, like not staring and drooling at the client when he is explaining the quest to us.
"You said that this place is where money is exchanged for food, but why do they wear little outfits?"
Little Fox asked as she cocked her head in confusion after I had pulled her outside so Selene could talk to the restaurant owner, much to Selene's horror.
"Thats because they are the guests and staff, people who cook the food for us."
I explained, and despite her look of confusion Little fox nodded and restrained her drooling as the employer talked.
"That rat fuck, he stole ma recipe, and I want him cook, I want him broiled, and I want him served at that restaurant with a side of chedda."
I blinked for a moment before turning to Selene.
"H-He said that one of his chefs, Chef Scramble, hasn't been seen for a bit and he's worried that he is selling the recipe of his cheese fondo to a rival restaurant."
Selene translated. I nodded at her before turning back to the owner.
"We will find scramble and bring him here for your verdict, would you be satisfied with that?"
I asked hoping the answer was yes so this would be easy.
"Sure sure, but I wouldn't mind him ruffed up a bit, ya know."
The owner said using his little arm to elbow me slightly. As a fullblood rat he didn't even rise above my chest hairs, so he ended up giving a nudging elbow to my forearm. We nodded, said our goodbyes and headed outside where Little fox and I began to smell the air.
In a forest the scent would have been distinct, easy, but in a city like this, the traffic of people alone made it difficult if not impossible, but we at least could find a direction and look for further clues.
While I would like to say I found it, it was Little fox who began to lead us down the road, her nose working away after I explained we could order special made extra tasty food with the money from this quest. However as we walked I found myself a bit worried as to what we were being led into.
We had gone from the bustling light streets of Lushfort, and into the darker back allies. Around us several people looked us over as if assessing whether we would be worth the fight if they tried to rob us, however most after seeing our plates decided it wasn't worth it.
Adventurers in general were solitary, however wanna be mobsters, and others trying to throw their weight around would often quickly learn that many adventurers don't like it when someone they might one day rely on to save their lives is getting pushed around. Worst example was someone who attacked the children and wife of a Ruby plate. The aftermath wasn't shown, but apparently the man was nicknamed the man in the mirror because after capturing these mobsters he would torture them and told them.
"This torture will end when your reflection refuses to look you in the eyes."
After that criminals and other groups generally avoid adventurers, especially because each city has hundreds, many of which are ready to attack anyone who would dare mess with their fellows in arms.
It would be poetic if not for the fact that it doesn't save one from being killed before the word gets out.
We continued on and on, getting to worse and worse places in town before finally Little Fox stopped and pointed to a door of a metal warehouse. The front was locked with a magic circle, no doubt a reinforcement to prevent the doors from sliding apart.
"Crap, Liora is with Aiden and Thalia, should we wait for them to get back?"
I asked, turning to Selene. She shrugged and asked.
"Do we care about how loud it is?"
I turned to Little fox and back to Selene before I just shrugged. Without waiting for another moment Selene cocked back her left arm and swung. As it turns out, while magical locks are really good for keeping a door shut, they don't work so well if the whole door goes flying in. We made our way inside as we saw into the room using the moonlight. Tied up to a small chair sat a rather battered looking mouse, one of his eyes was swollen shut while several scratch marks were all over his body.
Around him stood 10 cats, eight of which seemed to be fullbloods, while I was pretty sure from the way the last two were licking themselves in public they were feral.
We stood there motionless for a moment before two of the cats made their ways over.
"Oh great, looks like the rat sent some adventurers after his boy, how should we deal with them?"
One of the cats asked, however that wasn't what had my hackles rise. What did was the fact that they were speaking naturally. Little fox turned to me as if to speak but I flicked my tail as I stepped forward.
"What tribe do you serve?"
The two cats stopped in surprise as they narrowed their eyes at me.
"So, you must be another nat-. Strike Runt, is that you!?"
The entire night, fear had been running over my body due to the location, the responsibility to teach Little fox, and the fact that I was supposed to lead despite honestly knowing I'm underqualified, and yet hearing that name, that title my father gave me. My blood ran from cold and worried to red hot simmering as my face shifted from worried to cold indifference.
"Yea it is, your fathers looking for you, says that there is a way you can be accepted back into the tr-."
You have used skill Powerful Strike(E)
Your next attack is enhanced
You have used skill Iron Fist(E)
You have done 43 damage
Orange of the Stormcaller tribe has been killed
Selene and Little fox seemed taken aback as my paw made what had been the orange cats face turn from a solid structure to a bunch of shattered fragments. The other fullbloods stared in shock as the one standing next to me stammered out.
"W-W-What are you?"
You have used skill Iron Fist(E)
You have done 26 damage
Gray of the Stormcaller tribe has been killed
I slowly turned, my face and paws covered in blood and fragments of shattered skulls
"What am I doing? I'm giving dad my reply."
I hunted them down, crushed spines, shattered ribs, ripped off limbs. I made it bloody. I made it gory. I made it a painting of carnage. I stood among my handiwork as I could feel the stares of Selene and Little fox on my back, but I refused to turn around, knowing what awaited me. Instead I looked up, silently looking at the moon above the skylight as the steam rose from the corpses around me.