Chapter 3

The journey had taken ten nights but the detour was sorely needed. The trial was relearning how to walk, adjusting balance, and receiving lessons on this world’s edible flora. The forest felt endless but Ivory and Ebony were confident in where to go. I suspect divine guidance, Ivory knew where the best berries were while Ebony was quick to alert us to any approaching beings. We would always step out to evade them.

On day seven, an elderly woman crossed our path. She did not see us, as Ebony and Ivory pulled me up into the trees the second they sniffed her out.

She wore a simple cloak for the cold, her eyes squinting with a wary glint. Her hair was a reddened ginger, matching the browns of her cloth. The boots she wore had belt-like attachments to walk on uneven ground. This woman hadn’t stumbled once.

If I had to guess, she’s been down this wooden path thousands of times. The stare of something unknown might be alerting her habitual instincts. The warning of difference in an otherwise normal ritual. Did she feel the goosebumps from being watched?

I witnessed the elder pause, shake her head, then bring a hand to her mouth. In the pause of stillness, I was able to hear her begin to chant.

“Almighty Nine, protect this foolish one from harm. We did wrong, but allow us to repent in living through life…” She renewed walking at a more driven pace. A woman on a mission.

She had looked human, if not for the long sharp ears. Not fluffy, but similar to the ‘classic elves’ found in fantasy video games.

“What do you call them?” I questioned the twins as they allowed me the grace to climb myself down the tree bark. I left deep claw marks, another trial to fix in days time. “If not humans?” The sensation of claws in wood wasn’t too detrimental in feeling; I could handle it. Letting my body weight swerve and drag down the trunk was fun!

“Dullings,” Ebony reasoned with a casual roll of the head as he also reached the ground in a swift drop. “They lost their magical shine, they’re dull.”

It sounded childish, but a small part of me found it fitting.

“Rocks can still shine.” Ivory whispered as he kicks off the remaining snow from his clothes. “It just takes a bit of time.”

I think of moonlight on rocks, of sunlight on wet rocks, and find myself agreeing with a silent bob of the head.

By day ten, the forest finally recedes, and Dulling-Made roads appear. It doesn't take much longer to find the entrance to a kingdom, the gate wide and open, guarded by what I assume to be armored guards. Their gazes are cold as people line up to provide money and slabs of stamped wood, allowing entry.

Those in the line seem miserable, trembling in the cold while the check-in pace lay stagnant.

Life of the normal truly is inconvenient.

With a low click of the tongue, Ivory and Ebony followed my cue to evade the line entirely and walk straight into the surrounding dense foliage. As if replicating the days Ivory and Ebony taught me how to walk, we silently made our way around the gate and to the long-standing wall.

The wall is made of rough cobblestone. It was quite tall. I slap a hand onto it, tracing the texture with the strength of newly grown claws. I leaned to Ebony, and then shot him a thumbs up.

With a twitch of the lips and perk of the ears, Ebony began scaling up the wall. He scaled as if he were rock climbing, my own claws itched to follow.

Instead, I twisted to face Ivory. He hadn’t made any movements since Ebony went on ahead. A small pebble dropped from the sky, a cue to be followed after I address my muddled thoughts and worries.

“Is this do-able for you? Is my decision too unreasonable?” I had to make sure. Ivory’s counterpart back home had been horrible at athletic performance.

“Don’t let your fears cloud your judgments, Shepard. I was created to help, so I will help.” Ivory’s fluffy ears lowered. “Do you think I can’t?” He sounded softer than usual, hurt?

For two seconds, my gaze flicked to Ivory’s unmoving eyes.

My stomach felt like curdled milk for the instinctive bias. I tore my gaze away to the rocks.

I mustn’t be so horrible.

“A test then.” I told him, in respect of all he already taught me. “Climb the wall on your lonesome, and you’ll earn my trust.” And then, the grip on my beating heart will ease.

Ivory smiled, a shine to the milky eyes.

Then, in a blur, Ivory was scrapping up the rocks in calculated hops. Rather than needing to check the wall corners every five seconds, he instinctively pushed himself upward and used his claws to grip. It’s as if he were half-hare, half-squirrel.

I have a nasty feeling those two will outshine me often in this world.

I am…Pleased.

The better they are, the less likely I’ll have to stretch to extremes to protect them.

Ivory and Ebony, they were my brothers of this world.

I will be the best Shepherd if it means I can hoard them by my side.

Digging my claws into the rock, I attempt to copy Ebony’s technique. I wasn’t as agile as Ivory to do what he can, but slow and steady has worked for countless others. There was always a freeing feeling to handle a task by yourself.

I made it to the top of the wall without breaking a sweat. My reward was a gust of refreshing wind, and the confetti flying through the air. I blink the flashes of colors out of my eyes.

Noting Ebony sitting on the top of the wall, and Ivory equally alert, I study the celebratory sight before me.

Colorful paper lines in place of streamers, grilled food toasting the air and salivating my mouth. This city was preparing a festival. Dullings were busy putting up decorations, others were carrying materials or stock for festival food. On several high places lay a banner with written characters, but I could not read it. The language looked like a mess of symbols to me. It hurt to look at, so I turned to the various stalls being set up, as well as a structure similar to a wooden stage, pulled by a carriage.

The road within the city led on ahead to a castle in the distance.

“Why are there no guards on this side of the wall?” Ivory voiced above the clamor below.

“I suppose one can be too careless when a party is soon to be afoot.” Ebony replied, but even he was uneasy.

“Or,” I say, collected and pondering. “The extra heavy-lifting had to be deflected elsewhere.” I allow my tongue to lick the smooth fangs trapped behind the lips. “It means Kazo’s wards are unruly.” Perfect, that must mean they still have fight left in them. “Ebony? Ivory? Stay together and investigate. Get the full story. I’m going to scope around the city myself.”

It’s alright. It’s fine. The two were better than I was at functioning in this world. They would take care of one another while I solve this puzzle.

The twins bow, but I swear Ivory looked particularly proud of himself.

Coming into a personality so soon, huh? Good for him.

“Alright,” I swallowed, and animal ears must be expressive because I can feel my own lowering by an inch. Dread mixes with the rotten milk. My stomach ached further. “Good luck.”

With that, I leave them, running on softer steps, as well as keeping to the edge of the wall. My cloak covered most of myself, so even if I wanted to do sightseeing, it shouldn’t be an issue. Thankfully, Dullings have the same nasty habit of humans, never looking up.

And so, I graduated from wall running to roof hopping.

I’m not too fond of feeling tile, rock or otherwise against the soles of my feet with every jump.

By the time I near the castle, I am able to detect several more guards surrounding the main entrances. Within seconds I latch onto the side of the castle wall and wait. When there hadn’t been any scattered movement down below, I slowly began to scale. Up and up I went, until I reached the very top of what I assumed to be a flat roof. My feet landed on soft grass under sunlight.

Not a hint of tile. Perched on the column of this side of the castle, was a garden.

Flowers in full bloom. There were a couple of familiar bushes Ivory had previously brought to my attention. It was a tucked-away haven of luxury in a green space.

Awe died out when my ears caught the quick-beat of a heart, and I whirled to see a middle-aged Dulling in a bold blue dress. She held a fan to her mouth, and her dull emerald eyes narrowed with alarm.

“Beast,” The fitted stranger declared with a heavy rasp. “Why have you come?”