A Tail’s Misfortune

Sora’s gaze lingered on the scam pop-up blinking erratically on the screen while invading a certain frantic fox’s dreams; it was anxiety inducing. Still, not as bad as the worry eating her up inside about Avalon Academy’s Open House tomorrow.

Her mother’s frantic attempts to control the mouse were almost painful to watch. The pointer zigzagged across the screen as if it had a mind of its own as she growled with frustration, opening random windows and making the chaotic situation even worse.

How can someone so powerful be so helpless with technology? Sora sighed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes; she had to be patient, but she’d shown her how to do all of this already. No, this is just a nightmare. I can’t be mad.

Her mother’s fingers hovered uncertainly over the keyboard. “It’s saying I have ten thousand viruses, Sora!” her mother’s voice quivered with a mix of frustration and fear. “What if it destroys your new computer? I already broke the last one…”

Mom, save me, Sora thought, not missing the irony in it as she watched her mother struggle with the mouse; a dream version of herself was beside her mom, telling her to figure it out on her own.

“How can you face down ancient beings and not figure out a pop-up?” Her dream-self asked, pinching the bridge of her nose and trying to suppress the exasperation bubbling up inside her. “What do you do from here?”

“Uh…” As the mouse darted dangerously close to the ‘Fix Now’ button, Sora groaned internally. “This—oh, it needs money to work!”

“Mom!”

“What?” she cried, nine tails bristling and ears pulled back. “It’s the, uh, the anti-virus thing, you said. It fixes the bugs.”

Sora wanted to dispel the nightmare, but it did show her something her mom had yet to resolve the guilt she still felt. This wasn’t the time to get annoyed, and normally, she wouldn’t be in real life. Still, it was hard not to be frustrated when her mother was one click away from being scammed, which could bring down fire on the whole universe.

Imagine that… A universe destroyed due to a virus scam.

She was just about to intervene when a cold shiver ran down her spine, a feeling of unease like nothing she’d experienced before creeping into her bones. Something wasn’t right, and it was close. Unease growing, the dream dissolved around her as she exited the dreamscape, the chaotic images fading into a blur.

Expecting to see Eyia already there, she opened her eyes to the pitch-blackness of her room, the air still and silent. The Valkyrie’s rainbow glow was nowhere to be seen. Worse, the sense of wrongness hadn’t left. In fact, it had only grown stronger, and then she saw it.

Sora’s breath caught in her throat as she squinted her adjusting eyes, and there, by her door, was a large, looming shadow—a darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline surging through her veins as she instinctively prepared to defend herself, tail lighting with fire. But as her vision finally penetrated the black and her flames illuminated the space, the shadow took on a familiar shape—a bushy-tailed part-squirrel girl.

“Wendy?” Sora exhaled sharply, relief washing over her in a wave after what she’d felt. “Wendy, you scared me! There’s something…off around us,” she whispered, her voice shaky with residual fear. “Wendy?”

Wendy didn’t respond while just standing there, staring at her with a blank, eerie expression that sent chills down Sora’s spine. Sora’s instincts screamed at her that something was off. She scooted back against her headboard, the unease twisting tighter in her gut.

“Wendy? Are you okay?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Still no answer. Wendy’s gaze seemed distant, unfocused, and Sora’s focus was drawn to the necklace hanging around her sister’s neck—a seven-pointed star—and the one they had she’d locked away herself.

“Can you hear me, Wendy?” Sora’s voice trembled slightly as she gathered her courage and slowly got out of bed. “Don’t go all horror movie on me… How did you get past my defensive spells? The last thing we need is blinking some random thing out of Existence.”

For a moment, Wendy remained still as she approached, the silence thick and oppressive. Then, just before Sora’s fingers touched her shoulder, Wendy blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, her eyes regaining their usual clarity. She jumped back, letting out a short, startled shriek that made Sora mirror her.

“Sora!”

“What?!”

“Huh? W-What are you doing in my room?” Wendy gasped, her voice a mix of confusion and fear. “You scared the bajeebus out of me! Wait…this is my room, right?”

Sora’s heart thudded in her chest as she watched her sister’s genuine reactions closely, the tension slowly easing but not disappearing entirely. She let out a soft, nervous laugh, trying to dispel the lingering unease.

“No, you’re in my room, Wendy. You must have been sleepwalking…and you scared the bajeebus out of me! What happened?”

Wendy blinked, rubbing her eyes as if to clear the remnants of sleep while following her gaze to the amulet resting against her bust. “I…I don’t remember. I was in this…place. It was all white, like I was floating. But it wasn’t like when we met Aunt Rose… When did I get this? Sora! When did I get this?” she cried, holding it up.

“How should I know?!” Sora returned, scratching the side of her head and messing up her hair. “I was dream-peeping on my mom and you just creeped up into my room, wearing that, and looking like a zombie!”

“That is creepy,” the brunette mumbled, looking down at the item. “Don’t you have like…a magical log or something you can look at to see when I wandered into the kitchen?”

Sora stretched out her arms wide and shook her head. “Who do you think I am? My spells start and end with ‘keep this out of the hands of anyone but me’ and you think I’m over here adding security timestamps on things? I’d be lucky to—wait, Dad has hidden cameras for security purposes.”

“Right!” Wendy’s head bobbed up and down as she removed the necklace and handed it to her. “You can keep this thing.”

“Thanks… We need to put it back in the safe. Now.” She didn’t wait for Wendy’s response, already moving to walk past her to the kitchen.

They crept downstairs, not hearing a squeak except for their far too loud movements; well, they did have animal ears. Wendy bumped her, looking frightened while looking up and down the hall.

“Hmm?”

“What if…you know, we’re trapped in some kind of Null-Void dimension or something? Don’t you think it’s weird that Eyia or my mom haven’t woken up yet and came storming in?”

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “You’ve seen too many horrors, Wendy.”

“I’m just asking questions here,” she defended with a short huff. “Everything’s…too quiet. I could hear the outside earlier and now…it’s deathly quiet. Something isn’t right, Sora. I’m telling you!” she shivered, tail swinging left and right with her head movements, on the search for danger.

Sora clutched the amulet in her palm and turned to give her sister a comforting smile. “First, Eyia is like everyone else and can’t perceive anything dealing with Nihility. Second, your mom placed complex silence spells all over the buildings. Of course she has it timed to stop noise from bothering us at night.”

Wendy gave her a dubious glare, her vivid green eyes shining with caution. “Just like any other horror movie. I’m telling you, there’s always someone who is the ‘explanation’ guy. I’m a believer…especially after all we’ve been through,” she whispered, peeking around the corner to stare at the dark downstairs as Sora casually walked down the stairs.

“If it is something spooky or paranormal then I would have sensed it and Eyia would be rushing in like an avalanche. No…I’ve got my own theory here,” she said with a wink, getting a scowl from her bushy-tailed sister as she followed her into the kitchen.

“Then share with the class. I’m the one sleepwalking while floating through oblivion here. What if, like…one of our extended family members is possessing me!”

Sora paused while dispelling the safe, her ear tilting to the side while considering the angle. “Not…totally out of the realm of possibility from happening in the future from what I’ve concluded, but probably not likely what happened.”

Once the necklace was safely locked away, Sora turned to her narrow-eyed sister, arms crossed and waiting for an answer, making her chuckle.

“Chill! Yes, it’s scary. But don’t you remember what Aunt Rose said? I’m just connecting the dots.”

Ears falling back, Wendy raised a hand. “I’m going to slap you!”

“Okay, okay!” she giggled, deciding to ease her sister’s nerves and looking at the clock. “We’ve got up a little early. It’s seven, so everyone should be getting up soon to start getting ready for the Open House. Want to have some hot chocolate for comfort and talk?”

Wendy’s shoulders slumped and she brought her big tail around to hug. “Sure… You don’t seem all that worried now. I slipped past your magic and somehow grabbed the necklace. That screams being controlled by some other being.”

Sora nodded slowly, getting a pot to boil water and the hot cocoa out. “We’ll have to keep an eye on it, for sure. And tell Dad about this when he gets up.” She hesitated, then added tentatively, “You haven’t been…using your Null-Void powers, have you?”

“No, of course not… All I’ve done is hang out with Mom and Dad yesterday. I don’t really even know how to do anything with Null-Void. I sort of…accidentally formed this body by just calming down and remembering how my body felt. But this place I went to… It was just that weird white place. It felt…different.” Wendy shook her head, her brows furrowing as she tried to recall. “You make it sound like I’m sneaking around trying random things…”

“I know, I know,” she chuckled. “That’s more my department as the rebellious sibling, right? Can you get us some cups… Yeah, there we go. Mix in the hot sweetness. Add a little magical bonding to make it the best it can be, and…done!”

Handing it to Wendy with an inviting smile, she took them to the front room to sit down across from each other, pulling up their legs onto the cushions. Sora took one more sip while gathering her theory before bringing attention to her brooch and laying them out.

“So, I think you were in Nihility, not the Null-Void. Aunt Rose explained it to us for this reason, I think.”

Wendy’s eyes blanked before lighting up with understanding as the dots started to connect. “...Why didn’t you just say that one line sooner! Okay, that makes sense. Null-Void is like a sort of blend between this Existence stuff and Nihility, where Aunt Rose is. So, I went to the real thing? I was still here, though? I’m confused…”

Sora shrugged. “Best not to think too deeply on the cosmic stuff right now. We’re going to school to learn about a bunch of the basics. I’m sure eventually that topic will come up after we finish with Avalon Academy to…whatever my mom has planned. Besides, I have a feeling we’ll progress pretty fast!” she chimed. Her sister’s dull look made her chuckle. “Yes, I’m stalling. Hmm.”

Sipping at her hot brew, she glanced off to the side with a thoughtful rumble in her throat. “You’re closer to Nihility and Dad’s side than I am. When I was changing, I had a lot of weird stuff happen to me, too. I think you were sort of pulled out of Existence, but tethered to it at the same time, like you found a secret tunnel out and slipped down it. Luckily, our moms’ side that is in you kept you stable.”

Cup lowering, she looked at her concerned sister with a reassuring smile. “Aunt Rose said to be cautious of Dad’s side, even her, if she’s unsealed, or whatever she is. I think you have a way to enter Nihility, and you might just meet other creatures there, but they can’t really hurt you or do anything to you unless you allow it. At least, that’s the way I’m seeing it. We can get Dad for a second opinion, too. Thoughts?”

Wendy finished a third of her cup and sighed, watching her tail swoosh left and right in front of her. “Okay, that feels right. And the sleepwalking? I was pulled to you since you’re also the closest thing?”

Sora tilted her head to the side. “Mmm. I think the necklace and you showing up was more Aunt Rose’s influence, actually. It was probably her trying to get my attention to help draw you back. At least, that’s what I’m going with right now. I’m pretty sure the feeling I got was Nihility itself, leaking into our universe from your tunnel or something… Maybe something on the other side watching you,” she teased.

“Stop it!” she growled, but she showed a smile. “Playing into my horror narrative now, are we? Thinking back…it did feel like something was there with me. It could be my horror-loving imagination, though. I guess that’s that, then… Huh. My first visit to Nihility. Well, I’m more excited to learn how to access my other abilities, so let’s get ready for the Open House—the old fashioned way!”

“Really?” Sora groaned as Wendy got up, set her cup down, and took her by the hand toward the upstairs bathroom. “It takes so long, though, and so much effort. I have magic!”

“Yeah, but I also want to help and be distracted, so deal,” Wendy shot back, sticking out her tongue and making Sora laugh. “Go take a shower so I can do your makeup and you can do mine. We’ll do our hair, comb our tails—everything!”

Feeling actually excited by the prospect, Sora embraced the direction, her puffy tail swaying in unison with Wendy’s; they were getting good at it. “Sounds fun. After the Open House, though, we see if we can talk to Aunt Rose with Dad again to get to the bottom of things to be 100% sure.”

“Good!”

Going inside her own bathroom, she left Wendy to pick out her outfit since she’d do the same once Wendy went inside. Sora quietly slipped out of her nightwear, her ears twitching upon hearing her sister humming to a song while digging around in her closet.

I guess I managed to calm her down. We need to be as cool as it gets today… First impressions are huge at school.

It didn’t take her long to finish the shower, and Sora took a deep breath, the familiar scent of jasmine and lavender swirling around her. The soft lighting reflected off the pristine marble countertops, casting a warm glow through the steamy room.

She glanced at her reflection in the large fogless mirror, her hair brushed out and wrapped in a towel, waiting for Wendy to work her magic. Not bad, she thought. Wendy was right to do it naturally. There’s just something about taking a shower that makes you feel refreshed in the morning.

Her old, time-consuming skincare routine was a thing of the past, and not necessarily because of her magic. Thanks to her godly genes, the meticulous steps she used to follow were no longer necessary. Her skin was naturally flawless now—smooth, radiant, and seemingly perfect with almost no effort at all.

One of the perks of being part Vulpes Founder, she ruefully snickered to herself. It’s totally cheating.

She brushed her teeth quickly, the minty taste sharp against her tongue, and before long, she was done. Sora took a step back, inspecting herself in the mirror one last time.

My first day at Avalon Academy… It’s big! The campus was huge the last time I saw it, and I didn’t even see the full thing. If it’s a big realm school…then how many students does it take?

Pondering some questions she’d like to ask later, she stepped back to twist left and right. Her skin practically glowed and her sharp, fox-like eyes gleamed with a sense of readiness for the challenges to come.

Just as she turned to leave the bathroom, Wendy’s voice called out from the other room, knocking and opening a crack to deliver her items. “Hey, Sora! I have your outfit here. Hope you’ll like it!”

Sora grinned as accepted the items. The outfit was elegant yet practical—perfect for Avalon’s Open House.

A flowing, dark blue dress with subtle silver embroidery along the edges that caught the light just right, giving it a touch of magic without being too flashy. There was also a pair of comfortable, yet stylish half-inch sandals to match, and a delicate silver necklace with a small, star-shaped charm that Wendy had added for a finishing touch.

“It’s adorable!”

“I knew you’d like it. You don’t think they have picture day, do you?”

“Dress as if they do!” Sora roared.

“Right?”

“Go ahead and take a shower. I’ll pick out yours once I’m dressed and then we can do our hair. I’ll bring some of the products into my room.”

“Sounds good! Don’t make me look like a clown.”

“Never! And that was 3rd grade Halloween!”

“The horror… James Fitzgerald wouldn’t stop squeezing my nose.”

“I remember that! He moved out in fifth grade.”

“It wasn’t soon enough…”

She slipped into the dress, feeling the soft fabric flow around her as Wendy departed for her own bathroom next door. Sora adjusted the fit and examined herself again; her tail easily exited through the hidden slit before she buttoned it in. The dress was perfect, hugging her in all the right places without being too tight—of course, all of her clothes were more or less custom or picked out by her, so they would fit that way.

The sandals were new and stiff but still comfortable, given the quality, and when she fastened the necklace around her neck, she couldn’t help but admire how the small multi-colored charm caught the light, a subtle reflection of her own inner glow; it almost reminded her of Aiden’s eyes.

Satisfied, she stepped out into the hallway, hearing Eyia passing through to her own bathroom in the adjacent hall. Wendy was still in the bathroom, and she needed to find her outfit, so she decided to leave greeting Eyia for after the Valkyrie got out.

Sora stood in front of Wendy’s new wardrobe, hands on her hips, studying the array of outfits with a critical eye. Wendy would be out of the bathroom soon, and it was her turn to choose something for her sister. She wanted to pick something that would complement her own outfit—a way to show their unity as sisters while still highlighting Wendy’s unique beauty as a half-tanuki.

Her gaze lingered on a deep emerald green dress that caught the light in just the right way, matching Wendy’s striking irises; it would reflect her own, as well.

This one, Sora thought with a smile, pulling the hanger off the rail. It was elegant yet playful, with a flowing skirt that would move beautifully with Wendy’s every step and swaying tail. Plus, delicate, silver threads woven into the fabric, forming subtle swirling patterns that would mix nicely with her layered light and dark brown locks. The color was perfect—rich and vibrant, a reflection of Wendy’s inner energy and charm.

Sora laid the dress on the bed, then selected a pair of comfortable but stylish silver flats to go with it. She could already picture how the outfit would look against Wendy’s tanuki ears and her long, bushy squirrel tail, which would no doubt swing happily behind her once she saw it.

Satisfied with her choices, Sora grabbed a simple silver hairpin adorned with a small, leaf-shaped charm. She knew Wendy liked to keep her hair down, so the pin would be a nice way to keep it out of her face while adding a touch of elegance.

Just as Sora finished laying everything out, the bathroom door across from Wendy’s opened, and Wendy poked her head out to check if the coast was clear. Not spotting anyone, she stepped out, her towel still wrapped around her body, her dark and light brown hair cascading in waves down her back.

“Whoa, looking beautiful, but you would since I picked out your outfit,” Wendy boasted upon entering, her gaze falling on her before the dress Sora had picked out. She closed the door and walked over to the bed, her plush tanuki ears twitching with interest as she ran her fingers over the soft fabric. “And you picked this for me, huh?”

Sora grinned. “Yep. I think it’ll look perfect on you. I’ll just be in the closet real fast.”

“ ‘Kay, I’ll let you know when I’m done.”

She caught Wendy’s super puffy tail swaying behind her as she held the dress up against her body, examining it in the dresser mirror just before entering the closet. The green fabric complimented her now quite smooth and flawless skin, but Sora knew her brooch would really make it stand out.

Wendy slipped into the dress, and called for her to exit. Upon spotting her again, her tanuki sister did a twirl, the fabric swirled around her legs and the silvery thread caught the light as her long, bushy tail flicked with every movement.

“How do I look?”

“Like you’re ready to steal the show at Avalon’s Open House,” Sora replied, giving her an approving thumbs up. “Seriously, Wendy, you look amazing. Do you think we’re dressing up a bit too much? It is a fey school, so…they may have different tastes.”

Wendy blushed slightly, the pink tint adding a touch of warmth to her cheeks before waving her concern off and reaching up to scratch her tanuki ears, bringing attention to the silver leaf hairpin. “Who cares what they think. I just want to look nice, and you helped me with that! Thanks, Sis. I love it.”

Sora smiled, feeling a surge of pride in her chest. It was moments like these that made everything else feel worthwhile—the simple act of making her sister happy. “Alright, let’s go show the others,” she said, linking her arm with Wendy’s. “I’m sure they’re starting to get up or already done. We’ll never know with your mom’s spells blocking all sounds everywhere.”

Together, they stepped out of the room, ready to take on the day with matching confidence and a shared bond that nothing could break.

Just as they were finishing up and exited the bathroom, Sora heard movement from the other hallway. She glanced at Wendy, and they both fell silent for a moment, listening.

“That’s Mom,” Wendy whispered, her sensitive ears twitching slightly as she caught the familiar sound of Noelia’s soft footsteps first. “She’s probably getting ready, too.”

Yeah, Sora thought, seeing the light under her father’s door was on. She probably didn’t want to get trapped between a certain fox and her husband in the morning… Noelia is really good. She’s trying so hard.

“And that’s Eyia’s voice,” Sora added, her keen ears picking up the Valkyrie’s door opening. “She probably had a long battle with the sud monsters again.”

The house was coming to life, the quiet of the early morning giving way to the sounds of their family waking up. There was a sense of anticipation in the air, a buzzing energy as they prepared for the day ahead.

Sora was about to go wake up Kari but paused as Wendy stopped her to fix a loose strand of her hair. “Oh… I guess not having human ears means we can’t use them as holders, huh?”

“That’s why you’ve got magic, silly,” Wendy huffed. “No luck here, but hairpins suit me. Are…we really taking Kari?” she asked with a strained laugh while stepping away and spotting the cheery Valkyrie turn the corner with drenched locks. “Just think about it… A school without the wolf.”

Giving her brunette sister a patient hug, she pulled away and shook her head. “I know it’s hard for you, but Kari really is different. If you give her a chance, I promise, you’ll see.”

“Not holding my breath after our last interaction,” Wendy muttered, glaring off to the side. “Well, I’ll get some breakfast started with my mom and Eyia. Good luck… Well, don’t you look adorable! I love the gray dress that matches your hair strips, Mom. Eyia!”

Sora cheerily greeted the pair, reassuring Eyia that things would be alright in passing. Wendy and her were supposed to chill together today, which would be good for them. Eyia needed more friends and Wendy needed to branch out. It also gave her a chance to give Kari some attention. Well, if she accepted it. Now, to see if she’d actually come.

Anticipation and a bit of a hopeful nudge brought Sora to stand outside Kari’s door, trying to calm the nervous energy bubbling up inside her. She did a once over of her appearance, stalling for a second.

Okay, Sora, don’t get your hopes up too high, she reassured herself, breathing deeply while recalling where Kari came from and how empty the wolf had been, pushing everyone away. Just knock. Worst-case scenario, she snaps at you…again, but she doesn’t mean it. Kari’s made so many changes, and in such a short time. Just follow Mary’s advice and be supportive!

She lifted her hand and rapped her knuckles against the wooden door.

There was a pause, followed by a muffled voice that was unmistakably Kari’s as Noelia’s magic opened up the communication between them. “What is it?”

Sora shifted on her feet, trying to steady her tone and adding a playful note. “You know what it is. It’s me, Sora, duh. We’re getting ready for the Open House. Just wanted to see if you needed anything…or if you’re still coming.”

A loud sigh on the other side made Sora’s ears lower slightly, but there was rustling inside as the wolf got out of bed. The door creaked open a crack, revealing Kari’s guarded amber eyes, half-lidded and sharp despite the early hour.

“You…good?” Sora mumbled.

In a single sweep, the wolf took in Sora’s smile and outfit, then glanced down the hall as if making sure no one else was around before opening the door wider. Her butt-length hair was a tousled mess, definitely not school ready, and she was dressed in an oversized t-shirt and shorts.

“I’m fine,” she said, her voice clipped.

Sora offered a small smile, trying to ease the tension she could feel radiating from Kari. “You sure? I was just thinking…you know, it’s a new place. Might be different from Miami Beach Senior High. A fresh start.”

Kari leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms and huffing at the comment. “You sound like Mary… Do you really think Avalon’s gonna be any different? It’s still school, right? Just…more magical crap that I can’t do. I don’t know.”

Sora swallowed, sensing the defensiveness in Kari’s tone. She’s guarded. Always guarded.

“I know it will be different,” Sora softly acknowledged. “Like I said, you’re free to do whatever you want, Kari. You don’t have to be friends with me, or anyone, if you don’t want to. I’m just…trying. I’d, I don’t know—I’d like to see you around, every once in a while. You know, wave when we see each other or something.”

For a moment, Kari didn’t respond, her gaze flickering away as her tail followed suit, and Sora couldn’t guess what was running through her mind. Finally, she sighed and scratched her eyebrow. “Maybe.” Her voice was quiet, almost reluctant.

Sora smiled, though she felt a pang of uncertainty. “That’s all I ask. I’ll let you finish getting ready.” She turned to leave but hesitated when Kari spoke again.

“Hey, Sora…” The wolf’s voice was softer now, less guarded. “Do you really believe all this, mmm—Avalon, this magic world… Do you think it’ll be better than what we had? What if this Darkness business is worse than you think and there are problems…or other bullies out there?”

Sora turned back, meeting Kari’s uncertain amber eyes. “Yeah,” she said with quiet conviction. “I really do think this will be good. The Darkness is just another mystery, right? I can’t control everything… It’s scary for me, too. It’s a chance for all of us to find out who we are, not just you, even if we don’t know what that is yet. It’s okay. We have time.”

Kari’s gaze lingered on Sora for a moment longer before it moved to the floor, her tail’s restless motions lessening, her expression unreadable. “I’ll be down in a bit… You could have woken me up later.”

Sora gave her a chuckle and nod. “Sure, you don’t really put a ton of effort into looking good, not that you need it. But if I didn’t wake you up this early, then how would you get your full breakfast in? A wolf needs her meat, right? And, Kari, if you do have any problems…don’t hesitate to call me… I want to help. The friendship door is still open!”

Kari’s eyes softened at the comment and she shook her head while shutting the door in her face. Sora felt a small surge of triumph.

The small victories! One step at a time. Wendy, Kari, Eyia… Healing takes time.

As she walked down the hall with a sway to her step and tail, she heard the soft creak of the bathroom door opening, followed by her mother’s voice. She quickly hid at the divide, ears up and listening for her parents’ voices.

“Noelia’s so good with breakfast every morning,” her mother mumbled faintly, filled with warmth, admiration, and a ting of jealousy. “But while the girls are at school, I’ll show them how good I can cook when they get back.”

Sora’s lips quirked into a smile as she heard her father’s amused reply, “Is that before or after you master the computer?”

There was a groan from her mother, and Sora couldn’t help but imagine her ears flattening against her head in mock dismay. She chuckled quietly to herself as they continued their playful banter.

Good luck, Mom.

Downstairs, the kitchen was already bustling with activity, and she hadn’t even heard Aiden show up, but now he was behind the stove with Wendy, helping guide Eyia through how to make poached eggs.

Noelia was humming to herself as she expertly flipped pancakes next to her daughter, mixing up more batter nearby, their tanuki ears twitching in unison with the rhythm. It was funny to see her mother nearby, listening intently to Aiden’s instructions as if in a college lecture.

Not wanting to interrupt the moment, Sora sat down next to her dad at the bar stool, happily listening to everyone. A tinkling bell brought a teenage Nilly to sit beside them, causing a short stir, yet she had a napkin on already with silverware, bright-eyed and ready to eat as if she were the family cat.

It wasn’t long after that when Howie and Daisy showed up, calling up to see if they were welcomed to join. They brought homemade brown sugar maple syrup and a few cartons of orange juice and apple juice that Eyia mostly enjoyed.

Kari arrived at the perfect time to sit down and eat while everyone else was engaged in their own conversation, as if she’d waited for that exact moment to make her appearance.

Naturally, the wolf’s hair was still a mess and hardly brushed. She wore a tank top, gym shorts, and well-worn tennis shoes that Sora now realized had been the same that she’d worn in school. Unlike all the girls in her group, constantly getting new clothes, Kari hardly changed her style, showing how much she truly cared about how she looked.

Aiden managed to get to her first before Sora, and she seemed to open up a bit more, talking a little about her time wandering the streets throughout the week. Sora listened in, happy to see everything working out. Kari appeared to be finally coming to terms that her brother wasn’t coming back anytime soon—she was free.

Around 7:30 came another surprise appearance with Stephanie, carrying her baby with her husband hauling the baby bag. Eyia looked a tad skittish around the giantess, who had shrunk dramatically due to her lost power yet still somehow stood taller than the blonde.

The turquoise-locked Celestial maintained her grace and elegance while greeting Sora’s mom, a thankful smile on her lips. It seemed like her mom had found a friend in the giantess and someone she would respect for her opinion, which was good in Sora’s eyes.

The last twenty minutes was spent with Stephanie fending off concerned questions and Ron chilling with her father and Howie. Nilly vanished with a plate of pancakes, talking about sharing them with Zoe, the monster of Githa, and her little kitten. And Daisy mingled with Sora’s mom, Noelia, and Stephanie, discussing what they’d do when they finally got rid of the kids off to magic school! Or that was what Sora took away from it.

Sora just relished in the vibe and atmosphere. After all the heartache, uncertainty, and the fallout from Jenny’s plot, they were healing. Sure, there were scary things still happening in the background regarding her dad’s side, Pandora, Stephanie’s loss of power, the Darkness, Avalon’s political scene, and the Foundation, amongst many other concerns—Jin as the gym coach.

But, even with all that misfortune, she still saw her life on the positive from where it had been a month ago. Sela and Fen were also on the up, and she couldn’t wait to see how they were adjusting to their new positions in Avalon.

When 7:50 hit, they waved Stephanie, Ron, Howie, and Daisy off on their way to the elevator; the two pairs had made plans to go out on a couples date, which was cute. Noelia said she’d watch the baby for Stephanie and Ron later that night when they returned, ever the dedicated nanny the part-tanuki was.

Making it into her private realm, she waved at Ember as the Fire Fairy zipped over to them, leaving a small trail of flames in her wake. “Ready? Are we ready? This is my first time being a tour guide! I’m so excited!”

Sora giggled as she directed them toward the gateway, everything now becoming real. Without hesitation, they entered the swirling vortex that would take them to the magical land.

We’re going to Avalon Academy… Finally, we’re moving forward.