ATM Rewrite: B2 — 19. A New Sun Rises (Patreon)

PoV:

1. Sora Moore (Our Protagonist Fox Girl)

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Sora’s ears twitched as the sound of guitars, drums, and singing lifted her out of her sweet dream, allowing her to relive the moment she’d met her adorable mother and several memories she’d shared with Wendy growing up.

Her eyes cracked open with a groan, and the music mixed with the pattering of the Miami early-morning shower, the short storm beating against the window.  The musky smell of the weeping heavens filled her lungs as she breathed in deeply, the humid atmosphere making her tail fluff a little.

Smacking her lips, Sora tasted a bit of drool.  She swallowed and glanced toward Wendy’s room’s closed blinds.  Through the cracks in the former guest room curtains, she saw an overcast sky.  The sun had crested the horizon, but the gray clouds made it seem darker than it was.  Maybe it wasn’t going to be a short storm.

Turning her head the opposite way, her left ear folded against her pillow, she saw Wendy sitting against the headboard.  Eyes closed, forehead held against crossed arms, and bent knees holding her up, Wendy soundlessly mouthed the music she was listening to.

Her best friend didn’t seem to know that she’d woken up, and Nilly was curled against her broken sister’s feet, keeping them warm.  A depressed sigh passed through Sora’s nose as she settled back, knowing Wendy often projected her emotions through songs.

Even when they were kids, her best friend had always let the emotion and lyrics of the music express what she felt when things grew hard.  So, Sora listened as her sister repeated the playing song, mouthing parts of it with her.  Sora had listened to this song herself at times when it came out earlier this year, so she knew it by heart, and it really did connect with what she felt from Wendy’s aura.

Where did all the good things go?  I wanna know.  Is all I’ll be a broken thing?  Is it just me?  I wanna know.  Why do I feel like this?  Like I’m alone in the world, and I don’t fit in my skin.  And I’m afraid of the days, so I don’t wanna talk.

When did everything become so real?  When did Mom trade in that cape for pills?  How come I don’t feel the things I used to feel?  How did I lose that trust in myself?  Tell me.  Will I ever be significant to someone if I don’t feel like I’m worthy when looking at everything I’ve done?  Am I just defective?  Would I get better if I could let it go?  Where did all the good things go?

Am I flawed from the fabric, or just got stained from the things that’ve happened?  I don’t wanna take drugs just to feel like I used to.  Now I’m full of this rage; like, am I the only one lost?  Am I the only one left that can help me?  I’m falling apart.  If there’s a remedy left, can you tell me?  Someone tell me.  I wanna know…

Hearing the words on Wendy’s heart and the gentle trembles that shook through the bed to her, Sora sniffed back her tears.  Her tail flicked a little under the sheet, drawing her sister’s gaze as Wendy paused the song.  Her somber, puffy red eyes met hers as she looked past her messy brown locks.

“Oh… when did you get up?”  she weakly asked, trying to fake a smile as her lower lip trembled.  “I, umm… thanks for staying with me.  It was nice waking up warm, with a tail wrapped around my leg—I, umm, I felt cold when I went to bed.”

“Wendy…”

Pushing herself up, she pulled her sister against her chest as she curled in, not fighting but not reciprocating either.  Nilly stretched out, purring as she slunk over to nuzzle Wendy’s limp hand.  The troubling part was that the aura of her best friend’s emotional turmoil was only getting worse.

“I… went downstairs earlier with Nilly,” she chuckled softly.  “You were asleep, drooling about something.  Hah.  The adorable kitty won’t seem to leave me alone.  Yeah… Nilly’s a good kitty.”

“Meow!”

Sora reached down to scratch the cat’s neck as she curled around to snuggle against Wendy’s belly, her best friend lying on her side against Sora’s chest.  However, her next words made Sora’s nose burn.

“I looked…  She, umm…”  Closing her mouth, Wendy cleared her throat before continuing.  “Ahem.  Yeah, she wasn’t there.  They said she left shortly after you went looking for me, so… yeah.  I don’t think she’s… she’s coming back.”  She gulped, pausing before straining a laugh.  “I’m brittle, damaged goods, aren’t I?”

“Aren’t we all?”  Sora whispered, pulling her closer and brushing her hair out of the way to see her watery, muddy-brown eyes.  One of her wireless headphones fell out, and Sora picked it up, sticking the receiver part into her ear tuft.  “Actually… can I suggest your next song?”

Wendy responded by weakly holding up her phone, pain assaulting her sister as she fell further into a spiral, guilt and self-loathing burning her soul.

It could have been her subconscious, the current circumstances, or her magic bringing back what she longed for, but inside her dreams, Sora recalled a few times Wendy had been depressed when they were twelve—when her mom was called to court over child abuse allegations.  She knew how to at least reach her sister; after all, they were best friends.  Whether she was ready to reciprocate was another topic.

Sliding through her music app, Sora selected a song she’d listened to occasionally over the last year.  She sang along with it, finding Wendy’s hand and squeezing.

“I’ve got more skeletons than cemeteries hold that made just living life feel like a funeral…  The kind of traumatization no one will ever know that made me fantasize about just letting go.  Until I saved my soul with what I can control.

“When it rains, you can drown, or you can be baptized.  When you hit rock bottom, you can cry or climb.  Crutch or a crown, only you decide.  Victim or survivor?

“Be born by the battle or just wave a white flag.  Deciding not to die, that might be all you have.  You can make that choice, or you can be your past.  Victim or survivor?”

A tortured smile moved Wendy’s eyes, and she squeezed her hand; it was working!  Sora cheered inside as Wendy picked up the next lines.

“I got a story, too, a cautionary tale.  I thought I lost it all, but I’ll spare you the details.  So call me a victim like it’s self-inflicted.  Put me in prison; I don’t know any different…  Boy, I’m not, I’m not, I’m not the victim.  I’m the survivor.”

“Meow!  Meow!  Meow!”

Sora’s voice strengthened as they sang the chorus together, Nilly joining in as Wendy pulled away to stare at her for strength.  When it ended, Sora paused the music before it repeated and showed her best reassuring face.

“I’m still here with you, Wendy.  We’re both survivors—you and me always, right?”

Reaching up to scratch her ear and blinking back tears, Wendy puffed out the stress in her chest and took a second to collect herself.  Nilly broke the silence between them, her split tail swaying and making them laugh through the pain.

“Meow?”

“Yes, Nilly,” Wendy mumbled, pulling her in to rub her belly.  “You’re here with us too.  Just a couple of broken girls, huh?  I can’t stop thinking about it, though, Sora.  My brain and heart… are killing me.  I’m just… not good enough.  I’m never good enough…  never.”

“Meow!”

Sora’s tail beat against the mattress as she shifted to her knees and butt, sitting across from her sister and opening Pandora’s box.  “I know you’re worried about being a weakness to me…”

“Sora…”

“No!  I know it’s real, and I can’t just tell you that it’ll be okay.  I know,” she repeated, her throat catching as Wendy’s bottom lip trembled.  She hugged Nilly closer, likely finding strength in just holding a soft, warm body.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Sora choked back her emotions to speak as Wendy’s eyes began to water again, her nose and cheeks turning red.

“I know it’s terrifying, Wendy.  You were kidnapped!  Really kidnapped—they broke into your home—they terrified your mother!  And I feel guilty about that—even though I know you don’t want me to feel that way, and you don’t want to feel the way you feel—I just…  I need to let you know that you’re my best friend… my sister!  I love you.  I love you so much, Wendy!  I’m here to hold you steady, and… and I need someone else to hold me steady.”

Struggling with a smile through her tears, she reached out to squeeze Wendy’s hands again, the brunette’s brown eyes swimming with pain and searching her face for answers.

“That’s you, Wendy.  My dad’s in a coma.  You hold me steady, and I’m terrified of losing you.  You’re so strong—so, so strong!  I couldn’t do what you did.  I don’t know who I’m becoming.  I’m pushy.  I’m aggressive in a way that scares me.  I’m scared of what might happen when my mom isn’t crazy-powerful anymore.  I’m scared my dad might not wake up…  I’m scared of losing my sister.  I’m scared, Wendy.  And I don’t know how to make it all right.  I’m scared.”

Wendy’s pooling eyes drifted to her lap, and her fingers tightened around hers as she processed her plea.  “…I know I’m not… well.  Geez, it’s hard to say!”  she mumbled, freeing one hand to rub at her wet cheeks as Nilly drew away to rub against her side, and the dam broke.

It was as if vise grips closed around Sora’s chest as Wendy’s emotions poured out, her whole body quaking and self-disgust etched on her face.

“I don’t know where I can fit in your life.  I’m afraid of you, Sora!”

“What?”

“I’m afraid of what I’m doing to you!  I’m afraid I’ll hold you back.  I’m afraid I’m just a burden on your family…”  Wendy growled, coughing a few times as she scratched at her forearm, odium twisting her nose as she drew blood, worrying Sora the further she went.

“…That I’ll only cause you pain because of how I feel—because of my stupid brain and feelings—I know you can feel it with your magic, and that hurts me even more!  I don’t know why—it just does—and I don’t know how to feel… better.  I don’t know!

“My mom abandoned me, Sora—my mom!  I feel worthless!  I have no one but you… and what if something bad happens to you because I’m a weak, stupid human?  I hurt you—I hurt you so badly!  I betrayed you!  I’m evil!”

“Wendy, what are you talking about?”  Sora’s gaze was pulled to her sister’s shaking hand, droplets of blood falling down her forearm, angry and tormented emotions twisting her up inside.  “Wendy… stop!”

“I was bit here, Sora—Jenny bit me, and I turned into a werewolf…  I know I attacked your dad.  I put him in a coma!  He may never wake up, and it was me!  Me…”

Ice water dumped over Sora’s head, pulling her ears back as anxiety collapsed over her on all sides; she couldn’t breathe.

“H-How?”

“I know, Sora,” she gulped, unable to look at her in the face, fingernails digging into her arm as if she wanted to cut it off.  “It came back in my dreams.  I know what I did.  So, why didn’t you tell me?”

“No, that’s—my magic was supposed to give you good dreams…  How did it…”

“Meow?”

“It doesn’t matter!  Your dad is in a coma because of me.  I’m evil…  You love me.  You do… so you kept it from me.  Why did you keep it from me?”

“No!”  Sora instantly shook her head.  “No, it was Jenny!  I get you saw it—you felt it—believe me, I know you probably felt all of it, but it wasn’t you!  You aren’t a werewolf anymore.  You’re not evil!”

“But I still felt it,” Wendy brokenly mumbled, looking down at her blood-stained hands as if seeing the blood of a man who had done nothing but care and love her from her earliest memories.  “How can I live with that?  I feel dirty—like Jenny’s still in me!  Your dad is in there because of me… because I was too weak… because I was a worthless human in a monster world.  I don’t want to always cause you grief, but I’m too weak, Sora.  I’m too weak…”

Sora dove forward, tackling Wendy to the bed and holding her tight.  “Then we’ll make you stronger!  I’m not letting you go!  My mom must have an answer; she’s coming back today!  Just… hang on a little longer.  I won’t let you go!  You’re more than my best friend—you’re my sister—my real sister!  No one knows me better!  Just… hold on a little longer.”

Trembling arms slowly closed around her back, Wendy’s chest quaked against hers, yet Sora could feel her holding her pain just as tightly.  Her thick words made Sora’s ears burn.

“Help.  I need help, Sora…  I need help.  Help…”

“I’m here.  I’ll always be here for you.  It’s not you.  We’ll heal…  I know it hurts like you want to die.  I know it feels like the weight of the world is falling on top of you, but I’m here to stop it.  You’re not alone.  You’re never alone.  You’re going to make it out, Wendy…  You’ll make it out of this.  I’m with you.  I’m always with you.”

Her heart bleeding but feeling lighter with the spilled emotions no longer weighing on her chest, Sora held her sister until her shakes calmed.  Body feeling as if it were on fire, she refused to let go until Wendy spoke, her fingernails loosening against her back as she became limp, her thick voice a whisper against Sora’s drawn-back ears.

“It’s… hard to breathe.”

“Sorry!”  Sora released her and pushed herself up, still pinning her to the bed, unwilling to let her go until she confirmed she was at least on the path to recovery; she had asked for help, though, and that was huge.  “Wendy… I’m here for you.”

When Wendy responded by looking away in shame, Sora’s tail curled against her sister’s leg, sensing a major shift in her aura.  Guilt flooded Sora’s squirming belly as her shoulders sagged; one important outburst from her sister gripped her by the base of the tail and twisted.

“Wendy… are you really afraid of me?  Is it because I’ve used my magic on you without asking…  I can see why you might be—I know I’ve been really… liberal with my magic.”

She saw a pained smile on the brunette’s puffy, tear-stained face as her copper hair veiled them.  Wendy’s shining eyes shifted from her chin to her eyes, a sorrowful vibe pulsing through her sister’s aura as she stared up at her.

“It is scary, Sora.  You did it to my mom when we first met… and she asked me if you’d done that to me, and… and I want to believe you—I do… but I don’t know.  I… don’t know, and you admitted to using your magic on me.  What am I supposed to believe?”

Anxiety ruptured in Wendy’s aura, stabbing Sora in the chest.  “Not that I hate you—no, not at all!  I just… I don’t know what to think.  My mom doesn’t want me.  You’re in a totally different world, and… and I’m just… here.  Why am I here?”

Fighting down the lump in her throat that was in a wrestling match with her, Sora sniffed back her tears, trying not to hyperventilate as she took deep breaths.  “Because… Wendy, I love you—you’re my closest friend…  I need you.  I—I’m so sorry!  I didn’t mean to make you feel scared.  I’m scared!  I want you to be my sister because I think you are my sister…  I need you.”

Bottom lip trembling, Wendy squeaked.  “Do you… mean it, Sora?  You’d love me…  Someone as worthless… as stupid and weak as me, who… who ruins everything for everyone?”

Her tail beat against the bed as she tried to control herself.  “C-Can I use magic to help… to help calm us down?  I’m just so—I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.”

Relief surged through Sora as Wendy soundlessly nodded, breaking into tears.  Leaning closer to wrap Wendy in a warm embrace, she called upon her magic to help them get through the panic.  Blue flames igniting from her tail surrounded both of them, and Sora connected her emotions to Wendy’s.  She sank into an ocean of guilt, anger, sorrow, and self-loathing, yet her love for her sister protected her from the crashing waves that battered her heart.

She let them come, radiating every memory she shared with her best friend since kindergarten, letting her love be known.  Only one goal fueled her flames: the drive to push until Wendy found her inner strength and the will to fight to breathe again.

“You know me better than I know myself sometimes, Wendy…  And sometimes, I know you better than you do, and you’re so much stronger than you give yourself credit for.  If you can’t believe in yourself, then believe in the me who believes in you… because you’re my rock, Big Sis.  You’re my dutiful, strong big sister who can make it through anything.”

Pulling away as Wendy sniffled, big eyes staring up at her as Sora flashed her teeth in a bright smile, creating an illusion of her adorable mom and dad sitting beside her, sending their love to their new daughter.

“Maybe you did lose a family, Wendy… but it wasn’t your only one.  You’re my sister now and forever.  You’re the brunette kit of the Fox Den, and you’re loved.  Everything will be okay.  Okay, Sis?”

Wendy tucked her bottom lip under as the darkness clouding her heart broke, and she pushed herself up to meet her halfway into a hug.  “Thank you, Sora,” she paused, sucking in what seemed like her first breath in days.  “Thank you for making me not feel worthless…  For making me feel loved…  For making me feel wanted.”

“Always and forever,” Sora whispered.

“Meow!”

They giggled as Nilly jumped onto Wendy’s shoulder, hanging arms keeping her up as she licked the brunette’s ear.

“And you can be a part of the family too, Nilly,” Sora giggled.  “Nilly doesn’t like to be alone either, does Nilly?”

“Meow.  Meow…”

Reaching up to rub the cat’s head, Sora spent the next several minutes talking with Wendy as they scooted to the headboard and talked.  They shared the cuddly cat between them, discussing whatever negative thought reared its ugly head, finding strength in one another, and reconnecting on a deeper level than when they’d been pre-teens—now, they were sisters.

She still sensed the festering darkness within Wendy’s heart, but that deep-seated heartache wouldn’t be fixed overnight.  Sora was sure they could work through it, though.  They’d gotten through the hardest part, and now time would mend what was broken because Wendy had a new picture she could fit into—a frame with a mom, a dad, and an annoying, troublemaker fox sister.

The atmosphere turned more positive the more they talked, and Sora eventually got her best friend to agree to get ready for an amazing day.  Knowing her job wasn’t done, and there was more weight on her chest that she needed to relieve, Sora tentatively pushed a little further to get Wendy on board.

Getting confirmation that her sister would join her on a shopping trip to get a new outfit to meet their new mom—Wendy would understandably need time to say that word again—she went to her room to find an appropriate temporary outfit.

Selecting a white blouse, blue shorts, and sandals-wedges, Sora added some jewelry and hung some glasses on her front.  Doing a swift magical shower and cleaning herself up in the mirror, she went to do the same for Wendy.  Her sister had chosen a flowery skirt and shirt with sandal flats.

She pulled up her phone as her purse flew into the room with a desire, frowning upon seeing the time: 10:17 a.m.  It wasn’t quite as late as she’d thought, and the storm had broken, despite it still being cloudy.

“Are we… eating out?”  Wendy asked, emotionally struggling with herself as she stared at herself, finding imperfections, no doubt.  “I don’t know if these flower colors work for me…”

“They’re super cute!  But… if you’re feeling self-conscious,” Sora noted, a shin-length pink skirt, gray blouse, and denim jacket flew out, “you can go with this… and tennis shoes!  It feels like it will be a little cold anyway.”

Wendy lifted her eyebrows as she held up the blouse.  “Not like that matters when you have magic.  Do we really need to go shopping with how many clothes you have all over your suite?  When did you start putting them in the guest room?  I guess you always did love shopping.”

“When Daisy stayed over and we went shopping,” Sora giggled, giving her a wink.  “I do happen to love shopping!  We’ll have to try Avalon shopping soon enough.  I wonder how their currency works.  Huh.  Anyway, while you get ready, I’m going to take care of something else.  And… all cleaned up!”  she chimed, flicking her tail toward her sister, letting the blue flames envelop her to leave Wendy smelling and looking divine!

“I… really need to learn how to use magic,” Wendy ruefully chuckled, watching the blue flames fizzle out.  “It even tastes like I just brushed my teeth.  You’re spoiling me too much…”

“Duh!  Sisters,” Sora sang, dancing forward to hug her again.  “We need to look our best when Mom shows up.  Who knows what crazy she’ll bring!  Be back in a bit.”

Slipping outside, she was satisfied with the war still raging within Wendy’s aura against her inner demons; her best friend was fighting back, and winning ground.  Now, she had to address something she should have done two days earlier.

Below, she heard Eyia arguing with Fen as the vulpes prepared to leave for Avalon, checking her several suitcases.  They weren’t her target, though.  With her purse floating beside her, Sora held her elbow behind her back as she moved down a hallway and knocked on the door of a certain wolf.  

Hearing the wolf lying in bed, headphones in and blasting music, likely to drown out what Wendy and she were going through, Sora knocked on the door.

“What do you want, Sora?  Here to drag me onto your sister’s shopping trip?”  Kari mumbled.

“Can… I come in?”

Releasing a tired sigh, Kari paused her music.  “Go ahead.  You own the place.”

Sora figured that was a comment more about their whole territory than the suite itself.  Pressing down on the handle, she pushed it open and stepped inside.  Kari leaned against her headboard, wearing some of the polka-dot pajamas they’d gotten on their previous trip and dully playing with her phone.  There was a bag of floss picks by her bed, and, somehow, half of them were already gone—there was a whole box in the corner.

“What do you want?”  Kari asked as she hovered in the doorway, scanning the relatively empty room.  “Your mom’s coming home, right?  Congrats…  What?”

Breathing out the pressure in her chest, Sora walked inside and shut the door behind her, snatching the wolf’s guarded amber eyes.  “I wanted to have a short talk about… some stuff that I’ve done recently.  Mind if I sit and talk for a minute?”

Kari burped and scooted further up on her bed, returning to her phone on whatever she was looking up; it sounded like extreme sports videos.  “You already shut the door.  Make yourself at home…  It is your home, so why ask me?”

Sucking in her left cheek, Sora glanced off to the side; she could see past Kari’s mask as if it were glass.  “…I know you’re afraid of me, Kari.  Even if you keep your guard up so I can’t sense anything, I’ve been inside your heart…  I know what you fear.”

The pick in her mouth snapped, and she reached for another from a dumped-out pile on her desk-side table.  “Sure.  Whatever you say, Princess.”

Sora felt a little slap at the nickname she’d no doubt gotten from Fen, but let it slide.  Kari was just trying to fight back in any little way she could.  The wolf really was a cornered puppy, waiting for the leash to go around her throat and to be yanked off to perform for her master.

“Right…  Umm.  Kari, I feel like I’ve been far too… aggressive recently, and…  Mmm.  I’m trying to pull back.  I’ve known you for three years—well, parts of you in that time… and I know you’re the direct type for the most part… when you can be.  I know it’s hard with me.  Whatever wolf instinct you have about authority and… the messed up things you’ve gone through.  I don’t want to lecture you.”

“Okay.  Then don’t,” Kari barked, tossing her phone to the side and running her fingers through her messy, absurdly thick black hair while glaring at her.  “Is that it?  As you can see, I’m busy hiding in the dog house you gave me.  Are you done poking fun at me?”

The passive aggressiveness…  She doesn’t want to be like this, but she’s confused as to exactly what I want from her.  I have to be direct if I want her to move past this insecurity.  Kari doesn’t know if she is safe around me, and she’s afraid to drop her guard, even if she feels my desire to be friends…  She doubts everything in her life.  I can’t blame her.  I’d be the same way if my aura senses didn’t open me up to a whole new world.

Putting on the best smile she could, Sora held her hands at her front.  “I’ll be honest and straight to the point.  I’m not going to demand you to join me or the party I’m planning with my mom.  I’m not going to demand that you come shopping with Wendy and me.  Why do you think that is?”

Kari snorted, her tail beating against the mattress between her legs, leaving an impression as she hollowly looked into the corner.  “Because you don’t need a sarcastic mutt ruining the occasion?  Hell, if I know.  What, you don’t want to push me and let me come begging for some food or something if I get lonely because I’m a pack animal?”

Sora was about to say yes before the latter half, making her giggle.  “Half right at the end there.”  Letting her heart open and spilling her true feelings, she shook her head.  “No, I am not demanding because I am inviting you.  You don’t need to come because you feel some compulsion.”

Kari’s ears pulled back, a cynical look on her face.  “What?”

“As I said, I want to be friends with you, Kari.  And if you want to be alone and emotional right now, then that’s alright.  I’m not just a vulpes.  I’m not just a Founder.  I’m not just another master that will hurt you to get what I want.  You’re free, Kari.  Truly.  You’re free.”

She felt her heart melt at the nervous twitch in Kari’s fingers as they knotted in her lap—a puppy shying away, awaiting the crack of a whip.  Sora continued, not expecting Kari to say anything.

“I know you’d rather be numb than emotional.  That’s fine for now.  You can tell me you’re fine until you believe it yourself.  You could talk to Mary today, walk around, or do nothing at all.  You’re not a prisoner here, Kari.  I’m not going to push further.  This ball of friendship is in your court, and this… is not my money, so don’t worry about spending it,” she laughed.

Her purse unzipped with a desire, and the Foundation’s card they’d given her floated onto the table beside her floss-picks.  “Aiden is going to show up if he can.  He’s pretty busy,” she laughed.  “Like I said, I’m not here to control your life, Kari.  I want to get to know you as friends.  So, let me get this out of the way.”

Taking a deep breath, she tried to be as direct as possible since that was the kind of thing Kari responded to; the wolf’s tail pressed against her leg in response, eyeing her suspiciously as if ready to play a trick on her.

“First, you are not my pet, slave, or even need to stay here if you don’t want to; I’m sure Aiden could come up with a place if you want your space.  That being said, I’d… like you to hang around and test the waters, but you are totally free.  If Eric wants to start a beef, I’ll fight him over it!  You make your own decisions.”

Brushing back her bangs and clearing her throat, she saw Kari’s amber eyes still looking for things to pick apart in her statement, so she continued.  “Again, if you want to get up, walk out that door, and never see me again, then that is your decision.  I’ll be here whenever you want to pass me the friendship ball or say ‘screw that fox; she can eat her tail!’ ”

She gestured around the room.  “All of this is yours.  I won’t invade your space.  I’ll put a sound barrier around it, if you want, or do anything I can to make you feel comfortable… because I want you to feel comfortable, free, and in control of your own life—everyone deserves to feel in control of your own life.  So… what do you say?  Eh-hehe.  Bite me?  It sounds like something you’d say,” she added with a strained, joking smile.

A squinted-eyed, upward twitch moved the wolf’s lips, which Sora took as a major win.  Kari’s feet twisted together as she glanced off to the side, and Sora held her breath while the wolf digested her words.

“Let me get this straight…  You’re saying that you want to give me free food, water, shelter, and protection… for what, friendship?”

Ears folding back, vision wandering the very empty room, Sora got the vibe Kari wasn’t viewing that in a positive light.  “Not… exactly.  You’re making it sound like an exchange.  I’m open to being friends.  I’d like to be friends.  You don’t have to be friends with me.  I want to give you what you never had… a choice.”

A little hesitant and feeling as if she was about to step into muddy waters she couldn’t take back, Sora figured her true motivations were better said aloud now than later.

“When your mother’s realm collapsed, you didn’t have a choice.  Your home was gone…  You were homeless.  You tried to make a home here.  Jenny and Eric didn’t give you a choice in how to live that life.  Lori manipulated you to be her sword and shield when you didn’t know anything about our culture.  Once again, you didn’t have a choice.”

“I get it, Sora!”  Kari snarled, shifting uncomfortably as she hugged herself.  “I’m the sad, pathetic wolf girl you want to nurse back to health… like a stray puppy.”

“No,” Sora flatly denied, making the wolf’s mouth become a line.  “I did hate you, Kari… more than you can ever know.  But… I know you aren’t the person I thought you were.  You never had a choice to be the person I can judge.  So… I want to give you that opportunity.”

A small smile lifted her mouth as she told the uncertain wolf her true feelings:

“You gave me a chance at freedom when you started making your own choices—not what Lori or Jenny wanted you to do—what you wanted to do.  I’m doing the same.  Stay and hang as an annoying wolf girl who tells everyone to bite her, open up the possibility for us to get to know each other a bit better, or just… leave.  It’s all your choice.  Go to Aiden or disappear, if you want.  I’ll back you no matter your decision.”

Taking out and playing with her floss pick, Kari swallowed while studying her for any hint of deception.  “…No tricks?  You’re giving me a place in your home… rent-free and no strings attached?”

Sora snorted and glanced around the area.  “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Bite-Me-Girl, but I’m a bit rich.  I have the luxury to do kind of what I want…  Well, when I don’t have supernatural creatures threatening everyone around me, but yeah, I think you know me well enough by now, Kari.  I’m the spoiled little rich princess.  Cool?”

“…Cool,” Kari mumbled, seemingly still processing everything.

“Cool!”  Clapping her hands, she winked while scanning the wolf’s nightwear.  “Straight facts.  I love the black-and-yellow polka-dot pajamas—killing it!  This room could definitely use a makeover, though.  Just saying!  Well, catch ya later, Bite-Me-Girl.”

Turning without another word, Sora felt as if she was walking on air upon exiting the room.  Yes, she’d made mistakes, but none of them were permanent.  Now, it was time to be a teenager with her sisters because Eyia would most definitely join them.

She smirked as she heard Kari’s huff a moment later, falling back onto her bed.  “Bite-Me-Girl?  What kind of nickname is that…”

For so long, it’s been touch and go… but Wendy and Kari are recovering, Eyia’s growing and learning, and Mom is coming home.  Today is going to set new ground.  Today, my family will become whole.  It’s a new day for the Fox Den, and the sun is shining on us!

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