Felix stepped outside, finding Janette and KuliKuli in a casual discussion next to the apple tree. Reta was leaning next to the front door against the cabin wall as Felix walked by her. Janette had arrived with fewer belongings on her this ti, wearing her fur coat around her shoulders and her satchel hidden beneath it by her left thigh. She was looking up at the tree where the cat girl sat comfortably on a large branch and chewing on an apple between her front paws. He was used to seeing her climb up there from ti to ti, typically it was her spot when she felt hungry for so fruit, but the sight of a grown adult woman wearing a teal dress as if she were invited to dance on a celebratory occasion made him snicker to himself.
"I see you took a liking to the dresses I gave you." Janette remarked while shielding herself with her hand to block her sight. "But maybe try wearing underwear with it."
"Why? This dress is nice and fluffy and keeps warm. No need for undies!" She explained before taking a bite from her apple.
Janette blushed as she noticed Felix approaching them. "Yes I can see that. Hey, good to see you're looking better."
"I'm feeling better too, good morning." Felix waved his hand as she extended her arm out to greet him. He paused before grabbing it and eting her with a shake of her hand, smiling nervously. "S-Sorry, I forget about that. Greetings and good manners are sothing I'm still learning about."
"I prefer saying hello with hugs." KuliKuli jumped down, landing on all paws before embracing the pair with her arms around their waist. "It helps share our scents and keep us warm."
Janette laughed and hugged them both back. "I read up a lot about cat girls since before, sll plays a big role in how you pair bond."
"Really?" Both Felix and KuliKuli asked before sharing a glance at each other.
Reta snorted while Janette pressed her hands together and nodded. "aning it's how you get to know others, you rub your bodies together so that you recognize the other's sll. This makes it easier to know when soone you're close to is nearby."
"Oh, is that so?" He asked, while looking at his Nekomata smiling back and rubbing her head on his shoulder. "That reminds , you weren't able to get any of the material we needed from the markets?"
Janette gasped and covered her mouth, stepping back before rubbing her head. "Damn it, I knew I forgot sothing! Nooo, I have them purchased but they're back at the stand for safekeeping."
"Rats!" Felix turned away, stroking his chin while KuliKuli turned her head from side to side.
"Where?"
Felix seed confused until she raised her paws up as they locked eyes, and that's when it hit him. "Not literally, it was uh.. umm."
"It's a figure of speech." Janette chid in before leaning to the side to catch his eye. "May I have a word?"
"Did you want to ask her more questions?" He asked, wondering where her book was.
He was surprised when she shook her head in response. "I wanted to talk to you for a bit."
"?"
"Yes, you."
"Is Master in trouble?"KuliKuli raised her head, her eyes wide and tails stiff.
"No, just need to borrow him for a few minutes if that's okay?"
KuliKuli made a face. "If you want to mate with him too, you can't unless I say."
"Whoa-hey! I just need to talk to him in private, no mating or anything." Janette explained while frantically waving her hands in front of her.
Felix turned to KuliKuli and Reta, the forr seed concerned and the latter tilted her head in a gesture that read as approval. He held his cat girl's paws and the two touched foreheads before kissing her on the cheek. "Okay, we can walk around the barn and talk."
A mont later, the two were strolling by with his hand sliding on the wooden fence he and KuliKuli had rebuilt weeks ago. The two were gazing into the barn, observing as a cow sat down with its calf cuddling together in their little stable, resting while a chicken nearby tilted its head and walked by, pecking at so straw.
Felix breathed in and relaxed, easing the tense feeling in his muscles as he prepared to hear sothing awful. "Are we in trouble?"
"No, we had a eting at the den and I was able to participate. I'm not a local but thankfully I know enough people that they were able to let join. Nothing too large, the place may seem populated but not many actually live there." She paused and looked at him. "They were discussing about sending out a distress call for a Monster Hunter."
Felix sucked in his lips, feeling the blood drain from his face as his hands grew damp with sweat. "That's not good."
"It was tied, which might I add was sothing uncommon for them. Not everyone was present but still, they needed a deciding vote to break through. You guys got lucky, most of the votes in favor of making the call were going off he said, she said speculation."
"So no one actually saw us?" He asked with a level of optimism in his voice.
She was quick to crush his hopes in her response. "Oh they saw you, they just can't settle on the appearance. Soone was certain it was a boy with dark hair carrying a monster girl in his arms."
"Wait, a boy?" He frowned as she snorted back.
"People insist that it was a small child because of how easily he slipped through the crowd. We'll just use that to our advantage, because I do have so good news. I was the deciding vote and not only that, I made a decent argunt when I found out that so of the people in favor have a reputation for false gossip and rumors. Thanks to that, not only did they reject the decision to send for a hunter but they also removed any traps they had around the village after so concerns over the travelers should a future custor fall victim to them by accident."
"Indeed," Felix sighed and held his chest, turning to her and looking relieved, "I find myself under your debt once again."
Janette smiled and waved her hand to dismiss his concern. "Think nothing of it, just looking out for you lot. I hope this helps forge a possible friendship with no ill intent or deceit between us?"
Felix laughed and leaned over the fence. "Not that there was any doubt, KuliKuli trusts you as do I. eting people and making friends, I do not have much experience in that."
"Really? You seem honest, hard-working, but I hope I'm not oversharing when I admit that I don't know you too well."
He raised his brow as she nodded back. "I'm aware that you don't know personally either. Felix, I am interested in learning more about cat girls but it helps if we get to know each other as well. That relates to the matter of why I am here."
"Oh," He rubbed his chest while turning to face her. "Do grant a mont to prepare myself, I thought the worst news had passed."
"I wanted so privacy because the wolf strikes as soone fond of a beverage based on her sharp attitude." Janette explained, reaching into her bag and exposing an olive green bottle with a cork tightly screwed on top. She waved it delicately and smiled. "Perhaps a celebratory toast now that we have evaded hell's wrath?"
Felix clutched his heart and laughed, his legs failing him as he sunk to his knees. "No more surprises, I have enough to deal with today."
"Apologies, but one would guess. I do recall a certain cat claiming that I would want to mate with you too." She chuckled while helping him to his feet. "What in the na caused you to sleep with the wolf? You must have a heart of stone not to fear her curse, but didn't she attempt to force herself on you?"
"She's made it clear of her intentions but it's that mory that bothers . She is attractive, I shouldn't find her tempting and yet I do." He admitted.
She shook her head while looking down at the bottle in her hand. "Forbidden fruit tastes sweeter, I can attest to that. How do you plan to resolve that?"
"First I need a word with KuliKuli to hear her thoughts, I suspect the two have been talking whilst I'm working. But that can wait, we should celebrate the occasion. However, I would like to ask if this ans we can go back to visit you without concern over coming across any poisonous traps?"
Janette shook her head. "No more traps, unless they missed one or two. Step carefully but yes, you may go when you please. Just be more careful with her, no more incidents or it may be costly."
She jumped out of fright as KuliKuli poked her head in between the two, leaning from the other side of the fence. "That's great news!"
"Aaaaaghh!" Janette shrieked, sending the bottle into the air as Felix tracked it with his eyes, watching it spin before falling back down. Right when he was certain that it would crash, Reta grabbed it several feet above the ground while reading the front label.
"What is this?"
"It's... it's wine." Janette composed herself, clearing her throat while KuliKuli wiped her forehead.
"You should be more careful Jay-Jay, try not to be so clumsy." She looked up and hung her head when Janette scowled back in return. "Sowwy."
"I'll take that," Said Felix as he snatched the bottle from Reta's hands. "Janette was sharing so good news, the farr's den is safe to visit again. I think today we should take a mont to celebrate her for saving us, and I vote that we do so with a small feast outside."
"It'll be cold." Reta reminded him.
"We'll have a fire burning to keep us warm."
"Ooooh can we cook salmon?" KuliKuli asked gleefully.
Felix frowned. "We can but after that no more fish for the week. It doesn't help your morning breath."
"Hey! My breath isn't stinky." She paused, cupping her mouth with her paws and breathing out to take a sniff.
He extended his hand out to Janette, offering her back the bottle of wine. "We'd love for you to stay, this is because of your doing after all. And it may be a way to all get to know each other, but no note taking okay? No notes, no books, just us four enjoying each other's company with a fine al and drink. What do you say?"
She raised her hand, touching her chin with the tip of her finger while looking into his eyes. They seed sincere and genuine, and a quick glance around showed that KuliKuli was covering her mouth in anticipation for her response, or was she slling her breath again? Reta looked back at Janette and shrugged, open to the idea.
Janette smiled and reached out, grabbing the bottle but not taking it away. "I'd love that."
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